Letters 09.25.11

Church’s Guidance on TOB

Regarding “TOB and Love’s Mystery” (Nation, Aug. 28):

Human procreation is a mystery that participates in the very creation of eternal beings. Who can properly understand this mystery? Even angels cannot procreate other eternal beings. We laity are trying to understand the theology of the body so we can explain the awesome eternal mystery of the marital embrace to our children.

Of course, we non-educated-in-theology-and-philosophy-“average-Joe” laity will make mistakes in presentation. Since procreation is a supernatural action, we need the Church’s direct guidance from the clergy via both the pulpit and the CCD classroom. If what we laity are teaching is not optimal, please give us something that is optimal. Don’t criticize without offering help.

In my opinion, if we properly understood the theology of our bodies, 90% of all the world’s problems would disappear. Please help us; don’t just tell us what we are doing wrong.

Joe Marincel

Flower Mound, Texas

NFP, Not the Pill

Regarding “Contraception Crisis: Guttmacher Finds Many Catholic Women Use Birth Control” (June 5):

I don’t understand why so many Catholics use artificial birth control, when free, safe, proven, effective natural family planning (NFP) has been so readily available since the 1970s and is so easy to use.

Don’t they realize they are taking up to a 50% greater risk for such dangers as breast cancer, heart failure and stroke at a young age, plus possible early menopause as much as 15 years younger?

And much more significantly, don’t they realize that they are coming perilously close to losing their immortal souls, when the NFP method is approved by God and his Church?

Terry Hornback

Wichita, Kansas

Coach’s Cussing

Relevant to “Should Notre Dame’s Coach Be Fired for Cursing?” (NCRegister.com, Sept. 4):

I loved the article written on the foul language used by coach Brian Kelly. I was at the disastrous game until half time. The second half we watched as a family from our home.

Imagine my disgust watching Notre Dame football with my young children and watching Coach Kelly throw profanity at his players. Two of my older children attend the University of Notre Dame. We pride ourselves on the Catholic ideals the university was founded on. I would imagine the founding fathers of the university would be disgusted.

Can ND football players be driven to “Seek God, Love God and Serve God” when they are being sworn at? Is it win at all costs ... even if that cost is a loss of character? Notre Dame claims to be great because it is good. I find it hard to believe there is anything good about using foul language to someone else’s child, even if that child is wearing a ND football uniform.

Maybe Coach Kelly needs to re-evaluate what it means to be “good” — and then and only then will Notre Dame football be great once again.

Eileen Healy

Wheaton, Illinois

Not in the Curriculum

I used to like to think that somehow we Catholics — especially in high-profile and influential institutions — would set an example of “doing the next right thing,” especially when it comes to young people.

Coaches that work at universities are supposed to be teachers. What seems to come first at Notre Dame, though, is just win. I loved a bunch of coaches through the years for different reasons. Yelling at players is not one.

Peter Magadini

San Francisco, California

Enthusiastic Support

Has circulation increased over the last six months since the acquisition by EWTN? I hope it has. I am one of them. Now radio! Wonderful. God bless you, and I will keep supporting your paper.

I belong to a small men’s group, so when I’m done with an issue, I give it away to one of the lads hoping that they subscribe, as well.

John Halpin

Whittier, California

The editor replies: We’re grateful for your support, both financially, through your subscription, and spiritually, through your prayers.


Correction

In the Register’s story “Mission: Catholic Identity” (Sept. 11), the photo caption incorrectly identified one of the people in the photo. On the left was Thomas Mead, executive vice president of the Cardinal Newman Society. The Register regrets the error.