Turlock pastor: Here’s why religious leaders support gun control | Opinion

Religious leaders support gun control

“As schools welcome students back, safety is top of mind after Minneapolis shooting,” (modbee.com, Sept. 2)

This moment calls for moral clarity, pastoral courage and faithful action. Cardinal Blase Cupich lamented the widespread availability of guns and criticized the rejection of common-sense gun laws “in the name of a freedom not found in our Constitution.”

Parents of the victims have also spoken out, urging lawmakers to take meaningful steps to prevent future tragedies. In the wake of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, Pope Leo XIV (then Cardinal Robert Prevost) reposted statements calling for stronger, sensible gun control laws.

Bishops have long supported common-sense measures to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons, mental health support and funding for school safety.

These are not partisan demands. They are moral imperatives.

Fr. Misael Avila

Turlock

Fund mRNA research

“US Health Department pulls back on funding mRNA vaccines,” (modbee.com, Aug. 5)

Cutting funding for mRNA vaccine research should concern us all.

This technology helped bring us out of the worst of the COVID pandemic faster than anyone thought possible. But its value doesn’t stop there. Scientists are now using mRNA to develop vaccines and treatments for things like cancer, HIV and even rare diseases. This is next-generation medicine.

If we stop funding this research now, we’re not just slowing down progress — we’re risking future breakthroughs that could save lives. It’s like discovering a powerful new tool and deciding to put it back in the box just because the immediate crisis is over.

Public health and science shouldn’t be treated like trends. Innovation takes time, support and commitment. We should be doubling down on mRNA research — not walking away from it.

Larry Podolsky

Oakdale

Undemocratic

“Mark Z. Barabak: They worked hard to draw fair political maps. How do they feel about Newsom undoing them?” (modbee.com, Aug. 26)

As a 20-year-old voter, I take California’s democratic process seriously. Fair representation isn’t just a talking point, it’s the foundation of our trust in government. That’s why Proposition 50 deeply concerns me.

Prop. 50 would take the power of drawing congressional districts away from voters and hand it to politicians. In other words, it gives incumbents the ability to draw their own districts and choose who they want to represent. That’s not democracy, it’s manipulation.

For almost two decades, California’s Independent Redistricting Commission has ensured that our Congressional maps are drawn fairly and without political bias. The commission was created specifically to stop gerrymandering, but Prop. 50 would undo that progress and tilt the system back in favor of political insiders.

Wyland Hapgood

Patterson

More treatment for homeless individuals

“A safe parking lot for homeless schoolchildren appears to be back on track,” (modbee.com, Sept. 2)

As someone who has previously been homeless, I have unique insight into the problem. Homelessness will never be mitigated until this country addresses the mental health welfare of its citizens and provides them with adequate treatment.

The majority of homeless individuals that I encountered — myself included — suffer from an array of mental health disorders that inhibits them from being responsible and productive members of society. This problem is only going to get worse until the government decides to spend money on treatment.

There’s a misconception among the general public that people choose that lifestyle. That’s just cynicism. The truth is that these people suffer from grave mental disorders, and have lost the ability to function and live a normal life.

Alex Hardie

Ceres