Take a look at the following letter to the editor that appeared in today’s Times-Union of Albany, NY

Ash Wednesday quote not meant to be insulting

Thank you for the March 1 story on Ash Wednesday and the bishop’s presence at LaSalle Institute, Troy.

The New Testament quote you used is read on Ash Wednesday, but Jewish readers might misinterpret it.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues …” refers to hypocrites who do religious things for other people to see them and not for the greater honor and glory of God. It does not refer to those who pray in the synagogue for, after all, Jesus himself began his ministry in a synagogue.

In the words of Bishop Howard Hubbard at that LaSalle Mass: “The three practices designed for deepening our relationship with God are practiced by all of the faith traditions, including Judaism and Islam…”

REV. JAMES KANE
Pastor
St. Helen’s Parish
Niskayuna

The writer is interreligious affairs director for the Albany Diocese

Now to me the letter does provide a great opportunity for catechesis. However, I think it goes a little too far assuming offense and in equating Christianity with other faiths. Jesus said —I am the way.— I wonder why so many, including clergy, refuse to make that point.

Christianity can be offensive at times —“ that’s why it and we will never ‘fit in’. We must call people out of the ‘let’s all fit in attitude’ and return to our mission of calling the world to repentance and conversion.

What do you think?