The Catholic Register - Readers Speak Out

Written by Catholic Register Readers,

Dialogue has layers

In your news story and also in your editorial (“Difficult dialogue”) of the week of July 8-15, you suggest that the serious, candid, open and widespread debate within Canadian Anglicanism over the blessing (or not) of homosexual persons who have chosen to live in permanent commitment to each other is a “roadblock” for ecumenical dialogue. You add, in reference to an earlier debate and decision: “Women’s ordination has already made ecumenical dialogue — a difficult task at the best of times — even more problematic.”

It is true that the opposite decisions of our two churches on the ordination of women has made the formal reunion of the two churches more distant. The same would be true of an Anglican decision to offer a liturgical blessing to persons in a same-sex union. But such a difference is certainly not a “roadblock” to dialogue. It is a topic of dialogue.

The changes in Western civilization’s understanding of gender that have prompted some churches to alter ancient points of doctrine and practice are enormous, epochal, vastly significant changes. They may also be, in some deep ways, tragic changes, as the West’s love affair with technology and individualism blinds us to older human truths, which our old church has not forgotten.

But we certainly need to talk about these changes and about how to understand them theologically and live with them pastorally. If we don’t, we will lose our ability to talk seriously with our own younger church members, who have lived their whole lives in a civilization that is “destabilized” about the meanings and ethics of human sexuality, and who might not vote very differently from their Anglican fellow Christians, if anyone were to ask them to vote.

Don’t you think North American Roman Catholic theologians — not to mention pastors, confessors, counsellors and plain lay people — have been in intense dialogue with each other on these very topics since at least the 1960s? Why wouldn’t we be in dialogue about them also with fellow Christians in other churches? Or do you consider that, because we have authoritative doctrines, we have nothing further to learn or teach on these huge and subtle cultural and spiritual questions?

Ecumenical dialogue is as real and inclusive as Christian life itself. If you think it’s valid only as the negotiation of an imminent ecclesiastical merger — as if we were hurry-up CEOs looking for corporate synergies — you’re missing many layers of its reality.

Janet Somerville,
Toronto, Ont.

What he said

In your July 22 article, “ Harry Potter film harbours Christian themes,” Fr. Michael Bernier is quoted as stating, “Pope Benedict has not said anything about the Harry Potter books themselves.” Then the article writer continues, “before he became Pope Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, responded to a book written about the dangers of Harry Potter. He sent a note to the author thanking her for the book and said if the accusations were true then they would be of grave concern.

Neither statement is accurate.

In his March 7, 2003, letter to his friend Gabriele Kuby, the author of the book warning about Harry Potter, then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, “It is good that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly.” The letter also encouraged Kuby to send her book to the Vatican prelate who made a comment about Potter during a press briefing which led to the false press about Vatican support of Potter.

Kuby, the author of Harry Potter: Good or Evil?, subsequently wrote to the cardinal again and asked his permission to make his comments about Potter public. Cardinal Ratzinger wrote back, “Esteemed and dear Ms Kuby, … Finally this pile (of unanswered mail) is taken care of, so that I can gladly allow you to refer to my judgment about Harry Potter.”

Steve Jalsevac
Scarborough, Ont.

Seven is enough

In response to “Another sacrament be worthwhile for today’s youth?” in the June 24 Register, while the author, Manfred Von Vulte, may lament a certain one-dimensional surmising on the part of our youth, we need to be aware that the church has no power to create another sacrament, or any sacraments at all.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law … There are seven…” (no. 1210). To put it another way, the Catechism of Pope St. Pius X declares, “…by the word sacrament is meant a sensible and efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ to sanctify our souls…” (pg. 63).

Von Vulte may feel something more is needed to bolster the youth of today. I suggest that if today’s youth are taught their faith properly and thoroughly, and make adequate and devout use of the sacraments they have already, they will have no need of any further ones to encourage and strengthen them on the road of life.

Tony McAllister
Fort Erie, Ont.

A source of trouble

Without taking away anything from the praise of Loretta Abbey and its Sisters (“Thanks to Lorettos,” Readers Speak Out, July 8-15), I would like to explain why Catholic private schools are necessary in many areas.

The main reason is the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association executive and those who voted these people in. Although I do not know any of them personally, I do know that their agenda for many years has contained anti-Catholic teaching. An OECTA vote for homosexuality was only defeated because time ran out at the annual meeting where the resolution was presented. OECTA took the part of March Hall in 2002 when he challenged the Durham Catholic school board’s decision to deny his “right” to bring his same sex partner to the prom. Besides OECTA’s support for the gay lifestyle, it invites prominent dissenters to speak at its conventions. It has joined with a labour union whose dues go to promote abortion and the gay lobby. It encourages its members to vote NDP, notorious for its pro-abortion, pro-gay platform. These are only a few examples among many.

Because of OECTA’s anti Catholic policies, and its influence over our teachers, neither our teachers nor our students are being taught the great and beautiful truths of our faith. Therefore, parents in desperation turn to private schools. If we want to keep or Catholic schools “public,” we must make sure that our faith is known, loved and practised by all involved in Catholic education.

James Armaly
La Salle, Ont.

Not giving up

You may have heard that St. Brigid’s Church in Lowertown in Ottawa sold recently to members of the Irish Society for $450,000.

As you know, parishioners have been unhappy about the proposed closing of their church. Some are distraught over the hallowed ground being turned into a community centre, a place of Irish jigs, plays and cheap entertainment. They wonder why such a valuable property, estimated at $6 million was sold for a pittance.

Even though the deal seems done, many of the congregation are not going quietly into that dark night and they have been mounting a vigorous mobile protest.

Variously, twice a day, they are either at St. Brigid’s on Murray Street or they are at Notre Dame Basilica. In fact, they were there when Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. was introduced last week. The demonstrations are spearheaded by church member Bob Nye and include the services of a sign painter, various marchers and a car that is lettered on the trunk with, “Save St. Brigid’s Brigade”.

As one sign on the hood of the car reads, “Our Church. Where He Lives, Where the Community Lives.” The believers do not believe that St. Brigid has abandoned them and they are not giving up.

Shannon Lee Mannion
Ottawa, Ont.