Church has lost sight of purpose
January 6, 2005

The decision of St. Augustine's Parish to dismiss Representative
Barbara L'Italien as cantor shows much about the true character and
values of the church hierarchy.

ADVERTISEMENT

The church's emphasis on abortion is missing the big picture. ''Thou
Shalt Not Kill" means more than abortion; it means gun proliferation,
war, the death penalty, caring for the sick and the poor, and
protecting the Earth. If the church tackled any of these issues, or
perhaps the issue of abusive priests, with the same fervor that they
have attacked abortion supporters, imagine what a positive influence
they could have and the different world we would have.

The teachings of Jesus on forgiveness and, of course, the Golden Rule
of ''Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" should be what
the church is all about. Unfortunately, by concentrating on so-called
''wedge-issues" such as abortion and gay marriage, the Catholic Church
continues to come across as nothing more than a political organization
that has lost sight of its true purpose.
TOM MAGNER
North Reading 

  Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.
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