Letters to the Editor

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 [/opinion/guest-columnists/item/35764-sinead-o-connor-was-failed-by-the-church]” (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’ [/item/35735-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.

The Catholic community in Canada needs better leadership. Our bishops, as shepherds of the most vulnerable lambs, have failed to respond to recent events with united and unambiguous statements. Some statements have been made but were open to interpretation and thus inappropriate for the laity. On no occasion have I heard from pulpit or Catholic media a clear defense of the Catholic doctrine in respect of Pride activity. A clear and unambiguous letter from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops could be read from the pulpit to clarify the Catholic position. The word pride, in this context, refers to personal achievement without God's major involvement. It represents one of the seven deadly sins. How many Catholic children are made aware of the seven deadly sins and the virtues when they are not mentioned from the pulpit? We should be mindful that Our Lord was never politically correct and very direct in his teachings.

The penny has finally dropped and I now realize that you are actually not a Christian paper at all but rather a sort of political and intellectual commentary upon things Catholic.

The Catholic Register’s recent editorial “What reason for Pride season?” sounds like a secular commentary on gay culture and trans individuals.