Letters

Tough teachings (letter)

Mrs Maureen Federico

Contents - Nov 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The essential role of saints in the Church - Michael Gilchrist Independent inquiry exonerates Archbishop George Pell - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Father Fessio: real US crisis is 'spiritual abuse' - Karl Maurer Australian Bishops' 'complaints protocol' used to uphold orthodoxy - Richard Egan Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva canonised at Papal Mass in Rome - AD2000 Report Sydney Archdiocese courses on 'Catechism' - Fr John Flader Catholic schools: restoring a sense of sin - Br John Moylan CFC Australian apologist Raymond de Souza's successful overseas lecture tour - AD2000 Report Events: The Fellowship of St Arnou to hold function in Melbourne Letters: Media war declared (letter) - Fr M. Shadbolt PP Letters: Embryo experimentation (letter) - Brian A. Coman Letters: Radical feminism (letter) - Gordon Southern Letters: Brisbane Synod (letter) - J.F. Nolan Letters: Anglican Church (letter) - Fr James Grant SSC Letters: Office of Bishop (letter) - Fr Brendan T. Walters MSC Letters: Headline (letter) - Michael Starr Letters: Birth control (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Insulting TV program (letter) - K.L. Hanrahan Letters: Tough teachings (letter) - Mrs Maureen Federico Letters: Offertory prayers (letter) - John Mulholland Letters: Exorcists (letter) - Monica J. Hart Letters: EWTN (letter) - Jacqueline Donohue Letters: Anonymity (letter) - Narelle Mullins Books: The New Faithful: Why Young Adults are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Scripture Diary 2003 Books: Bernard Of Clairvaux: Essential Writings - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: A Generation Betrayed: Deconstructing Catholic Education, by Eamonn Keane - John Young (reviewer) Books: Ideal Christmas Gifts from AD Books Reflection: St Maria Goretti's 'perfect Christian death' - Mary Kenny

In the wake of the recent paedophile scandals affecting all Christian denominations, it has been disconcerting to read in letters to Catholic journals, and even hear from the pulpit, oblique references to "not casting the first stone", etc, and that we should exercise unconditional compassion and love towards these offenders, so as to practise "true" Christianity!

I feel that we have totally lost the plot here. There is a marked difference between committing a sin between two consenting adults (adultery) - to which Jesus was referring when He made that famous remark - and references to leading others astray (one in Matthew and one in Luke), which were about children, in particular.

Matthew's account (ch 18) reads: "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith in me would be better drowned in the depths of the sea with a great millstone around his neck. Alas for the world that there should be such obstacles! Obstacles indeed there must be, but alas for the man who provides them" (Jerusalem Bible).

Luke's account ( 17:1-3) reads: "He said to his disciples 'Obstacles are sure to come but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!'"

I find those two statements quite clear, every bit as clear in their context as the woman taken in adultery. Why then for the past 30 years or so have we become so paralysed with fear in mentioning this - or any of the other tough things that Jesus said? Have we totally convinced ourselves that He said nothing that might be offensive to our collectively delicate feelings?

What we can surely judge is a person's actions and if warranted he or she should answer for them to the religious, judicial and social authorities. With these words of Jesus in mind, only God knows all the secrets of the human heart. He, and He alone, is the judge of it.

MAUREEN FEDERICO (MRS)
Frankston, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 10 (November 2002), p. 15