As someone born Catholic, it distresses me that our nation’s highest authorities so publicly quarrel with our pontiff over the obviously righteous military action in Iran. Therefore, I am humbly and faithfully entreating the clergy and Catholic community at large to not expel Vice President JD Vance from the church. Even excommunication, which can be absolved at confession, is too harsh of a punishment for someone who diligently follows the word to the best of his meager understanding.
Primarily, it is not a sin for Vance to take up the Catholic mantle only for it to fortuitously yield a book deal. After all, there were no book sellers turned out from the entrance to the temple, only money changers and dove merchants. Applying the same blueprint from “Hillbilly Elegy,” we can only hope that this persona is as lucrative as his last one.
Second, Vance excels as a healer. Naturally, a successful writer creates a foundation called Our Ohio Renewal in order to investigate the economic crisis in Appalachia. It can’t be helped that the foundation barely organized a study and sent one measly addiction specialist to the region. According to tax filings, much of its spending went to management services. Even in his position as senator and vice president, we must forgive Vance’s powerlessness to avoid cuts to health care, food programs and clinical research.
We must also turn the cheek to even Vance’s most ungracious behavior. When Vance demanded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thank him, I recalled all the times Jesus demanded gratitude. When Vance claimed that civilians lost in altercations with immigration agents were assassins and terrorists, I remembered all the names Jesus used to divide and condemn. When Vance openly rationalizes acts of heresy, we must remember how often Jesus had to rationalize the shortcomings of the Apostles.
Ultimately, not enough moral certitude exists to expel Vance. Not for his trespasses against the Iranian people nor for imperialistic aggression against the Venezuelan or Cuban populaces. Not for his silence on Gaza. Vance’s moral character is a profound example for the Catholic Church at Turning Point USA, where he can spread the word on behalf of all Catholics.
The pontiff and the archdiocese should save him as a benefit to humanity and definitely not excommunicate him.
— Renee Stanko, Arlington Heights
Columnist’s predictable bias
Laura Washington (“Harris’ unforgivable transgression,” April 22) can’t separate the truth from her liberal rhetoric. She claims that Kamala Harris “ably served as vice president.” How so? What did she do? Her southern border assignment was a fiasco. Name an accomplishment.
Washington states that Harris “stepped up to the late-breaking 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.” How so? It appears that the Democrats offered her up as a sacrificial lamb, and she flubbed it.
Washington tells us that Harris “is eminently qualified to serve as president.” Again, how so? What are her accomplishments? What has she done?
Washington claims that “in a perfect world, she should be sitting in the White House.” Why would electing an unaccomplished person qualify as a “perfect world”?
Implying that President Donald Trump is racist, misogynistic, pro-slavery, anti-diversity, anti-equity and anti-inclusion and an “amoral TV huckster,” without stating real proof, just begs the question.
Washington can’t get past her liberal bias and can’t see the forest for the trees, but at least she is predictable.
— John A. Luther, Lombard
Media sites using correct title
In his letter to the editor (“Get Pete Hegseth’s title right,” April 21), David Howard lectures the Tribune on using what he calls the correct title for Pete Hegseth. His official title is secretary of defense, not secretary of war, as the department’s legal name can be changed only by Congress, and that hasn’t happened.
Most respected media sites know this and continue to use the correct title, and I’m quite sure President Donald Trump and Hegseth know it, too, but they just don’t care.
— Tony Urbaniak, Glendale Heights
Congress is in charge of that
In regards to the letter from David Howard of Rockford, despite his support for our current president, Pete Hegseth’s official Cabinet title is secretary of defense because the creation, naming and authorization of these departments have been established by Congress through legislation, and the Senate is charged with approving Cabinet nominations.
As far as the Gulf of Mexico, no president possesses the right to name or rename an international body of water, especially one that was named more than 200 years before the existence of the United States of America.
— Michael Staunton, Tinley Park
President lacks the power
David Howard criticizes the Tribune for not using correct names. Just because President Donald Trump decided to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War and the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America doesn’t make those titles accurate or true in any way.
I am incredulous that this person thinks the president has that power.
— Laura Kier, Deerfield
Will customers see refund?
What seems to be missing in this discussion of tariff refunds is whether those who paid the tariffs raised their prices in response to the tariffs. Why do they deserve a tariff refund if they had already passed that cost along to their customers? Will they be refunding that money to their customers? For sure, not if they don’t have to.
— Neil Gaffney, Chicago
Evicting long-term residents
Regarding the op-ed “Zionism is often used as a slur. We must reclaim the term” (April 21): The majority of Jews left their homeland and lived in Europe for 2,000 years.
It is unreasonable to return to your homeland after 2,000 years, evict the long-term residents and think you did right because it used to be yours.
Thus, all the trouble.
— David Steadman, Chicago
This is healing the world?
Regarding Elad Strohmayer’s op-ed: Please explain to us how the devastation of Gaza is healing the world? The Jewish diaspora seems to me to be improving the world, if not healing it, which would be a tall order. I know that many Jews have historically been against Zionism and that the Zionist project enabled some great people, such as Uri Avnery, to escape Nazi Germany.
This whole issue is much more complicated than this piece of propaganda would suggest.
— Suzanne Erfurth, Chicago
Oppose apartheid Israel
In his op-ed defending Zionism, Elad Strohmayer manages to avoid using the term “Palestinian.” This refusal to recognize the very existence — much less the historic and national rights — of the Palestinian people reflects the profound racism that has long infected the Zionist movement.
Just as progressive white people opposed apartheid South Africa, so progressive Jews should oppose apartheid Israel and support the Palestine freedom movement.
— Jeff Sarles, Chicago
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
