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Letters must be signed and must include the writer's address and
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The Catholic Voice
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Oakland, CA 94612
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Correction
Brandon Macadaeg, a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome who was recently installed as Lector on his journey to priesthood,
is a member of St. Isidore Parish in Danville, not St. Joan of Arc Parish
in San Ramon as reported in the Jan. 25 Voice.
Fill cathedral with singing
Having read Bishop Salvatore Cordileone’s homily for the
dedication of our new cathedral organ (Voice, Jan. 11), I am both impressed
and frustrated by his theology.
Indeed, the Holy Father has declared the organ as deserving a
“place of prominence” in the liturgy. That statement presupposes the
liturgical vocation of a singing assembly wherein the organ’s
“place of prominence” rises from its unique ability to lead
and support the faithful, not reign over it.
If we must have a “theology of the organ,” shouldn’t it
be aligned with that of Christ himself, who came to serve and not be served? Such
ministry, when expressed in liturgical action, is one in which all are
invited by our loving God, all are welcome, and all are singing.
A few words to this effect could have brought some perspective to
our bishop’s homily, and encouragement for this diocesan community.
As a person of hope, I will continue to wait and watch for these words
to come. Meanwhile, our beautiful organ has been blessed and waits to
serve. It’s time to fill this beautiful new space with singing,
so the organ has something to lead and support. Something to serve.
Janèt Sullivan Whitaker
Hayward
Faith-based volunteers
Thank you so much for highlighting the contributions of the numerous faith-based
organizations affiliated with the Catholic Church which offer service
opportunities, especially to young people (Voice, Jan. 25).
I would like to point out the presence of two members of one of those
organizations who are working in the Diocese of Oakland.
Kevin Kuczynski and Kelly Towns are members of the Lasallian Volunteers,
a service organization with ties to the De La Salle Christian Brothers.
They work at the LEO (Lasallian Educational Opportunities) Center in Oakland
and live with three De La Salle Brothers in Berkeley.
Kevin, a graduate of Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia and a Philadelphia
native, is in his second year at LEO. Kelly, who graduated from Christian
Brothers University in Memphis, is a native of New Orleans and in her
first year at LEO. They join the Brothers in tutoring junior high and
high school students and in teaching ESL to adults.
Since its founding 15 years ago, the LEO Center has been dependent on
the Lasallian Volunteers for our existence. As a small non-profit, and
one that operates on a tight budget, we would have to close without the
volunteer service of these young people. Over the years we have been blessed
with people of great enthusiasm and dedication.
We are grateful that at this time in the life of the Church the Holy Spirit
has raised up these service organizations. They are a blessing to us,
to the LEO Center, to the diocese, and to the Church.
Brother Robb Wallace, FSC
Board chair
The LEO Center
Oakland
Return to the forefront
I am very encouraged by the article “Another Catholic mobilization
on abortion in health reform” (Voice, Jan. 25) and Bishop Cordileone’s
appeal to his pastors to activate parishioners. We are in need of more
of this kind of leadership from the Church. I pray that all pastors respond.
The American people are moving away from abortion on demand for any
reason. This extends beyond the area of health reform into morality and
respect for life.
It is unlikely that we, as a country, will ever move back to making abortion
illegal. Every politician who votes for abortion rights also claims to
be opposed to abortion and wants to do something to make abortion
on demand unnecessary. Unfortunately, they do little or nothing to accomplish
this.
At one time the Church was in the forefront of this. It is time to do
so again. The Church should work with government (grants) and private
agencies (Mary’s House, Casa Vincentia, Birthright) to make available
a coordinated and effective alternative to abortion. This should include
counseling, financial support, and medical care during pregnancy and places
for unwanted children to be reared and educated.
The Father Baker facilities at the Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanda,
NY are an excellent example. http://olv-bvs.org/ourladyofvictory/Homes/history.html
There is much which can, and must, be done.
Clifford R. Wiesner
Concord
What about love?
I was raised in the faith in the Oakland Diocese, and though I now reside
in the Anchorage Archdiocese, I keep in touch with my mother church between
visits to the Bay Area through family, the internet, old friends and The
Catholic Voice.
I am a believer in the value of respectful debate, and I think it is great
that so many people have such strong feelings about their faith,
Catholic social teaching, and the issues of our times, as expressed in
letters to The Voice.
But I am troubled by two things: the number of letter writers who proclaim
themselves experts on what the Church teaches, and that so many
are so quick to demonize those who don’t share their perspective(s).
So many experts and judges! Is that what our faith is about?
What about love?
I would much prefer to read about what helps others to seek and find God,
and where this journey has taken them.
I have been inspired to live more virtuously by many good people, some
of whom have been priests and some not, some have been men and some have
been women, some younger and some older, some married, some single, and
some gay. I am pleased that all are welcome in the parish in the Oakland
Diocese that I know best, as I need all the help and role models I can
get!
Anne Kilkenny
Wasilla, Alaska
Where is repentance?
It’s obvious to me that the Catholic Church is not trying to win
souls for Christ. They would rather sell newspapers and make money and
build their own kingdom than build God’s.
There is a lost and hurting world out here. How can a gay man who is in
a 25-year relationship with another man (Forum, Jan. 25) go to heaven?
He can’t unless he repents. That is what the Bible says. Read your
Bibles and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you since the Church obviously
isn’t going to teach you.
James Mock
Via email
No longer consequences
I know that when I disobey the secular law that if caught I will suffer
some punishment according to the severity of my actions. The knowledge
of this helps to keep me from defying the law.
However, for the last approximately one-half of a century, it seems to
me that I can defy the Church, privately or publicly, and God’s
will with total impunity. For no transgression of mine of either the Church’s
decrees or God’s ordinances seem to have any consequences in this
life or the next.
Regardless of the heinousness of my sin, the willfulness of my actions,
the violence of the pain that I inflict on others, I will be forgiven
by the Church and can be sure that a benign, omniscient Father will look
upon the horrors of my transgressions and yet will pat me on the head
and greet me in heaven with the kindly understanding that I cannot possibly
be held responsible for my actions and therefore will gain entrance to
everlasting life.
God, again, under what appears to be the current Catholic correct thinking,
has eliminated any short- or long-term punishment, any purgations, if
you will, for certainly there is no hell, if by that apparently anachronistic
term one means eternal damnation or punishment.
On a practical level, if a Catholic public official or member of the priesthood
publicly and deliberately chooses to propagate and promote beliefs and
practices entirely in contravention of the Church’s teachings, he
need have no fear of any reaction from the hierarchy other than a generously
paternal nod of disapproval and understanding for the poor fellow who
cannot fully understand the ramifications of his public challenge to the
Church, and perhaps God, and is therefore to be excused.
The current politically correct stance of the official Church seems to
be “Do what you want and do not worry about the consequences, for
there really aren’t any.”
George Paganelli
Concord
(Editor’s note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that
mortal sin, “if it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s
forgiveness, causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal
death of hell.” It also states that “although we can judge
that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of
persons to the justice and mercy of God.”)
Marriage fundamentals
Our 31st wedding anniversary will be coming up on Feb. 14. The flour and
water which kept the marriage whole was our fundamental thinking about
life and love.
We are of different faiths, with respect for both. There is a 12-year
difference in our ages. We are college graduates. Not to be a snob, but
wisdom and empathy help.
But the four best words we live by are: listen, learn, live, and above
all, love.
Lillian Silver
Walnut Creek
Letters to the editor provide a forum for readers to
engage in an open exchange of opinions and concerns in a climate of respect
and civil discourse. The opinions expressed are those of the writers,
and not necessarily of the Catholic Voice or the Diocese of Oakland. While
a full spectrum of opinions will sometimes include those which dissent
from Church teaching or contradict the natural moral law, it is hoped
that this forum will help our readers to understand better others’
thinking on critical issues facing the Church at this time.
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