Re “A reluctant prophet,” (B.C. Catholic, April 19):

I am hoping this letter might be a point of reflection for when you choose certain personalities to highlight in a Catholic paper.

I think a deeper dive into Jordan Peterson’s values and morals that drive his points of view may lead to the writer and the editor questioning the one-sided presentation of someone that puts only a positive light on his rhetoric. It is dangerous when media vilify or glorify human characters without balance, in this article actually comparing Mr. Peterson to St. John Paul II and alluding to his quest being similar to that of St. Joseph. That is concerning.

Nora Chambers
Maple Ridge

 

Thank you for the insightful article on Jordan Peterson, a “reluctant prophet” of our time. Peterson’s insights in today’s political climate have been called “dangerous” and “right-wing,” and by publishing this article The B.C. Catholic might risk being accused of similar things.

I most appreciated writer Brett Powell’s reference to Peterson’s health: that “after a year of medical and emotional turmoil” he is only working a couple of hours a day while “the remainder of his time is invested in maintaining his health.” Peterson had to pull back after being forced to become a public speaker equalling Bishop Robert Barron and Venerable Fulton Sheen, thereby becoming this “reluctant prophet.”

Peterson’s ideas and insights are, I’d say, not just from reading books, but rather gifts from heaven. Moreover, his insights show that this is a man who has lived deeply. Yet he has people opposing him, threatening him, and trying to stop him.

Writing well researched and thought-out content on complex or sensitive issues such as race and regimes is not easy. Anyone who dares to speak about counter-culture issues, like Peterson, often has to pay a price. It is so much easier to lead a life of going with the flow.

Peterson says, “In order to think, you have to risk being offensive.” It is understandable that we react emotionally to issues we care about. If a speaker or writer presents statements that are inaccurate, we should come up with facts to repudiate them, rather than trying to silence them.

Powell beautifully alluded to Peterson and all those forced to come to the forefront to speak truth and present facts, comparing such people with Frodo in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The article continues to explain that Peterson is not a polarizing figure. The person who speaks up is in fact shedding light on the ills that are “already there.”

As indicated in the article, Pope St. John Paul II did not set out to be an “agreeable” Pope who would try to please everyone. Often people who speak up are the ones who are caring and are willing to sacrifice themselves for something greater.

Nancy May
Vancouver

 

I am profoundly disturbed to read letters to the editor supporting efforts of our elected officials and their appointees to take away our freedoms, including freedom of worship.

If we check out the facts, perhaps we would not be so eager to supports the efforts of those charged with the responsibility of defending our freedoms rather than denying them.

COVID deaths in B.C. total 1,500 in a population of 5.2 million with a survival rate of 99.97 per cent. The number of deaths in Canada is 24,000 in a population of 38 million with a survival rate of 99.94 per cent. Global COVID deaths total 3.2 million in a population of nearly 8 billion with a survival rate of 99.965 per cent.

The average age of death for COVID patients in North America is 78.6 years, compared with the overall average age of death in North America, 78.6 years. Isn’t that remarkable.

 We have survived so much more than this pandemic, even in recent years with AIDS, SARS and MERS, and we did not shut down the country and waste 15 months (and counting) of our lives living in isolation. 

It takes some degree of courage to live a normal life in any situation. I think of the life of Howard Hughes who lived the last years of his life in seclusion, constantly sanitizing himself for fear of getting a disease from someone. He died a horrible death because his body lost its own normal and natural immunity.

Let us hope and pray for less sanitizing and more sanity. If we continue to remain passive on these issues, we are telling the government we support their ruling on how we worship.

Bert Podruzny
South Surrey

 

I am a parishioner of Joseph’s in Langley and like many during this pandemic have been unable to attend Mass for what seems forever. I truly miss it.

I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is providing us with the way forward, showing us that if we embrace the challenges that we are facing we can use them as a means to grow.

Every Sunday my wife and I as well as hundreds of others attend virtual Mass. We join with our priests as if we were in the pews. We can attend weekdays if we wish. After attending virtual Mass we are able to get in our car and make our way to our parish parking lot to receive Communion. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s what we have right now.

I am one of the ushers who make sure that vehicles are spaced and all COVID protocols are followed. What a sight it is to see my fellow Catholics stream into our parking lot receive Communion. It is humbling to see faith in action.

I have been asked by many passersby, “What are you guys doing?” When I explain we have just finished watching a virtual Mass at home and are now coming to receive the Body of Christ as a community, the universal response I get is, “Wow that’s great.”

What a way to give an example of faith to our community. It’s not the way we want it, and we would rather be attending as one family in our church, but it’s what we have right now, and we should be embracing it, not fighting it.

God always finds a way.

Hillan Kiernan
Langley

 

Thank you the April 19 article “Holy Rosary Cathedral bishop’s chair has storied history” by J.P. Sonnen.

The last paragraph mentioned that a chef with the surname of Sabatini prepared meals at the cathedral for Pope John Paul II in September 1984. Mr. Sonnen is referring to Giuseppe Sabatini, who was one of the main chefs at the Vancouver Club for over 20 years.

After he retired, Chef Sabatini generously helped many parishes with pasta-tasting events to help raise money for young people going to various World Youth days. He was assisted in this with his dear wife Clementina and their children. Giuseppe recently died after a long illness. He had a great devotion to St. Francesco Caracciolo, the patron saint of chefs. May Giuseppe now enjoy helping at the heavenly banquet of the Lord.

Rev. Stanley Galvon
Rector
Holy Rosary Cathedral