Madam, – For those who wish to express their discontent with the Catholic Church’s expressed intention of continuing to exclude women from the institution, WOW (Women’s Ordination Worldwide) have suggested wearing green armbands on Sunday, September 26th. This might suit those on active service as readers and ministers of the Eucharist on the day who would for that and/or other reasons prefer not to stay away from Mass. My husband and I plan to do that. The advantage is that it is a bit like wearing the Fáinne, which showed you speak Irish: in the case of the armband you speak of women’s ordination. It is at least a visible sign of support for each other in the likely event of Rome ignoring the protest. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Let us not forget that the greatest and the most marvellous work of God’s love is the Passion of His Son Jesus, Our Lord. We are able to be part of this Mystery by attendance at Mass.
To be given the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist is the biggest privilege a Catholic can have. There are still many places where Catholics risk their lives to be able to attend Mass. It is heart-breaking to know that there are people so very ignorant about the Mass that they think of Mass attendance as mere support for the parish priest and that “empty pews” on Sunday will make the Catholic Church change its decision on the ordination of women priests.
Jennifer Sleeman feels that without access to the priesthood, women are relegated to the position of second class citizens. We are all sinners before God in need of His mercy and love. As Catholics, we cannot talk of “office” and status in the context of membership of the church and of God’s kingdom. My friends and I will attend extra Mass next Sunday to atone for the affront to the Eucharist and to beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten those in ignorance of its grace. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I note with mystification the passionate discourse regarding the one-day boycott of Mass. Am I the only one to whom this seems akin to arguing about one’s imaginary friends? While I remain sceptical about the existence of a personal deity, I would imagine if such an entity did exist and took stock in the moral affairs of humans, it would chiefly be concerned about the good we do, not the petty technicalities of some archaic and deeply questionable organisation? Surely if people believe in such a god, their own personal convictions should be enough and the venue and manner in which they worship is largely immaterial? This could of course be just my inner heathen talking. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I forecast that the boycott will be a failure for the obvious reason that the ladies of Ireland will flock to their local churches to see who hasn’t turned up. Sure, how could you go on if you didn’t find out! – Yours, etc,