Power of celibacy
It seems to me more people than not see the priestly celibacy issue only as it relates to sexual activity and the mandatory denial of that activity. This world is so focused on sex, and Catholics as well, it seems, that it thinks no one can live without it!
We are not solely made up of our sexual organs. If one could but open the eyes of the mind and soul and truly see the awesome beauty and wonder of a celibate priest ( or nun ) who has given himself ( or herself ) totally and with undivided attention to God, his purpose, his Church, his kingdom and his people, these ideas would be seen as unthinkable; certainly by Catholics at least.
The gift of priestly celibacy is that - a gift a man gives to God in answer to his call to serve. The gift of a man to his wife and family is total. How can the gift of a married man to God as a priest also be total? Something will lose out, possibly all - the man, the family and God.
When a man's heart and soul belong entirely to God, as a priest's heart should, he serves God's people with such a generous loving and giving of self that the miracle of it could move one to tears - if one's eyes were only open.
Diane Dawes
San Francisco
Reawaken conscience
I'm writing to compliment Vivienne Beasley on her letter of July 11 regarding the need for more meaningful homilies at Mass.
Bishops and priests need to expound more powerfully on the current moral issues of the day. The congregation looks to the priest to forcefully address present, urgent moral problems which confront us every day. We need to reawaken our Catholic conscience.
Walter Englert
San Carlos
Ideals collide
The July 25 article by George Wesolek of the Archdiocese's Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns was a timely reminder for consistent Catholic expression during this election year. The author's desire for a unified Catholic voice of the pro - life and the peace and social justice appeals is not realistic.
Right to life is a clear and easily understood message, but the concepts of peace and social justice are murky and open to wide personal interpretation. They would not be antagonistic except that particular ideas have been overtaken by political associations with a desire for present success that reduce traditions of compromise and civil discourse.
Both branches share the belief in the dignity of all life as promoted by many religious traditions, but the peace and social justice segment of Catholic thought has often been misdirected by its political allies. Both aspects of the Catholic social doctrine are eager for effect and the result is tension and a collision of ideals.
Ron Gillis
Larkspur
Wesolek correct
We want to thank and congratulate Catholic San Francisco for the excellent July 25 article by George Wesolek about the current structural polarization of Catholic social teaching.
It is, indeed, unfortunate that the questions of abortion and social justice have somehow become separate, disputed issues, because there is need more than ever for what Wesolek sees as a seamless and consistent social doctrine.
Mr. And Mrs. William R. O'Neill
San Francisco
Lourdes changed us
Friends from Novato forwarded us the July 25 Catholic San Francisco article on Lourdes. The article was very dear to our hearts. You see, we have just returned from Lourdes. We go every summer, and we help out. We are third - year stagiere. My husband, Lee, helps out with crowd control at the baths, the train and airport. I do my work at St. Frei doing dishes with Soeur Marie Andre on the Fourth Floor, and I love it.
We connected with Lourdes through North American Volunteers of Lourdes. The woman who started it, Marlene Walkings, recruits folks from the U.S. and Canada to serve in Lourdes. Pere Regis - Marie de La Teyssonniere is our representative in Lourdes and our friend. Our priest from Santa Rosa, Father Alvin Villaruel, goes with us as our spiritual leader.
Yes, Lourdes has impacted all of us who have had the gift of serving. Our lives have never been the same. For my husband and me, two special gifts were given to us: we renewed our marriage vows twice - the first time in The Cachot and this year in Neveres in the church with St. Bernadette by our side.Our family has become closer since we started to serve.
The photos you printed are wonderful. They made me want to return right away.
Nora Ward
Santa Rosa
Evil of abortion
Why is it some Catholics do not fully understand the evil of abortion - the killing of our most vulnerable citizens? Judging from readers' responses, some people do not comprehend it is the killing of innocent human life. Opposing abortion is not a political opinion. It is a sin against the Fifth Commandment. We need to hear this from our bishops and priests so the faithful completely understand the evils of this heinous act. It is a spiritual work of Mercy to instruct the ignorant.
How can anyone who condones the killing of innocent babies approach the priest for holy Communion with a clear conscience? Denying the Body of Christ to those who support abortion is not a political tool. When the priest says "The Body of Christ," we reply "Amen." We are publicly saying, "Yes, we do believe this is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." The Eucharist is not a symbol. It is truly Jesus Christ who died for us at Calvary. If we do not believe this doctrine, we as Catholics should not be receiving the holy Eucharist.
Maureen Daley
Sonoma
Not personal opinion
A July 11 letter writer accused Catholic bishops of withholding "the holy Eucharist from any Catholic whose political opinions vary from their own." Continuing, she finds it "completely objectionable and unconscionable to use Communion as a political tool to force devout Catholics to vote for a particular candidate, and do not see any theological or moral justification for it, either as a 'guideline' or as an official policy mandate."
Such accusations belie a dearth of understanding of Catholic moral teaching as well as the role of the bishops and Catholic laity in the social arena. The bishops are charged with promulgating, defending and safeguarding the basic teachings of Christ's Church with the Real Presence in the consecrated host being first and foremost. The distribution of Communion to persons properly disposed to receive it requires by definition that the participant be "in communion" with the Church - the mystical body of Christ.
When Catholics publicly and consistently defy basic, non - negotiable tenets of Church teaching on issues such as abortion, contraception, infanticide, euthanasia/assisted suicide and marriage as other than one man and one woman they effectively removed themselves from communion with the Church; it is not done to them. When Catholics support these stands we put our souls in grave danger of mortal sin. This is not my nor the bishops' personal opinions. It is the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
There is no political leader, candidate or party who fully represents Catholic social/moral teaching. It is our task to choose those who come the closest, giving proportionate weight where Church teaching is clear. The Church is not a political body. It is the Body of Christ. Pray hard.
Mary McCurry
Pacifica
Why title change?
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has changed the title of Prop 8 from "To provide that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California" to "Changes the California constitution to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry."
This implies that at present the California Constitution gives that right. As we know, that so - called right was put upon us not by the Constitution but by a 4 - 3 vote of our state Supreme Court. The strategy of those who are in favor of same - sex marriages has been to get as many "married" as possible so that we are "taking away rights that already exist." Technically, the right does not exist as the California legislature did not amend the statutes that define marriage. However, our attorney general and those in charge of our county court houses have rushed to give this "right" to those who wish to make a mockery of marriage.
Steven J. Catalano
Manteca
Rosaries needed
Catholic San Francisco has run some impressive articles about our Blessed Mother Mary and various devotions honoring her. I'd like to recommend a means of fostering the Marian mission.
The need for rosaries is increasing in the missions and in poor countries around the world, as well as here at home. There is a large need for more rosary makers.
One lady took it upon herself to enlist new rosary makers and direct them to Our Lady's Rosary Makers ( OLRM ) in Louisville, Ky. She pursued this ministry by placing announcements in parish church bulletins across the U.S. The results were very good. She is no longer able to do this. Will your readers help to continue this good work?
OLRM has a "Holy Rosary Apostolate Kit" available free. The kit explains how you can place free announcements in parish Sunday bulletins. The process is simple.
If you can help, please contact the office of Our Lady's Rosary Makers: ( 502 ) 968‑1434. E‑mail: info@olrm.org Web: www.olrm.org. Write: Our Lady's Rosary Makers, P.O. Box 37080, Louisville, KY 40233‑7080.
George Murad
San Francisco
