Letter to Staff Member of Diocese of West Michigan

Karen Armstrong says:

"I say that religion isn't about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It's about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness."

Thank-you for responding to my e-mails to the Bishop regarding the issue of homelessness in Kalamazoo County.

However, I must say that I am deeply disappointed that our bishop cannot take the time to pen a letter to County Commissioners, the Kalamazoo Gazette, or at least to churches in Kalamazoo County.

In my humble opinion, if "behaving in a way that changes you" is not what religion is about, then all that remains is the alchemy.

I sincerely and respectfully request a more active voice from the Bishop and diocesan leaders on the issue of poverty and homelessness.

Our homeless and poor brothers and sisters deserve ever so much more than silence.

Ms. Armstrong's Charter for Compassion states in part:

"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect."

More on Ms. Armstrong's charter can be found at:

http://charterforcompassion.org/share/the-charter

May God grant us all the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, and more importantly the courage to change the things we can and the true wisdom to know the difference.

Rob Burgess