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LETTERS
Reader defends Church teachings
Robert Verbeke’s letter “Illegal immigration said not right” (May 5 issue) is nonsensical.
He states: “Parishes have been consolidated or closed because of the loss of many of their members through defection or by migration of constituents to more affluent neighborhoods. The illegal immigrants will possibly fill the void that currently exists because they are baptized Catholics and they will likely reside in the areas vacated by more affluent citizens.”
Huh?
He then states: “The argument has been made that this country needs these immigrants to perform vital tasks that would otherwise go undone. If such is the case, then why should not these employers be required to act as sponsors for the immigrants they wish to hire?”
The answer: because employers are now being fined, arrested and punished for providing them jobs.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have made the position of the Church very clear with regard to immigrants - legal or illegal.
The document “Strangers No Longer,” issued jointly by Bishops of Mexico and the United States, says explicitly that “The Church recognizes the right of sovereign nations to control their territories but rejects such control when it is exerted merely for the purpose of acquiring additional wealth. More powerful economic nations, which have the ability to protect and feed their residents, have a stronger obligation to accommodate migration flows (Page 15, Paragraph 36).”
To close the door on the undocumented is against the teachings of the universal Catholic Church, and the teachings of the Gospel.
Regrettably, I am compelled to defend the teachings of the Church and the Holy Scriptures, in this case, against other members of the Catholic Church.
“Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:40).
Jim Romeo
Chesapeake
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Sex abuse harmed many throughout U.S.
I am disappointed and upset with the lack of acknowledgement and reporting by the national news media and our own Catholic Church on the Church’s sexual abuse cases that exist in other states.
The recent editorial entitled “Victims of Sex Abuse” from the May 5 issue and other letters always mention the abuses that happened in Boston, but never mention the hundreds and maybe thousands of abuses that also occurred in other states such as New Mexico, Arizona and other southwestern U.S. states.
The dioceses of the Eastern U.S. would make it a regular practice to send their “problems” to be “rehabilitated” at the Servants of the Paraclete in northern New Mexico.
These pedophile priests were then placed back into the communities of the southwest and ultimately abused hundreds of boys and girls throughout the west.
I know this because I grew up in New Mexico and know people who were abused by priests.
Now, I don’t blame those in the eastern U.S. for not hearing about this issue but I believe it is the Church’s duty to acknowledge the full extent of this issue.
It is not limited to Boston or even to the United States. It is a church-wide issue and Pope Benedict needs to recognize it as such before any true healing can begin.
Stephen McTigue
Roanoke
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Catholic Homeschooling said a viable option
I agree that Catholic schools should be made more affordable, but the primary focus of the diocese should be that children receive a solidly Catholic education.
The fact is that even if the existing Catholic schools in the Richmond Diocese were financially available to all families there would still not be enough of them to make a Catholic school available to every Catholic child.
 Fortunately, there is another option for parents who wish to give their children a sound Catholic education; it remains remarkably inexpensive and should be encouraged by the diocese. What I am referring to is Catholic Homeschooling.
Many Catholic parents choose homeschooling because parish schools cost more than they can afford, some choose it because there are no Catholic schools where they live and many choose it because as it says in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” paragraph 2221: “The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute”...“The right and duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable.”
The diocese, along with working to make parish schools more affordable, should adopt a more encouraging attitude toward Catholic Homeschooling by promoting it as a good and holy option for Catholic parents when a Catholic school is not an option, and by openly supporting families already providing their children with a good Catholic education through homeschooling.
Nancy Baker
Keysville
Catholic schools need support of all
What kind of Catholics do we have in the Diocese of Richmond? Just because I am not a direct beneficiary of a charitable deed, I should loudly protest to its unfairness!
No wonder the Catholic Church is in such big trouble. It isn’t just the lack of vocations or the onslaught of scandals but the terrible selfish mind set of a number of Catholics.
When the Diocese asks for financial help to provide food and clothing for the poor, we jump at the chance to help. But when it’s the struggling Catholic schools, we moan and groan.
And believe me, this is the same group of Catholics who have no problems ‘taxing’ the rich to provide free ‘everything’ to the ‘poor.’
You lose Catholic schools and you will kill the future of the Roman Catholic Church. Some are fortunate enough to hear God’s Calling without too much outside help, but some need that ‘push’ to hear,listen and obey.
If only one more child decided to become a priest or nun because of Catholic education, that is one more priest or nun who will be able to serve hundreds more.
We might not know a single child in a Catholic school in Bristol,VA or Calcutta, India but because we are Catholics and have faith in the good that Catholic schools fulfill, we open our hearts and ‘wallets’ to their needs.
Elenita C. Harpen
Suffolk
Parishes urged to help Catholic schools
I would like to respond to the recent letter “Diocesan tax for schools said unfair,” in the May 5 issue. I know the writer, Mr. John Donohue, and I respect him and his opinion on what he perceives as the unfairness of the recent decision of the Diocese to impose an assessment to support Catholic schools.
However, I think he is oversimplifying the issue. I also am not completely satisfied with the “assessment” approach to support our schools, but at least it gets us moving in the right direction.
Mr. Donohue states that it unfairly takes money from parishes with no schools and gives it to those with schools. This is true, but there is a history behind this.
Unfortunately, at least in the Richmond area, parishes without schools have been woefully unsupportive of Catholic education. This is manifested by the significantly low number of children from these parishes who attend Catholic schools.
Until recently, the mere mention of “Catholic schools” in these parishes brought denial, non-support, and even the unwillingness to discuss the issue.
Contrast this to the support, pride and ownership that parishes which sponsor schools have. St. Joseph’s in Petersburg is a significant example.
In the Richmond diocese, we do not have parishes like those in the Northeast that have a school right next door to the church. Therefore, it is critical that parishes without schools embrace Catholic education and encourage families to send their children to local Catholic schools. In the end, this is the only way our diocesan schools will survive.
As to the current assessment process, it would be more appropriate if each parish were mandated to encourage families to consider a Catholic education and to provide economic support to those who wished to do so. Then there would be a direct connection between the financial support and the benefit received by the parish families.
As a parent who supports Catholic education and has seen one child complete a faith-based education, and another who is currently in a Catholic high school, I can assure you that our schools provide an excellent educational opportunity, and one that is worthy of our support.
Rick Pleasants
Ashland
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