Letters to the Editor

Keep past hurts where they belong

I refuse to accept the "guilt" Gerald Korson is attempting to place on the present generation of whites for slavery, which was ended in 1865 ("Was it black preaching, or are we overreaching?" April 6). The Rev. Jeremiah Wright's statements are inflammatory and wrong.

I also refuse to be criticized for the actions of the United States in its peacekeeping efforts in World War I and World War II. My paternal ancestors came from Ireland before the Revolutionary War. They never owned slaves or lived in states that condoned slavery. My maternal ancestors came to the United States in 1900 and located in North Dakota.

I am not proud of the actions of many people who discriminated against blacks for too long, but bigots like Rev. Wright are not helping develop better race relations. I do not want my Church defending him. He is wrong. He needs to quiet down. We are moving ahead. Perfect we are not. Most of us are trying.

-- Donald J. Roevia e-mail

Double standard

After reading Gerald Korson's article on the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, several issues need to be raised about the soft peddling of hateful race mongering when certain black ministers are preaching. Does it matter under what context these type remarks are viewed when they are nothing less than pure racial hatred preached by a minister of the gospel of Christ and then defended by a Catholic priest?

Would Korson defend and overlook a white minister who preached just the opposite hate and race speech and conclude it's acceptable if viewed in the right context? For too long the media has forgiven black racism, especially when it comes from the pulpit, and absolved it as their "rhetorical tradition."

-- Carl S. Gagliano, Auburn, Ala.

What will Jesus say?

Do administrators promoting the "Vagina Monologues" ("Risqué play reignites academic freedom debate," April 6) anticipate proudly standing before Jesus saying: "See how we helped your flock placed in our care better understand Your Father's beautiful gift of self through sexual intimacy? We presented a worldly twisted explicit version of it and had a discussion afterwards."

Did the Holy Spirit guide them to this decision? Would they sit next to Christ in the audience and feel proud of what they are feeding God's children? Christ WILL be there in every person. Will they be proud of the erotic feelings irreverent sexually explicit discussions evoke, regardless of the person's intentions? Will Christ say, "Well done my good and faithful servant," or will he inquire after the lost sheep who left before the discussion? 

The students HAVE academic freedom: to attend and discuss any presentation at any facility and the choice to present thousands of years of other literary works that are not morally offensive. Catholics, especially Catholic institutions, should lift the world up, not stoop to its level.

-- Linda Bader, Cincinnati, Ohio

It takes Courage

Regarding Teresa Tomeo's Eye on Culture column ("Down a dark Abby," March 23) in which Tomeo shows how advice columns have become shills for the culture of death over the years, it's edifying that others besides myself have noticed the disturbing trend.

An Annie's Mailbox column a couple of months ago prompted me to write a letter to protest the advice for a homosexual man who felt like an outcast at his church to contact a support group affiliated with his faith. Since he didn't mention what denomination he belonged to, several groups were listed, including DignityUSA for Catholics.

I argued that a quick check of Wikipedia would have shown that DignityUSA is a dissident group that has been barred from using any of the Catholic Church's facilities. Rather, the column should have listed Courage (www.couragerc.net), which is endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family. As expected, I received no replies despite three tries for an answer.

-- Joel Torczon, Bakersfield, Calif.

Incomparable tragedy

Re: "Sanctity of all life" (Letters to the Editor, March 23):

The writer suggests that execution of criminals is a greater consideration in regard to life issues than abortion. This is a common line of thought for those who refuse to change their allegiances to political parties when the parties change their platforms.

I, too, am opposed to capital punishment, but the few hundreds of guilty criminals executed cannot compare with the more than 35 million innocent unborn babies killed through abortion since it was legalized in 1973.

Abortion is an unspeakable crime against humanity and we must all do what we can to end it through legal means, assist those who may be planning it to change their minds and help those who have had abortions to recover from the resulting trauma.

-- Greg Prom, Minneapolis, Minn.

Liturgy's beauty

I concur with Betty Well's admiration for the Tridentine Mass (Letters to the Editor, March 30) but offer a different take.

When I entered the true Church in 1965, the "old Mass" was on the way out and what prayers were still present were in English. In 1972, I made a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, and while there attended a Byzantine-rite Mass as I was curious and found it beautiful, which led me to locate a local parish and began to attend every Saturday evening and my Roman rite on Sunday.

Finally, I underwent a voluntary change of rite and my family is now Byzantine-Melkite, which is an action I never regretted. A few months ago, a local Roman pastor offered a Tridentine Mass twice a month, and I decided to attend. I immediately had trouble following it, even though I did buy a missal. That was because of the difficulty I found in hearing the priest at times.

However, the beauty of the ancient liturgy offered in a reverent manner struck me, and I now attend the monthly high Mass in addition to my own English rite, and confess spiritual benefit from it.

To those who promote its use, I commend you, but suggest the younger generation, lacking background for it, has a great struggle ahead in order to persevere. I honor you!

-- Russell Pond, Nashua, N.H.