RELIGIOUS DISPUTATION
I DISAGREE WITH SOME of Jay Weiser's claims in "What Luther Wrought" (Aug. 21 / Aug. 28). He writes, "in our era Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI with their absolutist views of papal power are worthy successors to the Counter-Reformation tradition," yet do these contemporary popes regard democracy as a heresy, as popes did in Counter-Reformation days? It is a stretch to say they have the same "absolutist views of papal power" as their 16th-century predecessors.
Additionally, Weiser describes the Jesuits as the "militant arm of the Counter-Reformation [who] sent underground priests to destroy Protestantism in the British Isles." Indeed, these Jesuits, mainly English and Irish priests ordained in France, risked their lives by sneaking back into England to minister, secretly of course, to those who wished to remain Catholic, despite the illegality of hearing and saying Mass. Many of these priests were caught and, after being dragged through the streets, were hanged, drawn, and quartered. But they were not trying to "destroy" Protestantism; rather, they were giving their lives so that Catholic "recusants" could receive the sacraments--a task itself so difficult that even if they had wished to, they would not have had the time or the means to proselytize Protestants, despite the rumors that such subversion was in the works.
JUAN C. O'CALLAHAN
Stonington, Conn.
INTERNATIONAL FLAW
WHILE JEREMY RABKIN makes many good points in "The Fantasy of International Law" (Aug. 21 / Aug. 28), I would like to add to his analogy between international treaties and state laws limiting self-defense: While the state of Connecticut, for example, may limit my response to a home invader, it also takes on the responsibility of my protection. If someone tries to enter my house uninvited, I can call the police to come and evict him.
If the international community is going to limit the actions Israel can take to defend itself, then it is incumbent upon the same community to come to Israel's defense quickly and forcefully.
AARON FRANK West Hartford, Conn.
COMFORT TO ENEMIES
REGARDING Paul Hollander's "America by Numbers" (Aug. 21 / Aug. 28): I have noticed that various foreigners' dislike of the United States is often cited in attacks on the Bush administration's foreign policy. These critics usually claim that Bush's policy has fed anti-American hostility, as they lament President Bush's putting an end to those happy days when we had "moral authority." Yet for enemies such as Iran, it is naive to think they would be friendly if only we would stop "wronging" them. The Iranian regime continues to send proxies to attack Israel, which has done nothing to Iran. To Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, et al., Israel's sin is that most of its citizens are Jews--just as America's sin is that many of its people are Christians.
What counts with enemies such as these is their military capability, not their feelings. We would do well to focus on how best to destroy them--and resolve to do it--before they go after us, rather than waste time musing about how we might make them like us better.
MIKE HOLLINS Los Angeles, Calif.
CORRECTION
CHARLOTTE ALLEN's review of Richard Schickel's biography of Elia Kazan ("Truth Teller," Aug. 21 / Aug. 28), should have said that the film On the Waterfront was set in Hoboken, N.J., not in Brooklyn.