In his "NCR Voices" column, Franciscan Fr. Danial P. Horan wrote about why he finally left Twitter (aka "X"). Following are NCR reader responses with letters that have been edited for length and clarity.
Fr. Horan's description of the "cesspool of toxicity, hatred and discrimination" that Elon Musk has allowed "X" to become is so on point. What strikes me, though I am hardly surprised, is that I have not heard one single homily or religious program even attempt to address this matter and provide some support for the victims of this hate and discrimination or to change the minds and hearts of those inflicting the damage.
Looking for Catholic preachers on YouTube to address this anger and hatred? Sorry. How about some of the priests whose homilies appear regularly on YouTube? Nope. Evangelical stations are mostly focused on individual salvation with a healthy dose of right-wing politics mixed in. Not much time or room is left for those who are the object of scorn and hatred. Organized religion letting us down again by a lack of courage and leadership? The answer seems very clear to me.
BILL KRISTOFCO
Parkville, Maryland
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In his article about leaving Twitter/"X", Fr. Dan Horan claims his last tweet was merely an "I see you and I support you" to the trans community. His tweet read, "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. … Just because it's new or confusing to you doesn't make it untrue or wrong or sinful or anything other than reality." As one of those who replied on Twitter, I said "please consider what [Pope Francis] has to say about this. Thanks." I then added a link to statements of Pope Francis, no means a transphobe, wherein he speaks of gender ideology as the most dangerous ideological colonialism. The issue I took with Fr. Dan's tweet was that he declared transgender theory fact. Had he written "Trans women and trans men are people, too," this would have been a pastorally sensitive way to let them know they are seen without dogmatically declaring transgender theory "reality." The church says otherwise while challenging us to be pastoral in our outreach. I hope this is constructive, not hateful.
FR. CHRIS GAFFREY, OFM
Wappingers Falls, New York
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Lately I have noticed again and again in secular writing the use of the phrase "double-edged sword," taken to mean a weapon with both a cutting and a healing edge. It seems suggested in Fr. Horan's column. I have never seen or heard of a real sword with a healing edge, nor is it possible. And from the context, it's clear that the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (4:12) did not mean that the Word of God is an instrument of relief as well as of cutting. The two-edged sword that is the word of God cuts in both directions, is doubly effective and penetrates to the very heart. And that's how the phrase should be used.
DONALD NOVAK
Canton, Massachusetts
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About 90% of the content I consume on Twitter/"X" is about Palestine. To that extent it is an excellent resource. I do not hope that someone, censors "X."
JEFFREY JONES
Hamburg, New York
