Readers Speak Out: January 13, 2019

Lack of respect

Re: Van Hee launches a constitutional challenge of bubble zone law (Dec. 2):

Thank you for the good coverage of pro-life hero Fr. Tony Van Hee.

The undemocratic bubble-zone law, in effect forbidding helpful outreach to pregnant women seeking an abortion, really needs to be challenged. But I have one question about the headline in The Register, in reference to Fr. Tony Van Hee as simply “Van Hee.” This sounds cold and disrespectful.

I am aware it is standard practice in the media to refer to people in headlines by only their surnames, and not their titles. But might not this lack of respect also tie into society’s disrespect of human life, and even God Himself? Just musing.

Yvonne Dienesch,

Eganville, Ont.

Real trouble

Alberta NDP Education Minister David Eggen claims he supports publicly-funded Catholic education. Really? Is that why he ordered a review of teacher contracts at all 17 Catholic school districts in Alberta, where Catholic teachers are actually being told to live Catholic values. 

Eggen has organized a witch-hunt, encouraging Catholic teachers to contact the Human Rights Commission if they feel they are being discriminated against by “Catholicity” clauses. 

I have long felt that Catholic education is in deep trouble, and now we have a perfect storm — an ex-principal catapulted into media stardom for standing against oppressive Catholics and their archaic view of marriage as a sacrament between a man and woman, a government that champions sexual freedom at all cost and a Catholic school system that has lost the courage to defend Catholic moral truths. 

It’s all well and good for Catholic schools to charge ahead on social justice issues, but unless we can fearlessly live out what makes the Catholic faith so very special, our system — and country — are in real trouble.

Mario Loreto,

Toronto

Confused thinking

When we can “legally” dismember an innocent unborn child in the womb and euthanize the unwanted and call it freedom and autonomy, does anybody really believe that we can then truly care for the environment? Aren’t the womb and the human person part of the environment? 

Sadly, we have built a culture that includes violence and death; we’re reaping what we have sown. Our society has pushed God, truth and faith out of the public square, but legally protects the worship of self, sex and the progressive secular state. 

Of course it’s a great and noble idea to be responsible stewards of the world around us, both for ourselves and future generations. However, the medical profession long ago turned its back on the Hippocratic Oath of “first do no harm” when they began doing “legalized” abortion and euthanasia. The choice was a failure to show uncompromising respect for human life. This has resulted in our confused thinking that we can save the planet, and at the same time kill the unborn and those that wish to die in the name of “end-of-life care.” 

Statements such as “reversing climate change could be the greatest health accomplishment in the 21st century” is sheer hypocrisy.

Lou Iacobelli,

Toronto

A step forward

Pope Francis has instructed that the abuse of children by priests is to be handled by the law. No longer will bishops be able to cover up and allow offending priests to be protected and allowed to move around. They are in the world, as we are in the world. 

As much as we may speak about faith and the hereafter, we are in the world of flesh and blood. We live with trees and lakes and bears and climate change. We need to stress that in the schools and in the workplace. 

Loving your neighbour means here and now, and abuse that happens must be acknowledged and reported to law enforcement. This is a step forward. Christians, while often stressing the hereafter, must live in the here and now.

Virginia Edman,

Toronto

Support The Catholic Register

Unlike many other news websites, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our site. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.