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Letters to the Editor

A diocese’s controversial decision

David Walter • Dec 08, 2021
Regarding the national news brief “The diocese that won’t host vaccination clinics” in the Dec. 3  issue: Why is the Diocese of Madison being slandered as “anti-life” for simply letting parishioners make their own decision on whether to get vaccinated or not? It is not a sin of omission not to endorse something we now know is not as “safe and effective” as originally led to believe. — David Walter, Downey

An out-of-bounds comparison

Andre Coulombe • Dec 08, 2021
I found the analogy used by John L. Allen Jr. in the Dec. 3 issue article “Tradition and transition” to be flippant and insulting.  My concern is not with his point of view, which can be argued by theologians. But to compare those who assist at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass to a “cantankerous old uncle” that nobody wants around is beneath the standard of your magazine. I give the Holy Father the benefit of the doubt, and believe that he is trying to do what he feels is best for the Church. I hope Allen prays, as do I, for the good of the Church and not that of his own ideology. He is welcome to his opinion, but should imbibe a bit of charity and humility. After all, he may be completely wrong. That happens when you’re human. — Andre Coulombe, Sylmar 

A eucharistic refresher course

Marilyn Boussaid • Nov 23, 2021
Thank you for the interview about the Eucharist with Father Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, “A place to receive life,” in the Nov. 19 issue.  Something he said in the last two paragraphs had a profound effect on me. Although I’m a convert, attend Daily Mass, and adore Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, sometimes I get grumpy and find myself complaining in my head about almost everything: the music, the sound system, irreverent parishioners, etc. Today, the Solemnity of Christ the King, was one of those days. But I remembered what the article said about the difference my attitude can make — a “hungover” attitude versus a Mother Teresa faith-filled attitude. So I quickly prayed to be more like Mother Teresa at this Mass. I’m happy to report that it worked — by the end of Mass,  I was uplifted and joyful to the point of tears. — Marilyn Boussaid, St. James Church, Redondo Beach

A Mass mischaracterization 

Msgr. Larry Spiteri • Nov 23, 2021
John Allen’s latest article “Tradition and transition” claims that the vast majority of Masses that were celebrated in the side chapels of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome “were conducted in the older rite.” This is an outrageously misleading statement. As a priest who has celebrated the Novus Ordo Mass at St. Peter’s every day for the last two decades, I guarantee that the majority of Masses have never been in the older Ordo. His statement is not only incorrect and misleading, but incendiary. — Msgr. Larry Spiteri, Rome, Italy

What was Loyola Marymount thinking?

Rudy Tekippe • Nov 09, 2021
After reading the news on AngelusNews.com of LMU’s decision to allow a Planned Parenthood fundraiser on campus, I am outraged that a Catholic university would allow this in any shape or form. This should be dealt with at the highest level.  We sent our daughter to LMU for four years and she received her degree there 30 years ago. If the school has changed to the degree of facilitating Planned Parenthood events, I would never recommend Catholic parents to do so in the future. — Rudy Tekippe, Pasadena

The nuance of ‘my body, my choice’

Yadranka Draskovic • Nov 09, 2021
Greg Erlandson’s column “The choices we make,” in the Nov. 5 issue, criticizes those opposed to the vaccine mandates for using the slogan “My body, my choice.” This slogan has been successfully used by abortion groups, so you can’t blame citizens who are opposed to vaccine mandates for making it their own.  There are a variety of reasons one may be opposed to the vaccine mandates, but a lot of the disagreement with them seems to have to do with government overreach and the right for people to choose what is best for their families.  In my case, my husband and I are both vaccinated, yet both of my children have different medical conditions for which they take regular medication. No studies exist regarding the effects and possible cross reactions with certain drugs and the vaccine. We have decided to exercise caution based upon our particular circumstance, as others families surely have, too.  Hence the problem: The mandates are using a “one size fits all approach” to fix a problem in which there are many variables. “My body, my choice” does not include the choice of the unborn baby when used in the case of abortion. The fetus has no say in the matter. That is part of what makes abortion so unacceptable.  If choice is the issue, then we as parents should have the choice to vaccinate our children or not. Adults who have other medical conditions should have that choice too, and certainly without the pressure of possibly losing a job. — Yadranka Draskovic, El Segundo

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