Letters

Sexual sin (letter)

John H. Cooney

Contents - Aug 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The Assumption of Our Lady: 15 August - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: New English Missal: Vatican sets guidelines for ICEL - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Education: Beliefs and practices of Catholic students: the decline continues - Michael Gilchrist New program to apply Papal teachings in Melbourne Archdiocese - Michael Gilchrist Sexual abuse, celibacy and vocations: a response to the Church's critics - Fr Paul Stuart Events: Thomas More 2002 Winter School in Bendigo Helping Catholic school students to love the Church - Br John Moylan CFC New study of US seminary formation exposes fundamental flaws - John S. Webster Letters: Experts? (letter) - Jerome Gonzalez Letters: Church architecture (letter) - Tom King Letters: Women and the Church (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Sex abuse crisis (letter) - Mark Reidy Letters: Sexual sin (letter) - John H. Cooney Letters: Value for money? (letter) - L.L. Booth Letters: Dissent (letter) - Clair Tieppo Letters: 'New Catholicism' (letter) - Richard Congram Letters: Beyond 2000? (letter) - Mrs Peg Santamaria Letters: God's masculinity (letter) - John Davis Letters: Theological accuracy (letter) - Jan Chalmers Letters: Leaving it to God (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: Shakespeare (letter) - John A. Rayner Books: Dynamics Of World History, by Christopher Dawson - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: Abortion And Martyrdom, edited by Aidan Nichols - Tracey Rowland (reviewer) Music: 'Live Worship: Lifted', by Emmanuel Worship - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: What Catholics should expect of their priests: men 'clothed in holiness' - Fr Fabian Duggan OSB

A troubling aspect of the vituperation and venom being levelled at paedophile priests is the response Jesus made in a comparable situation. When confronted with a sexual delinquent by the orthodoxy of the day, Jesus responded with profound wisdom: "If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 7:7-8). Clearly, Jesus did not condone sin, but he firmly reminded us of our personal sinfulness.

In this regard we are also reminded that there is not one specifically vocational sacrament but two. For Matrimony shares sacramental dignity with Holy Orders. Hence sexual intercourse is a sacred act and any abuse of this act is desecration. Accordingly, it may well be fitting that paedophile priests are serving time in gaol. However, how is it that contracepting couples and aborting doctors ae roaming free?

JOHN H. COONEY
Cowwarr, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 7 (August 2002), p. 14