Letters

Recipe for decline (letter)

K. Logan

Contents - Feb 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: New religion texts for Melbourne schools - Michael Gilchrist Tasmanian priest to be Lismore's new bishop - AD2000 Report Bishop Wilson of Wollongong to be the future Archbishop of Adelaide - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World New RE texts launched in Melbourne's Catholic schools - Michael Gilchrist The finest RE texts produced to date - Anthony Cappello Liturgy: when will the 'Statement of Conclusions' make an impact? - Michael Gilchrist Religious persecution continues in Vietnam - AD2000 Report The "priest shortage": natural or artificial? - Larry A. Carstens Successful Thomas More Spring School in Wagga - Paul Sheehan A former heroin addict's personal testimony Archbishop Pell opens drug rehabilitation centre - Dr Joseph Santamaria Letters: Feminist book (letter) Letters: Church in China (letter) - Angela Martello Letters: Limbo (letter) - John Young Letters: Waste of resources (letter) - Shane Dore Letters: Vocations (letter) - Mrs Irena Nagy Letters: G.K. Chesterton (letter) - Tony Evans Letters: 'Creating Our Future' (letter) - Mrs Jeanette Joseph Letters: Consecrated life (letter) - Sr Mary Augustine Lane OP Letters: New Age spirituality (letter) - Frances Grundy Letters: Recipe for decline (letter) - K. Logan Letters: Sermons (letter) - Bernie Lewis Letters: Anti-Catholicism (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Christian art (letter) - Kim Portelli Letters: Science and Christianity (letter) - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Books: 'The Essence Of Feminism' by Kirsten Birkett - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: 'The Sacred Liturgy', 'Discovering the Mass', by a Benedictine monk - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: 'Pope Pius XII: Architect For Peace' by Margherita Marchione - Michael Daniel (reviewer) New patterns of religious vocations in France Reflection: The essential role of the Catholic priest - Fr John A. Hardon SJ

The Toowoomba Diocesan Plan (November AD2000) informs us that "The Key Pastoral Directions are the main ways that we, as baptised Christians are called and strive to accomplish our mission" (page 4). There are six of these key directions in total. However, the Social Justice segment fails to address the greatest social injustice in the Western world, including Toowoomba; nor in the "Evangelising Life and Culture" section does it address the greatest cultural attitude in need of correction. In both cases the issue is the same - the great evil of abortion.

One might think that the diocese has nothing to say about the Culture of Death which exists in our midst.

The Culture of Death is not just something "out there" in the secular community; it strives to enter into the Church. Polls tell us that Catholics reflect, almost exactly, the secular community views on contraception, abortion and acceptance of sterile homosexual unions. Political correctness has become the standard. When was the last time you heard a priest explain the teaching of the Church on sexual matters? How can Catholics overcome the propaganda of our secular culture, professionally promoted by the media, when the local churches will not accept their responsibility and are silent concerning Catholic truth on these matters?

It is also unfortunate that so many dissenting authors and their books are recommended resources for the Toowoomba Plan.

I think your summation is accurate: "a recipe for further decline".

K. LOGAN
Toowoomba, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 1 (February 2001), p. 14