Madam, – It’s ironic that Jennifer Sleeman wants to reduce attendances at Roman Catholic church services by 50 per cent on Sunday, September 26th, while other Christian churches are aiming to have 100 per cent attendance on the same day. The last Sunday in September has been designated as Back to Church Sunday by Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and many other Christian denominations in an attempt to encourage people to reconnect with their churches in parishes and dioceses across the UK and Ireland. Each to her/his own? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Jennifer Sleeman’s call on women to boycott Sunday Mass on September 26th is offensive to all practising Catholics regardless of gender, and an insult to women who are inexplicably excluded from the priesthood. Such people treasure above all else their intimate union with Christ in the Eucharist during the Mass; to suggest they renounce participation in this sacred mystery in order to promote their priestly vocation is as illogical as it is unchristian.
Ms Sleeman’s frustration with a backward church could best be allayed by robust debate at a national level and sustained petitioning for change, not a call to boycott Christ Himself. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Jennifer Sleeman, with the best of intentions I’m sure, has so completely misunderstood the importance of the Celebration of the Eucharist to Catholics that I say “let her at it.” Indeed, for anyone who wishes to join her protest, go for it. Any Catholic who could so denegrate the Sacrifice of the Mass to a mere political tool has no business being there in the first place.
Although it’s not my place to say, I think it appropriate that every person who will join her protest extend their protest to every Sunday. I wish her every success. – Yours, etc,
Madam – A heartfelt plea from those of us loyal to Pope Benedict and Saint Patrick (“As you are Christians, so you shall be Romans”). Will the Mass boycotters please have the good grace to stay away permanently from the church, or form their own sect and just leave the rest of us to say our prayers in peace? It’s not too much to ask. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Might I suggest that a more effective way of showing the church the depth of disillusionment would be for everyone to turn up to Mass on September 26th, in particular those who have lost faith in the church but not in God. Churches full of people who believe in the message but not the church might speak louder about the need for reform than churches that are slightly emptier than normal. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The debate goes on ad nauseam. Either you believe in the tenets of the Catholic Church or you don’t. If you do, then by staying away from Mass on September 26th you commit a mortal sin, thereby rendering yourself liable to eternal damnation. If you do not believe, then, what does it matter whether you attend Mass or not? The issue is that simple. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With regard to the proposed abstention from attending Mass on September 26th, may I suggest a more effective way of showing the anger which women feel about the way in which half the population of the Christian church is treated?
A boycott of church cleaning for a month would effectively bring most parishes in this country to a standstill. – Yours, etc,