Letter to the Editor: Parishioner Responds to Blogger

Editor's Note: Ulrich's letter is in response to a blog post, you can 

Oh, Dear! I so wish you had the facts, Mr. Long. It’s my pleasure to help educate you.  

On the topic of slavery: the Church and its parishioners work energetically and effectively to stop slavery and human trafficking in our country and in foreign lands, too. We work to stop the unjust treatment of human beings affected by oppressive cultures and unjust political regimes. 

On the topic of “the culture of war” and the “culture wars”:  the Church and its parishioners act on principle as peace makers and negotiators of justice and peace in our local communities, in the United Nations and throughout the world. 

On the topic of the “vast inequality of wealth in the world”: the Catholic Church, individual Catholics, and Catholic organizations (St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, individual parish organizations to name just a few) act on local, regional, national and international levels as among the world’s largest providers of health care, aid-to-the-needy (food, housing, healthcare, education, women’s shelters, homes for unwed mothers, etc.), disaster relief and more.  In addition, the Catholic Church works in third-world countries to improve quality of life for current populations as well as the lives of generations yet-to-come, through sponsorship of schools and education processes, through clinics and hospitals, through hands-on education and significant improvements to agricultural processes so that food and clean water become plentiful for indigenous people.

Here is a direct quote from one of many Catholic charitable organizations found at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org: Catholic Charities USA supports 10 million impoverished Americans.: Fight Poverty with Catholic Charities Over 46 million Americans live in poverty. And the number of families struggling for food is at an all-time high. It is unacceptable that in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the number of Americans living in poverty continues to increase day after day. Catholic Charities USA supports programs and services that bring hope to more than 10 million people every year. Join us as we fight poverty and build a more compassionate America. Sign up now!

The “excesses of the Church”, as you put it, are put to work on a daily basis to rectify wrong, to “teach a wo/man how to fish”, so to speak, so that self-sufficiency is not only achieved, but sustained. We offer more than a hand-out – we joyfully give a hand-up.   

As for the topic of the “beauty and integrity of the world”, I see a world-wide church effecting positive and monumental transformation of lives as well as good stewardship of the world’s precious resources. 

It’s a tough job all around, and the Catholic Church, here in Woodinville as well as world-wide, is doing a darned good job now as it has done historically. 

Blessings, Mr. Long!

Cyndie Ulrich, Parishioner

Blessed Teresa Catholic Church