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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781466900325 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Trafford Publishing |
| Publication date: | 11/02/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 124 |
| File size: | 274 KB |
Read an Excerpt
LETTERS TO Pope Benedict
College Students Speak OutTRAFFORD PUBLISHING
Copyright © 2011 R. John Kinkel, Ph.D.All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-7431-1
Chapter One
I. TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
Dear Pope Benedict:
The Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest religious denominations in the world and I respect it a lot. However, one of my major concerns is the fact that the younger generation is not attending church on a regular basis. The Catholic Church has not done a good job in drawing the younger generation into the fold. Times have changed and tradition is not a high priority for young people. I believe you must move away from some traditions and find new ways of getting your message out.
Adina Derecichei Madison Heights, Michigan, December 2007
II. REFORM IS NEEDED.
Dear Pope Benedict:
The hour has arrived for change and reform. Gone are the days when we could sit back and let the hand play itself out. The fruit is now ripe for picking and the Papacy can no longer ignore the growing evidence that mass attendance on college campuses is way down and the decline in vocations to the priesthood is well documented. The answers to these problems rest on the same plane of opportunity: the college campus. It is here that religion is explored more personally and developed in a way that is quite different from when we were living in our parents' house. For here more than anywhere else, young people make decisions about their lifestyle that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The fact that church attendance among the college demographic is low, does not bode well for church leaders looking for young men to join the priesthood. The general consensus regarding this problem is that the church is no longer meeting the needs of its congregation.
The fundamental problem is in the church service. While I am aware that it is the church's tendency to adhere to ancient tradition, it is becoming an issue of more concern with significant consequences if not addressed thoroughly and quickly. For many students like me searching for our own path of spirituality, it is discouraging to attend liturgy services which appear to be putting the main emphasis on the ritual rather than the message. College students like myself like to believe that something has changed from the time I started going to mass as an infant with my family to now when I am responsible for my own attendance. Haven't we matured enough to hear a new message, or experience the revitalization of the church? College students are in a transition period where we are realizing there is more to our routine than studying, eating, sleeping, and partying. There is something missing, but we are afraid to admit it.
It is in this regard that the Church can provide a solution, but officials must change their routine because it is no longer effective on the college campus. Many of us may believe that since we may not have the healthiest and most moral lifestyle, it would be hypocritical for us to attend a place where everyone on the surface seems perfect. History illustrated the fact that when the church service was converted into the vernacular, the church prospered and provided generously for its congregation. We ask you to make the message much clearer for us, for being on our own, sometimes the message and guidance of our parents is lost or unavailable to us.
It is time to shed the misconception that priests are there to condemn the student for their lifestyle from the pulpit. If this goal is ever to be realized, then perhaps there won't be such difference between attendance at the Christmas masses and regular masses. Furthermore, the more we see ourselves in the priest, the more likely we can see ourselves as the priest, and increase vocations. It is time to break the barrier between church and college, but this can only be realized through satisfying communication.
Sincerely, Josh Buchanan, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2007
III. GIVE GAYS A BREAK.
Dear Pope Benedict:
I was raised a Catholic and attended Catholic schools through high school. I have always been a supporter of the Catholic faith and its beliefs regarding various social issues. However, I am a firm believer in giving homosexuals the right to wed in holy matrimony if they choose to do so. I was taught that God is a loving God and accepts all who come to Him as sinners seeking forgiveness. Doesn't He love all people? Homosexuals, whether they have freely chosen their sexual lifestyle or believe they are born with this orientation, need to be treated fairly by the church. Everyone is a sinner and needs to be forgiven for what they have done. Homosexuals should not be excluded from the church because of their different sexual needs. I have grown up and attended school with people who came out of the closet and admitted they were gay. That should not mean that God loves them less or that they are less holy. We are all equal in God's eyes and this equality should be extended to gays if they wish to marry. Love does not have a special color or gender and the church should treat all as equals. For a religion with such a rich history, it would be a shame for members to exit the church when all are supposed to be welcomed and treated with dignity. The practice of religion is one of the most intimate relationships we have, and everyone, homosexuals included, should not be condemned for their actions.
Alysse Miller, Royal Oak, Michigan, 2007
[What is she talking about? The article below helps to explain the problem]
Pope says gay unions are false Sees a weakening of marriage By Michael Paulson, Boston Globe Staff | June 7, 2005
Pope Benedict XVI, offering his first detailed critique of gay unions since his elevation to the pontificate six weeks ago, yesterday described same-sex marriages as "pseudo-matrimony."
In a speech to a conference on families held by the Diocese of Rome, Benedict made clear in strong language that he intends to pursue the hard-line defense of traditional Catholic teachings that made him controversial in his role as Pope John Paul II's chief enforcer of church doctrine.
"The various forms of the dissolution of matrimony today, like free unions, trial marriages and going up to pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex, are rather expressions of an anarchic freedom that wrongly passes for true freedom of man," he said, speaking at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The pope also criticized divorce and artificial contraception in his speech, in which he referred to "banalization of the human body" and said "the greatest expression of freedom is not the search for pleasure," according to the Reuters news agency.
Benedict made his remarks at a time when same-sex marriage has become a hotly contested public policy issue in Western societies. Same-sex marriage was legalized in Massachusetts last year, although the Legislature is still deciding whether to put on the ballot a measure banning gay marriage, and same-sex unions are legal in Vermont and Connecticut. Same-sex marriage is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Canada, and Spain has been moving toward legalization.
But the development has sparked resistance, especially in the United States, where many states have passed laws or constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage. Most recently, the California Legislature defeated a measure legalizing same-sex marriage.
Before he became pope, Benedict—then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—was the primary explainer of Pope John Paul II's oft-stated opposition to same-sex marriage. In 2003, Ratzinger wrote an important Vatican document outlining the church's opposition to same-sex marriage; the document became controversial because of its assertion that "Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development."
Benedict's opposition to homosexuality is longstanding. In 1986, Ratzinger signed another doctrinal document declaring that "It is only in the marital relationship that the use of the sexual faculty can be morally good. A person engaging in homosexual behavior therefore acts immorally."
"This does not mean that homosexual persons are not often generous and giving of themselves," he wrote then, "but when they engage in homosexual activity they confirm within themselves a disordered sexual inclination which is essentially self-indulgent."
Benedict has spoken frequently about his concern that there is no absolute sense of right and wrong in modern society. On April 18, before the conclave at which he was elected pope, he warned that "We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires."
Since his election, the pope has spoken only a few times about political matters; last week he declared his support for an effort by the Italian bishops to persuade voters to boycott a referendum that would overturn a law restricting fertility treatments.
Scholars said Benedict's remarks yesterday were unsurprising, but serve as a reminder that the direct language and doctrinal orthodoxy for which he has been known are not likely to change.
"This is blunt, but it's intentional," said Chester Gillis, chairman of the theology department at Georgetown University. "He's not a man who speaks idly or without preparation. He wants a sharp demarcation between Christian values and what contemporary culture might condone—there's a sharp line and he wants to make that clear."
Gillis said Benedict's remarks fit in, not only with his critique of homosexual relationships, but also with his expressed concerns about contemporary culture, which he views as overly secular.
"This is confirming what everybody knew about this pope," Gillis said.
A former student of Benedict said the pope's description of same-sex marriages as an expression of "anarchic freedom" refers to a contemporary philosophy that "we can do whatever we wish." Benedict believes instead in a form of human freedom that is limited by God's will, according to the scholar, the Rev. Joseph Fessio.
"This is not a surprise—you'll find this statement in the catechism of the Catholic Church and everywhere you look for it in the whole 2,000-year history of the church," said Fessio, who founded Ignatius Press, which has published Benedict's works in the United States.
But gay rights advocates criticized the pope's remarks, as expected as they might have been.
"The comments by Pope Benedict XVI on gay civil marriage ... sadly reflect what many had feared would be the continued language of hatred and disrespect that has come from the Vatican for many years towards gays and lesbians," said Charles Martel, a Catholic layman who serves on the board of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, a Massachusetts organization. "The pope is creating a dangerous climate of inciting hatred towards gays and lesbians, and needs to be held accountable in attempting to encourage civil societies to perpetuate this prejudice."
And in Washington, Joe Solmonese, an Attleboro native who serves as president of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy organization, said in a statement, "It is unfortunate that the pope would choose so early in his pontificate to sweepingly condemn so many faithful Catholics. There is a long biblical tradition of showing love and compassion for all. It is from that tradition that so many fair-minded Catholics want to see their pope speaking."
Michael Paulson can be reached at mpaulson@globe.com.
IV. YOUR RELIGION IS GOOD.
Dear Pope Benedict:
I am not a Catholic and have no intention of changing what you think or what anyone else would think about your religion. The Catholic religion has been a pretty big influence in my life because most of the people in the society I grew up in (Kenya), belonged to the Catholic faith. One thing I noticed was that they were really dedicated in working together for a cause. They spent time together, even besides the meetings they had in church on Sundays.
If anyone needed any kind of help, e.g., money, food, the Catholics would get together and everyone helped to raise money according to their means. If someone was sick, then the doctor would treat them, and if they did not have the means to pay, the service would be free.
I would say your religion is very good and that people following the religion have always been a great help, not only to people like me, but the society as a whole.
Sincerely, Mr. Hardik Dave, Royal Oak, Michigan, December 2007
V. EMBRACE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.
Dear Pope Benedict:
I am not a very religious person. However, that is because I believe the Catholic church has too many restrictions and lacks tolerance. The Catholic church believes that homosexuals are sinners. I have many homosexual friends and I think a group, such as the Catholic church, should be promoting love for their fellow man and not hate based on sexual preference. There is not just intolerance for homosexuals in the church but negativism toward other religions as well. The Catholic church is allowed to believe what they want, so why should they be allowed to judge and condemn others for their beliefs? The Catholic church needs to create a more accepting attitude; it needs to change with society. How can a society base its beliefs on something created centuries ago? The world and the people in it are not the same as those living a thousand years ago and religion should not try to make it so. Try and promote tolerance and change for the future. You won't lose your followers; you'll only gain new ones.
Melanie Satoran, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2007
VI. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STRONG.
Dear Pope Benedict:
This is my first letter to a pope and I find it difficult to decide on what to include. However, this is what I feel needs to be said. I love the Catholic church and the fact that it is my church, it hurts me personally when I see that Catholicism is being attacked by national and international political forces. This pain has caused me to think a lot about the church and how it is handling current issues.
I believe you and other church leaders are handling everything rather well. The power of Catholicism is strongly based on tradition. These traditions have stayed firm throughout the years and centuries of our religion's history. If our church was to change these traditions, our religion would be weakened. Here in America there is much talk about the separation of church and state. This was originally designed mostly for the benefit of the state; however, I believe this separation can be used to help our church. The church needs to separate from the political world and focus on what I believe to be more important matters: the church members taking care of each other.
With all my heart, I strongly encourage you to further improve and strengthen Catholicism. Caring for the poor down the street and around the world is something Catholics do everyday. We give money at various church collections for them. We work at soup kitchens and even travel to third world countries for them. This is love. A second form of this Christian caring is education. Education needs to be continued as a keystone to Catholicism. I personally attended a Catholic high school and found it to be the most tightly-knit academic community I have ever experienced. The teachers, the Catholic brothers, and the students all cared for each other. And here in the field of education is where I think the church can work at increasing the number of young faithful. Religious education combined with its moral dimension appealed to me as a teen ager. Growing up in today's society I think one needs both—one alone is not enough. Using this combination, I fully believe that many young people will stay with the church and others will turn toward Catholicism.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from LETTERS TO Pope Benedict Copyright © 2011 by R. John Kinkel, Ph.D.. Excerpted by permission of TRAFFORD PUBLISHING. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Dedication....................Vii Acknowledgments....................Ix Introduction....................XiI. Times Have Changed....................3
Ii. Reform Is Needed....................5
Iii. Give Gays A Break....................7
Iv. Your Religion Is Good....................13
V. Embrace Religious Tolerance....................15
Vi. The Catholic Church Is Strong....................17
Vii. Why No Women Priests?....................19
Viii. Preach Religious Understanding....................23
Ix. Work Toward Genuine Unity....................25
X. Humility Is A Virtue....................33
Xi. Return To Prayer, Renewal....................35
Xii. Good Job, But Change....................37
Xiii. Change Or The Church Will Die....................39
Xiv. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Change Please....................41
Xv. I'm Out, But You're Out Of Line....................49
Xvi. WOrk On Religious Understanding....................51
Xvii. Expect You To Lead....................53
Xviii. Possible Convert?....................55
Xix. Why Not Innovate?....................57
Xx. Maintain Tradition Of Celibacy?....................59
Xxi. Very Impressed With Catholic Church....................63
Xxii. Keep Some Traditions, Change Others....................65
Xxiii. Show Us The Way....................69
Xxiv. Ease Up A Bit—–Too Many Rules....................71
Xxv. Improve Youth Church Attendance....................73
Xxvi. The Church And Youth....................75
Xxvii. Jewish Christian Relations....................77
Xxviii. Lost Generation?....................79
Xxix. I Left The Church....................81
Xxx. Seminarian Speaks Out....................83
Xxxi. Report On Bad Experience....................87
Xxxii. Major Change Required To Save Church....................89
Xxxiii. Learn To Respect Women Leaders....................97
Xxxiv. Do What You Think Is Right....................103
Conclusion And Comment....................105