In Defense of a Faith-based Arch
Printed in the Buffalo News
(August 19, 2001)

Several opponents of the proposal to build The Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and International Shrine of the Holy Innocents here have written sarcastic and mean-spirited replies to Laurence Behr's defense of this project, which was published in The News.

Elizabeth McGowan stated the Arch would be a waste of money and that there are women with crisis pregnancies who could be helped to keep their babies with such money. Behr's Lawyers for Life group has held fund-raising banquets, always publicized in the Western New York Catholic, to support Crisis Pregnancy Centers for many years. Has McGowan, who claims to be "of the faith," ever supported that effort?

McGowan also wrote that people supporting the arch are "self-righteous idolaters." This group includes respected priests such as the Revs. Thomas Euteneuer, Matthew Habiger, Frank Pavone and John Corapi, as well as members of my family, my close friends and myself. McGowan can call me whatever she wants, but I'll stand up for the others. To slander such good and holy people as those mentioned above was malicious.

Chet Mais charged that the shrine would be offensive to pro-choicers, as it would announce Catholicism (which is pro-life, despite those who believe they can be Catholic and not follow Catholic teaching) as the "official religion" of Buffalo. Who imagines Catholicism is the official religion of Lackawanna, which is so dominated by Our Lady of Victory Basilica? The shrine merely would indicate there is a strong Catholic community in Buffalo.

Are not Catholics offended by the killing of unborn children in Buffalo or by the lack of protection unborn children receive in our nation's laws? Are not Catholics free to practice their religion and allowed to express what they have found to be truth, which is that life begins and should be protected from the moment of conception?

Most recently, secular humanist Norm Allen Jr. claims he was "sold on the idea of the proposed arch" until he read Behr's sentence, "Only love for God produces true charity," and charges Behr with promoting "anti-atheist propaganda." Allen claims that some "atheists do lead charitable lives," which is true. But it is the choice of good Christians to acknowledge God as the source of all charity. Do we not have that right?

The writers' lack of rational arguments is not concealed by their shrill tone, or by their name-calling. If you still wonder why the arch is so violently criticized, remember, the arch would be a constant reminder of the truth to all who see it: the truth that abortion is wrong.

MICHAEL DENZ
Station Manager WLOF Catholic Radio
Amherst