To the Eeditor:
A simple statement in reference to a letter published in Rhode Island Catholic on February 26, 2009, written by Sister Jane Culligan, SC. In her letter, she lists three articles from the previous week’s edition of Rhode Island Catholic (3/19/09) for which she thanks the paper for writing. Her number one choice for thanking you was Bishop’s Tobin’s interview with Obama.
First of all, you should have made a footnote to the good sister’s letter that it was ‘not an interview’ but rather simply an imaginary fabrication by the Bishop. Such a fabrication is an ill advised means to an end.
In a complete contradiction to the teachings of Moral Theology, it could now be argued that the Bishop has given the green light to the principle that the end does justify the means.
Also, as a final point of criticism to Sister Culligan and the Rhode Island Catholic, referring to the President of the United States as Obama, not President Obama, is as disgraceful as if I referred to Bishop Tobin as Tobin. Like him or not, agree with him or not on a particular issue, he was not appointed to but rather elected to the Presidency of the United States and as such is entitled to be praised or chastised as ‘President Obama.’
John P. Lynch
North Smithfield, RI
