gordon's choice
In "The
Feminist Rosary" (Fall 2003), Mary Gordon writes that she
prays for the work of "pro-choice Catholics." This is not
a fish-on-Friday kind of issue. One cannot be pro-choice and a Catholic.
Kathleen Egan Hawes
Manhasset, New York
BCM ought to be ashamed of itself for printing
an article that so blatantly supports the pro-choice cause. If Mary
Gordon truly wishes to help children, she should pray for the many Catholic
health centers that do not privilege the mother's "rights"
over the rights of the child by offering abortion services. That is
real love, real nurture. It seems that Mary Gordon's Rosary prayers
have unfortunately left out a key clause: "Blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus."
Matthew Thompson
Cambridge, Massachusetts
How could a person pray the Rosary for that which
is intrinsically evil? We can't be cafeteria Catholics.
kevin a. mckearin
Weymouth, Massachusetts
To Mary Gordon's finely tuned sensibilities,
had the Virgin Mary exercised her prerogative to refuse consent after
her child was conceived—and had she aborted Jesus—such would
have been an entirely moral choice. So much for that inconvenient other
detail in the Annunciation, Mary's "Let it be done according
to thy will." One wonders, could any two Marys be more alien?
Chuck Sheehan '76
Dallas, Texas
BCM never fails to provide well-written, thought-provoking
articles, even though I may not agree with the authors' views.
The Fall 2003 issue deserves special appreciation because of Mary Gordon's
excellent article "The Feminist Rosary."
Barbara S. Peirce MS '74
San Pedro, California
I want to thank Mary Gordon for reminding me and
teaching me how to pray again.
Jim Cody '83
Dunellen, New Jersey
church 21
Re "From
This Church Forward" (Fall 2003): The language at BC's
Church in the 21st Century forum was eloquent and the emotions were
clear, but in the final analysis, the only real message that I received
was: "We don't know where we are, and we don't know
where we want to be, but we'd better hurry and get on with whatever
we're going to do."
I hope the hierarchy of the Church and the active
laity are better prepared for the future than this forum would indicate.
Joan Nobis Toner '56
Colorado Springs, Colorado
With respect to Fr. Bryan Hehir's suggestion
about this being the most educated Catholic laity, one has to wonder
how educated the laity is in Church matters. I believe we have failed
in teaching the young and reminding the old about Christian doctrine.
At the same time, I am not ready to subscribe
to the thought that a pope who has to concern himself with the whole
world and each of its parts is really knowledgeable about each of those
parts. He must depend on the hierarchy to keep him posted.
It just might be that a better communications
system is in order.
george e. port '51
Mamaroneck, New York
chastity redux
I am indebted to David Morrison's "Catholic
and Gay" (Summer 2003) for leading me to reexamine my life
and my beliefs. Upon reflection, both heterosexual and homosexual human
beings should have the same options. The Church would not foist 24/7
chastity on all heterosexual couples, nor should it on all homosexual
couples.
In the New Testament, Christ does not
propose chastity as an element of perfection. Chastity is
a Church-imposed stance. In the early Church, homosexual couples
were recognized and their unions were blessed (see Christianity,
Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, by John Boswell,
University of Chicago Press, 1980).
I will defend to the death David Morrison's
choice to live his life in a chaste homosexual relationship, as well
as his right to voice his opinion on homosexual chastity. However, I
also will defend anyone's right to maintain and live a homosexual
relationship while remaining a deeply committed Christian and refusing
the guilt and self-loathing that Church-imposed homosexual chastity
often entails.
J. Vincent H. Morrissette MA '60
Bridgeport, Connecticut
how to compete
Re "World-wise,"
by Professor Charles Derber (Linden Lane, Spring 2003): The real problem
with free trade, globally and domestically, is that it has rarely been
tried. Regulation is always sold as protection for the public, but the
only motivation for the regulation of trade has been to protect the
profits of the entrenched who got there first. Incorporation (a process
by which a business or other entity is created by the state) is simply
a ploy to draw a veil over the activities of real people who would otherwise
either reap or suffer the consequences of their actions.
The answer to the problem so clearly seen by Professor
Derber is to curtail severely the power of governments to legislate
in the area of trade. What we need everywhere in the world, the United
States included, is a separation of business and state. Under such a
system everyone could be a competitor
Elizabeth Carr Goldin '64
Stone Mountain, Georgia
in sports
BC's actions regarding the ACC and Big East
are beyond comprehension when viewed from a moral, Christian perspective.
Fr. Leahy's explanation ("Conference
Call," Linden Lane, Fall 2003) that this change was motivated
by the desire to play with schools who have a high academic rating is
laughable.
We all know that money was the driving force.
John Droz, Jr. '68
Greig, New York
For the record, in addition to citing
the ACC's emphasis on high graduation rates for athletes and
its programs for academic cooperation, Fr. Leahy credited
the strong student demographics within the conference region,
the ACC's stability, and a financial boost that will "help
us support non-revenue sports at BC" as reasons for accepting
the ACC's invitation.—Ed
shanahan recalled
On September 15, my wife and I flew to Ireland
to attend the funeral Mass and burial of John P. Shanahan, professor
of mathematics at Boston College from 1962 to 2003. John was, for all
who knew him during his tenure at BC, a teacher of uncommon character
and intelligence. His dedication to his students was renowned, and he
regularly provided long office hours—for students needing tutorial
assistance or, more usual, those simply seeking a few moments of his
quiet conversation and playful Irish wit.
He was also a deeply committed Christian, who
wore his Catholicism with grace and unfailing charity. After a funeral
Mass in historic Holy Cross Abbey outside of Thurles, we laid him to
rest in a quiet cemetery surrounded by the rich fields and soft green
mountains of Tipperary
Maurice B. Conway '60
Duxbury, Massachusetts
were you there?
In October, the Italian studies program in the
Department of Romance Languages and Literatures will sponsor a symposium
to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Rome during World
War II. We are seeking any BC alumni, retired faculty, or staff who
played any role in the liberation or who lived in Italy at the time
and would be willing to contribute their share of "oral history"
at our symposium. I would ask interested parties to please phone me
at (617) 552-6346 or e-mail me at mormando@bc.edu.
Franco Mormando
Associate Professor of Italian
Top of Page
|
