In her column, “Catholic faith must not be so judgmental” (April 14, pg. 3), Matuya Brand supported John Kerry who, similar to herself, receives Communion in the Catholic Church though he does not agree with all the Church’s teachings. At every Sunday Mass, before Communion, Catholics around the world state that they believe in “one holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.” To receive what Catholics believe to be the Body of Christ within the Catholic Mass is a further sign that one believes in the Church and its teachings. Also, the sacrament of Confirmation is seen as and adult decision to affirm one’s Catholic faith, in accordance with the Church. To be Catholic is to believe that Jesus is God, that He died for our sins, and that He left what author Mary Beth Bonacci calls “an infallible Church that protects and transmits His teaching and His love to all generations.” The Church may change liturgical practices over time, but the Church knows it does not have the authority to change Christ’s teachings. Jesus Christ taught and represented love, life, peace, and freedom. The goal of the Church’s doctrine is to offer such virtues to all humans. The Church, in its very being, is inherently counterculture. If the Church were not counterculture, there would be no point in its existence. In her article, Brand wrote, “Should doors be closed for those who rarely but surely seek shelter from a disturbing world?” Of course not! But that is exactly it: the world is disturbing, and the Church is a shelter, because it is not like the world outside. Christ was a radical and a rebel in his time. Similarly, the Church continues to rebel against common social and cultural belief that often tends to undermine the unique dignity of each person. To be Catholic is not like working for a corporation or belonging to a political party where you can be part of the institution without fully agreeing with what the institution stands for. It is not a pick-and-choose situation. To be Catholic is a way of life, a way of living. The Catholic Church is a family. I understand from personal experience (especially coming from a very liberal Northern Californian background) that many of the Church’s doctrines are hard to swallow. But I can also assure you that with increased understanding of the reasoning behind the Church’s teachings through counsel and reading, Church teaching makes a great deal of sense and offers a freedom far greater than any our society offers. In fact, embraced Catholic Faith can make it so that one need not seek church as a refuge from the world, because living the Faith dispels the darkness that makes the world so disturbing. Time at church, instead, becomes time for the ultimate celebration of Life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, a book that candidates for Confirmation receive in the What Catholics Believe class here at B.U., is a good place to seek simply but thoroughly stated explanations of Church teachings. Also, the priest and campus ministers at the Catholic Center would be more than happy to offer counsel on understanding the Church. Lastly, the Catholic Center offers many activities (all of which, sadly, Brand emphasized she made effort never to attend), including weekly Tuesday night spaghetti suppers, open mike nights, guest speakers, and Praise ‘ Worship jam sessions as opportunities to come closer and to learn from each other, and thus draw closer to God. These activities are open to all. The Catholic Center is located at 211 Bay State Road and any of the staff may be contacted at (617) 353-3632.

Katherine Thomas COM ’06

(415) 218-8735 BU Catholic Center Student Pastoral Council Member