Following are NCR reader responses to recent news articles, opinion columns and theological essays with letters that have been edited for length and clarity.
Israeli apartheid
The "animus" justly directed at Israel is due to its overtly inhuman, vicious, and wanton cruelty and apartheid ("Michael Sean Winters on the glad tidings from Syria," emailed by NCR, Dec. 10, 2024). Palestinian suffering and humiliation have been going on for decades. Israeli "settlers" even today walk in and take over a Palestinian house at will. Palestinians have restricted areas in which they may walk or enter. This is no different from South Africa prior to 1994.
Western media continue to spin the dangerous yarn that Palestine’s history began on Oct.7, 2023. The same media, as recently as five months earlier – but never thereafter! - showed us Israeli police storming the al-Aqsa mosque during worship in the holy month of Ramadan, terrorizing and scattering hundreds of worshippers. Imagine our outrage if our police had smashed into a church during Good Friday service!
"Antisemitism" refers to the Jewish people. It is now relentlessly and cunningly being distorted to include the political entity called Israel. When we routinely condemn the Taliban or the state of Iran, we know we are not being anti-Islamic. By what logic then is condemning the state of Israel equated to being antisemitic? Fortunately, the university youth of this country – and a very large number of older people – understand the distinction.
KURIEN JOSEPH
Los Angeles, California
***
Stop platforming passiveness
I reject the request of Michael Sean Winters to surrender to the Rite of Sadists in the Church ("Compassion should transcend ideology. For too many Americans, it doesn't", ncronline.org, Dec. 11, 2024).
We need more polarization, not less in American Catholicism. Standing for the blacks, the poor, and immigrants means taking sides in 21st century America. The passive “lets give peace a chance” Kumbaya of gray-haired boomers has to end.
Now is not the time to surrender to these enemies of blacks, women, immigrants, the poor, and gays. Now is not the time to forfeit justice and decency to ignorant grifters waving Immaculate Heart Medals and brown scapulars in a sacrilegious cosplay. Now is the time to stand up and fight back on behalf of the poor, the immigrant, and the minority.
Decent Catholics need to stop taking up media space whining about “conflict.” If conflict causes anxiety, stand aside and give others the platform. Catholics of good faith need to grow a backbone and fight the fascist, racist impulse of conservative Catholicism, from the bishops to the people next to us in the pews. Good Catholics need to address these sadists with strength, authority, and clarity.
DANIEL H. CONWAY, MD
Mount Ephraim, New Jersey
***
Advertisement
Pelosi interview embarrassing
For decades, Nancy Pelosi has been a tireless enemy of the international working class and peasantry ("NCR interview: Nancy Pelosi criticizes Pope Francis over China pact," ncronline.org, Dec 10, 2024). Like her enemies in the episcopate, she is a worshipper of American-Zionist-Western colonial imperial hegemony who believes that she can serve God and mammon.
One new video after another of Takfiri terrorists in Syria persecuting and threatening Christians has appeared online and Syrian Christians are taking to social media to express their fear and trepidation. Amnesty International has provided abundant evidence in a new report that the Zionist regime is committing a genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Zionists violate their ceasefire with Lebanon at will even as they invade Syria. Yet y'all don't want to talk to Syrian Catholics, Palestinian Catholics, or Lebanese Catholics, but fight hard for the chance to interview a wealthy white oppressor.
JEFFREY JONES
Hamburg, New York
***
