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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
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LETTERS
OCTOBER 2000
GREAT HARM TO PRO-LIFE
Al Gore and the Democrats have played Cardinal Mahony for a fool. His appearance at the Democratic National Convention will do great harm to the pro-life cause, his anemic disclaimer notwithstanding. Politics is a game of perception. To many, it will seem that the cardinal's presence makes it all right for them to vote for Gore. Thus, the hard pro-abortion agenda of the Democrats is strengthened. The Democrats have manufactured the illusion of inclusion, and Cardinal Mahony is an accomplice, wittingly or unwittingly.
The cardinal should have followed the example of Cardinals Bernadin and O'Connor, who declined invitations to appear at previous Democratic National Conventions. If he thought he was planting a seed, he was sadly mistaken. He has sown the wind.
Charles Harvey
San Francisco
WHERE WERE THE LAITY?
Editor's note: the following letter is in response to a letter by Father Bill Dohman, JCL of Sacramento, published in our January 2000 issue. Father Dohman wrote in response to our articles on the Orange diocese's closing of St. Isidore's church in Los Alamitos. One may read the full text of his letter at http://www.losangelesmission.com/ed/letters/0100lett.htm.
Your participation, along with Bishop Tod Brown, in deanery sessions and vitality studies in Idaho, to recommend the dissolution and suppression of smaller churches in order to consolidate the parishioners into large houses of worship, lacks the insight to determine the needs of the community and its church members. I cannot accept your "probable" worst case scenario for the suppression of smaller churches -- that "in 2005 ... perhaps only 40 priests will be present actively to minister to about 70 plus parishes." Your theory that the nature of the Church is "not holding on to old buildings which have outlived their usefulness or capability of repair, but moving boldly into an unknown future with faith in Jesus and His constant presence in the Church" has no validity in that it does not consider the real needs of the parochial community. It is inexcusable that the Church hierarchy suppress history and brush aside Catholic parishioners who with sacrifice, labor of love and staunch belief in the tenets of the Church become a vacuous anomaly.
It is obvious in your letter that you are not acquainted with the parishioners of St. Isidore's Catholic church and community. Allow me to give you a short synopsis of the parish and people of the community. The mission and church were born of need and sacrifice and brotherly care for one another. It was the Bixby family who helped give materials, and love of their Catholicism that laid the foundation and erected the church. St. Isidore was chosen as patron because he most adequately represented the tillers of the soil and laborers of all types. In its past glories the parishioners brought about joyous occasions through familial gatherings of community and parish members -- celebrations of marriage, confirmations, baptisms, quinceañeras, religious obligations such as December 12, the Virgin of Guadalupe's day. The patio would fill with the community, and bands played their favorite tunes. There was dancing and shouts of joy as people intermingled and celebrated the event. Many booths of food and drinks were available for the hungry and thirsty, a myriad of dishes that made the stomach happy. The monies that were made from all these sales partly went to the establishment of a new church, St. Hedwig's -- a difficult name that was hard to pronounce by the Spanish speaking community. Soon, however, an ominous cloud would descend on the parishioners.
It started with the removal of items from the church. The year was the summer of 1962. The parishioners took it for granted that the removal of the pews was for a good purpose; since the church could do no wrong, they did not protest. Then, the altar was taken, the candelabra, the baptismal font, and finally, the bell. The altar, made of marble, had been donated by the Belgian community, some of whom were parishioners of St. Isidore's. The church was left desolate. After a prolonged dialogue with the diocese, the church was once again opened for the parishioners. It was not until September 1999 that the church was again forced to be closed. I find it difficult to believe that deanery sessions, vitality studies, diocesan discussion and priest senate confirmations were held in order to close St. Isidore's doors.
Where were the laity, you asked? Yes, where were the laity! We, the parishioners, were asked to get out and quietly attend St. Hedwig's. We were told in no uncertain terms that our beloved St. Isidore's would no longer function as a viable church. The church hierarchy informed the parishioners to attend Mass at St. Hedwig's at 1:30 p.m. Is this a fair assessment of the meetings involving vitality studies, diocesan decisions, deanery sessions and priest senate manifestations for the benefit of St. Isidore's parishioners? Yes, Father Dohman, where were the laity?
Mexican American Chicanos attend Mass traditionally at the earliest possible time that Mass is offered and at a church where they are welcomed. The racist, prejudicial attitude came across very clear to some of us who are old enough to remember the old days. Whites only. This 1:30 p.m. Mass rang a clear bell for us. The clergy had spoken. Let me clarify that the St. Hedwig parishioners are, and have been, receptive to us and, in many cases, support our effort to open the doors of St. Isidore's once again. They live the truth of brotherly love. The Church is the people, and the clergy must realize this is where their substance comes from.
The Church should have been more inclusive than what it was with the laity and parishioners of St. Isidore's, more honest in their approach to such a delicate situation; but the Church still labors under the illusion that time is static and it moves for no one but themselves. Wake up, my Church, the year is 2000. The apocalyptic displeasures of the Church must alter themselves: there is now dancing and orchestras and inclusiveness at the Mass. This is where the Church is.
"It must be observed that if the faith were endangered, a subject ought to rebuke his prelate, even publicly." -- St. Thomas Aqunas.
Robert Luna,
Los Alamitos