Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010
November 20, 2006
WCR Letters to the Editor
Bravo to those who put a child first
Father Clem Gauthier in the Nov. 6 WCR suggests that the same-sex marriage debate is only inflamed when opponents cite reasons such as the negative effects on children. He maintains "statistics will show that children are harmed mostly in heterosexual marriage gone awry and by dysfunctional families" ("Discordant families cause children grief," WCR Letters).
Existing research on the similarities and differences of gay and lesbian families versus heterosexual families is still limited and typically based on small samples. How representative the data presented may be difficult to assess.
However, an abundance of reliable research has been published in marriage and family science literature, which clearly indicates that children benefit from having both a father and a mother in the home. Studies show that mothers and fathers interact with children differently and that both types of interaction are valuable.
And while a mother's role is vital to all sorts of outcomes, so is the father's. The issue is not whether heterosexual marriage is a perfect institution, but whether children are better off with that than without it.
Comparing failed examples of traditional marriage with the best non-traditional families is not a fair assessment.
A "child first" approach is offered by Margaret Somerville, ethicist, whose article appeared in the same WCR edition. She charges that many Canadian public policies and laws surrounding family support violations of the fundamental human rights of children such as the right to have both a mother and father.
Father Paul Moret and unnamed others, whose comments (WCR, Oct. 9) prompted Father Gauthier's remarks, are to be commended for advocating for the well-being of children first.
Monique Gervais Timmer, PHEc
Edmonton
Native spirituality not equal to Catholicism
Twice now there have appeared disturbing articles in the WCR regarding the Catholic school, Ben Calf Robe, stating that native spirituality is equal to Catholicism.
The first article appeared some time ago and the second one reared its head in the Nov. 6 issue ("Catholic school makes room for native spirituality").
As a concerned Catholic, I spoke to the editor of the WCR and the principal of Ben Calf Robe. (I can't remember if it was the same principal as now.)
At the time, the principal was taken aback somewhat and then stated in bureaucratic fashion that the Catholic archdiocese complies with this thought process because as he put it, "There is a church that deals with this native spirituality issue - Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples."
The second time this disturbing article/trend appeared, I thought, "Why bother saying anything. They don't listen anyway."
A day passed and I got a phone call from a distraught native woman. She had been given the article to peruse.
She was very upset and wondered "Why," as she put it, "are they allowing paganism to be brought back?" And, "Those poor children! Why don't they teach them their catechism properly?"
Please could someone explain to us, like we are three-year-olds, why Jesus sent out 12 apostles (of which 11 were brutally murdered) to spread the truth regarding the Catholic faith and then in 2006 there are people totally ignoring this fact.
I could understand if Bryan Richardson had stated that the native people are equal to red, white, black and yellow Catholic people.
But it is just totally absurd to state that native spirituality is equal. If that is the case then Druidism (which is similar nature worship) would be equal too. I'm sure St. Patrick would have a thing or two to say on this subject.
Then also along this same insane thought process people could say that Islam, Buddhism, Krishna, etc., are equal to Catholicism as well.
Jocelyn Best
Edmonton
Letter to the Editor - 12/04/06
Letter to the Editor - 12/18/06
Letter to the Editor - 12/18/06
Letter to the Editor - 12/25/06
Look somewhere else for help
Re:"WCR faces higher postal costs due to funding cut" (WCR, Nov. 6).
I fully understand the problem and dilemma you are facing regarding the publication costs for the WCR.
Sooner or later, we "all" have to make adjustments in order to survive. That means we have to look at what we are doing and find ways to reduce costs in-house before we ask for more funding. I am sure you already have.
Perhaps publishing every second week or only once a month, you could make ends meet. I do not know. However, we can't continue to depend on government (s) and/or crown corporations for grants.
The government(s) and their crown corporations do not have (any) money of their own - it is totally taxpayers' money that they use. However, these corporations all slap themselves on the back when they take credit for the grants.
As taxpayers, we are faced with yearly increases in taxes, user fees, etc. We are also faced with yearly increased costs for food, utilities, telephone, insurance, etc.
It was decreed by an archbishop of the past that every Catholic home must have a Catholic newspaper. However, you are on your own (no funding) from the archdiocese except for a fee imposed on all parishes.
It is time for the bishops and archbishops to open the door of their vaults and provide some funding for the WCR, Camp Encounter and others.
Mr. Argan, I am not being critical of you, the bishops or archbishop. However, I do feel very ill at ease when I have someone's hand in each pocket of my patched-up jeans.
E.A. Paradis
Edmonton
Pius X group not schismatic
I am writing regarding the article on Page 5 of the Nov. 6 issue of the WCR - "Expanding Tridentine Mass threatens unity, say bishops."
Many times it has been explained that the Society of St. Pius X is not schismatic and yet whenever an article appears that refers to the society, it is always labelled as schismatic.
The society recognizes Pope Benedict XVI as pope, prays for him in every Mass and has no intention of separating from him. To say that the society is disobedient to an unlawful order would be honest, but to say that it is schismatic is calumny.
As regards the bishops' concerns about the unity being threatened by expanding the Tridentine Mass, I ask, Has there ever been more disunity within the Church than since the introduction of the new Mass?
Marie Kelly
Edmonton
Letters to the Editor
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