Readers Speak Out: Action on nuclear treaty, Fox facts, rocking the boat (February 10, 2019)

Ban the nukes

Re: Churches want action on nuclear treaty (Jan. 27):

It’s safe to say that nuclear weapons now pose the greatest threat to humanity. Rising tensions between major powers have increased the danger of a nuclear war that could end human civilization. The United States and Russia alone possess 90 per cent of the world’s nuclear arms. 

Clearly, there’s an urgent need for this problem to be addressed in an intelligent and peaceful manner.

Thus, the letter from 26 Canadian churches, signed by the Canadian Catholic bishops, to Canada’s government asking it to sign the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty is of great significance. It conveys the message that peace is possible but that the possession of nuclear weapons ought to be illegal, and that “to threaten nuclear attack as a foundation for security, is ineffective and ethically problematic.”

By signing the letter, Canadian bishops are following the lead of Pope Francis, who’s been at the forefront of promoting nuclear disarmament and peace.

Claudio Ceolin,

Toronto

Tough choices

Sr. Frances Brady of Our Lady’s Missionaries said that religious orders feel distress over some bishops’ vote of no confidence in Development and Peace. I would like to tell her and others who think Catholics should support groups who are involved with providing abortions that many, if not most, of us pro-lifers do not focus “solely on abortion” — we care about other aspects of respecting life.  

But why should we support with our time, energy and donations various pro-life groups and also support Development and Peace? This reminds me of the discord that arose in 2000 when the Catholic Women’s League of Canada decided to support the World March of Women because, even though it supported abortion, its platform included many good items. The CWL national executive wanted to focus on the good things, not the bad. 

But when evil is tied into good, does evil become good, or does good lose out?

Claudine Goller,

Scarborough, Ont.

Fox facts

It is most regrettable that the Canadian news media has chosen to take an anti-Trump position with little or no balance. On Feb. 3 The Catholic Register had a letter and an article which raises concern that the newspaper is not free from unbalance.

I suspect Fox News in the United States is generally not held in high regard, but some facts about its evening broadcasters might be considered: Bret Baier, Catholic; Martha MacCallum (she had an Ash Wednesday cross on her forehead), Catholic; Sean Hannity, Catholic; and Laura Ingram, Catholic

Maybe Fox News is a great deal more balanced than Canadians in general realize — especially Canadian Catholics.

David Hogg,

Toronto

Rock the boat

I was reading your (Feb. 3) paper backwards (no reason why) and read John Dolik’s letter, which I strongly agreed with. Then I turned to page 17 and, oddly enough, there is a Charles Lewis column challenging Dolik. It was almost saying, we don’t care what you readers feel.  

Why do your writers not comment on all the happenings in our own country and the direction our Liberal government is going — so much of which is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not much comment is ever made about such issues. 

Is it because we have a far smaller Catholic community in Canada and we don’t want to rock the boat with our government here?

Iona D’Cruz,

Toronto