A Response

So far my response has not been published, but they did publish this response to the same letter.

Faithful to his calling

I take great exception to Robert Biller's June 3 letter "Priesthood Changes" concerning Bishop Donald Wuerl and the Catholic Church. Mr. Biller describes the bishop as "staunchly conservative." He confuses conservatism with the bishop's faithfulness to his calling.

Mr. Biller belittles the bishop. He fails to recognize how the bishop spent himself in tremendous service to the Pittsburgh Diocese and the city. The church teaches that the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the church.

Mr. Biller calls the church "an organization" that he is "becoming increasingly uncomfortable belonging to." However, the church is so much more as "the visible plan of God's love for humanity" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 776). It is the source of grace and salvation, the holy priesthood, the Mass, the Eucharist and so much more!

He thinks the Catholic Church should have women priests. As explained by Pope John Paul II, the priesthood is divinely restricted to men. It is not an option that the church is free to change.

He thinks the church needs married clergy. There are many beautiful reasons why the Roman Catholic Church has the tradition of priestly celibacy. We, as faithful Catholics, follow the direction given by the magisterium. We Catholics are blessed to have this leadership because we are not blown about by every whim and fancy of each new modern age.

Regardless of the number of years we received Catholic education, we need to continually deepen our knowledge of the truths of our Catholic faith. The reading of the catechism is a good place to start.

CHUCK LAVEZOLI
Upper St. Clair