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Contents © 1998
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
NOVEMBER 1998
CHURCH NOT OPPOSED TO SEX
Regarding the letter from Norman Hudis (Letters, September 1998 Mission), I encourage Mr. Hudis to read Genesis 1:26-31. Maybe he would understand that God told man to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it," before the fall, not after it. It doesn't make sense to believe that God kept Adam and Eve in ignorance of their faculties to reproduce, and then expected them to reproduce. In this light it appears Mr. Hudis' premise is incorrect, therefore his argument needs rethinking. I also refer Mr. Hudis' to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 371-372, 1604-1605, and 2331-2336 so he might understand what is actually taught and believed by the Church.
Becky Mays
Hemet
NOT ALONE IN THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM
My thanks for sending editions of the Mission, the San Francisco Faith, and San Diego News Notes, which arrived several days earlier. As a Roman Catholic residing in an archdiocese teeming with St. Bozo-style parishes, I am in need of sazmidat to sustain me in the encircling gloom. I've not detected anything in these precincts suggesting opposition to the ongoing destruction. Perhaps there are pockets of orthodox RCs here and there, but they remain voiceless.
Would that we had courageous people like you folks to protect Christ's teaching from those within the citadel who seek its demise. I'll be sending a small donation which I hope will defray some of the cost for placing me on the mailing list for the above publications.
Don E. Butler
Seattle, Washington
STOLZ PROTESTS TOO MUCH
I am baffled. Eric Stolz (see "Letters," September 1998 Mission) writes: "Your imaginative implication that the archdiocese supports Edge Magazine financially turns upon a comma America omitted from my profile, which should have read, 'He is also editor of the religion column in Edge, a gay and lesbian biweekly, that is a project of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood's Reform synagogue.'"
Glancing back at Charles Coulombe's article ("The Outing of the Church," June 1998 Mission), I see that Coulombe said: "He is also editor of the religion column in Edge, a gay and lesbian biweekly that is a project of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles," etc.
The only differences I find between the Coulombe version and Stoltz's ostensibly corrected version are: 1) Coulombe has no comma following "biweekly"; 2) Stolz has no comma between "Los Angeles" and "Congregation Kol Ami"; 3) Coulombe capitalized the "S" in synagogue.
What is the difference in meaning between the two versions? Both say Edge is a project of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and two other organizations. I would conclude that a "project of the archdiocese" would necessarily have financial support from the archdiocese. Mr. Stolz thus answers Mr. Coulombe's question by saying Edge is an archdiocesan project. Did Stoltz really mean to express: "He also edits a religion column, a joint project of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and the Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood's Reform synagogue (in Edge, a gay and lesbian biweekly)"?
Mr. Stoltz gives a list of things to which, he thinks, Mr. Coulombe objects. They are: the omission of a comma by America; attendance of homosexuals at Mass; the participation of the archdiocese in a column that teaches homosexual people about religious truths; an archdiocesan priest quoting a "magisterial document" (not identified); Edge's use of a crucifixion image on its cover; a "particular parish" inviting "people" to attend Mass; an Anglican priest's "joking reference" to a movie film; "people being told that God loves them unconditionally."
I looked through Mr. Coulombe's article, seeking these "objections." I found no reference to a missing comma. Catholic homosexuals, like murderers, bank robbers, prostitutes, and the rest of us, are bound to attend Mass. Mr. Coulombe's objection seemed to be to the support, seemingly admitted by Mr. Stoltz, of Edge Magazine by the archdiocese. Edge, from the description given, sounds like something from Congressman Barney Frank's coffee table. Instead of quoting a definition of "chastity" from the Catholic Catechism (approved by the Church, from the pope on down), Father Liuzzi quotes from a document with less wide approval. Coulombe merely noted that the cover of the April 15 issue of Edge featured a model on a cross. He expressed no opinion for nor against the cover. Coulombe mentioned that St. Victor's in West Hollywood had an ad in the April 15 Edge. Here, too, he expressed no opinion. Regarding the column by William Thigpen, the Episcopal priest, Coulombe expressed only the opinion it was "a far more assertive piece than either of Father Liuzzi's." We are told that God loves us. In traditional Catholic churches we are also told that God hates the sins we do, from Clintonian sins of the flesh to murder.
Thus, it would seem that Mr. Stoltz "doth protest too much" about opinions unvoiced by Mr. Coulombe. Does this reveal the presence of an uneasy conscience?
Active homosexuals are viewed by some in the same light as people who pay to have their hair dyed green in order to look like salad on the hoof. (Many television comedies take that view; "Seinfeld" characters always voice the disclaimer: "Not that there's anything wrong with that!") A person may think of doing it, but thinking does not expose one to scrutiny. However, the Bible views homosexual acts as far more than mere foolishness. St. Paul, in Romans 1:27, says: "and the men gave up natural intercourse with women and burned with lust for one another. Men did shameful things with men, and thus received in their own persons the penalty for their perversity." That penalty is stated in Romans 1:32: "They know that all who do such things deserve death; yet they not only do them but approve them in others."
William J. Mathey, V.M.D., Ph.D.
Nipomo
YOU DO NOT CREATE DIVISION
I want to compliment you on the professionalism of your publication--good layout, excellent writing, good, solid orthodox theology. You are battling the anti-Christ in the many forms he insinuates himself in culture and religion. Stay strong in your faith. Archbishop Romero once said that when a bright light is cast upon what was formerly in the dark, and rotteness and decay is revealed, the persons or situations under the glare of the light blame the light. You are being that light for California. Your local issues touch all the core issues in the U.S. You are not creating division any more than a dental x-ray "creates" decay. This kind of light is part of healing. Without it, what has started to rot could fall into full decay. You are saving many through your work. My prayers are with you.
Father David Drewelon
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Nebraska City, Nebraska
EFFECTIVE, LOYAL, AND ORTHODOX
We thank God for your newspaper which truly informs us and exposes the misguided liberals in the Church. Your publication is indeed most needed in these difficult days of darkness and confusion in the Church.
Each time I read an angry letter from some flaky priest or "liberated" nun asking you to remove their names from your mailing list, I realize how effective, loyal and orthodox Catholic publications like yours must be.
The story about the Catholic radio station in Milwaukee [see "News", October 1998 Mission] and how archbishop Weakland is upset about it, did my heart good. If Weakland and other so-called shepherds feed their flocks authentic Catholic teachings loyal to the magisterium of the Church, perhaps we would not need a Catholic radio station in his territory. Weakland, indeed!
C. N. Santos
Atascadero
YOU DID RIGHT
Three more cheers for the Mission! Those who want to hide their heads in the sand can do so. Real Catholics (of all rites) who take their sacramental vows seriously will want to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ and find out the Truth in all aspects of life.
Your drawing of the male body wasn't obscene in any way [see "News," July/August Mission, and "Letters," October Mission]--how could it be, as it is created by a loving God! Prostate and breast cancer strike devout as well as deviate souls. You did right in warning people to use their brains and save both body and soul.
Can we have the address of Faith newspaper from Northern California in the next Mission? It would be help to many. Every blessing for continued success 'till you're needed no more (which will be after the parousia!) Victory!
Rev. G. D. Wiebe, SSC, Ph.D.
Sparks, Nevada
Editor's Note: The address for our sister paper, the San Francisco Faith, is P.O. Box 26209, San Francisco, CA 94126-6209.