Letters

Hail, Mary, Full of Grace

In response to the cover story on how Protestants are embracing the mother of Jesus, new followers, Catholics and other longtime admirers of Mary wrote of the strength and solace she brings to their lives. But some readers objected, saying we were providing too much coverage of religious topics

"HAIL, MARY" WAS A SPLENDID ANALYSIS of a development in spirituality that goes profoundly beyond the goddess fad that has captured our imaginations for years [March 21]. The piety and deepest consciousness of a human being seek a feminine face, especially in a world whose cultures are saturated with patriarchy. Thank you for helping rescue Mary, a kind of biblical goddess, from passive neglect. Many of us appreciate your generous examples of Protestants, including Methodists like me, who keep opening doors of faiths that are traditional but are willing to take risks.

(THE REV.) MARVIN E. REPINSKI

Austin, Minn.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE MARY ON TIME's cover. She is humanity's greatest friend and intercessor but never takes or shares the place of Jesus. Discussing her role as intercessor, however, without mentioning her apparitions and the miracles associated with her at Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe and other locations is akin to discussing Christ without mentioning his Passion.

FRANK BUONO

New York City

YET ANOTHER ISSUE OF TIME THAT MADE me wonder whether I have subscribed to a newsmagazine or a religious tract. Please, stick to real news reporting and leave the articles on religion and proselytizing to faith-based publications.

ROBERT GOLDWARE

San Francisco

MARY UNDERSTANDS ME AS A MOTHER does. She is my ideal. She epitomizes goodness, faithfulness and devotion. She was Jesus' first disciple, and she was with him from his first breath to his last.

MARY JANE FREDERICKS

Gloversville, N.Y.

THE PROTESTANT ACCEPTANCE OF MARY reflects a long-held Roman Catholic feeling that God the Father also has a feminine side. Humanity longs for a parent God who is not only a father but also a mother. The Marian movement among Protestants is very welcome. It represents an openness. Perhaps we will realize that religious faiths all contain essentially the same truths.

SAMUEL J. YAP

Batangas, the Philippines

ALTHOUGH I AM JEWISH, I HAVE STATUES OF Mary around my home and don't in the least feel any conflict with religious doctrine. I regard Mary as a symbol not of religion but of ideal motherhood. Mary provides solace, unconditional acceptance and love, and a spiritual, nondenominational sanctuary from life's madness.

JUDI LAING

Los Angeles

Read other stories about the Virgin Mary in TIME's archives at timearchive.com

Tough Guy for a Tough Job

PRESIDENT BUSH'S CHOICE OF JOHN Bolton, who has been openly hostile to the U.N., to be U.S. ambassador to the organization was a gutsy move [March 21]. In my dozen or so years in the Washington foreign-assistance field, as a political appointee and a career diplomat, I found no individual more honest and straightforward than Bolton. He was a tough boss and a straight-shooting friend and colleague who always let you know where you stood. He's an inspired and excellent choice.

MARY BETH ALLEN YARBROUGH

Sugar Land, Texas

BOLTON'S CRITICISM OF THE U.N. IS WELL founded. The U.N. is simply too bureaucratic. Previous U.S. ambassadors have been too kind to the institution. Bolton will be able to bring about change.

MICHAEL SZETO

San Marino, Calif.

No Peace, No Prize

JOE KLEIN SUGGESTED THAT IF THE Bush Administration's long shot of pinning its hopes for Middle East peace on the "statesmanship of Hizballah and Hamas" turns out to be right, then President Bush would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize [March 21]. That contention would be laughable if it were not so sad. Bush used lies and distortions to make a case for the invasion of Iraq. After 9/11, he had a golden opportunity to strengthen global alliances. He could have rallied the world around the use of multilateral military and intelligence resources to address terrorism. For that, he would have deservedly stood as a Peace Prize candidate. Instead, Bush has made the world a more dangerous place.

GARY ALLOCCO

Albany, N.Y.

GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE NOBEL PEACE Prize? That sound you hear is the world, and the Nobel selection committee in particular, laughing.

TOM SCHRACK

Fairfax, Va.

Above the Law?

AFTER READING YOUR ARTICLE ON THE allegations of impropriety involving House majority leader Tom DeLay and his associates, I was appalled by the comment from another Republican, Indiana's Mark Souder, about whether DeLay can survive the scandal. Souder said, "With Tom, it is going to have to be more than just allegations. Tom has done so much fund raising." That is an incredible statement. Does it mean that because DeLay is such a prolific fund raiser, he gets a pass on possible ethics violations? Public officials must adhere to high standards of ethical behavior.

GEORGE RICKEY

Iowa City, Iowa

BY ABUSING HIS POWER, DELAY HAS BEtrayed those whom he claims to represent. He should be severely punished for grossly unethical conduct.

PAUL BAKER

Stephenville, Texas

Sorry, Kiddies

TIME REPORTED THAT STAR WARS: EPIsode III--Revenge of the Sith will have a PG-13 rating [March 21]. Once again director George Lucas has made good parents into bad guys to our kids if we won't let them see a PG-13 film. Of his new movie, Lucas said, "I don't think I would take a 5- or a 6-year-old to this." Terrific. He has merchandised the Star Wars saga to entice kids to see the movies for years on end. But now my nearly 6-year-old son, who is obsessed with the series, will be devastated when I tell him that the new film is too violent for him. It's O.K. for 5- and 6-year-olds to buy Star Wars merchandise, just not to see the film. They are being cast aside for the more desirable audience of 13-to-25-year-olds.

JULIE RIDDLE

Woodland Hills, Calif.