I am a bit delinquent in my reading. I just caught up with Anna Weaver’s very enjoyable May 18, article in the Hawaii Catholic Herald, “The Story of the Statue.”

It struck me that there was one important omission in an otherwise well-researched and well-written story, namely, the role of Emmett Cahill in lobbying the legislature to designate Father Damien as one of the two Hawaiians to be the State’s representatives in the National Statutory Hall. I was director of the Legislative Reference Bureau at the time. I hardly knew Emmett then, but his tenacious, enthusiastic, one-on-one lobbying of individual legislators over several sessions is perhaps the most memorable exhibit of effective lobbying I have ever witnessed.

I do not think we would have ever had Father Damien in Statutory Hall if it had not been for Emmett. Sure, lots of others were involved, but Emmett played the key role that in the end that made the difference between success and a good try.

Tom Dinell, Honolulu

Magnifiwhat!?

What is Catholic Harold smoking? (Hawaii Catholic Harold Quiz, Aug. 10) If the Magnificat really is another word for the Assumption of Mary, then Intinction is a kind of iodine, Scruple is a new board game, and Father Gary Colton is pastor of the moon.

Emily Bott, Wailuku

Editor’s note: Yes, we blew it. See correction on page 15