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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
SEPTEMBER 2001

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CONTRARY TO TRADITION

Joe Marti's May article, "Continental Rift" [May 2001, Faith], expresses the lack of unity and isolation that some Catholics experience, but there are some details which are misleading. In fact, such misinformation might very well explain why some Catholics feel isolated from the universal Church. For example, Mr. Marti quotes Damien Van der Putten, a 24-year-old carpenter from San Jose: "When asked to gauge his feelings on the reunification, he replied, 'I don't think it will happen with this pope. He knows the third secret [of Fatima] that says the Church will lose its faith, and he still pushes [ecumenism] full force.'" That's not the third secret of Fatima. On June 26, 2000, the Congregation for Doctrine of Faith, headed by Cardinal Ratzinger, released a document revealing the content of the third secret. The document can be found on the Vatican website.

Also, it is completely contrary to Sacred Scripture and the tradition of the Church to say that the Church will lose its faith. In fact, this makes up part of the foundation of our hope. Recall Jesus' words to Peter: "[T]hou are Peter, and it is upon this rock that I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Mt 16:18) Various council documents reiterate this, including Vatican II. Mr. Van der Putten also implies that there's something wrong with ecumenism. What's wrong with ecumenism? All it means is that everyone should become Catholic [cf. Leo XIII, Paterna Caritas]. Jesus was ecumenical. Ecumenism has been one of John Paul II's primary concerns. That's why he preaches conversion. Once people convert, they will be able to see and accept the Truth. The actual documents of the Church differ greatly from the hype that the media or other interest groups produce. As Catholics, we should be among the first to insist on the truth. The article is informative, but a statement like Van der Putten's should be qualified or commented upon. It's misleading. It comes across as a valid Catholic position. In an effort to preserve the character of the Society of St. Pius X, the author explores the possibility of personal prelature for the Society: "Personal prelature has also been granted in the past to such groups as Opus Dei." Correction. Personal prelature has ONLY been granted to Opus Dei. It's a new development in Canon Law -- 1982. Neither has been it widely applied, nor is it widely applicable as of yet. Mr. Marti writes that prelatures have only to report to Rome. Well, the same can be said of every diocese. Personal prelature is similar to a diocese with no physical/geographical boundaries. They have a prelate who is their bishop. The priests, however, need the permission of a local ordinary, e.g. bishop, in order to come into a particular diocese just as members of religious congregations do. The faithful of a prelature continue to belong to their local church or diocese. The prelature must also be governed by general Church law.

The dismay expressed by Mr. Marti's interviewees and other dissatisfied Catholics bring to mind Jesus' words concerning the nonbelievers: "...will he [God] not be much more ready to clothe you, men of little faith? Do not fret.... It is for the heathen to busy themselves over such things; you have a Father in heaven who knows that you need them all. Make it your first care to find the kingdom of God, and his approval, and all these things shall be yours without asking." (Mt 6,30-33) If we accept the tone conveyed by some disgruntled Catholics, then we must conclude that Our Lord didn't mean most of what he said, including his promise to Peter.

Sincerely,
Dr. Pia de Solenni
Washington, DC


TWO DAUGHTERS CONFIRMED (HOPEFULLY)

Thanks for your informative article on the recent confirmation ceremony in the San Jose Diocese ["It's a Small World", July/August Faith]. I had two daughters confirmed (hopefully!) at that event but did not attend myself as I knew it would be an upsetting performance. I heard some parents refused to allow their children to be confirmed at the event and are still seeking a reverent way to receive the sacrament.

I had driven my girls to a San Jose church for the pre-event practice and when I picked them up after the practice, I heard that it had been rock music and rock dancing in the sacristy with the tabernacle and crucifix covered up and that several teenagers and mother had left in disgust. As I drove my girls and two teenage boys home from the practice, one commented, "That was weird. It was like having MTV right there in the church."

I'm both sad and glad that I didn't attend the event in the ice hockey arena. My husband said it was "bizarre". But my daughters were confirmed by two very holy priests who attended so I'm sure they received the gift of the Spirit in spite of the environs. Liberals brag about being "inclusive" and call traditional Catholic "divisive". But when parents walk out of a rock Mass or feel they don't want to attend because it's going to be a hyped-up, irreverent show where does the "inclusiveness" exist? The Mass, the sacrifice of Calvary, should never be a cause of scandal or alienation. Hopefully, next year's event will be better.

Mary Arnold


HOMESCHOOLING ARTICLE HELPFUL

Thank you for the informative article on homeschooling ["Home School Purgatory", July/August Faith]. Usually all I read on the issue is the "ideal picture" that you spoke about. I am currently deciding whether to homeschool or send my children to an orthodox lay-run Catholic School -- your article was very helpful in allowing me to see the reality of the undertaking.

God Bless,
Kate Sciacca


SIN NO MORE?

Re: "The Moral Status of a Stem Cell" [July/August Faith]. No doubt about it that this poses an ethical dilemma and the resolution of the extant embryos and cells must be resolved. Your [story] provides one side of a partial argument but there is another that we find in the story of Joseph and his trials (Genesis 50). In that story Joseph's family disobeyed God and went to Egypt but "God meant it for good". Perhaps as we learn more about the total implications of this stem cell research we can make use of the endless replication (as well as like cells from umbilical blood) and in that we bring good from this dilemma. It is sure we will never bring these embryos to birth and we do not have the ability to baptize them either. So let us 'sin no more' but at least give their existence a dimension of value in possible help for others as Our Lord said in john 15:13. Love your paper!

Rev. G. Wiebe, SSC, PhD
Spanish Springs, Nevada


MORE COURAGE NEEDED

Recently we had a copy of the San Francisco Faith sent to us by a friend. We were delighted to see an advertisement for Courage in your paper. It seems that of all the places we would never suspect that Courage is alive and well in the City by the Bay. We are the parents of a son who told us five years ago he had same sex attraction. Raising a Catholic family in Utah gave us an appreciation of how important it was to stay bonded not only in our faith but with our family. He devastated us with the announcement. Sam had been admitted into the Holy Cross Seminary after graduating from Gonzaga University. We were in complete shock for the first six months. The information Sam sent us for support was from a group called PFLAG. Appalling as it is to learn that the opposition pushes us, as Christians, from every angle to accept homogenital behavior. We knew then, as we know now, that God calls us all to chastity within our chosen vocation.

For the next year we went through a series of emotions. Mostly disbelief, thinking that in time Sam would change his mind about his orientation and life would go on as normal. Sam moved to West Hollywood, California and proceeded to deliver a popular "gay" magazine supporting marriage among same sex genders to the market. Sam grew further apart from us than ever. He held us hostage to his beliefs and refused invitations to come home unless we accepted his lifestyle, partner and "gay" agenda. Our spirits were broken and a cloud of despair reigned over our home for the next year. Sam would continue to write letters and update us on what the "rest of the world" was thinking about these issues. We would send letters back in support of what we knew to be true -- that we are all called to live a chaste and holy life. Our love for Sam has never faltered. Today we have given each other space to live out our lives. Yet, it is heartbreaking for us, as it must be for Sam as holidays roll around, to know that we will not be together. We continue to pray for God's perfect will in each of our lives. We pray that someday Sam will be touched by the gift of a strong Christian friend that may once again reassure Sam of the love Jesus has for him and the hope and forgiveness offered to each of us.

Currently our son is trying desperately to understand and fit into a society that has laid claim to him. He experiences self-assuredness through his personal difficulties as he defines himself as an adult "gay" male. We hope Sam will someday find the courage to redefine himself as a "child of God" who loves him more deeply than words can adequately express. Our walk with Sam may be different than most. As we journey the road less traveled, we find reassurance and hope from Encourage, a ministry for parents, friends, and relatives who support one another in these trials through the Courage web site: www.CourageRC.org. Unlike San Francisco, we live in an area with no ministry to those who suffer with same sex attraction supporting chastity and obedience to God's precepts.

Realizing that no journalist, supreme court, popular election, or state legislature can give moral justification to illicit sexual behavior, be it same, or opposite sex, we, the members at Encourage, continue to sustain one another. We see our loved ones enslaving themselves to a dependency of practicing and promoting homosexual activity that is more addicting than a powerful drug. None of us would have chosen to travel this road. We no longer face these issues alone, but serve as witnesses to one another our signs of hope. With the confidence that Jesus is the Savior of the world, we know that our loved ones belong to God. He is in charge -- not us. As we look to the future, we remind ourselves that, "No matter if a tree grows to more than a thousand feet in height, each leaf, each day must return to its roots for nourishment." For those families to whom this message may apply, do not give up hope, for God is not finished with our loved ones, not just yet....

The Francis Family
Ogden, Utah

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