Cesar Fernandez-Stoll

Dear Lauren C. Broten, Ontario Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Women Issues Forgive me please if I resist and avoid inserting that word ‘honourable’ before your name, as it goes so undeserved in the Canadian political arena. You are not just the Minister of Education and as your title says, responsible for women issues, but you are also the representative of the district I live in, so,  you working for me, I feel double inclined to bring this matter to your attention and to demand an explanation and your resignation to all three jobs. Feeling you were just doing your job, you said: “ Bill 13 is about tackling misogyny…taking away a woman’s right to choose could arguably be one of the most misogynistic ac­tions that one could take. ” And then you went on to say that “we [the Liberal government] do not allow and we’re very clear with the passage of Bill 13 that Catholic teachings cannot be taught in our schools that violates human rights and which ...

  Gospel text ( Luke 12,8-12) : Jesus said to his disciples, «I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit. »When you are brought before the synagogues, governors and rulers, don’t worry about how you will defend yourself or what to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say».

  Gospel text ( Luke 12,1-7) : Such a numerous crowd had gathered that they crushed one another. Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in this way, «Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known. Whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places, will be proclaimed from the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and after that can do no more. But I will tell you whom to fear: Fear the One who after killing you is able to throw you into hell. This one you must fear. Don't you get five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have been numbered. So do not fear: are you not worth more than a flock of sparrows?».

  Gospel text ( Lc 10,1-9) : The Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where He himself was to go. And He said to them, «The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know. »Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: ‘Peace to this house’. If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house. When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you’».

The nation used to be known as the United States of America, was founded on the foundation of faith, Christian faith, a nation under God. As every other nation, the United States has a Constitution, which in this case is a written constitution, a law to rule over every other law politicians might try to conceive, a law written under God, under the supremacy of our creator and His Commandments. The Constitution of the United States is a document oriented to protect the individual while establishing its individuality before the powers of the nation, to protect him/her against the trespasses of those who claim to know more or best about each and every individual, dismissing their suffering and achievements as something academic that only intellectuals understand.

  Gospel text ( Luke 11,42-46) : Jesus said, «A curse is on you, Pharisees; for the Temple you give a tenth of all, including mint and rue and the other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. This ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other. A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don't notice them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them». Then a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, «Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too». And Jesus answered, «A curse is on you also, teachers of the Law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves don't move a finger to help them».

  Gospel text ( Luke 11,37-41) : As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him. So He went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner. But the Lord said to him, «So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! He who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean».