TO THE EDITOR:
This letter is in response to the letter submitted entitled: "Catholics silent on important moral issues" (May 28) by Rev. Roland Simoneau
To say that I was surprised and troubled by Father Simoneau's letter, and at his responses and comments regarding President Obama's address at Notre Dame's graduation exercise would be, putting it mildly, a gross understatement. In fact I was stunned for lack of a better word.
Father Simoneau proclaimed in his letter, "I as your pastor, and as a Catholic priest, proclaim my disapproval concerning his (the President's) remarks at Notre Dame regarding his views on abortion, and also the covering up of symbols of Christ displayed while at Georgetown University. I assume Father proclaimed this from his pulpit at St. Benedict Church in Warwick. I have no doubt whatever that Father Roland Simoneau is a caring pastor; he has good reason to be troubled here, and he says so.
Father Roland then asked the question, "Where is the outrage of the Catholic people...are we more concerned about being recognized as politically correct Americans first, and as Christians only incidentally? Good questions.
Father then states a few paragraphs later of being more troubled about sentiments the President made regarding abortion in declaring that one of his daughters could possibility become pregnant outside of marriage. The comment the President made was, "I don't want my daughter(s) punished with a baby". Surely a tough statement from a standing president which surely has at some point in time entered the minds of all parents of daughters.
But then, in my mind, here is where Father Simoneau dropped the bomb. He said, "I seldom speak of abortion from the pulpit, but frankly after hearing the President's statements I felt compelled to give this reflection."
Perhaps therein lies the problem, Father Simoneau. Not only from your pulpit ... but from all the pulpits in all the dioceses.
Why aren't Catholic parishioners, especially young Catholics hearing about these serious issues from the pulpit on Sunday mornings? They should be hearing about not only avoiding, but understanding Issues such as abortion, gay marriage, gay unions, drugs, the power of the Rosary, the power of the Divine Chaplet, etc. Many young Catholics today don't even attend mass regularly on Sunday anymore, never mind holy days of obligation. Who is teaching them the seriousness of these issues, or the prayers and devotions they should know in order to help them lead a better Catholic Christian life?
Father Simoneau was probably being quite honest in stating that he seldom discusses abortion from the pulpit. Sadly, abortion is only one of the bad issues we as Catholics confront daily. But we must all bear the truth and understand this: "Catholics (meaning the laity) for the most part, will always remain silent on important moral issues". How can they do otherwise when they do not know or understand the issues correctly, and no one is teaching them any differently?
Paul J. Palombo
Jamestown
