Readers Speak Out: April 10, 2022

Listening hearts

I have never been more proud of the Catholic Church than when I heard Pope Francis’ response last week to our Indigenous community in Canada. It was not so much what he said, but an acknowledgement that he had listened.

In this instance, the non-listening extends back over the past 60 years. However, in our hearts we need to understand where we are not listening today.

Gerard Walsh

Port Elgin, Ont.

Repent together

Just as our Lord taught his disciples in the Judean context, Lent teaches us in this present context of Canada’s First Peoples visiting the Pope that repentance is the starting point for the release of God’s mercy into each and every event of humanity’s journey. Will all involved in this historic and significant visit between First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates and the Holy Father and his team repent and so together drink deeply of the mercy and love of God?

Beverly Illauq

Ottawa, Ont.

No more swords

Thank you for opening up the issue of defense and military spending in the article “War spending traps us in new Cold War.”

These are subjects we will not likely hear about in our liturgies. However, militarism and disarmament relate very much to our faith. Our ultimate model is Jesus Christ, who offered us the shocking challenge: “I say, love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.” When His disciple defended Him with a sword, He said, “Put your sword away.” How do we understand and live this? Pope Francis has consistently said: “Never again war!” Youth in both Ukraine and Russia are risking their lives by responding to conflict in nonviolent ways. Where do we stand as Catholics? 

Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur

Toronto

Proper funding

Michael Swan’s article on war spending was embarrassing. Nowhere did Swan mention that the Canadian Forces are understrength, yet who went into mismanaged nursing homes, into flood zones and were there at disastrous fires? If you have personnel, it is immoral to not provide needed equipment. The Harper Conservatives originally campaigned on putting proper money into the military, then behaved like the Liberals. Spending money that should have been allocated years ago isn’t irrational or hysterical.  If there are other legitimate needs in this country, why are they not being financed out of the other 98.6 per cent of federal spending?

Gyuszi Berki

Toronto

Common saints

It is troubling that Patriarch Kirill supports the invasion of Ukraine. Historically Russia and the West have a number of saints in common, such as Boris and Gleb, martyrs (d. 1015); Theodosius, disciple of the humiliated Christ (d. 1074); and Abraham of Smolensk, abbot and patriot (d. 1221). These peace-loving men are discussed in The Russian Religious Mind by G.P. Fedotov who writes, “Every nation, however small, has its own religious calling and particular gifts. There are no privileged peoples, no messianic nations, in the Kingdom of Christ.”

Lise Anglin

Toronto