Letters to the Editor

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

A nation news brief in the July 30 issue of Angelus reported that rocker Winston Marshall’s Catholic faith led him to leave Mumford and Sons over the backlash to his support for right-wing activist Andy Ngo’s book on violence in the so-called “antifa” movement. I would like to point out the following: (1) The director of the FBI stated last year that there is no organized “antifa” as it is “more of an ideology than an organization; (2) Efforts to push this “antifa movement” are a smokescreen for the sinful, racist hatred of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement; (3) 94% of all pro-BLM demonstrations have been peaceful, while demonstrations involving right-wing militias or militant social movements have turned violent or destructive over twice as often, or nearly 14% of the time; (4) Andy Ngo has been credibly accused of working in partnership with the violence-prone Proud Boys-adjacent group Patriot Prayer.  One’s Catholic faith is certainly no guarantee of clear discernment of the will of the God of love. — Donald Bentley, La Puente

Being “brought up” by sisters in my 11 years in boarding school, I loved your article “A word from our sisters,” on the sisters and their important work in our archdiocese. It’s about time these educated and prodigious women got their share of space and overdue recognition for their work.  Question: Why did most of the sisters shown wear habits? If we are to have their work increased and attract more women to their ranks, we must show, at least equally, that there are women who are “disguised” as ordinary citizens working in the fields of the Lord as per Vatican II. One example is our Verbum Dei Missionary sisters here at St. Anthony Church in Long Beach, whose own Sr. Rosalia Meza is the Archdiocese’s Director of Religious Education. —Mayra Fernandez, Long Beach

The review critiquing the film “Rebel Hearts” was as off base as anything I have ever read.  Ann Carey states “it comes off as a superficial one-sided account of the 1970 tragic breakup of the 600 member Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Los Angeles and offers no new insights on the 50-year-old story.” Carey must not have actually seen the film, because the entire theme is about insights.  The article includes much incorrect information, such as claiming that the sisters reported that they received no college instruction or teacher preparation before being placed in a classroom. Carey contends that two years in a novitiate for religious formation constitutes teacher training, when that is precisely not true. The entire story of “Rebel Hearts” is one of the power of the patriarchy.   The IHMs were strong women, and Cardinal McIntyre just wasn’t having it. My conclusion is that Carey did not do her homework or it was simply a “hit piece” with conveniently misrepresented information. — Cheryl Ortega, Los Angeles