------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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March 28 , 2008 ISSUE
Why is it so difficult
to follow?
Dear Editor,
I recently read a letter to the editor which suggested removing mandatory celibacy is the answer to the priest shortage. It both insults and saddens me some people believe this is a solution to the problem.
Priesthood involves a special answer to Christ’s call “sell all you have … and follow me” (Lk 18:22). The society around us promotes greed, sex, violence, etc. and in it drowns out the voice of the Lord from calling his servants. Because of this, the voice of the Lord becomes drowned out. We seek simple answers that seem to satisfy us, but really hinder us from achieving our true calling in life.
Some are under the delusion celibacy is a sacrifice for a person wanting to become a priest, but it is the other way around. Celibacy is a gift given to those who are called to be priests. The church calls from among the celibates to be joined with her as a husband would with a wife for those called to the vocation of marriage. If one leaves the seminary to get married, then he was not called from among the celibate to be priest from the start. Just because someone could make a good priest does not mean he is called to be one.
We must stop trying to change the rules by using Sacred Scripture to promote our own agendas and start allowing ourselves to be open to what Christ calls us to do.
Hearing the call is a struggle I have dealt with for a long time and continue to deal with during my seminarian training. I have learned that a priest must love the church the same way Christ does, as a spouse.
As I continue in my seminary formation, Christ allows my love for his church to grow, and God-willing, to fully realize that love as a priest for this diocese. Please continue to pray for an increase of vocations, because that is where our answer will come.
Rusty Vincent
Seminarian
Diocese of Jackson
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March 21 , 2008 ISSUE
Immigrant legislation
attacks family, church
Dear Editor,
I was disturbed by a report I heard on the evening news the other day. After the news report the “call ins” disturbed me just as much. There seems to be a plan to make hiring an undocumented immigrant a felony.
For several reasons I consider this an attack on our Christian family and most directly on the Catholic Church.
1. The insistent use of the term “illegal aliens” is a profound indicator there is an unacceptable amount of respect for undocumented immigrants.
2. I believe nearly half of the Catholic population is Hispanic. The immigrants targeted by this law are primarily Hispanic. This leads to a disproportionate indictment of Catholics.
3. Legitimate Hispanic contractors, business owners, landscapers, etc., will be unfairly put at risk as friends of friends, relatives, brothers, and sisters will inevitably ask for jobs and jeopardize what they’ve worked so hard to get.
4. One of the more honorable parts of being Catholic is knowing the political monsters of history have considered Catholics their enemy. These monsters of the past and present have often used other reasons to imprison Catholics and intimidate Catholics without calling it that.
The vision of the Catholic Church is not the vision of the “Children of the Klan.” The long term effects of this kind of law will hurt the least among us to a sinful degree.
5. While I’d be wrong to imply all of the Mississippi Spanish-speaking population is unskilled and uneducated with limited resources, I suspect a Catholic education will more and more leave out this segment of our church.
While Catholic Charities and small groups work to deal with the immigration situation, anything that would make these immigrants feel more marginalized and alienated must not go unchallenged. The Catholic Church of 2008 does not need to look back and think we stood on the sidelines and let this happen.
Sherman Lee Dillon
Jackson
Remove mandatory celibacy
Dear Editor,
The double page (pp. 6-7) spread on “vocations” in the current issue of Mississippi Catholic was depressing, frankly, very depressing! Nine men may be ordained thru 2012 but the same number of priests will be retiring . . . my math tells me that won’t do it, now will it?
Personally, I have asked dozens of former seminarians what their main reason was for dropping out of the seminary before ordination and you know what?
You are right . . . mandatory celibacy! They felt they had a vocation to the prieshood but not to mandatory celibacy so they left.
But it was not always so . . . read the New Testament and note Jesus chose a married man, Peter, to lead the Twelve after he was gone.
Paul writing to Timothy (3:2) tells him that “a bishop must be blameless, married but once . . . “and writing to Titus (1:6) he repeats the admonition when he says presbyters . . . must be blameless, married but once.”
And did you know we have as many married priests in our country as we have celibate priests? Thousands of ordained priests left active ministry following the Second Vatican Council and married.
May I make my reader a wager? Remove mandatory celibacy as a requirement for ordination to priesthood, as Jesus did, and I will bet you would see an influx of “vocations” such that our seminaries would be unnable to handle them.
Sadly, I wish I could make this bet with you and be proven wrong!
Paul J. Ackerman
Columbus
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March 14 , 2008 ISSUE
Reconciliation gives
us peace
Dear Editor,
I was inspired to write this letter from an article some years ago in the Mississippi Catholic by Billy Avalon.
“Bless me Father, For I have Sinned,” which was excellent reading.
This particular paragraph touched me. “The result of our collective and individual failure to examine our lives is a part of numbness. Our conscience and consciousness are comatose.”
I was asked to give a brief talk to RCIA candidates. I was approached in this way. “Delores would you give a brief talk on reconciliation, what reconciliation means to you and what you get out of reconciliation because I know you go for reconcilation more than anyone I know.”
You know I really don’t but I should because it is a means of getting in touch with myself, realizing where I should improve my life, working out my faults, improving my virtues, making me sorry and helping me realize that when I sin I hurt God and my community.
I am more aware of how I should and should not be living my life. Examination of my conscience makes me more aware of my sins and helps me to avoid sin.
I rejoice in knowing I have a loving, merciful, just and forgiving God who loves me, the sinner, no matter what I have done and his love is unconditional.
Reconciliation gives me graces, it makes me more aware of God’s presence in my life, gives me peace of mind, heals my soul and helps me physically. It gives me courage to keep striving to be a better and holy person and makes me want to be Christ-like and more generous with my life in the service of God.
Delores Coomes
Vicksburg
No political group
associated with diocese
Dear Editor,
I have written a couple of letters in the past referring to this publication’s editorials “Justice for Immigrants.”
In the spirit of transparency, I have been guilty of distributing materials and ideas that weren’t the “official” teaching of the church. During the last election cycle, I promoted a small document entitled “A Catholic Guide to Voting” that was issued by Catholics United for the Faith and published by such reputable sources as catholic.org and St. Anthony Messenger Press.
The document later was dismissed by the USCCB ( U.S. Conference Catholic Bishops) in lieu of their pastoral “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”
I make this “mea culpa” in order to gently urge the readers not to be swayed by organizations such as MIRA (Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance) and La Raza which have been cited as reputable sources in this paper. Both organizations also have been working through Catholic Charities, unofficially, but neither organization is Catholic.
I spoke with the bishop recently and he emphatically stated MIRA is not in relationship with the Diocese of Jackson. I believe the same would be for La Raza.
As I myself have been guilty of jumping to the quick, easy and exciting responses to deep political issues, I have been chastened to be patient and obedient.
For clarity’s sake, no political activist organization (right or left) is affiliated with or financially supported by the Catholic diocese. If anyone sees something to the contrary, then it should be brought to the attention of the diocese.
Fr. Joe Tonos
Oxford
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March 7 , 2008 ISSUE
Misconception possible
Dear Editor,
Re: “Justice for Immigrants” column by Sister Jean Juliano, Feb. 15 issue.
As Sister Juliano cites, there are currently several House bills and Senate bills that apply to immigrants and those who employ them. However, there could be a misconception these bills are as morally threatening as some of the other issues mentioned in her article.
Sister Juliano citing the USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) suggests there are several attacks on life that Catholics should oppose and seems to equate (arguably) unjust immigration policies with fundamental issues of human life.
The document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” says, “direct attacks on innocent persons are never morally acceptable, at any stage or in any condition. In our society, human life is especially under direct attack from abortion. Other direct attacks to the sanctity of human life include euthanasia, human cloning, and the destruction of human embryos for research.” The emphasis is mine.
The bishops go on to state in Part II of the document that all of the above as well as genocide, torture and the intentional targeting of non-combatants in war or terrorist attacks are “always wrong.”
In essence, there can be cases where such laws that are being discussed in the case of illegal immigration can be “just.” If a company is practicing unethical business practices in hiring illegal immigrants, then a punishment such as a fine, closure of the company or a humane deportation of the workers arguably could be seen as a “justice.” However, there is never an exception, compromise or degree where abortion or targeting innocent human lives is acceptable. There is no “just” abortion.
In addition to this paper, I appeal to Catholics to read the document Sister Juliano prudently suggested (“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”) for an uneditorialized and objective direction to obedient stewardship of the political process.
I also suggest prayer for the bishop and pastors during this time. None of us desire to lead you astray from the faith but we also don’t want to “spit out the gnat while swallowing the camel” when it comes to moral response in the political arena.
Fr. Joe Tonos
Oxford
Vocation crisis debated
Dear Editor
May I disagree with the thesis of Jack Elliott in the Feb. 29 issue of Mississippi Catholic that “the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Jackson . . . is in the midst of a crisis in vocations?” (Mr. Elliott equated this “crisis in vocations” with “a shortage of priests and religious.”)
It is just too simplistic to equate a shortage of celibate male priests in the Diocese of Jackson with a “crisis in vocations;” “religious” are a secondary issue.
I concede this diocese does have a shortage of ordained male priests sufficient for each parish but this does not a “crisis” make!
How can I say this? For the simple reason that here is another option, now being utilized by other dioceses, to alleviate our shortage of ordained priests.
For example, in the Diocese of Biloxi where my wife and I lived for nine years, each parish had at least one ordained deacon who could preach, perform marriages, funerals and baptisms.
“Crisis of vocations”? If each of those parishes produced at least one ordained deacon, surely the parishes of our diocese would do the same or better if such a program existed, would we not?
I have personally spoken with a goodly number of qualified men in our parish who would make exceptional candidates for a diaconate program should such a program exist but unfortunately it doesn’t.
But our diocese, unfortunately and for reasons which I do not understand, chooses not to pursue this option of ordaining deacons.
No, the Diocese of Jackson is not “in the midst of a crisis in vocations;” what it IS in is a self made failure to utilize options allowed to it by Rome, options which other dioceses are utilizing, to successfully address the issue.
We have sufficient vocations, just not the celibate male type required for priesthood.
Paul J. Ackerman
Columbus
Face-to-face interview
not required or prohibited
Dear Editor,
Much has been said and written recently regarding the problem with the Medicaid requirement for an annual face-to-face interview to re-qualify for Medicaid eligibility. It is touted as a means to curb fraud.
Federal regulations provide oversight for all states’ Medicaid programs and require an annual review and verification of recipient demographic and income data. While the face-to-face interview is not required, it is not prohibited. Mississippi is one of only two or three states utilizing face-to-face as a means to re-certify eligibility.
The big problem with face-to-face lies in the implementation and the procedure used to carry out the process. Individuals are telephoned and given an appointment time and location. They do not have options about day, time, or location.
The interview site location may not be in the county where the beneficiary resides. Many Medicaid eligible individuals and families have little or no access to transportation — they must pay someone to give them a ride.
Medicaid eligible families often have low paying hourly wage jobs without the benefit of “personal time” to miss work to be interviewed to renew certification. In fact, when most hourly employees are absent from work, they don’t get paid and they may be fired.
From FY 2005 to FY 2006, the monthly average number of Medicaid beneficiaries decreased by 16,000 and CHIPS (Children Health Insurance Program) beneficiaries by about 4,000.
The Medicaid SFY 2006 Annual Report Summary indicates a decrease in Medicaid expenditure in the $330 million range with most of that decrease ($274 million) coming from prescription drug savings.
A savings largely produced by a policy change requiring individuals receive more generic and less brand name prescriptions and with implementation of federal programs. The division has shown an increase in payments for mental health and mental retardation services, but payments for inpatient and outpatient hospital service, as well as physician services are down.
Most notably physician services are down by the largest percent (5.35 percent or $12,000,000) which may indicate that individuals are not receiving preventative and chronic illness services and are thus at risk for more serious and costly conditions.
While there is no direct legislation in place to curb face-to-face requirements for recertification, we are hopeful steps will be taken to reduce requirements for children and disabled. The fact remains face-to-face recertification has not significantly reduced the Mississippi Medicaid expenditures.
Mary Patterson
Chair of Poverty
in America Taskforce
Catholic Charities, Jackson
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February 22, 2008 ISSUE
No compromises
Dear Editor,
The writings of Sister Jean Juliano and others in Mississippi Catholic about undocumented immigrants in the United States paint a picture of a people both unwanted in this country yet exploited for cheap labor. It must be maddening to try to live with that contradictory message!
Yet Sister Juliano and the others fail to offer examples of countries whose policies toward immigrants are more Christian than our own. They also blame the United States for putting farmers out of business in other countries, which causes economic upheaval and leads their poor to emigrate here.
To me, it doesn’t make sense to want to migrate to a country I believed was causing my native country to suffer. I would want nothing to do with that country!
One long-held belief of the political left is that the United States is a bullying nation that gets rich by impoverishing other nations. Do Sr. Juliano and others writing for this paper agree with that?
Mr. Ackerman’s Feb. 1 letter to Mississippi Catholic mentions “callous disregard for the life of a human embryo/fetus from the moment of conception through his/her first trimester via abortion” (italics mine). What about the other two trimesters? Isn’t a fetus just as human then? Our church teaches that human life is sacred from conception until natural death. No compromises.
Chris Balducci
Cleveland
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Take new look
at immigration
Dear Editor,
I personally believe any person who operates a motor vehicle in the United States should be a licensed driver and that license be issued only on proof of insurance. Driver preparation booklets as well as the exams should be printed in various languages.
We should change our law so a newborn would normally attain the citizenship of its mother in the case of a child born out of wedlock where paternity is not established, or of the parent of the family’s choosing in the case of matrimony.
We should allow persons willing to work for less than the minimum wage to sign a waiver. Those earnings should still be taxed for Social Security and Workmen’s Compensation to cover any medical expenses.
Regarding any obligations owed to the government, one half of any benefits such as tax refunds should be garnished until that obligation is paid. That includes any fine imposed for illegal entry.
Massive citizenship classes as well as classes in English should be set up to help those living here assimilate.
Translation facilities should be made available through the Public Defender’s office for anyone accused of a crime who is not fluent in the English language.
Any governmental assistance to non-citizens should be only in return for services rendered to the government such as serving in the Armed Forces.
My dad’s father came from Germany at age 16 seeking “The American Dream.” Some on my mother’s side came to New England from England before there was a United States. According to family legend some of my ancestors were already here when the “white man” came.
For generation after generation we have proudly served our country. Barbara and I are both WW2 vets. Our oldest son, Pascal, adopted from a Japanese orphanage at age 8, was a medic in Vietnam. Grandson Bill was a mechanic on one of the APC’s during the invasion of Baghdad.
We pray that our family will continue to have “One Nation, Under God, With Liberty and Justice for All.”
Deacon Arnold Pancratz
Jackson
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February 15, 2008 ISSUE
Pastor’s job difficult
during election year
Dear Editor,
I am responding to the column entitled “Justice for Immigrants” in the Feb. 1 issue of Mississippi Catholic. Sister Jean Juliano writes “While some Democrats may favor a more humane approach to immigration they are loathe to state it....”
I realize Sister Juliano is given a regular column to support the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) appeal entitled “Justice for Immigrants” which is an issue that has great importance to our diocese. However, I caution the use of such partisan references as the USCCB has made it clear in their latest document “Forming Consciences in Faithful Citizenship” that the Catholic Church cannot “champion any candidate or party.”
By referring to the Democratic party as “more humane” on the issue of illegal immigrants, it could seem that any other party, in particular the Republican party, could be less “humane.” There was no mention of the Republican stance on immigration and the absence of contrast and comparison to other parties (who may be assumed to be inhumane) makes the “Democrat” remark even more suspect.
As a pastor, it is difficult to lead the Catholic faithful toward good, moral voting during an election year. It is made even more difficult when the USCCB supports initiatives that are championed, sometimes, by a candidate or party who also hold opinions that are in contrast to the moral Catholic teaching and when one writes for a Catholic paper that can be perceived as the official teaching of the diocese, the use of a reference to a political party as the more “humane” party makes this pastoral leadership in forming a conscience even more daunting.
Fr. Joe Tonos
Oxford
We must speak
for unborn babies
Dear Editor,
Jan. 22, 2008 marked the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade legalizing abortion in 1973. Since the law was passed 50 million babies have been murdered in the United States. In Mississippi alone, 141,041 babies have been murdered.
Abortion on demand can be done throughout all nine months of pregnancy. You can help by educating yourself and others. Call your legislators and ask them their stand on abortion, and most of all pray. These babies need us desperately. We have to speak up for the innocent unborn babies and be their voices.
Please pray for all who have had abortions and those who perform the abortions, they too need our prayers. God bless all of you.
Delores Coomes
Vicksburg
Interpretation skewed
Dear Editor,
I read Father Jeremy Tobin’s editorial on immigrant labor. His interpretation of the issue is skewed.
He laments the lack of jobs in the Third World, blaming American corporations for illegal migration of cheap labor, exploitation and racism.
I have lived in Third World countries, you haven’t seen racism until you go to there. Yes, there is a need to define worker rights, right to dialogue, advocacy for humane and just working conditions. However, these issues should be addressed in the migrant’s home country so that he or she could prosper and remain at home. Corporate America would be forced to tap the bloated unemployed pool here.
The Third World elite allows the developing world to rape poor countries valuable natural resources and labor pool at the expense of their people in trade for instant profit.
The focus of statements, letters, and encyclicals should target greed driven dictatorships and wealthy Third World elites. They scoff at investing in their own country’s development, squander their nation’s wealth for personal gain and reject value added production in exchange for quick profit, the common man be damned.
Colonialism ended in my teen years, yes it was wrong, but tribal and religious warfare, mass migrations, famines, and unemployment were minimal compared to today’s Third World leaders treatment of their own people. Under repressive colonial rule the average poor fared better, yes suffering and abuse occurred, but not on the scope seen today.
J.M. Rodriguez
Terry
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February 1, 2008 ISSUE
I’m a bit bewildered
Dear Editor,
The World Briefs section in Mississippi Catholic (Jan. 25, 2008) left me more than a bit bewildered.
Why in the world would Georgia’s two Catholic bishops “not support a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would establish the rights of personhood for embryos from the moment of conception”?
In this day and age of callous disregard for the life of a human embryo/fetus from the moment of conception through his/her first trimester via abortion, why would these two bishops not support anything and everything which enhances unborn human life?
I, for one, and others to whom I have shown the article, are as equally perplexed as am I by their apparently inconsistent position.
As the spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Atlanta defensively stated: “there is not a split between the Catholic Church and the other pro-life organizations!”
Do you too wonder why he felt compelled to “clarify?”
May I request the editor of Mississippi Catholic to research this issue more thoroughly and give us a more complete analysis in a forthcoming issue?
Paul J. Ackerman
Columbus
This Lent (2008),
wars repent
Dear Editor,
In the Cathedral of Linz, Austria, along with Father Bill Pickard, Urban Ministries Director from the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., and some 5,000 others, I attended the beatification of Franz Jagerstatter on Oct. 26, 2007, and then concelebrated Mass at Franz’ parish church of St. Radegund, next to his gravesite.(See: www.dioezese-Linz.or.at/)
Austrian Catholics, in the Prayer for Franz’ Canonization do pray: “During a time of contempt for God and humankind, you bestowed in him unerring discernment and integrity. In faith he followed his conscience and said a decisive NO to unjust war.”
(For a biography on Blessed Franz, see: www.CJD.ORG/paper/franz.html)
So now with Fathers Tim Taugher, Kevin Bunger and Fred Daley of the Syracuse diocese and eight laypeople we have established the website: www.FranzPrayForUs.org, and invite Catholics in the Jackson diocese to observe Lent 2008 at St. Peter Cathedral, as “Franz Jagerstatter people to break the silence,” concluding March 19, 2008, which will make it five long years during which time we American Catholics and our leadership have, remained in fact, disturbingly silent about an unjust war and its costs to humanity.
In the Diocese of Greensburg we now have a working committee to organize our participation which will include faculty and students of our local Catholic colleges and members of various parishes. May God grant us the gift of repentance and resolve.
Fr. Bernard Survil
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January 25, 2008 ISSUE
Bishop Chanche embodies
connection with past
Dear Editor,
The reinterment of John Joseph Chanche — Mississippi’s first bishop — at St. Mary Basilica on Saturday, Jan. 19, was truly a unique and historic event, not only for the Catholic community in Natchez, but for Catholics throughout Mississippi.
When Bishop Chanche arrived in Natchez in 1841, there were two priests and no Catholic churches in the state. We all are the beneficiaries of his vision and dedication.
My husband and I, along with our two children, ages 6 and 7, were honored to participate in the Mass as gift bearers.
The reinterment Mass provided us with an excellent “teachable moment” with our children — particularly our son who is preparing to receive First Holy Communion in May.
Aside from the obvious occasion to delve deeper into the church hierarchy (his Eminence William Cardinal Keeler celebrated, with eight bishops from around the Gulf South and various priests concelebrating) our children were able to witness, in a unique way, the unity, universality and rich heritage that is our Catholic faith.
They were able to see, in a very tangible way, what they understand as “church” extends far beyond St. Mary’s in Natchez and is now, as it has been for centuries, shared by the faithful around the world.
My husband and I deeply appreciate the opportunity this event afforded us to help our children begin to understand the connectedness we feel with those that went before us and with the universal church.
Having accepted Pope Gregory XVI’s commission to shepherd Christ’s church in Mississippi all those years ago, Bishop Chanche embodies this connection to the past and to “Mother Church.” Welcome home our Most Reverend Bishop Chanche.
JoAnn Waycaster
Natchez
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January 11, 2007 ISSUE
Key to growth, prosperity
Dear Editor,
As a Catholic priest, who has ministered to Hispanics for 15 years, I would like to dispel some of the myths about immigration. I draw my information from personal experience and from a recent editorial in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Are we allowing too many immigrants into the United States? According to the U.S. Census, the current percentage of the population that is foreign born is 11.5 percent; 100 years ago it was about 15 percent.
Aren’t most immigrants here illegally? No, 75 percent of immigrants are in the U.S. with documents. Of the 25 percent of undocumented immigrants, many enter the country legally but overstay their visa.
Is immigration bad for our economy? The Immigration Law Center says: “New immigrants contributed at least 67 percent of the growth in the labor force over the past 3 years.” Despite fears, immigrants are not taking jobs from native-born U.S. citizens. Immigrants are, in fact, contributing to our economic growth.
What about taxes? For five years, I have helped Hispanics complete tax returns. At least 95 percent are eligible for a refund, yet, I would judge that 50 percent or more never file a return.
Undocumented workers contribute over $8 billion per year to Social Security (SS) and Medicare. They are ineligible for SS and Medicare and therefore are contributing to our retirements.
Do immigrants overuse public benefits? The undocumented are ineligible for most public benefits. Immigrants serve in the military. Of the approximately 70,000 foreign-born in the military, about half are not U.S. citizens.
In summary, the Courier-Journal states: “We would be wise to understand immigration for what it is: our key to growth and economic prosperity. The facts do inarguably bear this out.”
Fr. Gerald Peterson
Pontotoc
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December 21, 2007 ISSUE
Incorrect word used
Dear Editor,
Re: The sidebar article on front page of Mississippi Catholic of Dec. 14
According to the Random House Collegiate and the Miriam Webster Online dictionaries, “re-internment” is not an English word.
Perhaps the more correct word is “reinterment,” which is allowed by Miriam Webster but not mentioned in Random House.
In any event, “internment” and “interment” have different meanings. The context of the article suggests that “interment,” and hence “reinterment,” conveys the proper meaning.
Cecil Harrison
Brandon
Time for reconciliation
Dear Editor,
Paul Ackerman certainly had a great idea in hoping the pope would apologize to sex scandal victims and their families. He has made apologies for many other problems. His trip to America would be the perfect time. Any public relations team would jump on this. It could be somewhat of a soothing balm. After all, tis the time for reconciliation
Roy Wilkinson
Madison
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December 14 , 2007 ISSUE
Agenda often hidden
Dear Editor,
I would like to remind the priests and faithful of the Jackson diocese to visit www.sanctamissa.org to learn more about the Latin Mass. The priests from St. John Cantius in Chicago have set this website up to assist those who wish to learn more about the 1962 missal, including rubrics and background. I would also like to make folks aware of other “conservative” websites that advocate the use of the Tridentine rite in a negligent manner.
One example, Tradition, Family, & Property is a conservative group that strongly supports the 1962 missal, but they are subversive in that they associate this with a neo-conservative, Republican agenda. I recently noticed a message sent out by this group that simultaneously glorified the 1962 rite and denounced the “leftists” that protest the School of the Americas. Needless to say, this is outrageous.
The School of the Americas is responsible for horrible crimes against humanity and should be closed down. We all need to be aware of such groups and recognize their political agendas, especially when such agendas are hidden under the guise of religion.
Joel Gray
Jackson
Dialogue needs clarity
Dear Editor,
With Advent upon us, I write this in hopes those involved in the recent, divisive “Liturgical Wars” might contemplate how an intellectual dialogue about two different styles of worship wound up hopelessly off topic, personally nasty, and quite honestly, devoid of respect and honor due the “Body of Christ.” Can we not do better than this?
There are many issues facing our church that need our Holy Father’s attention, and the heartbreak and division caused by overzealous liturgical innovations and disrespect of the Rubrics of the Novus Ordo is certainly one of them.
The liturgy has been a “flash point” for an intense battle for control within the postcounciliar church and as the recent letters suggest, the debate shows no sign of going away. Who are the warring factions? Well, it’s not liberals and conservatives! More on that another time.
My point in writing today is to ask. how can we make progress in our dialogue and not cause further polarization and division? I guess the question is do we really want to move forward together? I love having passionate theological conversation with my friends, but honestly the most edifying “communion” for me is when dialogue takes place with those who differ with me theologically, but make themselves vulnerable enough in the exchange to allow for growth, reevaluation and a fuller understanding of the issues being confronted.
If we could do this better, and continue to show love and compassion for the core of the person, I think it would go a long way in restoring the trust that has obviously disintegrated over the years.
Enough with the head games! Let’s get busy trying to uncover the true splendor of Vatican II! With this in mind, I respectfully summit some questions for consideration before writing the editor.
1. Is the issue we are confronting of paramount importance to the majority and does it affect the “common good” or are we just venting out of fear and our own personal compulsions?
2. When we do write, can we try and clearly present both sides of the issue, so those who are not as informed can make a more objective opinion or are we purposely ambiguous which would lead people to suspect propaganda?
3. If someone’s opinion angers us, couldn’t we just call them directly out of charity, rather then attacking them in print?
4. And last, but not least, if we are attacked personally, are we confident enough in our theological position and the spirit in which we wrote to “turn the other cheek?” Dialogue needs clarity and charity.
Dave Palladino
St. James, Tupelo
P.S. I would like to ask all to pray to our Blessed Mother to intercede on our behalf for her Son to grant his church a saint with a special charism that can bridge the gap between the socio/political church that has immerged since Vatican II and the ancient traditional, mystical church where orthodoxy and doctrine are portrayed as the vehicle that allows the spiritual journey to take place rather than excess baggage that weighs it
down!
Only non-immigrants
are Native Americans
Dear Editor,
I wish to comment on the immigration issue. If I recall correctly the only people in this country that aren’t immigrants are the Native Indians. My great- grandparents came to this country during a time when things were simplistic.
Unlike today, U.S. citizens complain about the loss of jobs to so-called illegals, even though a lot of people would rather be on food stamps and or welfare instead of working, even though these programs weren’t originally constructed to be used or abused the way they are today. My ancestors came here to find a better way of life and to take jobs others didn’t want, or were too prideful or lazy to take.
And as far as illegals violating our laws, according to what part of this country they’re in, they are arrested, released, and forgotten about; simply let go; locked up and thrown away; or sent to the immigration department to wait to be deported. Then they return later.
Perhaps if we wouldn’t have made this the land of opportunity, the home of the free and the brave, we wouldn’t be so popular. But also remember who made our country this way, “immigrants.”
Richard A. Simoneaux
Woodville
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November 23 , 2007 ISSUE
Killing of unborn
has gone too far
Dear Editor,
“Since the Partial Birth Abortion Act was upheld by the Supreme Court, abortionists are injecting unborn babies with lethal drugs to avoid performing “Partial Birth Abortion.” They are making doubly sure they don’t let unborn children accidentally live If they botch the abortion.” Aug. 12, 2007 (CNA)
The killing of unborn babies has gone too far. Will it ever stop? Please pray and get involved. These babies have a right to live.
Thank you and may God bless all of you and the abortionists. Let us all love one another. “By having reverence for life we enter into a spiritual relation with the world.” (Albert Schweitzer, author)
Delores Coomes
Vicksburg
Not all immigrants
are unwelcome
Dear Editor,
Immigrants are hearing the same drumbeat over and over: Go home, you are not welcome here. That is a direct quote of the article last week by Sister Jean Juliano. And it is not true.
I have never been told that. I was told once that because I came from outside of Mississippi, it would take 50 years before the locals would accept me, and because I came from another country, it would take another 50. But I have not often felt like this. Only a few times, and often by the same few people, have I felt this way.
Why am I accepted and others not? Could it be that I make a real effort to fit in with the people of my area. I learn the language, I study the mores, I try to become one with them and still keep my own values.
As a retired teacher I saw children who never learned English, who had parents who could not speak the language and made no attempt to learn. Do they really want to be here if all I can talk about and show is how Hispanic I am.
Again, no easy answers. Not all immigrants are unwelcome.
Arthur Keith
Durant
Will pope make amends?
Dear Editor,
The lead article in last week’s edition of Mississippi Catholic quoted researcher Karen Terry who told the bishops at their fall general meeting “Among the ‘clusters of hypothetical factors being studied’ to explain the incidence of sexual abuse are social changes of the 1960s and ‘70s, such as social movements, social stratification and changes in the church after the Second Vatican Council and how these influenced priests’ attitudes and behavior.”
To a researcher, that may satisfactorily explain how hundreds of priests and even bishops committed criminal acts of sexual abuse.
However, it is one thing to explain this criminal behavior as “influenced by priests” attitudes and behavior” but yet another thing, not addressed by Ms. Terry, as to how so many bishops and even Cardinal Bernard Law could have become complicent in this criminal behavior by moving such priests from parish to parish rather than by allowing them to be charged with the appropriate criminal charge.
The ongoing loss of “moral authority” suffered by our American bishops in this “fiasco,” to say nothing of the pain and suffering incurred by the victims, has been and continues to be incalculable to say nothing of the billion dollars of payments to date!
Is it too much to hope for that the pope will attempt “amends” for the “sins of our fathers” when he comes to the United States next year?
Paul J. Ackerman
Columbus
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November 16 , 2007 ISSUE
Tobasco needs help
Dear Editor,
I do not know how much news of the plight of the people in Villahermosa in Tabasco has reached the U.S. news, but the situation is just like New Orleans of Katrina days. The whole city is underwater and thousands of people are displaced, up to a million.
Lots of needs ... perhaps y’all could get something in the diocesan papers to reach out though the Red Cross or Catholic Relief Services.
The whole country is sending help here, and of course the needs are just beginning.
Fr. Rich Smith
Mississippi mission
Saltillo, Mexico
There’s no easy answer
Dear Editor,
I was reading the editorial in Mississippi Catholic about immigration reform. At the moment that is a hot-button issue and no politician who wants to be reelected is going to touch it, in fact, most of them are running away from it.
As I read it, I get the idea that if I oppose any of the proposed legislation, I am opposing Christ’s will. Or at least it comes across that way to me. I disagree with that.
You see, I am an immigrant. I grew up in the Netherlands and have come to this country, legally. I brought with me, legally, a wife and three children. I knew before I came that if I, or my family, became an expense to the state, if I would need welfare, medical care, etc., I would be sent home to my native country.
That only changed after we became U.S. citizens. I had to wait three years before I could bring my family over, there were no visas available at the time. I could have brought them here illegally but I chose to do it the right way.
I do not have an answer to the question of what to do with those who are illegally in this country today. But something has to be done. Just to give everyone a right to citizenship does not seem fair to those like me who obeyed the laws of this country. Sending them all home, I am afraid that is impossible. But stopping illegal immigration is not impossible.
So, I have no easy answer, just more questions. I wish those who write about these issues would do so without trying to make us feel guilty if we disagree with some of the conclusions they want us to draw.
I try to live my life as a Christian. If someone is hungry, I will feed them without asking about their status. If someone is sick, I will help as much as possible. But if that same person runs across a policeman who finds out that he is here illegally, then he must be arrested and pay the price for his breaking of the law just as I would have to do if I broke any laws.
Arthur Keith
Durant
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November 9 , 2007 ISSUE
Archbishop thanks
knights for support
Dear Editor,
Friday night I watched EWTN’s television show "The World Over" which deals with current events and interviews pertaining to the church in the world today. This particular episode featured an interview with Fouad Twal, the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Latin (Roman Catholic) Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Archbishop Twal will eventually become the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem upon the retirement of Patriarch Michel Sabbah.
Archbishop Twal pointed out because of low incomes many seminarians in the Holy Land need sponsors to help finance their education, and so it was with him when he attended the seminary in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem (1959-1966). For this he noted that he owed a special thanks to his sponsors . . . the Knights of Columbus of Mississippi.
Jack Elliot Jr.
West Point
Put your car keys
by your bed at night
Dear Editor,
Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.
It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won’t stick around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that.
And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.
Tom Clifton
Jackson
Please help missions
Dear Editor,
I wish you a very happy Christmas and a bright New Year. There are 5,000 children and three schools in my residential area. Kindly help me by sending pens, pencils, rosaries, used cards and used magazines and statues for the children.
We shall be praying for you in return. Please help. Love and blessing,
Fr. Paul Cruz
P.O. Box 691 571
Kottiyam – P.O.
Kollam – 691 571
Kerala - India
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November 2 , 2007 ISSUE
Father Henry Shelton
has borne good fruit
Dear Editor,
On Oct. 26 another letter appeared attacking Father Henry Shelton. This letter, like the others, came from someone far away from Tupelo. Rather than arguing with these people, I offer this:
Matthew 7:18 “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.”
Come celebrate Mass with us at St. James. While you are here, ask us what kind of fruit Father Henry has borne. Ask our children and our youth what they have learned about Jesus and his church.
Ask our adults whether we think we have grown or become stagnant. Ask our RCIA group what effect Father has had on their journey. Ask our seniors, our sick, and our poor whether they are loved and cared for.
Ask the minority Catholics here whether they have been welcomed. But
don’t stop there. Ask our Protestant religious and community leaders whether the Catholic priest in town has produced any good fruit.
Come and you will see joyful teenagers hugging their pastor, hear weeping adult converts tell 300 strangers how Father helped bring them home, meet a family who drives 70 miles one way to Mass, and meet another family who moved from two counties away be a part of our community.
If you believe Father Henry to be “heterodox” or a “dissident,” or if his letters “horrify” you, don’t just sit in your living room hundreds of miles away banging on your keyboard. Come and see for yourself whether Father Henry has borne good fruit.
Chip Davis
St. James, Tupelo
Keep debates
intellectual / informed
Dear Editor,
I can not let the latest letter of Joel Gray go unanswered since it so obviously reflects a gross ignorance on his part as to what is and is not doctrine.
Mr. Gray states the social justice teachings of the church are not doctrine. Let me refer Mr. Gray to the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church” by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, paragraph 80.
“Insofar as it is part of the church’s moral teaching, the church’s social doctrine has the same dignity and authority as her moral teaching. It is authentic magisterium, which obligates the faithful to adhere to it.”
Mr. Gray, the social justice teaching of the church is doctrine and your position is, to say the least, not only uninformed, it is heterodox.
Father Henry Shelton
Pastor
St. James, Tupelo
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October 26 , 2007 ISSUE
Photo not real story
Dear Editor,
On page 7 of Mississippi Catholic’s issue of Oct. 19, a picture of “people line up for free porridge distributed by a Christian group outside a church in Manila, Philippines,” is outrageous, malicious. If the purpose is to show to the world where real-hungry-people are situated, this picture ought not be published for lack of compelling reasons to justify its publication.
The writer, Cindy Wooden and the editor perhaps failed to first find out all facts and circumstances of how the picture came about or if it was intended for the World Food Day affair of the UN.
If you analyze the picture very well, those lined up were invited by the sponsoring Christian group to eat “free porridge.” Some even have handbags on their backs, paper cups to show they were there for the “porridge,” and no show of them eating actually, or it may have shown children brought in to feed.
It’s even possible that the Christian group was giving “used clothing” or something else in the absence of the porridge, or nothing at all to distribute, just for a show? The background shows people with loaded paper bags lying in-wait for some more “manna” to be give them by passers-by.
It can be presumed that no other picture is available to support the writer’s story. We can’t or will not deny there are poor and hungry people in our country, the Philippines. It’s true, but inviting people right beside a Catholic Church at that, is unimaginable. The poor people in Manila, our capital, are specially located in their assigned abodes, not just scattered, as shown in that writer’s picture. It’s defaming our Filipino people including me.
I am inviting the writer to come to the Philippines and visit each and every place where a Catholic Church is situated and find out the real living conditions of the people, 95 percent Roman Catholic devotees-parishioners, God-fearing population.
Roberto Garcia
Houston
Keep debates intellectual
Dear Editor,
I would like to comment on the recent letters regarding Father Henry Shelton. First of all, I enjoy the wide variety of opinions published in Mississippi Catholic. I think it is important to create an open forum for theological discussion and debate that brings a range of views to the table.
So I would hesitate to go as far as Mr. Howard and suggest Father Shelton’s letters not be published (“Father Shelton continues to shock me”). On the other hand, I would agree with Mr. Howard that Father Shelton’s letters are often shockingly provocative and thoroughly heterodox.
Mr. Howard was not “bad-mouthing” Father Shelton as one letter stated (“Don’t judge Father Shelton”); rather, he was bringing up a legitimate issue. Priests speak with authority, regardless of whether they are speaking in a private capacity or not, and they should be aware that their words and actions may create scandal.
There is no need to bring emotion into this debate – getting to know Father Shelton is not the issue – this is an intellectual discussion that needs to focus on the issues and not sentimentality.
His letters on the liturgy consistently horrify me. Father Shelton has made it clear he prefers to discuss social justice as opposed to liturgical and doctrinal issues – his comment to Mr. Howard at the end of his previous letter (“‘Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi’ continued”) indicate he thinks social justice is far more important than doctrine.
I would remind him it is important to answer questions posed to you in a reasonable way, not to simply say “well you don’t know about social justice, so you can’t criticize me.”
Nobody is discussing the issues anymore. Let’s keep these debates intellectual and refrain from getting personal (“you don’t know him so you can’t say anything about him”) – if Father Shelton continues to write letters to Mississippi Catholic, then I will continue to respond and criticize.
Joel Gray
Chicago, Ill
Thanks for the coverage
Dear Editor,
As the 2007-2008 navigator of Msgr. John F. Clerico 4th Degree Assembly 1569 of Greenwood I would like to thank Mississippi Catholic for their publicity about the 4th Degree Assembly being part of the honor guard for Father Thomas Delaney’s 50th anniversary celebration of his ordination in May 2007.
I would also like to thank you for providing publicity for us being an honor guard for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and St. Francis confirmation class of 2007.
I would also like to thank you for the publicity in July for the installation of the Knights of Columbus Council 5267 officers and 4th Degree Assembly 1569 new officers.
Ron Ola
Greenwood
Story inappropriate
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you concerning an article in the Oct. 19, edition of Mississippi Catholic. On page 6, there is an article that seems inappropriate for a diocesan publication: “Abu Ghraib investigator says abuse worse than reported.” It is a secular-type report that has qualities of sensationalism.
It is my understanding that the purpose of a diocesan newspaper is to inform and instruct on faith matters, as well as to give news within the diocese. This article takes up a full page that could be used to instruct and uplift the faithful.
This piece is no different than information put out by groups (such as SNAP) after the priest-abuse scandal! Yes, abuses did take place in both the prison and in churches, comparatively speaking. The abuses were made public in both cases and the military and the Catholic Church, respectively, made apologies and worked to correct problems.
I am very sorry for the embarrassment and damage done to the 99 percent of clergy who have faithfully served the church. In the same fashion, damage is being done to the 99 percent of military personnel who sacrifice, at times even their own lives, to serve their country. These soldiers also have family members who sacrifice while they are gone.
I take offense to this column being in Mississippi Catholic as a Catholic, as an American, and most of all as a military parent!
My son, Sgt G. Brandon Lovelady, has just arrived in Iraq with the rest of our local Mississippi National Guard Unit, the 113th Military Police Company of Brandon. At least three of these soldiers are members of this diocese: my son, Spc. Adam Minninger, and Eric Gannon, all of Madison County.
Printing articles such as this continue to endanger our troops stationed in combat zones, including those who are spiritual sons of this diocese.
I feel Mississippi Catholic would not print an article from groups like SNAP; this piece is just as damaging to our good soldiers as SNAP is to our good priests. I am very disappointed and disillusioned with Mississippi Catholic as a result of this.
As a responsible member of the Diocese of Jackson, I read Mississippi Catholic to keep current of the issues and happenings within my church community.
The last thing I expect when I read my church newspaper is to be faced with such as this.
Although we have entrusted our soldier son to Jesus, Mary, and the protection of St. Michael, it is sometimes difficult to get through the day.
This is the second time we’ve been faced with a deployment. The last time he was in the war in Afghanistan.
I have enclosed a prayer card that we are distributing to relatives, friends, and co- workers, and request your prayers for my son, Minninger and Gannon, and all the 113th MP Co.
Stephanie Sullivan Lovelady
St. Francis, Madison
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September 21, 2007 ISSUE
Comments on old rite
Dear Editor,
I have followed with great interest the letters concerning “Summorum pontificum” and have noticed several tendencies prevalent among those critical of the old rite. In regard to divine worship, antiquarianism indicates a desire to return to ancient (i.e., pre-Constantinian) forms, though the historical information we have regarding these forms is very scant.
This supposes almost everything from the time of the emergence of the church from the catacombs up to the Second Vatican Council was somehow inferior to the older, “purer” worship of the primitive age of Christianity.
This view ignores parallel later developments in the various Eastern rites such as prayers recited in a low voice at the altar with simultaneous singing by the choir or congregation, multiple signs of the cross and other external acts of reverence, and less frequent reception of Communion by the laity, never in the hand.
Several principles consistently ignored by those who advocate this ancient and supposedly purer style of worship are the orientation of the celebrant standing in front of the altar and facing it when praying, the use of the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew enumeration of the Psalter, and the use of “for many” in the words of institution.
Why this rejection? Perhaps because all of these principles are in conflict with current ecumenical ideas about what liturgy ought to be. The first two certainly have roots in historic Protestant practice in direct opposition to Catholic tradition.
Another tendency is an emphasis of the importance of the celebrant’s personality, which is obviously exaggerated when Mass is celebrated facing the congregation.
Many of the arguments against the old rite pretend to be based on historically dubious notions. In fact, they are really simply uninformed personal preferences. For instance, it is often assumed Our Lord spoke the vernacular when he instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Is it not equally reasonable to assume he observed the Passover meal in Hebrew, the liturgical language of the Jews to this day?
Patrick Williams
Oxford
Help with Saltillo harvest
Dear Editor,
I want to invite folks, preferable adults or college students, to think of coming for a while to help with the harvest in the ranchos around Saltillo.
There has been abundant rain this year, and the largest part of the ranchos are expecting a very good harvert. There is much corn to bring in. The fresh corn is being gathered now, but the corn dryed and used for tortillas will be ready in late October and through November.
Farmers have already told me they would welcome the help. That means people staying in the rancho, in sleeping bags or in homes, depending on the numbers. The work will be hard, but the people coming will get to work side by side with the people. It is a little different experience of the ranchos than the folks get who come in the summer.
People can call, or email if they want to drive or fly. We will get them to the rancho, but they will have to get to us. Not recommended for persons with respiratory illness because of the dust from the corn.
Father Richard Smith
St. Michael Parish
phone 011-52-84-44-82-2207
Saltillo, Mexico
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September 21, 2007 ISSUE
Don’t judge Fr. Shelton
Dear Editor,
Re: letter from “Perry Howard”
On my return to the church, I met and spoke with Father (Henry) Shelton at some length. I am old enough (barely) to remember the Tridentine Mass. I prefer being, “included as a part of the celebration of Mass.” I do not want God to feel unreachable, aloof or unavailable to me.
As for Father Shelton’s so called 425,000 word impact of possible schism . . . “SIGH.” It exasperates me terribly, to have someone, ANYONE one bad-mouth Father Shelton. I told him two years ago in one of our discussions, if I ever found him in a struggle, or fight: outnumbered, back against a wall against great odds, I would step between him and any foe.
Well here I am, stepping in. I can not judge you according to holy Scripture. I am not judging. I believe you have a right to express your opinions and feelings. I do not believe you have a right to judge Father Shelton.
No judgment on your part is quantifiable without experiencing firsthand his intelligence, commitment, compassion, AND humility. All of these qualities are found, not only in his leadership of St. James Parish, but in his involvement in the community.
I imagine your letter is not very popular here, all 176 words of it.
I can almost guarantee that should you visit: you will experience the love, faithfulness and great presence of “The Holy Spirit” that is very palpable in the part of the body of Christ called St. James Parish Tupelo.
God Bless us all,
Debbie Shutiok
St. James Parish, Tupelo
Get to know Fr. Shelton
Dear Editor,
I have read Perry Howard’s letter “Father Shelton continues to shock me” with great trepidation. Not only does he disagree with Father Shelton but also wonders why you publish him.
This sounds a bit self-serving to me. Howard lives in Jackson and Father Shelton in Tupelo so I wonder just how much he really knows about this wonderful priest.
You see, my family and I fled Metairie, La., during Hurricane Katrina with two days clothes because that was the only room we could find. We didn’t know anyone and then found out that we had lost everything. You could never imagine how we felt.
Then we started going to daily Mass and ended up going twice on the weekend because we would get more out of father’s homily the second time. Father Henry embraced us and made sure we had what we needed and was so loving and kind to us.
I would like to add parishioners as a whole are only as good as their pastor. I have been all over the world and have never been in a more Christian parish in my life.
These people picked us up to take us places to get us out of our motel, brought us sweaters one night because it was getting cold, cooked for us, invited us to meet their families. I could go on, but I won’t.
I would like to close adding that I have never met a more awesome priest than Father Henry Shelton. I can’t believe anyone who knows Father Henry doesn’t see Christ in him. Thank you and God bless.
Cheryl Cusimano
Metairie, La.
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September 14, 2007 ISSUE
Why can’t America
open her arms?
Dear Editor,
I would like to express my view on immigration reform. I am opposed to the Mexican wall. I believe in comprehensive immigration reform, wherein families would be held together and immigrants who take jobs which Americans reject would be employed and allowed to seek legalization, eventually.
Besides, our economy would collapse if we deport all the “illegals.”
I’m of Irish decent and I know we were unwelcomed by many when we entered the U.S. enmesse in the early 1900s. And now see what contributions Irish Americans have made to America. Why can’t America open her arms to yet another culture as we did in the early 1900s?
Caroline Gaudet
Jackson
‘Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi’
continued
Dear Editor,
“The rule of prayer (the official liturgy of the church) is a rule of what the church believes.”— St. Augustine
In light of the personal attack on me and my loyalty/fidelity to the Holy Father because of my letter to the editor of Aug. 31, I feel compelled to respond.
Nowhere in my letter do I question or challenge the Holy Father’s authority to issue his “Motu Proprio” on the Mass of Pope Pius V. Nowhere in my letter do I question or challenge the validity or lawfulness of this Mass.
My purpose in writing the letter was to simply remind people that the Second Vatican Council, consisting of 2,500 bishops in union with the pope in solemn ecumenical council, guided by the Holy Spirit, made the following decision:
In order that the Christian people may more securely derive an abundance of graces from the sacred liturgy, holy mother church desires to undertake with great care a general restoration of the liturgy itself. For the liturgy is made up of unchangeable elements divinely instituted, and elements subject to change.
The latter not only may, but ought to be changed with the passing of time ... In this restoration, both texts and rites should be drawn up so that they express more clearly the holy things which they signify. Christian people, as far as possible, should be able to understand them with ease and to take part in them fully, actively, and as befits a community. (par 21 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.)
The questions I posed in my letter, I believe, are all based on the principles which guided the “restoration” of the Mass as we have it today. I proposed them simply as an aid to help people reflect on their experiences of both the Mass of Pius V and the Mass of Paul VI.
As I stated in my previous letter, the liturgy is the most powerful way the church has of catechizing both clergy and laity.
“Lex orandi. Lex credendi. Lex vivendi.”
Father Henry Shelton
St. James Parish
Tupelo
P.S. As regards fidelity/loyalty to the popes, I wonder if Perry Howard accepts the teachings of the popes regarding social justice. He can find them in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” par 2419-2463, under the heading “Social Doctrine of the Church.”
Some things
worth doing right
Dear Editor,
“We Dare to Say ‘Our Father’” is rightly titled for the section Christian Prayer in our catechism. Father (Henry) Shelton has brought up some ideas about prayer and our addressing God that I would like to comment on.
Has God changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament? In short, no. He is still the same. But as Father Shelton points out, something did happen with the way we address God and our relationship with him. That something was the fulfillment of the old covenant, Jesus Christ.
“Only Jesus could cross that threshold of the divine holiness, for ‘when he had made purification for sin,’ he (Jesus) brought us into the Father’s presence.” (CCC 2777) The Our Father is prayed in our liturgies with “filial boldness.” We have become adopted sons and daughters of God through baptism and it is only through Jesus that we could have the courage to say, “Our Father.”
But should there be fear? Could “fear” be a good thing? We are given a gift of the Holy Spirit, fear of the Lord, which puts in proper order our love and reverence due to God. We should fear offending him by sin. That fear is a good thing. It keeps us close and on the right track because we should never want to offend God.
This reverence and love is reflected in our divine liturgies. It would be silly and childish to address God as Our Papa or Our Daddy in the liturgy. We are called to be childlike in our trust and obedience to God, which is a very good thing.
In our divine liturgies we are given guidelines to help us in the proper way we are to worship God as a community. When these rubrics are discarded or ignored, proper understanding of prayer, reverence and our relationship with God can become fuzzy and very silly.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi – How we worship reflects what we believe and determines how we will live! This is a beautiful interpretation of the mission of the church.
As we worship, so will we live … and as we worship, so will we become. Some things are worth doing right!
Helen Opiela
Raymond
Letters indicate
newspaper’s effectiveness
Dear Editor,
I have always heard it said the best measure of the effectiveness of a newspaper is the “Letters to the Editor.”
That being the case, it is obvious to those of us who have lived in other dioceses that our diocesan newspaper generates more responses per subscription than do many much larger “house organs” e.g. Chicago, Green Bay, Milwaukee, etc . . . .
Consequently, I extend my congratulations and gratitude to both our publisher (Bishop Latino) and our editor (Janna Avalon) for printing all of the diverse opinions sent in by the readership, both Catholic and non, of Mississippi Catholic.
That being said, the entire discussion of “either”(Latin pre Vatican II rite) “or” (the vernacular Vatican II rite) misses the point!
At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke in Aramaic the language spoken by and familiar to the Apostles and disciples who were gathered there to eat with him. I can hardly conceive there is anyone who thinks as he was preparing to leave them he did not embrace each of them warmly before the “breaking of the bread”? And is there anyone who thinks that He placed the bread on the tongue of those present after having just instructed them to “Take and eat?”
Consequently, the controversy between pre Vatican II liturgy in Latin or post Vatican II liturgy in the vernacular is about 1500 years too late; the Vatican II council fathers in their wisdom really wanted to return us the “People of God” to the practice of Jesus himself.
This change has nothing at all to do with “right or wrong,” “good or bad.”
The historical facts remain: at his own Last Supper, Jesus uttered not a word of Latin nor did he celebrate the meal with his back to those present nor did they receive only his body but not his blood nor did they receive “fasting,” nor did they have missals.
The Vatican II document on the liturgy is the attempt to return Catholic practice closer to that of Jesus himself . . . count me in!
Paul J. Ackerman
Columbus
Happy to see late artist
Dear Editor,
What a happy surprise to see the young, beautiful face of the late artist, Sandra Williams in the 1967 photo of your Sept. 7 issue!
I have kept this photo on my desk all these years and will always keep Sandra close for all of her great art, her compassion for all the animals, but most of all for her sincere dedication to God and doing her many works of mercy and charity.
The portrait in the Welty Library is the one I commissioned Sandra to do of Eudora. They were in awe of each other.
Eudora said Sandra was the only person she ever met who carried a flying squirrel in her blouse.
Roy Winston Wilkerson
St. Joseph, Gluckstadt
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September 7, 2007 ISSUE
Which God?
Dear Editor,
On the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Old Testament and Gospel readings presented us with two very different images of God and thus images of ourselves.
The reading from Genesis 18:20-32 presented God as one to be feared and thus having to bargain with. Abraham speaks to God fearing at any moment he may overstep his bounds and be wiped out by God.
In the Gospel reading from Luke 11:1-13, the disciples have witnessed Jesus at prayer. They envy what they see prayer does for Jesus. They want for themselves what they see prayer does for Jesus. And so they ask Jesus to teach them how to pray as he does.
Jesus grants their request and says to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Father.’” This title for God Jesus tells the disciples to use, is the most significant word in the entire prayer.
He could have said, “When you pray you must address God as ‘Lord God Jehovah’ or ‘O Creator of the Universe,’ or ‘O Most Holy One,’ or ‘O Omnipotent One’ or ‘O God of Justice.’”
These titles Jesus could have chosen to begin one’s prayer would have had the immediate effect of putting the relationship of the prayer to God on the level of inferior to superior, servant to master, a nobody to somebody. But Jesus deliberately avoided such titles of God for one seeking him in prayer.
Instead, Jesus deliberately put the prayer on the level of the familiar with God. He chose the title “Daddy” or “Papa.” He deliberately avoided any title of transcendence or majesty. He deliberately chose an image of God in prayer that was designed to evoke feelings of intimacy, affection, security, and trust. It was an image of God that even the smallest child, the simplest mind could grasp.
One of the reasons the religious authorities of Jesus’ time wanted to put him to death was because of the familiar way he spoke of his relationship with God. If God is spoken of in such familiar terms, people might stop being afraid of him.
And we all know what would happen if people became too familiar with God and stopped being afraid of him. The religious authorities might lose their control over the people.
But, alas, the authorities have nothing to fear. For some strange reason, we prefer the God of Abraham to the God of Jesus Christ. We prefer a God shrouded in smoke and incense. We prefer the God who is untouchable and because we prefer Abraham’s God to Jesus’ God, we will never know what Jesus experienced in his prayer, what he desired us to experience in prayer.
Every time Jesus went to prayer, he relived his baptismal experience. Prayer for Jesus was hearing again his Father say to him, “You are my beloved Son.” Prayer for Jesus was an immersion in that intimate Father-Son relationship. It is that same experience Jesus desires for each of us. (Jn 17:6-26) “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi.”
Father Henry Shelton
St. James Parish
Tupelo
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August 31, 2007 ISSUE
Thanks for Sister
Margie’s article
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed the article by Sister Margie Lavonis titled “Hello college, goodbye church.” She was insightful and had some good suggestions. I would like to pass along a thought that came to mind as I was reading. She noted that some students declare, “I didn’t ask to be a Catholic. My parents made that decision for me. I was just a baby and not able to choose my own religion.”
To that I would say, “You didn’t ask to be born. You didn’t ask to be fed. You didn’t ask to be changed. You didn’t ask to be sent to school and educated. You didn’t ask to be taken to church. You didn’t ask your parents to set a good example for you. You need to stop right now and thank God for parents that had the wisdom to do all of those for you.”
Ruth Thompson
Brandon
Pope allows TLM Masses
Dear Editor,
Salvete.
I have read the Letters to the Editor with great interest these past few weeks and would like to comment on, collectively speaking, The Latin Mass (TLM) and Pope Benedict’s “motu proprio.”
We are not old enough to refer to TLM as the “good old days” but we are interested in attending and participating in one. God willing, our first one will be Sept. 14.
So, we do not think it is fair for some to claim that it is the old requesting or wanting this. It may surprise some that in dioceses where they have this Mass, a good many are the young.
Why? For us it is because of the reverence. Do not mistake us for not loving the Norvus Ordo (NO), because we think it is beautiful when celebrated properly. Since Vatican II, things have been “added” to the liturgy that were not supposed to be and sometimes grave abuses occur. This is all done in the name of the Spirit of Vatican II. With that, one could wonder, where will it end? Are there no boundaries?
What Pope Benedict did with issuing the “motu proprio” is to state that we should be allowed these liturgies if they are requested; the priest is to decide. Vatican II never meant to do away or restrict TLMs. Vatican II never meant that we should do away with Latin in the N.O. either. Latin is the language of our Mother Church and is universal. We are Catholic after all.
Vatican II never stated we were to hold hands during the Our Father either. And the holding of hands does not represent the union that is about to take place in communion because with receiving the Body of Christ, we are united with each other; more so than any hand holding could ever accomplish.
Also, in Father Shelton’s letter he stated he believed the decline of those receiving communion had to do with the heavy emphasis on the transcendent nature of God. I would like to point out we should not forget that during that time Jansenism was very rampant, and still is today to some degree. The decline in communicants is attributed to that heresy.
I have heard recently that people used to go “see” Pope John Paul II; they go to “listen” to Pope Benedict. All we can say is thank you Pope Benedict for listening and thanks be to God, oops, Deo gratias!
Helen Opiela
Raymond
No boundaries for liturgies
Dear Editor,
After the last few letters about the Holy Father’s move to make the Tridentine Mass more available to the faithful, I feel compelled to speak. Of course I am not old enough to have experienced the “pre-Vatican II” days, but I can say that I know this much—we are the same church now that we were in the 1950s, 1850s, and so on. Yet so many people seem to act as if the years before Vatican II were a different church that is now to be shunned here in Mississippi.
Are we not all called to be welcoming, loving Christians, showing the love of God to all people? I agree with Joel Gray who, in his letter (Aug. 17, 2007), pointed out the need for us to respect all rites in communion with the Holy See. Being Lebanese, I could very well be Melkite or Maronite. If this is so, I would love to be able to celebrate their Divine Liturgy one day. However, seeing how “traditional” most Eastern Rites are, I don’t know if I will be able to in my own diocese without being shunned by some people.
Cecil Harrison wrote as if the clarifying of Vatican II that Pope Benedict is doing is actually harmful. Correct me if I am wrong, but did not Pope John Paul II do the same thing? He was just as strict on many issues as Benedict is. Both men are torn over the separation within the church that has come about over the Liturgy. And both men want to see that separation ended.
And Pope Benedict feels as if making the Tridentine Liturgy available will work for just that. Pope Benedict has never said this liturgy is to become the normal liturgy or that it is more important than the Liturgy that came from Vatican II. To say the Holy Father has said this would be a lie.
I come from St. Richard Parish in Jackson. I am certainly not considered a “traditionalist” nor do I know Latin well enough to understand what I am reading. In fact, should I be ordained for our diocese, one aspiration of mine is to return to St. Richard to celebrate the Sunday evening Youth Mass, which uses contemporary Christian Rock. But I know that if our church, especially here in the Jackson diocese, is to become more united and stand tall as a one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church in Mississippi, we must welcome and care for all peoples of all spiritualities!
Publicly showing disgust in any way for the Holy See, any of our priests, or any other fellow Catholic will only push us further away from each other. The love of God knows no boundaries, and neither should the liturgies and devotions offered in our great diocese!
Scott Thomas
Seminarian, Diocese of Jackson
What happened
to mission, ministry?
Dear Editor,
I would like to add my inquiry to that of Paul Ackerman regarding the questionnaire we all received several years ago on the occasion of “Mission and Ministry in Mississippi.”
I know many hours went into the preparation of this questionnaire, not to mention the expense of printing and mailing them to the various parishes. Then hours of conscientious thought went into the answering of the many questions in the survey by all the members of our diocese who participated.
When the surveys were completed my husband and I compiled and tabulated all the responses from our parish of over 600 families, St. James in Tupelo, for our pastor Father Henry Shelton.
Not a small task and also adding additional hours to all the other hours spent on preparing, printing, mailing, distributing, completing, gathering, compiling and summarizing this survey that our bishop had requested we participate in.
It was a comfort to know that we, the laity, were being consulted and asked for our opinions and ideas regarding this crisis of shortage of priests. We are the church, are we not?
We waited for word about this project from our bishop, but so far (is it three years now?) the silence is deafening. The survey was important to us, and in obedience to and out of respect for our bishop we responded. Out of respect for us, the laity, we respectfully request to see the results of this project. Were our answers wrong? Or were they correct but not acceptable?
Julie Battaile
St. James, Tupelo
Father Shelton continues
to shock me
Dear Editor,
Shame on you for publishing Father Shelton’s letters.
With regard to Father Shelton’s letter “Do we really want to go back?” Father seems to never cease in shocking me with his letters of dissent. It really saddens me that he continues to attempt to teach and lead the flock contrary to that of the church in a marginally Catholic diocese such as our own.
A friend once suggested that one word from a priest is worth a thousand from a lay person. Well if that is true father has just potentially levied 425,000 words in opposition to the church. If you want an example of how schism begins I guess we need to look no further than the example of Father Shelton. How sad.
We have a beautiful religion full of many wonders and mysteries to teach about and father chooses to foster dissention not unity and constructive formation.
Perry Howard
Jackson
I have attended
‘Pre-Vatican II’ Masses
Dear Editor,
I was not alive before or during the Second Vatican Council, so I cannot speak from personal experience as to whether things were “good” or “bad” in those days, but Mr. Ackerman’s letter paints a false dichotomy that Pre-Vatican II = bad and Post-Vatican II = good.
Mr. Ackerman rattles off a host of misleading comparisons that I will not offer my opinion on, save one. He claims that before, people “attended” Mass, while today, they “participate.” This implies that every saint since the beginning of the church who was not a priest did not participate in Holy Mass; I imagine at least of few of them would disagree.
During the past six years or so I have personally “attended” several Vatican-approved “Pre-Vatican II” Masses, and I can promise you I also “participated.” Participation is much more than “doing things” and “saying stuff out loud.” One can fully participate in the Mass simply by praying, following the Mass silently, or simply getting lost in the sacred mysteries of Holy Mass.
I will not dare to speak on behalf of others, but I would like to state this: I am a 29-year-old father of two beautiful girls and the husband of a beautiful young woman. I WANT Latin: it is the language of the church and most importantly, it is the language in which my grandfather, his grandfather, and St. Theresa prayed.
I WANT to kneel and receive my Lord and God on the tongue from the hands of a man acting in persona Christi. I WANT the priest to pray facing east at the high altar; he’s not turning his back on me, he’s leading me in prayer! I WANT the tabernacle front and center in the church where I can easily spot it, and know that I have entered the house of God, dwelling not just in spirit but truly present in the Blessed Sacrament; and I WANT MY CHILDREN to recognize this too and know that they are in a different, sacred place.
I WANT Holy Mass to be mysterious, because, my God, it is nothing BUT a great mystery!
And you know what else? I DO NOT LIKE shaking hands with the folks around me during the sign of peace just before I receive Communion; and I DO NOT LIKE holding hands while I pray the Our Father!
The Second Vatican Council was a great gift to the church, but it is not true that the council fathers sought to toss out 2,000 years of sacred tradition; but in many respects, this is what happened.
It was not until I was about 25 years old that I realized that so much of my Catholic heritage had been taken from me and hidden. Pope Benedict is now giving us the opportunity to recover some of this, and I, for one, want my children and my children’s children to have the opportunity to learn it, know it, and love it.
Daniel R. Petrolia
Immaculate Conception
West Point
Errors cited in article
about Iraq war
Dear Editor,
I found the Mississippi Catholic July 20, 2007, article, “Catholics mobilize against Iraq War” contained several serious errors:
First, the terms “military occupation” and “U.S. occupation” are false statements. The U.S. Military is trying to defeat radical terrorists who wish to destroy and conquer the American people and other nations. The so called peace groups should not use false and misleading statements to misguide voters.
Second, President Bush and others have been trying to bring Iraq’s warring factions and neighboring Arab countries together for over a year. For this article to imply this is their new idea is not only plagiarizing President Bush but misleading people concerning the next election.
Third, the article was clearly trying to persuade the American people how to vote but it failed to clarify our nations major decision will be to either vote for those politicians who want to pretend 9/11 never happened or for those politicians willing to face it and try to stop the terrorist from future attacks on our citizens.
Fr. Howard Johnson
Retired Military Chaplan
Washington, D.C
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Emphasis was on ‘attending’
Dear Editor,
Well said, Paul Ackerman (“Thanks be to God for Vatican II,” Aug. 3, 2007)!
The parish of my youth was a Redemptorist parish where the large rectory was essentially a lodging house for priests traveling to and from parish missions, which is a special ministry of the Redemptorists.
On any given day, there might be a half-dozen or more Masses at the side altars as these itinerant preachers said their required daily “private” Masses.
Some parishioners discharged their obligation by “attending” these 15-minute Masses. They had to be sure to catch the celebrant’s attention if they wanted to receive the Eucharist – remember, the priest was facing the altar throughout the Mass. But then, the emphasis in those times was on “attending,” and not on “communion.”
If Pope Benedict continues to “clarify” Vatican II, we may be able to expand on the Latin in Mr. Ackerman’s letter: “Introibo ad altare Dei” – I will go unto the altar of God – but maybe not as often, and there may not be too many local folks there.
Cecil Harrison
Rankin County
Thanks for columns in last issue
Dear Editor,
Thanks for the recent issue containing the wonderful columns by Bishop Latino regarding Pope Benedict’s “motu proprio” on the Tridentine Mass and the Vatican’s statement on the Doctrine of the Church.
George Evan’s excellent columns on Catholic social teaching are much appreciated, as well.
Jim McCafferty
Jackson
Do we really want to go back?
Dear Editor
Lex Grandi, Lex Credendi.
“Have you ‘heard’ Mass lately?”
In recent months I have seen reports of a move in the church to make the Mass of Pope Pius V (Tridentine Mass) more available to the laity. This would include returning to the Mass being “said” by the priest with his back to the people. A recent article on this subject in the Tupelo paper, the Daily Journal, quoted one lay woman who attends this Mass describe the priest as the pilot and the laity as passengers. She said she would not want the pilot flying her plane to be facing the passengers.
I have some questions I wish to raise regarding the Mass of Pius V.
1. Does the Mass of Pius V give the worshipper a sense of God’s presence (the holy) among the worshippers gathered or is the “holy” only present on the altar?
2. Does the Mass of Pius V give the worshipper a sense of being gathered together for corporate worship or private, personal devotion?
3. Does the Mass of Pius V help foster in the worshipper a sense of their own priesthood (per baptism) which enables them to offer the Mass with the priest (per ordination)?
4. Does the Mass of Pius V promote in the worshipper a sense of God who is immersed in the world and their life, or a sense of God removed from the world and their life? A God removed from flesh or a God made flesh?
5. Does the Mass of Pius V help convey the bond of intimacy between God and his people intended by the covenant ritual or does it promote a sense of God’s aloofness from his people?
One of the most potent tools the church has to catechize both the priests and laity is the way Mass is celebrated, whether that of Pius V or Paul VI. These two forms of the Mass operate from very different theologies. They convey very different ideas about God, Jesus, holiness, priesthood, laity, worship, and spirituality – I believe the Mass of Pius V, with its heavy emphasis on the transcendent nature of God contributed to most Catholics not receiving Holy Communion at Mass. It took Pope Pius X to make it a law of the church for Catholics to receive Holy Communion at least once-a-year for them to be in good standing in the church. I am old enough to remember those days.
Do we truly want to go back to an experience of Mass where the priest’s role is described as “saying Mass” and the laity’s role that of “hearing Mass”?
“Lex orandi, lex credendi.”
Fr. Henry Shelton
St. James Parish, Tupelo
What happened to suggestions?
Dear Editor:
Congratulations to Deacon Baker on his 25th annivers |
