Readers Speak Out: May 29, 2022

Non-contentious

On May 18, the publisher of The Catholic Register, Peter Stockland, was going to moderate a debate, organized by the Archdiocese of Toronto, intended to help Catholic voters with their choice in the Ontario provincial election. To prepare considered answers, candidates would have received the questions in advance.

Despite the non-contentious format, the Conservatives failed to offer a representative. The archdiocese decided not to proceed without Conservative participation.

I don’t believe one party should silence an event that would undoubtedly have been fair and informative. Usually, when one party fails to participate, an empty chair is left to show their disregard for the process and the electorate. I’m disappointed the archdiocese didn’t choose this course. Fortunately, we can compare the platforms of the parties on issues important to Catholic voters using a list prepared by Catholic Conscience.

Cathy Lacroix

Toronto

Pop quiz

What exactly is the Pope coming to Canada for?  To justify the selling and burning of Catholic churches?  It’s time the laity took charge of the finances of the Church before we don’t have any churches left.

Liam Venner

Whitby, Ont.

Democratic wrong

Quinton Amundson’s May 1 article citing Angus Reid Institute data showing “almost 70 per cent of Canadians believe conscience rights make Canada a better country” highlights a stark contradiction between the sentiments of Canadians and the lack of robust conscience protections for medical professionals in some provinces.

The Charter provides protections for conscience and religion. All jurisdictions across Canada have human rights legislation that names religion (or creed) as a ground protected from discrimination. Nevertheless, some health-care professionals lack sufficient conscience protections to exempt them from participation in medical procedures that violate their religious or moral beliefs. 

The absence of conscience protections is detrimental to our health care system. A lack of conscience protections also threatens our democracy because the impact is disproportionately borne by persons of faith, effectively excluding people of various religions in an occupational group.  

Danielle Lamb

Markham Ont.

Elizabeth’s bestie

The implication attributed in The Catholic Register to Fr. Andriy Chirovsky that democracy is an antithesis to monarchy is dreadful.  Not only is Canada both a monarchy and a democracy, but so are many of the best countries on the planet.

Most of the non-monarchies are appalling abusers of their populations. The Register ought to run a series on how non-monarchies have maltreated the Church, her faithful and her art and architecture.

When Elizabeth II was Queen of Sri Lanka, she didn’t have one brother as finance minister, another as Speaker of Parliament, a third as defence secretary as Mahinda Rajapaksa did, and all of them running the country into the ground. Wouldn’t Sri Lanka be better off if Elizabeth II was still their Queen?

Fr. Chirovsky would serve the people of God a whole lot better if he kept concepts clear and reality in mind.

Gyuszi Berki     

Toronto