Good Catholic News

I've been a reader of the Register for quite a few years but have never taken the opportunity to say “Thank You.” I look forward to your orthodox presentation of weekly events that touch on the life of the Church. I particularly appreciate you giving us the opportunity to hear from persons directly involved in foreign situations, as you did, for example, in interviewing Bishop Gassis in your June 7-13 edition about the persecution of Christians in Sudan. Sudan has been in the Christian press quite a bit lately, but this was my first opportunity to hear about the situation from the Catholic viewpoint of someone directly involved.

I also appreciated your article about the rally and meetings at Pentecost between lay movements and the Vatican. It is encouraging for us, as laity, to hear Pope John Paul's perspective on those areas in which the laity can make important contributions to the mission of the Church, in this case standing up against the tide of secularism. And his direction as to how we do this was enlightening: keep ourselves securely rooted in the life of the Church, and allow the Holy Spirit's grace to reach outward, through us, to the World. His advice reminds us, as we approach the year 2000 AD, of our foundational roots in the year 30 AD.

John Leidy

Dexter, Michigan

The China Puzzle

Engagement or Isolation? That's the big question on China, and one on which reasonable people can disagree. Clinton obviously favors engagement as evidenced by his upcoming trip (“Clinton's China Trip Stirs Discord in U.S.,” June 14-20). But even those who support engagement should certainly recognize and be influenced by the major religious and human rights issues — perhaps worst of all the heinous forced-abortion policy — at stake in China. Paying a little public lip service to the problems and then getting down to business as usual with our most-favored nation trading partner hardly seems enough of a stand.

Engage if you must, but as part of doing business, extract some kind of measurable improvement in the lives and rights of our Chinese brothers and sisters. Somehow, I have little hope that Clinton is committed, beyond the obligatory lip service to hush the protesters, to nudging China toward real change. Remember, this is a man — legendary most of all for his ability to spin media and manipulate symbols for a mass audience — who agreed to be welcomed in China on ground where less than a decade ago, people were mowed down by tanks because they wanted democracy.

Doesn't he know the message he's sending?

Dietrich Hamnold

Scranton, Pennsylvania