Letters

Human Rights (letter)

Sr M.B. Eanswythe OSB

Contents - Mar 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Selecting and forming future priests - Michael Gilchrist St Thérèse's relics make Australian pilgrimage - Mother Teresa OCDM News: The Church Around the World 'Conservation Plan' recommends changes to Toowoomba's Cathedral - Michael Gilchrist North American vocations summit overlooks orthodox success stories - Zenit News Service Former Anglican Bishop of London explains why he became a Catholic - Monsignor Graham Leonard Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration spreads throughout the world - Fr Douglas Harris 'Liturgiam Authenticam', ICEL and the need for improved Mass translations - Anna Silvas The Benedictine medal: a long history of devotion - Fr Fabian Duggan OSB Thoughts of a recent convert to Catholicism - Rett Peaden Letters: Watered-down faith - Teresa Martin Letters: Testimonies - Raymond de Souza Letters: Apology - Fr M. Shadbolt PP Letters: Last straw (letter) - Justin Kearney Letters: Human Rights (letter) - Sr M.B. Eanswythe OSB Letters: Courage Needed (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Sunday obligation - Leo Willems Letters: Forgotten teachings - Mrs Hiske Deschepper Letters: Nicene Creed - Ken Bayliss Letters: Parish libraries? - Bob Cotterall Letters: Indian appeal - Kevin L. Fernandes Letters: Teaching position - Robert Anderson Books: Freedom and Virtue: The Conservative-Libertarian Debate, George W. Carey (ed) - Alex Sidhu (reviewer) Books: Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism, by Paul Vitz - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Living The Catholic Faith, by Archbishop Charles Chaput - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: Fatima Handbook, by Leo Madigan - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: Fr Werenfried - A Life, by Joanna Bogle - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: John Paul II: St Joseph's renewed significance for the Church - Br Christian Moe FSC

I am glad that you include in your notes to letter writers, "the views expressed therein are not necessarily those of [your] Journal." I am writing to protest against Dr Jago's letter (December/January AD2000).

Such sentiments lend a false credibility to the belief that traditional Catholics have the defects of their virtues - that is, "firmly held religious beliefs go hand-in-hand with harsh judgments against disadvantaged people."

Respect for human rights is not the prerogative of atheists, Dr Jago. Both electronic and print media constantly report massive "downsizing" as causing unemployment. Many psychologists say that the deep divide between rich and poor accounts for the high rate of male suicides.

Moreover, a Catholic Weekly front cover headline last December said "Pope apologises to Indigenous [people]" (our indigenous people.) At Mass the prayers included petitions for the unemployed and for those struggling to make ends meet. Jesus did not deny people's human rights but thundered against "those who bind heavy and insupportable burdens upon men's shoulders and will not lift a finger to help them."

SR M.B. EANSWYTHE OSB
Armidale, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 2 (March 2002), p. 14