Following are NCR reader responses to recent news articles, opinion columns and theological essays with letters that have been edited for length and clarity.
Clergy: don't accept Busch's call
As Tom Roberts documents, Tim Busch has a track record of corrupting clergymen with flattery, wine and piles of money — with strings attached (ncronline.org, Aug. 13, 2024). His devotion to the Catholic faith as he understands it seems sincere. But as a philanthropist, he uses his wealth to control the entities he is supporting. Still, it’s possible that he’s been reflecting on the divisions within the Church that he has done so much to deepen, and wants to turn over a new leaf.
In his essay on Mr. Busch, Roberts strikes the right balance between skepticism and willingness to listen. I would simply suggest that to demonstrate his sincerity, Mr. Busch should stop schmoozing clergymen and start using his wealth to support the Church’s mission in areas he has previously neglected. Let him tell his friend Archbishop Broglio to reverse the decision to gut the USCCB’s Office of Justice, Peace and Human Development and restore prior staffing levels. He can then pledge to fund the Office for several years, at arm’s length (with no voice at all for the donor or his proxies in the Office’s operations).
I would not say "accept the invitation" if the new collaborative Tim Busch calls. Beware of libertarian tycoons bearing gifts. Church leaders invited to huddle with him should just say no when he offers a carafe of Trinitas or a weekend at the Meritage Resort and Spa. Meet him over coffee at a diner somewhere in your neighborhood. Listen to his pitch. And split the tab.
HENRY KELLEY
Arlington, Virginia
***
Charity lacking in US Church
Thank you for the insightful article titled Dear US Bishops: Modern Society is not the enemy (ncronline.org, Aug. 14, 2024). I have been dismayed by my fellow Catholics' taking offense from the subjects of the concocted modern culture war. What is truly grievous is how unchristian they become in their responses to these people. God is God, we are not. And as mentioned in the article, there are several U.S. bishops that are fanning the flames of contempt. One example of this is the streaming of a popular U.S. bishop declaring that a journalist was "dangerous" to Christian ideology, calling her out by name. I recently received a mailing from CatholicVote.org. It included a "Fact Sheet" and a survey and a request for donation — and I am appalled at how disparaging and slanderous the "facts" were to our President, stating that "Joe Biden pushes extremist anti-Catholic abortion agenda", and "The Biden Justice Department refuses to investigate more than 400 attacks on Catholic churches". The envelope is postmarked as a nonprofit organization.
What on Earth ever happened to "They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love"? Instead of leading with examples of love towards fellow men, women and children, these self-described Christians are losing sight of humanity. I have heard people being described as looking demon-possessed and like "filth". Unless our bishops are willing to follow in the example of Our Lord Jesus — and call out this unsightly debasement — many will unwittingly succumb to this modern-day crusade.
LORRAINE ORTEGA
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
***
Advertisement
National Eucharistic Congress price tag scandalous
As an 82-year-old, lifelong Catholic, I was dismayed to read of the National Eucharistic Revival costing $14 million while the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) will be put on hold (NCR, June 24-July 4). The Eucharistic Revival seems a distraction from the most pressing issues of our day, e.g. the deaths of more than 35,000 or our Palestinian brothers and sisters, half of them children and the need to abolish nuclear weapons. Why aren’t the bishops addressing these issues which are so clearly pro-life and supporting the CCHD financially?
ANN MARIE JUDSON
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
***
