Re “Church in crisis needs its laity” (B.C. Catholic, June 10):

Suggesting the Church needs the laity misses a fundamental point: the laity are the Church. Priests, bishops, and other religious, male and female, are merely our guides and interpreters.

When we have a spiritual or moral dilemma, we the holy, faithful people of God, as Pope Francis has so eloquently put it, turn to our parish priest for clarification or answers. The priests, however, seem of two minds. First, they have too much on their plates, they say. Or, they hem and haw to such a degree that we give up and, failing all else, write to the Pope. He in turn answers our inquiries with a form letter, printed on beautiful embossed stationery, signed by some cleric in the Vatican, and telling us how much the Holy Father appreciates our letter and that he will remember us in his prayers.

But such responses fail to answer our questions and perpetuate a pattern of silence and secrecy embraced centuries ago by Church hierarchy. Imagine what might have happened if anything remotely similar to social media had existed 100 years ago. (Scandals, corruption, and abuse are not new.)

So long as the laity sit back comfortably in their pews and obey the historic dictates of pay, pray, and obey, we will have to tolerate a continuation of the corruption, abuse, silence, and secrecy that pervades the Church hierarchy today.

Action has to begin at the parish level. When a parish priest refuses to acknowledge an inquiry, let alone respond to it, and relies entirely on a select clique to govern his parish, what are we to do? The answer is obvious: replace him with someone more amenable to his parishioners’ spiritual needs. How? As a stubborn optimist, I check The B.C. Catholic regularly hoping to see that our prayers have been answered, but thus far, we pray in vain.

The other, more dramatic action is to withdraw our personal and financial support from the parish and go elsewhere – even, God forbid, change denominations. Many Catholics have embraced other churches because of their contempt for the abuse and corruption in the Church today.

Don’t blame the Church’s mess on the media; they simply report the truth. After a few weeks or months, Catholics forgive and forget, but Pope Francis’ policy of leading by example does little to stem the flow of evil.

Cardinals take a vow of obedience to the Pope; Francis needs to make them toe the line.

Robert C. Scott
(The writer is emeritus professor of rhetoric and communications at the University of Calgary. He lives in Sechelt.)


In response to Alan Charlton’s July 22 review of the film Unplanned, I take issue with his view that the film “will do little to convert anyone not already onside.”

Historically evil practices such as slavery, child abuse, and murder have been stopped when the public was forced to face the stark evil of these acts. It brings about change.

Thirty million American babies have been legally killed since abortion was legalized by Roe vs. Wade. That’s the whole population of Canada. Surely we are called to do something about this horrific statistic.

Doris Rankin
Vancouver


I was shocked to read Alan Charlton’s review of the movie Unplanned and even more shocked that The B.C. Catholic would publish this negative review of an excellent movie.

That Mr. Charlton would give credence to Planned Parenthood's complaints and versions of Ms. Johnson's story is unbelievable. The criticisms of the book and movie by “sources on the Internet” show how desperate Planned Parenthood and their allies really are, but it is unforgivable that a movie reviewer in a Catholic newspaper would believe them or not question their motives. 

The facts speak for themselves in the movie. The ultrasound procedure and the RU486 abortion are real. Because they can’t be disputed, pro-abortion forces seek to discredit the messenger, Abby Johnson. Hence all the negative publicity and attempts to stop this movie from being made and distributed widely.

What are the pro-abortion forces so afraid of? It is true that this movie might do little to “convert anyone not already onside,” however it has great value in entertainment, good acting, and reality which should encourage pro-life people to continue the struggle and be encouraged that sometimes people's eyes are opened by our Lord, including Abby Johnson and former abortionist Bernard Nathanson.

Shame on you for publishing this negative and distorted review and for giving any publicity to the negative lies being circulated by the pro-abortion forces.

Marlene Campbell
Kamloops


We saw Unplanned, and it is an unforgettable movie, not for the timid or weak hearted, as it shows an ultrasound of a baby in the womb as an abortionist sucks it out with the vacuum method, the baby trying to pull away and being pulled apart and sucked out. This is a brutal and horrific reality.

What's waiting for abortionists and their staff when they appear before God? “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Jerome Desilets
Powell River


It was refreshing to see Unplanned’s true depiction of the abortion tragedy that has struck our materialistic, decadent and depraved society. The stench of the law that allows 100,000 abortions a year in this country to be considered a human right must have reached the throne of God.

The movie is a heart-wrenching account of the bloody business that goes on inside Planned Parenthood centres. They cannot disparage this production nor criticize its accuracy. Abby Johnson became a director of one of these centres and knew well what went on. But those weavers of lies and misinformation did not count on Abby’s conscience. 

Just like David against Goliath, she prevailed against all odds. Like St. Paul of Tarsus, she turned her life around; away from the darkness and into the light.

Sexually active teens should see this movie and learn that actions carry consequences. Unfortunately, girls bear the brunt of this tragedy, and often the emotional scars last a lifetime.

It is parents’ responsibility to teach their kids about morality. Schools don’t do it, instead teaching all about rights without responsibilities.

The road to hell really is paved with good intentions and unrighteous rights.

John Bueno
North Vancouver