LETTERS

Catholic prayers are also for the living

A Sun Herald story on the National Day of Prayer contained a statement that was incorrect.

A list of statistics from the Gallup organization stated that Catholics mainly pray for the dead.

Before Catholics say "Lord, I want ... I want" they thank Him for their numerous blessings. Then they ask for forgiveness of sins against God and others. Then for petitions such as better health for themselves and others; for victims in disaster areas; for food, medicine, water and shelter for others; for addicts on drugs and alcoholics; and many, many more favors. The greatest prayer is to save one's soul.

KERI LYN NORRIS
Gulfport

Denominations share many prayer basics

This letter is about the article by Eugene Stockstill on the National Day of Prayer. The article stated that three out of four people pray, which is wonderful. But it also stated, "Protestants pray for forgiveness, salvation and their country; whereas, Catholics are most likely to pray for loved ones who have died."

Let me say that Catholics, as well as our Protestant brothers and sisters, definitely pray for our salvation, for forgiveness and for our country, as well as taking a stand against abortion.

There might be some people who don't know that "catholic" means "universal." That puts us Catholics connected to all believers. So, as a born-again Christian Catholic, I believe that there will be no denominations in heaven, just those who believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and has risen in glory. Alleluia!

GERRY HAMMONS
Long Beach

Lawsuit threat was the height of pettiness

For ex-Mayor Blessey to threat- en to sue the mayor of Atlantic City is the height of pettiness, and casts a negative pall over this Coast, which has tried so hard to live down that kind of image!

In his remarks that day, Mayor Whelan was exactly correct when referring to Mayor Holloway's efforts to clean up this and that. Mayor Whelan could have been referring to any number of former Biloxi mayors, ranging from the one earlier in the 20th century who was up to his CHINN in trouble, to the more recent one who is currently spending time in the HALL AT a Louisiana lockup.

KEVIN SAVACIER
Gulfport

We 'owe' our veterans, not the politicians

We have read countless letters to the editor from retired veterans and military personnel concerning our government reneging on the verbal contracts made to all of them during their enlistments.

Where in our laws is it written that politicans should make $200,000 to $400,000 plus free medical and retirement benefits for serving in political offices? No one in a political office is worth that much of our tax dollars.

Our forefathers certainly did not plan for those who served in public office to become rich off the hard-working taxpayers. They established our government to eliminate kings and queens.
Shouldn't the men and women who fought in wars to give the gift of freedom to all of us make more money and have better benefits than those politicians who have never served a day in our military?

We, the people, have to make a stand for our veterans and military personnel, because after all, they risked or gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for us. We, the people, can and should "fire" all the little politicians who are taking benefits away from our silent heroes, and pledging those tax dollars to themselves as salaries, free medical care and retirement.

It was not the politicians, not Sen. Trent Lott, who gave us the gift of freedom and the privilege of voting at the polls; it was our much-loved silent heroes, all the veterans and military personnel.

SHERRY & DICKIE BAHM
Orange Grove

How can Lott say nation isn't obligated?

Hi, I live in California, but read your paper online.

I am a military retiree, 1942-1956, then reserve until 1972. We have been trying to get the medical care that was promised us, but your Sen. Trent Lott is fighting us.

If it were not for us, those of you who still would be alive today would be speaking German or Japanese - and now your Sen. Lott says we are not owed anything.

I wish the Great People of Mississippi would prove to him that we are, indeed, owed something by voting him out of office.

LEO BOATRIGHT
Lucerne Valley, Calif.

Million Mom March is hardly 'grassroots'

A few facts were missing from The Sun Herald's coverage of the so-called Million Mom March. The march's organizer, Donna Dees- Thomases, describes herself as "a mom with oven mitts." Well, she may be, but she's also a profes- sional publicist, previously for Dan Rather, now for David Letterman. This helps explain how this "grass- roots movement" has managed to get so much media attention.

It's too bad that the Second Amendment Sisters, an organization of pro-gun-rights women, doesn't have similar media connections. If they did, perhaps the media would have paid more attention to their "Armed Informed Mothers' March," also planned for Mother's Day. These ladies take the position that more laws are not the answer, but that we need to enforce existing laws and teach children gun safety.
An article said President Clinton "heartily endorsed" the march. This is not surprising, since Dees- Thomases is the sister-in-law of Susan Thomases, Hillary Clinton's close friend and political adviser. Some "grassroots" movement!

I find it amazing that the president would call for more gun laws, when his administration has done such a poor job of enforcing existing laws. He claims the Brady Bill's background check has prevented "500,000 felons, fugitives and stalkers" from getting guns. If this is true, those 500,000 criminals should be behind bars, since they had to fill out Form ATF F4473, which specifically asks if one is a "felon, fugitive or stalker." Lying on this form is a federal felony, so these people should all have been arrested and charged, but in fact, there have been only a handful of prosecutions under the Brady Act.

Are we to think new laws would cut down on crime, when existing laws aren't being enforced?

BILLY CHAMBLESS
Waveland
billy@erc.msstate.edu

Many marching moms still don't get it

It's ironic and sad that the "Marching Moms" are marching to mask their maternal miscarriage of moral misguidance.

They still don't get it! It doesn't take rocket science to see that these moms have simply reaped what they've sown. Instead of locking up the guns, they might consider locking up the BMWs and the open-ended credit cards and begin developing in their children a sense of responsibility - the antithesis of the present violence-prone "spoiled" character trait that we witness today. This "back to basics" parenting approach will get to the root of the problem.
Pointing a finger at any and all things inanimate in an effort to skirt parental responsibility serves no one. Could it be that today's moms don't have character enough to instill it?

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.