The Tablet . Readers' Forum | Diocese of Brooklyn

Democrats Have Answers?

Dear Editor: Your July 14 editorial (“Work and Justice for All”) is an eloquent reminder that abortion is not the only issue by which Catholic voters must judge candidates for public office.

I respectfully remind readers Dr. Charles Haunns and Janet L. Second Kuse that the Gospel’s concern for “the least of these brothers” (Mt 25: 35-40) is preceded by the Apostle’s reminder that Jesus asks us to “recognize his own countenance among the poor, the sick, the homeless, the uprooted migrants and the prisoners; for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see me…”

I am proud to have helped to elect each Democratic candidate for the office of president since Harry Truman was elected in 1948. I am confident the American people will elect a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress next year.

On the all-important issue of war and economic justice for all, the Democratic Party speaks for the vast majority of Americans.

At the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, my pastor reminded me that the Good Samaritan “whose orthodoxy was questioned by those who considered themselves more politically correct was moved by compassion and mercy.”

Joseph F. Seminara
Bay Ridge

The Universality of Latin

Dear Editor: I welcome Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to loosen restrictions on the use of the Latin Mass. Vatican II, in fact, never called for the elimination of Latin. The pope’s decision, therefore, is meant to foster a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the Church’s liturgy.

Latin is the official language of the Catholic Church. It is a “dead” language that prevents Church liberals from translating words into the vernacular using ambiguous terms that undermine Church doctrine such as the use of inclusive language. Perhaps, the greatest advantage of the Latin Mass, then, is that it is not open to the numerous abuses presently experienced on a regular basis with the new Mass.

The universality of Latin makes it conducive to all believers experiencing more fully the mystery of the Mass. It imbues a heightened reverence and sense of the sacred. It complements well the Latin rites’ traditional Gregorian Chant with its moving meditative cadence that touches the depths of the soul.

The Tridentine Mass is also more uniform and consistently Catholic in its theological and Christian-cultural aspects. The Pope has previously mentioned, for example, how in the new Mass the “turning of the priest toward the people no longer opens out on what lies ahead and above (but) has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle.” Both the priest and people should be facing the east.

The Eucharist is the all encompassing source and summit of Christian life. A wider implementation of the Latin Mass will no doubt be an effective means of both preserving the Church’s faith and identity while at the same time allowing her to carry out her mission of evangelization.

I hope the pope’s new directive will encourage bishops to actively and aggressively promote the Mass in Latin throughout their dioceses and beyond.

Paul Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada

Caring for Aging Parents

Dear Editor: Part of caring for an elderly parent is confronting one’s own mortality. A good friend of mine called me today and spoke of his experiences caring for elderly parents. He is resolved to take care of the parents who took such good care of him when they were younger.

He is a loving and dutiful son and our conversation prompted me to write this letter in the hope that it will be a comfort to all those people who presently find themselves in the position of caring for elderly parents.

It is a new passage, caring for the people who cared for you at one time. It is a threshold that few people even consider crossing. However, cross it we must and cross it we do!!!

Have you ever looked at your aging parent for a second and seen yourself in the mirror???!!! There stands your aged parent, an older version of yourself. Instead of paying for a digitally enhanced computer image of yourself in 30 years, you get a look for free!!!

They may be old and gray and more feeble but they are the same wonderful parents they were when they were young and vital. They deserve to be loved and cared for!!! Take solace in the thought that someone will be caring for you in 30 years.

Rose Marie Puleo Milcetic
Whitestone

The Pastor Also Was a Chef

Dear Editor: What a memory to have of a fine priest friend. Over the past few years Heart to Heart Ministry had a retreat picnic in June at St. Gertrude’s parish with a picnic lunch after the morning retreat with Father Brendan Downing at the grill cooking up sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. One year he even wore a chef’s hat ... it was always such an enjoyable and holy time with Father Brendan saying grace and everyone gathering in great fellowship together ... and what a chef he was.

I remember last June Father told me he went out and got cold cuts as he was not up to cooking at the grill. He set everything up so nice despite getting weak and want-ing to continue our picnics. I told Father he was still a great chef serving cold cuts with his usual Irish humor ... he smiled and just said, “Ave, pray for me.” I did and this past June we had to cancel the picnic. I knew in my heart why ... and again all he wanted was prayer. That he got ... and in fact this summer just over one week ago Father met the best Chef of all in heaven ... and somehow I feel those picnic retreats will continue always with a fond memory of a good priest friend who gave me the left- overs to bring to the poor. That was the quiet Father Brendan Downing ... at any time of the day or night someone who called in need. He was there. May you now, Father Brendan, enjoy your chef’s hat of caring forever in heaven. Thanks for the inspiration.

Sister Ave Clark, O.P.
Bayside

In God We Do Trust

Dear Editor: In answer to a letter from Bill Colreavy (Readers’ Forum, July 14) concerning the new U.S. dollar coins, I would like to refer him, and other readers, to search for “Dollar Coin” for an explanation of the error which occurred during the minting of the first two coins. It is not the intent of the government to remove “In God We Trust” from the new series of presidential coins; the motto has been moved to another location.

I suggest that everyone who has a computer, and is on various lists to receive e-mails, become familiar with the Snopes’ website, and checks out the many “Urban Legends” making the rounds before passing them on. You will be surprised to find that many of them are false.

Doris Freyland
Bay Ridge

A Choice in Health Care

Dear Editor: I work for a company that offers two health plans - an HMO and a PPO. The choice is simple - if you want to save money, you go on the HMO; if you want good doctors, you go on the PPO.

Do we really want the U.S. to switch to socialized medicine, as suggested by Hillary Clinton and Michael Moore? That would be like everybody being on the HMO plan - you’d be covered, but you wouldn’t be able to chose your own doctor or make any of your own medical decisions.

Moore calls our healthcare system SICKO. What he wants you to forget is that while countries with socialized medicine may have everybody covered, their health care is STINKO.

Michael Chimenti
Bayside