God’s Creation
Re “The Green New Deal Should Be Improved, Not Mocked” (Our Take, 3/4): It is clear to me that our entire civilization faces an imminent, existential threat and that its prevention is entirely feasible, yet kept out of reach by a powerful few. When I go to Mass, I do not hear from our priests in their homilies about this massive threat to mankind. I cannot understand why this is not the only thing they preach about, and yet they do not address it at all. It is hard to turn to the Lord in times like these when those in our faith community who are supposed to lead and guide us in this practice barely even acknowledge that it is happening.
I implore the editors of America to treat climate change with the urgency it demands. God’s creation depends on it.
Luke Westby
Chicago, Ill.
Amends
Re “The Case for Public Penance,” by Eve Tushnet (3/4): One of the concerns that I have expressed on several occasions has been the lack of discussion and attention to the abuse crisis in every local parish. There is a daily cascade of stories about the abuse crisis in the media. In contrast, in most parishes, the silence around the issue is deafening; there is a seeming indifference to what people in the pews are hearing and seeing in the secular press. The practice of private confessions perhaps has created a culture that precludes opportunities for public group confession, penance and reconciliation.
Vincent Gaglione
Sing a Song
Re “Mornings With Mahalia,” by W. Ralph Eubanks (3/4): Thank you, Mr. Eubanks, for an insightful article. I attend Mass at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boston, where the community is diverse and the music ministry extraordinary. It routinely incorporates different cultural forms of music to reflect the makeup of the congregation. This effort inspires, educates and informs. Your comments make me aware of the importance of gospel music.
Leonard Ryer
For Love and to Love
Re “Why I Am Pro-Life,” by James Martin, S.J. (3/4): This is beautiful. I am starting to think that “pro-choice” is really “no choice” because women at this point feel unsupported and desperate. We are made for love and to love. Each and every life is precious.
Nancy Johnson Antonini
Final Rose
Re “The First Virgin ‘Bachelor’ Challenges Prejudices,” by Amanda Haas (3/4): This is a good article about a sensitive topic. As the article points out, human sexuality is a complex issue, and the virgin bachelor is allowing for some important dialogue between him and the female contestants.
Jane Ellis
An Alternative
Re “Contra Trump, Church Leaders Describe a Humanitarian Emergency at the Border,” by Kevin Clarke (3/4): Use that money for universal health care for veterans and the homeless and to open mental institutions once again. That’s where the money needs to go. And for the poor. That’s an emergency.
Cesar Jouvin
Seconded
Re “Practical Resistance,” by Nathan Schneider (3/4): This is a real problem among many in my generation and youn-ger. After the 2016 election, many were going to marches. But what concrete action did I get from my marching, pink-hat-wearing, poster-holding young friends? Nothing. I began a real, tangible project to house refugees in my home parish. The people who came and helped were all over the age of 59, some in their 70s and 80s.
Jennifer D. Behnke
A Great Evil
Re “The Call to Simplicity,” by Serena Sigillito (2/18): This is a very good article. It must be made clear that the greatest evil we face as global citizens is materialism and greed, the idolatry of serving wealth and material accumulation beyond need. Most of us are complicit in this—and this is what is leading to the destruction of the environment that sustains all life.
Paul Schryba
