Comments on: Welcoming the Outsider http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/ Thu, 16 May 2013 18:52:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dee Pierson http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-9129 Dee Pierson Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:17:01 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-9129 I thought the Archbishop was very clear, his remarks lead to no conclusion other than that we must be welcoming to the Muslims. Recognizing sources of temptation and pain that might lead to not welcoming does not make that a valid option. If the parishioners in the convent case want to be taken seriously when they say it is a matter of traffic through the neighborhood - at valid concern - they need to clearly and publicly disassociate themselves from those who do have racial or religious objections to the mosque. The bishop could, perhaps, be clearer about this in both mosque controversies. God's love upon us all. I thought the Archbishop was very clear, his remarks lead to no conclusion other than that we must be welcoming to the Muslims. Recognizing sources of temptation and pain that might lead to not welcoming does not make that a valid option. If the parishioners in the convent case want to be taken seriously when they say it is a matter of traffic through the neighborhood – at valid concern – they need to clearly and publicly disassociate themselves from those who do have racial or religious objections to the mosque. The bishop could, perhaps, be clearer about this in both mosque controversies. God’s love upon us all.

]]> By: Frances Brown http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-8871 Frances Brown Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:28:46 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-8871 Dear Archbishop Dolan, Your statement in June about welcoming others is fine as far as it goes. However, the situation continues to escalate around the Islamic Center proposal for Park Place and we need more from you to affirm our support and understanding toward the moderate Muslim group that is a prime sponsor of the Center. It was disheartening to see the only Catholic presence with Mayor Bloomberg and others at his wonderful speech a week or so ago was Father Jordan from the Franciscans. I too respect the feelings of loss of many 9/11 families but it is the Church's responsibility to educate and enlighten. The voices of hate and divisiveness have taken over in the absence of a clear message from leaders such as yourself. The Staten Island situation was a debacle; although the circumstances differ, the hatred expressed by Catholics was very disturbing and again there was ambiguity from the Archdiocese. Maybe it all needs a cooling off period but we look to you to speak out against the hate. Thank you. Sincerely, Frances Gautieri Brown Dear Archbishop Dolan,
Your statement in June about welcoming others is fine as far as it goes. However,
the situation continues to escalate around the Islamic Center proposal for Park Place
and we need more from you to affirm our support and understanding toward the moderate Muslim group that is a prime sponsor of the Center. It was disheartening to see the only Catholic presence with Mayor Bloomberg and others at his wonderful speech a week or so ago was Father Jordan from the Franciscans. I too respect the feelings of loss of many 9/11 families but it is the Church’s responsibility to educate and enlighten. The voices of hate and divisiveness have taken over in the absence of a clear message from leaders such as yourself. The Staten Island situation was a debacle; although the circumstances differ, the hatred expressed by Catholics was very disturbing and again there was ambiguity from the Archdiocese. Maybe it all needs a cooling off period but we look to you to speak out against the hate. Thank you.
Sincerely, Frances Gautieri Brown

]]> By: Michael Lynch http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6589 Michael Lynch Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:23:59 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6589 Dear Archbishop Dolan, May the peace of the Lord Jesus be with you! I had the great blessing of hearing you speak today at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester on the feast of our patron, St. John Fisher. Your words calling us to faithfulness and sacrificial love were deeply moving. Thank you so much for coming to visit us and for your pastoral care for all the faithful. May the Lord fill you with every grace, and may His mother look after you with maternal affection. Your servant in Christ, Michael Dear Archbishop Dolan,

May the peace of the Lord Jesus be with you! I had the great blessing of hearing you speak today at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester on the feast of our patron, St. John Fisher. Your words calling us to faithfulness and sacrificial love were deeply moving. Thank you so much for coming to visit us and for your pastoral care for all the faithful. May the Lord fill you with every grace, and may His mother look after you with maternal affection.

Your servant in Christ,

Michael

]]> By: Ellie M http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6536 Ellie M Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:10:17 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6536 As it happens, I've just spent weeks defending Catholics against the bigotry that surfaced recently. To now see Catholic bigots in Staten Island is more than a little disheartenng. It's wrong to judge ethnic and religious groups by the crimes of a few, and Catholics should know that. As it happens, I’ve just spent weeks defending Catholics against the bigotry that surfaced recently. To now see Catholic bigots in Staten Island is more than a little disheartenng. It’s wrong to judge ethnic and religious groups by the crimes of a few, and Catholics should know that.

]]> By: Tom Saleh http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6501 Tom Saleh Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:10:47 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6501 As a lifelong catholic I am deeply troubled by the anti Muslim sentiment I hear from the local community. The protest on SI about selling an unused convent to be converted into a mosque is the kind of lack of intolerance that terrorism welcomes and feeds on. The fact that the Archdiocese is not taking a leadership roll in eliminating this in the same way they would if this was an anti Semitic issue is unchristian. Remember Christ taught us to love all men especially our enemies. I am currently dealing with a vicious anti-Islam post made by one of my catholic employees by trying to reason with him and it is clear that his attitude is shared by many in his parish. We cannot standby and allow this to continue. As a lifelong catholic I am deeply troubled by the anti Muslim sentiment I hear from the local community. The protest on SI about selling an unused convent to be converted into a mosque is the kind of lack of intolerance that terrorism welcomes and feeds on. The fact that the Archdiocese is not taking a leadership roll in eliminating this in the same way they would if this was an anti Semitic issue is unchristian. Remember Christ taught us to love all men especially our enemies.
I am currently dealing with a vicious anti-Islam post made by one of my catholic employees by trying to reason with him and it is clear that his attitude is shared by many in his parish. We cannot standby and allow this to continue.

]]> By: Scott http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6380 Scott Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:37:51 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6380 Archbishop Dolan, The Lord give you peace!!! Thank you for your articles in the Catholic New York. I don't find them to be too simple or pious. They remind me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and how she would speak God's word so very simple but with great love and piety. She is a great saint, so please keep up the good work of speaking God's Word in simple and pious language. God bless, Scott Archbishop Dolan,

The Lord give you peace!!! Thank you for your articles in the Catholic New York. I don’t find them to be too simple or pious. They remind me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and how she would speak God’s word so very simple but with great love and piety. She is a great saint, so please keep up the good work of speaking God’s Word in simple and pious language.

God bless,

Scott

]]> By: Tom http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6335 Tom Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:58:44 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6335 Archbishop Dolan, The same thing is being said now about the immigrants coming into this country from Mexico. The Arizona Immigration law is doing exactly what Beecher, Morse and company would be pushing for nationwide. Just the other day, I was listening to the radio driving to daily mass and the dj on the particular station came on and said "God Bless the great state of Arizona" and went on and on about the greatness of the immigration law. He then went on to say that anyone who disagreed with the bill is "un-America" and "the enemy"; he even went to the length of saying that the people who disagree with it should move to another country because they didn't deserve to live here. I sent a message to the radio station asking, "Since when is it 'un-American' to disagree with someone?...Since when is it un-American to speak up for what you believe?" It is unimaginable that people would consider others as "the enemy" and "un-American" because they show compassion to people who have less than others. Most of the immigrants that come over to this country are very peaceful and simply want to better their lives and the lives of their families. However, because of the massive quantity of people that are here illegally, something does need to be done; but it isn't feasible to send someone back home just for being in the US. Give them a chance to become a citizen. Give them a chance to enjoy the same liberties that we have: the opportunity to speak freely, the opportunity to worship the God who loves them freely. Deporting someone costs money! What makes more sense, showing compassion and making it easier for people to become American citizens or spending billions of dollars deporting people who will inevitably just come back to the US? I think we all need to ask ourselves: "What would Jesus do?" Thank you for your yes to Christ, Archbishop! May God continue to bless you in your priestly service!! Tom Archbishop Dolan,

The same thing is being said now about the immigrants coming into this country from Mexico. The Arizona Immigration law is doing exactly what Beecher, Morse and company would be pushing for nationwide. Just the other day, I was listening to the radio driving to daily mass and the dj on the particular station came on and said “God Bless the great state of Arizona” and went on and on about the greatness of the immigration law. He then went on to say that anyone who disagreed with the bill is “un-America” and “the enemy”; he even went to the length of saying that the people who disagree with it should move to another country because they didn’t deserve to live here.

I sent a message to the radio station asking, “Since when is it ‘un-American’ to disagree with someone?…Since when is it un-American to speak up for what you believe?” It is unimaginable that people would consider others as “the enemy” and “un-American” because they show compassion to people who have less than others.

Most of the immigrants that come over to this country are very peaceful and simply want to better their lives and the lives of their families. However, because of the massive quantity of people that are here illegally, something does need to be done; but it isn’t feasible to send someone back home just for being in the US. Give them a chance to become a citizen. Give them a chance to enjoy the same liberties that we have: the opportunity to speak freely, the opportunity to worship the God who loves them freely. Deporting someone costs money! What makes more sense, showing compassion and making it easier for people to become American citizens or spending billions of dollars deporting people who will inevitably just come back to the US?

I think we all need to ask ourselves: “What would Jesus do?”

Thank you for your yes to Christ, Archbishop! May God continue to bless you in your priestly service!!

Tom

]]> By: Bernice http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6323 Bernice Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:14:05 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6323 The people of Midland Beach are NOT prejudice. If you look inside our small community, you and the rest of the world will see WE are very diverse in cultures. This is a issue regarding public safety. We have many business on Midland Ave, Fr.Cappandano Blvd and Seaview Ave. The Mosque is not welcomed on Greeley Ave. There are private homes surrounding the property. You can't park on your own street now. The convent housed 8 Catholic nuns not as many as 100 people cap. The MAS has said that the Mosque would be in use for 7DAYS A WEEK ranging from 8 AM to 9 PM on certain days. Shame ,Shame on the Archdiocese for not being more supportive and caring for its OWN Parish. The people of Midland Beach are NOT prejudice. If you look inside our small community, you and the rest of the world will see WE are very diverse in cultures. This is a issue regarding public safety. We have many business on Midland Ave, Fr.Cappandano Blvd and Seaview Ave. The Mosque is not welcomed on Greeley Ave. There are private homes surrounding the property. You can’t park on your own street now. The convent housed 8 Catholic nuns not as many as 100 people cap. The MAS has said that the Mosque would be in use for 7DAYS A WEEK ranging from 8 AM to 9 PM on certain days. Shame ,Shame on the Archdiocese for not being more supportive and caring for its OWN Parish.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6251 Mary Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:39:31 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6251 I wouldn't use the word "towering" in any discussion of Islam. The cautious withholding of hospitality and welcome makes a lot of sense to me given the location of Staten Island across from what we used to call the Twin Towers. Interfering with religious freedom is a strawman argument. It is absurd to suggest that some Catholics are against Muslims practicing their religion. Actually the reverse is probably closer to reality based on how certain practitioners of Islam "welcome" Christians and Jews. I wouldn’t use the word “towering” in any discussion of Islam. The cautious withholding of hospitality and welcome makes a lot of sense to me given the location of Staten Island across from what we used to call the Twin Towers.

Interfering with religious freedom is a strawman argument. It is absurd to suggest that some Catholics are against Muslims practicing their religion. Actually the reverse is probably closer to reality based on how certain practitioners of Islam “welcome” Christians and Jews.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.archny.org/index.php/welcoming-the-outsider/comment-page-1/#comment-6249 Mary Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:52:28 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=725#comment-6249 The teaching of the catholic faith is that Jesus is our salvation. Our only way through heaven is through him he died for our sins so that we may enter heaven. And now the archdiocese is selling our convent building to an Islam group who does not believe Jesus is the son of God, but a mere prophet, to teach the opposite of what we believe as catholic Christians. So this is not a racial issue but for me a religious issue. How do you respect those in the Archdiocese these mere men who do not practice what they preach! Ask yourself please – What would JESUS do? Can you answer that question without hesitation and strong conviction without concern for the almighty dollar? As of now your actions speak otherwise. Your actions are allowing the Catholic Religion to die out. Fight in the Name of our Savior JESUS CHRIST as he suffered & died for you! You had every opportunity to sell this building for a lesser amount where religious beliefs were no more of a concern then what to eat for dinner tonight. Form an alliance for your Catholic Religion for the reason I hope you choose religious life to begin with. To spread the word of the lord Jesus Christ, - not the word of Mohammad! M. The teaching of the catholic faith is that Jesus is our salvation. Our only way through heaven is through him he died for our sins so that we may enter heaven.
And now the archdiocese is selling our convent building to an Islam group who does not believe Jesus is the son of God, but a mere prophet, to teach the opposite of what we believe as catholic Christians. So this is not a racial issue but for me a religious issue. How do you respect those in the Archdiocese these mere men who do not practice what they preach! Ask yourself please – What would JESUS do? Can you answer that question without hesitation and strong conviction without concern for the almighty dollar? As of now your actions speak otherwise. Your actions are allowing the Catholic Religion to die out. Fight in the Name of our Savior JESUS CHRIST as he suffered & died for you!
You had every opportunity to sell this building for a lesser amount where religious beliefs were no more of a concern then what to eat for dinner tonight. Form an alliance for your Catholic Religion for the reason I hope you choose religious life to begin with. To spread the word of the lord Jesus Christ, – not the word of Mohammad!
M.

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