A Letter To The Pope

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Dear Pope,
Code: 
  There are a few issues that have arose recently that I wanted to talk about. I hope you don't find this offensive or anything. 

  I'd like to begin with Bishop Lennon. He came to the Cleveland area while we were in the midst of closing parishes and schools. And our population has dropped significantly so we did need a reduction. I think it hurt Bishop Lennon being that he was new to the area and didn't seem to have a very good grasp on the situation. I think he made many things worse. He got off on the wrong foot and I don't think he will be able to gain any face back.

   In American government is clashing with the Catholic Church regarding providing birth control to its employees through mandated insurance. I think this would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the Church's policy. I feel the days of families having 6 to 8 children are long gone. We can't afford them. Both parents work so the children lose out. Preventative contraception should be allowed. I don't feel there is much in the Bible that supports that view. We do have the rhythm method and the natural cycle method but they are not as reliable as we have been told. We just passed the 7 billion mark. Within the next decade we will pass the 8 billion mark (baarring a sudden dieback). The policy just isn't making sense anymore.

    And finally I would like to address the recent changes that have been enforced since Advent. The changes are just awful. They are clumbsy, complicated and difficult to remember. The beauty of the Mass before was that it was simple and powerful. We have really lost that. Jesus would not use the word 'chalice'. Nor would he use 'consubstantial'. Seen and unseen is superior to visible and invisible simply because it's shorter and easier to remember. The changes are a huge step backwards. I understand that many want Latin to be the standard. But it's a dead language. More people in the world speak Klingon than Latin. I feel that changing the litergy back would be the right thing to do.

    Anyway I hope everything is going OK for you. I hope you are feeling well.
 
Anyone know how to get this to him? Or will they eventually find it themselves?
 
According to the publication Our Sunday Visitor, the Pope’s email address has been changed. They don’t have it at this time.

The Pope’s regular mailing address is:

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City

Just remember to address him as Your Holiness, and not just Dear Pope.

👍
 
jcupach said:
Dear Pope,
Code: 
  There are a few issues that have arose recently that I wanted to talk about. I hope you don't find this offensive or anything. 

  I'd like to begin with Bishop Lennon. He came to the Cleveland area while we were in the midst of closing parishes and schools. And our population has dropped significantly so we did need a reduction. I think it hurt Bishop Lennon being that he was new to the area and didn't seem to have a very good grasp on the situation. I think he made many things worse. He got off on the wrong foot and I don't think he will be able to gain any face back.

   In American government is clashing with the Catholic Church regarding providing birth control to its employees through mandated insurance. I think this would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the Church's policy. I feel the days of families having 6 to 8 children are long gone. We can't afford them. Both parents work so the children lose out. Preventative contraception should be allowed. I don't feel there is much in the Bible that supports that view. We do have the rhythm method and the natural cycle method but they are not as reliable as we have been told. We just passed the 7 billion mark. Within the next decade we will pass the 8 billion mark (baarring a sudden dieback). The policy just isn't making sense anymore.

    And finally I would like to address the recent changes that have been enforced since Advent. The changes are just awful. They are clumbsy, complicated and difficult to remember. The beauty of the Mass before was that it was simple and powerful. We have really lost that. Jesus would not use the word 'chalice'. Nor would he use 'consubstantial'. Seen and unseen is superior to visible and invisible simply because it's shorter and easier to remember. The changes are a huge step backwards. I understand that many want Latin to be the standard. But it's a dead language. More people in the world speak Klingon than Latin. I feel that changing the litergy back would be the right thing to do.

    Anyway I hope everything is going OK for you. I hope you are feeling well.
Click to expand...
🍿🍿🍿
sorry, this one is way too obvious, and again, why in the traditional forums area???
 
I doubt this is an authentic request for information, but in case it is:

The proper, traditional opening of a letter to the pope is either, “Your Holiness,” or, “Most Holy Father.” The proper, traditional closing (even though it might hurt some poor Americans’ funny egalitarian sensibilities) is, “Kissing the Sacred Foot.” So, that would look like, “Kissing the Sacred Foot, (four lines, sign) InsertTypedNameHere.”

I would like to address two things concerning the body of your letter.

First, the Church’s “policy” of contraception can’t be changed. Even if the Pope wanted to change it, he couldn’t. Why? Because it’s doctrine, not some willy-nilly silly rule. Doctrine can not exist and then not exist; that goes against the nature of doctrine. Doctrine is Truth, and Truth never, ever changes. For if Truth changed, then I guess God would be a liar (?). God isn’t a liar. Now, you obviously are opposed to the teaching against contraception. Even if you think the doctrine is stupid or baseless or is otherwise false, can you accept what I’m saying hypothetically? Consider: Church doctrine can not change. The teaching against contraception is Church doctrine. Even if you don’t agree with it, and even if you (God forbid) do it, can you at least accept that the teaching against contraception can not and will not change? I want to ask you one thing: if you don’t agree with the Church’s doctrine in this regard, and you don’t follow it anyway, then why do you care to begin with? Why would it edify you to see it change if it means nothing to you?

Second, the translation thing is a matter of prudence. Can the translation be changed back? Yes. Is it likely? No, and I would be very sad personally if it indeed was. But you do have a legitimate concern. So I think that’s fine, even though I don’t agree.
 
jcupach said:
Dear Pope,

There are a few issues that have arose recently that I wanted to talk about. I hope you don’t find this offensive or anything.

I’d like to begin with Bishop Lennon. He came to the Cleveland area while we were in the midst of closing parishes and schools. And our population has dropped significantly so we did need a reduction. I think it hurt Bishop Lennon being that he was new to the area and didn’t seem to have a very good grasp on the situation. I think he made many things worse. He got off on the wrong foot and I don’t think he will be able to gain any face back.

In American government is clashing with the Catholic Church regarding providing birth control to its employees through mandated insurance. I think this would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the Church’s policy. I feel the days of families having 6 to 8 children are long gone. We can’t afford them. Both parents work so the children lose out. Preventative contraception should be allowed. I don’t feel there is much in the Bible that supports that view. We do have the rhythm method and the natural cycle method but they are not as reliable as we have been told. We just passed the 7 billion mark. Within the next decade we will pass the 8 billion mark (baarring a sudden dieback). The policy just isn’t making sense anymore.

And finally I would like to address the recent changes that have been enforced since Advent. The changes are just awful. They are clumbsy, complicated and difficult to remember. The beauty of the Mass before was that it was simple and powerful. We have really lost that. Jesus would not use the word ‘chalice’. Nor would he use ‘consubstantial’. Seen and unseen is superior to visible and invisible simply because it’s shorter and easier to remember. The changes are a huge step backwards. I understand that many want Latin to be the standard. But it’s a dead language. More people in the world speak Klingon than Latin. I feel that changing the litergy back would be the right thing to do.

Anyway I hope everything is going OK for you. I hope you are feeling well.
Click to expand...
Our Holy Father knows what it is like to live in a country that is not free. This is not the time to question the Church’s position on birth control etc. You are free to practice your religion or not. But there is a more serious problem here when the governent wants to take away a person’s right to practice their religion. What freedoms will the government be taking away next?
 
jcupach said:
Anyone know how to get this to him? Or will they eventually find it themselves?
Click to expand...
If your letter was meant to be a joke or tongue in cheek, I don’t get either.

If your letter was serious my dear friend you need to (1) Educate yourself on the Church’s teaching on contraception and birth control and (2) Educate yourself on the origins of the Mass and the better Latin translation we just got and why the Church uses Latin. If you don’t, someone may read your letter but no one will take you seriously.
 
My daughter and three of her friends (fifth grade) decided to write a lette to the Holy Father.

They were learning about the sacraments of healing from their religion teacher who is a Dominican Sister, and kept insisting that the baptsim should be a sacrament of healing since it “Healed” original sin.

***Dear Pope Benedict XVI;

It has come to our attention that the sacrament of baptism is a sacrament of initiation. We thing that it should be changed to a sacrament of healing because it heals original sin.

Thank you for considering our request.
…and such things. :rolleyes:

Sister helped them write a little less business-like (ahem) letter to His Holiness. Well, one of the priests heard about it and brought it up at the Wednesday school Mass, made them stand up, and he read it out loud as part of the homily.

So everyone look out. There is going to be a change. The Holy Father will soon change Baptism to a sacrament of healing.

-Tim-
 
This has to be a joke. Otherwise I find it disrespectful to the Pope to be sent letters which could just as easily be written to Santa Claus.
 
zab said:
I’m afraid it is no joke. More people do speak Klingon than Latin in Seattle.
Click to expand...
Maybe someone in Seattle could translate this letter into Klingon and then beam it up to the Klingon Pope?
 
jcupach said:
Dear Pope,

On your rope? Your Holiness is more appropriate.
**
There are a few issues that have arose recently that I wanted to talk about. I hope you don’t find this offensive or anything. **

Have you talked first with the Bishop? For you accuse him of incompetence below.
Code: 
 ** I'd like to begin with Bishop Lennon. He came to the Cleveland area while we were in the midst of closing parishes and schools. And our population has dropped significantly so we did need a reduction. I think it hurt Bishop Lennon being that he was new to the area and didn't seem to have a very good grasp on the situation. I think he made many things worse. He got off on the wrong foot and I don't think he will be able to gain any face back.**
So, the population, advisers, etc let the Bishop down on getting him up to speed on diocesan matters. Did he get off on the wrong foot? What issues did he exacerbate/perpetuate/start? Is this the first time you have experienced a new Bishop?

I’d suspect that much like a new commander, a new Bishop would require an adjustment period. The success of this period is not on the Bishop, but on the people below him making it happen positively.
Code: 
   **In American government is clashing with the Catholic Church regarding providing birth control to its employees through mandated insurance. I think this would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the Church's policy. I feel the days of families having 6 to 8 children are long gone. We can't afford them. Both parents work so the children lose out. Preventative contraception should be allowed. I don't feel there is much in the Bible that supports that view. We do have the rhythm method and the natural cycle method but they are not as reliable as we have been told. We just passed the 7 billion mark. Within the next decade we will pass the 8 billion mark (baarring a sudden dieback). The policy just isn't making sense anymore.**
Overpopulation is a myth of the left tied to global warming hysteria, increased population sterility as enforced by influence and then law, and is in fact most experienced in the African continent and Middle East. The birthrate of Americans and most of the West actually has us below the standard of increasing population. The only increase in Canada’s birthrate is largely related to immigrants. The US Catholic population is only fed by immigrants in the same. The end result is a dying generation with no one to take care of them but the government which ultimately would like to see them euthanized.

Your argument is not against contraception, but against families. You are arguing in favor of material greed and continued destruction of the traditional family. The number of people who basically work to pay for child care so they can work to pay for child care is staggering. The true solution is a return to community ideals and traditional values, not murdering the next generation via contraception.
Code: 
   ** And finally I would like to address the recent changes that have been enforced since Advent. The changes are just awful. They are clumbsy, complicated and difficult to remember. The beauty of the Mass before was that it was simple and powerful. We have really lost that. Jesus would not use the word 'chalice'. Nor would he use 'consubstantial'. Seen and unseen is superior to visible and invisible simply because it's shorter and easier to remember. The changes are a huge step backwards. I understand that many want Latin to be the standard. But it's a dead language. More people in the world speak Klingon than Latin. I feel that changing the litergy back would be the right thing to do.**
“consubstantial” is merely a word which condenses the phrase Jesus did use, “I and the Father are One” (Jn 10:30). It is historically Catholic and is inarguable in its meaning and use.

Chalice is actually a derivative of the Latin Calix (cup) and the Greek kylix, meaning the same.

If this is your argument against the better translation of the historically undeniable Mass, you fail. The only option for your argument is to return to the Aramaic or Greek Language Mass, of which, you will find the same phrasing and word usage merely in another language for the phrase is taken from these source languages.

** Anyway I hope everything is going OK for you. I hope you are feeling well.**

The Holy Father would probably feel better not being bothered by an issue which breaks the chain of subsidiarity, and is historically and linguistically indefensible to boot.
Click to expand...
If you want to write a letter to the Pope, might I suggest a nice letter of encouragement, expressed prayer for the Church, and a declaration of submission to the office of the Bishop appointed by the Pope.

I can just imagine if the Holy Father did read the letter… eek.

From a chain of command perspective, this letter smacks as uninformed and childish, rebellious in spirit while falsely denoting humility in word.

I’d think twice before sending it.
 
That really was beautiful. I sure hope the Church changes to match what you want. We can all sing kumbaya and follow what Jesus really wanted the Church to teach.:rolleyes:
 
jcupach said:
Dear Pope,
Code: 
  There are a few issues that have arose recently that I wanted to talk about. I hope you don't find this offensive or anything. 

  I'd like to begin with Bishop Lennon. He came to the Cleveland area while we were in the midst of closing parishes and schools. And our population has dropped significantly so we did need a reduction. I think it hurt Bishop Lennon being that he was new to the area and didn't seem to have a very good grasp on the situation. I think he made many things worse. He got off on the wrong foot and I don't think he will be able to gain any face back.

   In American government is clashing with the Catholic Church regarding providing birth control to its employees through mandated insurance. I think this would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the Church's policy. I feel the days of families having 6 to 8 children are long gone. We can't afford them. Both parents work so the children lose out. Preventative contraception should be allowed. I don't feel there is much in the Bible that supports that view. We do have the rhythm method and the natural cycle method but they are not as reliable as we have been told. We just passed the 7 billion mark. Within the next decade we will pass the 8 billion mark (baarring a sudden dieback). The policy just isn't making sense anymore.

    And finally I would like to address the recent changes that have been enforced since Advent. The changes are just awful. They are clumbsy, complicated and difficult to remember. The beauty of the Mass before was that it was simple and powerful. We have really lost that. Jesus would not use the word 'chalice'. Nor would he use 'consubstantial'. Seen and unseen is superior to visible and invisible simply because it's shorter and easier to remember. The changes are a huge step backwards. I understand that many want Latin to be the standard. But it's a dead language. More people in the world speak Klingon than Latin. I feel that changing the litergy back would be the right thing to do.

    Anyway I hope everything is going OK for you. I hope you are feeling well.
Click to expand...
Have you tried discussing these things with your priest or your bishop first? His Holiness is really busy and he’s past the normal retirement age so I wouldn’t add any more paperwork to his inbox than necessary.
 
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