LETTERS
2005 LETTERS
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
April 2005
OUTRAGED AT HATE DIATRIBE
As a gay man, I was outraged by the vicious and scurrilous attack on gay people implied by your front page article by Christopher Zehnder, entitled "Fireman Uniforms and Bondage." [See February Mission.] The fact that this hate diatribe appeared in the publication of an organization supposedly espousing the teachings of Christ, who preached love and acceptance toward all fellow human beings, makes this article even more reprehensible and disgusting. Please immediately cancel my subscription and delete my name and address from all your records.
David A. McKellar,
Santa Monica
WOW!
Boy Oh Boy! "Name Withheld" from San Clemente surely had his knickers in a twist. [See " Full-of-Crap Hypocrites", Letters, February issue.] Such vehemence! Wow! It looks as though all those years of Catholic education were surely wasted on that person. Imagine coming up with such a novel theory about sun worship being the root of Catholic worship. And having the courage to withhold his name. But seriously, you guys get a lot of rocks thrown at you for daring to expose the ills that have crept into the Church, and for speaking the truth in love, you are criticized. You keep up the good work, there's lots of people out there who think that you're doing a great job. God bless you.
Dave Jones,
Inyokern
KEEP IT COMING
What a credit it is to you to be lambasted by "Name Withheld" for single-mindedly promoting your offensive and ridiculous so-called morals! [See letters, February Mission.]
And any newspaper so viciously excoriated by the brave, stand-up-for-principle, sun-worshipping "Name Withheld" of San Clemente, can't be at all bad. How can a person of those opinions stand to live in a place named for a Christian saint? Please do not discontinue my subscription.
Joseph Kern,
received via e-mail
Editor's note: In partial defense of Name Withheld, he did not request anonymity. It was an editorial decision inspired by pity.
STILL NOT CLEAR
The December Mission printed my letter and your response [see "Mahony a Heretic?"]. I'm still not real clear on the issue; it seems it was not actually dealt with by your commentary.
Cardinal Mahony might say or do something that is obvious heresy. And let's say it's heresy without any doubt to any intelligent person who knows basic Catholic doctrine. But the crux of my question is not whether what he has said or done is heretical, but whether he "is" a heretic until the pope declares him such.
This is a question of authority, not of heresy. Analogously, in our secular legal system, a defendant is only "guilty" when the jury says so, even though the crime was committed prior to the trial. Even if he admits the crime, he is not legally guilty until a judge says so. In our legal system the jury or judge decides by probability.
See the bone I'm digging up? Would the cardinal become a heretic at the moment of his act of heresy, or only after being later declared a heretic by a pope?
Hope you don't mind if I keep plaguing you with this question; I'm not attacking you or your work, which I regard as excellent.
John L. Sillasen,
received via e-mail
Editor replies: Mr. Sillasen's letters are not a plague but aid in clarification of thought. I consulted one wiser than I in these matters, and Mr. Sillasen's suspicion is correct — no one, juridically speaking, can be called a formal heretic unless Church authority declares him such. Before such a declaration, the person in question can be said to teach heresy, and may be a material heretic; but he cannot properly speaking be called a heretic. He is only a heretic, formally speaking, if, upon his heresy being shown to him, he refuses to abjure it.
"GAY" IS NOT NORMAL
Why must gay people lie to themselves and try to convince others that being gay is normal? "The truth will set you free," and with God 's word as a guide, one knows there is no need to convince others that being a heterosexual is normal. The history of mankind speaks for itself.
How else would we be here unless woman was meant for man and man for woman!
Craig Galik,
Duquesne, Pennsylvania