2000 LETTERS
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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

JULY/AUGUST 2000 LETTERS

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I was simply horrified at the article 'Calling Father Spitzer' in the June edition of News Notes. The outrageous statements by those USD students who identified themselves as Catholics, defending the presence of Planned Parenthood on campus, showed that they are more subservient to the culture around them than the teachings of the Church. They think that you should give equal time to the Devil.

Apparently these students are grossly unaware of Planned Parenthood's eugenic and racist history, and PP's love of money over the lives of their fellow humans! Using their line of reasoning, Catholics should show their openness by allowing NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association) whose motto is 'sex after eight is too late' to give presentations at the Catholic schools and while they are at it, invite Satanists and the Ku Klux Klan!

These students are toying with apostasy, and by doing so bring shame on the Church. They have no love for their brothers and sisters in Christ, for if they did they would not tolerate evil, but instead their tolerance of evil will lead to others as well as themselves into sin and damnation. They are not Catholics, they are spiritually lost Americans.

Phil Magnan
From the Internet


NO MIDDLE GROUND

Having just finished reading "Calling Father Spitzer," a potpourri of responses to the question of inviting a Planned Parenthood speaker to the campus of USD, I must respond by saying the blood of the butchered babies cries out to God for at least a voice.

My middle son, who died of leukemia in 1976, offered the last stage of his illness to end abortion. My youngest is in jail, a very mixed-up and abandoned soul. He is a direct result of the culture of death. Unable to grow and thrive in an environment that says, "Evil, be thou my good," he finally let go and was swept in the tide to the brink of Hell, where now he lives, if you call it that. He had a horror, by the way, of abortion and of anyone even mildly connected with it. There just is no middle ground on this one. And, in his present insanity he is more sane than most of the answers I read in News Notes. What are we ever doing to our children?

Mother Teresa had two salient statements, which she repeated many times. "Abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace" and "The fruit of abortion is nuclear war!"

Ironic, isn't it, that a peace center arises on the old West Point of USD. What kind of Catholic values will they imbue from such a marriage? Yes, as the Holy Father said, we all have to choose good or evil. If we choose good we have to defend it to the death, in the footsteps of Christ and His most Blessed Mother. May God have mercy on us all.

Rosemary Getty
Encinitas


HINTS FOR USD STUDENTS AND OTHER CATHOLICS

May I suggest that those students at USD (April issue) who are struggling with their faith read G.K. Chesterton, especially Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man. They will find in the books of this brilliant defender of the faith how reasonable, wonderful, and beautiful our faith is. I read him every day and delight in his wisdom and wit.

Too many Catholics of all ages are passive. They expect someone to come along and convince them of the truths the Church teaches. But "God helps those who help themselves." Passive Catholics are always going to be confused. They need to read books about the faith, and in particular Chesterton, who confirms us in our religion and shows how unreasonable are materialism, skepticism, cynicism, and agnosticism.

Let us stop saying, "Who will teach us?" In these difficult days we must help ourselves. This is what mature people do. The great books of the past, in particular the great English converts, will teach us. But we can't just sit around wringing our hands. We have to read them -- Newman, Chesterton, Martindale, Knox, D'Arcy, Belloc, Lunn, McNabb, and others. Let us not be negative but positive.

Father Rawley Myers
Colorado Springs,

Colorado


SUNDAY MASS AT ST. EPHREM'S

After reading an article about St. Ephrem's Catholic Church (Maronite Rite) in News Notes last week, I went to Mass there last Sunday. Very rewarding. Several other apparent non-Aramaic families there, too. The Mass was in English and Aramaic plus Greek (Kyrie) and Latin (Agnus Dei) with a dynamic, Christ-centered, Bible-referenced sermon. Thank you.

Anonymous
From the Internet


NICE PEOPLE OUT THERE

I'm tired of your negative "Catholic Newspaper." Please remove me from your mailing list.

There really are nice people out there; too bad you haven't met them to do their stories.

Martha Longworth
North Park


SEX ROOTED IN BEING, NOT BEHAVIOR

The letter "Celibacy Impossible?" that appeared in the June issue of News Notes reflects a gross misunderstanding not only of the nature of celibacy but also that of human sexuality as a whole!

It misses the basic point that human sexuality is rooted in our being created as male and female (see Catechism of the Catholic Church #355 and Gen.1:27). Thus, sexuality is primarily a matter of being, not of behavior. Celibacy bears a clear and remarkable witness to this truth.

It is precisely in the lack of understanding of this basic truth that lies at the root of the sexual ills of homosexuality and masturbation that are mentioned in the letter.

This is a point that John Paul II has tirelessly proclaimed to the world. Let us pray that his successor does the same.

Greg Mockeridge
Chula Vista


CELIBACY HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE

I must agree with your anonymous correspondent in your last issue ("Celibacy Impossible?" June 2000). It is certainly humanly impossible to live a celibate life in our hedonistic society. On the other hand, there are remarkable examples of success in this life style, providing evidence that God is willing to provide abundant supernatural help in accomplishing this heroic sacrifice.

Without celibacy would we have a Padre Pio or a John Paul II? I doubt it. We should not be scandalized by the occasional failings of those who undertake a sacrificial life style. God has unlimited forgiveness for those who try and fail. He cannot forgive those who will not try.

Stanley Friesenhahn
Poway

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