AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF PALMERSTON NORTH:

AN OPEN LETTER TO BISHOP CHARLES DRENNAN:

“Kiwi Christians urged to stand up against abortion” runs the headline in the latest NZ Catholic (May 20), with a story about the 2018 Social Justice Tour facilitated by Voice for Life. 

Well, at the Social Justice Tour in Napier on May 6, billed as the Bryan Kemper Event, the biggest pro-life do in the Bay for years, 100 Kiwi Christians stood up, but not one priest. One Protestant pastor, of Indian ethnicity, but not one priest.

Yes, it was a Sunday night, but for many lay people – like the parents of twelve who drove two hours to get there – Sunday’s a busy day too.

A request beforehand, to distribute Family First pamphlets against decriminalising abortion in a major HB parish ,was turned down. “It has to come from the Bishop” - who obviously would rather not see women who’ve had abortions leaving the Church. 

But Jesus Christ proclaimed the doctrine of the Eucharist knowing people would leave him. He was so unpopular he was crucified.

A priest’s first duty is to teach the Gospel: “take care that you do not despise one of these little ones” (Mt 18,10). The priesthood of the Church of Palmerston North is effectively despising the unborn, with the result that the pro-life movement in this neck of the woods, once Catholic, is now dominated by Protestants.

Priests who worry about hurting people’s feelings should worry more about hurting the feelings of God. To any who think God doesn’t have feelings, I say, “And “Jesus wept” (Jn 11, 35).

The Catholic Church must reject popularity and teach the truth.