Catholic Church risks irrelevancy

Re: Sorry, The Pope’s Still Catholic, Michael Coren, Sept. 12.

Michael Coren writes that ordination of women would contradict scripture. He also notes that “prime role of priest at the mass is to represent Christ.” He is wrong on both counts. Nowhere in the New Testament are women excluded as potential apostles; I can point out passages to the contrary. Also, a priest does not “represent Christ” during the Mass. A priest leads and represents his congregation in the face of God, and not the other way around.

If the Catholic Church does not change, it will become irrelevant, and many Protestant denominations will become the bearers of the Christian tradition instead.

Zbigniew Filek, Prince George, B.C.

The Catholic Church’s intransi- gence in the face of the changing times — same-sex marriage, abortion, contraception, female ordination, divorce — is the hallmark of a Church that is living in the medieval ages. This church relies on a tradition based largely on the sanctity of marriage vows, that human life begins at conception and that priests should have a semblance of Jesus Christ at the altar. I do not expect that Pope Francis or any subsequent Pope to alter their position on these issues.

Alex Sotto, Montreal.

Michael Coren notes: “We do not become Catholics so as to be loved, we become Catholics so as to love.” Am I to believe that, were Mr. Coren to become a member of any other church, he would be unable to love any other religion? Is he selling himself short as a human being? Is he selling short billions of others on this crazy quilt of a planet who are not Roman Catholic? I try to be broad-minded, but I’ll confess that I have also a truckload of prejudices. Mr. Coren shovels on another load of coal to keep them burning.

Fraser Petrick, Kingston, Ont.