Church and New York’s Proposition 1, Regents exams, money from federal settlements – Newsday

The Church’s position on Proposition 1 is unexpected

When New York’s Catholic bishops released a statement on September 5 that Proposition 1 would “effectively, permanently legalize abortion without restriction and up to the point of birth,” I was disturbed and stunned [“Prop 1 draws debate,” News, Oct. 29].

Surely the bishops know the New York law or should research it before spreading obvious misinformation.

Proposition 1 does not change any state laws, including abortion law. It states that a licensed medical professional can perform an abortion when “the patient is within 24 weeks of the onset of pregnancy or there is a lack of fetal viability or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.”

Proposition 1 could also be used in the future to provide constitutional protections for in vitro fertilization and contraceptives.

The article “Diocese’s Role in Social Justice Issues Shrinks” [News, Oct. 28] notes that Pope Francis said in 2013 that the church had become “obsessed” with the issues of abortion, gay marriage and contraception.

While I understand the New York bishops’ desire to end abortion, I do not condone their apparent use of misinformation and deception to achieve it. The end does not justify the means.

— Marge Acosta, Centerport

This week, during the homily, our priest called on parishioners to vote against Proposition 1. At the end of the Mass, another call to vote against it was read. A long letter from the diocesan bishop also appeared in our church bulletin. The issue revolves around the LGBTQ+ community.

The priest was in the pulpit saying, “Jesus created us all equal.” Well, apparently not all of them. In my opinion, his interpretation of “gender ideology” in Proposition 1 will end Christian civilization as we know it and affect our schools and children in unimaginable ways.

As a retired school social worker, I have worked with many LGBTQ+ adolescents and their families. My God is not homophobic, racist, sexist or prejudiced. My God would never forsake someone based on all of this.

It’s sad to think that my church would “reject” someone for any reason. My God embraces all.

— Marian Moroz-Masopust, East Northport

As the Newsday editorial board publishes its endorsements of proposals and candidates, and those running for office talk about their big, priority issues, I am incredibly puzzled and disappointed that the fentanyl crisis is hardly ever mentioned.

In 2023, there were 463 fatal overdoses in Suffolk County, the majority of which were from fentanyl. There have been 168 deaths this year — 109 from fentanyl — so far, with 235 cases pending.

Every candidate should be asked, “What are you going to do about the fentanyl crisis?” Any candidate who doesn’t talk about it is making a big mistake.

—Carol Trottere, Setauket

Save the Regents Exams: Failure helps you learn

There is no debate [“Spirited debate erupts over Regents exams,” News, Oct. 26]. Exams are needed to measure competency, be it a student’s ability to master material, the quality of instruction, or to provide comparisons between school districts. Yes, some will fail, but of course failure is also a learning tool, because why else do labs exist?

Not everyone does a “good job”, a valuable lesson is being overlooked. So while professional paths should be provided for those who are not academically inclined or would prefer an alternative path, such as a retired college adjunct professor, I say that the Regents exam and the standard it represents, unweighted and unbent, should remain .

— Richard M. Frauenglass, Huntington

Where does the money the feds collect go?

Millions and billions of dollars! The money our government receives from lawsuits, sweepstakes, fines, personal property and money laundering forfeiture to name a few sources is enormous and beyond the imagination of the average person “TD Bank to settle with DOJ for $3 billion.” LI Business, October 11].

Where does this money go? How is it actually distributed? In the case of Department of Justice v. TD Bank, does the $3 billion, minus costs, directly help the American taxpayer? The interest on these revenues alone could feed and clothe a small nation.

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that it has recovered $1.3 billion in unpaid taxes from high-income American cheaters in 2024. Do these payments actually cover the cost of new equipment and pay for increased staff from the Biden administration’s mandate to upgrade IRS?

Let’s talk about the New York State Lottery, which is usually advertised as supporting education. Whose education? Our school administrators work hard to maintain a strict bottom line. Do our districts receive a portion of the lottery winnings directly? When foreclosed goods, cars, land and real estate are put up for public auction, what happens to that money?

— Kathleen Young, Blue Point