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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
MAY 2000

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MENLO PARK VICE

Was Reslock questioning "tolerance" of homosexuality, pedophilia, or both [see "Menlo Park Vice", April Faith]? Clearly, homosexuality and pedophilia are not the same things. It is difficult for me, a heterosexual survivor of homosexual and heterosexual childhood abuse, to "tolerate" such clearly unresearched "journalism" by those who purport to represent "Catholic" thinking on such matters. Publishing such unprofessional and biased "work" is hurtful. If you are interested in the "truth" and really want to make things better, raise your own standards before you throw around such questions.

Anonymous

ER Responds: Your point is well taken. I don't think anyone, except perhaps the Man-Boy Love Association, would disagree that pedophilia is in a different category than simple homosexual activity. First, it involves the victimization of innocents, and secondly, it is a crime committed by both homosexuals and heterosexuals. But for the purposes of the story, the most common feature, by a wide margin, of the recent scandals among Bay Area religious involve homosexual conduct, whether voluntary or predatory. The gradation of mortal sins did not seem relevant to the story, but I apologize for not drawing a better distinction between the two.


MENLO PARK BALANCE

Your article in the recent issue of Faith was very, very good. It reported well the facts, did not detract from the character of the priests mentioned. The article also showed well the church's compassion and the problem of not addressing homosexuality as a spiritual disorder, but as just another way of being.

Anonymous priest


ST. THOMAS MORE

It is hard to believe that a priest would write such falsehoods in response to "Leveda Flexes His Muscles". [February Faith]. Priests' salaries in Switzerland are not being paid by the government or the bishops. They are paid by the parish laity who have title of all parish properties and funds managed by a lay elected governing body. The laity also pays a yearly assessment to the diocesan administrator; hires priests either through the diocesan offices, or from all over Europe. Parish assemblies decide on use of funds, maintenance, etc. The titles to properties are usually written so that properties cannot be sold, nor turned over to Protestants. What a lame excuse for not keeping control of material matters that have been provided by the laity.

Did you notice that "anonymous priest" did not mention the fact that only 11 beds out of 135 [at the proposed facility in SF] are affordable? 124 are for the upper 20% of the population, the wealthy. There are already 1,500 units for the well-to-do. There are only 350 assisted living beds in San Francisco for 80% of the population in lower income brackets. There are 200 more high-cost beds under construction. What about the people providing the bulk of the funds for the diocese, the 80% lower income?

No mention [in his letter] of the traffic. There is a private golf course alongside St. Thomas More, no neighborhood streets for spillover parking. Our frail elderly can not make up the steep incline for sevices. People want to have their weddings and funerals at St. Thomas More. Is the diocese a dictatorship? Why is the good of the many perverted for the gain of a few wealthy? The Mercy Sisters (partners with Elder Care Alliance) have about 16 acres undeveloped land in Burlingame. Why are they not building that over including every inch of parking as they will at St. Thomas More? They would still have neighborhood streets for relief. Where is their compassion? Of course they will close St. Thomas More when the attendance declines for accessibility reasons. It is a matter of logical planning.

Eva R. Weber
San Francisco

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