In general, I agree with the sense of John McCarron’s opinion piece on “substance versus symbolism” (Op-Ed, Nov. 17). But I certainly don’t agree with his uninformed swipe at the Catholic bishops’ reconsideration of “meatless Fridays.”
Like many in the news media, Mr. McCarron tries to define the critical issues of the Church in terms of secular, particularly political, institutions. The Church is neither. Although emotional and headline-grabbing, the questions of, say, married or women priests are not of burning immediate importance to the majority of Catholics. On the other hand, although “symbolic” to Mr. McCarron, using “meatless Fridays” as one means of unifying our faith community with a proper and continuous sense of self-sacrifice, penitence and thankfulness is of much greater import to every believing member.
Whether accomplished by “meatless Fridays” or some other vehicle, these characteristics are the things that help to make us Catholic Christians and bring into our daily lives what we believe about our relationship with God and neighbor. I just wish the popular media would start exhibiting a real understanding about our core beliefs and report on them, not just the peripheral ones.
