I live in a state where the bishops feels he can deny lay people communion for whatever he deems not worthy. It is all right for a bishop to move around pedophile priests and cover up, but not right for ordinary persons to use their own conscience.
Take gay couples. The bishops' ideas about gays are ludicrous. I have a gay son. He told me when he was 18. Thank God, as I have met so many gay and lesbian couples and find they only want what heterosexuals want: a wonderful relationship, friends, a home. They are not at all the threat to us "straight" people that the bishops claim. They help people, volunteer on many projects, feed the poor. When was the last time you saw a bishop out there volunteering? How uninformed and judgmental these bishops are. We need change in our church, and only the people can do it, because the hierarchy will not monitor themselves.
Donna Booth, Sun City, Ariz.
I received an invitation to join CTA. Although I agree with many of your statements, I could not find anything about the role of Latinos in the U.S. Church. One of three U.S. Catholics is Latino, and in 15 years it will be one in two. Latinos have accounted for more than 70 percent of the increase in Catholics in this country since 1960. With the continuous influx of immigrants, there is a very dynamic and challenging situation going on. Feminism, celibacy, sex abuse are certainly important issues, but when in order to deal with them you just ignore the situation of such a big segment as the Latinos, it starts to resemble "belly button watching".
You are right in your Initiative against Racism within CTA. You clearly need it.
Armando Tasistro, Watkinsville, Ga.
I'm donating to CTA because I know of no other Catholic organization that consistently addresses so many issues near and dear to me as a Catholic, a feminist, and most importantly, the mother of a young daughter. But your fundraising mailings are becoming increasingly angry, demanding, and rather adolescent-sounding. I am in my 50s, and I have done the constant outrage thing — the peace demonstrations, slogans and buttons, the angry, sad ballads. Anger and guilt separated me from the Church for years, but in the long run, I don't believe that it will sustain us and keep us evolving into the Church that the Spirit means for us to be. We need to teach and pray and share and love. Thanks for all your efforts.
Carol Prokop, Chapel Hill, N.C.
I am nearly 81, a baptized Christian who adheres to no denomination. If the goals you espouse become reality in my lifetime, you will have a new Roman Catholic member. I have contributed to CTA in the past. Your goals for the Roman Catholic Church are what is needed. I admire your foresight and adherence to the struggle.
Mary Franklin, Albuquerque, N.M.
I want to retain contact with your organization, but I will not be sending money. I am a 75-year-old priest working for the diocese of Juarez, Mexico. I haven't received a salary for 30 years.
Stan Martinka, San Alfonso Mission, Juarez, Mexico
A former army chaplain at Fort Bliss, Tex., Martinka crossed the border in 1975 and started the mission. First his army salary and now his army pension goes to help support the mission.
About the marginalized, there is no one asking for acceptance of single people who are straight and celibate. They are not just marginalized. They are annihilated, by pretending they don't exist. The church goes along with this in parish activities. Married chauvinism is just as wrong as racism. It is not true that single people are all selfish, and have nothing to do. They are already considered as deviant, if not defective, and your advocacy for gay rights is threatening them with even worse discrimination. Why can't they be accepted in the single life?
Mary Eliane Theriault, Silver Spring, Md.
(Regarding communion bans)…I'd like to express my thorough distaste for this modus operandi of the clergy. Could it possibly be backlash for the laity's exposure of the pedophilia scandal? When will this element in the church realize that such actions harm moral credibility even more?
Marie Rose, Wilton, Conn.
This letter was addressed to the writer's parish pastor, and shared with CTA.
We want you to know that under your leadership, our parish is a vibrant, welcoming and prayerful community. But recently, members of the hierarchy have injected themselves into the political process, and leave little doubt as to how Catholics should vote and for whom. This may be only a small number, but the recent conference of bishops has not expressed any fraternal comment. We are left to conclude that the great majority support the Republican candidate.
We have decided to withhold 50 percent of our financial contribution to the parish at this time. Eighty percent of what we withhold will be used to aid those who are in need as a result of government programs that further reduce their ability to provide adequately for their families. The other 20 percent will support Senator Kerry's campaign. If George Bush is reelected with the support of the institutional church, we will reevaluate our position.
Robert J. McAllister, M.D., Ph.D., Ellicott City, Md.
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