Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 17, 2002
Letters
Protect children and support priests
The purpose of this letter is to share with you my thoughts as a lifelong Catholic about the current scandal darkening the Church. Certainly some of the seemingly isolated hierarchy are getting a very public flogging. The hundreds of priests, however, who are not pedophiles are badly in need of public support from the people in the pews. I have often, during the consecration, thanked God for the unselfish service of the priest on the altar. I will continue to do so.
After hearing Archbishop Charles Chaput's Palm Sunday letter read from the altar, I was reassured that, at least as of 10 years ago, procedures were put in place to deal with such events. In no small measure, Monsignor Walker Nickless, as vicar general and former head of clergy, was partly responsible for the policy that has been reviewed and praised by Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter.
As a mother of four and grandmother of seven, I insist that the safety and welfare of any child stand above anyone or anything else. I hope that pending legislation, which adds clergy to the list of professionals who are required to report abuse to the authorities, will be introduced soon and will pass the Colorado Legislature.
Peggie A. Notarianni
Wheat Ridge
Lax preparation for Communion
Having grown up in the pre-Vatican II Council era, I am thoroughly indoctrinated in the disciplines of the church at that time — something I find difficult to change or do away with.
I was quite taken back to read that the new revised Roman Missal allows, at the discretion of the local bishop, that the entire congregation can receive the consecrated body and blood. Judging from the way everyone, but everyone, goes to Communion when the time comes — unmarried couples living together, divorced remarried persons, gay couples living together — the list is endless, one can only conclude that the policy is already in force in this area.
What happened to the concept that one must be properly prepared to receive the Holy Eucharist?
Anymore there is absolutely no stress put on the need of confession or the need to be in the proper state to partake of the Blessed Sacrament.
Maybe policies such as this account for the fact that so very many Catholics no longer believe that the sacrament is really the body and blood of Christ but more an elaborate symbol.
Dan Zarlengo
Denver
Editor's note: The change does not open reception of Communion to everyone. It gives permission for Mass-goers in countries which currently do not have permission to normally receive under both species to do so if the bishop approves. Permission for reception under both species on a more usual basis than the days allowed in No.242 of the current General Instruction of the Roman Missal was granted by the Holy See to the United States when the request was made by the U.S. bishops 18 years ago. One should still properly prepare oneself to receive Communion.
Quiz answer was right
This is regarding "Quiz error," a letter in the March 27 Register claiming Dominic Camplisson's column was in error asserting that the Baby Ruth candy bar was named for the baseball player when, in fact, it was named after Ruth Cleveland, the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.
I found evidence that the highly successful Curtiss Candy Company product was, indeed, probably named after George Herman Ruth. It seemed the company named the candy bar (a revamped version of an earlier product) in 1921, after the baseball star had come to national attention (they claimed it was named earlier). However, the company disavowed this link in fear of a legal suit by Ruth. Additionally, they claimed Ruth Cleveland had visited the company and thus influenced the choice of name.
Wrong. Ruth Cleveland died in 1904 of diphtheria at the age of 12, the Curtiss Candy Company not being founded until 1912. The company also (and this is an important business motive for denying the baseball link!) successfully fought off a challenge by a competitor marketing a candy bar called the "Babe Ruth Home Run Bar" (which had Ruth's approval to use his name) by claiming their previous product was named after Ruth Cleveland. The competing candy bar was forced off the market because it "too closely resembled" their own product. Hey, this is capitalist America.
The story is only interesting because the popular belief, although denied by those who should know, and unsubstantiated by any direct link, is probably the correct one. I wanted to write Camplisson before and tell him his answer was correct, but why compliment the obvious, however inadvertent! But since there is now a question, this note is in order. Please see this entry from the Urban Legends Reference Pages: http://www.snopes2.com/business/names/babyruth.htm.
Jim Riley
Commerce City
Lovely show, small attendance
On Palm Sunday I attended a beautiful program at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in north Denver. It symbolized the seven last words of Christ. This singing rendition was performed by talented soloists and a lovely choir. I was disappointed by the small attendance at anything so lovely.
Margaret Mills
Arvada
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