Congratulations to Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro for publicly objecting to the invitation extended by the Peterborough-Clarington Catholic School Board to MP Justin Trudeau to address its students. The Trudeau name still rings a bell for Ontario Liberals who have carefully shaded their eyes from the huge damage Trudeau Sr. did to his country and to his Church. Son Justin, living comfortably in the now secularized and anti-Catholic culture of his native province of Quebec, thinks like his compatriots: most of them consider themselves “Catholic” but without the need to obey or love either Pope or God. Abortion? They are personally opposed, but, hey, every woman has the right to do what she wants with her body, even if it means killing her unborn child. Same-sex marriage? Why not? Everyone has the right to live according to his wishes! As Justin says: “My own credo is completely consistent with that of the Catholic Church and my values to the utmost extent” (Can Press, Nov. 2, 2011).

            And so presumably are the views of Trevor Digby, department chair of Canadian and world studies at Holy Cross Secondary School in Peterborough who received approval from the Board to get 300 students from six area Catholic schools to go and listen to MP Justin Trudeau. Mr. Digby debunked MP Del Mastro’s objections as “petty,” then offered the opinion that the invitation to Trudeau was “a private matter.” Really? And anyway Trudeau was not invited to “speak about a theological issue.” Only about a “challenge to leadership and make a better world.” And that Mr. Digby, is not a theological issue?

            May I suggest to Mr. Digby, that he reads the Gospel of St. Luke, Chapter 17, verse 3: “If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents forgive him.” Why? Because we Catholics form a community.

            Please check the previous verse 2: “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come. It would be better for him if …” You can read the remaining part of this sentence yourself.