The Catholic Register - Readers Speak Out

Written by Catholic Register Readers,

No justice yet

Thanks to Michael Swan for coverage of the 10th anniversary commemoration of the massacre of 45 people, mostly women and children, in Acteal, Chiapas, Mexico (“In memory of the massacred,” Jan. 13). As mentioned by Amnesty International in its public statement, “this massacre remains one of the darkest moments in Mexico’s modern history: the facts have never been fully established nor have all those responsible been brought to justice, nor have the victims received adequate reparations.”

I believe your readers would want to know that although it is true that many of the gunmen and some junior officials have been imprisoned for their involvement, none of those responsible at the highest levels for ordering the massacre has been brought to justice, despite innumerable proven testimonies which indicate a planned attack.

So, 10 years later, there is still no justice, the truth is not being heard, impunity continues and the families of the dead have received little reparation. This remains the case in the context of today’s state of violence and growing repression against those who speak out for human rights in Mexico.

As we stated in our letter of solidarity to the community of Acteal: “Yours is a story that strengthens our resolve to work for justice, denounce ongoing human rights abuses and struggle against impunity in Acteal and throughout Mexico.”

The other important point to mention is that the commemoration held Dec. 20 at St. Ann’s Church in Toronto was an ecumenical service organized by groups from different denominations.

Anne-Marie Jackson
Program Director
Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice
Toronto, Ont.

He’s a God of love

Regarding Frank Chatigny’s letter of Feb. 3, I offer three brief comments: 1. Mr. Chatigny would be well served by some Scripture courses at a respected Catholic institution, as well as a course on the Catholic faith. I would hope that such an experience would get him in touch with a different God, the God of revelation. 2. It’s not the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “shifting policy” on the topic, it’s their following the teaching of the church, firmly revealed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the urgings of the late Pope John Paul II. 3. Our God of Scripture is one who is nothing but love, who is Love. The God as understood and portrayed by Mr. Chatigny is not a God of love, but a loveless tyrant.

Hans VanLeeuwen
Pickering, Ont.

Marriage prep helps

In your Jan. 13 issue, Christopher Hunt suggested that if the Catholic Church were more open to granting annulments at a lower cost then the church pews would be filled (“Move ahead,” Readers Speak Out). He does not see the benefit in the marriage preparation course offered to engaged couples.

More than 3,000 annulments are granted each year in Canada. North America has the highest rate of annulments in the world. A fee of $500 or less to apply for an annulment, and no fee for those who cannot afford to pay, seems pretty reasonable when a civil divorce costs anywhere from $10,000 and up.

The marriage preparation course educates engaged couples on the responsibilities of marriage, the upbringing of future children, financial information and the church’s teaching on this. During the course of the preparation there are couples who realize they are not ready for such a commitment and wish to wait. There are some who decide this is not what they want and go their separate ways. We should be proud that our church offers this course.

Doing away with marriage preparation courses and granting annulments upon request will not bring people back to the church. One of the leading causes of a decline in young people attending church is due to the breakdown in the family unit. Easy access to annulments has probably done the most harm in the erosion of the family. Let’s not encourage further breakdown. Whatever happened to: “Whatever God has joined together, let no man put asunder?”

Mary MacDonald
Halifax, N.S.

Tribute deserved

I am writing to thank you for the excellent profile you wrote of the late Doreen Cullen in the Jan. 27 issue of The Catholic Register.

I appreciate especially the way you highlighted her unique contribution to the place of Catholic Charities in the mission of the church.

I am also pleased that you were able to include Fr. Bud Cullen’s homily, which for the first time in my experience, praised the vocation of the social worker as a Christian calling.

Jean Vale
Toronto, Ont.

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