Wary of BLM agenda

Our Catholic faith is firmly rooted in the sanctity of human life. We believe that Black lives matter, and that all lives are made in the image of God. An organization like BLM should be attractive to Catholics then, right? While Black lives do matter, the organization is one that supports some beliefs that should raise a red flag to Catholics. One of the most disturbing is that, according to its website, BLM strives to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure.” To disrupt the Christian, nuclear family, which is the domestic church (CCC 2204), is to destroy the foundation of the Church. The BLM organization has at its core an agenda, much of which is contrary to Church teaching, that we as Catholics need to be aware of. Black lives do matter, so let’s support organizations that not only aid black lives, but are concurrent with the teachings of the Church.

Tracy Tourville
St. Charles, Bayport

Anonymity detracts

In general, your centerpiece on Black Lives Matter was informative and helpful. I appreciate receiving the facts. Thank you. However, I object to you publishing a quote from a woman theologian who refuses to identify herself. At the very least, her inflammatory quote should have been taken out of the story. It lacked a confirmation, and without attribution, it could be considered totally false. We readers have had enough false statements already and don’t need another to demean a movement that certainly, as testified to by other named people, has merit.

Terry Kolb Griep
St. Thomas More, St. Paul

Need for urban missionaries

The Special Report on Black Lives Matter (Sept. 10) poses “how should Catholics engage?” A more precise question is “how should our St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese engage?” St. Peter Claver parishioner Bill Butchee points to “the demise of families in the Black community” as being “the greatest contributor to disparities within the Black and white people in America.” Minnesota Catholic Conference Executive Director Jason Adkins (“Combating Racial Disparities,” September 2017) observes, “a major difference in the percentage of white and black children born to married parents (64 to 30) is perhaps the most significant cause of racial disparities, and one that creates a cycle of poverty and exclusion that leads back to the school-to-prison pipeline.” Iconic Catholic missionary organizations (Jesuit, Maryknoll, etc.) have long and successfully evangelized within other countries. They have influenced the spirituality and cultural values of millions. It appears that America’s “racial” issues mainly relate to those who are both slave descendants and multi-generational welfare dependents, the majority of whom live in larger cities. Could America’s inner cities represent an unparalleled evangelistic opportunity were they a Catholic missionary priority? Might not our archdiocese community realize some distinguishable societal results were dedicated missionary resources engaged within the strategic, inner-city areas? Call them “urban missionaries.”

Gene Delaune
St. John the Baptist, New Brighton

Missing masks

I was inspired to read in the September 10th issue of the pilgrimage of the teens from the parishes in Stillwater, but I was deeply dismayed to see that not one of them in any of the pictures, including their adult leader, was wearing a mask. This, despite urging and encouraging by civil and Church leadership. Very difficult to understand.

Carolyn Puccio, CSJ
St. Paul

Mask up

First, I agree with the comments in the “Mask mandate” letter on page 18 (Commentary, Sept. 10). Second, I thought it inappropriate for you to publish the photo on the cover showing the Stillwater teens with no masks. Frankly, I am embarrassed by the failure of the Church to follow the recommendations of the governor in protecting us from COVID-19.

Larry McIntyre
Lumen Christi, St. Paul

Keep it simple

Are you pro-life? Wear a mask. It’s that simple.

Christine Larson
Mary Mother of the Church, Burnsville

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