The Church’s Views

Can it be that the Catholic Church has its left foot in its mouth and the right foot doesn’t know? View on June 6 makes one wonder. The reporting of two rites of passage--the Latino quinceanera and high society’s coming out--reflects opposing church attitudes.

We read that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued new guidelines for quinceaneras to simplify a tradition that has “. . . become too secular, too social and too costly” (“Is the Party Over?” Page 1).

On another page of the same issue, we read that in a ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel there was “no shortage of pomp” as this year’s designer-clad (Social Services Auxiliary) debutantes were presented to the Archbishop of Los Angeles (“On View”).

If there is an award for ambivalence, I hereby nominate the Catholic Church.

LEA PETRICK

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