Letters to the Editor

Selfishness causes some to leave

John Norton's column asking the question as to who is responsible for the exodus of Catholics from the Church ("Who's most responsible for Church: Priests? Laity?" April 13) gave me cause to pause, along with the rest of the April 13 issue. He reported that some reasons people gave for Catholics leaving the Church was the so-called sex scandal. But I think more to the point was Norton's comparison of the "unpastoral and imperious" priest to the priests responsible for weak sermons, poor catechesis and subpar sacramental ministry. Let us take the case of the cohabiting couple who wants "the traditional Catholic wedding." If the priest says no to such a request, citing the bad example such weddings give to the younger people and the parish at large, he would be "unpastoral and imperious." If he looks the other way, then he is a weak leader, a poor teacher and is selling out the sacrament.

Maybe we should look at a third possibility as to why people leave the Church, and perhaps it is a good thing. The Catholic Church is carrying so much dead wood in the form of laypeople who have no interest in a Christian, let alone Catholic, lifestyle. This is nowhere better illustrated than in the article "Parish priests exert political influence" in the same issue. While I have no doubt that there have been people who have been hurt by insensitive clergy, given that there have been people in the past who have risked their lives to go to Mass, I cannot and will not believe that there is anything any priest, parish council or other member of the Church can do to alienate someone who really wants to be a member of the Body of Christ. Instead, my experience has been that most of those who leave the Church do so because the Church refuses to be remade in their own particular image and likeness.

-- Father Fred Gatschet, Hays, Kan.

A Catholic journey

In the April 13 issue, Michael Murphy inquired of Msgr. M. Francis Mannion about the "Walk to Emmaus." I would like to reply to that inquiry. The Catholic "version" of the "Walk," is the "Journey to Damascus." It is the same awesome format as the "Walk" but with a Catholic perspective and the inclusion of the Mass.

-- Marilou Lynch, Kingsville, Texas

A matter of respect

I am commenting on Msgr. M. Francis Mannion's answer to Nancy L. Horlander on "God: he or He?" (Pastoral Answers, April 13).

God is "I AM, Me, He, Him, His, etc.!"

In all due respect to God, if writers use the uppercase "I" in reference to themselves, then it is imperative to use the uppercase in any word that identifies God.

To not do so may just be a sin of disobedience to God's First and Second Commandments, "I am the Lord thy God: you shall not have strange/false gods before Me!" and " You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain!"

It is not just a literary style up for grabs; it is a matter of worship, honor, respect and theology.

The growing lack of respect for everything in our culture, including God, is the reason for these errors in literature, especially Catholic literature.

-- Ray Leo Skiba, Alpena, Mich.

Sad reading

How terribly saddened I found myself after reading about women Religious in "Disorder among the orders" (In Focus, April 6). While I had expected "dissent among the ranks," I never thought it this bad. To think that there are so-called women Religious who are openly for abortion is more than I can bear.

I thank God that new orders faithful to the Church are sprouting out. I've met some of their members. What a difference from the "feminists nuns."

St. Teresa of Avila prayed, "From sour-faced saints, deliver us." I pray, "From worldly nuns deliver us."

-- L. Banks, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Marxism's ills

I want to say that Marxism is another reason for the vocation shortage and disorder in Religious life ("Disorder among the orders," April 6).When women in our Religious orders are beguiled by Marxism, they can then readily be led to support sterilization clinics, abortion, homosexuality and lesbianism, euthanasia, nature worship, hatred of men and the hierarchical structure of the Church, dissent against our Holy Father and the teachings of the Church.

Through deep prayer, penance, frequent reception of the sacraments, daily recitation of the Rosary and consecrating our hearts to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, religious life will be renewed and the true Brides of Christ will once again be able to live in an environment that supports their love for Church teachings and their total dedication to God.

-- Patricia Hain, Wilmington, Del.

Big egos, big problem

I read in great sadness the plight of religious orders and women Religious. I'll add their miseries to the ever growing list of Church woes in our country -- school closings, the decline in vocations, exiting Catholics, empty pews and "the scandal."

As I write this letter I sit in wonder and amazement that no one seems to want to recognize the cancer that eats away at Holy Mother Church. As many strive for the wants and needs of selfish individualism, they do not consider that they are abandoning Christ on the cross. He hangs their beaten, humiliated, naked and alone as we walk with our back to him into a world to try and establish our identity, not realizing that by our baptism we are children of God.

If we would embrace Christ, then maybe our ego problems would start to fade. If we take the focus off ourselves and remember God's love is meant to be shared, then maybe we can begin once again to deal with the really serious stuff, like all the babies who are being killed, in the womb or beaten or shaken to death as infants.

Too many have placed themselves and their interests above God's. How can we wonder, then, why there is hunger or poverty.

-- Les Johnson, Akron, Ohio