God at Our Center
Re “Mourning in America,” by Matt Malone, S.J. (Of Many Things, 10/1): We had a shared purpose in the United States, but it was dismantled by the people on the left and right. We used to be a proud nation that believed in God. Without God at our center, we are lost as a nation.
Jorge Luis Luaces Rabaza
A Call to Arms
Re “Opening Doors to Latino Students” (Our Take, 10/1): An excellent call to arms for making the Latino Catholic population more present in our school communities. Perhaps The Catholic University of America or another Catholic institution of higher education could create and develop and find a home for a center for Latino Catholic studies with an eye toward substantively increasing the number of Latino Catholic students in the Catholic schools in this country.
This population is our future. We need to make serious efforts now to consider the funding that will be necessary to achieve these goals for the Latino community, which is underrepresented, at least in part, because of the socioeconomic status they occupy. If Catholic schools are not to be havens for the well-off, how do we fund an effort to increase the opportunities for Latinos? We need to redirect our priorities in the church and acknowledge the pivotal value of Catholic education from early childhood on in terms of passing on the faith.
Barry Fitzpatrick
Perhaps Elitist
Re “A Right, Not a Privilege,” by Cyrus Habib (10/1): The lieutenant governor of Washington State, Cyrus Habib, writes: “It is elitist to suggest that some students are not destined for learning beyond high school.” Perhaps elitist but nonetheless true. A four-year liberal arts education is not for everyone, primarily because not everyone is interested in these traditional subject areas.
Louis Candell
Culinary Challenges and Successes
Re “From Pinterest to Cookbooks, How to Cook like a Catholic,” by Vivian Cabrera (10/1): This was a delightful article. Thank you for sharing your culinary challenges and successes with us. I can also recommend A Continual Feast, by Evelyn Birge Vitz (Ignatius Press, 1985). The instructions in most of the recipes are very clear. And, of course, there are the wonderful cookbooks by Rick Curry, S.J. There are so many great recipes and wonderful accompanying information in his books. Happy cooking!
Anne Mahoney
Learning Church Values
Re “The Uncertain Future of Jesuit Education,” by Michael C. McCarthy, S.J. (10/1): I agree that Jesuit (and all Catholic) colleges must prepare students not only for careers and new technology but also for learning values based on the teachings of Jesus as interpreted by the church. While it is important that Jesuit and other Catholic colleges remain open for preparing students for their careers, I think it is likely that some of these schools will close.
I am sorry to say that in some cases, this may be for the best. When a Catholic college (regardless of who sponsors it, Jesuits or another order) fails to form students in ethical values in accord with the authentic teachings of Jesus as interpreted by the church, such a college is failing in its mission.
Tim Donovan
Means for a Catholic Education
Let’s face reality: It costs $10,000 a year to attend an average Catholic school. It costs $15,000 per year with assistance to attend a Jesuit high school. Only people of means can choose Jesuit education.
Mike Macrie
Why Is It Burning?
Re “Why Stay?” by Matt Malone, S.J. (Of Many Things, 9/17): I was struck by the image of our church as a building on fire. If we care about our church and are going to run into a burning building, maybe we need to ask why it keeps burning. What are the radical structural changes that are needed so it does not keep burning and hurting people?
Mimi Darragh
Pittsburgh, Pa.
