I am continually amazed that the Catholic Messenger continues to publish diatribes by Father Richard McBrien. His most recent denigration of Pope John Paul II’s pontificate and his “major failures on the ecclesial front” reveal Fr. McBrien’s bias.
He is miffed that dissenting priest theologians have been stripped of their status after YEARS of rejecting, diluting and misrepresenting the truth of Catholic teaching.
He is saddened that JP II’s choice of shepherds loyal and faithful to the authority of the magisterium in matters of faith and morals were “relentlessly conservative,” appointments to the hierarchy which will transform it for generations to come. Last, he states that JP II denied the sex abuse crisis “from the start,” an inflammatory, simplistic statement.
Please give us what we need: thoughtful articles written by Catholics who wholeheartedly adhere to the faith, who are not afraid to clarify contemporary misunderstandings, who understand the issues that need to be addressed and who suggest ways for us to better live our Catholic faith in our society today.
Perhaps you could include talks given by someone like Archbishop Charles Chaput who has his finger on the pulse of contemporary society and culture.
Sharon Hude
Iowa City
