LETTERS
1998 LETTERS
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
Contents © 1998
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
JUNE 1998
A RAY OF HOPE
Thank you to the Mission and all the wonderful callers who responded to your article [see "They are Petrified of This Woman," March 1998] by calling the Concerned Parents and Parishioners Committee voice mail at (310) 361-5781, offering their prayers and support. We had only one negative call from an anonymous source and countless positive calls from all over the country. This support is very uplifting to those persecuted families who are defending the faith, often at a great cost, in schools and parishes throughout America.
Many confuse the imprimatur (by Cardinal Mahony) on the Benzinger program to mean it has been approved by Rome. On the contrary, programs that teach what the Benzinger program teaches are strictly forbidden by the Vatican. We encourage parents to obtain a copy of The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, issued by the Pontifical Council for the Family. This contains the Catholic Church's guidelines for sexual education, both in and outside of the home. There is no higher authority for Catholics and those programs that, regardless of "imprimatur," do not conform to these guidelines are forbidden in Catholic schools by the Vatican. Benzinger is such a program.
Second, knowing how easy it is to despair or cave in to the tremendous pressure Catholic families are under in this amoral society (which has even infected our parishes), I'd like to offer a ray of hope. When we see the literally tens of thousands of people who have sacrificed careers, money and more important things to bring their children home and school them in the True Faith, we are witnessing a great miracle! Our Lord knows what he is doing by allowing this tragedy in the "Catholic" schools. He is forcing those of us, who say we love Him, to "put our money where our mouth is" and raise these little treasures He has generously entrusted to us, by His grace, into great saints. By our sacrifice, we may become sanctified as well.
Finally, let us never forget to pray for those who need our prayers so much. I pray fervently for Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, for Father Tim Nichols and Cardinal Mahony. May God grant a turning of all hearts to the children.
Therese M. Buehner-Metzger
Torrance
YOU ARE BEING MOST EFFECTIVE
We thank God for your publication which informs us and exposes the falsehood which appears to be part of the agenda of misguided ones in the Church. We encourage you to preach the truth "in season and out of season" as the great Saint Paul tells us to do.
The fact that you receive letters from priests, nuns, etc. who no longer can accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church shows that you are being most effective. Saint Paul again tells us "to expose the works of darkness."
Most of the confusion, falsehood and heresy in the Catholic Church today must be placed at the feet of many of our bishops. These shepherds are either very weak, wishy-washy, or in some cases, they go along with the liturgical pirates, false theologians, etc. It makes one wonder if these men have lost their faith.
When we have those in high places in the Church telling us that such trashy T.V. programs as Nothing Sacred [see News, April Mission] should be used by Catholics as a Lenten mediation, it speaks tons of the tremendous confusion, nonsense and stupidity that is coming forth from many diocesan offices.
Those who write you saying that your publication is not wanted by them are the ones with a problem.
The Light (Jesus) shines in the darkness and those in darkness can't stand the light.
C. N. Santos
Atascadero
MOTHER ANGELICA -- A NOTE OF CAUTION
I enjoy receiving Mission--very orthodox and very interesting. However, it seems that all of our fine orthodox publications are singing the praises of Mother Angelica and reporting her alleged healing as genuine when nothing has been said about whether she is going to submit herself to the Church for proof of a miracle like it is done at Lourdes.
There are all kinds of healings: psychosomatic, Satanic, etc. The reason I am suspicious is because Mother Angelica seems to have engaged in some outright disobedience to Church authority concerning the promotion of unapproved and scandalous alleged apparitions.
As you may know, the Vatican issued a statement in October 1996 concerning the promotion of unapproved and scandalous apparitions and reading of publications on the list of forbidden books. It seems to me that deliberate disobedience to this directive is a mortal sin.
Have you seen, especially on the internet, how many groups are connecting apparitions together and making declarations of their own without Church authority? This is a very dangerous practice. Some say that Medjugorje is not condemned, yet "Mary" of Medjugorje, as you may know, has approved reading the Church-condemned Poem of the Man-God, which is, in itself, enough to condemn it. Personally, I find the book nauseating and an insult to the holiness of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.
What I do not understand is the silence about the Church's disapproval and about the cults that are arising from the obviously phony apparitions and Mother Angelica's often televised involvement with them. Certainly EWTN does much good, but if a thing is 99 percent good and only one percent evil, it will suit the devil perfectly.
Pauline Moulder
Pensacola, Florida
LETTER TO THE CARDINAL
Ed. The Mission received a copy of this letter to Los Angeles archbishop Roger Mahony.
I write to you with hope in a church that is growing in numbers and in its proclamation of the Good News. I write in sadness as a pastor who over the past several months receives publications that attack you personally and any of us who wish to remain Roman Catholic linked with you and the Holy Father. Publications from Human Life International, Roman Catholic Faithful and L.A. Mission.
I write you in support of your leadership in serving the people of God, the marginalized, and continuing to "teach us" about the liturgical life of our church in this post Vatican II period. Church history gives me peace [to] know that the post-Trent liturgical changes took many years. I write in support and send copies to these people as one among thousands in support of your vision and ministry.
I send this letter as a "public" protest to those who send others and me publications while I wish to remain loyal to you, the Holy Father and his commitment to you. I send a copy to the Tidings since they have been part of these attacks. They have asked people to withhold money; I enclose a small donation in support of the wonderful ministry in the Office of Worship here in Los Angeles. I gave a workshop last weekend on Ministry to the Sick and Dying--thousands came in support of your vision in the pastoral letter.
These publications seem so distance [sic] from those patients whom I serve in the tradition of Jesus, Mother Teresa, the Holy Father and you: inmates who might be executed by Capital Punishment, gay and lesbian people who come in wounded by hate crimes, undocumented women who want to give birth, persons with cancer or AIDS who cannot afford insurance or medicine. Jesus is so clear on how love is our message, not hate.
I want to be counted among those who support your ministry and vision--the Holy Father--and want to be part of the making real of the welcoming community that we will celebrate during the sacred Holy Week and Triduum in the coming weeks. Be assured of my daily prayers and for Unity among believers.
Father Christ Ponnet, Pastor
St. Camillus
Los Angeles
PEACE AND MERCY ONLY TO SOME
The nasty letters you sometimes publish from priests who criticize the Mission really disturb me. Why is it that they are the types who inevitably welcome just about any "lifestyle" or liturgical "innovation" with some pious cant about "not judging others"? They seem always ready to embrace the heterodox with "peace and love" and blast away at the piety and obedience of those who humbly follow the magisterium?
Perhaps Shakespeare had these unworthy clerics in mind when he wrote: "Goodness and mercy to the vile seem vile, the filthy savor but themselves."
Thomas D. Hogan
Long Beach
BIASED AND DISRESPECTFUL
Please remove my name from your mailing list. It is important to me that news be reported in an objective and unbiased manner and dialogue is open and respectful. I do not find that exhibited in your publications.
Sally Slyngstad, SNJM
Los Gatos
AND ANTI-INTELLECTUAL, TOO
Please remove my name from your mailing list. I never requested your paper in the first place. It saddens me that your paper is being printed--I find it anti-intellectual and destructive of the major Gospel value--LOVE.
Brother Tim Mayworm, FSC
Pasadena
AN INSIGHT INTO ORTHODOXY AND SANITY
The amazing spectacle of the Holy Father now interjecting himself into every capital sentence in the USA makes the letter from Dr. Richard George [see "Letters,"April Mission] an insight into Catholic orthodoxy, and sanity. Thanks to the Mission and Dr. George for some truth and wisdom about the situation.
The role for the Catholic Church is still the salvation of souls, in prison and without. Which of the Catholic bishops in the USA who are anointing the abolition of capital punishment have actually visited the condemned prisoner, and tried to save their soul? And which of them has become an advocate for less brutality in the U.S. prison system? While it is considered kind and pious to advocate a life behind bars, in lieu of capital punishment, nobody looks beyond. Why is it more benign to condemn a man, or woman, to a life of abuse and cruelty in an iron cage, where they will slowly go mad, than suffer a few minutes pain in execution? More than a few criminals have weighed the two, and sought the death penalty, themselves.
This matter of confession, sorrow, and retribution for sin is exemplified in the capital cases in Saudi Arabia. By report, the condemned person must confess and ask God's forgiveness, and the victim's, as well, for the crime, before the axe is allowed to fall. In this, the modern Catholic churchmen might find inspiration in Islam, and explore the mission of Christ's Church in the BB (before Bernardin) era.
Surely, as Dr. George points out, a set date for execution can be a blessing, as regards preparing for eternal judgment. Likewise, a lifetime in prison might be the sure road to hell, with years of degradation and temptation. Why are some Catholic churchmen so strong on condemning the former, and advocating the latter?
If any of us could get out of here alive, there might be some reason for all this puff and posturing. However, since we are all under a death sentence, I fail to understand the logic and morality of it all. Are heaven, hell, judgment and God's justice still the teachings of the Catholic Church? Yet, they are never mentioned in the maudlin, mawkish treatment of criminal justice and the death penalty.
Patrick F. Flynn
Yorba Linda
THE LAST STRAW
Please remove my name from your mailing list. Your publication is unsolicited and divisive. I am appalled at your efforts to undermine the teaching authority of the Church.
The last straw is in the April 1998 issue. In the article, "Chat with The Cardinal," you quote Cardinal Roger Mahony about the use of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. You then proceed to quote your own "experts," Rev. Brian Harrison, O.S., and Father Dudley Day, who refute the cardinal's position. You are encouraging your readers to look to you for the "real answers" or "special inside knowledge" and to ignore the local bishop who is the teaching authority. That approach smacks of the Gnosticism condemned as heresy in the second and third centuries.
Rev. Michael S. Grieco
Associate Pastor
Church of the Transfiguration
Los Angeles
THE IRONY OF IT
Not being certain how my name came to your mailing list, certain we are that it be removed. Over the last two years I have occasionally browsed through an edition or two until the complete irony of the last edition broke through, exposing the spirit of the paper to be harshly critical, pure, simple, and inexperienced. The irony lies in the most recent criticism of Cardinal Mahony, who, while being in Rome by commission and selection of the recent Vicar of Christ and still maintained as prelate by that same Vicar of Christ, you chose to once again strategically ridicule this man and his authoritative position. This being similar to me as the harsh soldiers who beat on Christ as He walked His mission to Calvary on the Via Dolorosa. They lashed Him as He side-stepped to regain his stride. They lashed Him as He struggled and they lashed Him for not moving fast enough.
I want you to put down your whip and learn how to truly aid the Church to which you are a member.
Anthony Farao
Paso Robles
A FITTING TITLE
While I respect the right of citizens to picket that with which they disagree, I was amused by the photos of those protesting the liturgical formation day at St. John's Seminary in late March [see News, May Mission]. The person whose sign bestowed on Mother Angelica the title of "Defender of the Faith" writ better than he or she knew. That title was given to King Henry VIII who also promoted disobedience on the part of the faithful and who succeeded in splitting the Church!
Sincerely, but definitely not yours,
Sister Pauline Therese Daries, CSJ
Los Angeles
THANKS FOR THE HELP
Last spring I wrote a letter to the editor of the Mission asking readers if they would help me collect and get rid of free porno papers that were being distributed here in the San Fernando Valley. Two people offered to help, but thankfully they have not been needed. A porno newsrack law had been passed a couple of years earlier but had been held up in the courts. Shortly after my letter was printed, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, and it went into effect, banning material "harmful to children" to be in unattended newsracks. The publishers have toned down their pictures, and since the same paper that was in newsracks was being distributed free, I was relieved of duty. My conscience doesn't demand that I do a porno run for the paper the way it is now. It's still crummy, but not out-and-out pornographic.
I thank the Mission and those two who offered to help.
My life has been made much easier by the porno newsrack law. Besides the end of the porn run, I see littered pornography much less often, and therefore have that horrible search-and-destroy job much less often. I don't think many people realize the difference that that law has made. And I haven't heard anybody complain. They fought it in the legislature, and they fought it in the courts, but once the Supreme Court made its ruling, bingo, silence. That's instructive. May we see the day when an law prohibiting abortion is upheld, and the pro-choicers go silent.
Joe O'Brien
Panorama City