From Patrick Hardyman

Blanchardville

To the Editor:

Last Friday, May 12, I purchased a copy of “The Monroe Times” and had a chance to read the “From Left Field” column by Adam Krebs. Providentially, May 12 is the anniversary of my baptism at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Yellowstone, Wi. located in Lafayette County. I have spent a week pondering how best to respond to Adam. I will begin with a Scripture quotation from one of the readings for May 14. “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope but do it with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3, 15 - 16).

     First, I will list some of the more “provocative” ideas by Adam. “While I see the Bible (actually, all religious texts) as nothing more than glorified ancient fiction and fables...Listen, I’m not telling you that you’re not allowed to hate. You are.” Earlier Adam opines, “I was raised Catholic, but fell out of religion at 18. And not just one, but all religions. I opened my eyes to the world and saw the horrors of theological autocrats; the establishment elites, the centuries of pitting neighbor versus neighbor in order to keep them at bay....”

As a follower of Christ, I am asked to love God and neighbor, including my enemies. I can hate sin but never the sinner since we are all sinners. Every time I recite the “Lord’s Prayer”, I am reminded to forgive others as God has forgiven me. I’m not sure how feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, providing shelter to the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting those imprisoned, and caring for the sick and elderly can be construed as pitting neighbor against neighbor?

C.S. Lewis, the English Christian writer said there are three choices when it comes to Jesus. He is a either a liar, a lunatic, or he is LORD. The late Monsignor Thomas Campion spent 43 years of his 53 years as a priest in the Diocese of Madison, directing the “Apostolate To The Handicapped”, now known as the Apostolate For Persons With Disabilities. I think I can speak on his behalf that Monsignor Campion loved Jesus as his Lord and Savior and shared that love with all those whom he met. “Campions Champions”!

I am a disciple of Jesus because he is “The Way, and The Truth, and The Life” and I would be more than willing to discuss it further in-person.