Re: D.C. Archdiocesan Blog: Let the Man Head the Household
I wanted to reply to the article about the Archdiocese of DC commenting on the need for the husband to be head of the family. I am an orthodox, "John Paul II" Catholic. I agree society is on the wrong path regarding the family and we need to get back to faith and mutual respect. But this advice will just head us in the wrong direction.
St. Paul advised mutual submission in Christ. Human nature being what it is, advising the husband to be the head *will* result in abusive behavior, looking at society as a whole. We want to reform society but not go back to unhealthy patterns of the past. St. Paul was talking to Christians in a particularly brutal, patriarchal society, and his comments need to be looked at in that light. In our marriage, and our daughters' marriage, there is mutual respect, and there is no sense in which the husband is the "head." I also think that of course if Catholic values are followed, women will be the primary educators of children, and our society needs to be one that respects that. But this respect will not happen if the husband is thought of as the "head." It will only happen if women's contributions are valued.
Ideally, this would mean that women, being created in the image of God, also are able to develop their talents, including child-raising but also contributions outside the home. The "headship" model has led to the idea that men contribute outside the home and women within, with consequent over-work, long hours at the office, and little time spent with children at home by men. This is not the ideal model of a Christian life.
I think we as Catholics can do better to treat the sexes with respect and dignity than by appointing one sinful human being as being in charge of the other.
Donna Smith
Athens, Georgia
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Re: Conservative Minister Bev Oda Reopens G8 Abortion Debate
I was shocked at the Bev Oda news and actually sent an email to the PM stating my great disappointment and concern. I don't often write letters but was angry enough to do so today. May God bring some decency and sense to our nations leaders!
Ross Sundelin
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada
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Re: A Tribute to Outgoing HLI President Fr. Tom Euteneuer
I just listened to the “conversation” between Sean Hannity and Fr. Euteneuer and I applaud Fr. For standing the Church’s ground on pro life. I was shocked that Sean, who claims to have gone to a seminary and studied Theology and Latin, doesn’t realize that birth control is against the Church’s teaching. He claims to be such a good Catholic and doesn’t understand its moral laws, but then attacks Fr. on the scandals in the Church when he himself is causing scandals. Unbelievable!
Diane Korff
Albuquerque, New Mexico
USA
Re: Setting the Record Straight: The Toronto Star’s Sting on Crisis Pregnancy Centres
The article, "A silent war on abortion" by Joanna Smith, in the Toronto Star, August 7, 2010 has just one objective: to paint the position, held by those who advocate and counsel pregnant women to have their babies, the pro-life side, as deceptive and misinformed. May I suggest that if the Toronto Star is truly interested in balanced journalism it should send out another reporter to eight abortion clinics and check for the accuracy of the information being offered to women in those places.
Probably this won't happen, but my guess is that expectant mothers who go for counselling at abortions centres will be told that they can go ahead and destroy their child because it's all very safe and legal. After the abortion there's no need to worry about any future increased risk of breast cancer, emotional trauma and fertility problems. And every woman can afford it because the costs are all covered by the taxpayer.
If there are any risks to abortion, the article makes sure to give the reader a reality check against the facts and concludes definitively that any suggestion of risks are just myths. I would like to ask Joanna Smith, the Toronto Star Editor and those working in abortion clinics, what do you tell a pregnant woman who asks whether she is ending the life of her baby? The pro-abortion side is eager to advance the idea that there are few risks, but why does it never explain the risk to the child?
Lou Iacobelli
Toronto, Canada
Re: 99 Percent of Music Chart Hit Acts are “Soft Porn” Says Music Industry Giant
Your information about today’s music videos is not altogether surprising, the way the world is today, but what does surprise and disturb me is the statement that the parents can’t control it. Have parents so little influence on their children? Can they no longer work the OFF switch on the TV or computer? Isn’t there a programme to limit what can be viewed on the computer? Or is it perhaps that children now run the household?
It’s time for parents to shoulder the full responsibility to guide, direct, educate and raise their children according to their religious and moral standards and not let the media do it for them, which will be a tragedy beyond belief.
Mary P. Nicol
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Re: Renegade Priest: Gravel Celebrates Gay Pride Mass, Bashes Cardinal Ouellet again
I have just read the article containing the reactions of Fr. Gravel to Cardinal Ouellet's comments about the Church in Quebec.
Fr. Gravel is speaking about very serious issues and yet I find his insistence that "the truth should always bring peace" expressed in terminology which is much too superficial. "The truth" sometimes brings with it a great deal of personal grief which is not peaceful at all for the person who has to understand that he or she has done something wrong, however well-intentioned or perhaps untaught or uninformed they may have been initially in doing it. They have to realise that they have damaged their own life and perhaps also the lives of others by persisting in this course of action.
Peace only comes after this difficult recognition, after experiencing genuine contrition, and after seeking reconciliation and the forgiveness of God and of others involved. This can be a lengthy process involving much serious self-examination and important personal growth, and is not superficial at all. Recognising ourselves as sinners is central to the human condition and to Christianity.
I cannot understand why Fr. Gravel, as a priest, does not show, by what he says, that he understands this. Cardinal Ouellet is right on. Thank God he speaks out.
Ms. Jacquelyn J. Baumberg
Ottawa, Ontario.
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