A pastor’s pastor

Your article on Archbishop Sartain [“Low-key archbishop in the spotlight,” page one, Aug. 5] was much appreciated. We are lifetime Catholics in the Archdiocese of Seattle. We’ve met Archbishop Sartain and have followed his writings and ministry since he came to Seattle.

He’s a pastor’s pastor — humble and compassionate, but not willing to compromise the truth. Father John Whitney’s comments are of a type that, frankly, is getting stale. Repeatedly, certain priests in this archdiocese wish to put the truth up for discussion, as Father Whitney seems to imply the archbishop should do. Repeatedly, the truth has suffered when their advice is followed.

We thank God Archbishop Sartain is a priest who possesses both the love and courage to act on objective truth, not truth by consensus.

— Dirk and Linn Bartram, Seattle

Who’s out of touch?

Janet Tu and Jayme Fraser write that Archbishop J. Peter Sartain’s “emerging portrait is [one] of a leader who can be out of touch with the lives and concerns of others in his flock — gay and lesbian people and liberal Catholics among them.”

This is like claiming that the Army is out of touch with a few rogue soldiers. To identify oneself as a Catholic is to align oneself with Christ and the very church He founded nearly 2,000 years ago. It is that very church that dictates what the religion is, not fringe members of the faithful. Therefore, it is they who may be “out of touch” with the essence of their religion.

— Harold Geno, Federal Way