Church and NYS Proposition 1, Regents exams, money from federal settlements

Church’s stance on Prop 1 unexpected

When the New York Catholic bishops publicized a statement Sept. 5 that Proposition 1 would “effectively, permanently legalize abortion without restriction and up until the moment of birth,” I was distraught and stunned [“Prop 1 draws debate,” News, Oct. 29].

Certainly, the bishops know New York law or should research it before disseminating apparent misinformation.

Prop 1 doesn’t change any state laws, including its law on abortion. It states that a licensed health care practitioner may perform an abortion when “the patient is within 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.”

Prop 1 may 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 had 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 don’t accept their apparent use of misinformation and deception to achieve it. The end doesn’t justify the means.

— Marge Acosta, Centerport

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

The priest was on the pulpit saying, “Jesus created us all equal.” Well, apparently not all. In my opinion, his interpretation of “gender ideology” in Prop 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 worked with many LGBTQ+ adolescents and their families. My God is not homophobic, racist, sexist or prejudiced. My God would never abandon someone based on any of this.

It is sad to think that my church would “reject” anyone for any reason. My God embraces everyone.

— Marianne Moroz-Masopust, East Northport

As Newsday’s editorial board publishes its endorsements about propositions and candidates, and those running for office talk about their big, priority issues, I am incredibly puzzled and disappointed that the fentanyl crisis is almost never mentioned.

In 2023, there were 463 fatal overdoses in Suffolk County, with the majority from fentanyl “Drug deaths see decline on LI and in U.S.,” News, Oct. 6]. This year, it’s 168 deaths — 109 from fentanyl — so far, with 235 pending cases.

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

— Carole Trottere, Setauket

Keep Regents exams: Failing helps learning

There is no debate [“Spirited debate erupts over Regents exams,” News, Oct. 26]. Examinations are necessary to measure competence, be it the ability of the student to master the material, the quality of the instruction or to provide comparisons between school districts. Yes, some will fail, but it is understood that failure is also a learning tool, for why else do laboratories exist?

Not everyone does “a good job,” a valuable lesson being ignored. So, while vocational paths must be provided for those not academically inclined or would prefer an alternative path, as a retired college adjunct professor, I say the Regents examination and the standard it represents, unweighted and un-curved, must remain.

— Richard M. Frauenglass, Huntington

Where does money that feds collect go?

Millions and billions of dollars! The money that our government receives from lawsuits, lotteries, fines, personal property and money-laundering confiscation, to name a few sources, is enormous and beyond the imagination of the common man “TD Bank to settle with DOJ for $3B,” LI Business, Oct. 11].

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

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

Let’s talk about the New York State Lottery, commonly touted as supporting education. Whose education? Our school administrators work hard to keep a tight bottom line. Do our districts directly receive a portion of lottery profits? When seized goods, cars, land and real estate are put up for public auction, what happens to that money?

— Kathleen Young, Blue Point