Challenges facing the Church

Letter from Fr. Hattie received via email Friday 21 February 2014

Above is the letter I received recently from Fr. Hattie. I took the liberty of using some software to sharpen the image and to give it a bluish-green tint in order to hearken back to the airmail letters that he used to send from Africa.

Below is my transcription of the letter. If you'd like to write to Fr. Hattie, he can be reached at:
EHattie@Ymail.com.

See the "Fr. Hattie Page" for more contact info, including where to send donations.
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Dear Rick:         Peace of the risen Christ!

     Hope that this reaches you in a reasonable time, for we have been snowed in for the past 3 weeks with about 18" of snow & it shows no sign of abating. It begins to melt, then gets cold & it freezes and then decides to snow again. So, thanks so much for your very kind generous Gift of $xx.xx for the kids. Each penny pleases the overworked Sisters who have no time to raise funds. In Africa they wouldn't pick up much anyhow & they have no contacts elsewhere.

     The sheets that I sent you contained a Homily that the present Pope gave while he was still Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires. You mentioned that so much of the USA (I'd say 'the world') is lost in the dark. The other Piece that I'm including will give you the main reason why and few people seem to know it. The more [of] Religion goes down the drain, the more morality follows it. The new Pope is open about criticizing rampant Capitalism & the evils that follow in its wake. And, I am waiting to see how many people listen to him. He still has a lot more to say and I don't envy him his job. Both liberals and conservatives want him to make momentous decisions all at once and that is a recipe for disaster.If he did, they, both groups would be the first to blame him. Contraception, married priests, women priests, abortion and Holy Communion for the divorced are things that he will have to make statements. The Church numbers are dwindling due to a lack of priests. I have always been, and still am, for giving Holy Communion to the divorced for, as the Pope said, it is a remedy & a help, not a reward. Abortion is going to be the biggest problem he'll have to face.The Pope has sent many, many questions for the different Bishops' Conferences to discuss in October & he wants to know what Parishioners think.  That certainly doesn't mean that he will decide according to [what] the majority. But, it will help him go about making decisions.  I doubt very much that he will ever approve of gay Marriages. What the world needs is patience & we can never have too much of that. I am anxious to see if the number of Catholics now attending Mass increases or not. That will give some idea of where we're going. My greatest consolation is that the Church in the Middle Ages, including all the Religious Orders, were in a FAR GREATER mess than it is now and it has survived. Christ warned us of what is happening & we have simply failed to listen.

     Rest assured that you and yours have a special remembrance in my daily Mass & prayers as I ask him to fill you to the brim and liberally overflowing with His choicest gifts, Graces, & blessings.  Keep smiling (for things can always get worse) & spreading His & Her love, peace & joy all over W. Hartford

Tons of love & gratitude,

Fr. Gene, SJ

written Monday 3 March 2014