Refusal to baptize
I wish to comment on Father Paul Borowski’s reply to the grandparent concerned because no one will baptize his great-grandchild due to the parents’ lack of attendance at Mass and parish registration [Questions People Ask, May-June 2010]. I understand the Church’s position that parents are the first religious educators of their children. My parents were not churchgoers when I was baptized over sixty years ago; however, my grandparents were my godparents, and they did their very best to ensure my Catholic upbringing. Was it a perfect situation? By no means. However, I grew up with a Catholic identity—not a sense of having been rejected by the Church because of my parents’ lack of participation.

As an adult, I have done my best to follow the religious example set by my grandparents and raise my family accordingly. I am so grateful to those priests, religious, and laypeople I encountered as a child who accepted me in the parish community. My grandparents and parish family were kind enough to provide what my parents were unable to; shouldn’t all forms of support be considered before refusing to baptize a baby?
B. Palko, e-mail

Pleased but disappointed
The May-June issue of Liguorian has got to be the best issue I’ve seen—and I’m a longtime subscriber. I know our Lady is smiling at your wonderful treatment.
M. Ashley, CA

I was very happy to see that you devoted a whole issue to our Lady (May-June 2010), especially being a new subscriber. I learned a lot from that issue, but I was sorry that you didn’t mention the Virgin of Caacupe—La Virgen de los Milagros de Caacupe—(Paraguay), which happens to be my hometown.

Even though Paraguay has a relatively small population, nearly a million pilgrims visit Caacupe each year. The pilgrimage takes place on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Even Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to Caacupe in 1987.
G. Sajbel, VA

What Catholics believe
I just read Father Rick Potts’ “If You Want to Make Your Priest Nervous” [Plain Talk, July-August 2010]. I am a Catholic convert who grew up in the Presbyterian Church where the only source of “absolute truth” was the Bible. But when I started studying the Catholic faith, I found that much of what Catholics believe—such as our belief in the Eucharist—is in the Gospels and Epistles. The Catholic Church doesn’t stress the biblical basis for the Eucharist or reconciliation as much as I wish they would. Many times when I discuss Christianity with my non-Catholic friends I refer them to the Scriptures to show the basis of our faith.
B. Pedrick, CA

Looking for clarification
The article “What a Difference a Resurrection Makes” by Daniel J. Finucane [April 2010] was excellent. The article mentions Peter’s denial of our Savior while on trial by Pilate. I thought Peter’s denial was during the sham trial by Annas?
I greatly enjoy, and learn from, this magazine. Keep up the great work!
J. Nasby, e-mail

Likes and dislikes
In the July-August 2010 issue [“A Summer Reading List”], you invited us to recommend books that had made a spiritual impact on our lives. As a church librarian, I am exposed to many wonderful books and movies. I don’t consider myself an expert, but I want to share my good find: Miracles, Messages, and Metaphors by Deacon Norm Carroll is fantastic. The author quotes many of our greatest Scripture scholars in this down-to-earth book.
E. Tourville, e-mail

It was irresponsible of Liguorian to recommend Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk to a Catholic audience. What was the author’s purpose in writing this or yours in suggesting it? Stick with authors like Ilibagiza and Kuebelbeck.
C. Bussa, MI

I read The Shack by William P. Young. If there was anything good about it, I didn’t see it.
J. Warner, WI