LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (01/19/03)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Response to letter on Philadelphia visit

Dear Editor:

Leo Iwaskiw chose to write (letters, December 15, 2002) of the disappointments of the faithful in relation to the visit of our Major Archbishop Lubomyr Husar to our magnificent cathedral. I feel that his comments need to be addressed, as they were grossly misleading and unfairly tarnished some people and the celebration.

I have had opportunity to meet with Mr. Iwaskiw on a number of occasions, and have been generous with my time to listen to him. He knows from experience that I am approachable, and that I do not neglect the concerns of the faithful. Yet, despite the various items he has addressed with me on different occasions, he did not make any attempt to contact me regarding the issue raised in his letter.

Had he done this (which might be regarded as a basic courtesy), I would have had opportunity to explain some basics to him, and prevented his making hurtful accusation against others. This is something which I have experienced many times already in my experience with good people in our Ukrainian community here in the United States of America. So often people choose not to seek counsel or elaboration of information but are quick to criticize or go through other sources, such as newspapers.

Had Mr. Iwaskiw shown the basic courtesy to call, I would have informed him that our major archbishop's visit was not to the Church in the United States, as he states in his article, but was specifically planned with the major archbishop as a visit to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. All the letters and announcements reflected this. So, when Mr. Iwaskiw remarks that "the three active bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America were conspicuous by their absence," he unfairly demeans these honorable bishops. One week previous to the visit to Philadelphia, our major archbishop visited the Eparchy of Parma, where neither I nor other Ukrainian Catholic Bishops were present. This is understood in protocol - something about which I would gladly have informed Mr. Iwaskiw had he had the courtesy to inquire.

Had Mr. Iwaskiw bothered to inquire as to why the title patriarch was not used, and not judged this as a "stubborn omitting" and a "lack of respect," I would have informed him that this was done with the full blessing of our major archbishop.

The major archbishop himself has publicly stated that the use of the title is a purely voluntary choice, and he does not mandate it. He himself asked the celebrants during the papal liturgy in Ukraine not to use the title of "patriarch" in the presence of the holy father. He is very aware of my choice to await the final recognition, and is fully in agreement with this. This was communicated with all of our clergy of the archeparchy, and I have not opposed individual priests electing to use the title "patriarch" in their parishes should they desire. So, Mr. Iwaskiw would have realized, if he had bothered to ask, that the "omission" was not really an omission but a holding to status quo of respect.

Finally, Mr. Iwaskiw criticized the "widespread use of the English language during the divine liturgy," which he saw as "unnecessary." He particularly drew inordinate attention to the fact that the Epistle and Gospel were read only in English. He concluded that this "indicates a complete lack of respect and only alienates the faithful." Mr. Iwaskiw exaggerates a point he is entitled to legitimately make. However, the reality is that over 75 percent of the divine liturgy was sung in Ukrainian. Yet, he does not share (and perhaps is unaware) that a significant portion of the children and faithful participating traveled by buses from distant parishes where Ukrainian liturgies are celebrated but the Ukrainian language is not spoken and not understood. He does not share how many hundreds of children were involved in preparations, in both languages.

I believe that the divine liturgy reflected a proper respect and dignity for all who participated. This was magnificently and most charitably reflected by the major archbishop's bilingual homily, offered so all might hear and understand the Word of God.

Our major archbishop personified for all of us the genuine concern and charity of God for all who enter His Church. He gives us Ukrainian Catholics an example to follow and emulate if we genuinely are concerned for the well-being and nurturing of souls - in Ukrainian, English, or whatever language they present themselves in. Are we ready to embrace our mission as a Ukrainian Catholic Church, or are we going to choose to remain in the closet of inappropriate nationalism?

The Most Rev. Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan-Archbishop
Philadelphia

Insulted by letter regarding UIA event

Dear Editor:

It is not my intention to discuss the letters by Jaroslawa Zelinsky Johnson and Marta Farion published in The Weekly on December 22, 2002. I obviously disagree with most of their statements and opinions. I have no doubt in my mind that anybody can write to the editors whatever she or he wishes. It is up to the editors, their civility, integrity and good taste to decide which letters deserve to be published. There is an absolute majority of your readers that disagree with authors of these letters and feel insulted.

My suggestion to the editor for the future is to be more selective and critical.

I also would like to bring to your attention that neither The Weekly nor Svoboda are private enterprises which are free to print matters that may be offensive to larger numbers of your readers.

Andrew Paschuk
New York

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