Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
LETTER SENT TO: IRISH TIMES, IRISH INDEPENDENT, IRISH EXAMINER, COI GAZETTE, IRISH CATHOLIC, CATHOLIC HERALD.
SUBJECT: ST THERESE
DATE SENT: 24-4-01
Dear Sir,
There is a reference in Exodus 13:19 to the Children of Israel carrying
the bones of Joseph with them out of Egypt. He had requested this some
three hundred years earlier solely as a testimony to his faith that God
had a better land for His people. Moses complied with the request.
There is no evidence that Joseph's body was dismembered in an act
referred to as "pious mutilation" or that it was religiously venerated
in any way. None ventured forth to touch it or kiss it or pray to or
through it. Such a thought would have been abhorrent to Moses whose
loathing of such idolatry would soon be manifested in the Golden Calf
affair.
The current visit to Ireland of part of St Therese's skeleton - an arm
and a leg according to Bishop Comiskey - has succeeded in drawing out
large numbers of people to venerate it. I am aware of the delicate
distinctions that the Roman Church insists can be drawn. However, it is
fair to say that such distinctions exist only on paper and sadly will
not follow through in reality. There is no Biblical sanction of such
actions. To go beyond Scripture is to go beyond God Himself. God's ways
are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) They are manifestly better.
Yours faithfully,
Colin Maxwell
SEE ARTICLE ON THE RELICS OF ST THERESE
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