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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
JUNE 2000
CAPITALISM MAKES LOVE POSSIBLE
The thoughtful interview with professor Anselm Kyongsuk Min [see "The Pope's Grammar School," April Mission) contains a glaring error. He states that "Kierkegaard had something very profound to say: contemporary culture, because of capitalism, tends to trivialize morality, both individual and corporate. It weakens our moral will." In fact, the exact opposite is true. Capitalism is the only moral economic and social system in existence because it is the only system based on a philosophy of individual rights and the importance of the human being. It is the only system that recognizes human freedom, and the only system that has resulted in the unprecedented lifting of mankind out of the shackles of misery and disease that werre its fate for thousands of years.
Only capitalism gives human beings the choice to be moral. All other systems define morality for the individual and then force him to conform to those demands. Prof. Min quotes Pope John Paul II as calling for "a global civilization of love -- Preferential option for the poor' as necessary for the 'grammar of peace.'" Only capitalism can make such love possible, because only capitalism gives the individual the choice to love. All other systems remove free choice and stifle morality. Moral choice relies on the individual's right to make that choice. No other system recognizes this human right.
It is ironic that religious figures decry capitalism yet insist on enjoying its benefits even as they denigrate entrepreneurs' risk taking, creativity, and human investment of time, energy, money and faith in the future. These qualities are lacking in many in the current lethargic religious world, where many live off the fruits of others' efforts without acknowledging the achievements that make their comfortable lives possible. When Pope John Paul II was shot, he did not run to a third world country for treatment. He relied on the product of Western medicine. When he wants to reach out to the world, he relies on the creation and development of modern media technology, made possible through the brains of individuals free to create. When Mother Teresa needed treatment for heart problems, she fled India for the safe harbor of the United States which has a capacity to save lives and prevent disease and starvation through the benefits and wealth of capitalism.
What those attacking capitalism need to realize is that, in contradiction to the beliefs of many clergy, capitalism does not deal with a fixed sum of resources handed out or divided up. Capitalism creates wealth. That is why the pope's call for a preferential option for the poor has no real meaning in a capitalist society, where the poorest of the poor are considered rich in the eyes of third world countries. The problem lies not with finding the right grammar, as the article implies, but in finding the right definitions and understanding concepts.
Caroline Miranda
North Hollywood
SO FULL OF HATE
If you print CRAP from Joseph Nicolosi, why not print other more learned material and proven documentaries of experienced men and women in that field? Your editions are always full of HATE.
Not Christian-like at all.
Abide with Jesus.
Anonymous
YOUR PAPERS KEEP ME INFORMED
I am currently receiving the Mission, San Francisco Faith, and San Diego News Notes. Thank you very much. As I have family to the north and south in these areas, I have enjoyed keeping up with the different areas through your papers. Thank you for putting the parental notification to termination of minor's pregnancy initiative in your papers. I am sending one check for the support of the three papers. Keep up the good work.
Martha Avila,
Goleta
INFINITELY MORE TO DESCRIBE
Recently I enjoyed reading your article about the Church of St. Mary of the Angels [Please see "Not 'No,' But 'Hell, No!'" December 1999 Mission]. My parents were married there just before World War II. What you said is very true about the everlastingly high spiritual value and true devotion to Our Lord Jesus and blessed St. Mary, Mother of God, truly expressed in the very blessed and splendorous high church traditions of Anglo-Catholic worship.
Please note that there remains infinitely more to describe about this. The purest forms of this great liturgical tradition are often overlooked by, or unknown to, modern-day Roman Catholics. The purest forms of Anglo-Catholic worship flow directly from the court of Charlemagne (the holy missal), the great rite of Sarum, the historic old prayer book, the ineffable and incomparable King James Bible, the marvelous Coverdale Psalter, and on to the two greatest great altar missals ever composed in Old English, containing all essential doctrines and liturgical teachings of Holy Catholicism, comprising the spiritual concepts especially of St. Vincent of Lerins, Pope St. Gregory the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Francis of Assisi, among many other saints. Also, prior to more recent times, the greatest hymnal ever composed in English -- the Hymnal 1940 -- was magnificently sung by all, combined with the greatest English and German historical traditions of great choirs, great organists and musicians, within the English cathedral tradition.
Thank you very much for continuing to send me your newspaper.
Richard R. Kern,
Los Angeles
OF DOGMA AND MAHONY
Because Kevin Smith is a very intelligent person, he knows that the entertainment industry is more interested in bashing the Catholic faith than it is in teaching Catholic dogma in a new way [see "Man Behind the Buddy Christ," April 2000 Mission]. Smith dreamed up Dogma because he knew that it would be easy to sell to a movie studio. Disney bought Dogma because it is interested in bashing the Catholic Faith. When Dogma turned out to be a turkey, Disney decided to dump it. Such a decision is not unusual in the movie business. Disney was not swayed by public protests or shareholder protests. The Disney corporation has been under fire for many years because of its immoral entertainment products; its immoral tax evasion schemes; its immoral exploitation of slave labor; its immoral policies of promoting abortion and homosexuality; its immoral bribing of politicians and government officials; and the immoral greed of its executives who pay themselves huge wages. The entire entertainment industry has likewise been under fire for the very same reasons.
Steve Allen's Parents Television Council is asking advertisers to stop financing TV shows which contain filth, sex, crime and violence. Public figures like President Carter, President Ford and General Powell head The Appeal to Hollywood organization which is demanding that Hollywood stop producing immoral entertainment products. The non-Christians are concerned because, as Sacred Scripture says, "not even a pagan will hand his child an asp to play with."
The Catholic Church should be leading the moral crusade against the entertainment industry. Instead, the bishops are as silent as tombs. One Catholic bishop has taken it upon himself to be the defender of the entertainment industry. That bishop's name is Cardinal Roger Mahony. After Lew Wasserman produced the blasphemous movie, The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ, Mahony honored Wasserman with his "Cardinal Mahony Lifetime Achievement Award." Lew Wasserman had spent his entire adult life producing immoral entertainment products.
After India issued an arrest warrant for Rupert Murdoch for publishing pornography, Mahony made Murdoch a Papal Knight of St. Gregory. After Disney produced the blatantly anti-Catholic movies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Lion King, Mahony made Roy Disney a Papal Knight of St. Gregory. After the Catholics in Media organization honored pro-abortionists Carroll O'Connor and Gregory Peck, Mahony posed proudly with the two apostate Catholics. After the Catholics in Media organization honored pro-abortionist Steven Spielberg, Mahony posed proudly with the pro-abortionist. Mahony has never met a pro-abortionist he didn't like.
After the Federal Communications Commission joined the war against the entertainment industry, Cardinal Mahony wrote a pastoral letter praising the industry. He said there was no need for morality rating codes or warning labels on entertainment products. The movie moguls met with Mahony in what the Tidings described as a "love fest."
Because Dogma did not make Kevin Smith rich and famous, he is now parading as a victim of those hate-filled Catholics who told lies about Dogma. Smith tells us he has a right to teach Catholic dogma in a new way. Why does he complain when Catholics decide to defend the Catholic faith in a new way?
Robert Oberfell,
Bellflower
POSITIVE THOUGHTS, PLEASE!
First of all, thanks for the Mission you sent. May I suggest something: the word "mission" has a very beautiful meaning in itself, but the articles written often attack certain issues or certain church authority, which I am not in favor of. This may confuse people rather than help them to be closer to God. We have enough negativity in the world, we need some positive and solid thoughts and elevating examples, rather than burning up our hope in the Risen Lord. Think positively, talk positively, write positively, act positively. Please!
May God give you the strength and courage you need to change your mind to make this world a beautiful one to live in.
Sister Anna Goretti
NO THANKS
Your paper is too radical and is trying to keep all the old ways intact. Some of the articles border on the totally ridiculous! Sorry.
Anonymous
NOTHING REMOTELY POSITIVE
I have been reading your stuff for quite a long time. You seem never to have anything even remotely positive about persons with homosexual orientations. You tell lies, and God bless you.
A former Catholic
YOUR PAPER IS A BLESSING
I am currently incarcerated in Chino State Prison. I share the Bible with others and have enjoyed your paper and have been passing it around to friends. The stories I have read are enthusiastic and interesting. I would like to receive your issue monthly, and I will pass it along to others.
Your paper is very beneficial to your readers and also a blessing. Keep up the good work.
Keith Hunter,
Chino
YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY
I just want to send you this message to say thank you. Your publication is really good and much appreciated by many in the archdiocese. I know at times you receive some criticism, but you're in good company. The one we follow got some of the same criticisms 2000 years ago.
Keep up the great work!
Don Baur,
received by e-mail