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Letters to the Editor

Are large families welcome enough in church?

Stephanie Thigpen • Aug 28, 2023
I was sorry to read the Aug. 25 article by Faith Jablonski, “Parishes need to be more welcoming. They should start with large families,” on AngelusNews.com because it describes an unfortunate experience that has not been my family’s.  Our parish is a bit of a Disney World for young Catholic families: eight altar servers at each Mass, and any family with less than five children is considered a small one. In each pew, there’s a holy card that says something to the effect of “a quiet church is a dying church. We welcome your baby’s crying and are glad that you are here.” Still, as the mother of a disabled child, I hope that the Church can do a better job of listening to the voices of families trying their best to pass on the faith to their kids, especially in the pews on Sundays.  — Stephanie Thigpen, Stillwater, Minnesota

Barbie’s defense of equilibrium

Amparo Gonzalez • Aug 15, 2023
After watching Barbie in theaters, I was relieved to read Joe Joyce’s review in the Aug. 11 issue and appreciated that he detected a subtle truth revealed in it.  As Joyce pointed out, “Barbie” doesn’t declare a winner in the battle of the sexes. Instead, it deftly illustrates how “machismo” parodied by the film’s “Kens” is little more than a reaction to the harmful elements of feminism. In the creators’ parody, Ken is the compliment that Barbie needs to be a real woman. But by the end, the film cleverly makes the case that equilibrium, not domination, should prevail between the sexes. Neither men nor women have been created to be accessories for one another. Christianity has long proclaimed that men are men, and women are women: intrinsically different, but equal in dignity. — Amparo Gonzalez, Valencia

Men and the ‘forces from without’

Cristal Valtierra • Jul 31, 2023
I thought the quote from the great Romano Guardini in Greg Erlandson's article “From boys to men” in the July 14 issue perfectly described many of the issues at the root of problems in society today: “As long as men are unable to control themselves from within … they will inevitably be ‘organized’ by forces from without.” Our culture should be helping men and women embrace their God-given gifts and differences, not trying to erase or suppress them. Men are being encouraged to trade responsibility for self-indulgent, addictive distractions like video games and pornography. Modern trends like surrogate pregnancy, sex positivity, and the push for more gender-neutral spaces seem like signs of progress but are sad signs of a world that’s forgotten that families need fathers, not mere custodians. Thank you to Angelus for raising this important issue. — Cristal Valtierra, Northridge

Something we can agree on about California

Bobbie Eubanks • Jul 18, 2023
I appreciated Charlie Camosy's appreciation in the July 14 issue of the hard work that our state’s bishops and lay leaders are doing in such difficult circumstances. But while many of us disagree morally with the policies enacted by our elected officials, something else is happening, too: California is literally becoming unlivable. For many families, extremely high gas prices and unaffordable housing in cities have made the cost of living here too high. Homelessness is everywhere. If there’s a middle class here in LA, I can’t find it. Perhaps Gov. Gavin Newsom and his allies should take a break from the culture wars and make this state Golden again. That would go a long way toward healing the polarization that Camosy talks about. — Bobbie Eubanks, Los Angeles

The AI balancing act

Dean Robbins • Jul 03, 2023
Regarding the recent interview on the subject of artificial intelligence (AI) in the June 30 issue: Justin Welter and Joseph Vukov both point to Catholicism’s capacity to directly answer the debacle of AI through person-centered ethics. It seems that more extreme camps of the issue divide into “AI is going to take all of our creative jobs and force us into hard labor” and “Human creativity is being rightfully supplanted by AI generation.” Their mistake is not seeing humans beyond their own function.  As Welter pointed out, “original sin is probably more powerful than AI.” Technology is a tool and a tool will be used to destroy if the holder thinks that is its only function. Catholics know there is much more to themselves and the capabilities of their creations. Still, with technology as powerful as AI, is the possibility of destruction not too much of a risk? Can Catholics remain both hopeful and aware of our fallen nature? — Dean Robbins is an undergraduate student at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

A forgotten factor in Dodgers debacle

Lucas Rojas • Jun 20, 2023
Robert Brennan's column “My tough breakup with the Dodgers” hit on a crucial aspect of the Dodgers-Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence debacle that’s been largely censored: the role of our corporate news media in promoting acceptance of gender ideology.  As Brennan pointed out, just about every major local news network or outlet in LA has sponsored or organized “Pride” events this month. Their bias in favor of this movement has come across in coverage of the Dodgers’ situation, making it seem like those of us who take offense at the “sisters’ ” disrespect for our most sacred beliefs are bigots.  For this father of three young kids, it’s a difficult time to be a Catholic, but even more difficult to be a Catholic parent when there’s so much pressure from the media (and at school, too) to conform. Trying to impart the truth about human sexuality as taught by the Church, while still teaching our kids to love and respect people with different beliefs, is getting harder in this climate.  — Lucas Rojas, La Mirada

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