Anti-Church Crusade Is Hypocritical
What Fr. Roger Landry has to say about priestly scandals is true (“A Crisis of Saints,” May-June 2002). But the current media crusade against the Catholic Church is hypocritical.
Three sex abuse cases being prosecuted in Manhattan in May 2002 involved Riverside Chapel (a liberal Protestant church founded by the Rockefellers), New York district attorney Robert Morgenthau’s own synagogue, and the Harlem Boys Choir. Meanwhile, in Trenton, New Jersey, Rabbi Fred J. Neulander was charged with hiring hit men to murder his wife so that he could marry one of the other women he was sleeping with. None of these events were news to the media showing outrage at decades-old accusations against Catholic priests.
Christianity Today noted that there were “70 child abuse allegations reported against American Protestant churches each week during the last ten years,” a quarter of which were against pastors (“Go Figure,” May 21, 2002).
Philip Jenkins wrote, “The most quoted survey of sexual problems among Protestant clergy states that some ten percent are involved in sexual misconduct of some kind, and ‘about two or three percent’ are pedophiles, a rate equal to or higher than that suggested for Catholic priests” (Pedophiles and Priests, Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 50).
When the federal government shut down the “Candyman” pedophile web site last March, it was reported that the site’s more than 7,000 visitors included members of the military, police and fired departments, teachers, Little League coaches, and eight members of the clergy, including two Catholic priests—two out of 7,000.
This doesn’t mean the Church shouldn’t strive to purify itself. It does mean that turning the Church into another liberal Protestant denomination won’t solve anything.
Don Schenk
Allentown, Pennsylvania
We Must Be Like St. Michael
Speaking across eternity, Fr. Roger Landry would have us believe that the current priest scandal is only a blip that will be handled in God’s good time (“A Crisis of Saints,” May-June 2002). He avers that if we all get holier the problem will be solved—which is true.
But before we all start levitating, this is our blip and in the name of humanity we must resolve it now. Remember, when Jesus said “when men revile you” no one believed he was speaking of priests. Bishops, and cardinals. Blame them for demeaning you, Fr. Landry, not the mother who overreacted by shielding her children from you.
Yes, we should all try to raise ourselves to sainthood. But in the process, like St. Michael drove the devil from heaven, we must drive the bad priests from the priesthood and have the incompetent hierarchy who did the cover-up go back to grinding wheat and baking bread.
Robert Schaab
Manalapan, New Jersey
U.S. Catholic Undermines Authority
Philip Blosser’s article “What I Learned from U.S. Catholic Magazine” (May-June 2002) was of great interest to me. Some years ago I read an article by Ralph Martin titled “Crisis of Truth.” In it he mentioned that U.S. Catholic publishes articles attacking Church teaching on sexual morality, and questions the reality of hell and the teaching authority of the pope. It advocates also the ordination of women. It also runs on a regular basis articles that undermine the authority of God’s word as it comes to us in Scripture, tradition, and Church teachings.
Mary Landry
Wilton, Maine
Switching Sides
“What I Learned from U.S. Catholic Magazine” (May-June 2002) was enlightening. Please cancel my subscription to This Rock. I will be subscribing to U.S. Catholic.
Jill Switzer
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Into the First Mansions
Although I do not pray the Prayer of Jabez (“Brass Tacks,” April 2002) daily and opt for more traditional Catholic prayers, I have prayed it on occasion. Why is it such an issue to pray the prayer with the intentions Bruce Wilkinson has described? It seems that if this prayer can open a dialogue with God and draw a person into a deeper spiritual life we should not criticize it.
I think that as Catholics—especially if we are interested in apologetics—we can often slam shut doors to dialogue by being narrow-minded. Look at St. Teresa of Avila, who is such an amazing instructor in prayer: She did not tell us exactly what to pray but focused on doing it regularly and with the spirit of desire to meet God within our souls. If the Prayer of Jabez helps some people come out of the courtyard and into the first mansions, isn’t it worthwhile?
Rosemarie Davis
Via the Internet
Build a Bridge, Not a Wall
I’d like to compare the letter titled “Ashamed” to James Akin’s article “‘Another’ God? ‘Another’ Christ?” (“Brass Tacks,” May-June 2002). In the spirit of the latter, wouldn’t it be proper to attend the Lutheran service, recognizing that they are worshiping God as they know him? Certainly one would not receive the Eucharist at the service, since that would be interpreted as accepting the validity of the sacrament. As long as all understand that they are attending as family, and that they remain faithful Catholics, isn’t this a way to build a bridge instead of a wall? If a Protestant friend dies or gets married, isn’t it proper to attend the service, but again not receiving their Eucharist?
Isn’t it a spirit similar to that expressed in the James Akin article that has prompted the Holy Father to attend—to the horror of many—non-Catholic liturgies with leaders of other faiths? Wouldn’t a similar logic apply to the Lutheran first communicant?
Peter Kolf
Waukegan, Illinois
Forbidden to Attend Invalid Sacrament?
I hate to beat a dead horse but must take strong exception to your answer to “Ashamed” (“Letters,” May-June 2002). The purpose of the grandparents not attending the Lutheran first communion, according to your response, is to avoid sending the wrong message. But by following this course of action, there will be animosity toward the grandparents. Any message the grandparents were trying to send about the Catholic sacrament would be lost in anger and hurt feelings.
If the grandparents attend the ceremony but teach their grandchildren about the Catholic Eucharist and why the Catholic sacrament is valid, a stronger message, wrapped in love, gets through.
Tom Mitchell
Via the Internet
Editor’s reply: All things being equal, it is not a problem to attend a non-Catholic funeral; funerals are not sacraments and therefore cannot be invalid. All things being equal, it is not a problem to attend a non-Catholic wedding, because such weddings are valid. All things being equal, it is possible to attend a Protestant worship service that includes an invalid Eucharist – provided one doesn’t participate – because there are other elements in the service that we share in common. However, in the case of a child being given an invalid first communion, all things are not equal. You are being asked by your presence to celebrate the initiation of a child into an invalid sacrament. To attend will send a false message on either one level or another, and with that there is a moral problem.
April Issue Disappointing
I’ve been a faithful reader for many years, but I must tell you that I was disappointed with your April issue. My disappointment is due largely to Donna Doornik’s guilt-ridden attempt to make her feel spiritually good about her husband’s large income (“Live Simply? Live Shrewdly,” April 2002), and the ad for the Catholic Answers cruise that followed it.
I found Mrs. Doornik’s justification for her large house and not so large piece of property to be about as shallow as the local reservoirs here (we’re suffering from the worst drought in thirty years). As I read the article I wondered why Catholic Answers was letting Mrs. Doornik work out her guilt in This Rock. But then, as I turned the page after her article, I had my answer: The First Annual Catholic Answers Apologetics Cruise! Hey, gotta make the little guys feel like it’s okay to spend big before ya hit ’em up, right?
As I noted the prices, I realized that even my wife and I couldn’t afford them, and my income the past several years has been none too shabby. For the life of me I’ll never understand why Catholic apostolates that run these cruises don’t come right out and say, “Look, we know it’s way overpriced, and that you can do much better for your money. But look at it as a way of contributing to charity, contributing to your spiritual growth, and having a good time all at once!”
Why can’t you be open and honest about it?
Brian Barrette
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Editor’s reply: See page 30 of this issue.
Nothing Wrong with Living Simply
Donna Doornik writes a thought-provoking article about stewardship (“Live Simply? Live Shrewdly,” April 2002). Many of us find ourselves in a financially comfortable position and it is only fair to realize this bounty comes from and belongs to God.
I would suggest that simplicity is not such a deterrent to Christian stewardship as the article implies. Living simply, though we have the resources for more, can be a means of detachment to earthly goods and freedom for more Christ-centered activities. With the surplus left over from self-denial one can avail those resources to performing acts of mercy and funding the many worthy Catholic apostolates.
Simplicity need not be a moving target. We all can do more for the needs of others simply by managing our resources to generate a maximum good for God.
Thilak Fernando
Lake Havasu City, Arizona