Letters to the Editor

West Virginia’s new bishop gives hope

I appreciated Msgr. Richard Antall’s essay (July 24 issue of Angelus) on Bishop Evelio Menjívar-Ayala’s installation as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. It’s a story that seems too good to be true, but also a tribute to God’s creativity and the contributions of immigrants to our Church.  I have little idea what kind of a shepherd this bishop has been or will be, but we should all be rooting for him.  —  Sebastian Garcia, Bakersfield

The ‘looks’ obsession

Your article about looksmaxxing (“Optimizing ourselves into oblivion,” July 10 issue of Angelus) was excellent and spot-on. You’ve properly illuminated the dreary and dead-end cult of the self. Thank you! — Andrew Davis, Anaheim

Catholicism and Judaism go together

Many thanks for Mike Aquilina’s gripping article on Marcion, enemy of the Old Testament (July 10 issue of Angelus). As a Jewish convert to the Catholic faith, I couldn’t agree more that the Hebrew Scriptures are foundational and essential to the understanding of who Jesus Christ is. So many of the Church’s teachings have their roots in the Old Testament. We have to remind ourselves that the early Christians didn’t have a “New Testament” book. The New Covenant is, as Jesus said, the Eucharist. The Bible consisted of the Scriptures that Jesus read. Thank God we are blessed with learned Scripture scholars, such as Brant Pitre, PH.D., who do such a fine job of explaining the Scriptures for us! I’m often amazed that there are any non-Jewish Catholics at all, let alone a billion of them! I wonder how many people realize what a tremendous grace it is to be Catholic. Catholicism is the fulfillment of Temple worship, according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain. The Catholic Church is Jewish. The Old Testament proves it. — Marilyn Boussaid, St. James Church, Redondo Beach

A nice detail in the ‘Miracle’ story

Kudos to Angelus and the archdiocese for highlighting a Catholic high school graduate who isn’t Catholic in its June 26 issue. I found the story of Miracle Tisdale’s survival and path to success immensely inspiring. But I also thought it showed how Catholic education isn’t just for Catholics, but has a mission for everyone. Growing up, I had Catholic school friends in my class who weren’t even religious, but years later, it’s clear that the values, formation, and lessons acquired those years have guided them ever since. I’m sure the same will be true for Miracle Tisdale. — Peter Gloria, Hawthorne

An incomplete criticism?

This “boomer” reader found the letter by Kenneth Lewis in the June 26 issue to be quite confusing and offensive — much more confusing and delusional than the Father Rolheiser column he was critiquing.  Lewis's lack of specificity as well as his speculations, name calling, and general tone detract from any meaningful points he may have meant to convey. It’s not a letter worthy of being printed in Angelus, whose standards are generally highly admirable. — Christina Garcia, Claremont

An outdated assessment

The lavish praise of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in Father Ron Rolheiser’s column in the June 12 issue, “Science and Christian faith: Friends not foes,” felt like a rehash of so many bad pieces written in the ’70s and ’80s. Rolheiser makes no reference to how Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI) rehabilitated Teilhard’s reputation and how Pope Francis practically elevated him to Doctor of the Church status. If this were written today, it would have seized on those validations. The column’s opening line reads like a tired boomer Catholic stereotype, and is easily falsifiable: “During most of the 2,000 years that Christianity has existed, it has not been friends with science, and science has not been friends with it.” His presentation of Teilhard’s thought goes beyond what Ratzinger’s cautious, prudent rehabilitation would permit us to accept as Catholics. This is a delusional boomer tripe and confusing to readers. — Kenneth Lewis, San Diego

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