Disagrees, still Catholic
The following letter to the editor of the Scranton Times Tribune appeared January 5, 2009:
Disagrees, still Catholic
Editor:
In his Jan. 2 letter defending Bishop Joseph Martino, Jeffrey McHale says people who do not agree with him are Catholics who went to church on Sunday then “forgot about God the rest of the week.” He says that they “ignore everything that Christ and his church teaches.”
I am a Catholic who has an enormous problem with the turn our local diocese has taken in recent years. And just because I do not like the current administration, does not mean I’m less Catholic during Bishop Martino’s reign. I didn’t agree with the atrocity that is George W. Bush, either, and I’m just as American as I’ve ever been.
This is one man’s interpretation of Catholicism. I cannot imagine as I teach CCD to children, and read to them the Catholic Church’s exact position on the formation of unions, that I’m not sending the correct message. I cannot believe that anyone in the church would be speaking for Jesus when they said that if you voted for a Democrat, you are not welcome in his father’s house.
I cannot accept that as Bishop Martino neglected to comfort children displaced from their schools and their churches that he was doing God’s work. And I just do not believe that Republicans, as a party, save lives.
I do not expect perfection from Bishop Martino, he is a human being. This bishop needs to be reminded of that, somehow. He has opinions, sometimes they jive with modern-day Catholicism, and too many times, they do not.
Many of my friends leave the Catholic Church because of him. I attended Catholic schools from age 5 until 23. I know Bishop Martino’s way is not the only way to be a good Catholic. I know far too many priests, nuns and deacons who disagree with the way he is representing Catholicism. These are people who know what it means to be a good Catholic.
Blind faith is unchallenged faith. I suggest Mr. McHale and others who look but might not see, decide exactly what they believe about Bishop Martino’s message. Then feel free to attack my ideals as a Catholic, who is patiently waiting for the changing of the guard.
JEN EDSELL
SCRANTON
Disagrees, still Catholic
Editor:
In his Jan. 2 letter defending Bishop Joseph Martino, Jeffrey McHale says people who do not agree with him are Catholics who went to church on Sunday then “forgot about God the rest of the week.” He says that they “ignore everything that Christ and his church teaches.”
I am a Catholic who has an enormous problem with the turn our local diocese has taken in recent years. And just because I do not like the current administration, does not mean I’m less Catholic during Bishop Martino’s reign. I didn’t agree with the atrocity that is George W. Bush, either, and I’m just as American as I’ve ever been.
This is one man’s interpretation of Catholicism. I cannot imagine as I teach CCD to children, and read to them the Catholic Church’s exact position on the formation of unions, that I’m not sending the correct message. I cannot believe that anyone in the church would be speaking for Jesus when they said that if you voted for a Democrat, you are not welcome in his father’s house.
I cannot accept that as Bishop Martino neglected to comfort children displaced from their schools and their churches that he was doing God’s work. And I just do not believe that Republicans, as a party, save lives.
I do not expect perfection from Bishop Martino, he is a human being. This bishop needs to be reminded of that, somehow. He has opinions, sometimes they jive with modern-day Catholicism, and too many times, they do not.
Many of my friends leave the Catholic Church because of him. I attended Catholic schools from age 5 until 23. I know Bishop Martino’s way is not the only way to be a good Catholic. I know far too many priests, nuns and deacons who disagree with the way he is representing Catholicism. These are people who know what it means to be a good Catholic.
Blind faith is unchallenged faith. I suggest Mr. McHale and others who look but might not see, decide exactly what they believe about Bishop Martino’s message. Then feel free to attack my ideals as a Catholic, who is patiently waiting for the changing of the guard.
JEN EDSELL
SCRANTON
posted by SDACT at
11:47 AM
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