Timely words
Re: Msgr. Owen F. Campion’s “Irish Catholic crisis” (God Lives, Dec. 18).
The Church needs a new St. Patrick! I would like to suggest a powerful reflection on the nature of the Church by the late Msgr. Romano Guardini from his book “The Church of the Lord” (Gateway Editions, $19.95):
“We must remember and reflect with great seriousness on the fact that the Church consists of all those who profess faith in her.
“Each one of us reveals Christ and each one conceals Him. We can never speak as if the Church stood there and we — I in each instance — stood here and I could view and analyze and judge her, pointing out responsibilities and failures. I must always include myself in the image which I construct of her, must refer to myself the judgment I pass upon her. Then the image and the judgment will be different — as though I were speaking of the faults of a person whose life is closely bound up with mine. I tell what is good about him and reject what is faulty, but all in a spirit of love.
“Only then shall I penetrate more deeply into the nature of that mysterious reality which has been moving through history for 2,000 years, loved as nothing earthly has been loved but also hated and persecuted with a bitterness never experienced by anything else.”
— Rev. Jeremiah F. McSweeney, Wheeling, W. Va.Warming trend?
Re: (“A ‘green’ Advent,” Dec. 11).
This brief article doesn’t really state what Pope Benedict XVI believes regarding global warming. Who can argue with his urging to keep in mind the needs of the poor and of future generations?
From the tone of this paragraph, I get the impression that Pope Benedict just might believe in anthropological global warming. The global warming political scam is less about science than about a joining together of political agendas pretending to be science, and I’m sure Pope Benedict knows this.
Regarding the poor, the environmental fanatics that promote the manufacture of ethanol from corn are essentially promoting hunger by turning a food source into fuel.
I would hope that the pope would clarify his positions, or simply request that we pray.
— Bob Armstrong, Farmington Hills, Mich.Where’s Bing?
Re: “Sounds of the Season” (Faith, Dec. 18) Christmas music suggestions.
You forgot some of the really greats:
Perry Como
Andy Williams
Bing Crosby
Johnny Mathis
Neil Diamond
— Anita Alvarez, Montebello, Calif.Parallel wording
Letter writer Ed Dwyer seems to think that the Catholic Church is belittling women by maintaining the phrase “for us men and our salvation” in the new translation of the Nicene Creed (“Out-of-date Creed,” Dec. 25).
However, it should be pointed out that this line is important because it parallels the subsequent line in the Creed, which states that Jesus was incarnate and “became man.” The generic term “us” could mean anything!
I suppose the actual translation from Latin of the term could be read as “human persons,” but that would have to appear in both phrases in order to keep them parallel.
Consider also how St. Paul tells us that sin entered the world through a man, Adam (Rom 5:12), and thus Jesus became a man to redeem all people.
There’s no need to look for a snake under every rock; many things the Church does are for important theological nuances.
— John-Paul Belanger, Rochester Hills, Mich.Female take on Creed
Re: “Out-of-date Creed” (Letters to the Editor, Dec. 25).
I, for one, am secure enough in my faith and my gender (female) that the use of “mankind” or similar words is not an issue, and I am smart enough to know that it means all people (both male and female).
I was disappointed when I discovered “mankind” changed to “all of us,” “persons,” “humankind,” etc., in the Sunday readings and in some Bibles. I would hope all the readings and Bibles go back to using “mankind.” Let’s not change anymore words to make our Catholic religion more politically correct.
— D. Baber, Madison, Ala.