Letters: Archbishop Charles Chaput's arrogant contradiction of Pope Francis

ISSUE | CHURCH

Communion questionnaire

So Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput gets to decide for the disenfranchised Catholics of Philadelphia what Pope Francis clearly did not say in Amoris Laetitia? The sheer arrogance and un-Christian attitude of Chaput continue to stun ("Chaput edict scorned, praised," Thursday).

One can only cling to the belief that Jesus never intended Communion be reserved for the few and the chaste. Funny, there were no questions posed about "state of grace" at the Last Supper.

I, for one, will continue to receive Communion unless the one distributing it is obliged to ask each communicant, "Are you divorced, gay, cohabiting, or remarried but chaste?" Perhaps the archbishop could issue identification tags.

|Laura Szatny, King of Prussia

Mercy and morality

Once again, Pope Francis is contradicted by his bishops, in this case Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput stating that correct morals are more important than compassion ("Chaput: Divorced must be chaste," Wednesday). The focus on the purity laws of St. Paul neglects the words of Jesus: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

Like Jesus, Pope Francis knows that emphasis on laws keeps people away from God, whereas compassion and mercy bring them closer. Despite the dicta of the church, we who follow our conscience are recipients of God's forgiveness, and remember, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there."

|Ernie Sherretta, Broomall, ejsherretta@gmail.com

Police thyself

Archbishop Charles Chaput should focus on policing his priests, who take a vow of celibacy, instead of his flock. Protecting innocent victims of sexual abuse by his employees seems to be a much more important problem than the sex lives of lay Catholics.

|Kate Fleming, Merion