I noted two things in the March 18 Catholic Sentinel that call for comparison.

One letter writer advocated for married and women priests and for a more accepting stance for people who are gay or lesbian. Meanwhile, one of your news stories was about Anglican bishops leaving their communion for the Catholic Church.

As a former Episcopalian and a chaste gay man, I know from experience that welcoming churches are not always growing churches. Modernizing the Catholic Church would not prevent people leaving. Only faithful witness to Christ and truth spoken with love is what is required of us. If we get smaller that is okay. We are required to pass on the faith intact, not tweak it for every new movement that comes along. We have already survived the Reformation, the Crusades, the Enlightenment, and the Bolshevik revolution. Calls to adapt and make the church modern are nothing new.

Francis Schiraldi

Springfield