Letters: Beat of a different drum?

Sydney
2 March 2003

Food for lots of thought

Pope calls for peace fast on Ash Wednesday

Café bid to curb violence

Supper guests share their stories with archbishop

Sex-change marriage challenge

Archbishop's plea for asylum seekers

Changing the guard at Vinnies

Why East Timor refugees should be allowed to stay

Seminars on Theology of the Body

Project Compassion 2003 - Lenten campaign to break the 'chains of slavery'

Aid work in Kiribati wins Bill a 'thank you' from Govt

Christian ideals can 'guide us to share'

Australian Marist takes over as Cardinal Newman diaries editor

Editorial: Saint of the surgery?

Letters: Beat of a different drum?

Conversation: Fr John Flader, adult education director and Opus Dei priest - Teaching adults more about Catholic faith

A writer puts things in perspective

Right or wrong, it's a matter of ethics

Three in one: A parish with something for everyone

600 million children living in poverty

Bishops stage rally for Hunter jobs

Poet gives credit to Mary MacKillop

New home, chaplain and a youth ministry team

Mass, flags set celebrations in train

Letters: Beat of a different drum?

Having seen some Australian bishops on the streets in the recent peace marches I look forward to seeing them join in the March on the Day of the Unborn starting at Jessie Park, Circular Quay, at 11am on Saturday, March 22.

The war against the unborn is one which claims at least 100,000 Australian lives annually and one and a half million annually in the US.

In some countries the rate of abortion exceeds the rate of live births.

Many women suffer profoundly afterwards having been ill informed by doctors on the realities of abortion and post abortion syndrome.

This is not as popular a cause as the anti-Iraq war march.

It is nonethless deserving of every person's presence on the streets to show solidarity with our little Aussie brothers and sisters, the silent victims of the greatest war of all.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that "there will never be peace in the world until there is an end to abortion".

Alice Larkin
Maroubra, NSW

WAR WITH IRAQ?

I disagree with John Owens (War against Saddam may be 'just war' CW 16/2) that war with Iraq could ever be justified.

The history of mankind has shown that war has never solved problems but only created more.

The ordinary person does not want war because he has nothing to get from it but loss of life and property and much pain and suffering.

The only ones who benefit from war are the international bankers who support both sides and make huge profits.

If we look at the Gospels we do not ever find Jesus recommending war.

In the Sermon on the Mount he said: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God."

He didn't say: "Blessed are the warmongers."

When Peter drew his sword to protect Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus told him: "Put back your sword, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

If we go to war with Iraq it could lead to World War III in which there would be loss of life amounting to billions.

Is this what we want?

After two thousand years of wars wouldn't you think that in this new millennium we would be going all out to make peace?

Ann Odello
Baulkham Hills, NSW

MEDJUGORJE (1)

I would like to respond to the comments made by Kevin Lee (Medjugorje seer, Letters CW 16/2). The Church will not make a decision on Medjugorje until the apparitions cease.

The fact that Catholics are permitted to go on private pilgrimage there indicates that the Church has not ruled against Medjugorje.

Pope John Paul II has spoken favourably about Medjugorje on several occasions - for instance, in an August 1, 1989, address to a group of Italian physicians dedicated to defending unborn life and to making scientific and medical studies on the apparitions, as reported by Bishop Paul Hnilica SJ, auxiliary Bishop of Rome: "Today's world has lost its sense of the supernatural, but many are searching for it and find it in Medjugorje, through prayer, penance and fasting" (Our Lady of Medjugorje, Messages to the World: June 24, 1981 to December 25, 2002, Divine Mercy Publications Pty Ltd, Camberwell, Victoria).

On the subject of Ivan's personal life, I only wish to say that a vocation to the priesthood and religious life is a gift from God.

However, not everyone is called to serve the Lord in this way.

Marriage, like the priesthood, is also a sacrament.

Why has Our Blessed Mother been appearing here for over 21 years?

The answer is simple: Because we have not yet accepted her messages.

She has come as the Queen of Peace, to draw us closer to Her Son Jesus, the source of peace.

Peace will not come through war or world leaders, but only through prayer.

The Pope, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, declared October 2002-October 2003 to be the Year of the Rosary and entrusted once again the great cause of peace to the prayer of the rosary.

Let us accept Our Blessed Mother's messages and pray, pray, pray!

Rita Attard
Burwood, NSW

MEDJUGORJE (2)

Fr Kevin Lee (Medjugorje seer, Letters CW 16/2) has allowed his disbelief in Medjugorje to display a lack of tolerance one would not expect from a priest.

Has he been to Medjugorje? Usually those who protest the most have not been. With my husband, I have been twice and experienced such peace and spiritual devotion there we wish that we could visit more often.

And, yes, we do believe.

It is unfortunate Ivan does not speak English as hearing what he has to say through an interpreter loses some of its spontaneity.

But to gloat over a mistake, as Fr Lee has, re whether a quotation comes from the Gospel or Bible, is petty.

Does he think that only those who enter religious life are worthy of special privileges?

Does he forget that marriage is also a sacrament sanctioned by God?

Perhaps Fr Lee should get down on his knees and ask Our Lady why she bothers to "follow Ivan around the world", as he puts it.

I suggest he visit Medjugorje. He will see the piety there despite the fact it does not - and may never - have official recognition from the Pope. There he may learn a little humility and charity.

Helen Cramer
Oyster Bay, NSW

COMMUNION BAN

Congratulations for reporting the stand taken by US bishops that politicians, doctors and people who support those with a pro-abortion stand should not participate in Holy Communion.

Leslie J Clarke
Rooty Hill, NSW