That said,it would have been the height of insensitivity and un Christ-like behavior to launch into that diatribe about abortion.The Mass was offered for the departed souls,men and women,who are no longer with us and to provide solace,comfort and strength for those they left behind.To lose focus and switch over to other sorrows and pain would diminish the spiritual and human dignity of those for whom the Mass was offered.
In a sense it would be like telling the mother of a child,who was killed in Afghanistan,"I am sorry,but remember poor Mrs. Sullivan,she lost all five of her sons in World War II".It would have been cruel.
Sinkspur's comment about "a time and a place",is right on target.Now look what you people have done,you have put me in a position to agree with sinkspur,a place I never thought I'd be in.
<> Sinkspur say a lot of wise things.<>
I think sometimes it is inappropriate to bring up outside issues, like when Princess Diana's brother launched into an attack against the Royal Family and the media at her funeral.
But I don't want to stray too far from the matter at hand. One year past the terror attack, everyone, including those most closely affected, has had plenty of time to reflect on their loss. That is not to say some people are past grieving, they are not, and perhaps never will be. It means we have reached a time when we should be prepared to move forward. In my estimation, there should have been, and should be, more discussion at this point about WHY it happened. I mean this in a political as well as a moral and religious sense.
There are many, many Catholic people in this country, including some of the people who lost children in 9/11, who believe that 9/11 was a wake-up call from God, and that abortion is probably the most grievous reason.There is nothing doctrinally wrong about stating this, or believing it.
As a Texas politician once said, when questioned about why his group was withdrawing its endorsement of a candidate after learning he was pro-choice: "Why are we one-issue? Because to us, abortion IS a life and death matter." And if you compare the 1 million killed last year in the womb to the 3,000 killed on 9/11, the first crime seems more serious than the second. This is intensified by the fact that our governemnt, the government all those people in the church in the represents, not only sanctions the crime but applauds it, and goes out of its way to protect its perpetrators.
Cardinal Egan might never have as good a chance again to place the issue in the face of all those who so gladly and firmly support abortion on demand: in God's house, in a place where God is supposed to be in charge.