To the Editor:
I’m writing in response to the last two columns in The Catholic Messenger by Father Ron Rolheiser. I’m pondering Fr. Rolheiser’s thoughts on “interfaith dialogue and attitudes” as well as his take on, “who am I to judge?” It seems to me, from reading these columns, that Fr. Rolheiser feels there is no one way to God, all faiths are equal, there is no fullness of the faith; in addition, “God judges no one. We judge ourselves.” If this is true, as is Fr. Rolheiser’s opinion apparently, I find myself asking, what is the point of anything we’re doing?
We’re in the Easter season. Our Scripture readings are telling the compelling story of the beginnings of the church and Christianity through the Acts of the Apostles. We’re celebrating baptisms, first Communions, confirmations. Soon we’ll be celebrating ordinations of priests and deacons. Many people entered the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil. In light of Fr. Rolheiser’s words, one wonders, why do this when it really doesn’t matter which way we worship, or if we even follow Christ at all?
Jesus Christ came to earth to live and die for us and to leave his church behind to proclaim the Good News, to make disciples of all nations in his name. It’s distressing to me to read Fr. Rolheiser’s columns when almost daily Christians are being martyred for the Christian faith. Perhaps it is ideas like these that account for the indifference of so many around the world.
We have a merciful and loving God, who is also a just judge. We will stand before him at our particular judgment and also at the general judgment. These teachings come from Our Lord Jesus, from his church, and Matthew, chapter 25. I am going to take Our Lord’s word over Fr. Rolheiser’s.
Michelle Snyder
Richland
