SIR –Mary Kenny says that 38-year-old Bavarian schoolteacher Verena Braunschweiger “has vowed never to have children”, claiming “each child adds 58 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every year” – that childbirth is “a patriarchal imperative towards women”, although as Kenny observes, “many women will go to the ends of the earth to become mothers” (Comment, March 22).
Leaving aside the strange phenomenon of teachers hoping to do themselves out of a job, it is even stranger that such ideas should emerge in the West just as communist China, having belatedly realised that state population control has resulted in an ageing population, is showing signs of relaxing its programme, at least at the margins. And China has gone on cheerfully polluting the planet even after the West appears to have entered a suicidal phase of closing down its industry in a vain attempt to halt “climate change”. Equally strange is the spectacle of Western celebrities jetting around the world, lecturing the less fortunate on their carbon footprint.
The environmental movement has always been marked by anti-humanism, and over the past 50 years we have heard dire warnings about world resources running out, mass starvation, desertification, a new ice age and a hole in the ozone layer; more lately we have witnessed campaigns against plastic pollution and meat-eating, but although population control has acquired a bad name, the most successful campaign so far has been the one about wildlife “dying out”. With the human birth rate dangerously low, the idea that we are “running out of babies” would be met with a snort of derision. And yet however lovely they might be to look at – from a distance – whales, wolves and tigers will not pay our pensions, hence the (of course) entirely separate campaign for “the right to die”.
No wonder the Catholic Church, which believes it a human duty to safeguard the planet, but also sees human life as sacred, is regarded as the last obstacle to a green heaven.
People can pollute, but they also protect the environment, because they have to live in it. However, it is perhaps no coincidence that those most zealous in warning against “killing the planet” are also the most forceful advocates of killing the unborn. Yet they are also killing the future of the planet.
Ann Farmer
Woodford Green, Essex
SIR – I was moved by Fr Benedict Kiely’s article, “Don’t weep for ISIS brides” (Feature, March 13). It is indeed “false compassion” for the Western media to make a big fuss over ISIS brides and their babies while completely ignoring the Christian and Yazidi victims who suffered and were killed under their husbands.
Similarly, in the coverage of the tragic event in New Zealand, while it was right to condemn the perpetrators and show sympathy for the Muslim victims, the Western press kept giving extensive coverage to this event while completely disregarding what was at the same time happening in northern Nigeria. There, more than a hundred Christians were being slaughtered at the hands of Islamic militants belonging to the Fulani herdsmen.
What emerges from all this is a disturbing picture of many individuals who are prepared to show sympathy towards Muslims but hostility towards Christians. We find them in the press, in politics, in social media, in the Home Office and in the police force. It is meaningless to practise charity and compassion without regard for justice and truth.
Dr Joseph Seferta
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
SIR – As mentioned by Brian Murray in his letter (March 22), Confessions are slowing to a dribble; and as Professor Stephen Bullivant wrote in the Catholic Herald not so long ago, “the Sacrament of Reconciliation has taken a tumble”.
From the general attitude taken by the hierarchy it is highly unlikely ever to regain the importance attached to it, particularly in the context of going to Confession to be in a state of grace to receive the Eucharist.
These facts must be faced and it is high time that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is requested to take necessary action. The hierarchy must surely recognise that their silence amounts to negligence. Clerical cover-up of sex abuse is being paid so much attention, but the silence and tolerance regarding Eucharistic abuse seems to be acceptable.
It’s time that some alternative means of reconciliation be introduced to prevent people continuing to show such disrespect to the Eucharist. This is not about keeping up with the times, it is about facing reality.
Anton Joseph
Wallington, Surrey
SIR – Brian Murray suggests that, given the small number now going to Confession, more frequent use of general absolution would make the benefits of the Sacrament more widely available.
Interesting an idea as this might be, Pope Paul VI’s decree of 1973 still requires that those guilty of mortal sin are bound to make an individual sacramental confession at the earliest opportunity, within a year at most, unless further serious reason prevents the penitent from meeting this condition. General absolution is reserved for situations where imminent danger precludes private confession before a priest. We would be speaking of a sinking ship or soldiers about to go into combat, and similar situations.
Mr Murray correctly observes that few of us go to Confession nowadays. What might be the problem? Those of us of an age when we look as though we are ready to fly away, but by some “miraculous” means are able to delay the take-off, may recall especially in our tender years receiving quite a severe “dressing-down” from a priest. No one has a right to be angry but we are only human. We should pray for our priests daily. If we have not been to Confession for a while, Lent is a good time. Priests these days are much more understanding and no matter what we have done or not done, we won’t be telling Father anything he has not heard before, and if we can find some sin that is not mentioned in Scripture, we really ought to congratulate ourselves…
We confess not to the priest but to the Lord through the agency of the priest, and after we have made a good Confession, Father will know what to do: it is a part of a priest’s training and priests soon forget.
Jozef Bubez
Burgess Hill, West Sussex
SIR – Ann Widdecombe’s reflections on penitential activities for Lent (Comment, March 15) are much to the issue. Her simple comments remind us of that forgotten virtue of humility, which we need most – along with charity – to get to heaven. We tend to forget humility, especially if we are schoolgirls or religious fanatics.
My Confessor asked me what I was doing for Lent and I said: “Among other things, trying to eat more slowly.” He replied: “If we eat more slowly, we eat less.”
Now, that’s a point in this age of consumerism and tummy troubles.
Steve de la Bédoyère
London SW17
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