WCR Letters to the Editor

Hands off All Saints Day

I scanned down the calendar listing. Imagine my surprise! It seems that the Calgary Catholic School District has tampered with a religious tradition that dates back to the very early Church. On the calendar Nov. 1 is listed as something called "Faith Day."

The newsletter offers the explanation that on Faith Day, "All members of the school board, teachers, support staff, custodian staff, supervisors, etc. will come together in the morning to renew our faith and our focus for the year."

Did I miss something? (A papal bull perhaps?) What happened to All Saints Day?

Faith Day sounds like a great idea. Some other time!

Surely I am not the only one that finds this calendar placement an insult to our Catholic religious heritage. I find it offensive that a holy day, dating back many centuries, has suddenly and whimsically been supplanted by this modern intrusion into our Catholic school calendar.

Lest we forget, All Saints Day is a universal Christian feast that honours and remembers all Christian saints, known and unknown.

It is often counted among the very holiest of days. And it is a Christian tradition that dates from the fourth century. In 835 Gregory IV ordered that the feast of All Saints be universally observed on Nov. 1.

And so I would encourage the board of trustees of the Calgary Catholic School District to pick another day for an otherwise worthy and admirable objective.

And by the way, Nov. 2 is also spoken for . . . a little something called All Souls Day.

Mark Wiebe
Calgary

We are all created in God's image

I felt that accusation was wrong and shows why there is so much hatred for gay people. It should have stated pedophile acts. The acts were against children. Some boys, some girls.

The villains are not homosexuals or heterosexuals, but pedophiles.

I want my mother and all parents out there who are trying to come to terms with Church teachings, homophobia and gay children, to know God is love.

Someday love and truth will prevail and God will be with us all. For God is love. And he has created all.

If some teaching from thousands of years ago is against homosexuals (and if you read the Bible the same passage is against wearing clothes made from two different materials - sorry to all those polyester/cotton blend people) then it only shows us all that homosexuality has been a part of human existence from the beginning.

We are all created in God's image, then know that your gay children - though hated by some in society - are still loved by God.

God must have a special reason for creating homosexuals. It is not to abuse children. Remember those people need correctional help: They are pedophiles.

Remember the teachings of Christ to love thy neighbour as thyself.

If we all did this then we would live in a better world.

Pray for peace and understanding for all.

Sean McKibbin
Wetaskiwin

UNICEF does evil work

The UN agency's annual report that year included family planning and abortion as "one of the most effective means to combat child poverty."

In the 1980s, Catholic Social Services was removed from the United Way because Planned Parenthood was added to their list of charitable organizations. I agreed and supported Archbishop Joseph MacNeil, even though we were able to earmark our funds to one of the many worthy charities included in the United Way.

By contributing to UNICEF - even to specific good projects - gives UNICEF more money for their evil work.

Janet MacLellan
Edmonton

Come to northern priests' rescue

What a wonderful and providential opportunity for such groups as the Companions of the Cross and the Legionnaires of Christ to respond to the call and to come to the rescue.

We are told they have many men studying for the priesthood.

Why not? This is a real and pressing need.

Let them go for it and God bless them.

Fr. Clem Gauthier
Assumption Parish
Edmonton

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