The archbishop's column on the synodal path is a superior explanation of what the Holy Father is trying to do. Thank you for this wonderful and informative information.
— Dn. Thomas E. Brandlin, Los Angeles
I want to thank you for including Heather King as a columnist. I find her columns informative, charming, quirky, and life-affirming.
— John D. Faucher
I'm appalled at the bad advice Bill Maher is quoted as giving in Robert Brennan’s Oct. 8 column “The truth of the Maher,” saying he’s not afraid of COVID-19, and he “ain’t going to give it to you,” and you should get out and enjoy life.
Maher is frustrated that it’s hard to gather a live audience for his stand-up comedy. I sympathize. But that is no excuse to encourage people not to exercise prudence and sound judgment.
The people I know who are being cautious are doing so, not out of fear, but out of love and concern for their neighbors. It is not pro-life to be careless with a disease that has killed so many. Friends of mine have lost loved ones. I wonder how many loved ones Bill Maher has lost. How insensitive can you get?
— Marilyn Boussaid, St. James Church, Redondo Beach
I must respectfully but adamantly disagree with Father Rolheiser’s column in the Sept. 24 issue, “Under a bridge in Austin.” Explicit faith is exactly what Jesus requires: “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
“But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). There are many people who do tremendous good works, but only professed faith in Jesus as the only Son of God will save them. It’s not enough just to be a good person.
Also, according to Scripture, no one can save another person — not even a loving sister or brother — as Jesus said in his teaching about the rich man and the beggar (Luke 16:26–31). Each person must come to faith in Jesus by his own choice.
Thankfully, Jesus is infinitely merciful, so he extends the invitation to believe in him to all, even to their dying breath. What is of comfort to us is that only Jesus knows the heart and who may have accepted him in their last moments.
— Cathy Wilcox, Ojai
I was disheartened to read in the Sept. 10 news brief “Catholics criticize immigration ruling” that the U.S. bishops are so concerned about having asylum-seekers having to remain in Mexico, a policy that has greatly reduced illegal immigration, while apparently not being concerned about the sex and drug trafficking and criminality associated with illegal immigration.
— David Walter, Downey
I agree 100% with Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie when she states in “The coming abortion showdown” in the Sept. 10 issue that the fetus is “a vulnerable, endearing member of the human family.” But we cannot wait for the government to save the lives of these unborn babies. Instead, we must give it our highest priority as Catholics. We must heed Christ’s words to give to God what is God’s.
In my many years as a Catholic, I have heard many financial appeals coming from the pulpit on a weekly basis: for buildings, education, retired priests, missions, etc. But I rarely hear an appeal to support desperately poor women who want to keep their babies.
The Church must do more than issue proclamations, threats, and lamentations regarding the plight of the unborn. It needs to make providing services to save these babies a top financial priority as well. The bulk of my charitable giving goes directly to organizations that shelter and serve unwed mothers. I hope other Catholics will do the same.
— Linda Johnson, Long Beach
