ZE090425
ZENIT
The World Seen From Rome
Daily dispatch - April 25, 2009
Donation Campaign 2009 -- Looking for the 8,400 ...
If we divide our annual fund-raising goal of $420,000 by the 150,000 ZENIT's English-edition private readers, the amount for each one a year is about $2.80 -- about the price of three or four daily newspapers !
We already know that, in fact, it is not possible to receive $2.80 from each of our 150,000 private readers. But perhaps we can receive $50 from 8,400 of you!
Are you among the 8,400 who can send $50? Your generosity will benefit all Zenit readers.
As many readers have already done, could you cover the $50 for three or four or more missionaries?
Please, think about it!
Send your donation today!
To send your donation, click http://www.zenit.org/english/donation.html
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
More Respect, Not More Condoms
Small Gesture Builds Bridges
Stirring and Disturbing
Agape in Daily Life
Journeying With Youth
More Respect, Not More Condoms
A response to: Cardinal Pell Responds to Media Criticism of PopeAs an Archbishop, dealing on a daily basis with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, I know that the Pope is speaking the truth. I suspect that those who were so vociferous in condemning the Pope have never touched an HIV infected person, let alone rendered any care and attention. It is so much easier to distribute gadgets, especially at other people's expense.
What reduces infections is less casual sex, not more condoms. That is the truth.
Those who accuse the Pope of being "unrealistic," that young people will have sex anyway, have no respect for the young people. When they are given true orientation, they freely respond with far greater sexual responsibility that the armchair social experts can ever imagine.
As an African Archbishop, it is my nephews and nieces that are in danger of dying of HIV/AIDS. Let no one ever suggest that they are more concerned about them than I am. The condom distributors should listen to the truth coming not only from the Pope and Bishops, but even from impartial and serious scientific research. The facts are there, as Cardinal Pell has briefly illustrated. To ignore these facts is the greatest disservice anyone can do to the future of Africa. The struggle continues, and we are overcoming!
Archbishop John Onaiyekan
Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Lighting the Easter Candle
The comments made in response to a few readers supporting the blessing of fallen-away or non-Catholics included: "for those in such a situation the principal grace of the Mass would be that of conversion." As a priest who is aware of who is in what "situation," I feel that comment lacked an awareness of the spectrum of situations exist.
For example, I know some married couples who await the final decree of nullity so that they can have their current civil marriage convalidated by the Church. They have already undergone significant conversion and to say that they need more conversion may be true as we all need conversion however, it sounds as if it is assuming that they choose to live status quo with the "situation."
There have also been others who have undergone conversion to enter the RCIA program but again are waiting for the paperwork to grant permission to become Catholic at the next Easter Vigil. Some of these "non-Catholics" have been more active than other Catholics who have come to take their faith for granted. Meanwhile, they have chosen to be patient and to respect Church rules and commune with the mystical body of Christ at the parish by coming forward even though they cannot commune through the Eucharistic Body of Christ. Many Catholics such as a few politicians have demonstrated disregard for Church law and still receive Communion.
I believe this small gesture goes a long way in building bridges and painting a better picture of the Catholic Church.
Father John M. Zimmerman
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Vatican Deplores Belgium's Criticism of Pontiff
In [Joseph Ratzinger's] excellent book "God and the World" he states, "If the Church simply aims to avoid conflict, merely to ensure that no disturbances arise anywhere, then her real message can no longer make any impact." May the Pope carry on his excellent teaching ministry that stirs and disturbs.
Father Martyn Hope
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Pope Affirms Love is the Key to Knowledge of God
Greek, the language of much of the New Testament is an extremely precise language with a vocabulary about three times larger than English. It is not surprising that love has at least three versions in Greek: eros, the basest form; phileo, a more noble mutually beneficial or brotherly love; and agape, the ultimate sacrificial love of Jesus used three times in His "lovest thou me" dialog with Peter in John 21; 15-17.
Peter answered twice with phileo, and only the third time did he get it. This illustrates the need for not only Peter, but all of us to practice agape in our daily lives.
Herman Rutner
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Luke’s Resurrection Symphony in 4 Movements
I take Father Thomas Rosica's reflections as very helpful in coming to a deeper appreciation of the Sunday Gospel. In particular, I thank him for this insightful piece on Luke 24. Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines considers this Gospel story -- particularly the part of the Journey to Emmaus -- as a model and inspiration on how we, as church, journey with the youth.
Hopefully, we as Church not only take pointers from this story on how to do youth ministry -- such as meeting the young where they are, the importance of listening, the use of table fellowship, etc. -- but also open ourselves to a renewed faith that will keep us going in the love and service of the Risen Lord.
Stephen Borja
email this article | print this article | comment this article
ZENIT is an International News Agency.
For reprint permission: http://www.zenit.org/english/permissions.html
Visit our web page at http://www.zenit.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html
To give a ZENIT gift subscription: http://www.zenit.org/english/gift.html
To make a donation to support ZENIT: http://www.zenit.org/english/donation.html
SEND US YOUR NEWS.
Please send press releases using: http://www.zenit.org/english/news.html
Copyright, Innovative Media, Inc.
0 comments:
Post a Comment