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Published July 27th, 2016
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Letters to the Editor
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Clarifying Position on Playground
I want to clarify my position on the Special Needs Playground in Moraga. If you read the article in the Lamorinda Weekly July 13, you were given the impression I was not in favor of the playground at Rancho Laguna. On the contrary, I had no strong feeling on the location. My main concern was that the playground equipment was not going to be installed with the existing structures but be on the opposite side of the park.
My motivation for getting involved was that I feel strongly that all children should have the opportunity to play together. Acceptance of someone different than oneself is an important lesson.
I congratulate the Town Council for unanimously recommending the placement of the new equipment be located at the Commons.
Barry Behr
Moraga
Womenpriests Encourage Inclusivity
Dear Editor,
This is in response to last issue's Letter to the Editor about Womenpriests. It is my hope that providing some information may soothe the writer's feelings of being offended.
There are many different Catholic churches, each living their particular beliefs and traditions in an effort to "follow Jesus." Examples include: Roman Catholic, Eastern, Orthodox, and Anglican Communion. In the U.S., additional Catholic churches include: Old Roman, Celtic, Independent and Gnostic.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) beliefs include that Jesus lives within each of us, and each is called to use their gifts. The RCWP states their mission: "To spiritually prepare and support women and men from all states of life, who are theologically qualified, who are committed to an inclusive model of Church, and who are called by the Spirit and their communities to minister within the Roman Catholic Church" (RCC).
Within the RCC, several theologies are expressed such as Redemptive, Liberation, and Creation. The traditional RCC focuses on redemptive theology, whereas Roman Catholic womenpriests focus on both, redemptive and creation, the latter encouraging inclusivity.
The first women priests were ordained on the Danube River in Europe by two Roman Catholic bishops who acted in full apostolic succession. As a result, ordained women are valid in celebrating the Eucharist, although not approved by the Roman Curia. There are more than 100 womenpriests serving throughout our country, with several RCWP communities ministering in the Bay Area.
My hope is that, together, we can celebrate what we have in common, i.e., made in the image of God, and appreciate that we are different and unique.
The writer, and any others, are invited to join the Namaste Catholic Community for liturgy, which is held at 4 p.m. each second and fourth Saturday at the Orinda Community Church.
Papa John Kiefer
Lafayette
Support Lamorinda's Spirit Van Program
Dear Editor,
As you may know, the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program provides rides for older Lamorinda residents, ages 60 and up, so they can attend to medical and personal appointments, shopping, errands, social events, enrichment activities and the C.C. Café nutrition program. There are now four Spirit Vans, supported by 13 (and soon to be 15) drivers. The program currently provides 60 hours of service each week to residents in need in Moraga, and the Lamorinda community as a whole. This service is especially appreciated by folks in their 80s and 90s who no can longer drive and are thus somewhat house-bound.
For each of the past several years, the Town of Moraga has contributed $9,000 to help fund the Spirit Van Program. The Town Council was unable to do so this year in adopting our 2016-2017 budget, due largely to the very significant increased emergency costs the town is incurring to address the sinkhole situation on Rheem Boulevard. While the council intends to revisit this request for funding at the mid-year budget revise next January, in the meantime the need for community support for the Spirit Van is real and immediate.
A very generous anonymous Moraga donor has agreed to match all contributions from the Moraga community, up to $4,500, as part of a campaign to raise at least $9,000 from private donations to help defray a small portion of the Spirit Van Program's additional annual costs. This is a worthy effort, for which I ask your support.
Moraga is a great community in which to live, raise a family and age gracefully at home - and Moragans have always answered the call when the cause is right. So please support this important community service. If you would like to help the Spirit Van Program, please make your tax-deductible check out to the "City of Lafayette," and write: "Lamorinda Spirit/Moraga" on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to: Lamorinda Spirit, Lafayette Senior Services, 500 St. Mary's Road, Lafayette, CA 94549.
Dave Trotter
Vice Mayor, Town of Moraga
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA