Scalia is No Kissling

Archbishop Chaput's comments about “Cafeteria Catholicism” were disturbing (“Denver's Archbishop Chaput: Cafeteria Catholicism Found in All Flavors,” April 21-27).

His analogy comparing the actions of Justice Antonin Scalia to Frances Kissling, infamous abortion promoter, borders on calumny toward Justice Scalia. Ms. Kissling promotes the killing of innocent children, whereas Justice Scalia merely commented on a recent papal proclamation that the death penalty is nearly always wrong. The archbishop did indicate that abortion and the death penalty “don't have equivalent moral gravity.” However, the impression remains that the actions of Scalia and Kissling were equivalent and Justice Scalia should be quiet, as a “good Catholic” would.

Archbishop Chaput further states that “nothing can wound the Church more deeply than the sins and indifference of her own people, especially people in the ministry.” Very true, but had we “good Catholics” been more encouraged to speak out, much of this current pain now taking place in Boston could possibly have been avoided.

The pro and con discussion in the Register is a wonderful thing. Please publish more of it, including the otherwise inspiring words of the good archbishop.

CLETUS TAUER

Luck, Wisconsin

Editor's note: We would only note that, when the alternative is to dissent publicly from the teaching of a papal encyclical, it probably is best for a good Catholic to remain quiet.

Mother Church Needs You

As much as I am saddened by the recent struggles that our Holy Church and priests are having, I am just as deeply disturbed by the people and organizations who are denying their Catholic faith and joining the media-driven “pile-on” that is occurring.

I was especially shocked to read in the papers the comments of Maureen March, a representative of Catholic Charities in the Boston area. While lamenting the drop-off in donations, she stated that people need to understand that the organization had little “official” connection with the Church, and most of the people it serves are not Catholic.

Huh? Is this not the same organization that solicits funds from the loyal Catholic population? That inserts donation envelopes in with our weekly parish [budget envelopes]? That usually places a picture of a member of the clergy on their advertising? Although Ms. March maybe technically correct, the fact that she stated this shows that the organization is not willing to embrace the Catholic moniker it so deftly has utilized to its benefit in the past. This episode brings to my mind Peter's denial of Jesus during his time of need.

Of course, none of this began just with the recent events. Some of our Catholic colleges and universities, one of which I am a graduate of, have routinely engaged in acts counter to what faithful Catholics stand for.

The presentation of filthy plays, facilitation of pro-abortion speakers on campus and secular coursework have been defended by these institutes as providing “culture” and “open discourse” on the campuses. Leading Catholic politicians bend their knee to the U.S. Constitution instead of the Gospels through their support of abortionists and activities that are against the teachings of our faith. All of these groups and peoples through their actions have turned their back on the very Church that has nurtured their growth and provided them the support that they needed. Furthermore, they have begun to join the circus concerning the “scandal,” wringing their hands in public over the troubles involving “their” Church and actively looking for scapegoats.

What our Church does not need are people and organizations with clay feet who turn away and deny the Church at the slightest difficulty.

Did the Church ever turn from you? When you were experiencing difficulties, was not the Church there for you, providing comfort? When you celebrated your marriage, was not the Church there for you to share in the sacrament? When you baptized your children, did not the Church open its arms with joy? When a loved one died, did not the Church provide solace?

I could go on. The point is that the Church has always been (and will be) there for us. Now we need to be there for her. We need to provide understanding and patience, comfort and support; we need to pray for her. She is hurting, and needs a shoulder to help her get through this period of difficulty. We need to stand together now, more that ever, to defend our faith and our Church, and not hide with embarrassment or search for someone to blame.

NEIL BROWN

Fairview, Texas

Father Fessio's Legacy

I'm writing to add my voice to that of David L. Schindler in praise and admiration for a good priest—Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio (“Father Fessio's Obedience,” Letters, May 5-11).

In 1978, he lured my son from Philadelphia to the new St. Ignatius Institute at the University of San Francisco. My son enjoyed only one and a half years of study there, but it was probably the most important 18 months of his life. He formed true, Catholic values based on sound, authentic Catholic teaching. The institute was a jewel of the Catholic faith, sparkling with sound doctrine and the classic writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. The friendships he formed there have endured until today, including that of Father Fessio. He witnessed the early birth pains of the Ignatius Press, founded by Father Fessio. Today, you can be sure of solid Catholic teaching and values in all their publications.

I think it's a sad day for our Church when the Jesuits, who were founded to defend the pope and the magisterium of the Church, sink to the low of silencing those who, like Father Fessio, would speak out for the truth. His obedience to his superiors speaks volumes. I pray Campion College will flourish like the Ignatius Institute without the interference of “the Jesuits.”

LINDA IRELAND

Philadelphia

Vatican II and You

I'm responding to your excellent editorial “Vatican II Calling” (April 21-27).

I have lived in the aftermath of Vatican II my entire adult life and could never understand until I became a member of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps why so many priests and religious left their ministries. The answer is this: Many people who go into a very strong institution (such as the Church or the Army) and are told on a daily basis what to do, are unable to succeed in civilian life. In other words, they are not self-disciplined. They did not internalize the values taught when they were children. Therefore, when Vatican II came along, it was interpreted to mean there were no more rules to follow. Hence the exodus.

That, of course was never the intent of Vatican II and, as your editor correctly points out, many of the dissenters in the Church never actually read the documents of Vatican II. Nor did most of the faithful. They are beautifully written and meant to make the Church an institution able to cope with the modern world we live in. It also doesn't help when certain conservative Catholic booksellers publish books whose authors oppose Vatican II. I encourage all Catholics and non-Catholics to read the documents of Vatican II in their entirety.

SISTER GERALDINE MARIE WAGNER, O.P., R.N.

Lompoc, California

Santorum Fan

When I first heard about the “Santorum language” in Benjamin Wiker's commentary (“Will ‘Santorum Language’ Save Us From Scientific Fundamentalism?”) in the issue of April 21-27, hope leaped up like a fire.

For won't U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's legislative language also require that every student of elementary biology be taught the scientifically incontrovertible fact that the occupant of a mother's womb is a genetically unique and complete individual?

Genetically complete in that it has the same scientific identification (DNA) as it will have when born and throughout life; genetically unique in that no one, not even the mother, has identical DNA. This has been known for years, but not taught because of secular fundamentalism, which labeled such simple scientific fact “too controversial.”

Once this becomes known, every high school sophomore will be able to see through the abortion industry's “blob of tissue” argument, because there is no such thing as tissue without DNA.

Thank You, God; thank you, Sen. Santorum!

ROSALIE DANCAUSE

Dumfries, Virginia