To the Editor:

My name is Molly Leidig and I am a freshman at Fairfield University this year.  So far, I love everything about the school.  I am running on the cross country team and I have met so many wonderful, kind hearted people.  I have been an active, practicing Catholic my whole life.  I attend mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.

Last Sunday, I attended mass for the first time since being here.  I went to the 9 p.m. student mass.  I was excited for church because my brothers who are in college have always told me how uplifting and inspirational college masses can be.  We also have such a beautiful chapel which makes for a great environment for liturgy.  I went into mass with an open mind and was hoping to come out refreshed and rejuvenated, but unfortunately it had the opposite effect.

The mass was going smoothly up until the point of the homily.  The priest decided to use the homily as an opportunity to spew his political viewpoints instead of using his knowledge as a priest to further the students’ understanding of Jesus’ word.  The priest is an authority figure and highly respected; students at the school look up to him and he is using his power in a completely inappropriate way.  Father repeatedly brought up “the Fox news crazies; Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh.”  As I was sitting there listening, I almost had the urge to leave.  Mass should not be a place of anger and conflict, but rather a place of peace and faith.  Mass is not a political rally and should not be used as one.  It is not even a matter of whether or not I agreed with what Father was saying, but rather that Father was not using his authority in an appropriate manner.  Father went into little detail about the actual readings and instead used his homily as an opportunity to push a Liberal agenda.  I found it revolting that Father would be so selfish as to do such a thing mere minutes before consecrating the body of Jesus Christ.  The point of mass is to reflect, pray, and repent; it is not a political rally.  Students should not be leaving mass with a sour taste in their mouth, it should be uplifting.

The reason I am writing this is not to disagree with Father, but rather make it known that I am a freshman and this is my first experience of mass at Fairfield and I know there must be other freshman out there who felt the same as I did after the mass.  Fairfield is a Catholic University and we need to remember that.  Fairfield states on their website, “Fairfield University values each of its students as an individual with unique abilities and potentials, and it respects the personal and academic freedom of all its members. At the same time it seeks to develop a greater sense of community within itself, a sense that all of its members belong to and are involved in the University, sharing common goals and a common commitment to truth and justice, and manifesting in their lives the common concern for others which is the obligation of all educated, mature human beings.”  Diversity is what makes the world and this University such a wonderful place.  Every person is entitled to their own opinion and no one person’s opinion  is superior to another.

And so I will end with the school motto, “Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem,” meaning “Through Faith to full Truth.” That says it all, mass is about faith, not politics.  Faith will lead you to the truth.

Sincerely,

Molly Leidig

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