2004 LETTERS
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Contents © 2004
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
March 2004

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In reading the recent articles/quasi-beatification of the late Leo T. Maher, I was affected by one primary reaction: "Oh Puh-leeeeze." [See "Maher's Moment", January 2004]

Maher's defense of Church doctrine and his actions taken against pro-abortion assemblywoman, Lucy Killea, in the denial of Holy Communion to her, was a golden opportunity for him to boost his public image when he needed it the most. Maher took full advantage of that opportunity.

That golden opportunity came when he and the Diocese were being rocked by one misconduct scandal after another and allegations about moral and sexual corruption at the seminary. Maher condemned them calling them attacks upon the Church. Those allegations have long since been substantiated and corroborated.

Pedophile Monsignors Kraft and Galindo became known at that time as well. Both were defended by Maher. Both remained in ministry. Both continued to molest. Both later acknowledged their guilt; one on his death bed, the other as a result of impending criminal prosecution.

The late Monsignor William Spain's homosexual and drug-laced lifestyle was exposed at that time too; as was Maher's having benefited from his friendship with Spain that accommodated his own extravagant preferences, such as Las Vegas hotel suites.

Last, but certainly not least, came the exposure of Maher's own past as first Bishop of Santa Rosa -- a diocese he left bankrupt -- and an "inappropriate" relationship with his private secretary as Bishop of San Diego that involved real-estate purchases for her and the annulment of her marriage that had already produced grown children.

Tragically, the Diocese of San Diego has not been fortunate in the quality of the bishops it has been given. The first (Buddy) was replaced by an apostolic administrator. The second (Furey) moved to San Antonio, where he established a legacy of shuffling pervert priests among unsuspecting Catholics.

Maher too, was replaced by an administrator but with rights to succession (Coadjutor Brom) who has brought his own baggage. Moral leaders and shepherds to be proud of? Not a very pretty picture to say the least.

Leo T. Maher was a corrupt, worldly bishop who would (however reluctantly) trade the moral integrity of his office and Diocese for the benefactors it needed and the personal lifestyle his ego required.

Whether by design or negligence, Maher permitted the most vile moral influences to invade, then take hold of not only his priests but the countless vocations that were inevitably destroyed.

The writer's misguided yet good-intentioned effort to find something good about Maher is laudable but short-sighted. Rather than spend so much effort and time to find a sweet spot in a rotten apple, it is far better to acknowledge the truth. To do any less is to patronize the people of this diocese.

At the very least, by acknowledging the truth of the past we can be free of it; free enough to face the future without carrying crosses that don't belong to us and are not ours to carry or answer to. Free enough not to have to bury or sweep them under the rug. Haven't we had enough of that already?

Mark Brooks
San Diego


IN DEFENSE OF PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS

In your article, "We'll Win this Thing," I was saddened to read Margi Pearson state, "We have a couple of crisis pregnancy care centers in San Diego close to Coronado, but I wasn't real happy with what they were doing, and they already have a fair amount of support from local Protestant churches. I wanted to see that where we were putting our efforts was somewhere that is really working toward a Catholic culture." This was almost contrary to Kent Peters saying that he was encouraging people to support the pregnancy care centers of San Diego by providing financial support, volunteers, goods and services. It appears to me she is being exclusive rather than inclusive. In addition, the closest pregnancy care centers to Coronado are in Chula Vista. One of them, Birthline, is Catholic and is supported by Catholic churches in the area. The other one, Silent Voices, gets its primary support from local Protestant churches. Additionally, there are 13 pregnancy care centers in the county and city of San Diego, including Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Poway, El Cajon, and Ramona. Most of these centers have Catholics working there as volunteers. I wonder how she can in good conscience say: "I wasn't real happy with what they were doing." Does she work at the centers? Does she know how many thousands of babies have been saved in the past 30 years by the valiant work of the counselors in these centers? I think Margi Pearson needs to get out of her exclusive attitude and appreciate the hard work that Catholics and Protestants have done in centers that may not be clinics (though some are becoming clinics).

Rosemary Benefield
San Diego


MARGI PEARSON RESPONDS

I apologize for the tone of my comment regarding our local pregnancy care centers. I realize our local pregnancy care centers have provided loving care and guidance to women for the past 30 years, and have support from our Catholic community. Good, valiant, and grace-filled volunteers, Catholic and Protestant, continue to devote hours of service and thousands of dollars counseling women in these centers and I do not wish, in any way, to denigrate or diminish the good work they have done.

Pregnancy care centers are often the first step towards helping women choose to keep their babies; however, getting women into the center has become increasingly difficult since over-the counter, accurate and inexpensive pregnancy tests have become available.

It has been stated that about 20% of women who are counseled at pregnancy care centers will choose life. Culture of Life Family Services does not compete or replace our local care centers. Rather, it serves to enhance and complement the work of these centers because it provides ultrasounds, medical prenatal care and a physician and staff who can deliver the baby and alleviate concerns of women in crisis. Culture of Life Family Services is a referral source for all the pregnancy care centers in San Diego county. They say about 90% of the women who visit their clinic choose life after seeing the ultrasound image and the consultation with the physician.

Saving babies from abortion is our goal. It is my opinion that we need to begin to funnel more of our Catholic resources into this productive Catholic ministry to help it flourish. Right now, the Culture of Life center needs all our prayers, financial assistance, and help preparing and renovating the two new clinics (Escondido and Little Italy).

As culture of life coordinator for Sacred Heart, Coronado, I chose supporting Culture of Life Family Services precisely because they have not yet obtained the support they need. Perhaps, with God's grace, we will soon have both clinics in full operation and ready to accept any and all referrals from our pregnancy care centers, Catholic and Protestant alike.

Margi Pearson
Coronado


OLD-FASHIONED TRANSUBSTANTIATION

In response to Old Mass vs. New Mass (Confessions, February), it is important to discern whether the consecration is valid, invalid or illicit. If it is invalid, it is not old Mass or new Mass; it is no Mass. No matter what words are said, if the bread contains anything in addition to wheat and water, it is an invalid consecration. The day after Christmas, my wife and I received brown cubes of sweetened bread at Communion time. We did not receive the Real Presence.

When a priest adds or deletes any words from the consecration, it is an illicit consecration, but not necessarily an invalid one. If the priest does not at least say, "This is my Body ... This is my Blood," the consecration is invalid. If the priest says anything during Mass to take away from the words of the consecration, it is invalid. For example, a few years ago, my wife and I heard at the beginning of Mass that the congregation was the real presence. I asked the priest after Mass about transubstantiation. He said that was old-fashioned.

I would suggest that if you attend Mass which has an illicit consecration, you and a witness talk with the priest. If you are subjected to an invalid consecration, notify your bishop.

Joel Fago
Sedona, Arizona


SIN NO MORE

Perhaps [USD president] Dr. Lyons should read all the Scripture relating to Jesus "embracing, dialoguing, and loving all persons." [See "Little Notes," February 2004.] He always admonished them to "go forth and sin no more" -- a very important point they may be missing up there on the hill. Another question for your paper: when will the news media stop being supportive of the homosexuals by referring to them as "gay?'' They aren't gay. They are sad and ashamed or they would proudly use the word homosexual.

F.R. Sprecco
Lakeside

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