Manichean Mess

Thank you for publishing R.R. Reno’s commentary (“Manichean Mess in the Making,” In Depth, Aug. 6 issue) on Father Antonio Spadaro’s politically charged broadside against American conservatives. 

It is high time that more leaders in the Church, lay and clerical (aside from the “dubia cardinals”), speak the truth in charity with respect to the sometimes hyperbolic generalizations and, frankly, defamatory accusations that have been issued by friends of Pope Francis. 

We are all called to orthodoxy in the faith, regardless of our personal political leanings. 

I would respectfully suggest that most Catholics who consider themselves politically conservative tend to be orthodox in the faith, while those left of the political center tend to favor heterodox views on such fundamental tenets as the sanctity of life, sexuality and marriage. 

Of course, this doesn’t apply to all on the left, but it is clearly more often than not the case; witness the party platforms of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

By publicly aligning themselves against conservatives, Pope Francis and his friends have repeatedly sent the message that they favor left-wing views, and that is a great squandering of their responsibility. 

The world of today is enough of a spiritual wasteland that the Church, the magisterium and the Holy Father owe it to millions upon millions of souls to spend every waking moment publicly promulgating religious orthodoxy and unity, not division by taking sides in whatever political popular views are in the realm of prudential judgment. 

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).

         Patrick Simons

         Laguna Hills, California

 

 

‘Leviathan’

Thank you for the views of the world the Register staff finds and presents that are hard to find anywhere else. Thank you for engaging the best of leaders, thinkers and shapers of our society.

Pertinent to “Our Divisions Are Very Deep,” Matthew Bunson’s interview with Robert George (In Person, Aug. 20 issue):

One of his important insights is that one adversary will adopt techniques that are working for the other. It is true that conservatives have stooped to demonizing. President Trump cannot break the habit, though he daily also offers words of commendation and healing. The great difference between the right and the left is that demonizing on the left is a calculated offensive: lies and diversions from truth.

So it’s stretching it to credit goodwill to some members of the “secularist faith.”

What we can do is to see Christ in each person and give that person the respect and love we hope to give to Christ.

How can professor George permit himself to label one man “not ... of high or strict principles” or another “a man of deeply conservative principles”? The Fifth Commandment and whole New Testament allow God alone to judge a person’s character.

President Trump is “famously transactional.” What progress in government is not transactional? How else would the American Revolution, or Gandhi’s peaceful resistance, or the work of Polish Solidarity have succeeded? Isn’t a person skilled in “putting things on the table” and working out mutual benefits just who we would want for a leader?

In his calls for healing, President Trump asks us Americans to consider our soldiers — one for all and all for one. He speaks of a loyalty that is, at heart, love for one another. He ends each appeal by putting us in the hands of God.

Every person who has signed on with Trump has knowingly stigmatized himself and his/her family for life. This loyalty to a fallible man, to a fallible effort, is precisely the dependence on God that God is asking of us.

With the power of the Holy Eucharist, we are on active duty to defend the leader God has allowed us to have and who does promote the “God-fearing” of our two religions. We must meet every attempt to stigmatize or to deceive with creative, educated love.

Whether God allows us to see some victory or not, we can be sure that unless we humbly lay down our lives and unite with our president, chaos will have its way.

         Carol Yalbuw

         Grangeville, Idaho

 

Exposing All Hate

I read the several articles and columns in the Register’s Sept. 3-16, 2017, issue on the far-right hate groups with a great deal of interest.

I concur in rejecting such groups for both their radical view of life in general, but mostly because of the venomous hate that they espouse, which is so contrary to the Gospel message by which I try to live.

However, I could not help noting that your various articles and columns did not deal with the hate groups on the far left, such as antifa. This radical group, which dresses in black and mostly wears black masks, has been on a recent campaign to forcibly protest free speech and assembly of those with whom they disagree, particularly conservatives and most particularly those on the far right.

They destroy property and attack people as they go on their various rampages of protest. If not for antifa, the far-right hate groups marching in Charlottesville would likely have been uneventful. Of course, those groups no doubt were all too happy to have been violently challenged by antifa, as it gave a huge publicity boost to those groups that they otherwise would not have had.

My question is: Except for some rather veiled allusions, why did the Register limit its coverage only to the radical far-right hate groups?

Was it a rush to judgment on the Register’s part, since the mainstream media provided a one-sided treatment to the Charlottesville melee? That one-sided treatment unsurprisingly suggested a bias in favor of the far left. The Register, as did many others, including politicians, clergymen and various media commentators, seemed to have fallen into the trap of believing that the Charlottesville hate was only on one side and the other not so fully identified side was as innocent as wind-driven snow.

We now know that was not an accurate portrayal of the rampage in Charlottesville.

Hate on whatever side should be exposed and condemned.

In my opinion, the Register failed to do this!

         William Brown

         Arlington, Texas

 

‘Feminine Genius’

Pertinent to “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly Host Catherine Szeltner Discusses Her New Show” (In Person, March 19 issue):  When I first read about Catherine Szeltner’s new assignment, I immediately thought of Pope St. John Paul II’s 1988 apostolic letter “The Dignity of Woman,” where he referenced the “feminine genius” in recognition of the unique gifts, rights and dignity of women.

There, John Paul II encouraged all women to recognize their giftedness, fully engage, and offer their maternal love and support to a world in need of transformation.

In response, I say, “Bravo” for EWTN’s appointment of Szeltner, a true representation of the feminine genius. Of course, feminine perfection can only be found in Mary, the Mother of God, for she fully embodies the four elements of the feminine genius: receptivity, sensitivity, generosity and maternity. Go to it, Catherine, and best of luck!

          Karen Sheehy

          Mandeville, Louisiana

 

 

Clarifications

Regarding recent coverage of Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno: He was a Navy chaplain who ministered to Marines in Vietnam.

Also, in the “Around the Country and the World” sidebar for our page-one Marian consecration story (Oct. 1), the correct dates of consecration for Poland and Scotland, respectively, were: June 6 and Sept. 3.

The Register regrets the errors.