Directive Against Nun’s Shelter

The Times (Feb. 3) had three letters critical of Msgr. John Languille’s directive to Catholic Social Service Agencies prohibiting the referral of homeless women to the House of Ruth. May I reply briefly with another point of view? As I see it, Msgr. Languille’s message was lost completely in the heat of emotion by those who responded to it.

Granting that his letter might be judged abrupt, the fact remains that somebody who is obviously out of step with Catholic teaching on abortion, and who has an open mind on abortion as a solution to an unplanned pregnancy, should not be in charge of a Catholic agency providing shelter for women, some of whom may have that problem.

Why should the Catholic community be asked to raise a budget of $60,000 a year for an agency that provides housing for six women and that is administered by someone who does not subscribe to Catholic teaching on abortion? It does not mean that these funds will be withheld from this area of social need, but it does mean that they will be diverted to other “Houses of Ruth” where the philosophy of the administrators will be in harmony with Catholic teaching.

We Catholics are kidding ourselves if we think we can remain Catholic, and even hold a position in a sensitive area of responsibility, while projecting a stand on basic Catholic teaching contrary to that of our church.

Unity in essentials is a requirement for membership in good standing.

MSGR. RICHARD F. COTTER

Corpus Christi Church

Pacific Palisades

The hostile letters against Msgr. Languille’s decision not to refer women to the House of Ruth because its director is pro-choice on abortion missed the point.

Nobody is asking this woman to cease the work she believes in, but the church has the duty to make sure that nobody is condoning the killing of the innocent unborn in the name of the church.

I salute the monsignor’s courage in being true to Christ’s church. He may have to suffer recriminations, but all he is doing is standing up for the most voiceless and brutalized minority group in our society--the vulnerable unborn.

ELAINE FRANCIS

San Diego