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Criticism of Catholics shows writer is not well-informed

Criticism of Catholics shows writer is not well-informed

Date published: 11/18/2003

Fulton Sheen frequently remarked that he never met anyone who hated the Catholic Church, but rather hated what they didn't understand about it. Indeed, Jean Fourcade's interpretation, that "the only purpose (or excuse) for sexual intercourse is the production of babies," is far from the teaching of the church concerning the marital act ["Roman church's dogmas are killing the Third World," Nov. 1].

Simply stated, in order to be licit, sexual intercourse must be both unitive and procreative. Deliberately interfering with either aspect renders it an illicit act and therefore contradicts God's plan for humankind.

It is as if to say: "We accept each other as God made us, except for our sexuality. Here we need to adjust for his mistake."

One might argue that many of today's ills can be traced to a lack of respect for self and others, and a loss of a healthy fear of the Lord.

The problems in Africa are not caused by preaching the sanctity of the marital act, but rather by orchestrated disinformation from governments.

Politicians throughout Africa, with an average age in the late 20s and a life expectancy of maybe mid- or late 30s, are either disinterested in helping their people or unable to resist the promise of riches from selling AIDS drugs on the European black market. This attitude, along with official denial of the existence of HIV, is surely to be blamed.

Perhaps some anger management and redirection could help these poor suffering people more than venting on the Catholic Church.

Tom Elstner Jr.

Stafford

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Date published: 11/18/2003