Thank God We're Catholic

Pertinent to “‘An Explosion of Joy’” (Aug. 28-Sept. 3):

“It is a great day to be Catholic!” This common Irish Catholic greeting best summarizes my recent pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. My wife Janet, our six older children and I were part of the St. Leo Church Youth Group from Cincinnati, consisting of 31 youth and eight adults, who traveled to Cologne.

World Youth Day brought together about 1 million people, mostly youth, from more than 180 countries to sing praises to God and celebrate the fullness of the body of Christ. It was beautiful to witness the similarities and the differences of all the various nationalities represented right before our eyes. Germans, Italians, French, Africans, Poles, Croatians, Koreans, Chinese, Spaniards, Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, Japanese — all were having a fun time together in prayer and community.

It was like the first Pentecost. There was a common bond in the Catholic faith and radiant joy among all the participants. God reminded us that we were all on a pilgrimage. The evening before the Pope's Mass, all the pilgrims slept out on the ground at Marian Fields, a large rented farmland, on a very damp, foggy, bone-chilling night.

On Sunday, we all woke up to a chilly, overcast day. However, by the time of morning papal Mass the sun began to peek through the clouds. This joyful, universal celebration of the Mass well expressed the theme of WYD: “We have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). Pope Benedict led the celebration of the holy Mass with 500 bishops and cardinals, 10,000 priests and 1 million people, mostly youth, in attendance. What a powerful gathering to celebrate the holy Eucharist and praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Magi theme continued: “So they departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:12). Just so, the WYD pilgrims returned to their homeland in a “new way” with greater hope in Christ to save a sinful world, a deeper love for Jesus and for all men and women of all races and cultures, and a stronger faith in Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. At the end of the Mass the youths led us in the enthusiastic chants with rhythmic clapping of “Benedetto, Benedetto, Benedetto”.

We thank and praise Jesus for allowing our family the privilege to share in WYD 2005 in Cologne, Germany, and we pray we will have the wonderful privilege to participate in WYD 2008 in Sydney Australia.

It is a great day to be Catholic.

DAVE WILLIG

Cincinnati, Ohio

Comedic Quandary

Regarding Steven Greydanus’ movie review of Just Like Heaven (“The Return of Reasonably Rewarding ‘Rom-Com?’” Sept. 18-24):

I am disturbed by the remarks about the 2000 movie Return to Me.

Personally, I found that film a bit sugary and sappy, but for Steven Greydanus to complain because of the film's “implicit acceptance of heart transplantation” struck me as odd.

He went on to say that “Pope John Paul II accepted brain death as a morally responsible standard for determining death, but the question has yet to be definitively addressed by the Church.”

I will grant the fact there are questions about the use of the term “brain-dead,” and that there may be unethical use of the term by some doctors when it comes to organ transplantation. However, given the fact the Pope has said the term is morally responsible, the question is an open one.

Is a romantic comedy to be attacked because it does not take the most conservative position on the issue?

It seems like the reviewer is saying that the filmmakers, who are probably not moral theologians, have taken a position considered legitimate by the Pope, but since the Pope could be wrong on this one, the filmmakers are being irresponsible!

For goodness sake, it is a movie (one based on a real life incident, for that matter). Could you please cut the screenwriter and director some slack for taking a position John Paul II himself says is legitimate?

CHARLES COLLINS

Rome, Italy

Editor's note: As you know, the Register has repeated Pope John Paul II's teaching about brain death on many occasions. We even won an award for a front-page graphic showing the truth behind the Pope's assessment of brain death. We needn't doubt the Church's teaching on the subject. We apologize for the oversight in the case of this film review.

Save Our Sundays

Pertinent to “To Play or To Pray?” (Sept. 18-24):

An idea popped into my head during the current gas crisis.

To get some type of a handle on the situation, our nation's businesses should begin by returning to the policy of not working on Sundays. Families would be able to reunite, churches would be full once again, money would be saved and some stress would be reduced.

PATRICIA STRANG

Foley, Minnesota

Here Comes the Havoc

Regarding “God and New Orleans” (Sept. 11-17):

First, I want to say that I love your paper and have been reading it for years. My reason for writing is to disagree with Raymond Arroyo for saying that, if God is responsible for Hurricane Katrina, his aim is off. Raymond stated that the worst part of New Orleans, the French Quarter, will most likely survive.

That may be true, but it will never be the same again and Katrina's devastation will affect the whole country. If natural disasters keep escalating as they have been, our economy will be devastated.

Biblically speaking, God does chastise through natural means and, in many private revelations that have been approved by the Church, the Blessed Mother has predicted bad times for the world if it does not return to God.

Our Lady of LaSallette said that the seasons would be altered; this is definitely happening and is causing all kinds of havoc in weather patterns.

Many saints and blesseds say the same thing for our times. As long as we have legalized murder, cloning, embryonic research and sanction same-sex “marriage,” we are not going to have God's protection. He does not cause the natural disasters, but his grace is withdrawn. It would otherwise have protected us.

Now Raymond Arroyo happens to be one of my most favorite people on EWTN. He is not only smart but is also a very funny guy. He makes me chuckle almost as much as Mother Angelica, and it pains me to have to criticize him. Raymond needs to remember that, when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot was spared but had to relocate — just as Raymond did.

MAUREEN VAN DUSEN

Binghamton, New York

Unqualified Endorsement

Pertinent to “The Careful Lawyer” (Sept. 25-Oct. 1):

John Roberts did a fine job avoiding the traps laid for him by pro-abortion senators in their questions. We think he deserves to be confirmed as chief justice of the United States.

STEVEN W. MOSHER

President

Population Research Institute

Front Royal, Virginia

My Brother's Arms-Bearer?

I just wanted to thank Father Andrew McNair for his article “Spreading Democracy: Sept. 11 Changed Bush, Too” (Opinion & Commentary, Sept. 11-17).

I think he did a wonderful job articulating the argument of Catholics who support the Iraq war. He explored both sides of the controversial coin, and explained the moral reasons for our involvement. I always have drawn the spread of democracy as a parallel to the question “Am I my brother's keeper?”

Thank you for printing that column, and thanks for a great Catholic publication.

BECKY PANAYIOTOU

Fort Pierce, Florida

Lutheran Liability

In “Catholic Ecumenical Official Laments Lack of Communion With Lutherans” (Aug. 28-Sept. 3), you write about some members of the Catholic Church trying to build bridges with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I pray that, before we get too close, some of or bishops will address with them their pro-abortion polices. Christ Hospital in Chicago, where the infamous “born alive abortions” take place, is an ELCA hospital. In Rockford, Ill., where I live, the ELCA placed a pro-abortion billboard just a few blocks from our only abortion mill. It read: “Pro-family. Pro-faith. Pro-choice. Come join us.” This billboard was strategically placed so most of the women going to the abortion mill would get a positive spin on abortion.

The ELCA lobbies in the courts and state and federal legislatures for abortion and even pays for the abortions of their employees. I hope that, before we unite ourselves to them, we realize they are militantly pro-abortion.

KEVIN RILOTT

Rockford, Illinois

Vexing Ventriloquism

Pertinent to “‘I Don't Feel Your Pain’” (Sept. 25-Oct. 1):

On sanctity-of-life issues, Sens. Kennedy, Schumer, Clinton, Feinstein, Biden, Leahy and all the other Democratic senators remind me of Edgar Bergen and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy. Every time they open their mouths, it is the voice of the abortion industry that comes out.

Old wooden-head Charlie had a legitimate reason for being a dummy. I wonder what the rich and powerful abortion industry is holding over the heads of these senators that gives it the power to make them into dummies?

GERARD P. MCEVOY

Coram, New York

St. Monica and Modesty

“St. Monica, Pray for Mixed Marriages” (Aug. 21-27) is a pretty good article, but it left me wondering why the picture of the bride and groom showed the bride in a strapless wedding gown.

Is the Catholic Church allowing this now?

MARILYN ADAMS

Cincinnati, Ohio

Editor's note: Many readers wrote to us objecting to this photograph. We apologize for offending.