Pronouncing Pessimism

I enjoy reading Father C. John McCloskey's commentary. It is always well informed and well written.

However, I do not share his optimism about the Roman Catholic Church in America (“Who Are We? Catholics Might Disagree with Huntington,” Aug. 15-21).

I think the Church is being secularized, losing its identity and conforming itself to the American world. It is extremely difficult for any sense of otherworldliness to survive in the oppressive material consensus of modern America.

But our Church will never falter. She is guided by the Holy Spirit, as is so evident in all of her teachings. Our problem in America is a lack of courage on the part of bishops and some priests to explicate these teachings.

Father McCloskey's commentary included a long, optimistic quote by Alexis de Tocqueville on the Catholic Church in America. Here is another quote from de Tocqueville's Democracy in America that speaks to my (pessimism):

“Above this race of men stands an immense and tutelary power, which takes upon itself alone to secure their gratification and to watch over their fate. That power is absolute, minute, regular, provident and mild — it would be like that authority of a parent, if like that authority its object was to prepare man for manhood; but it seeks, on the contrary, to keep them in perpetual childhood.”

Patrick J. Walsh

Boston

Moved by Morse

I have never felt the need to write someone after reading an article, but “What Straight Divorce Has To Do With Homosexual ‘Marriage’” (Commentary & Opinion, Oct. 10-16) just touched my heart. I found it to be the most insightful writing on the subject that I have read.

I agree with the writer, Jennifer Roback Morse, that we have a lot of work before us to straighten out the mess we're in.

I will continue to pray for all those who have the talent to write and aren't afraid to write the truth. God bless your work.

Joanne Coffaro

Cincinnati

Jesus Alone

Regarding “Year of the Eucharist Invigorates Adoration for Vocations” (Oct. 3-9):

When I was in the eighth grade, I went to a weekend retreat for boys at a nearby Catholic college. The first night there, we were each assigned a half-hour period for adoration in the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.

I was given the 8-8:30 p.m. period. When I relieved the other boy and knelt down on the kneeler, there in front of me on the stand was a big card with the heading “Alone at last with my God.”

I was struck with these simple words. I am alone with God, just him and me. And all through my life, I remembered those words as I attended adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in various churches.

This afternoon as I knelt in adoration at St. Mary's, I asked myself, “Why am I alone?” Jesus is here on the altar, but where are all the people? They were all here at Mass today when adoration began. Why not now? What is more important in their lives on a Sunday afternoon: TV, sports or shopping at the mall?

When young boys and girls are driven around to all kinds of sporting events, music practices, theaters and so on, why is there not one who asked Mom or Dad to drive them to adoration? Not even an altar boy in sight.

People these days have all kinds of problems and they are trying to solve them all by themselves, yet here is where the real help is. Just come and tell the good Lord about your troubles and then listen to him. Who else can help any better?

Remember when the apostles fell asleep in the garden? Jesus asked, “Can you not watch one hour with me?” How about you? Can you spare an hour, or 20 minutes, or even five minutes? Think how lonely it must be for Jesus to sit on the altar waiting for you to come visit him. Please come.

Richard Courtney

Muncie, Indiana

Plan B Profits

In “Pro-Life Advocates Continue to Warn of Plan B Dangers” (Oct. 3-9), a sentence really grabbed me: “Those in favor of lowering the bar for Plan B say women need faster access to the drug, especially in situations such as a weekend sexual encounter when doctors may not be available.”

What came to mind was a verse from Mark 8:36-37: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” This is a rhetorical question, as there is nothing in this passing world (sex, money, power — the gold calf stuff) that is more valuable than even one eternal human soul.

It seems today a similar question should be asked: “Or what shall a man (or woman) give in exchange for the life and soul of their intentionally aborted, unbaptized child?” Is a woman's personal freedom or “right” to have a brief and possibly forgotten “weekend sexual encounter” now held to have more value than an eternal and unforgettable child's life?

Joe Marincel

Flower Mound, Texas

Afterlife Appointment

Regarding “Bishops Tackle the Issue of Communion for Politicians (Oct. 3-9):

In this life, a person may posture and falsely proclaim his “faithfulness” to all in order to effect a public image, but he still will have to answer for this blatant hypocrisy in the afterlife.

I am reminded of what my grandmother used to say when she'd hear of someone failing in family life duties or in the practice of their religion: “People forget that they have to die someday.”

Eugene Mercier

Nashua, New Hampshire

An Uneasy ‘Peace'

In “Armenian Orthodox Leader Sends Letter to Pope” (Media Watch, Aug. 15-21), you quote the Armenian Orthodox leader's letter to our Holy Father: “the centuries-long friendship and peaceful coexistence between the Christians of the East and the Islamic peoples.”

Peaceful coexistence? Of all the peoples of the East, the Armenians suffered as much as any from Islamic forces — indeed, near to total destruction at the hands of the Turks. Catholicos Garegin II is either senile or a traitor to the Armenian peoples of the world to write such an outright lie.

There has not been a time in the last 1,400-plus years when the relations between Muslims and others have been other than one of the other peoples being victims or slaves or inferior citizens (in a state of Dhimitude) of Islamic forces — or, in better times and ways, over-the-sword opponents of Crusaders and others who opposed them.

James Pawlak

West Allis, Wisconsin

Beauty and Art

Barbara Nicolosi's article in the Sept. 12-18 issue, “Art and Beauty,” addressed issues that have been bothering me for quite some time. Some of the modern statues depicting Mary are truly ugly. My question is: Who are “they” who commission this “art”? Who approves their selection to be placed in our churches?

When God the Father, in his infinite love and power, created the mother of his divine Son, he made the most perfect woman to inhabit this earth, in every way. Mary was a young beautiful Jewish woman, and certainly, among many other attributes, feminine. Why would anyone say “she is more human than strictly female”? More importantly, why is that statue in our cathedral? In my opinion, one example of beautiful, modern statues can be found in St. Jude's Catholic Church in Westlake.

I am looking forward to reading the next series by Ms. Nicolosi. Thanks for presenting outstanding articles that address a multitude of current issues. We always look forward to our next issue of the Register.

F. Saenz

Thousand Oaks, California