John Castillo

“They trudged through a deep snowdrift. Then, as if blocked by some invisible force field, they stopped. John had seen a lot of crime scenes in the years he’d been a cop. He’d seen death from natural causes and murders so bloody and horrific that even veteran cops dropped to their knees and vomited. He’d seen the neat and brutal execution-style murders common to drug dealers anxious to make their mark. He’d seen innocent children cut down in the crossfire of gangland wars. He’d seen babies murdered and dumped like trash. None of that prepared him for the sight that accosted him now.””

“Un libro sobre el sufrimiento que no diga nada acerca del cielo está dejando fuera casi por completo una cara de la moneda. Las Escrituras y la tradición colocan habitualmente en la balanza los gozos del cielo frente al sufrimiento en la tierra, y toda solución al problema del dolor que no haga eso no puede denominarse cristiana. Hoy en día nos da mucha vergüenza mencionar el cielo. Nos asusta que se burlen de nuestros “castillos en el aire”... pero o hay castillo en el aire o no lo hay. Si no lo hay, entonces el cristianismo es falso, porque esta doctrina se entreteje en todo su tejido. Si lo hay, entonces esta verdad, como cualquier otra, debe enfrentarse...””

“To our wonder there came an immediate reply from the [Mexican] ambassador [to Washington] which said there was no reason why we should not go and that he would see the permits were issued immediately. His letter said just that. There was a little sadness in us when we read it. The ambassador seemed such a good man we felt it a pity that he had no diplomatic future, that he would never get anywhere in the world of international politics. We understood his letter the first time we read it. Clearly, Mr. Castillo Najera is a misfit and a rebel. He not only wrote clearly, but kept his word. The permits came through quickly and in order. And we wish here and now to assure this gentleman that whenever the inevitable punishment for his logic and clarity falls upon him we will gladly help him to get a new start in some other profession.””