Don’t Be Fooled

Regarding “Presidential Hopefuls: Assessing the Field — Hillary Clinton” (page one, March 6 issue):

Stephen Beale wrote a good article on Hillary Clinton; however, he misses the “elephant” in the room. Anyone who talks to government employees who are familiar with email procedures and requirements knows that she is guilty of numerous felonies, including abandoning those in Benghazi when the 3am phone call was never received. Whether she ever wears an orange jumpsuit speaks to the current corruption of the Democratic Party. The real scandal is selling favors to foreign governments for contributions to her foundation.

A Chicago mobster named Al Capone bears many similarities to Hillary Clinton. He was popular in Chicago, had numerous judges on his payroll and thought he was above the law. He finally was prosecuted and went to Alcatraz for “forgetting” to report some of his income.

The history of Hillary’s corruption, immorality and dishonesty should disqualify her from any consideration for political office by any American, regardless of faith. I pray that some Catholics are not seduced by the promise of “free stuff” to vote for Clinton. If so, they should consider their confirmation oath to avoid “empty promises.”

         Peter Dubois

         Lake Anna, Virginia

 

Catholic Hospitality

I am a retired missionary of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I have served on four continents. I have had the privilege of traveling in 41 countries and 41 states. I have had the privilege of staying in many Catholic monasteries around the world (including twice at the ecumenical monastery in Taize, France).

The Catholic hospitality that I have received around the world has been marvelous. I thank you, Catholics, for your warm hospitality to me. Truly, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

         Rev. Charles Ligon Evans

         Greenville, South Carolina

 

Fair Film

Regarding Steven D. Greydanus’ review of the film Spotlight (Arts & Entertainment, Nov. 29 issue):

I agree with Mr. Greydanus’ analysis of Spotlight. I went to the movie expecting a hatchet job on the Church; I came away relieved that it was not solely that. The movie was well structured and paced. The acting was excellent, and I thought the script was very good. There are some critical views of some Church characters, but, if somewhat accurate, it is difficult to argue that they are unfair.

I thought that the movie demonstrated fairness and balance in one important respect: The movie showed that the problems in Boston were created by some priests, but the problem became much worse and widespread through the active cooperation of the police department, the prosecutors, the lawyers who represented the Church and the victims and the press.

Without this cooperation, the aberrant acts perpetrated on the boys may not have been nearly as widespread. Most certainly, the plague would have ended sooner.

I do not lessen the Church’s responsibility, nor that of the priest perpetrators and the clergy who helped to cover up the acts. It is clear that the Church has learned from this sad part of our history. It is not clear that the other responsible parties have learned any lesson.

I have been a Catholic from birth. I am 74.

When the Boston scandal first became public, I was in disbelief. This was not the Church I knew. Not that I believed that all priests were perfect people or even good, but I never met one who raised the slightest concern about pedophilia. I know we are not probably worse than any other group, but we carry a special responsibility to protect children and be faithful to Christ’s word.

The worst effect of the Boston scandal is the taint it placed over the overwhelming number of priests who did no wrong.

         John M. Vittone

         Silver Spring, Maryland

 

Young Messiah’s Humanity

Relative to the Register’s review of The Young Messiah (Arts & Entertainment, March 20 issue):

In all the discussion surrounding the film The Young Messiah, it would be wise to keep in mind what the Catechism has to say about Jesus’ human knowledge and his understanding of who he is. The Catechism states, “Christ enjoyed in his human knowledge the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal” (474).

I have heard a number of priests, who otherwise tend to present sound doctrine, proclaim from the pulpit that Jesus had to figure out who he was. He did not. “The intimate and immediate knowledge that the Son of God made man has of his Father” (Catechism, 473) is never diminished and never needs to be learned.

The “wisdom” Jesus gains is that which he “could only learn from human experience” (472), from, as it were, walking in the skin of man. (I would say the highest expression of this wisdom comes on the cross, when Christ declares, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do,” thus revealing his understanding of just how ignorant the human race is.) 

As for Mary teaching Jesus about who he is, it is he who teaches her; in the only scene we have from his childhood, he asks her, “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” — a statement that perplexes her and St. Joseph. Jesus is, in fact, not only teaching her who he is, but who she is: She is the Ark of the New Covenant, the Temple of the Father — and he is always with her.

         James Kurt

         Sarasota, Florida

 

Call to Prayer

In response to the “Family Matters” column entitled “Roadside Memorials” (Culture of Life, Nov. 1 issue), I wanted to mention a different perspective.

While I agree that such a memorial itself does nothing for the person remembered, I find that its presence can remind a passerby to pray for the deceased, thus indirectly benefitting him or her.

         Dominic Jones

         Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Justice Will Prevail

 

During my more than 30-year career in human services and Christian ministry, I have seen some of the worst kind of injustice: people hurting and neglecting each other in unimaginable ways; people inflicting horrendous violence and pain upon each other; people trapped in endless cycles of poverty and addiction; people who despair because of loneliness and indifference.

But guess what?

For every one story about injustice, I can tell you 100 stories about hope; stories about people making a difference; stories about people helping one another; stories about people who invest incredible amounts of money, time and talent to empower and encourage one another; stories about basic human kindness that is practiced by the majority of folks in this world.

Just because the garbage smells extra bad right now doesn’t mean the whole world is a trash heap.

The prophets of doom and the brokers of fear seem a bit louder these days, but their 15 minutes will eventually come to an end, and those who hope and work for peace and justice will prevail. Anyone who tells you otherwise is, frankly, full of it!

         Deacon Keith Kondrich

         Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Editor’s note: Deacon Kondrich is the executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

 

 

Eco Morality

I have seen a number of letters to the editor criticizing the Register for its coverage of “Climate Change and the Church” (page one, Nov. 29 issue), but only one had any substance — and this was Mr. Marincel’s letter titled “Focus on Faith and Morals.” 

Consequently, I want to state why “climate change” is a moral issue that is rooted in the same recklessness and relativism that Mr. Marcinel writes about.

First, I encourage readers to read Laudato Si, as well as Charity in Truth by Pope Benedict XVI. 

The created world is for ours to steward and care for. We are not allowed to abuse it for short-term self-interest, because doing so will have long-term consequences. 

Mr. Marincel correctly states how moral relativism has led to social breakdown and chaos. 

However, consider how we live in vast suburbs, where few of us know, or care to know, our neighbors. 

In the 1960s, only southern California was like this, but now this energy-demanding and isolating lifestyle is nationwide.

If our consumer-driven capitalist culture is driven by instant gratification and having things “on demand,” why should be surprised that we have terms like “choice” (infanticide) “death with dignity” (suicide) and “marriage equality”? 

For some reason, we consider self-interest and profit as virtues. 

Pope Francis has focused on how a self-centered lifestyle that many of us have failed to realize is opposed to the Gospel.

                        Francis Jacobson

                        Bainbridge Island, Washington

 

Sacred Beauty

Pertinent to Joseph Pronechen’s article on St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester, N.H. (“Renovated to Original Beauty: St. Joseph Cathedral Reminds New England to Seek Heavenly Aid,” Travel, March 6 issue):

A thousand thanks for your historically accurate and journalistically beautiful article on the restoration of the cathedral.

You treated the cathedral with dignity and respect deserving of its dedication to Almighty God.

You honored the architectural accomplishments of Patrick Charles Keely and the traditions of Holy Trinity German parish in Boston.

You captured the profound gratitude we are experiencing during completeness of our precious cathedral.

For us, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness day by day the return of sacred architecture hand in glove with the installation of modern safety features, such as LED lighting and Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant equipment and facilities.

Thank you for your insight and for publishing an article that we trust will inform readers of the Register that the faithful can continually be “moved to tears” by the beauty of sacred spaces and the longevity of sacred art and architecture.

         Barbara D. Miles, archivist

         Manchester, New Hampshire