Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010
September 6, 2004
WCR Letters to the Editor
Knights' Bush stance shocks
I was shocked and outraged to read of the overwhelming support offered by the Knights of Columbus to the George W. Bush presidential campaign ("Knights delirious over Bush" and "Take Church teaching to ballot box - top knight" (WCR, Aug. 30).
Apparently, the Knights so enthusiastically support him because of his stand on abortion and his initiative for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages. Allegedly, this is a president who supports "family values," is pro-life and stands up for the Church's teachings.
Really? George Bush is the man who enthusiastically implemented the death penalty as governor of Texas, and continues to advocate its use. Jesus was opposed to capital punishment. Remember, he stepped in to stop the execution of a woman for adultery.
Bush has led an unjust war into Iraq, ostensibly to destroy weapons of mass destruction (which, it turns out, did not exist) and to sever that country's alleged ties with al-Qaeda terrorists (which, it turns out, also did not exist). Many died in the fighting, and people continue to die in Iraq today, American, Iraqi and others.
This war has given rise to a whole new generation of terrorists. Now it is being suggested that Syria may be next. When did imperialistic war become a "family value"? Bush claims to be a Christian, but whatever Church's teachings he supports, they are not those of the Roman Catholic Church.
What this really amounts to is a preoccupation with sexual sin, so as to ignore other more serious ones. In this, the wholly male organization of the Knights is not alone. Their attitude reflects such a preoccupation by the male-dominated hierarchy of the Church in Rome, which is not whole-heartedly shared by Catholics in North America or Europe.
The Knights laud a man who executes prisoners and wages war - killing that does not involve a sexual aspect. This is all justified, because he opposes homosexuals referring to themselves as married (which does not harm a hair on anyone's head) and abortion (because that is a sexual sin). Somehow, I do not think that Jesus drew such distinctions between different types of killing.
I can only hope that the world will not see the Knights' hypocrisy as being representative of all Catholics. It is an organization that I cannot support while it maintains this position.
Brian Vail
Edmonton
Letter to the Editor - 09/20/04
Death penalty policy shows president does not value life
As a Knight of Columbus I was ashamed to read your article "Knights delirious over Bush" (Aug. 30, 2004). I am not sure if it was intentional to carry the article "Take Church teaching to the ballot box - top knight" directly below it.
Certainly, these two articles illustrate why we have trouble following Christ's teachings. During this year of elections, I have read several pieces about how we Catholics are supposed to use our votes to make sure the morally right is protected. This is an impossible thing to do in Canada and the United States. I have yet to find a party and/or a representative that stands for Catholic views.
Instead, I found myself choosing the "lesser of evils." In chats with friends and family it is disheartening to hear fellow Catholics differ in what is the "best" choice.
How are we expected to make progress in the fight against evil and bad moral decisions when we constantly compromise what is right?
I am perplexed as to why more than 2,500 knights could cheer on President Bush when he clearly does not value life. (Being pro-death penalty shows no value for the living.) What is the lesser of evils here? Unfortunately, neither presidential candidate gives me as a knight anything to cheer for. I understand that moral decisions are rarely easy.
There is a third choice here. We should not accept anyone as a representative who holds such contradictory beliefs. We must make it clear to politicians and others in our society that certain issues such as sanctity of life cannot be compromised on. We deserve any criticism claiming Catholics are hypocritical when we behave as those knights did in Dallas.
Derek Collins
Vermilion
Only U.S. life counts
I was shocked and appalled to read of the Knights of Columbus welcome to Mr. Bush at their supreme convention ("Knights delirious over Bush," WCR, Aug. 30).
Yes, Mr. Bush is very protective of the American unborn. The born or unborn, in Iraq and the rest of the world, can be killed and maimed at will. After all, there is nothing more precious than American life or American comfort in Mr. Bush's and his supporters' view.
I sincerely hope the Knights here are not of the same mind as their fraternal brothers in the U.S.A. and they are as outraged as I am.
Also, don't you think the terms "supreme" convention and "supreme" knight are rather pretentious?
S. Hanak
Edmonton
Mass calls for modest attire
In the July 26 WCR, 11-year-old Ella Gunderson wants girls' clothes to be modest. I totally agree with her.
As a sign said in one of the LRT trains a while back, "Skin is In," showing a half nude woman.
People come to Mass with shorts on. Holy Mass is the renewal of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, or the recalling of Christ's sacrifice. Are we aware, on entering the church, whom we are approaching? Are we filled in our innermost heart with the knowledge that Jesus is awaiting us with all his love and glory?
We could not go to the Eastern rite Orthodox church immodestly dressed weekdays or Sundays. You would not be allowed to their Divine Liturgy with shorts on.
I feel we are losing reverence and dignity coming to Holy Mass.
Priscilla Edwards
Edmonton
Dress tastefully
I heartily agree with the letter "Attire questioned"(WCR, Aug.30).Wearing low rider pants to Mass is unbecoming.
I am convinced that if these young ladies knew and understood what was really taking place up there on the altar they would not come so unsuitably attired to meet their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
Brian Callinan
Edmonton
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