Letters: Religion of man

Sydney
26 January

School was out for summer

Bishops visit Canberra evacuation centres

Cash only, please

Vatican guide to politicians

Live Christ's message of love

World Meeting of Families

$960,000 grant aids inner city homeless

Pope's words by SMS

Youth camp call for volunteers

Relief, anxiety go hand in hand as kidsgo hand in hand to their new schools

How will your school score?

First day tears, but not just because of school

Editorial: A time to cherish

Letters: Religion of man

Conversation: Simon Katich, NSW cricket captain and test hopeful - Cricket's like faith: You have to believe

Reality of Christmas and the passion

Reaching out to a 'hidden population'

Ashbury, a quiet spot where retired nuns generate 'pastoral dynamism'

On the right wavelength

Clock-watching and the sports bra inspire students in HSC projects

Bowling club will go into retreat

Letters: Religion of man

It is interesting to note just how very similar the message of peace and love of our fellow 'man' has been given or taught in so many different cultures ...

Do unto others as you would have them do to you - Jesus of Nazareth

Hurt not other with that that pains yourself - Buddhist wisdom

Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourself - Islamic wisdom

Treat others, as thou wouldst thyself be treated. Do nothing to thy neighbour, which hereafter thou wouldst not have thy neighbour do to thee - Hindu wisdom

Seek to be in harmony with all your neighbours; live in amity with your brethren - Confucius

Shall I tell you what acts are better than fasting, charity and prayers? Making peace between enemies are such acts; for enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots - quotation from the Quran

The Indian spiritual master Sai Baba has, I think, summarised what lesson we must take away from all of this: The whole of mankind belongs to one religion, the religion of man.

For all men God is the father. As for the children of one God, all men are brothers.

Whatever our race, colour or creed, we have all been taught these fundamental tenets.

Bede McKinnon
Blacktown, NSW

'PARTNER' OFFENDS

It appears that most, if not all, of the various official forms issued by government, social and commercial bodies no longer allow for the category 'spouse' so that all domestic arrangements are listed as comprising 'partners' only.

This elimination of the legal, social and, most often, religious referent spouse is just another instance of insidious social engineering.

Precisely because of the lack of specificity in the meaning of the term 'partner', its usage, as above, is offensive to those who hold to marriage for what it is, and demeaning of the sacramental nature of Christian marriage.

I suggest that this is one specific point on which action can readily be taken to defend marriage, the family and, indeed, society against the corrosive effects of atheistic humanism.

Hence, when applicable, amend any form to read spouse; and refuse to take up any invitation issued using the term partner which, again should be amended.

In both cases return the amended forms with a polite note of explanation.

If a considerable number did this it is quite possible that this effrontery would cease.

Peter Hannigan
Adamstown Heights, NSW

PILGRIMAGE TO WA

Recently I went on a small private pilgrimage to visit the church of the weeping madonna at Rockingham, West Australia.

It was organised by Mrs Colman Sands.

We were all impressed by the sight of the statue of the weeping madonna.

We were met by the parish priest,

Fr Finbarr Walsh, who told us that we were the first group or pilgrimage from eastern Australia.

I told him I was ordained by the Bishop of Galway in 1939.

He told me he was from Cork and was ordained in 1953, and asked me to concelebrate with him.

We felt privileged to be treated with such courtesy and affability and would like to make some recognition of it especially as Fr Finbarr's golden jubilee is approaching.

Fr Gordon Jackson
North Turramurra, NSW

ACCEPT AND BE ACCEPTED

Beth Usher writes: "A man can wear a Muslim woman's robes and carry a bomb" (Fact not fiction, Letters CW 22/12).

No reasonable person will disagree with that statement.

But, using the same logic, I may say: "A man (or woman) can put on a Santa Claus suit and carry a bomb" or "a man (or woman) can wear an overcoat and carry a bomb".

One doesn't have to try very hard to compile a list as long as my arm.

So, what's the answer?

Maybe we should accept people as they are and, with a bit of luck, we'll be accepted as we are.

Jesus said: "Love one another."

Alf Zammit
Woolooware, NSW

ATTACK ON PRO-LIFERS

Tery Breen's letter (Senate Vote, Letters CW 29/12) is an attack on genuine pro-lifers who see through the conscience vote smoke screen.

Those who claim that it is all right to vote for a pro-life Labor candidate, despite that party's pro-abortion platform, do so on the grounds that such a candidate when confronted with a pro-life issue will vote for the pro-life option.

What is overlooked, however, is that by voting for a Labor candidate, they assist the ALP to gain a majority in parliament, which subsequently allows the party to form a government and to promote its pro-abortion policy on a national and international level.

Adrian Devlin
Corrimal, NSW