THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs. Dec. 11, 1975
5
=L=e=t=t=e~rs=t=o=t=h=e=e=d=i=to=r:=:::::JIIf=========
=========[bl Carson Fine
law. The Commandments are even used to teach that! Complicated? Sure, but as you say, that is why God has blessed us with an intelligence and rightly formed conscience.)
Dear Editor, In MY state of SHOCK in reading the attack made on the Anchor and Marv Carson by Mrs. Righteous from Nantucket, I can onIv be awed by the close minded'1~ss of some neople. I have had a Catholic unbringing and education, and in all honestv I can't recall a'1V law of Dear Editor: God ag~inst contraception; cerThe "new look" of the Anchor tainlv not in the Ten Command- is certainly refreshing, focusing ments. In my oninion. artificial on meaninp.ful hanpenings like: birth control. and natural birth "Echo," "Life in Music." "Photocontrol, if practiced consistently, meditation." "Letters to the Ediresults in the same outcome ... tor," is Christianity alive. so where is the difference? They - What could be more dee,ly -both have failure rates. or acci- spiritual than the first thing; that dents: if vou will. What does strikes the reader's eye. "Jov is that produce? An unwanted child the Echo of God's Life in Us." anrl prohablv bitter parents. How And this is front page news. Beautiful! sad a situation this would be. "What's Happening" - signiGod made each and every one of us with different perc;onalities ficant news in brief is a relief and talents. Some of us are from the long involved news artisuited for lar,ge familiec;. some of cles. us aren't even suiter! for marFather Moore's column is a riap,e. or any particular vocation; Beacon of light to all of us. but' we enter i'1to it with the I would like to see Marv Cardesire to do the very 1'>est - we son re'l.llv seriously mer\'itate on C'ln. Nnne of "S are perfect, and Pope Paul's Encyclical "Humanae God knows this! Vitae." I do not believe that God in· Current events in the Church, ten.rlerl manv children ac; one of the magisterium, the national the "crosses" of married life, as and local news are reasonably the l'ldv from Nantucket seems well covered. to helieve. That would take the The "Know Your Faith" artigift out of life. I believe the test cles bring us closer to God in our is not how many crosses we beliefs, our Bible, and our love. make for ourselves, but rather, Congratulations on following how we handle the crosses we the New England Christian Edumight be tested with. Our God cation's Theme for '75 "Faith is a God of love and mercy, not Alive" in our times. punishment and suffering on Very truly yours, those whom He's given the gift John J. O'Toole of life. Acushnet In closing let me say that, I (Ed.: We are really glad feel we all have to search our you're glad.) conscience, in all of life's decisions. None of us being God; at times we will make mistakes ... mistakes once realized. we can (Ed.: Space does not permit onlv be sorry for, and hope to do the printing of the entire letbetter next time. ters to the editor. However, Please, let us always ,be open three have manifested their minded. That must be God's indispleasure in seeing Father te'1tion; or He would not have Byington leave the Anchor. GIVEN us INTELLIGENCE! One has blamed the Anchor Sincerely, Mrs. L. J. Mello Swansea (ED.: We have to search our conscience? Granted. Children are not meant to be only the crosses of marriage? Granted. 102 Shawomet Avenue We each have our vocation Somerset, Mall. and most of the time try our best? Granted. Catholic upTel. 674-4111 bringing and education say 31h room AplrtlIlent that contraception is not 41h room AplrtIIlent against God's law? Oh, no! I think you'll imd that the Includes heat, hot water, stove, re· Church has always taught that frigerator and maintenance service. it definitely is against God's
New "Anchor" Refreshing
for the whole release of stories to the media but seems to not disap:-rove of his de~arture. Oh, yes, two have terminated their subscriptions; one has changed his subscription to another address; one has subscribed to the Anchor for the first time.) Since the -Letters to the Editor are truly letters. I pray the writers/readers will not mind an occasional very brief reply, whenever that is feasible and possible. As it has been publicly stated, both publisher and editor agree on mak,ing available S'lace to Letters -to the Editor whenever this is possible, as much as is possible, whenever letters are brief, condensable, reasonable, not libelous and in good taste. However, they ARE letters and do, at times, merit and even demand some response.)
Carson Too Much Dear Editor, In the years I have been get-
ting the Anchor, the first column I read was Mary Carson's. WHAT has happened to this once lovely example of motherhood who defended, with love, her right to a large family! I agoni:>:ed with her during Ginny's accident; I smiled (with tears) over her account of the First Communion of her "special" child. Now that she has come out so firmly FOR birth control, do her children wonder which of them she would have chosen not to be born? How CAN you print her article advising people to practice birth control, and receive Communion with her blessing!! What she prefers to believe is her own business, but not when her position gives her the opportunity to preach wrongdoing to thousands of people. I miss her articles of love, joy and heartbreak too - of a large family. As a serious theological' writer she is not competent - in fact by always condoning the controversial she is dangerous. In regard to women as priests (which she says should be) what about 1 Cor. 14, 34, 35, 37 and 1 Tim. 2, 11, 12? Do we Catholice believe the Bible?
I cannot - no, I WILL not have a paper in my house which prints (and does not disclaim) an article like Mary Carson's on birth control. Cal)cel my subscription immediately. Sincerely (and sorrowfully) Lucia M. Norton Norton, Mass. (Ed.: I am sorry you feel you must take this step to prove your strong feelings. Now, I guess, you'll never know if the Anchor will feel like you or disclaim the opinions of others. I respect your opinion; I am glad to see you can respect others having their own opinion; I would have to agree that Mary Carson is apparently a great mother but does leave some theological training to be desired.)
Scripture "The Scriptures of the Old Israel remained the Scriptures of the "New," for they contained the Revelation of God which He had vindicated and fulfilled. They 'testified' of Him,"-Gregory Dix, "Jew and Greek," 1953.
WE CAl GIVE YOU TIiE REASOlS-
Editorial Change
"8~e 4e4\C8te4 1\\&ttr entire \wlS. U GIVE UP ., CAM 10 Of 10URS. OME MlM,U_..T_E_ _--"'Ul
SHAWOMET . GARDENS
~1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111II111111~
5
§
~ NEW BEDFORD-AcUSHNET = ~ §= ~
!5
= =~_ __
Co-Operative Bank
WILLIAM H. H. MANCHESTER, JR.
OAVITO J. RUMNEY
President
reasurer
I
111 William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
E
' Telephone 996-8295
==
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THE GIVING
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • •
HELP US... .. ." to fill their needs of body.and SPirit. M.ay the Society for the Propagation of the Faith be your principal charity for sharing in the greatest and holiest work of the Church missionary activity.
HELP THEM... " ... because we are on~ In the. faith, b.ecause I want to share my bleSSings With my brothers and sisters in need in mission lands, I am pleased to send my gift of $_ _ ANCH-12-11-75
.~~
=~~ • City
Zip ,
State
: • ••
. •••• •
= •
• I5 ••••• : THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH = ==_=§=
I
== is
~1'1I11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111II!lIIl11ffi
•.
• • • :
Send your gift to:
' M o s t Rev. Edward T. O'Meara National Director ' , Dept. C, 366 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10001
The Rev. OR:
Ms~.
..
Raym?nd T. Consldme Diocesan Drreetor 368 North Main Street Fall River, Massachusetts 02720
•...................................•
:
• • • • ~