Editorials

Our nation and, more specifically, those of us who live in the metropolitan New York area, marked the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamist terrorist attacks on the U.S. with prayers and sorrow at the massive loss of life that day in 2001 with our solemn vow “never to forget.”

Hero. It’s a word we hear less frequently these days when our world, our nation and our Church seem turned upside down. But it’s a word that certainly fits Father Vincent Capodanno, and his story needs to be told over and over again.

“In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America. It has appeared on currency since 1864, and according to a 2003 joint poll by USA Today, CNN, and Gallup, 90 percent of Americans support the inscription “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins. But that did not deter a group of 29 atheists from clogging up our court system with a suit claiming that “In God We Trust” violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

When it comes to pro-life issues, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) is always in the forefront of his fellow members in Congress in fighting to end any taxpayer funds being used to provide abortions. This month, he and 101 other congressmen sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting new regulations to enforce the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that insurers participating in the ACA marketplace must collect a separate payment, or “abortion surcharge” if the plan covers elective abortion.

Three people who consistently answered the call of the Gospel of Life were recently honored with the 2018 People of Life awards. The awards were presented to Janice Benton, a proponent for disability rights; Msgr. Joseph Ranieri, an advocate for post-abortion healing; and the late James Hanson, who campaigned against medically assisted-suicide.