After a little research, let’s let our consciences guide us and vote for what is right and good for the whole nation. 

Remember that the vote is by secret ballot, so no matter what someone else has told us, when it comes to the vote, we mark the X where we want it. 

Let us vote for the person who most exemplifies honesty, goodness, integrity, righteousness and justice.

Let’s get out and vote: each vote is so important!

Constance Gambriel,

Woodslee, Ont.

A model church

Re: Keeping churches ‘alive and kicking’ (Aug. 25):

St. Monica’s parish church in Toronto is an oasis of peace in the middle of a busy street dominated by multi-unit residential buildings, many of which are under construction. 

The church is loved and appreciated by visitors as well as parishioners. The church building is modest, humble and unassuming, very much in accord with the model set for us by Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

The statue of St. Monica inside the church is lovely because her face radiates tranquillity, happiness and even a glint of victory (no doubt due to the hard-won conversion of her son St. Augustine). The stations of the cross are works of art. The holy poverty of the parish has given rise to a powerful life of devotion. 

It is hoped that the beautiful witness of St. Monica’s parish church will not be lost under pressure of the proposed renovations, which were described in The Catholic Register.

Lise Anglin,

Toronto 

Religious symbols

Re: Secularism can be a positive force (Sept. 8):

John Milloy succeeded in presenting the case through a religious lens of concerns, particularly of Catholics and Muslims, over Quebec Bill 21. 

I do like his point that: “Secularism can be positive. Yes, the state must be neutral and not favour one group over another.”

Yet public officials perform their functions for the state and not for themselves. To wear symbols of religion at the time of work will dilute that implicit message. 

There are other places to express the multicultural nature of Canadian society than at work. 

Rufino Ty,

Brampton, Ont.

Less politics

I agree with many of your readers that The Catholic Register is becoming more and more “left wing.”

Some writers seem to write exclusively against Republican / Trump policies and very little if at all about abuses and bad policies of the Democrats.

Let us agree that neither side is faultless and a good Christian writer should be able to write about both sides of an issue.

I am all for less politics and more spirituality … or find a conservative and give them the space to explain the other side of the story.

Deacon George Jurenas,

Streetsville, Ont.