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Contributions to Reader's Forum should be limited to 250 words.
Letters must be signed and must include the writer's address and
phone number for verification purposes. All letters are subject
to editing.
Mail your letter to:
The Catholic Voice
3014 Lakeshore Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
FAX: (510) 893-4734
Our email address is:
cathvoice@gmail.com
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A beacon of light
Reading so many misgivings some people have expressed regarding the Cathedral
of Christ the Light makes me wonder why so much controversy when millions
of dollars are spent on the Olympics, homes and business ventures.
I sincerely feel Oakland needs that cathedral as a beacon of light in
a world turning toward the dark.
Kathy Ramirez
Hayward
Focus on needs
Every time I have to pass the new cathedral I get upset and question why
the Catholic Church needs to spend so much money on that huge, odd-style
building. I wish someone can convince me that it’s truly a necessity.
There are many people who need that money from the faraway destitute villages
of Africa to the starving children of Asia. And what’s worse, we
have people who need help here in America.
Some of the money spent could have been divided among the parochial schools,
and even the senior citizen groups are worth helping. All of the above
keep asking for donations to help them survive. I am tired of trying to
keep up with all those solicitors asking for money to help this cause
and that.
Someone, please explain to me why?
Roberta Cordova
Alameda
A free-will offering
I want to respond to Patrick Embody’s letter (Forum, June 23). He
seems offended that a parish collection will be taken up for the new cathedral.
I agree that there are many needs for our charitable giving, but one shouldn’t
criticize one because another is considered “worthier” or
of more importance to the donor. No one is asked to “bear a burden.”
Any collection is an opportunity for a free-will offering. Parish
collections are not demands — in my parish we have an additional “special
collection” practically every weekend; they are the means by which
people can support those causes they choose and to the degree that they
choose.
The funds that built the cathedral were specifically for that purpose;
they weren’t funds that otherwise would have gone to the poor. Likewise,
building the cathedral has no connection whatever with the Bishop’s
Annual Appeal.
With this special collection, those who want to be a part of it have the
opportunity to make a contribution. I suppose those who wish to contribute
to the cathedral as a unique and special way to “give something
back to God” or to distribute the funds they have earmarked for
charitable giving can write a check any time, but an announced collection
does make it convenient and easy.
Bob Kelleher
Berkeley
Redirect donations
Am I the only reader who sees the irony in the June 23 issue of The Voice?
On the cover page is a photo of the new Cathedral of Christ the Light
and an explanation of the 20-foot wide-steel cross, inlaid with Brazilian
hardwood, being set into place atop the front entrance of the glass edifice.
On page 3 are all the sad faces of the children saying goodbye to their
fellow classmates due to their school, St. Barnabas in Alameda, closing.
With some of our elementary schools closing along with some of our parish
churches, it saddens me that the exorbitant amount of money spent on this
new glass edifice could not have been redirected. I am aware that the
funding for the cathedral came from private sources. Perhaps some of these
private donations should be directed to our youngsters enrolled in parochial
schools.
Perhaps I am overlooking the need of a glass cathedral being built in
a community where many churches are available. Our Lady of Lourdes, St.
Jarlath, St. Lawrence O’Toole, St. Margaret Mary, to name a few.
I am very grateful that I did not donate my hard earned money to a cathedral
fund. My extra donation money is sent to St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room
in Oakland, which feeds many meals daily and many to youngsters who get
their only substantial meal of the day there.
Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus was born in a stable. Suffer the
little children….
Maureen Mullen
Walnut Creek
Spend money on children
I am upset when I see a beautiful cathedral coming up and sobbing children
crying over losing their school (Voice, June 23). Is there no money for
our own children? Could Catholic Charities and other Catholic organizations
donate or float loans for these schools?
“Suffer the little children to come to me.” Is this is what
is meant by “suffer”? Our future generations are being ruined.
And there is no remedy in the richest country in the world for its most
valuable resource. We could be losing another Tim J. Russert. Who cares?
Lillian Silver
Walnut Creek
A community for all
The report of the parents of an autistic 13-year-old boy receiving a restraining
order that prohibits them from bringing their son onto the property of
their church in Minnesota (Voice, June 9) brings to light the need for
catechesis and pastoral ministry for children with special needs, for
their families, and for the pastor and parishioners. These four groups
are found in every parish; they need the support of the diocese and the
Church to build bridges so all are welcomed in our liturgy.
“The Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with
Disabilities” states: “For most Catholics the community of
believers is embodied in the local parish. The parish is the door to participation
for persons with disabilities, and it is the responsibility of the pastor
and lay leaders to make sure that this door is always open.”
Here in the Oakland Diocese we respond through SPRED (SPecial Religious
EDucation), which uses the method “Vivre,” a specialized catechesis
that builds on mutual friendship between dedicated, trained volunteers
and persons with special needs within the setting of a small faith community
where they come together to share and grow in their faith.
A place of belonging is created where catechesis and liturgy are experienced;
with time and patience our friends with severe disabilities are able to
participate in parish liturgies. It is often a time when many are able
to see one another with new eyes. With the support of the parish and the
pastor, relationships are established so that the disabled, their family,
and the parish community can fully receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In the pastoral plan for the Oakland Diocese, Bishop Allen Vigneron writes,
“By 2013, with the help of God’s grace, we look to see the
Church farther along the path of renewal charted for us by the Second
Vatican Council—a community of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ,
sharing His light with all peoples.” The plan defines evangelization
as: “The zealous proclamation of the Gospel in order to bring others
to Christ and his Church.”
The 13-year-old autistic boy and his parents heard the Good News and came
to their church. Now it becomes the responsibility of the diocese, pastor
and lay leaders to provide programs like SPRED so that the parish is equipped
to welcome everyone to the Table of the Lord.
It is my hope that every parish in the Oakland Diocese is prepared to
follow the words of the U.S. bishops, “No one would deny that every
man, woman, and child has the right to develop his or her potential to
the fullest. With God’s help and our own determination, the day
will come when that right is realized in the lives of all persons with
disabilities.”
Parents of children with disabilities have accepted a task far beyond
the norm. May fear and ignorance be replaced by education and inclusion
that says to our friends with disabilities and their families, “Welcome,
you belong here.”
Sister Aurora Pérez, SHF
Director,
SPRED Center
Oakland
Created gay and loved
As the parent of five children, one of whom is a lesbian, I was led, 15
years ago, into ministering with GLBT Catholics and their parents. Thus
I can understand the initial confusion and difficulties experienced by
Pam Brady (Forum, June 23) when she first learned that her son is gay.
I am glad she understands that he is a precious creation of God and, like
all of God’s children, has his own unique qualities.
One of those many qualities is his sexual orientation (not “persuasion”),
but I was heartsick when she went on to imply that his being a gay man
is equivalent to being an alcoholic. He was created and born gay; he is
not pre-disposed to an undesirable condition that needs to be suppressed
or overcome. Who he is, is her child, and he deserves all the love and
support a parent can give him.
Gay marriage issues aside, our backgrounds and lifelong conditioning from
family, friends, church, and the media have created in us an unnecessary
fear and rejection of who our GLBT children are. I ask her to step back
from what others say and have said, and just look at her son, the one
she loved before she knew this particular aspect of his being, and whom
she says she loves now, and see him with a mother’s heart. Then
ask herself if she can honestly reject any part of him or will she truly
support him, and never waiver in her love for him.
I encourage her to talk with her son about all of this and believe him,
not those who do not know him but tell her there is something wrong with
him. There is not.
Michael Harmuth, chair
Oakland Diocese Outreach Ministry
with GLBT Catholics
Replacing God’s laws
Most of us have a family member, neighbor, co-worker or member of the
congregation who is gay. We just accept them as they are. This is why
it is going to be so very difficult to pass a Constitutional Amendment
prohibiting gay marriage. It requires each voter to go against what is
convenient, friendly, expedient and trendy.
I walked door-to-door in the suburbs encouraging people to vote for parental
notification that their child was having an abortion. (A no-brainer you
would think; but, it didn’t get the votes of parents in the suburbs.)
I was confronted by teenagers at the door and on the street. They did
not want it. Their parents are off to work early every morning. Evenings,
mothers are busy with traffic, grocery shopping and cooking, and dads
get home late. They don’t want to argue or have to discipline children.
They think: Can’t we just get along? So, they go along.
The teenagers, with their mindset, values and behavior, dominate conversation.
Why can’t they marry whoever they want? Are you against freedom
and equality? It takes a strong parent and voter to say that we can’t
always get what we want and shouldn’t if it is not good for us.
The radicals will use government legalities to displace God’s laws,
not just in society but in His holy sanctuary. This is an attack on the
family, society and religion. It also undermines the legitimacy of government.
A person with foresight will see that there are powers and dominations
at work here and yes this “change” will be the end of the
world as we have known it.
Turning this around will require more than your vote in November. An Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution will be needed with a favorable Congress and
34 state legislatures as well. What have you got to lose? Will you serve
God or Mammon?
Michael McCarthy
Via email
Need for tolerance
The fear-mongering Bishop Vigneron put forth in his “In His Light”
column (Voice, June 9) is shameful. Now more than ever we Catholics need
to be at the forefront of tolerance and, more importantly, understanding.
The bishop says if we allow gays to be married “our way of life
will become counter-cultural.” Nonsense. The idea that extending
freedom to others will change our way of life is foolish as is the notion
that God laid out a uniform plan for everyone to follow.
This goes against the very nature of our faith. Let us not forget that
Jesus Christ associated with all walks of life. In fact, he seemed to
favor those who others stood so piously in judgment of.
Also, although Bishop Vigneron makes it seem like he speaks for everyone
in his diocese, he absolutely does not. There are many differing opinions
on this (and other) matters and for him to make it seem as though his
statements are made on behalf of “Your priests”, “deacons”,
“and our other co-workers” is a sneaky and irresponsible way
to spread the blame for his rhetoric.
If you were upset by the bishop’s statement, do not be discouraged
or allow your faith to wane. The wonderful thing about faith is that among
those who have it, no one person is more qualified to speak than anyone
else. Despite his title, Bishop Vigneron is just a human like the rest
of us and his opinion and interpretations hold not an ounce more weight
than any of ours.
Bill Luty
Livermore
Promote civil unions
I doubt the public reaction to the recent California Supreme Court’s
decision to declare the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional would
be so heated and varied if the word “marriage” weren’t
used.
In a recent news release of the California Catholic Conference, the bishops
are accepting of domestic partnerships that “granted domestic partners
spousal-type rights and responsibilities which facilitate their relationships
with each other and any children they bring to the partnership. Every
person involved in the family of domestic partners is a child of God and
deserves respect in the eyes of the law and their community. However,
those partnerships are not marriage . . . ” Marriage is a word.
What reality does it signify?
California would do well to imitate the European model of civil unions
for all couples who wish to be committed to each other. Those who wish
could opt for a religious ceremony, subject to the criteria for each denomination.
No church would be required to marry those who do not accept the teachings
of the group.
The separation of church and state is one of the innovations of democracy
in the United States. As our society becomes more pluralistic, it is inevitable
that Catholics will become more counter-cultural, as Bishop Vigneron fears.
But we will also become more remnant and witness to the teachings of Jesus.
This was so in the early Church and will be so again. And that will be
our challenge — not to impose personal religious beliefs on civil
society but to witness to those beliefs in our lives and our parish communities.
Marilynne Homitz
Oakland
The opinions expressed in letters to Reader's Forum
are the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The
Catholic Voice or the Oakland Diocese.
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