Readers Speak Out: October 4, 2020

Holy time

As a liturgical musician for more than 50 years,  I feel obliged to comment on the Sept. 13 article “Musical dilemma over abuse claims.”

Sexual abuse charges are no small matter.  The sin is magnified by its lasting effect on victims. This scandal has hurt the Church in many ways and it has not ended. I also feel it should not affect the way any musical composition is used in worship.

During the time a composer gets the initial spark of inspiration and begins to write the music and/or the lyrics to a liturgical piece, that space in time is spent between the composer and Almighty God. If not, some hint of heresy is reflected in the music/lyrics. The time of musical creation is holy. It is with divine inspiration.  

If the composition is tainted by any sin that the composer is in the middle of, it will unfailingly show. Our focus should be on that path to God that the music piece facilitates. Any sin committed by the composer takes us out of that focus. 

Noli A. Mababangloob,

Scarborough, Ont.

Clear facts

Re: Charles Lewis: Partisan speech treads dangerous waters (Sept. 20):

Here is Sr. Deirdre Byrne’s response when asked by the National Catholic Register in the U.S. about reaction to her speech at the Republican National Convention:

“I’ve received calls thanking me for what I said. I’ve also been maligned for thanking the president for the pro-life work he has done. This has led to accusations that I was supporting him, and I was not expecting this response at all. All I spoke about were clear facts, no endorsement. I look at myself as a little person and a doctor who was giving a talk on life, which I have done many times at smaller venues. Even so, I would have felt worse if I had not followed what my Lord was calling me to do.”

When Sr. Deirdre stands before God to answer the conduct of her life, I doubt He will consider her words as those of a partisan.

Angela Rutledge,

Toronto

Rare courage

Re: Pope’s reforms meet ‘active resistance’ in U.S. (Sept. 6):

It is perverse and deceitful to claim, as Paul Elie is quoted in this article, that President Trump and the Republican Party are in “flagrant violation of Catholic social teaching” while saying nothing about the Democratic Party. Surely he is aware of the Democratic Party’s long-standing, rabid, militant promotion of abortion. In stark contrast stands the Trump administration’s unprecedented pro-life stance, reflected both in words and action. Such courage and clarity is incredibly rare among politicians and sadly, even among Church leaders.

This isn’t to say the Republican Party is the perfect embodiment of Catholic social teaching. But, between the two parties, it is clear that the Democratic Party is the one radically opposed to God and Catholicism, to natural law, eagerly violating basic justice and persecuting and slandering anyone who dares to oppose them.

J.P. Rank,

Sudbury, Ont.

Monstrous evil

Re: Canadians want real debate on abortion, says MP (Sept. 20):

Some issues have no middle ground, especially this one. Aborting an unborn child for any reason (sex selection or not) is a monstrous evil. Besides, why would pro-abortion acolytes agree to any kind of compromise since “Canada has no law when it comes to abortion.” Pro-life laws may not change attitudes, but maybe they can educate people to know right from wrong.

Ricardo Di Cecca,

Burlington, Ont.