Local News
Letters To The Editor
Published: February 2, 2012
Heartened By New Church Efforts For Poor, Homeless
To the Editor:
It was truly heartening to read two recent articles (“Drive To Raise Funds, Food For St. Vincent De Paul Begins At MLK Mass” and “Family Promise Begins In Rockdale, Newton Counties,” Georgia Bulletin, Jan. 19), which detailed new ways in which our Catholic Church is working to reduce poverty and homelessness—not by influencing government policy regarding benefits, but by mobilizing the faithful to act in love, as Jesus’ hands and feet.
My glad reaction is in contrast to the wariness with which I have witnessed our Church abdicate to the government the responsibility to assist the needy with those things that traditionally have been the role of church and charity to provide. While some celebrate the efficiency of this “great society” in the compulsory transfer of wealth, I am sincerely troubled by the degree to which this transfer is divorced from love (without which, First Corinthians 13:3 tells us, we gain nothing). …
Let us love our neighbor by enthusiastically supporting these worthy programs, for the glory of God. The alternative is to entrust the government—which increasingly refuses even to acknowledge God—with the care of His people. And that has some spiritually unhealthy consequences: a certain shifting from humble gratitude toward prideful entitlement; an increasing inclination to place one’s hope in the government; and a growing attitude that it is the government who is our brother’s keeper.
Lisa Olwine
Lawrenceville
Silence During Creed Disturbing Suggestion
To the Editor:
I was disappointed to read Father Kenneth Doyle’s article “References to ‘Us Men’ In New Roman Missal” on page 6 of the Jan. 5 Georgia Bulletin. First of all, I’m disappointed that Father Doyle felt the need to basically apologize for the words of the Creed. No apologies should ever be made for the words of the Nicene Creed that have articulated the fundamentals of our Faith for centuries. Secondly, I was very disturbed that Father Doyle would even suggest that anyone stay silent during the words “us men” in the Nicene Creed during Mass. Is a Catholic free to omit any prayer of the Mass that they don’t agree with? And, taking it a step further, is a Catholic then free to reject a doctrine that they don’t agree with? Suggestions like Father Doyle’s are symptomatic of the “pick-and-choose” Catholicism epidemic that has been so detrimental to our Church over the past several decades. If a Catholic cannot, with a clear conscience and a willing spirit, pray the entire Nicene Creed word-for-word, then perhaps that person has a deeper crisis of faith that they need to resolve in their lives and they should seek out spiritual direction. Suggesting that anyone stay silent during any parts of the Mass they do not agree with exhibits a disunity that will ultimately be harmful to our Church as a whole.
Kevin J. Fiorentino
Marietta
Paris March For Life Not Silent
To the Editor:
I am from Smyrna and participated in many of the marches for life in Atlanta, as well as once in Washington, D.C. I now live in Slovakia where my wife and I run a pro-life campaign affiliated with the Center for Bioethical Reform.
I marched twice in the Paris March for Life and am struck at the vast difference between it and American marches. While the march was equally under-reported on the news in France, our route took us through the busiest parts of Paris on a Sunday, and everyone having lunch at a café along the way heard why we were marching as our 15,000 voices reverberated along Parisian streets. What is the point of a silent march? Why is the march always on a weekday going through areas around the Capitol that aren’t very central to Atlanta’s life? Why not march through Buckhead or Midtown on the weekend when people are out shopping and dining, loudly proclaiming the right to life, where our marching would be noticed? It is not the politicians in the Capitol who need to see our rally and march but rather the ordinary citizens, who need to realize that a large number of people are vocally pro-life.
Andrew A. Ray
Husak, Slovakia
Obama Administration Role In EEOC Case Omitted
To the Editor:
Regarding the article “Court Ruling Could Have Far-Reaching Implications” printed in the Jan. 19 edition (of the Georgia Bulletin), I believe the Catholics of North Georgia would benefit to know that the Obama administration attempted to gravely violate religious liberty through the Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC lawsuit, and it continues to do so with the Department of Health and Human Services’ birth control mandate. This important information was missing from the article, but Catholics deserve to know who is behind these violations to fundamental human rights.
Daniel West
McDonough
