Letters to the Editor
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There were no letters published for the issue of January 28, 2005. Instead, below are the letter from the last two issues.
(The following was taken from the January 21, 2005 issue)
War in Iraq is nothing to celebrate
In your Dec. 24, 2004, issue, you reported the celebration of former Iraq administrator Paul Bremer’s Civitas Dei award. I was appalled at the insinuation that Iraq was responsible for the 9/11 tragedy and that that, along with the weapons of mass destruction fabrication, gave us a mandate to invade Iraq and level it to rubble, leaving thousands upon thousands dead, dying and permanently devastated.
Mr. Bremer reflected that his conversion to Catholicism was inspired by Pope John Paul II’s commitment to Gospel teachings. Why didn’t the pope’s urgent appeals imploring President George W. Bush not to invade Iraq speak to Mr. Bremer?
We Catholics have a lot to answer for. Indeed, what has happened to the non-violent Gospels of Jesus in the midst of all this celebration of madness?
Mary Lou Pedersen, Chicago
(The following are taken from the January 14, 2005 issue)
Russia was consecrated to Mary in 1984
Are you a follower of Our Lady? Do you follow His Holiness Pope John Paul II?
Are you acquainted with Carmelite Sister Lucia—the only living visionary of the original Fatima Marian apparition and message from Fatima, Portugal, in 1917? Then you may need to remember that Pope John Paul II consecrated Russia to Mary in 1984.
The pope had the Our Lady of Fatima pilgrim statue flown in from Fatima to the Vatican, where he and the world’s bishops consecrated Russia according to the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sister Lucia has given full disclosure: the consecration accomplished in 1984 satisfied the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thus, should anyone ask you if Russia has been consecrated you should tell them, “Yes, Russia has been consecrated.”
-Stephen A. Kappes, Indianapolis
Seniors should be wary of companies offering prescription help
Recently, several members of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers’ Senior Promise program received telephone calls from companies that offer assistance to seniors who are searching for prescription drug discount programs—for a fee. The costs of these programs can exceed $300 each year, regardless of how many prescriptions you purchase through the program.
Some of these companies have given the false impression that a doctor or medical facility referred the company to local seniors. And some have even used sales pressure to convince seniors to join these programs.
If you or a loved one receives any calls like these, contact the Indiana Attorney General’s office at 800-382-5516. If you are on either the Indiana Do Not Call List or the National Do Not Call Registry, the attorney general’s office will take action against the company.
Seniors in Indiana should know that local help is available for free. St. Francis’ Senior Promise program can help you choose the best Medicare-approved prescription drug discount program for you.
We offer free one-on-one and telephone counseling to help you find the best program for your needs. In some cases, just 15 to 30 minutes with our staff can save you more than $100 on prescriptions. We will spend as much time as needed with you, completing the proper forms and applying for the most cost effective program.
Don’t trust these companies that require you to pay for their services. Instead, turn to local resources for help.
-James J. Poole
(James J. Poole is manager of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers’ Senior Promise program.)