THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510270056
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Mathews Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
LAST WEEK'S Issue of Faith: Pope John Paul II's recent visit to the United States brought up the old question of why Americans stay loyal to the pope and a church that often do not reflect the views of those Americans on issues such as birth control and women in the priesthood.
I took the stance that for most Catholics, the church and the Holy Father transcend those ``hot potato'' issues. The spiritual rewards of the Roman Catholic faith and the leadership of the pope, are far more important to the real lives of American Catholics than a few political issues.
This week's reader responses:
From Barney Oldfield of Virginia Beach: ``(That column) was the most refreshing, upbeat and wholesome commentary coming from the secular media I think I've ever read. You were very, very insightful, and it was comfortably reverent.''
From Judy Taylor of Suffolk: ``When you love people, you tell them what God says for their own good. This pope, adored and glorified by his followers, is nothing like Jesus. He venerates the Queen of Heaven, the Madonna, for which Israel was judged severely by God and rebuked by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 44:17, 20). I am sure there are a lot of pagans who are nice folk and a lot of nice religious people who are lost. . . . I agree that this pope is eloquent and a great communicator, but then so was Ronald Reagan while he was being manipulated by Nancy's astrologer.''
From Thomas D. Capozzi of Virginia Beach: ``It is unfortunate that (the pope), who brought a message of hope and pride in the ideals that made America a beacon for the world, was overshadowed by the circus of the O.J. verdict. . incidences of social pathologies plaguing our society when 90 percent of what the media feeds the public is glorification of this garbage.
``It seems that the only thing the press wanted to report about the pope's visit were all the polls stating that American Catholics disagree with the pope on certain moral issues and church teachings. I would suggest that the problem here does not lie with the pope and his `out of touch' positions. The problem lies with us Americans, who do not realize the connection between the lack of respect for the sanctity of life and our overall disdain for traditional moral teachings, with the breakdown of the family unit and the exploding social pathologies that are tearing at the fabric of our society.
``Look in the mirror, Americans, before we judge Pope John Paul.
From Mikki Peri Jacques of Virginia Beach: ``My eyes remained glued to my TV set, watching and listening to (the pope's) message from the Lord. One picture will forever remain with me: the little children, teenagers, young adults and the elderly, standing in the pouring rain for hours on end, with smiles on their faces, all to hear the Word of God.
``I agree with you. Pope John Paul II illuminates this love with every fibre of his being. Thank God for our Holy Father!''
From Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim of Virginia Beach: ``Pope John Paul II deserves credit also for his Jewish connection. . . . The Polish pope, who grew up among Jews, refers to the Holocaust with deep sorrow, condemning anti-Semitism as `a great sin against humanity.' He commemorated the Holocaust in the Vatican for the first time and was the first pontiff to visit a synagogue, Rome's historic one, there proclaiming the Jews to be `our elder brothers in the faith.' (About the Jews) he recently stated: `This extraordinary people continues to bear signs of its divine election.' (Also,) in December 1993, the Vatican established diplomatic relations with the State of Israel.''
From Pat Stultz of Norfolk: ``Thank you for that column. I think the pope's words stay with us, and make us consider them, even if we don't agree with them. I like the way he identified the immigrants at our door as part of the American experience, and I found it very moving when he also called the unborn babies `the strangers seeking a new life also.' ''
From Richard C. Mapp of Kitty Hawk, N.C.: ``As a convert to Catholicism, I think you captured the very essence.''
From Dr. Pamela Ives of Norfolk: ``I agree with you on your comments about Pope John Paul II. As a non-practicing Catholic, I have not agreed with the political views the Catholic Church has held in recent years. However, I feel that Pope John Paul II is a great spiritual leader. He represents the sacred and spiritual side of the church. In the articles I have read about him, I feel that John Paul sees himself as a spiritual leader and not a political leader. He radiates the love and aura of a great leader.'' by CNB