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LETTERS

Reader responds to ‘bitter letter’

My goodness, what a bitter letter that John Stec writes in the Sept. 24 issue!

It seems that I’ve had this argument before with ultra right wing, angry and bitter Protestants.

To address his points:

• I don’t know of any diocese or seminary that ever accepted “practicing” homosexuals. Any candidate for priesthood must intend to live a life of celibacy, and at the same time it was never a requirement for a candidate to be a virgin. True, there were rumors of weird things going on at some of the seminaries, but it was only that, rumors. No institution can control every one, all the time.

• Maybe I live in a glass house, but I don’t know of any Catholics aborting their babies.

• I hold fast that protected sex is better than unprotected sex anytime, anyday. It would be nice if we lived in a chaste world, but it will never happen, and the more options we have to stay safe from disease, the better.

• Granted, there are a number of us “cafeteria” Catholics. Perhaps we should return to the Chapter of Faults that some monasteries used or still do. Perhaps a good flogging will do.

• There is no Catholic politician (that I know of) who supports the murder of unborn children. But they do respect the laws that permit a woman’s right to have an abortion. It is the Church’s job to convince us not to have one.

• See numbers 1–5. I will add that Hitler ordered homosexuals killed, and some Islamic cultures support the death penalty for them as well. Does that make you happy? Shall we kill doctors who perform abortions and blow up the clinics?

• If there are such programs as mentioned in his #7, then that should be stopped.

• Regarding distracting clothing at Mass, he’s got me there. I was distracted by someone who wore white, see through shorts the other day at Mass.

• Apathy at 3,000 aborted babies per day? Our parish Knights of Columbus sponsors a free bus every year to DC to march against Roe vs. Wade on its anniversary. We have rosaries to pray against abortion. We’ve had peaceful protest marches at the abortion clinics.

If this is only a partial list, I would hate to see the full list. As Mr. Stec says, “God help us.”

Bruce Jones
Richmond

CV rapped for not offering instruction

I would just like to commend John Stec for his fabulous letter (“Catholics said ignoring Church laws”) in the the September 24 issue of The Catholic Virginian. Mr. Stec said in one letter more then I have read in this paper in 10 years.

The nine issues that Mr. Stec brings to light in his letter are the type of things that should be addressed regularly in The Catholic Virginian. But the fact is, very rarely does this paper offer instruction and/or reinforcement of Church Law or Catholic teaching.

The vast majority of articles found in these pages tip-toe around the issues and attempt to pass off nearly Protestant teaching as Catholic. This paper needs to present the Church’s position and the Church’s only.

The Catholic Virginian needs to be an advocate of the Catholic Church and her teachings. No need to give an opposing opinion. Just turn on your TV, pick up the newspaper or turn on your radio and you’ll hear more anti-Church than you’ll care for.

Eric C. Demyanovich
Glen Allen

Letter writer omits group

Regarding the Letter “Catholics said ignoring Church laws” under #6, Mr. Stec forgot to mention politicians (and political parties) who support the Death Penalty.

Dena Ferguson
Chesapeake

read Mr. Stec’s letter >>

Mary Hart column hits home

I am a mother of four. I really enjoy reading Mary Hart’s column and can relate to much of what she writes, or can picture myself there in several years. (My children are 12, 10, 7 and 5. Yes, my youngest just started kindergarten!)

I had to write because of her most recent column, “Whole family faith formation.” I struggle with this. Our parish holds weekday classes and that is too much classroom time for my kids after a full school day.

Our whole family took the year off from formal religious education last year — it was just too much.

Our previous parish held a modified version of the “whole family” classes on Sunday afternoons. While I would have welcomed a year of “Catholicism from Scratch,” instead I received teaching from a nun on very high-level topics. These talks assumed I knew a lot about Bible history, world history and Church history. I do not.

I am interested in all of that, but most of what I learned was way over my head. Besides the fact, that right now, entrenched as I am in raising my children, I want some lessons on how to bring faith home. My favorite part of that year was the small group discussion time, where we parents could share ideas on Advent, Easter, family prayer, et cetera.

My husband completed RCIA in March 2002 and was confirmed on the same day our daughter was baptized. It was a very special day, even with sleep deprivation! Sometimes I envied his taking the classes because I believe he knows more about the Mass than I do!

I am confident in my faith and in my relationship with God, but I cringe at the thought of having to explain to my children about some of the traditions of the Mass or the Church.

Mary’s idea of “an opportunity to learn or review the basics of faith,” sounds like an excellent one. Are there options for those parents who don’t have my same needs? I could see it develop as a wide-reaching program: beginners, intermediate and advanced.

I would totally support our parish shifting to this model. Any advice?

Angela DeGrands Taliaferro
Richmond

read the column >>

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