A way to help lapsed Catholics

by admin · October 8, 2008

The Southern Cross has been in circulation since 1920, and 12 years from now will celebrate its centenary. As a supporter of our weekly Catholic newspaper, I pray that we will enjoy the next 12 years of unbiased reading, whether it be in favour of our faith or critical of our shortcomings. Perhaps it is time for The Southern Cross to have a good look at itself and find out what the opinion of it�s readers is, as well as the way forward.

I think that the newspaper is by, for and to Catholics, and for and to the converted, and no further. What about the lapsed who have forgotten their faith? Let�s all of us regulars buy a few issues of the newspaper and quietly slip them into their post boxes of faded Catholics. This may remind them that the Catholic Church in SA is functioning. One never hears anything on national TV channels about the Church except when the pope says he�s sorry for this or that, or when a Martin Luther movie is on our screens.

The Southern Cross should�be distributed to the masses in our country, especially now that the ANC is placing itself before God and country. Look at what has happened in Zimbawe, and that with the support of our own leaders. I am deeply disturbed with the silence of Nelson Mandela. He fought for democracy in our country with a voice heard by all the world, and now that democracy is crumbling in our country and has disappeared in Zimbawe, I feel that if that voice had continued, Zim would have been saved. Please, Southern Cross, don�t be silent; get the message to the masses. God and country, first and foremost. Unless this is achieved, our Catholic newspaper could be silenced, and 12 years from now be forgotten.

I am a parishioner of the Rosebank parish where the sung Mass is celebrated rather late (10:30). Twice I attended the sung Mass at Braamfontein, at 9:30, and on both occasions, before Mass The Southern Cross was sold out. I had to go back to Rosebank to buy the�the newspaper, for myself as well as for those who should return to the faith.