Write to The Editor:

I am tired of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops keeping the Canadian pro-life movement at arms-length for the last 50 years. Canadian bishops haven’t stood for anything since Vatican II so why would they start now? They obviously don’t want to rock the government’s boat for fear of the financial reprisals of losing money or not getting a bailout with the government’s carbon tax incentives. 

In reading The Catholic Register article “No bodies discovered in Manitoba excavation,” the thought came to me that a wonderful contribution that the Canadian bishops could make in assisting with Indigenous reconciliation would be to finance a national digital database of all residential schools, churches, cemeteries, surrounding buildings within the defined boundaries captured from aerial photography that would date from the 1920s and legal survey plans done by the Department of Natural Resources (NRCAN), previously Energy Mines and Resources (EMR) Ottawa. This would even show structures that were later destroyed by fire.

In “Canada Needs 12 steps back from affirmative action,” Catholic Register guest columnist Brian Giesbrecht bluntly assigns the unmeasurable economic wealth gleaned by 500 years of slavery to a supposed Western cultural genius for meritocracy, a term only coined in recent years. Giesbrecht deftly omits mention of the recent New York Times publication “1619” on the history of American slavery. He also tries to make history disappear by omitting mention of Columbus’ 1492 introduction of Indigenous killings.

Canada’s True North has reported that 83 churches have now been desecrated, vandalized or burned to the ground since the announcement that graves were found near residential schools in Kamloops, British Columbia. However, no actual graves have been excavated and no definitive wrong proven. But those who don’t like Catholics and the Catholic Church were given the green light to attack churches and frighten believers. And what has been the response to the destruction from the bishops and the government? Silence.

In “How the Church Failed Sinead O’Connor” (Aug. 13-20 issue) Katherine Bennett implies that the Church is responsible for the sad life and death of singer Sinead O’Connor.

Regarding ‘No quick fix to housing asylum seekers, says ORAT head’ at catholicregister.org, it was so gracious that Tabernacle Church reached out to temporarily house our brothers and sisters with the financial help of Mohamad Fakih.

Once more Michael Swan has proven his worth as a great journalist. In the past he has impressed me with his columns regarding historical, contemporary, spiritual, material, abstract, and objective topics.

Regarding the Register’s July 2 editorial “Bishop Henry’s line in the sand,” kudos to Bishop Henry!  Could he be another John the Baptist?  A voice crying in the wilderness?  I agree with everything he says.

I was troubled by your recent editorial that approved of Prime Minister Trudeau giving millions to Ukraine to “further the war effort.” The money will only help prolong this bloody conflict. Also, there’s a real danger of it escalating into a nuclear war. In fact, many military experts describe the conflict as a proxy war between the U.S.-NATO alliance and Russia. They argue that Ukraine is being used as a tool to attack Russia. As Catholics we shouldn’t be taking sides in this war. We’re called to love both Ukrainians and Russians. It would have been more appropriate to further peace efforts by calling for an end to the war through a negotiated settlement. As Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Conflict between religion and the LGBTQIA+ community was going to publicly appear soon enough. In every community there are members who are hidden and others now out and proud of who they are. This community continues to challenge all traditional community and religious attitudes. Catholic Church doctrine welcomes the person but also points out the sin. Reformed Christian Churches firmly oppose the gay lifestyle, while the United church is firmly supportive and accepting. It is Islam (with Christian fundamentalist allies) that will bring the fight to public administrations, school boards and even private board rooms. Islam protects itself, its Quran, its Prophet Muhammed, and Islamic traditions.