Friday, October 08, 2004

Every letter of support deserves a letter of opposition

Or so it seems when reading the editorial pages of the Post. As a followup to Fr. Brennan's letter correctly exposing the contempt for the Archbishop that the Post exhibits, it seems that it has to reaffirm its position by printing letters opposing and ridiculing Archbishop Burke.
Church and state
As a lifelong 67-year-old Catholic, I think that you had the wrong headline on your Oct. 3 article, "When does a vote become a sin?" I would suggest instead, "When does an archbishop become ridiculous?"
Certainly, this is someone who has not read the Pastoral Letter. One would rightly be suspect of her claim to "Catholic" as well.
I clearly remember the 1960 election during which I assured non-Catholics that the Catholic Church would never tell politicians how to think or "the faithful" how to vote. If I knew where all of those people are, I guess I'd have to call them to apologize for my error.
Who would be so naive to listen to a 23 year old about what the Church might or might not do? Bishops must proclaim the truth and this should have been understood. Perhaps, she can call and apologize for presuming to have the authority to speak for the Church.
There may be 550,000 Catholics in the archdiocese but, according to recent surveys, something less than 25 percent attend Mass on a regular basis. Maybe Archbishop Burke ought to ponder why he has become irrelevant to most of us, rather than concerning himself with how we vote.

Margaret Sullivan
Creve Coeur
Does she include herself in that 75% who no longer attend Mass regularly? Did 75% of "Catholics" quit going to Mass when Archbishop Burke came to St. Louis? This is the only the only conclusion that one can draw for the assertion of irrelevancy.

It's always a sad commentary when professed Catholics reject any attempts by the Church to bring the light of Christ to them. Christ admonished the disciples about this very thing, and all Christians, but Catholics especially, should heed His words: "Whoever hears you hears me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me." (Lk 10:16)

Our Lady asks us to pray for the conversion of souls so that they may not be lost to eternal damnation. We should continue to pray those who have been misguided or who have failed to respond to the graces God has bestowed on them.

Letter can be found here.

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