The church’s ‘culture of life’

Re “Mahony’s statements on Nunez cross the line,” column, April 5

George Skelton’s column was one-sided and superficial, not to mention extremely offensive to practicing Catholics. Our faith teaches that life is sacred -- from the moment of conception up until natural death. Had Skelton bothered to give readers at least a one-sentence explanation of that belief, then they would know why Cardinal Roger Mahony used the term “culture of life.” Skelton’s idea of providing context to a discussion on suicide is to throw in the matter of the sexual abuse cases -- abuse that is not a result of church doctrine but human transgressions.

MARIA LEANO

Anaheim

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State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s public announcement that he was “bucking my church” regarding a physician-assisted suicide bill was quite misleading. For 2,000 years, the teachings of the church have been constant. Nunez inaccurately makes it appear as though you can pick and choose which teachings you want to follow and still call yourself Catholic. Skelton seems to believe that the human element in the church is the church. Skelton couldn’t be more off the mark.

Sure, the church will always have sinners in it because its membership is human, but the teachings to be followed are those handed down to the apostles by Jesus. Mahony, in his role as teacher, was correct to point out to Nunez these teachings regarding life.

GERMAINE WENSLEY

Playa del Rey

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I hardly think anyone needs to take moral instruction from Mahony.

NANCY WILLSTATTER

Santa Barbara