The Catholic Register - Readers Speak Out

Written by Catholic Register Readers,

Mixed message sent

Regarding the commentary on Jan. 27, “Wrong message sent,” by Janet Somerville, it seems to me that the vetting process is the problem at hand in Winnipeg. Consider the precedent that would have been set.

If James Loney, notwithstanding his dissident views on homosexuality, is deemed to be an appropriate speaker at a Catholic conference on peace due to his activism, would Dr. Henry Morgentaler, notwithstanding his dissident views on abortion, be considered an appropriate speaker at a Catholic conference on holocaust survival due to his personal experience?

With all due respect to Janet Somerville, I don’t think sending mixed messages is a good way to teach Catholic moral theology in difficult times either.

Ricardo Di Cecca
Burlington, Ont.

Homosexuals have lives

I am deeply discouraged by the language used in a couple of recent letters in The Catholic Register.

In the first (“Clarification needed,” Jan. 27), Jack Fonseca details his concerns that a certain book approved by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board might “normalize homosexual behaviour” for school children. Throughout his letter, Fonseca refers to the “gay lifestyle,” “homosexual activity,” “homosexual behaviour,” and “homosexual conduct.”

I have to wonder if Fonseca would use such language to describe heterosexuals? I severely doubt it. By the way, just what is a “heterosexual lifestyle”? Heterosexual activity? Heterosexual behaviour? Heterosexual conduct?

In the second letter (“Behaviour is key,” Feb. 3), Leeda Crawford laments the decriminalization of homosexuality, and takes this language a step further. Crawford states, “Most people I talk to who are neutral or support so-called homosexuals go ‘Ooooh’ when I start to describe the behaviour, showing me that it is also repulsive to them.”

Crawford continues, “I pray that the day will come when God will enlighten all people to the truth of the serious harm the behaviour inevitably has not only on their bodies and society but most importantly on their souls.”

Just what is this behaviour that Crawford speaks of? Loving another human being? Why is that so disgusting?

Such language is common among opponents of same-sex marriage and homosexuals.

The intention of such language is to a priori define gays and lesbians as immoral, irrational, addicted and badly behaved individuals who refuse to listen to a supposed higher moral authority.

The effects of such language is to squelch the voices of gays and lesbians, as well as to alienate, demean and dehumanize.

Is it any wonder that 30 per cent of all teen suicides are gay, lesbian or transgendered teens?

I suspect that neither Fonseca nor Crawford has the slightest interest in a rational and respectful discussion on the issue of homosexuality.

Gays and lesbians have lives, not lifestyles. Please treat them with respect and dignity, and don’t insult them.

Boyd Tolton
Edmonton, Alta.

Just pack it in

A Catholic Zen roshi (“Scarboro Missions hosts Catholic roshi,” Jan. 20)? Why don’t you guys at The Catholic Register just pack it in? With your recent review of The Golden Compass, and now your promotion of a “Catholic Zen roshi,” it is very obvious that you are Catholic in name only.

Just so you know, the edition of The Register to which I am referring is the last edition I will ever read.

May God forgive you.

Teresa Walters
Fonthill, Ont.

Taliban is the enemy

Regarding the Feb. 17 article, “Support for continued Afghan mission ‘misguided,’ ” Michael Swan continues to reiterate the inexplicable opinion certain aid organizations have expressed that military action in Afghanistan should be radically scaled back.

It is astonishing they are unable to recognize how they are shooting themselves in the foot.

The only thing holding back the Taliban from seizing total control of Afghanistan are the NATO military forces, and it is the Taliban who would be most detrimental to the activity of aid organizations, not NATO. Can it be imagined that the fundamentalist, violently anti-Western ideology of the Taliban would tolerate any openly Western organizations from having any significant influence in the country’s affairs, even aid workers?

Can it be imagined that the very same group that frequently utilizes suicide bombers and civilian shields would so willingly come to terms of peace in any way beneficial to Western development efforts?

At present NATO’s military success is tenuous, and it needs all the support it can get. In the words of a character from The Lord of the Rings, “The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all.” Michael Swan seems determined to push it off the edge.

Joseph Jalsevac
Scarborough, Ont.