Readers Speak Out: July 19-26, 2020

Call to action

Re: Migrant’s death hits community hard (June 28):

First, I am deeply grateful to Fr. Peter Ciallella who has tirelessly supported and advocated for the rights of foreign migrant workers in his community.

COVID-19 has shined a light on the abusive and dangerous working and living conditions faced by migrant workers who are essential to our food and care sectors. KAIROS has joined the Migrant Rights Network in calling on the government to immediately grant permanent resident status to all undocumented persons and, in future, to all migrant workers upon arrival.

Indeed, even the prime minister himself recently said that the government could “look at things like pathways towards citizenship, which would give people more rights.”

Granting permanent status will end the precarious and inhumane conditions too many people face when they come from overseas to work in Canada. It’s up to all of us to urge the federal government to do the right thing and end this injustice.

Connie Sorio,

Migrant Justice Co-ordinator, KAIROS Canada

Right words

Re: The mystical body needs anti-racist action (June 28):

I do believe that Black Lives Matter is such an important movement and I was pleased to read the article by Luke Stocking and that he was willing to address the matter. It’s challenging to find the right words to say to help others who may not feel that this is an important issue and that they have a role in this. Thank you to Luke and thank you to The Catholic Register for helping form the conversation. Please do keep up the wonderful ministry.

Steve De Quintal,

Toronto

Be patient

Re: Letters (June 21):

I find it very interesting,  but unfortunate, that Mile from Scarborough feels that he is in a “lower class” because he cannot attend church. 

When we die, there will only be us and Jesus. You do not need to attend church to pray. We can pray anywhere, anytime. The Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are available anytime, anywhere.

The commandment “Keep Holy the Sabbath” can be fulfilled at home. This is only temporary and the Lord’s time is not our time, so be patient.

Don’t let Satan attack you like that. You are made in God’s image and likeness.

Prayer and worship are “vital.” The “church” building or edifice is only a building and is there only for our convenience and luxury to pray.

Jim Campbell, 

Sudbury, Ont.

Clear warning

Re: Toppled statues can’t erase past (July 5):

The article by Peter Stockland is brilliant and clearly warns us of the problem with judgment of the past.

The article he mentions that quotes Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan saying that the judgment of our fellow man leaves us only with the Cross is true.

I would like to quote from another article, this one from the Vatican News, which says Pope Francis’ appeal to see each other as brothers and sisters “is even more urgent” as we prepare for the post-pandemic era: “Brotherhood is the only way to build the future.”

I think that says it all.

Virginia Edman,

Toronto