Columnist incorrect about Catholicism

After reading Dan Masny’s column (“New pope… Columnist incorrect about Catholicism

After reading Dan Masny’s column (“New pope should promote culture of tolerance”) in Wednesday’s issue of The Pitt News, several things were quite clear to me. Masny is either non-Catholic or a non-practicing Catholic. Either way, he displays a profound ignorance of doctrine. I was raised Catholic and have become quite knowledgeable in doctrine and tradition. Masny’s column was flawed in numerous areas.

First, the Church’s position on birth control is one rooted deeply in doctrine. The Catholic Church teaches that every sexual act should be open to the creation of life. Condoms and birth control are in violation of this. Also, the church’s stance is not allowing for the spread of STDs. It advocates the use of abstinence; this method is the only way to absolutely prevent the spread of STDs. Just because Catholics do not wish to conform to church teaching in this area is not a reason to change it.

Next, I thought that Masny’s request to change the church’s stance on homosexuality was a joke. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: The church is not against homosexual people; it is against homosexual acts. This is a position that is not just held by Catholics; it’s rooted in biblical teaching, which all Christians followed. It is not just a Catholic issue. There is nothing to prevent homosexuals from partaking in the Catholic mass and traditions as long as they are not in direct violation of Church teaching.

The argument for women in “authority” positions is utterly ridiculous. Women are held in high esteem in the Catholic Church. There are many ways to dedicate your life to the church as a woman, including serving as a sister, a mother or a lesser-known vocation as a consecrated virgin. Woman can distribute communion, be altar girls and serve as lectors. The fact that only men are ordained in the church is mostly a matter of doctrine. Jesus could have chosen woman apostles when he was alive, and the fact that he did not do so sends a message: Men have their place in the church just as women have their place.

Lastly, on the issue of priests marrying: To suggest that it is unnatural to give up romantic love is baseless. Men have given up this romantic love to minister in the Catholic Church. The basis of their “sacrifice” is that they are married to the church. They give the church and its congregation the full attention that they would give a spouse. Their entire life is dedicated to helping the faithful do what is right according to the Catholic Church, which we so desperately need at this time in the church’s history.

The Church is not a political institution, thus it cannot be changed as one. The election of a new pope does not change profound truths that have been taught for centuries. The legacy of Pope John Paul II is that he preached and defended these truths vigorously and without apology. I do not necessarily agree with the Church on all issues, but I do not demand that they be changed. Think of it like this: The Catholic Church is like a club, with its own rules and regulations. If you don’t like the rules, then you don’t need to be in the club. No one is forcing you to conform.

Adrienne Swan

Political Science and Communications

Freshman

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Few board members don’t represent entire country

Upon seeing the editorial “Rejecting administration shows county’s homophobia” in Wednesday’s issue of The Pitt News, we were surprised to discover that the county and school district attacked in the editorial were none other than our own former residence and alma mater. The editorial referred to the Central Dauphin School District School Board’s decision not to hire Robert Pellicone, an openly gay candidate for superintendent. While we agree with the basic sentiments espoused in the editorial regarding the rights of homosexuals, as well as non-discriminatory policies in general, we disagree vehemently with the way in which the events and facts were presented, perhaps even distorted.

What the editorial failed to mention was that there were many advocates supporting the hiring of Pellicone as superintendent. Basing the intolerance of an entire county on the actions of five members of a school board and several protesters — who, consequently, are taxpayers and parents themselves, that have the right to voice their opinion, right or wrong, to the school board that governs where their money goes — is simply unfair.

We also feel as though the explanation of Pellicone’s lawsuit against the school district in Beverly Hills was falsely portrayed. He did not, in fact, win the lawsuit. The terms were negotiated outside of court. Of course he was found “not guilty.” He filed the lawsuit; the school board didn’t take him to court. A plaintiff can’t be found “not guilty.” Rather, he was cleared of accusations of fraud made against him.

What disturbed us most about the article was the quote taken from our own Patriot-News from a former school board member, truncated in The Pitt News. The quote in the Patriot-News was, “Mr. Pellicone leads a lifestyle that I and most of the community sees as morally offensive.” The Pitt News portrayed this as being the opinion of the community rather than his own by removing the words “I and” from the quotation. One might ask why The Pitt News removed those two words, approximately the length of the ellipsis itself?

The main thrust of this response is to point out to readers of The Pitt News that a few people in Dauphin County and the Central Dauphin School District do not speak for the rest of its citizens.

What we hope for is more accurate reporting of these types of incidents. Had neither of us lived in the district, we may well have simply taken the editorial at face value. However, being active in our former community, we were able to see what many nonresidents wouldn’t have noticed, like the omission and distortion of several key facts that otherwise would have shown citizens of Dauphin County to be tolerant. Dauphin County, like any other location, has its “bigots.” However, that does not represent the entire county. We would like to hope and think that well-informed and conscientious people would not make such generalizations.

Respectfully yours,

John O’Donnell and Lauren Stoner

Central Dauphin High School Graduates

Politics and philosophy; political science and anthropology

Freshman and sophomore