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English mass should prevail in Texas

I read the Tyler Morning Telegraph article: “Traditional Latin Mass to end at Tyler cathedral, other East Texas parishes” (Nov. 19 issue). I agree with Pope Francis’ directive to severely curtail the use of the Latin Mass in English-speaking countries. And, I am glad that the Apostolic Administrator for the diocese of Tyler is complying.

I was born in 1963. By the time, I received my First Holy Communion, the Masses were already in English. While I have visited a few solely Latin Mass parishes such as the one in St. Marys, Kansas, I can see the beauty of the Latin Rite on special occasions only. But, I still believe that the modern English Mass is best for Texas for usual Masses.

After all, any religious service (even a Protestant one) is to be a welcoming celebration of “worship.” While I know a few words of Spanish, and only a few words of Latin, I can generally “follow” the “order of the Mass” since I know the routine. However, for sermons (called Homilies), I am completely lost in a Latin Mass. I resort to smiling and nodding in an approving way.

The late U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt once advocated English as “the official language of America.” If that had happened over a century ago, I think, we’d have a lot more unity today. I can approve the Tyler Cathedral offering Latin Masses at Christmas and Easter only.

James A. Marples

Longview

There’s too much money in politics

Another year of record-setting campaign contributions has come to a close: over $20 billion between state and federal elections, nearly a quarter of it from SuperPACs. Per Open Secrets, “dark money,” where the source of spending isn’t disclosed, was in the mix to the tune of over $1 billion.

Both major parties boasted a small army of billionaires, each with their own agenda and fueling division through advertising, much of it negative and/or misleading. The continued effort of PACs and billionaires located outside of the congressional districts and states they wish to influence is ever-growing. And non-U.S. entities are becoming more successful at evading legislation banning foreign contributions. How? By funneling it to 501c2 social welfare groups, which in turn contribute to the SuperPACs.

The result? Further polarization of our society and civic institutions, even dividing families. And elected officials beholden to big business interests and potentially foreign actors.

The source of the problem began years ago when a series of Supreme Court decisions ruled that money is basically a form of free speech and thus guaranteed by the Constitution’s First Amendment. This overruled a number of longstanding state rules limiting campaign spending (and often continues to thwart similar legislative attempts today).

American Promise has a solution: Amend the Constitution to allow states and/or Congress to set reasonable campaign finance guidelines. Want to help? Go to AmericanPromise.net and sign the Citizen Pledge. Contact your elected officials. And speak out for the right to regain how we run our campaigns.

Claire Gibbs

Tyler