Re “Students get eye-opening look at grace in recovery house,” (B.C. Catholic, Sept. 14) by students from Archbishop Carney Secondary:

Dear students, thanks for an excellent article and for The B.C. Catholic giving you enough space and for printing your great photos.

I hope you will continue to act as community (doing projects like visiting , engaging, and writing), and continue to write well, making the effort to hand in well written and thoughtful essays.

Marianne Werner
Vancouver


Re “Musical dilemma as composer faces abuse claims,” (B.C. Catholic, Sept. 7):

I question if it is appropriate to acknowledge this situation, given no criminal charges have been laid. Writing an article about it seems to give credence to it.

We are all sitting ducks, as anyone can accuse essentially anyone of abuse or misconduct. The charges could have no substance at all. It has happened many times.

Given the number of false charges, isn’t it reasonable to wait until something more substantial exists, maybe even waiting for a criminal charge?

Joan Davies
Coquitlam

 

I understood that Catholic teaching was to “love the sinner but hate the sin,” yet I read that Catholic music directors have cancelled events and banned the use of David Haas’ wonderful hymns because there are allegations of sexual misconduct.

Even if the allegations turn into criminal judgments, the recent Gospel reading about removing the log from one’s own eye would indicate that we are a sinful lot and shouldn’t be too quick to point fingers at others.

Certainly some wrongs are more serious than others and the Church is sensitive to sexual abuse these days, but shouldn’t we be praying for this poor man instead of effectively chastising him in public and cutting off his income, especially in this time of COVID-19 when musicians are struggling to stay alive?

If being pure was the criteria for acceptance of an artist’s work there wouldn’t be much art around and you could say goodbye to most of the uplifting works that give our souls so much pleasure and nourishment.

The article compared Haas with Jean Vanier, so I ask, are we going to shut down L’Arche homes because of what was learned about the founder?

Our sins are between us, God, and those who may have been hurt, and we all need prayers and forgiveness.

Chris Charles
Vancouver

 

In his Sept. 14 article, “Anatomy of an anti-Catholicism complaint against the CBC,” James Risdon perceives that the CBC’s ban on his submissions arose from an anti-Catholic bias on the part of the CBC.

He said his submissions stated, “it is time for every Canadian to repent of his sins, pick up a rosary and pray to God for peace and healing.” 

This viewpoint is a subtle form of scapegoating those who are “not like me,” implying that Canadians who do not pray the Rosary are part of the problems of mob violence and the pandemic. 

The CBC is expected to avoid the many forms of scapegoating. This is what motivated the ban on Mr. Risdon’s submissions for one day.  

Thomas Weaver
Vancouver