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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
JUNE 2001

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(ALMOST) UNFORGIVABLE

If the point of your news article on Diane Whipple's memorial Mass at St. Mary's College was limited to objecting to an unfortunately common practice at Catholic funerals of presumption that the deceased is already in heaven, I would have no quarrel with it. Eulogies are prohibited at Catholic funerals for good reason. Only God decides who is in heaven, in purgatory awaiting heaven, or in hell. Thus it is important for us to continue to pray for the dead, and for all souls in purgatory.

The point of your article rather seems to be that Diane Whipple, who was in love with another human being (albeit another woman), who shared an apartment with her, and who had made a serious commitment to her could not possibly enter heaven. Even assuming that these women may have engaged in genital sex with one another, it is hard to believe that God would be so lacking in His mercy as to condemn Diane to eternal damnation. To assume this even if you knew of sexual relations between them would constitute an un-Christian act of bigotry and intolerance. To assume this when you only presume that they may have had sexual relations with one another is (almost) unforgivable.

Gordon Graham
Berkeley


NOT WITH ST. PAUL IN PARADISE?

I refer to your commentary on page 9 of the May issue of the Faith: "St. Mary's Moraga Canonizes Victim of Dog Attack." To begin, I would point out that I am a heterosexual, and that I do not find the idea of same-sex relationships attractive. It is also offensive to me that we have had a perfectly good word virtually stolen from us -- the word is 'gay'.

Now, having said these things, and made that part of my position clear, I will say that what you did in telephoning St. Mary's assistant lacrosse coach was not only insensitive, it was in poor taste. It should be remembered that Diane Whipple was a human being who obviously contributed positively to the lives of the athletes she worked with. In short, she had a productive, though short, life. She was brutally murdered by two dogs at the threshold of her home.

No matter your personal beliefs, how can you publicly question whether or not she is with God in paradise? Does having a same-sex relationship, after all, make a person worthless in the eyes of God? Jesus saved the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery. He forgave her and told her to sin no more. Did that woman end up in hell?

St. Paul, when he was Saul of Tarsus, did his best to kill and persecute Christians, and they feared him. Yet, Our Lord chose him to become an apostle -- one of the most widely read -- is it possible that St. Paul went any where but paradise?

Diane Whipple was not comparable, in reality with St. Paul. I only used him as an example of forgiveness. Yet, her short life did have worthiness to it despite her sexual orientation. I have found many of your articles to be informative, and of great interest, but this sort of commentary takes away from the dignity of your publication.

Thomas Brown
Carmel

Editor responds: Nowhere in the story did we state that Diane Whipple was in Hell. Neither did we assert, as Thomas Brown says, that there is no way that she was in Heaven. But to announce in public that someone is in Heaven who was publicly known to be in a same-sex relationship confuses the faithful about faith and morals and is a singular act against charity towards someone who may need prayers. -- ER


HOMOSEXUALITY NOT CONDEMNED

RE: Letter, "No Scientific Proof," Laurette Elsberry [May Faith]. Ms. Elsberry, while properly quoting the Catechism appears to be unaware of numerous statements by the Roman Catholic church which indicate that homosexuality is "constitutional," hence innate or biological in origin. In fact, the Church calls upon the faithful to reach out to homosexuals and include them in the communion of worship. While homosexual behaviors are condemned, homosexuality per se is not.

Since we know that persons are born with a number of different of different sexual types that are not specifically "male and female" (e.g., hermaphroditism, numerous arrangements of sex chromosomes leading to differing sexual behaviors, etc.), it is most unusual Ms. Elsberry has chosen the word "perversion" to describe homosexuality. Neither sex of assignment at birth nor the sex chromosomes appear to determine both physical and mental sexual states.

Kindest regards,

Norman C. Murphy
Oceano


THANK GOD FOR THE FAITH

Thank God for your and similar other lay Catholic publications which expose the heresies, falsehoods, lies, etc. so common in the Church now-a-days. Let's face it, most diocesan newspapers are not worth the paper they are printed on. On the other hand they are ideal to line up bird cages and I say, the larger the birds the better. Your present issue article by Joe Marti ["Good-Bye To All That," April Faith] about Bay Area so-called Catholic colleges shows how far from orthodoxy and authentic Catholic truth these places of learning have strayed. Any Catholic parent worth his salt should never send their children to these once true Catholic colleges.

If the faith and future of our children are to be preserved and fostered we should send our children to orthodox, authentic, and loyal-to-the-Magisterium schools such as the University of Steubenville, Ohio, Christendom College, Virginia, Thomas Aquinas in California etc.

If some of the bishops had any fortitude they would tell the heads of schools that still call themselves 'Catholic' but present every wind of doctrine; shape up or if not, don't call your colleges 'Catholic'. Remember, Jesus called the devil, "the father of lies."

Constantino Santos
Atascadero

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