Readers write

We can’t let faith be privatized

Re: Cross connections (May/Jun 2021) if many Canadians believe religious views are to be privately held and not publicly imposed, how do we turn the page? Do we also meekly accept that discussion of issues in “public spaces” [such as newspapers] does not allow for religious language?

In my city we have one left-leaning daily newspaper that has basically eliminated all Christian oriented articles. Occasionally I have managed to get a letter published, but sadly I have yet to see any letter from a pastor or Christian leader on contentious moral issues. Are we the authors of our own misfortunes on these matters because of our unwillingness to stand up to be counted?

Where would our faith be today if the first Christians in Roman times had accepted the idea that religious views are to be privately held to avoid any conflict? Neville Bevington, Kitchener, Ont.

Our motivation is God, not people

Re: The FT interview with Gorton T. Smith (Mar/Apr 2021) on the topic of hospitality, he referenced the Benedictine tradition “as the fundamental way by which they engaged the culture and society. . . part of the liturgy, our worship.” Although hospitality is expressed in action, it is not about the action itself. It can only be part of the liturgy, our worship, if the underlying motivation is God, not people. If it is people, it is social work.

Rufino Ty, Brampton, Ont.