May 2002

Write-On

Princes of the Church?

Christ's gathering was humble in spirit and poor in material goods. Perhaps the pedophilia suits will serve to humble a prideful magisterium and distribute its wealth among the needy so as to make Church Christ's gathering again.

John Chuchman, Scottsdale, Ariz.

 

Comes the revolution

As a practicing Roman Catholic raised and educated in Boston, I am saddened about the evolving crisis caused by sexual activity by priests. I pray that the victims find healing and that the perpetrators find the help they need. I hope that this situation forces the church to recognize finally that priestly ministry cannot be limited to celibate men. I pray that this crisis forces a revolution among Catholics to demand that Rome recognize that there is not a shortage of vocations among the laity . that priestly vocations must be open to all men and women, single or married, divorced or separated, and to those who have chosen an alternate life style. I believe bishops should be appointed by the Pope but APPROVED by the congregations they serve. The revolution has begun.

Richard Moriarty, M.D., Chesapeake, Va.

 

Bishop's collection goes to CTA

My husband and I supported CTA for several years, but dropped membership when my husband retired. In view of the latest scandal, we not only want to renew our membership but will send the remainder of the money we pledged to the Bishop's Appeal. My husband is writing a letter to the bishop explaining our decision. Kindly send literature that I can share with six of my Catholic sorority sisters, graduates of Boston University in 1960. I'm sure Catholicism will be one of our major topics of conversation.

Anne Sedewitz

 

Let 20 million leave Church?

I'm tired of hearing that the U.S. is only six percent of the world's Catholics and that the pope has to worry about things like world peace and that the church is willing to let 20 million Catholics leave over the next 20 years. I want to help in any way I can. I hope CTA is the right fit for me. It's hard to stay in a church that not only doesn't care about women, lay people, birth control and homosexuals, but now add victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their priests.

Anne Dellamaria, Darien, Ill.

 

Blame it on CTA?

Today I renewed, online, my membership in CTA. My parish has been personally affected by the recent sexual abuse cases. The pastor was asked to step down after past indiscretions came to light. I attended a meeting after Mass and was appalled by one gentleman trying to partially blame CTA for some of today's problems. He claimed that there were these forces outside the church who were trying to bring down the church. He specifically named CTA and Mr. (Richard) Sipe. He evidently doesn't know how CTA came into being, a group of God's people trying, from within the church, to bring change for the betterment of all.

Elizabeth Canepa, Lake Forest, Calif.

 

Shame on the bishops

In regards to ordination, they will take in any man that applies no matter his sexual quirks or aberrations, as opposed to accepting many women I know personally who are doctors of theology and philosophy and are brilliant, but stymied by the hierarchy of Rome? I say shame on them, and shame on the payoffs, the hush money, the secrecy, denial, and the inability to take responsibility for the sins they have committed and enabled by their silence to continue, thus colluding in the sin.

Suzanne K. Borrelli. Stanfordville, N.Y.