Readers respond to
"The Church Must Change"

To the editor:

It is written, “As a man is, so will his end appear to him.” I have read Tom Kane and others; may I, in short order, express my thoughts?

I think God’s Commandments are needed more today than they have ever been. We are now in a world where human beings kill human beings before they are born, before they are ready to die and help them kill themselves. We spend more time trying to find out what’s right with being wrong, and more ways to replace responsible conduct by using the word freedom.

I have been a Roman Catholic for over 80 years. Never have I heard a word or been taught a thought that I would be ashamed to repeat in public to anyone. I think the people who have brought shame on the church should be punished and I’m sure they will be. However, to vilify and condemn the entire church by people who are using this incident to justify their personal selfish interests, whether for money, reputation or in ignorance, will also in time be punished. Criticism is necessary; let it be fair, let it be corrective but not destructive. The church is open to everyone; no one has to join. For those who envision a destroyed church with members fleeing, please take heed, it will never happen because the Holy Spirit and millions of people with a mind set like mine will never let it happen!

I thank God for my faith and the many things He has given me. For a man who is far from perfect, He has given me more than I deserve.

John H. Eschenberg
Callicoon, NY

To the editor:

Tom Kane’s editorials, “The Church Must Change,” directed at the church hierarchy, brought to mind a conclusive thought—the adage “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” should be amended to include ex-Catholics!

Cries echoing throughout the centuries into the present moment that “the church must change” have resulted in thousands of present day denominations. Usurping God’s authority on earth creates unrelenting, irreversible “improvements” unsatisfactory to the next wave of discontents.

Our constitution entitles us to choose a faith without fear of persecution as it also insures every critic an open voice. And so, one can note, it is the Catholic Church that consistently fends off the fiery darts of opposition and insults in the arts and media. I have yet to read one editorial on why Islam must change since 9/11;nor heard skepticism of Tibetan monks in all male monasteries; nor Hassidic Judaism criticized for their shared views with Catholics on abortion and birth control. That would, rightly, be deemed intolerable. Yet, I have noted a lack of such restraint when it comes to the Catholic faith.

The scandal of sexual abuse is, at last, being addressed openly and with inevitable accountability. As a Catholic, I welcome this process as a positive step toward cleansing and healing; it is indicative of God’s mercy. Jesus was specific in addressing the grave consequences awaiting anyone that would harm a child and He warned of “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Still, His mercy extends to those repentant of these detestable acts as does to all. This is not to suggest those priest who have exchanged their priestly robes for orange correctional jumpsuits deserve any less than the full extent of the law’s justice. Their violation of trust makes their crimes even more heinous.

Kane cites celibacy as a source of sexual perversity in the church. Celibacy is a gift, through grace, by which holy priests aspire to live Jesus’ example. Celibacy has been a spiritual means of transcending carnal desires, by different faiths throughout the ages. Gandhi and his wife chose celibacy at a point in their marriage. Our present sexually exploitive society may perceive celibacy as a sign of weakness, weirdness or impossibility, but its perception does not diminish God’s grace.

As celibacy is not the cause of pedophilia, married priests and women priests are not the panacea. All one need do is look to other churches that permit such ordinations and see that none have been historically free of problems. In practical terms, married clergy risk the additional scandal of adultery, divorce and rebellious offspring. Statistics on divorce rates, by profession, show the clergy high on the list due to family demands. Hopefully, the outcome of this storm will result in improved psychological screening of prospective priests. Like the marines, the priesthood needs a “few good men”—called to serve. Contrary to the stereotypical portrayals, the priesthood requires moral excellence, strength of character and a devotion to God. Pedophiles and homosexual lifestyles have no place in the Roman Catholic priesthood. I pray every unsuited cleric be removed and the righteous majority are unharmed by the media frenzy that has taken on the tone of a witch-hunt.

One parish priest summed up the problem succinctly—Judas betrayed Christ at the last supper as He instituted the core of the Catholic faith, the Eucharist. Christ’s promise to be with us always, also guarantees His adversary’s presence.

Presently, the Catholic Church is taking a beating as surely as Christ did before Pilot. Modern-day Judas’ lurk in dark corridors awaiting recompense or reckoning. Predictably, some of the media plays the bloodthirsty crowd, distracted from equity by lust for exploitive headlines. Dissonants seize the opportunity to battle-ram their agendas against the gates. The faint hearted look away denying association. And so it shall be until Christ’s imminent return.

Christ is “the truth.” If truth is subjective, and we need only follow our individual consciences as Mr. Kane suggested, then why is it that our history books and news reports incriminate us of countless offenses? It is self evident that the conscience is an unstable compass in a changing and precarious world.

The Catholic Church holds true to Christ’s teachings as it has since Jesus gave our first Pope the keys to the kingdom, proclaiming; “Peter, upon this rock I build my church…’’ There is no denying there have been individuals within the hierarchy in the last two thousand years who have “missed the mark.” Regardless, the doctrine of the Church remains consistently faithful through the Pope and his bishops despite trendy opposition.

I stand confident that the church will survive and triumph despite zealous opinions to the contrary; because Jesus also promised Peter at the inception “…the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Patricia D’Azzo
Honesdale, PA
P.S.: I challenge the religious tolerant and Kane’s “Cafeteria Catholics” to view the following excellent resources: www.catholic-defense.com; www.jnorthrop.com and Jerome Gilmartin’s Seven-Step Reason to be Catholic (contact jgilmartin @epix.net for a free brochure).