Letter from an engaged atheist

by Letters Editor · May 30, 2013

From Mario Compagnoni, Johannesburg

As an atheist, I wrote a letter last Easter, and was surprised that you published it, with my apostate�s beliefs and all.�The responses from your readers were humbling in their caring, compassionate and tolerant tone, for which I am most grateful.

“The reason Christian teachings have stood the test of time � as the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Taoist and others have, within their own different cultural milieus�is because they reflect the best in human nature.”

What struck me at this year�s Easter Mass was the fact that the relatively large church was again overflowing, but then I noticed that the 15-35 year olds were largely missing. Has anyone among the clergy asked why and offered constructive solutions, as Fritz Rijkenberg did so eloquently (February 14).

I agree with him that the �message� and the �boring rote� are no longer relevant to their emotional realities and social experiences.�Christian teachings and moral values are much more than just dogmatic tenets�they are great attributes and codes of conduct to live by.

The reason Christian teachings have stood the test of time � as the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Taoist and others have, within their own different cultural milieus�is because they reflect the best in human nature.

I have great faith that the new pope, having trained as an engineer before becoming a Jesuit, will bring some sense of �reality� both to the realm of beliefs as well as to the lifestyle choices of the clergy.

As an ex-altar boy from the age of six, I was encouraged to see that 75% of the new altar-helpers were young ladies from various racial groups. Among their various functions, they handled the chalice with aplomb. Surely it is a short leap from here to one day being ordained.

Now that Pope Francis seems intent on treating child abusers as the criminals that they are, he will hopefully also root out any rot within the Vatican. Next he needs to cut the Gordian knot of the vow of celibacy for the clergy.

He needs to use his ex-cathedra powers and make bold pronouncements, and be resolute in the face of fierce opposition, in the pursuit of a fundamental renewal of the Church for the sake of future generations.

Having taken the vow of celibacy at the age of 16 and lived by it until I abandoned the �calling� at the age of 22, I can vouch that it is an unnatural condition, and whether one copes with sexual abstinence by sublimating sexual desire or by suppressing pretty much all feelings, the result is an emotionally stunted human being.

Other Christian denominations seem to experience no greater financial burden due to their ministers or pastors being married.

We need members of the clergy who have experienced life in all its magnificent facets, not �emotionally deprived� individuals. We need �real� people, with emotional as well as intellectual depth, who can provide moral and spiritual guidance to the 15-35 year olds.

However, I have no doubt that your learned readers will have much better advice for the new pope than my limited perspective.