Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 25, 1995)
LETTERS False Pope I am writing in response to Stephen Crawford's commen tarv "S«k utar world, religion dif ferent " (ODE. July 18). sime he seems to he inviting response from "religious women As a member of the Catholic Church, a 12-year veteran of Catholic si hook and a feminist. ! feel obligated to voice my opinion even though it will not he the one ( rawford was < minting on. In the context of Crawford's opinion, the word 'equality" !»m i lines'meaningless Me < i.mns that when we view the priest hood from a sec ular standpoint, bringing in the "humanistic" notion of equiilitv we will never understand the reverence he holds for the voc at ion It seems to me, then, that all of the church's teachings that 1 have taken to heart "Love they neighbor;.Treat others as you would hope to he treated" are not the lessons the churi h wanted me to learn Hut where should the notion of equality lie more applicable than m the eves of C.od and. therefore, m reli gious practice' Forgive me if 1 fail to re vent a vocation tfi.it discriminates against me And for heaven s sake, don't teai li me from the tender age of 5 or 0 that God loves me just as much as He loves every other human male or female — and then re let gate me to the world's second bests." denying me the opportu nity to serve God as 1 might choose, while i burning it has nothing to do with equality (or the lack thereof) anti everything to do with God's will. I don't buy it I or the record, 1 am also pro choice, as are many of the Catholic women I am dose to Crawford claims it is not the intent of the church and other anti abortion groups to "limit * ho options of woman, and thereby even ise a cntain degree of control over their lives " I think that Crawford has summed up exactly what th«> intent of these groups is, hut I also feel that it is somewhat beside the point Regardless of intent, that is the reality limited options and lives controlled by other people I'he i htirch controls the lives of thousands of poor and Third World women with its anti choice rhetorn a fm t we tend to lose sight of in middle-class Amerua Mow the Vatican wants to tighten its grip on its employees If you have an abor t - tit ta got -i phon o you your Job Ves. Mr Craw foul. I do think it is easy for you to pontificate on the lives of religious and non-religious women because you are a man Reside the bene fits of being a priest (which mi lude. by the way. the posi tion to keep an entire parish hanging on every word you deliver from the pulpit, the power to admonish and judge every t onto sect soul who enters tin’ i uiilfNsmn.il .mil the jins i lege of being on*i ol tlu* first influences for Catholic chi I* tirun), you also have all of the status ami power that comes with being male You'll never have to contemplate an abortion or worry about the toll that hfi\ - ing too many babies is taking on vour body And you will not tie turned away from vour chosen profession on account of your genitalia. I do not see why this is so hard for you to understand, tint apparently it is So 1 will hold onto the beliefs 1 have as a thinking person, and I will enjuv my God-given indi viduality Crawford's descrip lion of the experieni e of religious women rings false, as false as Pope John Paul's claim of "support" for women's rights as he simultaneously denies ns a< i »>vs to contracejgion. abortion and the priesthood Stephen)© Frank Graduate Student Pope pomp In response to Stephen Craw ford's commentary [ODE. July Ifl} and the separation of < him h and state. I agree that ttie reii gtous powers should remain concerned with religion and confine their dealings to their converts Unfortunately, they want to enfon e ttieir morals anti beliefs on everybody If you t»*tieve something is a sin. then don't do it Hut to pass judgment and enforce vour views on oth ers is not ttie A merit an way. for the most part if wearing a ruby ring, a red ro!>e and a conical hot behind n bullet-proof shield is not a show of power and pomp, what ts' The church is about power and power onlv Salvation was retired many centuries ago Kthtcs from a group that caused the Crusades. the Inquisition, file coioiiiration, enslavement and decimation of the indige nous people of the New World and the raging ( on flit tS in Ire land, tin- Middle i ist and Kurope is doubtful. The Catholic Church since the beginning has stated that the fall from grace was the result of live s action and it has since fort ed all women to submit to rule hy man. Having hidden or rejected the work of women in religion, the generally white male church leaders enjoy the benefits of free room and hoard, paid travel expenses, diplomatic immunity, and passports, housing, clothes, curs, staff, etc , supported by tin gold ripped from Islamic mosques and Jewish temples and minos worked hv native sl.iv I'S The ( .iiluiln Church believes in human hft* only when the humans bow to the rule of its theocrm v The rhetorii from the ( hurt h is that sex Imp (tens onlv between a man and his wife, and only to prodin t> children so generally. four to five times m i lifetime is it No discussion of birth i ontrol, period No iftsi us sum of sexually transmitted dis eases. lbe stance against abortion is not from the point of view of the sam titv of life but from the position of t ontrolling all aspects of everybody s lives I wonder what pfiilosophv i nurses allowed Crawford to maintain the idea that equality was a one wav street and cov ered not all freedoms, but just a few I suggest thill ( raw ford i on dint a survev He will realize that dogmas are not for everyone and that the church needs to realize that it is not preaching or prat th ing the teachings of lesus t 'firist Religious views should in? a jiersoit.i! thing end affect the personal life of an individual Never should one's own views he forced upon another You, Mr ( raw lard, have* the right to believe and prut tire your reli gion in your life I require the freedom to do the same in mine James Dean Poynor Eugene Oregon analogy I here is another way to look at Bosnia lasts i all them Orego nians. not Bosnians Let's say all the Muslim Oregonians de< ide to secede from the United States lag's sav the rest of us Oregoni arts want to remain U S citizens, hut the Muslims insist and set up their government (and army) anyway U N army units and non Muslim National Guard units already in Oregon are loyal to the United States and refuse to take onion to disarm and turn over their weapons to the Must lim government Beauregard fires on Sumpter and Lincoln issues the first tail for volun leers Have we seen this Before' At least the Bosnian Serbs are not insisting that all of Bosnia return to tfie fold (as Lincoln required) Although, after a par tition of Bosnia, I believe it is likely the Serbian pari of Bosnia will return to Yugoslavia (or Ser bin). Ifte atrtx it\ issues are shared on both sides The Serb side has the liest weapons and training and so are more suc< essful m the tactics they attempt Thu Muslim side lias only tieen lim stud By its opportunities to prac tn e atrocities When tiles have had the opportunity they seem to Be no Better than the other side All this begs tin' question of whether the Muslims with |usii find in wanting to sei ede from Yugoslavia in thi' first place Mav be yes, m,ivIn- no lu tinv i use, 1 ilo not believe there is iinv moral justification for the 1 tilted States, the United Nations or N A I () to take sides (ft! politics are likely involved James L Bumpas f ugeno LETTERS POLICY fee Oregon Daily t met.tkl a attempt to poet ail otters containing comments an top a.:*, at interest to the University community l elite 'i to the editor should be limited to no mom than 260 words, legible, signed and the Klerttif . ation of the writer must be verified when the letter is submitted The f me/.ild reserves the right to edit any letter lor length or style K J JULY 24-28 main desk 3 4 6 4 3 6 ^ Candy, Snacks. Drinks, School Supplies and nnich, • much more! • I *«vcr rales ..n international wills Inquire .ti lire Mam Desk Stoic • Purchase sour Greyhound bus iiekcis in advance r ^ • Passport photos tor icsumcs. eu • I’ay sour (A\ i B and NWNG htlh • Hull Center tickets I he (MU will be open extended hours to accommodate IntroDUCKtion needs. rjiui*i.iy. July 27.7pn 11pm [MU Administration Ml01 EMU * A £ Challen|ln| Student ‘Worksrtudy’ positions are available Fall Tam la the University Schedolla| and Reaarvatloaa Office. Performs professional clerical work requirin| a combination of basic office and computer skills. Must work well with people. Work may involve some interpretation of policies and cost estimatln|, Must be meticulous In recordia| Information. Salary $6.10-$7.00 per hour. Apply In the University Schedulln| Office, EMU Ml09-A, between Sam-Spm, Monday throu|h Friday. Hirtn| and tralnln| will take place as soon as possible. r~—~--. c o n c e r t ^ He'Alkane * Floater I — I Juju Afro-Beat C ,*h* Voodoo Slow Skulls Aygirtt 2 3 Axumah Ayf/it 25 e t s The Trenchcoats v August ]l Twinkle Bros. WOO Sepiemfc**- I ioanno Rand |SQ0 September 2 Daddies WOO Act III novto discount tickets s ON SALE_ AT THE EMU_ MAIN DESK STORE mmm ■bbbbbm IOURjPATRQ.NA.GE SUSTAINS US. USE OUR SERVICES TELL US HOW TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT MEET YOUR NEEDS. YOUR FEEDBACK IS VALUABLE^
