Readers Speak Out: November 22, 2020

Tough sell

Mary Marrocco’s well-written and timely Oct. 11 essay “Superstition has no place in life of faith” disputes the charge made by non-believers that faith is only superstition.

In this scientific age the belief in a God is a tough sell. God cannot be seen and touched. The very existence of human suffering, especially during this time of COVID-19, the great divide between the haves and the haves-not, injustice, terrorism and other evils seem to point out to a non-existent divine presence. Yet the Bible instructs that life on Earth with all these evils is a test to be endured, not only by Adam, Abraham and Job, but by each person. And Heaven has uniquely blessed Catholics with divine proofs such as eucharistic miracles, incorruptible corpses, Marian apparitions and visitations of Jesus to many saints including Sr. Faustina not yet a hundred years ago.

Overwhelmingly, Catholics have every reason to believe in a Living God and the triumph of good over evil.

Dominick Lobo,

Thornhill, Ont.

Aquinas return

In his Nov. 8 letter, former president of St. Michael’s College David Mulroney laments the “serious decline of academic theology” in Canada. He calls for better formation of Catholic undergraduates so that they may stand out from other students with a merely secular education.

Towards this end it would be desirable to return to the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274). St. Thomas fell out of favour during the 1970s because of his insistence on objective truth, methodical argument and logic. Some saw his careful reasoning as a threat to intellectual freedom. However, Pope Pius X called deviation from the metaphysics of Aquinas a grave danger and Pope Pius XI said the Catholic Church had adopted the philosophy of Aquinas for her own.

Lise Anglin,

Toronto

First step

Acknowledging there is a problem is the first step in change! For the Pope to vow eradication of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church recognizes how systemic this issue really is.

From my perspective as a woman, a life-long Catholic, involved in education, health and parish ministry, it pains me greatly to make this statement.

Lack of respect is at the base of this behaviour, because when we respect ourselves and our neighbour, abuse does not occur on any level. How sad that selfishness and personal gratification is rampant in a Church which preaches other person-centred love. In all cases, abuse has been shown to be a powerful person causing pain to a vulnerable person in his care. A betrayal of trust?

The abuse of respect is obvious in the denial of women participating in the life of the Church, when they do make up 50 per cent of the human race. They also offer a well-rounded sense of life. Perhaps change could begin in the seminary training of young men, socializing them to include women as equals. 

Judy Stefnitz,

Burlington, Ont.

Extra mile

Re: Hamilton diocese seeks status in farm labourers’ appeal:

Kudos to Dr. Shanker Nesthurai for his going the extra mile to further help the migrant workers in Haldimand-Norfolk. They should be given citizenship for their families because they are essential workers, if only temporary. They are potentially or actively being manipulated under pressure or threats. Lets charge the buyers a little more to help growers and the migrants. Our society needs them.

Mike Dwyer,

Brockville, Ont.