Letters: Bob Hope’s faith

Sydney
24 August 2003

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Letters: Bob Hope’s faith

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Letters: Bob Hope’s faith

The headline to your feature about Bob Hope (Bob Hope helped by ‘faith, not face’, CW 10/8) rings true. And that's according to the man himself.

One of his gags was that when he was young and nervous his wife accompanied him to first nights to give moral support.

The loudest sounds, he said, were his teeth chattering and Dolores's rosary beads rattling.

Alan Gill
Drummoyne, NSW

TOTALLY AGREE

I totally agree with Br Bernard Cunningham, OFM Cap (Eminent sense, Letters CW 10/8), particularly his statement that “mental prayer, the sacraments and apostolic action are the substance of Catholic Christian life, not the Latin Mass”.

Also, Mass in English is a far easier way for people joining our Catholic faith to understand the readings and appreciate the true meaning of the Eucharist.

There are many more important aspects of our faith to be concerned about than arguing about retracing history.

Frank Burgess
Engadine, NSW

PRECIOUS GIFT

I attended Mass in the vernacular for many years before being confirmed a Catholic at 16. In more recent times, I have been attending the Latin Mass approved of and encouraged by the Vatican.

As a newcomer to the Catholic faith, the Mass in English helped memore fully understand the wonder of God’s awesome power, witnessing the mystery of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.

But my thoughts shift too easily to everyday events, when I should be focusing on the great miracle of Jesus really and truly present with us.

I have found at Mass said in English, that I ‘fit it in’ to my life; at the Latin Mass, I place my life in it.

Mass in English seems to be ‘people’ oriented, almost taking away from the glory and honour of Jesus present with us by unintentionally focusing more on those attending Mass rather than preparing to receive Jesus.

The Latin Mass is a constant reminder that it is something different, something special, something beyond all that reason can dictate and something so much more beautiful and profound than our imagination will ever be able to conceive.

Unlike the Latin Mass, Mass in English, although reverent, seems to blend in to the rest of my life, not stand out as a precious gift and Holy Sacrifice.

Jade Martin
Maroubra, NSW

NO POKIES, NO CLUBS

We disagree with Peter Meury’s assertion (Poker machines, Letters CW 10/8) that Catholic clubs should “discontinue having poker machines”.

Would he have us close the restaurant because someone ate too much?

Clubs must comply with a strict code relating to the responsible conduct of gaming, which includes not promoting poker machines.

You will have noted that the state-run lotteries, lotto and pools, etc, do not have such a code and advertise daily in the media.

We support 12 parishes, Centacare and the St Vincent De Paul Society.

Among other things we provide somewhere for “average income” families to hold weddings, parties and wakes, we provide schools with equipment, underprivileged children with the opportunity to attend university, and a meeting place for many people and groups.

The club also owns and operates the Sydney Catholic Lawn Cemetery from Club funds for the benefit of the Catholic community as a whole.

Mr Meury asks how clubs survive without poker machines. They don’t. They go broke and the community that built them and then was supported by them suffers.

Tony Atkins
President
Liverpool Catholic Club, NSW

NO ADVANTAGE

The formal union of a male-female couple (i.e. marriage) and the formal union of a couple of the same sex are two different entities.

The former union, by its nature, may produce children. The latter union, by its nature, is sterile.

As the unions are inherently different in purpose and potential, they cannot be made equal unless one union is advantaged by law to be regarded as the equal of the other. So, if one union is advantaged to equal the other, that other union is diminished.

Though there is no demand by the state for a male-female couple to have children, the state has institutionalised such a union because of its natural potential to produce children. This potential is viewed as a common good for a state.

Until recently, there has nowhere been recognition for the union of a same-sex couple by the state, as such a couple being naturally and intrinsically sterile brings no advantage to the common good.

To grant the unions of same sex couples state recognition equivalent to that given to the unions of male-female couples is to discriminate against the couples that bring advantage to the state, in favour of those that cannot.

Greg O’Regan
Farrer, ACT

GOLDEN JUBILEE

On the July 19, 2003 a remarkable event occurred in the life of Fr Paul Glynn SM OAM - the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood in 1953.

He served for many years in Japan, following in the footsteps of his brother, Fr Tony, who had arrived there in 1952 and, after spending more than 40 continuous years in his missionary work, died from cancer on December 1, 1994.

As a mark of respect for Fr Paul, 30 Woodlawnians held a luncheon on his behalf last month.

I do hope you can find space to acknowledge this loving and caring Marist priest.

Ronald Holmes
Belrose, NSW