I would like to know why The B.C. Catholic no longer publishes the weekly article by Pope Francis. I find it disheartening that the leader of our faith is not given the time or space for us to feel connected with him. It was the reason I opened up the paper. Now I glance through, but rarely read the other articles.

It is sad that we miss the opportunity to read his message. I know many seniors will miss the article and do not have access to the Internet to read news from the Vatican. I hope the articles will be reinstated. If the reason is a lack of space may I suggest some of your weekly contributors could each submit articles that are 50 words shorter to accommodate the Pope’s message.

Margaret Webster
Chilliwack

(Unfortunately, the Pope’s general audience is almost a week old by the time our print readers get a chance to read about it, while it’s readily available on the Internet within minutes of being presented. We regret this leaves some readers without Internet unable to access it, however our goal of delivering content that local readers can’t get elsewhere means focusing on the Archdiocese of Vancouver, B.C., and Canada. – Editor) 


Re “Amazon married priest discussion relevant to Canada’s north,” B.C. Catholic, June 26:

The priest shortage crisis is not solved by ordaining married men. It is solved by encouraging souls to lead heroic lives of virtue, sacrificing the married life for Christ.

In the early missionary days of British Columbia, the solution to the constant shortage of priests was not to ordain married men, but to rely on virtuous men, missionaries, who were willing to give their lives for the salvation of souls.

Ordaining married men will not solve the priest shortage, it will only prolong the inevitable. The only way to solve a problem is to accurately identify it; the problem is a lack of vocations. If we are looking for concrete, long-term solutions, we must continue to uphold this sacred tradition of the Church and pray for young men to offer their lives for Christ in the priesthood.

Instead of taking the easy road, we must take up our crosses and continue to follow Our Lord. He will provide labourers for the harvest.

Samuel Stagliano
Coquitlam