Letters to the Editor

March 2005

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I am the Pastoral Associate for St. Joseph's Parish and we are very impressed with your articles in the September 2004 magazine ["Water: Life before profit"]. Is it possible to have permission to reprint and circulate the article: "Living Water" by Heather Eaton and "Drinking Mindfully" by Marika Ince for our parish for their prayer and further reflection?
—Mary Murphy
   Ottawa, ON

We appreciate very much the September issue of Scarboro Missions magazine. We want to be sure all of our Sisters have the opportunity to read it as we have a water focus throughout the congregation. What are the chances of getting 300 copies?
—Sister Joan O'Keefe, SC
   Halifax, NS

Before I even finished my copy of "Renewing the Sacred Balance" [April 2004] I knew that I wanted some of my friends to have the same enjoyment I am having reading it. I want to be able to talk about it with friends. It is very beautiful...
—Irene Tanco
   Burnaby, BC

I have to say that the magazine is one of the best reading materials around! And I thank you all for putting so much into this to make it an inspiration to read each month.
—Sister Janet Zadorsky, csj
   London, ON

Well done

I just had to write and commend you on the April issue of Scarboro Missions magazine ["Renewing the Sacred Balance"]. During the first week of May I made my annual six-day retreat in St. John's. It was facilitated by a Mercy Sister from St. Louis, Missouri, who is the director of Mercy Center, a centre for ecology awareness and other earth-centered activities. The theme of the retreat was Creation and Spirituality.

I had with me the Scarboro Missions magazine. I made it known to the facilitator and to the others who were on retreat with me. All were duly impressed and those who were not already receiving Scarboro Missions took the address in order to subscribe.

This issue is very well done and documented, and gives the reader a greater awareness of the fragility and beauty of Mother Earth, of our role in the universe, and of how we individually can help to undo some of the atrocities that are being afflicted on our bio-home. It (and the retreat too) has prompted me to sign up for the David Suzuki Nature Challenge on page 8. Thank you for a wonderful issue.
—Sister Gladys Bozec, rsm
   via email

I have just read a friend's copy of the April 2004 Scarboro Missions magazine. WOW.
I am working with a youth retreat next weekend and then a Christian meditation retreat...This material would be excellent for both...
—Marie Burge
   Charlottetown, PEI

Catholic message not included

In reference to the April 2004 issue of Scarboro Missions magazine, "Renewing the Sacred Balance", it is commendable that you gave the perspective from various religious groups. It was an opportunity for them to tell your readers about their faith and how they practice it and understand peace, love and compassion. Suffice to say all are committed to a better world...

As a Catholic, it is disturbing that our message and the core of our beliefs are not included. There is no message of prayer, devotion to our Blessed Mother, the ultimate sacrifice of the crucifixion, the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints, and on and on. To eliminate these principles of our Catholic faith is to deny its existence...

Are you aware of the increasing number of Catholic students who do not go to church because they are told or perceive all religions are the same?

...We should not conclude that Christianity played a major role in the destruction of the sacred balance. In many parts of the world where Christianity is not prevalent we hear and see horror, hate, greed and revenge. It is our prayer that these people embrace Christianity and forgive and love each other...
—B. Farrell
   Mississauga, ON

The sacred balance

Over the past few years, I have noted a change in your magazine's focus from Christian evangelization to a sort of ecological philosophy, tinted with occasional socialistic undertones. This has been more pronounced recently, with one of your recent issues extolling me to "pledge allegiance to the Earth," as opposed to challenging me to pledge allegiance to Jesus. My support for Scarboro was on the basis of Christian mission...

"Renewing the sacred balance" [April 2004]: Let me please address what I perceived to be the main thrust in your issue: We are destroying the world, and it is becoming a worse place to live. But is that conclusion consistent with the facts?

...Objective scientific and societal data does not support the hypothesis of imminent environmental catastrophe and a degrading human quality of life. In fact, the reverse is shown – the world is getting better. Especially for nations with stable industrial infrastructures.

Certainly, the world we will leave for our children is far superior to the idealized "sacredly balanced" world of the past...

There is no consistent Biblical view to support the thesis that the world comes before the welfare of our children. In fact, the reverse is opposite: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26)

Should we take care of the environment? Yes. But this is in the Christian context of the natural environment existing to serve humanity's needs, not the other way around...

Property Rights: As Christians, we hopefully agree that in an ideal world all have freedom of religion and none go hungry or without any of the other necessities of life. However, the Bible does not contain explicit directions on how to achieve the economics portion of this equation. I have noted that your magazine seems to take great umbrage with the concept of property rights...

Environmental and economic doctrine: Finally, and most importantly, Scarboro Missions magazine appears to be cloaking environmental and economic positions as some kind of doctrinal Catholic thought...

This is a dangerous and misleading strategy – using the moral authority of Scarboro Missions and the Catholic Church to advance subjective environmental and economic viewpoints. After all, God did not give Moses an eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt not utilize uranium fission nor coal combustion to cost effectively produce electric power," as implied in the lead editorial of your last magazine...

Yes, the Church should define Christian-consistent outcomes in environmental and economic spheres. But the debate about the mechanics of how to achieve the outcomes is best left for other forums, such as political and environmental organizational structures. I believe this viewpoint is consistent with Pope John Paul II disallowing priests from holding political office. The Church's focus should be on evangelization and promoting direct charitable works. In my humble opinion, by extension Scarboro Missions should have the same focus.
—F.B. Trzebiatowski
   Bath, ON

Keep up the wonderful work. A very interesting magazine. Keeps us informed of the good work done in the missions.
—The Pedersens
   Esterhazy, SK

Please pray for me as I am alone and my eyesight is not good. I love the magazine and have to read it with a magnifying glass.
—Rose Turner
   Scarborough, ON

Please bring back the "Letters to the Editor".
—Mr. & Mrs. J Cassar
   Bolton, ON

Thanks so much for the prompt delivery of the two copies of the January-February [2005] edition of Scarboro Missions. It is so hopeful to see the wonderful work being done in interfaith dialogue and relations. Your magazine is an excellent witness.
—Sister Mary-Ellen Francoeur, SOS
   World Conference on Religion and Peace
   Ottawa, ON

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