WCR Letters to the Editor

ToPs goose cooked before public let in

Getting a new leader means new expectations and fresh hope for something different and better.

Archbishop Thomas Collins' greetings to his people, published in your June 14 issue, sound encouraging.

He quotes Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind."

That is a powerful and promising vision.

It is all the more disappointing then to find an article, right next to these greetings, in which our new archbishop supports the most oppressive and ill-conceived project our hierarchical administration has concocted in decades.

ToPs is designed to kill parish communities and when communities die, the Church dies.

For God's sake, archbishop, take time to reflect. Consultation has not been anywhere near as extensive as you have been led to believe, nor has consultation been as open as you have been led to believe.

Your people have been invited to speak their minds, but they have been largely ignored. It is obvious that the ToPs goose was cooked before it was presented to the faithful for approval.

We want to support you and we expect you to support us. May the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and kindle the fire of her love in our hearts.

John Zyp
Edmonton

Up-to-date Church ends faulty theology

"What we have to do is organize our parishes in a better way so everyone has an equitable opportunity to participate in the sacramental life of the Church."

Perhaps this merging is an immediate resolution, but Acheson reveals a very misguided understanding of Vatican II theology. I should also mention that the president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council in his personal goal to recruit more men for the priesthood shows the same faulty theology.

Both these individuals and I am assuming their co-committee members fail to recognize that the mission of the Church is given to all the baptized of which the ordained priesthood is a part. The mission of the Church and incarnating the Trinity is not passed on to the clergy and the baptized participate in it.

Therefore, the mission of Christ is given to the community and so each parish ideally should not cease to function and exist because of the shortage of priests.

I would say that the merging of churches may allow for one very important factor - at last small Christian communities may have the circumstances to begin.

For people who want an intimate communion with Christ and the Church, they hopefully will come together in small groups, not to be another program on the parish agenda, but the refounding of Church.

I would hope in these communities that the baptized will come to own their experience of Church, find tremendous community and begin to change some very antiquated notions like blessing bread and wine requires the special powers.

I look forward to struggle, but the fruits of these endeavours will create a terrific Church.

I should also say that this refounding of Church cannot begin with an outdated understanding of the Scriptures.

We must study the God of Jesus Christ and know that God (Abba, Imma) loves us unconditionally and everlastingly.

No more bachelor God and ruthless judge who is going to send people to hell. We start with pastoral biblical theology and let the Holy Spirit guide us into the third millennium.

Darlene Starrs
Edmonton

Bigotry, not homosexuality, destroys society

I do not wish to address the insurance benefits to same sex couples. I have left that up to the highest court in our country to decide. Rather I believe Moore and his ilk are a millennium away fron reality on their archaic ideas regarding homosexuality.

As a society we have difficulty facing the fact that throughout history there has been a segment of the population that is truly gay and lesbian. Homosexuality has been a part of God's design and always will be, Mr. Moore.

Perhaps you forget that God's design is goodness, love, mercy, compassion and justice. And being gay is part of that design. To be homosexual is how God created some people. It is not a choice.

What I fear the most is the hate, violence, bigotry and lies that you and others like you are fostering. Your words and ridiculous ideas are a purely emotional diatribe void of any historical, sociological, psychological and sound theological roots.

You and others like you need to do some serious studying regarding homosexuality.

The downfall of a society is not homosexuality, Mr. Moore. The high sign of the downfall of a nation is the ignorance you and others like you encourage, fanning the flames of hate and prejudice among its people.

Frank Kirby
Ponoka

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter