Here is a letter I received referring to Sr. Maria Elena Gonzalez's speech at the Youth Encuentro in Notre Dame, IN. My response is also posted. Enjoy.

 

Dear Sister Gonzalez,  Our diocesan paper, The Catholic Virginian, gave us a story of the Mexican American nun, Maria Elena Gonzalez, who is telling Hispanics not to lose the cultural heritage. I was especially set aback by your perverted use of accusations of “racism.” As an accomplished propagandist, you know how to spread guilt and exploit the goodness of virtuous people. My dear lady, during World War II, white Europeans were killing white Europeans in Europe. There was no racism; only self defense of one’s nation and culture.

The current invasion by illegal Hispanics, and especially Mexicans, is as much an invasion as that of Germans crossing the Maginot Line into France. Americans who care resent and resist large numbers of aliens bent on changing their culture and overrunning their country. As a nun involved in politics, you are a hypocrite. Are you not violating your vows? What does your work have to do with salvation?

She said: “ The aim of Hispanic church leadership should be to build unity in our diversity.”  There can be no unity in diversity. It is God Himself who created diversity in the story of Babel to divide the people. But, what would a Catholic know of the Bible or its lessons? It is likeness that unites, a reason why this Hispanic nun promotes  Hispanic cultural heritage.

A theme found on your WEB page talks of “Fostering Peace and Justice,” Why are you not in Hispanic lands doing just that? It is a reason why so many Hispanics seek America, the lack of peace and justice in Mexico and most Hispanic countries. Please go peddle your peace and justice where there is none and is most needed. But, what is the cultural heritage of Hispanics?  Hispanic nations are of the most corrupt on earth,. Catholic Columbia is the number one most murderous nation followed by South Africa with Catholic Mexico being third. It is in Catholic Brazil that a few weeks ago we read about Brazilians  killing their own people in the fashion of “peaceful” Muslims by bombing busses of civilians and civilian places of business.

Hopefully, you will one day be accountable for fostering guilt in otherwise good but non-independent thinking people with unwarranted respect for religious people. Your shameful involvement, and that of Cardinal Moynihan, in politics, is one reason why the Catholic church has lost so much respect in America. Please find enclosed my reaction to The Catholic Virginian regarding an article about your misguided work, a work undermining America, a work which I view as treasonous. W.Boiselle.

[Here is my response]

"…the immigrant members of the Church…must be able to remain completely themselves as far as language, culture, liturgy and spirituality, and particular traditions are concerned" Pope John Paul II Address for World Migrants' Day, 1985

 “…we have rejoiced in a special way in the beauty of the Church’s varied face.” Pope John Paul II, Novo Milenio Ineunte, 2001, 40

Dear Mr. Boiselle

 I am saddened that you disagree, not only with Sr. Maria Elena González, but with our late Holy Father John Paul II and the Bishops of the United States.  The teaching of our Catholic faith is clear. The idea of “unity in diversity” is not a new one. Not only does our Holy Father and Bishops call for this unity in the Body of Christ, but we hear it from the clear message of Scripture. You are correct, on one point, however, that the Tower of Babel did divide people; you are incorrect to believe that that is what God wanted. We hear in Acts 2:1-11 the real desire of God in sending us the Holy Spirit. Your message showed us again that the “people in the pew” need to hear the Gospel in light of the magisterium of the Church and the pope – not their own political opinion. Setting up “straw-man” arguments does not change the fact that what this society hungers for is a “personal encounter with the living Jesus Christ; this comes through conversion, communion, and solidarity”. (John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, 2000) “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a Person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 2005, 1)

Your comment concerning racism is not surprising, our bishops call it America’s original sin (USCCB Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity, 2000) we are all affected by it and ask the same Holy Spirit that brings unity in diversity, to continually purify our hearts from the disfiguring effects of it. You mentioned World War II. The effects of racism, in that era, could be seen in Nazi Germany against Jews and other cultures, in the Deep South against Blacks, in the Southwest against Native Americans, Americans of Mexican descent, and Americans of Japanese descent. Dr. Hector Garcia, a veteran of World War II founded the GI Forum explicitly to combat the racism he found against Mexican-American servicemen and other citizens in this country. Let us not forget that many servicemen and women fought (and died) for this country, but were excluded from full participation in their own country. Please read, Love thy Neighbor as Thyself: US Catholic bishops speak against racism, 2001.

Your comment, “The current invasion by illegal Hispanics, and especially Mexicans, is as much an invasion as that of Germans crossing the Maginot Line into France” is yet another insidious example of why there is a need for authentic Catholic formation. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, that you regret those statements, because they are not statements worthy of any true and faithful Christian. I invite you to read the bishops’ letter, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope, 2003. Are all “Hispanic nations” guilty of corruption? Is the US free of corruption, or high rape and murder rates (among the top ten in the world)?

Finally, your letter proves that peace and justice are definitely needed in this country - as a society and in our own hearts. I believe you meant Cardinal Mahoney (not Moynihan), and yes he lost a lot of respect, but not from all Americans – only the ones who consider their faith in Jesus Christ as secondary to being “a good American”. Your letter provided evidence that the mission of our Church, of which MACC plays a part, needs to be spread to all the people of this nation, to truly create “one body, one spirit in Christ”.

We understand the fear you might feel in the face of changing demographics, but know that you are in our prayers that the Holy Spirit might come upon you, and guide you, “For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of sound judgement.” (2 Timothy 1:7) May you experience God’s love in a special way, that you may ask our Lady to walk with you as you discern your own call as a Christian. [END]