Praise for a young writer

To the Editor:
Thank you for Jacquie Nivet's strong witness to the culture of life (A quiet chastity offers a loud message) in the November Interim.
I found it refreshing and full of hope. Please allow me to congratulate Jacquie's family as well as Hawthorn School for Girls.
I will look forward to the next Young Adults Forum in The Interim.

Robert Hubert
Toronto.
 

Work from prison

To the Editor:
In my September letter to The Interim, I suggested pro-life prisoner Linda Gibbons might make better use of her time than sitting in jail. In my letter, I praised Linda for her pro-life work, but didn't see why she needed to do this from jail.
However, I now see that as she has helped save the lives of babies of her fellow inmates, then this is exactly where she should be working at this time.
Bravo Linda. I'm glad to be a pro-lifer but I realize that pro-abortion people have as much right to their opinions as I have to mine. After all, didn't God give us the choice? It is only because I have this choice that I am able to choose life. Also I have as much right to my opinion on this issue as anyone else.

Mary Agbakli,
London, ON
 

Selective sorrow

To the Editor:
Recently, shortly before I sat down to watch Princess Diana's funeral on TV, a friend showed me some shocking pictures of babies aborted (some after five months' gestation) in one of the many abortuaries in Toronto.
I was moved intensely and felt it in my heart that they were crying out to the Lord for justice and vengeance. Consequently, after watching those thousands upon thousands of spectators weeping over Diana's tragic death, it was not surprising that my thoughts should go back to what I had seen a few moments earlier.
Mind you, I have absolutely nothing against the British Royal Family. My anger is directed against the majority of Catholics in this country, including, and especially our spiritual leaders. Not only are these people not shedding any tears for this daily massacre of the innocents, but they don't seem to care about it, not to say that they condone it.

Emidio Galea,
Scarborough, ON
 

Self responsibility

To the Editor:
I would like to respond to the October 1997 letter from Stephen Sutherland, who believes abortion is wrong but that women still should be given the choice. Why is it that people think they have the right to give or take a life? That privilege is God's.
Instead of saying women have a choice with respect to abortion, perhaps we should say they had a choice when they decided to have sexual relations in the first place. This would lead to more responsibility for one's actions.
I know abstinence is old fashioned, but it has a moral foundation as laid out in the Bible. If we don't follow God's guidelines, we must prepare for the consequences.
There are some people who say there should be an exception in cases of sexual abuse, rape, or the possibility of fetal abnormalities. I'm wondering what God would say if we put the question to Him. I'm wondering if His reply would be to kill the innocent being waiting to be born.

Shirley Muzzell,
Durham, ON
 

Kids come first

To the Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor, Melinda Beneteau of Odessa, Ontario asked the question, are there other women who are enjoying quality and quantity time with their children? As national president of Kids First, a non-profit charitable organization that speaks on behalf of stay-at-home parents, I would like to answer with a resounding yes.
Kids First was founded in 1987 by two stay-at-home mothers who felt the need for a collective and organized voice for women at home nurturing their children. Kids First seeks to ensure that government policies take into account their effect on children and their families when being designed. We seek to change federal social taxation policies that discriminate against families wishing to care for their own children.

Cathy Perri,
Calgary, Alberta
(via e-mail)
 

Views on humanity

To the Editor:
A recent issue of The Interim revealed a contradiction between two excellent opinion pieces. Kerri-Lee Mullan said "pro-lifers have to give society more credit ... Human beings are logical ... (and) will make the right decision when presented with the truth." Ted Gerk in the Western View column, said "Sadly, if you ask the general public if they believe the unborn child is a human being, the majority will say yes ...". He goes on to say that most people consent to abortion.
One writer says the public is logical and good, the other says, the public is logical and accepting of evil.
People are logical and good so their opinion on abortion reflects entirely their view on the humanity of the unborn.

Robert Byers,
Etobicoke, ON
 

Support and care

To the Editor:
The letter from the unnamed woman in the November, 1997 Interim concerning the sexual orientation of her son was moving and highlighted the need for Christians everywhere to become more informed as well as sensitive to the plight of homosexual persons and their families.
It often happens that persons with a homosexual orientation, while already stigmatized by the "straight" world, are likewise rejected by practising Christians as well, and end up being driven into a homosexual subculture in which they submerge themselves as a way of alleviating years of emotional pain. 
The reason, of course, is obvious, in that such persons find a sense of belonging and caring within a community where they are accepted for who they are. Unfortunately, happiness will continue to elude them, since true inner peace and fulfilment cannot be found through the sexual acting out of same-sex attractions.
The letter writer spoke of her son trying unsuccessfully to become involved with women. I would suggest to her (and other readers of The Interim in similar situations), that she consider seeking a qualified therapist willing to help her son work through his difficulty. The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is an organization of therapists dedicated to helping homosexually-oriented persons overcome same-sex attractions. It has an international therapist referral list which anyone can access by contacting NARTH at 16542 Ventura Blvd., Suite 416, Encino, CA, 91436, or on the Internet at http://www.narth.com.
Finally, as regards Christian communities, they for their part must work at building greater credibility by disproving the claim - so often conveyed through the media - that they are indifferent to the plight of homosexually-oriented persons. This can be done by undertaking the humble task of establishing support groups for such members struggling to live in accordance with their church's teachings. While the existence of several such groups at present testifies both to the sincerity and commitment of these same churches to minister to a marginalized group of people within their own denominations, there remains, as yet much to be done for the future.

Mark Kahabka
Open Door Professional Counselling Services
Windsor, ON
 

Naked truth

To the Editor:
While riding a bus on the way to evening prayer one evening, I noticed to my great horror a woman jogging up Dufferin Street in Toronto, naked as the day she was born. It was, sad to say, a delightful joke for some of the passengers with their laughter and hissing.
On my arrival at church, I took the hymn book, opened it at random, and by coincidence, I saw "O Canada." When I got to the line, "God keep our land, glorious and free," I felt in my soul something is really wrong, and I prayed to Our Lord for guidance on this matter.
Days later, the spirit of the Lord directed me to go to the courthouse. When it came time for me to pass through the security checkpoint, I asked the officer a simple question. Suppose I was in court and I refused to stand when the judge entered the room? The officer replied, yes, this would be a breach of the law. I went away thinking of the Holy Word I had read the previous Sunday, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
How then can we sing O Canada, and at the same time break the laws that God has given us to keep us glorious and free. It is morally and spiritually wrong to pass laws allowing women to go topless. It reveals a lack of integrity on the part of government. As well as being displeasing to God, it presents many opportunities for scandal. For example, our vulnerable innocent children will pay the price when we permit respect for sexuality and modesty to decline.
To those who have allowed these indecent toplessness laws, I ask you, please think of the evil that you have exposed souls to - souls that are created in the image of God.
I urge lawmakers to rectify the situation so we can truly sing the words, "God keep our land, glorious and free."
Adam and Eve were naked, the woman jogging on Dufferin Street was naked, and sad to say, those who have made these topless laws, and other laws outside the Ten Commandments, are also naked, devoid of grace.

Emelda Perryman
Toronto.
 

The Interim welcomes letters and submissions. Both may be subject to editing. Please send to interim@lifesite.net