Letters

‘Personal Conscience’

Posted

To the Editor:

I vividly recall what to my mind was the offense against Christian charity when certain Catholics bitterly and loudly complained when former Mayor Dinkins innocently rose to receive Communion at a cathedral Mass. That is why I consider your reporting on Mayor de Blasio’s attendance at the St. Patrick’s Day Mass in the cathedral to be offensive and distasteful. (CNY, March 20). I understand neither the editorial intent nor decision to make references vis-a-vis his religious status and the reception of the Eucharist. 

I do not recall reading such references for Mass attendance of prior mayors, many of whom were non-Catholics. I prefer to think that the majority of our co-religionists would consider the practice of religion to be a matter of personal conscience, not fodder for a newspaper that purports to be something other than a lurid New York City tabloid. I hope a deliberate decision was not made in this instance as a matter of politics.

Vincent Gaglione

Scarsdale

Editor’s Note: The decision to note Mayor de Blasio’s attendance at the Mass was not unusual. Considering that this was the mayor’s first St. Patrick’s Day Mass and that he himself had made the decision not to march in the parade, it seemed just basic reporting to note his presence at the Mass and the fact that he received a blessing. Part of the responsibility of a Catholic newspaper, or any newspaper, for that matter, is to explain not only what happens, but why it does. It was straight reporting, with no judgment.