Letters to the Editor
Seeing is Disbelieving?
Regarding “Do Catholics Understand the Real Presence?” (Oct. 30-Nov. 5):
Perhaps the simplest explanations are best: When Jesus declared at the Last Supper that the bread and wine he blessed was now his Body and Blood, the apostles saw, ate and drank what appeared to be nothing more than bread and wine, just as we do today. Were the bread and wine consecrated by Jesus his body and blood? Few Catholics would dispute this.
And did he not charge his apostles and their successors to “do this in memory of me?” Why, if Jesus is not “really present,” would St. Paul warn his readers not to partake in the bread and chalice “unworthily”?
As Cardinal Avery Dulles has written, we should “not … inquire too curiously (about this unique mystery) because our minds can easily become confused in speaking about such an exalted mystery. It is better simply to accept the words of Christ, of Scripture (and) of the traditions of the magisterium.”
I might add that we might also begin to think of the events that took place in the upper room not as the Last Supper but as the First one.
JAMES BEATTY
Lompoc, California
A major concern of the October Synod of Bishops was the fact that many Catholics do not understand Christ's presence in the Eucharist (“Do Catholics Understand the Real Presence?”, Oct. 30-Nov. 5).
There are at least half a dozen biblical quotes that support our belief in the Real Presence. Matthew 26:26-29 states that Jesus took bread, broke it and said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks saying, “Drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. In Luke 22:14-20, we have similar language proclaiming the same thing. In John 6:55-58, we have “for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
Paul also offers the identical proof in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, restating the same words of Christ. Further in 1 Corinthians: “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”
The foregoing passages offer concrete proof that we are not merely talking about bread and wine. For the authors of Scripture to spell out such positive statements concerning mere bread and wine makes no sense. The only conclusion to be drawn is that we are truly blessed with Christ's Real Presence.
Why do we as a Church struggle to convince Catholics of this fundamental belief?
EARL HAGEN
Grand Blanc, Michigan
Intelligent Discourse
Regarding “Design or Dumb Luck?” (Oct. 30-Nov. 5):
The argument neo-Darwinists use against the theory of Intelligent Design is circular and evasive. It goes something like this: Intelligent design implies the activity of an intelligent agent, namely God. God is the proper object of religion, not of science. Therefore, the theory of intelligent design is religious and inappropriate for study in a science course.
By further confounding intelligent design with biblical creationism, they erect the “wall” of separation of church and state, and by an a priori process, protect their cherished but unproven theory of materialistic evolution from any competition. To regard teaching intelligent design in the classroom as a violation of the establishment clause in the First Amendment is laughable.
Nowhere do they refute intelligent design theory directly or indirectly by statistics or by any other means. They just want it dead. Science courses must not be allowed to contaminate the reigning orthodoxy by anything that smacks of a divine intelligence. They are locked into Darwinism and they want the students to be locked in also.
The dirty little secret is that these “scientists” are atheists first and this mindset erects formidable boundaries against the development of any scientific theory, which is not completely materialistic.
DR. ROBERT J. SHALHOUB
Vienna, Virginia
Complicatedly Catholic Colleges
Regarding “Inaugural Catholic College Survey” (Sept. 25-Oct. 2):
Thank you for your articles about the presence or absence of Catholic standards in many of our ostensibly Catholic colleges and universities, and for highlighting the small minority that is swimming against the tide.
My daughter Ann, who graduated from Santa Clara University around a decade ago (but who is still an orthodox Catholic), just sent me an e-mail stating: “An official from the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University in California told Catholic News Agency that hosting a two-day long conference, on how to promote opportunities for gays and lesbians at Catholic colleges is ‘the Catholic’ way to act, as opposed to highlighting the intrinsic immorality of homosexual acts.”
You can see an example of why I have firmly refused to contribute to that college, preferring to send my money to Catholic institutions like Christendom. Ann said she is sending a protest to that university, and I am planning to suggest that she send a follow-up to her bishop.
With regard to the list of authentically Catholic vs. formerly Catholic colleges and universities, I suggest the need for at least one other category: semi- (or quasi-) Catholic. This could include any ostensibly Catholic institution that has a major Catholic focus, but that also allows or even promotes significant violations of Catholic norms. I suspect that Notre Dame and every Jesuit college or university in the country fits into that category.
THOMAS J. CUNY
Alexandria, Virginia
Parents, Not Partners
Regarding “Boston Catholic Charities Defends Homosexual Adoptions” (Nov. 13-19):
Boston Catholic Charities is way off base in placing children with homosexual partners. Homosexuality is and has always been considered disordered. Homosexuals should get medical help, not children. Children need the nurturing environment of both a mother and father if they are to mature into normal adult males and females. Placing children in a disordered household is at best an injustice and at worst cruel.
FRANK DIORIO
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Ticking Gift
Regarding “Boston Catholic Charities Defends Homosexual Adoptions” (Nov. 13-19):
The article relates how Catholic Charities in Boston is “cooperating with evil” by allowing homosexual couples to adopt children. We see yet another “Catholic” agency caving in to the rampant relativism of today and, sadly, Father Bryan Hehir is letting the ends justify the means.
His fear is that, if the agency does not bend to the political pressure being imposed, they will lose their funding and will not be able to help the countless others that various levels of government subsidize. That may be true, but is the retention of this “gift” worth what it compromises?
There is no question that, once this door is open, it will be flung wide with similar conditions on any other government subsidies given.
HANK SCHMALEN
Sleepy Hollow, Illinois
Pullman Patrol
As a teenage fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, I thoroughly enjoyed the article “The Lion, the Witch and the Christians” (Nov. 6-12). I would especially like to thank you for including the quotation by C.S. Lewis assuring those of us who have fallen in love with Aslan that we have fallen in love with Christ. I have always felt guilty that I am devoted more to Aslan than to the Christ of “our world.”
However, in the same article, you quote Philip Pullman without indicating that he is the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy. When no reference is made to the fact that his works are terribly anti-Catholic, he seems like a perfectly credible critic of Lewis’ very Catholic literature. It should first be made clear exactly who is quoted and what he stands for.
ELIZABETH BARNES
Germany
Musical Note
I am writing to comment about an article in your Nov. 6-12 issue by Gail Besse, “Where Occult is Promoted, ‘Saint Fest’ Takes Center Stage.”
It is, on the one hand, heartening to hear that young Catholics love and comprehend our holy faith enough to speak (or sing) in defense of the good, the true and the beautiful. May the Holy Spirit enlighten the minds and strengthen the wills of all those good people who organize and run “Saint Fest” in Salem, Mass.
I think the time has come, however, for us Catholics to be educated or to educate ourselves about music. I haven't heard of anything that might be called the Catholic theology of music, but I think something is developing along those lines.
Father Basil Nortz, ORC, has given a series of talks, available on CD titled “Music and Morality.” I heartily recommend them to all people. For information, go to opusangelorum.org or e-mail [email protected].
LISA P. EVANS
Lynwood, Washington
Habemus
At the very least, there should be at least one Latinist at the disposal of the Register. Your caption headline on the review of George Weigel's new book reads “Habemus Papem [sic] Half a Year On” (Nov. 13-19).
“Friends,” my Latin professor, Fr. Reginald Foster, OCD, would say, “the 64 bus driver is laughing at you.”
FR. CHRISTOPHER NALTY
Rome
Mass Optimism
I was edified by the Oct. 23-29 article “Boston Archdiocese Making Progress, With the Help of Prayer.”
Congratulations to the men's prayer group at St. Paul's in Cambridge!
Congratulations to Boston's Archbishop Sean O'Malley!
Congratulations, especially, to the 25 new men's prayer groups that were created as a result of the Boston Catholic Men's Conference.
Now if they could just figure out how to get rid of a certain senior senator from Massachusetts, they would be in great shape.
ROY FORKER
Gillett, Pennsylvania
Additional Information
Readers who lack Internet access yet would like to contact Mother Mary Ministries, featured in our Nov. 6-12 Prolife Profile (“Mother Mary Comes to Me”), may write the group at 144 Dawson Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
