Letters to the Editor

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Jesus’ message of love is evident throughout Scripture, reader says

This letter is in response to Steven Frazer’s comments in the July 16 issue of The Criterion concerning Father John Catoir’s statement that “Jesus wants us to love ourselves.”

In response to this, Mr. Frazer stated that “Jesus never said anything even remotely like that.”

Jesus tells us many times that we are loved.

In the Gospels, he affirmed that the second greatest commandment is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk 12:31). This implies that (1) we are lovable; (2) that we are to love ourselves; and (3) we are to love our neighbor.

Jesus’ message of love continued when he said: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12). God gave his only begotten Son for us (Jn 3:16). In Hosea, God said, “I will espouse you to me forever … in love and mercy” (Hos 2:21).

Many people do not realize that they are lovable. Some have low self-esteem because they have not experienced human love and/or have been disrespected. It may be difficult for them to love. Sometimes it may take them many years to realize that they are loved as a human being and child of God.

At the other end of the continuum are those who are egocentric and selfish. These individuals may be compensating for what they did not receive, and may also have low self-esteem.

Healthy self-esteem is realizing that we are good and lovable. We know this because we have experienced human love and/or have been graced to know God’s love. Therefore, we will give of God’s love to others.

There is a saying that one cannot give what one does not have. We need to love and respect ourselves first of all, and then we will have the ability to see the inherent goodness in others and reach out to them in love.

- Martha Thie, Indianapolis

Catholic Church must be concerned about treatment of illegal aliens

John Fink’s editorial in the June 25 issue of The Criterion concerning the immigration of illegal aliens to the U.S. leaves out a very important problem for these persons.

With no documentation, illegals find it difficult to secure full-time employment. They are easily abused, threatened and poorly paid.

I believe the Catholic Church must be more concerned about illegals being treated as slaves by certain companies rather than the legitimate duty of a country to secure its borders.

- Sara Allen, Indianapolis