Readers Speak Out: June 21, 2020

Lower class

While being allowed to visit numerous vital places but not being allowed to come to the Catholic Church, the soul’s place, I have felt like a Canadian of lower class.

Celebrating the Holy Mass electronically — receiving the spiritual Holy Sacrament, while the priest takes the body of Christ — I have felt like a lower-class Catholic.

The Catholic shepherds who quickly closed the Catholic churches now must open them quickly, so we can all celebrate the Mass, receive the sacraments and be Catholics.

Mile Pletikosa,

Scarborough, Ont.

Lessons lost

This great evil that consumes us — this diabolical hatred for different races, types and different religions — is destroying our world. People are doing the devil’s work for him. He doesn’t deserve our help in perpetuating evil.

It is a terrible prospect to see another American government use the National Guard to crush the protests of African-American and minority groups.

Have we learned nothing from the civil rights movements of the past?

Slogans are replacing logical thought, as though each one is selling his people’s right to exist in disregard of God’s teaching — that we all have the same dignity and worth. The great civil rights lessons of the past are lost to rioters who think violence paves the road to justice and justification. Or to slogan-mongers, who care more for the glory of rebellion than for the essential dignity of all humanity. 

Christopher Mansour,

Barrie, Ont.

Fall celebrations

A big thank  you for your article on my Holy Week trip to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. I regret that all the Holy Week events had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If all goes well, I hope to reschedule a visit for Oct. 18, World Missions Sunday.

Yes, 2020 has met with several cancellations as I marked my 60th priestly anniversary (and birthday) on June 4. There will be a lot of celebrations of various events this fall. God bless.

Fr. Donald Stein,

Edmonton, Alta.

Magazine sale

Re: Fr. de Valk ‘put faith into action’ (April 26):

Occasionally we met and spoke to Fr. Alphonse De Valk during his editorship of Catholic Insight. Once, I mentioned I had every copy of his magazine and proposed that maybe they could be sold and the money donated to Campaign Life Coalition. One thousand dollars was envisioned!

Father smiled wryly, but I think he liked the idea. So they are for sale to the highest bidder — with money going to Campaign Life Coalition.

I also have a collection for sale of Canadian Sacred Heart Messenger — money going to Manresa Jesuits in Pickering.

Ann and John Rooney,

Toronto