WCR Letters to the Editor

Rights defended by name-calling

(1) Homosexuality is completely non-genetic; scientific research does not give a shred of evidence of any genetic, biological or physiological factors connected with homosexuality. Neither is there any scientific support for theories of "predisposition" and "propensity," to any significant degree.

Homosexual behaviour, though it may be (and often is) a form of addictive behaviour (and people need help and spiritual guidance and prayer to overcome it), is a human choice and an act of will.

Many homosexuals, after counselling and pastoral care, have returned to normal heterosexual behaviour (as designed by God, Mr. Kirby) and the homosexual movement will not give these individuals a voice. Why?

(2) The magisterium of the Church, in addition to counselling the Church's ministers to give the phenomenon of homosexuality attentive study, active concern and honest, theologically well-balanced counsel, has warned against a growing tendency to use generalizations in judging individual cases.

What is at all costs to be avoided is the unfounded and demeaning assumption that the sexual behaviour of homosexual persons is always and totally compulsive and therefore inculpable. What is essential is that the fundamental liberty which characterizes the human person and gives him his dignity be recognized in the homosexual person as well. (Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church: On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, 1989)

(3) Finally, it should be stressed that when homosexual activity is admired, condoned and given recognition (as it is disgracefully reported that St. Michael's Catholic Hospital in Toronto has done), we should not be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase.

Exactly the same arguments can be lauded for necrophilia, pedophilia and sado-masochism by liberal "activists," as they have for homosexuality. If it be argued that these practices are "illegal," we should remember that so too was homosexuality.

(The scientific source of my discussion upon genetic factors is acknowledged to Dr. G.J.M. von den Aardweg. Aardweg has treated hundreds of homosexuals and gives lectures to parents and pastors. He is the author of The Battle for Normality, recently published.)

Keith Johnson
Edmonton

WCR should avoid NATO bashing

I believe this bombing was a just action and I would not blame the creation of the million refugees on NATO. Fortunately, we will never know what would have happened if NATO hadn't taken action.

I know that where there's war, there is politics, but I think that the WCR should focus on analyzing the issue of the morality of war, rather than talking politics or second guessing the motives of the politicians.

I don't think too many people will argue that stopping Hitler was a just thing to do back in the 1940s. I don't think that anyone was saying "let's have more talks; negotiate" - these have been exhausted; and they all failed miserably.

Unfortunately, this meant bombs and people getting killed. On the other hand, it freed hundreds of millions of people from the tyranny of fascism.

I was a child in occupied Europe at that time, and I will be forever grateful for those who fought so that others could live. If only the Allies had come sooner to save those who perished in the concentration camps!

Let's not get bogged down discussing the legality or the legitimacy of war; rules and laws are made by men, not God. War results in killing, whether it is soldiers with guns or modern planes with laser-guided missiles. All war and killing is ugly and a terrible thing.

The real question is this: is it ever just for us to kill in order to protect ourselves or others. I believe that it is. I have always been taught that we have a right to life and that both individuals and society have the right, to defend themselves and others who cannot defend themselves.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Legitimate defence can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life." "Preserving the common good of society requires rendering the aggressor unable to inflict harm."

This belief (that society has the right to defend itself through war) is shared even by our Holy Father Pope John Paul, whom you quote in the same issue as saying "And that is why ever since the day of my birth I have lived with an enormous debt toward those who fought the invaders and won, paying with their lives for the victory", when referring to the repulsion of the Bolshevik army which was marching on Warsaw.

He obviously sees this battle as a just war. Also, only a few issues back, you reported that Cardinal Vlk of Prague was in favour of the NATO bombing of Kosovo.

The freed Kosovars certainly seem to be grateful for the liberation. We will never know what would have happened had we just let things be and kept on negotiating. Perhaps there would have been no one left to negotiate for!

John Bouz
Sundre

Second Coming still a few years away

Not on your life! Mary predicted that the hypocrisy and the sinning would end for our generation about this time.

The idea that a nuclear holocaust will end everything in a flash with minimal suffering is a false, suicidal promise. There is no way that we are about to get off the hook that easily!

The world will not end in 1999. Free Masonry has it pegged for about the year 2012 (actually the Second Coming will save the day).

What is about to end abruptly is industrialization, our corrupt systems of government and our institutions which are themselves but reflections of our own individual corruption.

The peace race which has come of age under the flag of the "One World Order" (Marxist world totalitarian government) will be the enforcer of our purification. It is the Anti-Christ's government.

This reality fulfills the first premise of Marx which was the establishment of an intolerable power against which no revolution could take place.

Referred to as technocracy by some historians, it is technology used for state purposes - the beast of the Apocalypse is now in place in Brussels as well as in three other locations in the world and the 666 MicroChip is being rapidly mass produced.

Technocracy, formerly understood to be the arms race and not the intolerable peace race, has been perfected in the live laboratories of Kosovo (You did want to know the purpose of this unjust peace war, didn't you?) and Iraq.

Technocracy is leading the world into a form of global enslavement that could never ever have been previously imagined (purest hell on earth!). Mary is simply forewarning the mothers of the present degenerate generation (as did her Son) to no longer weep over the worn-torn and hungry children of the poorer nations but to weep for their own children who will be soon carried off into enslavement.

What I find most amusing about God's justice is that most cry out saying that God never answers their prayer. Prayer which is our sincerest desires however is always answered! In our hearts, the present generation has aborted "new life = hope for the future." This sincerest of prayers has been answered by reality today.

All hope for our civilization, as the millennium approaches, is aborted - economic collapse, destruction of the family and the Church, rampant moral decay. What is unforgivable is that we the Church refuse to see our sins, ask for forgiveness and change our lives.

Our most sincere desire is to serve Mammon and not the Truth. And here again our prayers are being answered. Since it is Truth that will set us free, our generation doesn't have a hope in hell for we have given ourselves over entirely to anti-Christ lies, false virtues and false living which is death itself.

I for one say: "Let the purification begin so that whomever claims to be Christian and is not, can no longer crucify Christ through their lies, their hypocrisy, their treachery, their false pride and their cheatin' hearts!" Let the Game of Titans begin.

Phil Hermary
Rocky Mountain House

Priest looks back on roots of vocation

I wish to bring this bit of news to your attention in view of the present shortage of priests. As we all struggle under this trying reality, the life story of a 75-year-old priest might interest some of your readers.

The origin and development of my priestly and Salesian vocation belong to a different era, and I came to Edmonton only three years ago, but the mysterious ways of any divine calling could shed some light on what we all can and should do today to foster priestly and religious vocations.

Magnificat 2000 includes also a collection of articles that I wrote or enjoyed reading, and I am very grateful to Archbishop Thomas Collins for graciously allowing me to include two of his inspiring essays on prayer that appeared a short time ago in the WCR.

The photos at the end of the book were added through the courtesy of Connelly-McKinley Floral Chapels.

Readers interested in having a copy of the book could phone me at: (780) 452-1198.

Since I will soon leave Edmonton for my new assignment in Toronto, I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincerest thanks to Archbishop Joseph MacNeil, the clergy, the Hungarian community, and all the many people that made my stay in Edmonton a most rewarding experience.

Rest assured of my prayerful memento. Please, say one for yours in Christ,

Fr. Joseph Occhio, sdb
Edmonton

Holy articles wanted in India

This is a request to help me in my new field of work. There are 10,000 Catholics in the parish and around 20,000 Catholics in the vicinity.

Kindly send us your spare rosaries, medals, statues, sculptures, used Christmas cards, used magazines and other odds and ends to help in our work for the Lord.

Please forward your mission help to:

Fr. Paul Cruz
St. Anthony's Church
Vaddy, Kollam p.o. 691 013
Kerala, India.

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