Pope Leo XIV must restore the tradition of ordained women deacons | Opinion

Women’s role

As a Catholic mother of two daughters, we prayed for the cardinals as they selected a new pope. We’re asking that the new pope, Leo XIV, continue Pope Francis’s efforts to elevate women in church leadership and take the courageous step to restore the tradition of ordained women deacons.

This isn’t a modern innovation. Scholars have shown that women were sacramentally ordained as deacons in the early church and this practice was never officially banned. As I learned in Catholic school and now teach my daughters, we are all made in the image of God.

If the church won’t restore women to the diaconate, what does that say? That women can’t reflect Christ? That they are less called to serve?

At times, I worry the church will move backward. My daughters however, give me hope. They remind me, “Girls love Jesus as much as boys do. It’s only a matter of time before the important people figure it out.”

For their sake and for the future of our church, I pray that time comes soon.

Pilar Siman,

Miami

Essential Medicaid

Concerns are growing over Medicaid cuts in the latest congressional budget resolution and their potential impacts on people with disabilities. Medicaid is a crucial lifeline for those who rely on specialized care, treatments and in-home support.

As the single largest source of affordable healthcare coverage in the United States, Medicaid helps 72 million Americans, including working adults and individuals with neuromuscular diseases and other chronic conditions. Half the recipients are children. Any changes to Medicaid’s structure that would make it more difficult to access this vital program, notably the imposition of work requirements, could directly impact access to care and jeopardize coverage.

For many disabled people, Medicaid plays a vital role in long-term care, home health services and access to essential treatments. If funding or eligibility rules change, many could lose the critical care they need. Without Medicaid, treatments could be delayed, home care services could become unaffordable and overall health outcomes would decline.

I encourage our representatives in Washington, D.C., no matter their political party, to protect Medicaid and consider how potential changes could impact the people who depend on it the most. Protecting Medicaid ensures that Americans from all walks of life, especially those with disabilities, can continue to access the care they need.

Samantha Jade Duran,

Miami

Mother’s Day

Today, we give thanks to all the mothers and mother-figures in our lives we love so much. They blessed us with a total sense of what it means to be family.

Happy Mother’s Day, America.

Paul Bacon,

Hallandale Beach

Triple threat

Miami-Dade County Commissioners Kionne McGhee, Danielle Cohen Higgins and Oliver Gilbert joined Republicans on the Board of County Commissioners to remove fluoride from our tap water. Cohen Higgins’ reasoning was that the state legislature passed a law that preempts the county and they just wanted to comply with the new law. Don’t buy it.

When this resolution first came up about a month ago, before the mayor’s veto and the state legislature’s preemption, these three commissioners voted then to remove fluoride from our tap water. I don’t know what log-rolling or deal-making they felt was worth it to sell our community’s dental health to conspiracy theorists like Commissioner Rob Gonzalez, but I fear it was a huge political miscalculation.

These three gave up from the start and didn’t use their platforms at all to combat medical misinformation. Who knows what wackos will challenge them during the next election, but if you want a science-based approach to health policy, don’t donate any time or money to their future campaigns.

Jackson Ribler,

Homestead

Right connections

Re: the May 7 column by Mary Anna Mancuso, “Trump puts Florida at the heart of U.S. leadership.” Excellent commentary on how Florida can benefit from current connections with the federal government. Hope our elected officials will act on it.

Marilin Rodon,

Coral Gables

Local champions

I was pleased and proud to see David Lawrence Jr. presenting to Constance Collins the David Lawrence Jr. Children’s Trust’s Annual Champions for Children Award, as reported in the May 1 Miami Herald. I have very few personal heroes and heroines and these two are at the top of my list.

It’s hard to think of two people who have had more positive impact on the youth of our community than David and Constance. We are so lucky to have such outstanding role models.

Doug Mayer,

Coral Gables

Foolish Florida

I’m a former Miami-Dade County resident. My wife and I visit our parents and friends in South Florida frequently. We’ll be drinking plenty of bottled water on future trips to the Sunshine State.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have disgraced and defiled the offices they hold by putting bogus science ahead of public health in their push to remove fluoride from the state’s tap water. Decades of reputable studies have proven that adding a minuscule amount of fluoride to the public water system has no ill health effects on adults and children.

Conspiracy theorists masquerading as politicians and public health experts are hijacking Florida’s public health. I feel bad for future generations who will suffer because of these reckless actions.

Adam Pinsker,

Indianapolis, IN

Biden’s fault

All the Democrats, bleeding heart liberals and radical judges who are jumping all over President Trump for the massive problems caused by illegal immigrants would do well to realize none of the chaos would be taking place had President Biden left the borders closed.

Larry L. Solomon,

West Kendall

Sad situation

Re: the article by Mark Moran of UPI in the May 6 edition of the Miami Herald, “Nearly 1 million face losing health insurance as Aetna plans to exit ACA marketplace.” Affordable Care Act tax credits and other financial incentives implemented by the Biden administration in 2021 are scheduled to expire next year. The end of ACA will effect all insurance plans.

In view of the enormous number of Floridians in Medicare and Medicaid, this is shocking. Many depend on maintenance drugs and other forms of medical assistance.

All of the day’s news is focused on immigration, tariffs, the economy and the infamous DOGE. President Trump has repeatedly stated that Medicare and Social Security would not be touched. So far, he has not done a thing to reinforce that statement.

Will the ACA be extended while he “thinks about it?“

I recently called Aetna, my Medicare health plan. The customer representative knew nothing about ACA’s ending.

The citizens of this country elected Trump based on his promises. So far, he seems to have only his bully pulpit thinking and deporting anyone who was not born here, regardless of status.

Our local representatives are also focused on immigration and have forgotten why they were elected.

Marie D. Valenti,

South Miami

Changing landscape

Redland, Miami-Dade County’s agricultural area, is being hastily changed as developers transform farm fields and groves into eyesores of high-density, cookie-cutter homes and townhomes, which grossly conflict with rural aesthetics.

A recent commission meeting demonstrated why Redland is doomed. To voice concerns, affected residents must travel at least two hours to commission chambers downtown. Travel time increases daily as south Dade becomes more and more overpopulated and is too great for many residents. Some attendees, whose stated addresses were far from the project in question, spoke in support of the development. Their insincere support diminishes local residents’ valid concerns about density, infrastructure and traffic.

South Dade Commissioners Danielle Cohen-Higgins and Kionne McGhee have repeatedly chosen to ignore their constituents, who are emphatic about maintaining their quality of life. Residents are fighting an unfair battle without support of their elected officials.

Vanessa McDonough,

Homestead