Dear Editor: In her letter (Nov. 7), Pat D’Andrea summons the feminist myth that whenever there are not a lot of women present at a deliberation, such as the recent synod, there is some sort of implicit sociological disrespect toward women intended and where complete truthful propositions cannot possibly emerge.

This isn’t true. At the least, we owe ideologies rooted in a hatred for Christianity, like feminism, a healthy skepticism. D’Andrea’s assumption defies the understanding of what Catholics know about the changelessness of truth because we know it does not originate in us, the creatures of God, but exclusively with God. We do not possess truth or create truth. Truth possesses us, and its author is God alone. We can only discern truth, and this discernment is never determined by social categories. This understanding of humility is the only important principle in any meeting of the faithful.

D’Andrea tries to bolster her argument with reference to our Blessed Mother, unmindful that she has often been the subject of hate-filled ridicule from radical feminists. Only with humility can we appreciate that the prophetic witness of Dr. Anca-Maria Cernea is from grace and not her gender when she reminded us at the Synod, “The Church’s mission is to save souls. Evil, in this world, comes from sin. Not from income disparity or ‘climate change.’ The solution is: Evangelization. Conversion. Not an ever increasing government control. Not a world government.”

BEATRICE RICCIARDI

Rockaway Beach