I quit writing the Archdiocese

April 4, 1995

Reverend Monsignor William Murphy
Moderator of the Curia
Archdiocese of Boston
2121 Commonwealth Avenue
Brighton, Massachusetts 02135-3183

Dear Father Bill,

I have received your letter of March 14, 1995, and will honor your request that I cease communicating with the Archdiocese of Boston concerning sex education because you (and Cardinal Law) have concluded that it is “negative and unproductive.” With that response, what good can writing do?

You have written that in a spirit of holy obedience, I should trust that Cardinal Law “will always act as best he can for the good of souls and for the future of the Church.”

While I have no basis to question or judge a subjective standard of “best he can,”I can judge Cardinal Law’s overt actions, which are contrary to the good of souls and unfaithful to the constant teachings of the Church.*

This distinction explains both my persistent writing and my abiding affection for you and Cardinal Law. Indeed, my actions have been motivated by a deep sentiment of charity, faith and hope which seeks to affect change from within. I trust that you both have received my writings in this way, even while I recognize that I have been very assertive. I believe that had I allowed the status quo to go unchallenged, it would have been the ultimate unkindness.

Indeed, although I will not further communicate with you both on this subject, I do not cease to pray and work for a reversal of your policy.

Love,

Alice Ann Grayson

*Enclosed is an article from the Homeletic and Pastoral Review, which Dr. Alice von Hildebrand requested that I send to you.