JERRY'S LETTER TO POPE PAUL VII (1966)

This is an excerpt from a letter Helen Howell wrote about her grandson Jerry. (October 29, 1966) 

Jerry, 11 years old, in the six grade, is a “chip off the old block”. It’s his first year at Cathedral and he is vigorously challenging the religious instructions given him by the new breed assistant there. He isn’t alone, others too. They have been told the only way our Lord’s name could be taken in vain was in perjury – blasphemous talk, cursing, etc., was not even a sin. Jerry took his mother’s adult confession book back to prove his wrongness, but of course, you know the answer to that – outdated. This week Jerry came out of school so exasperated he told his mother he was going to write the Pope, and he did as soon as he got home. Bud and Ruth corrected his spelling before he copied it in ink - however he added the P. S. with one misspelled word which they let go. Think it is pretty good – will quote:

His Holiness, Pope Paul VI

Vatican City, Italy. 

Your Holiness:

I am a six grade student at Cathedral school. I am confused and need some help. Father C. , the priest who teaches us in religion class has been confusing some of us. He’s been saying it isn’t a sin to curse and swear. He says it is only impolite language. He also said you can only take God‘s name in vain if you take some kind of an  oath to God to witness that you were telling the truth, and then lied. I have been taught different. I have seen books about this and they all say it is a sin to curse anytime and they give a lot of other ways of taking God‘s name in vain. The children in my class are getting worse in their talk, and any effort to correct them, they say it is alright because Father said so. When I bring books to school to show him he just insists that he is right and the book is old and it isn’t a sin anymore. I want to know the truth. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Jerry Howell

 P. S. A copy of this letter will be sent to Eminence Alfredo Ottaviani 

Secretary for the Congregation  of the Holly Office

Jerry told his best friend about it, who in turn told others - guess it got back to the whole class, including the nuns and priest.