Letters

Mass media (letter)

Errol P. Duke

Contents - Jul 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Archbishop Pell receives the pallium - Peter Westmore New Vatican guidelines call for sound, accurate liturgy translations - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World AD2000 makes impact on the Internet - Francis Young Thomas More Centre Winter Schools 2001 for Ballarat and Brisbane Education: National Catholic Education Conference: but who chose the guest speakers? - Michael Gilchrist Carnivale Christi: an inspiring display of Christian culture - Angela Smith Archbishop Carnley: controversial Primate - Dr Ian Spry QC Basic Ecclesial Communities - Archbishop Leonard Faulkner Report on Marins BECs workshop in Ballarat - Peter Finlayson The case for more Church History in Catholic schools - Michael Lynch First Tetum-language New Testament for East Timor Letters: Australia's Patroness? (letter) - Rev W.J. Robley Adm Letters: Ballarat Diocese (letter) - Peter Jenkins Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Philip Robinson Letters: Mass media (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: New Testament books (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: De facto relationships (letter) - Deirdre Lyra Letters: Church land (letter) - Charles Haber Books: Testimonies to the Glory of God: World Youth Day Pilgrimage AD2000 - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: 'Five Loaves and Two Fishes' by Archbishop F. X. Nguyen Van Thuan - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: The Gift of the Rosary: How to make and How and Why to Pray, by Brian Peachey - Barry Morgan (reviewer) Music: From the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit: - John Miles (reviewer) Corpus Christi Seminary Inquiry Day Reflection: An Australian World War II hero - Ron Cowban

Archbishop Pell (Compass interview, 20 May) refers to present society offering "counterfeit compassion", i.e., tolerance of sin and evil as being its "highest virtue."

The mass media is largely to blame for this prevailing attitude. For example, it concocts "half a good reading story" on Dr Pell's refusing to give Communion to active homosexuals. Why didn't it complete "a full good reading story" by stating that no Catholic - homosexual, heterosexual or whatever - may receive Communion while in a state of serious sin?

As the theme of the day, i.e., political correctness, is merely a veneer - a "don't offend, be comfortable, I don't really care, I lack courage, it's too hard" philosophy - then why do the majority of good-thinking people remain silent and asleep?

How can we expect Jesus to change the world for the better when his "instruments" are passive?

Justice has a price. In the end, we all get - and are getting - what we deserve.

ERROL P. DUKE
Elizabeth East, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 6 (July 2001), p. 14