Letters to the Editor
At What Cost, Faith Nights?
I would like to point out one important fact about “faith nights” that I feel Catholics should be aware of before attending (“God, Country and Baseball,” July 2-8).
I need to preface my comments by
explaining that I work for a Catholic radio station that broadcasts throughout
the
To those of you don’t know, World
Vision is one of the largest Christian relief organizations and, while they do
a great deal of good, they openly promote the use of artificial contraceptives.
Realizing this, our radio station opted not to sponsor the faith-night events
in
While we fully commend Third Coast Sports on their mission and ingenuity for bringing Christian values to professional sporting events, we cannot support an event that is also sponsored by an organization that promotes values contrary to Catholic teaching. As a Catholic apostolate charged with fostering the truths of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, we must uphold these teachings, no matter the situation. Although it is probably not the intention of Third Coast Sports to promote the use of contraceptives, they are indirectly encouraging this immoral practice by their relationship with World Vision.
Catholics should be cautious about attending faith nights. Think twice about purchasing those minor-league tickets this summer. Think twice about what you are supporting. Sure, you may be fostering a nondenominational Christian ethic, but at what cost? Today more than ever, as Catholics, we need to stand firm on issues of morality.
Matthew Tremblay
Director of Community Relations
The Station of the Cross
101.7FM —
1460AM —
750AM & 1550AM — Scranton-Wilkes/Barre
Triumphant Veto
Regarding “A Courageous No” (Editorial, Aug 6-12):
The first veto by President Bush of a Senate bill expanding federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research beyond existing stem-cell lines was not only a promise kept but a triumph of science and morality over emotion.
Bush announced his veto surrounded by 18 families who “adopted” so-called “leftover” embryos not used by other couples. Their children have come to be known as “snowflake babies” because they were once frozen embryos stored in fertility clinics.
In May, 2005, President Bush went before the cameras holding a month-old baby named Trey Jones. He had been one of those leftover frozen embryos coveted by researchers until he was implanted in the womb of his mother. Maybe someday he will grow up to be president. At least he will grow up.
“These boys and girls are not
spare parts,” Bush said. “They remind us of what is lost when embryos are
destroyed in the name of research. They remind us that we all begin our lives
as a small collection of cells. And they remind us that in our zeal for new
treatments and cures,
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., one of the House co-sponsors of the bill expanding federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, said Bush had “snuffed out the candle of hope” for Americans suffering from a number of diseases who could benefit from this research. But Bush has done no such thing. He is the first president to federally fund this research. He has not banned private research or funding.
Since 1998, when researchers at
the
Everyone wants cures for disease and disability. Not everyone thinks the end justifies the means.
Daniel John Sobieski
Those Astounding Stem Cells
I was really astounded by the article “Saved by Stem Cells” (July 2-8). Since stem cells have that divinely given capacity to become whatever tissue in our bodies, then the more stem cells in our blood stream, the greater the healing that can take place in our system.
I really believe that God, having placed stem cells right within our own bone marrow, has designed the body not only to entropy, but also with a built-in mechanism for the renewal and rejuvenation of our different organs and tissues.
I am happy to be alive in these exciting times. I thank God that we have available today technologies that can enhance the release of our own bone-marrow stem cells for our healing and the maintenance of optimal health without transplantation, and therefore without fear of rejection.
These discoveries of using our own bone-marrow stem cells, I believe, proved President Bush right in vetoing the last bill to lift up the restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research.
Rey Valleser
Well-Chosen Words
I read the letter to the editor from
Mr. Richardson titled “A Poorly Chosen Fight” (July 23 - Aug. 5), in which he
takes issue with and criticizes the timing and wisdom of (former
I was then further enlightened by the column on the opposite page by Mike Johnson, “Four Words That Can Get You Fired,” which, in effect, defended Smith’s choice of words. Essentially, Johnson makes clear that Mr. Smith “spoke words that accurately communicate the identity and ambitions of those practicing homosexual behavior. And he spoke those words on his own time, in a context not related to his job.”
I hope that Mr. Richardson and anyone else who thinks Mr. Smith spoke out of order will read Mike Johnson’s very intelligent and enlightening column in the July 23 - Aug. 5 edition of the Register — a paper that can always be counted on to spotlight the Truth.
Steve Blubaugh
Post-Boomer for Truth
In a letter titled “Lost in Translation” (July 9-15), Register reader Dick Taber asks why, “with Mass attendance declining, the priest shortage, church closings and loss of trust of the clergy,” the bishops are treating a new English translation of the Mass as a “top priority.”
The Church is not a democracy, molding its practices and doctrine to the will of its members. It would appear, though, that recent debates about the Mass (inclusive language, modern music, female priests) reflect a segment of people who wish majority ruled. Some may argue that the way to combat the problems Mr. Taber identifies is to make the Mass more appealing, less dogmatic, more pleasant to the ears. If we only soften the Church’s message, that will fill up the pews.
But perhaps the reason we have the
problems listed above is precisely because
the
The reactions of Register readers to Webster A. Young’s recent columns on Church music seem to confirm my point. Last week’s recessional music told me that Jesus — the Word through whom the entire universe was created and the one God whom made himself like us to save us — is the “Lord of the Dance.” Many Americans in the Church today think that the truth is too difficult to grasp and instead give us lessons like “it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.”
Witness the millions of youth who flocked to John Paul the Great. Why? Because he represented a “modern” Church? No, because he reminded us that the truth is immutable and fascinating, yet also warm and loving. For us post-baby boomers who have lived through the moral relativism our parents’ generation praised, it is refreshing and attractive to hear and know the truth from a trustworthy source, not because it won an opinion poll. If you think democracy will fix the Church, remember that Barabbas was democratically elected.
Let us pray that the new, more accurate English translation brings us closer to encountering true Christian theology, and thus as close to God as Christ intended when he instituted the Mass for us.
Tim Shaughnessy
Calendar Clippers
Our family wishes to thank you for including the Holy Family Fest at Catholic Familyland in Bloomingdale, Ohio, in your New Evangelization Events calendar (July 23 - Aug. 5).
We learned of this tremendous place solely through this notice. Your listing led us to register and attend this event. We were blessed beyond words by this holy experience.
The Apostolate for Family Consecration is indeed a great blessing to today’s Catholic families. We are the parents of six children, ages 17, 15, 13, 10, 6 and 4. Our teens were so validated in their faith by the apostolate’s leadership and the children of like-minded families that they have deemed this “our best vacation ever” and have begged us to return next year.
Recognizing the authentic Catholic teachings of Pope John Paul II and desiring to be obedient to the magisterium, we immediately registered for the upcoming Totus Tuus Family Conference in October.
Thank you again for leading us to this life-changing journey of faith.
Danny and Colleen Milburn
We have good news for Nicole Syed (“Planning Families, Naturally,” (July 9-15) and writer Greg Watts.
With nearly one million hormone
assays in
Particular thanks goes to the
Chinese government for its requirement that the
As Syed’s fellow Aussies say: Crikey! If this isn’t enough evidence to back off from calling natural family planning methods other than the Creighton model “a bit too vague and fluffy,” I don’t know what is.
While we congratulate Ms. Syed in her efforts in
Sue Ek
Executive Director
Billings Ovulation Method Assn./USA boma-usa.org