Readers Speak Out: December 25 - January 1

Undermining Congo

Your Dec. 2 article on catholicregister.org “Canadians can make a difference in Congo” makes Canadians aware of the plight of communities affected by mining operations, some by Canadian companies, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

In his interview, Fr. Jacques Nzumbu, a Congolese Jesuit, and specialist in conflict minerals, underscored the importance of mandatory supply chain due diligence laws. Lack of mandatory due diligence legislation lets the extractive industry operate with impunity in the Global South. 

As your headline states, Canadians can make a difference in Congo by writing or calling their local MP to support two bills introduced in the House of Commons, Bill C-262 and Bill C-263. Bill C-263 will give the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise the power to compel Canadian corporations to respond to complaints about human rights violations. Bill C-262 will mandate Canadian companies to abide by human rights and environmental due diligence throughout their global supply chains. 

We have a duty as Canadians and as Christians to love and care for one another, which includes speaking out against any injustice, especially those affecting the poor and marginalized. We also have a duty to care for our common home.  

Jenny Cafiso 

Executive Director 
Canadian Jesuits International
Toronto

Quebec enlightened

According to The Register’s Dec. 4 article “Cardinals outline Synodal Path concerns,” Cardinal Marc Ouellet at the Vatican has stated, “The Synodal Path seems already to be damaging ecclesial communion, because it sows doubt and confusion among the people of God.” 

With this assessment, a small ray of light shines forth in the darkness and onto the people of Quebec. This light gives hope to all Canadian Catholics and all Catholics around the world who have concerns about the synodal process.

John Killackey

Mississauga, Ont. 

National depravity

Peter Stockland’s report covering Cardinal Collins’ annual dinner was a pleasure to read with its emphasis on the effect our secular culture has on our basic belief that every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. 

The constant loosening of controls in the application of MAiD will endanger not only the physically and mentally disabled but any individual who doesn’t measure up to the popular or expected  standard of normalcy. 

It is certainly strange that our ruling political party, which claims to bring material prosperity, is rewarded by allowing it to impose a thoroughly depraved moral vision on the nation.

J. E. Sequeira

Pointe Claire, Que.

Lewis redeemed

Thank you for the insight and wisdom in Charles Lewis’ columns. 

I was very pleased with his recent column “Who will finally take out the antisemitic trash?” I forwarded it to an acquaintance who is Jewish, saying that at least we are trying to right this horrendous historical wrong. 

To some degree that column makes up for my displeasure at Lewis’ criticism of Pope Francis. I don’t think Pope Francis can do any wrong, and it seems the observations Lewis made were similar to how Jesus was perceived. 

Hazel Motomura   

Toronto