Posted on 03/21/2008 10:36:38 AM PDT by fproy2222
Against the backdrop of Easter, Bishop Arthur Tafoya is asking regional Catholics to be forgiving toward the three young Mormon missionaries who took part in mocking the All Saints Chapel and the Shrine of the Mexican Martyrs in San Luis.
Tafoya, bishop of the Pueblo diocese, has issued an Easter letter in response to the recently discovered photos from 2006 in which three young Mormon men were shown acting very disrespectfully at the Shrine of Mexican Martyrs and in the All Saints Chapel. In one photo, for example, a young man is shown handling the broken head of a statue at the shrine. Whether he broke the statue is still undetermined.
Officials with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly have apologized to the San Luis community for the actions of the three young men in the photos, but hard feelings have lingered over the violation of the local chapel and shrine.
In an Easter letter released to The Pueblo Chieftain on Tuesday, Tafoya said Mormon officials have apologized both to San Luis residents and to him personally for the disrespectful actions of the young missionaries.
"I ask that we as Catholics, who believe in the forgiveness of Christ, will ourselves forgive, and pray for the young men who showed such a lack of tolerance and understanding," Tafoya wrote in his letter. "I especially ask the members of the San Luis community to help the healing process by removing any anger that exists in their hearts. This is the time that we can show our love of Christ by forgiving and loving our neighbors."
Whether the young men will ever be charged with criminal conduct is still to be determined. Costilla County Sheriff Gilbert Martinez said Wednesday the investigation into the incident continues. Neither law enforcement nor Mormon officials will release their names.
©1996-2008The Pueblo Chieftain Online
just an update on
Mormon missionaries allegedly damage Colorado Catholic shrine
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1983019/posts
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We shall see if the hard core anti-Mormons here at FR will be as kind.
I hope some will take a break from the long-running hate-fest threads to ponder mercy, forgiveness and humility... especially during Holy Week.
... forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us ...
You do paint with a narrow brush!
You missed my point. But ok. I was mentioning forgiveness, mercy and humility and somehow that is narrow....
My hope was folks would desist from attacking each other and their beliefs on other threads, especially during this week, and contemplate those things. I guess you are not open to that at this time.
"I ask that we as Catholics, who believe in the forgiveness of Christ, will ourselves forgive, and pray for the young men who showed such a lack of tolerance and understanding," Tafoya wrote in his letter. "I especially ask the members of the San Luis community to help the healing process by removing any anger that exists in their hearts. This is the time that we can show our love of Christ by forgiving and loving our neighbors."
Why did the Mormon officials only offer an apology, but themselves did not ask for or seek forgiveness? And is the LDS church offering any financial compensation for damages caused?
No the “narrow” was you only mention two LDS who were not attacking any ones faith!
The fact is I had made a remark on this subject a week ago.
These few have done a lot of harm all around, I am glad they were sent home and they should have to get a job to paid for the damages they caused.
I am afrad their parents allowed them to watch the inane pop
culture of today.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1983019/posts?page=37#37
I would agree - except to add that the LDS organization should also be required to pay compensation. The youths were missionaries for the church, specifically, they were acting as authorized representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints. The parent organization should (also) accept responsibility for their actions.
Are you trying to imply all missionies act like fools!
Also both faiths know that there will be some misfits should the Church pays I believe that those youth should be required to repay the Church!
I was actually replying to the poster of this thread. I included you because in reading those other threads I noticed how frustrated you were, was concerned and thought you might like to take a break and post on one that was about what Jesus was actually about.... forgiveness, mercy and humility. Believe me, those same folks attack everyone’s faith, not just the LDS. They take great joy in their bigotry and self-righteousness in direct contradiction to the same Scriptures they claim they love.
Wow, that suggestion worked out so well.
LOL....indeed.
Stupid kids are stupid kids...being Mormon missionaries has nothing to do with it.
For some reason this thread reminded me of something the very holy Serbian saint, +Nikolai Velimirovic said:
“If your heart has been softened either by repentance before God or by learning the boundless love of God towards you, do not be proud with those whose hearts are still hard. Remember how long your heart was hard and incorrigible.
Seven brothers were ill in one hospital. One recovered from his illness and got up and rushed to serve his other brothers with brotherly love, to speed their recovery. Be like this brother. Consider all men to be your brothers, and sick brothers at that. And if you come to feel that God has given you better health than others, know that it is given through mercy, so in health you may serve your frailer brothers.”
Are you certain they have not?
Wonderful words. They represent what all Christians are called to be for each other.
Why did the Mormon officials only offer an apology, but themselves did not ask for or seek forgiveness? And is the LDS church offering any financial compensation for damages caused?
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I have not seen either letter, and unless you have, you are making stuff up again.
It appears that someone is here solely to stir up trouble.
I recommend ignoring him.
Thank you, sir.
That brother is truly to be emulated.
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