Readers Speak Out: March 31, 2019

Offensive statement

Re: Shedding light on Pius’s wartime papacy (Mar. 17):

This article surprised me and made me very sad, not because of the presentation of the topic, but because of one statement: “Polish concentration camps in 1943.”

The statement is historically baseless and very offending to the Polish nation. There were a number of German concentration camps in Poland, where Poles were prisoners, only because Polish people stood up to the Germans. The Polish Resistance Army was causing Germany many losses and it was the only resistance army in Europe that had a special section called “Zegota” that was formed to protect and save Polish Jews. Because of the Polish resistance movement, Germany had more concentration camps built on Polish soil. 

It is offensive to me and the Polish veterans of the war to read in The Catholic Register about Polish concentration camps. These were German concentration camps.

The author should know better than to make such a mistake, which unfortunately is quite common.

Eva Konopacki,

Ottawa, Ont. 

Double standard

The Centre for the Study of Global Christianity found Christians were the most persecuted religious group. In 2016, 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith.

There was no news about the victims, no details about the killers and no UN resolution to stop the killing and prosecute the killers and their supporters.

Recently, in a New Zealand mosque 50 Muslims were killed. The details about the victims and the killer were in the news for days.

The world condemns all killing. But why is there such a double standard in reporting the news?

Mile Pletikosa, 

Scarborough, Ont.

Important truth

Re: Conscience and truth walk hand in hand (Mar. 10):

Generally, we all agree that the televised four-hour performance of Jody Wilson-Raybould was quite impressive, and the politicians involved in the procedure had ample opportunity to flash their oratory talents.

However, in Glen Argan’s well documented article he gently unveils the political conflict between “conscience” and “choice” — a very important truth.

Thank you for bringing this truth to our attention.

Élise Chartrand-Déry, 

Edmonton, Alta.

Healthy eating

Re: A deep dive into the pool of fast-food fish (Mar. 10):

The article provides helpful tips to avoid meat during Lenten fasting. But in keeping with recent reports warning of the real consequences to the planet due to the consumption of meat as well as fish products, we are encouraged to adopt a more plant-based approach to benefit not only our own health but that of our common home.

There is an abundance of information available concerning the unsustainable price paid by the environment due to the human consumption of animal products, not to mention the real suffering of animals due to factory farming. We can also fast from injuring our environment. 

I welcome more ecologically supportive articles which could encourage readers to increase their consumption of plant-based nutrition during Lent as well as the rest of the Church calendar to benefit human health and the health of our precious Earth.

Belinda Masters,

Bowmanville, Ont.