Unshakably Convinced

Manhood

2009-06-16T10:47:00.011-04:00

Yesterday, my housemates and I marked the first annual "National Man Day." Apparently the "holiday" was started by a couple brothers from the Midwest who felt there needed to be a day to call attention to manhood and to reclaim manliness for a culture that has seemed to have forgotten what it's all about. They describe "Man Day" on the "Official" Facebook page as:

"This day is the day for all men to stand up and say, "Yes, I am a Man." And "Yes, I will step up and do manly things and whatever I want to do on this glorious day!"
Come, make history! Be a part of National Man day. Take the world by the throat and tell them it's ok to watch Rocky movies all day. Tell them it's fine if you sit in your favorite chair and scratch yourself. Tell them it's normal to go shoot stuff or blow something up. Why? Because YOU ARE A MAN!!!
You aren't some nancy that likes to frolic in the fields, unless it's a field of mines and you have an AK47 and a hand full of grenades... Then you really are a man!
Yes on this day, men across the nation will be saying, "Screw you salad bar, with your salad and light dressings!" Men will step up and say, "I'll take that 20 oz steak, and yes, I'll eat it all. Because I'm a man!"

I'm not asking you to throw some sissy party, or to go buy a new power tie because you're a man. All I'm asking you to do is step up live this day like a man would. Blow something up, shoot some animal, punch your buddy in the face for no reason, be a good father, play football and literally knock someone's head off... Do something manly. Be a man like God intended you to be...
Take this day and celebrate your manhood."

And so we celebrated. We went and bought the most beautiful steaks I had ever seen. Not from some chain grocery store, but from a real family owned butcher shop. We drank whiskey and beer, grilled those steaks to perfection, and then spent the evening watching Rocky IV and Braveheart. Real typical. I know.

However, this whole celebration of our masculinity got me thinking about what it actually means to be a man. To be honest, there doesn't seem to be a clear definition anywhere. John Wayne certainly would be someone who most people could agree on as someone who embodied manliness. (at least the characters he played in the movies, anyways) He was tough, shot guns, drank, smoked, stood tall, had his way with women, always seemed to have the right answer, and could stare the world in the eye without flinching a muscle. John Wayne = man.

But what about someone, for example, like John Paul II? Substitute JPII into the roll played in any of John Wayne's movies and it just wouldn't work. But I challenge anyone to say JPII wasn't just as manly, read the dude's life. JPII didn't mess around. This man not only survived the Nazis while organizing underground resistance movements that would have him sent to a concentration camp if caught, he was a Catholic priest during a second totalitarian regime and challenged the attempts of the atheistic government to build a town without a church. (Nowa Huta) By the way, the church got built. This guy took on the Nazis and the Communists and won. Last I checked, no movies were made where the hero beats both. (Especially without shooting a gun.)

Now, this is not to claim everything I just said about John Wayne to be a mute point. I think there is something about him that grabs our attention and we instinctively can point to him and say, "yeah, that's a man."

So what is it? What does it mean to be a man? It seems our gender is forever trying to answer this question. And as individuals we are always trying to prove that we are, that we really have what it takes. We try to prove it to our women, our other guy friends, and most of all to ourselves. And everyone seems to have an answer. Our culture is full of examples of what manhood is about and capable of. And yet, those answers always seem to miss the point - by light years.

So, again, I ask, how do we know what it is to be a man? Is there a satisfactory answer? I think there is.

John Paul II spent most of his life pondering what it means to be human. The question permeates almost everything he wrote or spoke about and his Magnum Opus seems to be a work that he delivered as a series of speeches over a five year period at the beginning of his pontificate. The Theology of the Body (TOB) is a series of 133 addresses (some of which were never actually delivered) which delves into the meaning of being human and the meaning of human love. To do this, obviously, he had to speak a bit about what it means to be a man.

In TOB John Paul makes a few statements that I believe we can use to begin to formulate a type of "plan for manhood" around. The first is that "masculinity confirms itself through femininity." (no. 10:1) And the second is that "masculinity [is] for femininity." (no. 14:4) So, are we supposed to take from this that we are supposed to be some sissified girly-men? Or that women have it all together and we just need to go to their all powerful wisdom and beg them to show us how to be men? No. Not even remotely close. Even though, admittedly, it may sound like that from these quotes taken out of context. John Paul II's point is that humanity exists embodied in two ways, male and female and this difference in gender does not simply imply a difference of the two but exists precisely so that there may be unity between the two. John Paul II even goes so far as to say that "Man (human being) becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion." (no. 9:3) All of this to say that there is a lot we can learn about what it means to be male by looking at what our maleness is ordered towards: our relationship with women.

In our very bodies there is the obvious characteristic of men that we initiate the relationship. In the spousal relationship it is the man who primarily gives and the woman who primarily receives. (The relationship is reciprocal, obviously, but there is a primacy for each. And each, giving and receiving, is a way of perfection.) Therefore, while generosity is a virtue for every human being, male and female, to develop, there is a specific masculine generosity which, when lived out, perfects the man and in a way makes him "more" of a man.

Generosity is the catalyst that radically changes everything for men. Take strength, for example. If a man builds his muscles and uses his strength merely for his own vanity or advantage, that which we instinctually recognize as manhood would be significantly less than a man who uses that strength for the betterment of another, say a fireman or the father killing himself at his industrial-type job for his family. Generosity is, in a certain sense, the key virtue for a man. Just think of all your personal examples of true manhood: that really good father, the holy priest, the hero in a major disaster, what defines their manhood? 10 chances to 1 generosity is the key.

Generosity is particularly key for the development of manhood because it is precisely that which moves out toward the other. The male body, which is expressive of the male person, expresses this nature of man to move toward the other, to exist as one giving. In addition, at least from my own experience, practicing any other virtue such as temperance, patience, justice, or fortitude, is so much easier and fulfilling when it is infused with generosity. It transforms every virtue and in a way perfects it. Which would be better, a fortitude for oneself, or fortitude for another? Each is still fortitude, but when lived for another it takes on a distinctive character which is decidedly better.

Therefore, while I completely promote the savoring of the perfect steak and the cold "brewski" while watching Rocky beat the crap out of that Russian pumped up on steroids, on this first "National Man Day" a return to real masculine generosity must be the first ingredient to restoring manhood, and as a result, society as a whole.

Homily From Archbishop Carlson's Installation Mass

2009-06-13T15:06:00.006-04:00

For those who missed any of the other coverage on the very capable blogs, some highlights:

As the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us, we come to share ever more deeply in the life and mission of Christ — and His glory becomes our glory.

But the glory of Christ is the cross!

Therefore, if we want to share in the glory of Christ we must do what He tells us in today's Gospel: Take up our cross and follow Him. I can tell you from my experience — and you know from your own — it is no easy task!

But we can strengthen and encourage each other if we do it together. In our words and deeds, day by day, let us stand together and say to the world: We are followers of Jesus Christ.

He continued on with this shout out to the evangelium vitae,

I ask for your prayers that I might be a good shepherd — a spiritual father who sees as his first duty to grow in holiness of life and by tasting the Father’s love for me dare to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with joy and hope. May I never be afraid to challenge the secular culture, which is growing everyday more indifference to the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially on the life issues.

We will never compromise our commitment to life!

Finally he left with this quote from Blessed Escriva:

Let us never forget that, "In the Church there is a diversity of ministries, but there is only one aim — the sanctification of all.”

for the complete text...

Bishop...

2009-06-13T14:22:00.005-04:00

...is simply how I know the ninth Archbishop of St. Louis. For four years now I have had the extreme privilege of getting to know Archbishop Carlson in a very real and personal way. He started out as this very mysterious man arriving to succeed Bishop Untener in Saginaw and oversee the priestly vocation that I had just begun to wrestle with. He has ended up being someone who I consider a trusted mentor, a real father, and a dear friend. Being the first one to "sign up" under his reign as Saginaw's bishop, I got to spend a large amount of time with him. In fact, the first assignment he gave me was to paint his house the first summer he was in Saginaw. I joked with him that I felt like the Karate Kid who goes to the Master to learn the craft and is told to paint the fence and wax the car. ("Wax on, wax off..." ;))

He first amazed me by how much he listened. In car rides around town he would ask what my viewpoint was on a certain topic, or what my opinion was on how a certain issue should be approached. More than once, after considering what I had to say, he took my advice and acted upon it. Which, of course, shocked this inexperienced 20-something because, seriously, did I really have anything to offer a BISHOP?

But again, I guess this is why he makes anyone feel at home in his presence. Whether it be at a formal ball to raise funds for Catholic schools, or just simply enjoying a scotch on his living room couch, Carlson does not put on airs, but rather hears each person for where they are at in life's journey and makes them feel like they are the most important thing on his mind at the moment.

St. Louis is in for a real treat. The Archbishop will waste no time in making his mark on the half a million Catholics who were placed in his care as Archbishop Burke handed him the crosier. My only advice is to get involved, get excited, be a part of this servant of God's work. He really does have an idea a minute, but he can't do it alone. As he said at his installation mass in Saginaw, "there will be no smoke in [St. Louis] but a fire to ignite the hearts of every catholic" in your Archdiocese.

I'll pray for you, Bishop!

Design Chosen to Adorn the Main Dome at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

2009-03-27T20:25:00.003-04:00

Two freshmen's design chosen...

The picture in the story is in fact NOT their design, however. Here it is.

I Heard Christmas Music at the Mall Today...

2008-11-14T16:10:00.001-05:00

...ugh

Heads Up: Recital at John Paul II Cultural Center Tomorrow!

2008-04-26T10:04:00.001-04:00

A reader informed me of this upcoming event in D.C.:

I wanted to e-mail you about an event that may be of interest to your readers. I am a violinist, and I'm preparing to give a recital in The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center on April 26th at 11:00 am. It is a concert of music for violin and piano (Francis Conlon on piano), and all of the works are fantasies, hence the title of the recital, "Violin Fantasies". It's a free event, and would be a great opportunity not only to hear some music that isn't played very often (such as Villa-Lobos' "Sonata-fantasie No. 1"), but people are also welcome to explore the galleries at the Center. I've been to see the galleries myself and there are really some wonderful pieces of artwork there.

If this is something that you think would be interesting, don't hesitate to post it. The address of The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is 3900 Harewood Rd NE, Washington, DC. Their phone number is 202-635-5400 and their website is http://www.jp2cc.org/.

Should be a good time!

The Homily from Nationals Stadium

2008-04-17T18:22:00.001-04:00

Trying to simply get this up, I'll attempt to comment later...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19). With these, the first words of the Risen Lord to his disciples, I greet all of you in the joy of this Easter season. Before all else, I thank God for the blessing of being in your midst. I am particularly grateful to Archbishop Wuerl for his kind words of welcome.

Our Mass today brings the Church in the United States back to its roots in nearby Maryland, and commemorates the bicentennial of the first chapter of its remarkable growth – the division by my predecessor, Pope Pius VII, of the original Diocese of Baltimore and the establishment of the Dioceses of Boston, Bardstown (now Louisville), New York and Philadelphia. Two hundred years later, the Church in America can rightfully praise the accomplishment of past generations in bringing together widely differing immigrant groups within the unity of the Catholic faith and in a common commitment to the spread of the Gospel. At the same time, conscious of its rich diversity, the Catholic community in this country has come to appreciate ever more fully the importance of each individual and group offering its own particular gifts to the whole. The Church in the United States is now called to look to the future, firmly grounded in the faith passed on by previous generations, and ready to meet new challenges – challenges no less demanding than those faced by your forebears – with the hope born of God’s love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5).

In the exercise of my ministry as the Successor of Peter, I have come to America to confirm you, my brothers and sisters, in the faith of the Apostles (cf. Lk 22:32). I have come to proclaim anew, as Peter proclaimed on the day of Pentecost, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Messiah, risen from the dead, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, and established as judge of the living and the dead (cf. Acts 2:14ff.). I have come to repeat the Apostle’s urgent call to conversion and the forgiveness of sins, and to implore from the Lord a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church in this country. As we have heard throughout this Easter season, the Church was born of the Spirit’s gift of repentance and faith in the risen Lord. In every age she is impelled by the same Spirit to bring to men and women of every race, language and people (cf. Rev 5:9) the good news of our reconciliation with God in Christ.

The readings of today’s Mass invite us to consider the growth of the Church in America as one chapter in the greater story of the Church’s expansion following the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In those readings we see the inseparable link between the risen Lord, the gift of the Spirit for the forgiveness of sins, and the mystery of the Church. Christ established his Church on the foundation of the Apostles (cf. Rev 21:14) as a visible, structured community which is at the same time a spiritual communion, a mystical body enlivened by the Spirit’s manifold gifts, and the sacrament of salvation for all humanity (cf. Lumen Gentium, 8). In every time and place, the Church is called to grow in unity through constant conversion to Christ, whose saving work is proclaimed by the Successors of the Apostles and celebrated in the sacraments. This unity, in turn, gives rise to an unceasing missionary outreach, as the Spirit spurs believers to proclaim “the great works of God” and to invite all people to enter the community of those saved by the blood of Christ and granted new life in his Spirit.

I pray, then, that this significant anniversary in the life of the Church in the United States, and the presence of the Successor of Peter in your midst, will be an occasion for all Catholics to reaffirm their unity in the apostolic faith, to offer their contemporaries a convincing account of the hope which inspires them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15), and to be renewed in missionary zeal for the extension of God’s Kingdom.

The world needs this witness! Who can deny that the present moment is a crossroads, not only for the Church in America but also for society as a whole? It is a time of great promise, as we see the human family in many ways drawing closer together and becoming ever more interdependent. Yet at the same time we see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society: signs of alienation, anger and polarization on the part of many of our contemporaries; increased violence; a weakening of the moral sense; a coarsening of social relations; and a growing forgetfulness of Christ and God. The Church, too, sees signs of immense promise in her many strong parishes and vital movements, in the enthusiasm for the faith shown by so many young people, in the number of those who each year embrace the Catholic faith, and in a greater interest in prayer and catechesis. At the same time she senses, often painfully, the presence of division and polarization in her midst, as well as the troubling realization that many of the baptized, rather than acting as a spiritual leaven in the world, are inclined to embrace attitudes contrary to the truth of the Gospel.

“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!” (cf. Ps 104:30). The words of today’s Responsorial Psalm are a prayer which rises up from the heart of the Church in every time and place. They remind us that the Holy Spirit has been poured out as the first fruits of a new creation, “new heavens and a new earth” (cf. 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1), in which God’s peace will reign and the human family will be reconciled in justice and love. We have heard Saint Paul tell us that all creation is even now “groaning” in expectation of that true freedom which is God’s gift to his children (Rom 8:21-22), a freedom which enables us to live in conformity to his will. Today let us pray fervently that the Church in America will be renewed in that same Spirit, and sustained in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel to a world that longs for genuine freedom (cf. Jn 8:32), authentic happiness, and the fulfillment of its deepest aspirations!

Here I wish to offer a special word of gratitude and encouragment to all those who have taken up the challenge of the Second Vatican Council, so often reiterated by Pope John Paul II, and committed their lives to the new evangelization. I thank my brother Bishops, priests and deacons, men and women religious, parents, teachers and catechists. The fidelity and courage with which the Church in this country will respond to the challenges raised by an increasingly secular and materialistic culture will depend in large part upon your own fidelity in handing on the treasure of our Catholic faith. Young people need to be helped to discern the path that leads to true freedom: the path of a sincere and generous imitation of Christ, the path of commitment to justice and peace. Much progress has been made in developing solid programs of catechesis, yet so much more remains to be done in forming the hearts and minds of the young in knowledge and love of the Lord. The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual “culture”, which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith’s vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society.

Dear friends, my visit to the United States is meant to be a witness to “Christ our Hope”. Americans have always been a people of hope: your ancestors came to this country with the expectation of finding new freedom and opportunity, while the vastness of the unexplored wilderness inspired in them the hope of being able to start completely anew, building a new nation on new foundations. To be sure, this promise was not experienced by all the inhabitants of this land; one thinks of the injustices endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves. Yet hope, hope for the future, is very much a part of the American character. And the Christian virtue of hope – the hope poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, the hope which supernaturally purifies and corrects our aspirations by focusing them on the Lord and his saving plan – that hope has also marked, and continues to mark, the life of the Catholic community in this country.

It is in the context of this hope born of God’s love and fidelity that I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the Church. Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation, and to ensure that children – whom our Lord loves so deeply (cf. Mk 10:14), and who are our greatest treasure – can grow up in a safe environment. These efforts to protect children must continue. Yesterday I spoke with your Bishops about this. Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do. And above all, pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the Church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness and growth in holiness.

Saint Paul speaks, as we heard in the second reading, of a kind of prayer which arises from the depths of our hearts in sighs too deep for words, in “groanings” (Rom 8:26) inspired by the Spirit. This is a prayer which yearns, in the midst of chastisement, for the fulfillment of God’s promises. It is a prayer of unfailing hope, but also one of patient endurance and, often, accompanied by suffering for the truth. Through this prayer, we share in the mystery of Christ’s own weakness and suffering, while trusting firmly in the victory of his Cross. With this prayer, may the Church in America embrace ever more fully the way of conversion and fidelity to the demands of the Gospel. And may all Catholics experience the consolation of hope, and the Spirit’s gifts of joy and strength.

In today’s Gospel, the risen Lord bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and grants them the authority to forgive sins. Through the surpassing power of Christ’s grace, entrusted to frail human ministers, the Church is constantly reborn and each of us is given the hope of a new beginning. Let us trust in the Spirit’s power to inspire conversion, to heal every wound, to overcome every division, and to inspire new life and freedom. How much we need these gifts! And how close at hand they are, particularly in the sacrament of Penance! The liberating power of this sacrament, in which our honest confession of sin is met by God’s merciful word of pardon and peace, needs to be rediscovered and reappropriated by every Catholic. To a great extent, the renewal of the Church in America and throughout the world depends on the renewal of the practice of Penance and the growth in holiness which that sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.

“In hope we were saved!” (Rom 8:24).” As the Church in the United States gives thanks for the blessings of the past two hundred years, I invite you, your families, and every parish and religious community, to trust in the power of grace to create a future of promise for God’s people in this country. I ask you, in the Lord Jesus, to set aside all division and to work with joy to prepare a way for him, in fidelity to his word and in constant conversion to his will. Above all, I urge you to continue to be a leaven of evangelical hope in American society, striving to bring the light and truth of the Gospel to the task of building an ever more just and free world for generations yet to come.

Those who have hope must live different lives! (cf. Spe Salvi, 2). By your prayers, by the witness of your faith, by the fruitfulness of your charity, may you point the way towards that vast horizon of hope which God is even now opening up to his Church, and indeed to all humanity: the vision of a world reconciled and renewed in Christ Jesus, our Savior. To him be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen!

* * * * *

Queridos hermanos y hermanas de lengua española:

Deseo saludarles con las mismas palabras que Cristo Resucitado dirigió a los apóstoles: “Paz a ustedes” (Jn 20,19). Que la alegría de saber que el Señor ha triunfado sobre la muerte y el pecado les ayude a ser, allá donde se encuentren, testigos de su amor y sembradores de la esperanza que Él vino a traernos y que jamás defrauda.

No se dejen vencer por el pesimismo, la inercia o los problemas. Antes bien, fieles a los compromisos que adquirieron en su bautismo, profundicen cada día en el conocimiento de Cristo y permitan que su corazón quede conquistado por su amor y por su perdón.

La Iglesia en los Estados Unidos, acogiendo en su seno a tantos de sus hijos emigrantes, ha ido creciendo gracias también a la vitalidad del testimonio de fe de los fieles de lengua española. Por eso, el Señor les llama a seguir contribuyendo al futuro de la Iglesia en este País y a la difusión del Evangelio. Sólo si están unidos a Cristo y entre ustedes, su testimonio evangelizador será creíble y florecerá en copiosos frutos de paz y reconciliación en medio de un mundo muchas veces marcado por divisiones y enfrentamientos.

La Iglesia espera mucho de ustedes. No la defrauden en su donación generosa. “Lo que han recibido gratis, denlo gratis” (Mt 10,8). Amen!

Left Overs from Yesterday...

2008-04-17T16:10:00.006-04:00

A couple of things I forgot to post about from yesterday. First, the video of President Bush's reaction to Pope Benedict's speech at the White House. His compliment of "Awesome speech, your holiness." has fast become the talk around here in D.C. For some reason I don't remember "Awesome speech" being the normal way to congratulate a head of state or religious leader. But then again, maybe it just shows the genuineness of his sentiment "in the moment."

Secondly, I'd like to share the President's speech from yesterday's meeting on the south lawn. I must say I was very impressed by the President and the things he had to say about America and her need to heed what the Pope and the Catholic Church is saying:

Holy Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the White House. We welcome you with the ancient words commended by Saint Augustine: "Pax Tecum." Peace be with you.

You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well, birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with us. We wish you much health and happiness -- today and for many years to come. (Applause.)

This is your first trip to the United States since you ascended to the Chair of Saint Peter. You will visit two of our greatest cities and meet countless Americans, including many who have traveled from across the country to see with you and to share in the joy of this visit. Here in America you'll find a nation of prayer. Each day millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking His grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows upon us. Millions of Americans have been praying for your visit, and millions look forward to praying with you this week.

Here in America you'll find a nation of compassion. Americans believe that the measure of a free society is how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable among us. So each day citizens across America answer the universal call to feed the hungry and comfort the sick and care for the infirm. Each day across the world the United States is working to eradicate disease, alleviate poverty, promote peace and bring the light of hope to places still mired in the darkness of tyranny and despair.

Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of faith in the public square. When our Founders declared our nation's independence, they rested their case on an appeal to the "laws of nature, and of nature's God." We believe in religious liberty. We also believe that a love for freedom and a common moral law are written into every human heart, and that these constitute the firm foundation on which any successful free society must be built.

Here in America, you'll find a nation that is fully modern, yet guided by ancient and eternal truths. The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth -- it is also among the most religious. In our nation, faith and reason coexist in harmony. This is one of our country's greatest strengths, and one of the reasons that our land remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for millions across the world.

Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope. And America and the world need this message. In a world where some invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that "God is love." And embracing this love is the surest way to save men from "falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism."

In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred, and that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved" -- (applause) -- and your message that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary."

In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this "dictatorship of relativism," and embrace a culture of justice and truth. (Applause.)

In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but "in a spirit of mutual support."

Holy Father, thank you for making this journey to America. Our nation welcomes you. We appreciate the example you set for the world, and we ask that you always keep us in your prayers. (Applause.)

Points of note: The sacredness of ALL human life, the rejection of relativism, and the true meaning of freedom.

Papal Coverage: Day 2

2008-04-16T21:38:00.002-04:00

Address to the Bishops
White House Celebrates Pontiff's Birthday
Video Coverage On-line
The Pope's Address at the White House
EWTN Interview with President Bush

Text of the Holy Father's Address to the Bishops

2008-04-16T21:36:00.004-04:00

Dear Brother Bishops,

It gives me great joy to greet you today, at the start of my visit to this country, and I thank Cardinal George for the gracious words he has addressed to me on your behalf. I want to thank all of you, especially the Officers of the Episcopal Conference, for the hard work that has gone into the preparation of this visit. My grateful appreciation goes also to the staff and volunteers of the National Shrine, who have welcomed us here this evening. American Catholics are noted for their loyal devotion to the see of Peter. My pastoral visit here is an opportunity to strengthen further the bonds of communion that unite us. We began by celebrating Evening Prayer in this Basilica dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a shrine of special significance to American Catholics, right in the heart of your capital city. Gathered in prayer with Mary, Mother of Jesus, we lovingly commend to our heavenly Father the people of God in every part of the United States.

For the Catholic communities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville, this is a year of particular celebration, as it marks the bicentenary of the establishment of these local Churches as Dioceses. I join you in giving thanks for the many graces granted to the Church there during these two centuries. As this year also marks the bicentenary of the elevation of the founding see of Baltimore to an Archdiocese, it gives me an opportunity to recall with admiration and gratitude the life and ministry of John Carroll, the first Bishop of Baltimore - a worthy leader of the Catholic community in your newly independent nation. His tireless efforts to spread the Gospel in the vast territory under his care laid the foundations for the ecclesial life of your country and enabled the Church in America to grow to maturity. Today the Catholic community you serve is one of the largest in the world, and one of the most influential. How important it is, then, to let your light so shine before your fellow citizens and before the world, "that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Mt 5:16).

Many of the people to whom John Carroll and his fellow Bishops were ministering two centuries ago had travelled from distant lands. The diversity of their origins is reflected in the rich variety of ecclesial life in present-day America. Brother Bishops, I want to encourage you and your communities to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrows and trials, and to help them flourish in their new home. This, indeed, is what your fellow countrymen have done for generations. From the beginning, they have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free" (cf. Sonnet inscribed on the Statue of Liberty). These are the people whom America has made her own.

Of those who came to build a new life here, many were able to make good use of the resources and opportunities that they found, and to attain a high level of prosperity. Indeed, the people of this country are known for their great vitality and creativity. They are also known for their generosity. After the attack on the Twin Towers in September 2001, and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Americans displayed their readiness to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in need. On the international level, the contribution made by the people of America to relief and rescue operations after the tsunami of December 2004 is a further illustration of this compassion. Let me express my particular appreciation for the many forms of humanitarian assistance provided by American Catholics through Catholic Charities and other agencies. Their generosity has borne fruit in the care shown to the poor and needy, and in the energy that has gone into building the nationwide network of Catholic parishes, hospitals, schools and universities. All of this gives great cause for thanksgiving.

America is also a land of great faith. Your people are remarkable for their religious fervor and they take pride in belonging to a worshipping community. They have confidence in God, and they do not hesitate to bring moral arguments rooted in biblical faith into their public discourse. Respect for freedom of religion is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness - a fact which has contributed to this country's attraction for generations of immigrants, seeking a home where they can worship freely in accordance with their beliefs.

In this connection, I happily acknowledge the presence among you of Bishops from all the venerable Eastern Churches in communion with the Successor of Peter, whom I greet with special joy. Dear Brothers, I ask you to assure your communities of my deep affection and my continued prayers, both for them and for the many brothers and sisters who remain in their land of origin. Your presence here is a reminder of the courageous witness to Christ of so many members of your communities, often amid suffering, in their respective homelands. It is also a great enrichment of the ecclesial life of America, giving vivid expression to the Church's catholicity and the variety of her liturgical and spiritual traditions.

It is in this fertile soil, nourished from so many different sources, that all of you, Brother Bishops, are called to sow the seeds of the Gospel today. This leads me to ask how, in the twenty-first century, a bishop can best fulfill the call to "make all things new in Christ, our hope"? How can he lead his people to "an encounter with the living God", the source of that life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Spe Salvi, 4)? Perhaps he needs to begin by clearing away some of the barriers to such an encounter. While it is true that this country is marked by a genuinely religious spirit, the subtle influence of secularism can nevertheless color the way people allow their faith to influence their behavior. Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.

For an affluent society, a further obstacle to an encounter with the living God lies in the subtle influence of materialism, which can all too easily focus the attention on the hundredfold, which God promises now in this time, at the expense of the eternal life which he promises in the age to come (cf. Mk 10:30). People today need to be reminded of the ultimate purpose of their lives. They need to recognize that implanted within them is a deep thirst for God. They need to be given opportunities to drink from the wells of his infinite love. It is easy to be entranced by the almost unlimited possibilities that science and technology place before us; it is easy to make the mistake of thinking we can obtain by our own efforts the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is an illusion. Without God, who alone bestows upon us what we by ourselves cannot attain (cf. Spe Salvi, 31), our lives are ultimately empty. People need to be constantly reminded to cultivate a relationship with him who came that we might have life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). The goal of all our pastoral and catechetical work, the object of our preaching, and the focus of our sacramental ministry should be to help people establish and nurture that living relationship with "Christ Jesus, our hope" (1 Tim 1:1).

In a society which values personal freedom and autonomy, it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on others as well as the responsibilities that we bear towards them. This emphasis on individualism has even affected the Church (cf. Spe Salvi, 13-15), giving rise to a form of piety which sometimes emphasizes our private relationship with God at the expense of our calling to be members of a redeemed community. Yet from the beginning, God saw that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). We were created as social beings who find fulfillment only in love - for God and for our neighbor. If we are truly to gaze upon him who is the source of our joy, we need to do so as members of the people of God (cf. Spe Salvi, 14). If this seems counter-cultural, that is simply further evidence of the urgent need for a renewed evangelization of culture.

Here in America, you are blessed with a Catholic laity of considerable cultural diversity, who place their wide-ranging gifts at the service of the Church and of society at large. They look to you to offer them encouragement, leadership and direction. In an age that is saturated with information, the importance of providing sound formation in the faith cannot be overstated. American Catholics have traditionally placed a high value on religious education, both in schools and in the context of adult formation programs. These need to be maintained and expanded. The many generous men and women who devote themselves to charitable activity need to be helped to renew their dedication through a "formation of the heart": an "encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others" (Deus Caritas Est, 31). At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church's moral teaching to Catholics engaged in health care. Wise guidance is needed in all these apostolates, so that they may bear abundant fruit; if they are truly to promote the integral good of the human person, they too need to be made new in Christ our hope.

As preachers of the Gospel and leaders of the Catholic community, you are also called to participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square, helping to shape cultural attitudes. In a context where free speech is valued, and where vigorous and honest debate is encouraged, yours is a respected voice that has much to offer to the discussion of the pressing social and moral questions of the day. By ensuring that the Gospel is clearly heard, you not only form the people of your own community, but in view of the global reach of mass communication, you help to spread the message of Christian hope throughout the world.

Clearly, the Church's influence on public debate takes place on many different levels. In the United States, as elsewhere, there is much current and proposed legislation that gives cause for concern from the point of view of morality, and the Catholic community, under your guidance, needs to offer a clear and united witness on such matters. Even more important, though, is the gradual opening of the minds and hearts of the wider community to moral truth. Here much remains to be done. Crucial in this regard is the role of the lay faithful to act as a "leaven" in society. Yet it cannot be assumed that all Catholic citizens think in harmony with the Church's teaching on today's key ethical questions. Once again, it falls to you to ensure that the moral formation provided at every level of ecclesial life reflects the authentic teaching of the Gospel of life.

In this regard, a matter of deep concern to us all is the state of the family within society. Indeed, Cardinal George mentioned earlier that you have included the strengthening of marriage and family life among the priorities for your attention over the next few years. In this year's World Day of Peace Message I spoke of the essential contribution that healthy family life makes to peace within and between nations. In the family home we experience "some of the fundamental elements of peace: justice and love between brothers and sisters, the role of authority expressed by parents, loving concern for the members who are weaker because of youth, sickness or old age, mutual help in the necessities of life, readiness to accept others and, if necessary, to forgive them" (no. 3). The family is also the primary place for evangelization, for passing on the faith, for helping young people to appreciate the importance of religious practice and Sunday observance. How can we not be dismayed as we observe the sharp decline of the family as a basic element of Church and society? Divorce and infidelity have increased, and many young men and women are choosing to postpone marriage or to forego it altogether. To some young Catholics, the sacramental bond of marriage seems scarcely distinguishable from a civil bond, or even a purely informal and open-ended arrangement to live with another person. Hence we have an alarming decrease in the number of Catholic marriages in the United States together with an increase in cohabitation, in which the Christ-like mutual self-giving of spouses, sealed by a public promise to live out the demands of an indissoluble lifelong commitment, is simply absent. In such circumstances, children are denied the secure environment that they need in order truly to flourish as human beings, and society is denied the stable building blocks which it requires if the cohesion and moral focus of the community are to be maintained.

As my predecessor, Pope John Paul II taught, "The person principally responsible in the Diocese for the pastoral care of the family is the Bishop ... he must devote to it personal interest, care, time, personnel and resources, but above all personal support for the families and for all those who … assist him in the pastoral care of the family" (Familiaris Consortio, 73). It is your task to proclaim boldly the arguments from faith and reason in favor of the institution of marriage, understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, open to the transmission of life. This message should resonate with people today, because it is essentially an unconditional and unreserved "yes" to life, a "yes" to love, and a "yes" to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, as we strive to fulfill our deep yearning for intimacy with others and with the Lord.

Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life found in America and elsewhere is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors. Many of you have spoken to me of the enormous pain that your communities have suffered when clerics have betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behavior. As you strive to eliminate this evil wherever it occurs, you may be assured of the prayerful support of God's people throughout the world. Rightly, you attach priority to showing compassion and care to the victims. It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged.

Responding to this situation has not been easy and, as the President of your Episcopal Conference has indicated, it was "sometimes very badly handled". Now that the scale and gravity of the problem is more clearly understood, you have been able to adopt more focused remedial and disciplinary measures and to promote a safe environment that gives greater protection to young people. While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work in bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the people entrusted to their care, it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded from those who would cause harm. In this regard, your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society.

If they are to achieve their full purpose, however, the policies and programs you have adopted need to be placed in a wider context. Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. They have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. This brings us back to our consideration of the centrality of the family and the need to promote the Gospel of life. What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today? We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike. All have a part to play in this task - not only parents, religious leaders, teachers and catechists, but the media and entertainment industries as well. Indeed, every member of society can contribute to this moral renewal and benefit from it. Truly caring about young people and the future of our civilization means recognizing our responsibility to promote and live by the authentic moral values which alone enable the human person to flourish. It falls to you, as pastors modelled upon Christ, the Good Shepherd, to proclaim this message loud and clear, and thus to address the sin of abuse within the wider context of sexual mores. Moreover, by acknowledging and confronting the problem when it occurs in an ecclesial setting, you can give a lead to others, since this scourge is found not only within your Dioceses, but in every sector of society. It calls for a determined, collective response.

Priests, too, need your guidance and closeness during this difficult time. They have experienced shame over what has occurred, and there are those who feel they have lost some of the trust and esteem they once enjoyed. Not a few are experiencing a closeness to Christ in his Passion as they struggle to come to terms with the consequences of the crisis. The Bishop, as father, brother and friend of his priests, can help them to draw spiritual fruit from this union with Christ by making them aware of the Lord's consoling presence in the midst of their suffering, and by encouraging them to walk with the Lord along the path of hope (cf. Spe Salvi, 39). As Pope John Paul II observed six years ago, "we must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community", leading to "a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate and a holier Church" (Address to the Cardinals of the United States, 23 April 2002, 4). There are many signs that, during the intervening period, such purification has indeed been taking place. Christ's abiding presence in the midst of our suffering is gradually transforming our darkness into light: all things are indeed being made new in Christ Jesus our hope.

At this stage a vital part of your task is to strengthen relationships with your clergy, especially in those cases where tension has arisen between priests and their bishops in the wake of the crisis. It is important that you continue to show them your concern, to support them, and to lead by example. In this way you will surely help them to encounter the living God, and point them towards the life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks. If you yourselves live in a manner closely configured to Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep, you will inspire your brother priests to rededicate themselves to the service of their flocks with Christ-like generosity. Indeed a clearer focus upon the imitation of Christ in holiness of life is exactly what is needed in order for us to move forward. We need to rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centred life, cultivating the virtues, and immersing ourselves in prayer. When the faithful know that their pastor is a man who prays and who dedicates his life to serving them, they respond with warmth and affection which nourishes and sustains the life of the whole community.

Time spent in prayer is never wasted, however urgent the duties that press upon us from every side. Adoration of Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament prolongs and intensifies the union with him that is established through the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 66). Contemplation of the mysteries of the Rosary releases all their saving power and it conforms, unites and consecrates us to Jesus Christ (cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 11, 15). Fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours ensures that the whole of our day is sanctified and it continually reminds us of the need to remain focused on doing God's work, however many pressures and distractions may arise from the task at hand. Thus our devotion helps us to speak and act in persona Christi, to teach, govern and sanctify the faithful in the name of Jesus, to bring his reconciliation, his healing and his love to all his beloved brothers and sisters. This radical configuration to Christ, the Good Shepherd, lies at the heart of our pastoral ministry, and if we open ourselves through prayer to the power of the Spirit, he will give us the gifts we need to carry out our daunting task, so that we need never "be anxious how to speak or what to say" (Mt 10:19).

As I conclude my words to you this evening, I commend the Church in your country most particularly to the maternal care and intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the United States. May she who carried within her womb the hope of all the nations intercede for the people of this country, so that all may be made new in Jesus Christ her Son. My dear Brother Bishops, I assure each of you here present of my deep friendship and my participation in your pastoral concerns. To all of you, and to your clergy, religious and lay faithful, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Risen Lord.

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1. The Holy Father is asked to give his assessment of the challenge of increasing secularism in public life and relativism in intellectual life, and his advice on how to confront these challenges pastorally and evangelize more effectively.

I touched upon this theme briefly in my address. It strikes me as significant that here in America, unlike many places in Europe, the secular mentality has not been intrinsically opposed to religion. Within the context of the separation of Church and State, American society has always been marked by a fundamental respect for religion and its public role, and, if polls are to be believed, the American people are deeply religious. But it is not enough to count on this traditional religiosity and go about business as usual, even as its foundations are being slowly undermined. A serious commitment to evangelization cannot prescind from a profound diagnosis of the real challenges the Gospel encounters in contemporary American culture.

Of course, what is essential is a correct understanding of the just autonomy of the secular order, an autonomy which cannot be divorced from God the Creator and his saving plan (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). Perhaps America's brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches, but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things "out there" are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life: living "as if God did not exist". This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: far from a Catholic approach to "thinking with the Church", each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose, maintaining external social bonds but without an integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Consequently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind, Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age (cf. Rom 12:3). We have seen this emerge in an acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.

On a deeper level, secularism challenges the Church to reaffirm and to pursue more actively her mission in and to the world. As the Council made clear, the lay faithful have a particular responsibility in this regard. What is needed, I am convinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that rightly values personal liberty, the Church needs to promote at every level of her teaching - in catechesis, preaching, seminary and university instruction - an apologetics aimed at affirming the truth of Christian revelation, the harmony of faith and reason, and a sound understanding of freedom, seen in positive terms as a liberation both from the limitations of sin and for an authentic and fulfilling life. In a word, the Gospel has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offering an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practically, to real human problems. The "dictatorship of relativism", in the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.

Much more, of course, could be said on this subject: let me conclude, though, by saying that I believe that the Church in America, at this point in her history, is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way, to a society which markets any number of recipes for human fulfillment. I think in particular of our need to speak to the hearts of young people, who, despite their constant exposure to messages contrary to the Gospel, continue to thirst for authenticity, goodness and truth. Much remains to be done, particularly on the level of preaching and catechesis in parishes and schools, if the new evangelization is to bear fruit for the renewal of ecclesial life in America.

2. The Holy Father is asked about "a certain quiet attrition" by which Catholics are abandoning the practice of the faith, sometimes by an explicit decision, but often by distancing themselves quietly and gradually from attendance at Mass and identification with the Church.

Certainly, much of this has to do with the passing away of a religious culture, sometimes disparagingly referred to as a "ghetto", which reinforced participation and identification with the Church. As I just mentioned, one of the great challenges facing the Church in this country is that of cultivating a Catholic identity which is based not so much on externals as on a way of thinking and acting grounded in the Gospel and enriched by the Church's living tradition.

The issue clearly involves factors such as religious individualism and scandal. Let us go to the heart of the matter: faith cannot survive unless it is nourished, unless it is "formed by charity" (cf. Gal 5:6). Do people today find it difficult to encounter God in our Churches? Has our preaching lost its salt? Might it be that many people have forgotten, or never really learned, how to pray in and with the Church?

Here I am not speaking of people who leave the Church in search of subjective religious "experiences"; this is a pastoral issue which must be addressed on its own terms. I think we are speaking about people who have fallen by the wayside without consciously having rejected their faith in Christ, but, for whatever reason, have not drawn life from the liturgy, the sacraments, preaching. Yet Christian faith, as we know, is essentially ecclesial, and without a living bond to the community, the individual's faith will never grow to maturity. Indeed, to return to the question I just discussed, the result can be a quiet apostasy.

So let me make two brief observations on the problem of "attrition", which I hope will stimulate further reflection.

First, as you know, it is becoming more and more difficult, in our Western societies, to speak in a meaningful way of "salvation". Yet salvation - deliverance from the reality of evil, and the gift of new life and freedom in Christ - is at the heart of the Gospel. We need to discover, as I have suggested, new and engaging ways of proclaiming this message and awakening a thirst for the fulfillment which only Christ can bring. It is in the Church's liturgy, and above all in the sacrament of the Eucharist, that these realities are most powerfully expressed and lived in the life of believers; perhaps we still have much to do in realizing the Council's vision of the liturgy as the exercise of the common priesthood and the impetus for a fruitful apostolate in the world.

Second, we need to acknowledge with concern the almost complete eclipse of an eschatological sense in many of our traditionally Christian societies. As you know, I have pointed to this problem in the Encyclical Spe Salvi. Suffice it to say that faith and hope are not limited to this world: as theological virtues, they unite us with the Lord and draw us toward the fulfillment not only of our personal destiny but also that of all creation. Faith and hope are the inspiration and basis of our efforts to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God. In Christianity, there can be no room for purely private religion: Christ is the Savior of the world, and, as members of his Body and sharers in his prophetic, priestly and royal munera, we cannot separate our love for him from our commitment to the building up of the Church and the extension of his Kingdom. To the extent that religion becomes a purely private affair, it loses its very soul.

Let me conclude by stating the obvious. The fields are still ripe for harvesting (cf. Jn 4:35); God continues to give the growth (cf. 1 Cor 3:6). We can and must believe, with the late Pope John Paul II, that God is preparing a new springtime for Christianity (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 86). What is needed above all, at this time in the history of the Church in America, is a renewal of that apostolic zeal which inspires her shepherds actively to seek out the lost, to bind up those who have been wounded, and to bring strength to those who are languishing (cf. Ez 34:16). And this, as I have said, calls for new ways of thinking based on a sound diagnosis of today's challenges and a commitment to unity in the service of the Church's mission to the present generation.

3. The Holy Father is asked to comment on the decline in vocations despite the growing numbers of the Catholic population, and on the reasons for hope offered by the personal qualities and the thirst for holiness which characterize the candidates who do come forward.

Let us be quite frank: the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of a local Church. There is no room for complacency in this regard. God continues to call young people; it is up to all of us to to encourage a generous and free response to that call. On the other hand, none of us can take this grace for granted.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers. He even admits that the workers are few in comparison with the abundance of the harvest (cf. Mt 9:37-38). Strange to say, I often think that prayer - the unum necessarium - is the one aspect of vocations work which we tend to forget or to undervalue!

Nor am I speaking only of prayer for vocations. Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord's will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God's call. Programs, plans and projects have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God's call.

It has been noted that there is a growing thirst for holiness in many young people today, and that, although fewer in number, those who come forward show great idealism and much promise. It is important to listen to them, to understand their experiences, and to encourage them to help their peers to see the need for committed priests and religious, as well as the beauty of a life of sacrificial service to the Lord and his Church. To my mind, much is demanded of vocation directors and formators: candidates today, as much as ever, need to be given a sound intellectual and human formation which will enable them not only to respond to the real questions and needs of their contemporaries, but also to mature in their own conversion and to persevere in life-long commitment to their vocation. As Bishops, you are conscious of the sacrifice demanded when you are asked to release one of your finest priests for seminary work. I urge you to respond with generosity, for the good of the whole Church.

Finally, I think you know from experience that most of your brother priests are happy in their vocation. What I said in my address about the importance of unity and cooperation within the presbyterate applies here too. There is a need for all of us to move beyond sterile divisions, disagreements and preconceptions, and to listen together to the voice of the Spirit who is guiding the Church into a future of hope. Each of us knows how important priestly fraternity has been in our lives. That fraternity is not only a precious possession, but also an immense resource for the renewal of the priesthood and the raising up of new vocations. I would close by encouraging you to foster opportunities for ever greater dialogue and fraternal encounter among your priests, and especially the younger priests. I am convinced that this will bear great fruit for their own enrichment, for the increase of their love for the priesthood and the Church, and for the effectiveness of their apostolate.

Dear Brother Bishops. with these few observations, I once more encourage all of you in your ministry to the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care, and I commend you to the loving intercession of Mary Immaculate, Mother of the Church.

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Before leaving, I would like to pause to acknowledge the immense suffering endured by the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as their courage in the challenging work of rebuilding. I would like to present Archbishop Alfred Hughes with a chalice, which I hope will be accepted as a sign of my prayerful solidarity with the faithful of the Archdiocese, and my personal gratitude for the tireless devotion which he and Archbishops Philip Hannan and Francis Schulte showed toward the flock entrusted to their care.

Pope and President Exchange Gifts, Celebrate Birthday With Cake

2008-04-16T21:13:00.004-04:00

From the USCCB news source:

With the formal greetings out of the way, Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush got down to serious business during their historic White House meeting April 16 -- the exchanging of presents.

On his 81st birthday, the pontiff received a lead crystal cross sculpture and a collection of American classical and religious compact discs from the president.

Even though the date didn't mark a birthday, anniversary or any other landmark occasion for Bush, the pope gave him a framed mosaic of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

According to the Vatican press office, the mosaic belongs to an 18th-century style of panoramas and is based on a printing from the 19th century.

But no birthday would be complete without cake, so the White House served a four-layer, square lemon pound confection with lemon curd filling and vanilla fondant frosting.

Heads Up: Pope Coverage

2008-04-16T17:24:00.005-04:00

Heads up for my readers...

The USCCB (the website for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) has live coverage of all the papal events. As of right now, I've watched the vespers service which featured commentary by Fr. David Toups and Olivia Paff. I had the opportunity to meet Fr. Toups this past summer when I participated in the Institute for Priestly Formation. Fr. Toups is a wonderful priest and I'm pleased that he is offering his commentary on behalf of the U.S. Bishops.

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UPDATE: Coverage available at the EWTN site as well, with commentary by Raymond Arroyo

Pope Benedict at the White House

2008-04-16T17:16:00.007-04:00

Here is the text of Pope Benedict's speech at the White House this morning:

Mr. President,
Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first Diocese – Baltimore – to a metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America’s Catholics have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.
From the dawn of the Republic, America’s quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation’s founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the “self-evident truth” that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature’s God. The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America’s Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.
For well over a century, the United States of America has played an important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world’s peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God’s bounty has set for all his children. America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish – a world where the God-given dignity and rights of every man, woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.
Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!

UPDATE: Video of the event notice how Nancy Pelosi is wearing a rosary around her wrist and kisses the pope's ring, just like a good a catholic...

"When You Look Into the Eyes Of Pope Benedict XVI, What Do You See?" "God."

2008-04-16T16:48:00.003-04:00

Raymond Arroyo, of the Eternal Word Television Network recently sat down and held a 15 minute interview with President Bush. The interview was a frank discussion of the role faith plays in his presidency and the role he believes faith should play in our society. Very interesting.

Video Here.

Pope Benedict's Video Greeting to the U.S.

2008-04-12T10:52:00.003-04:00

Here is the video message Pope Benedict has prepared for his upcoming apostolic journey. Two main themes which I noticed: his invitation to prayer and his message of Christ as our Hope. (which is the official theme of the visit)

I am struck by the Pope's choice of theme for this visit. Americans seem to live under a plague of fear and very little in their day to day experience offers hope. We are born and bred to believe that we determine our lives, that we make things happen for ourselves; all we need is a little bit of hard work and some good 'ol fashioned American ingenuity. Yet, our experience of the day to day bustle shows us that there is much which lies outside of our control: soaring gas prices, identity theft, taxes, overall cost of living, the recent epidemic of flight cancellations at major airlines, etc. The natural response is a certain degree of fear that what we desire, what we are striving for, at the very least, our happiness and security, will be taken from us, or never realized at all. Then, add to this perfect storm things like 9-11, the never-ending war in Iraq, natural disasters, and threats from nations like Iran, North Korea, or even China (in an economic sense) and you have a very large nation of basically perpetually frightened citizens.

Enter Jesus Christ.

He is "the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father." Christ brings hope, because he brings God. As the Pope says in chapter two of his book Jesus of Nazareth

Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Jesus has brought God and with God the truth about our origin and destiny: faith, hope, and love. It is only because of our hardness of heart that we think this is too little. Yes indeed, God's power works quietly in this world, but it is the true and lasting power.

So, what, specifically, do we do, in Christ, to bring fulfillment to this hope? As he states in the video, "this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do." It seems like it all goes back to those simple lessons we learned in elementary school, doesn't it? The commandment of love is what must drive us in seeking out solutions to the problems which plague us individually and collectively. It must be the modus operandi of the Christian in particular.

Surprisingly, this is not a new message for the Christian ear: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) We need to reclaim this understanding and seek to imitate our Lord in his self-sacrificing gift of love. Imagine a United States of America in which each person lived solely for the other. Kinda nice, huh?

Easter Reflection on the Resurrection Account of John's Gospel

2008-04-11T21:13:00.002-04:00

In the Gospel of John, which is abundant in theology, various highlights, and simply moving encounters, the Resurrection account is raised up as the apex of the Gospel writer’s brilliant portrayal of Jesus’ life and mission to make the Father known. (1:18) The Resurrection story takes into account all of what has been said previously in the Gospel and sums it up in three stories, three stories of encounter. John describes the encounters of Jesus with Mary Magdalene, Peter, the Beloved Disciple, and Thomas the Twin. With each person the Lord comes into relationship with, we learn, a little more clearly, the nature and purpose of Christ: “the light of men.” (1:4)

Mary Magdalene is the first person spoken of in John’s resurrection account. He begins: “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark.” Many things can be gleaned simply from this first phrase. R. Allan Culpepper, in his book, The Gospel and Letters of John, points out that by having Mary come alone, instead of in a group of women, as portrayed in the synoptic writer’s accounts, John continues his gospel-long focus on one individual and their intimate encounter with Jesus. He provides examples such as Nathanael, Nicodemus, the woman at the well, Mary and Martha, and Lazarus. John provides the setting as dark, reprising the recurring theme of light and darkness throughout the Gospel. What does the author mean to convey here? Does the darkness speak of the state of the world as the redeemer sleeps the sleep of death, or does he simply wish to employ a literary tactic to reveal to us the state of Mary’s heart, weeping for her Lord? (20:13) In his commentary on the Gospel, Adrienne von Speyr reflects on this theme of darkness and writes: “That is an allusion to the penitent nature of her work. But love motivates her to this penance.”

Mary seeks her Lord because she has been redeemed by her Lord. She is an image of what the Church will do for centuries after her. She has a right to seek him, a right to know where he is: she no longer is a slave to sin; she is the bride of the almighty. “She possesses the watchfulness of the bride…it is no coincidence that she is the first to appear at the tomb”. (Speyr) In this, the Bride of Christ, the Church today, seeks out her buried Lord every Easter Vigil. She is the first to welcome her Lord at the door of his empty tomb.

When Mary first runs to the Apostles to tell them of trouble at the tomb, it is Peter and the Beloved Disciple who run there to investigate. The two disciples run but the Beloved is the first to reach the tomb. He waits for Peter and does not enter. This obviously shows a respect that the Beloved has for Peter and gives a clue as to Peter’s place within the nascent Church. It is Peter who must first enter and examine the evidence. Peter sees what the Beloved does not see. Peering in from the doorway, the Beloved only saw the linen cloths. Peter, entering in, witnesses the linen cloths lying but sees the napkin rolled up in a place by itself. This arrangement shows a “valuing and esteeming for the head which is inappropriate for the Body.” (Speyr) It is an image of the value and esteem just shown him by the Beloved as the head of the Apostles.

After deferring to Peter, the Beloved enters and John describes his experience simply by saying: “He saw and believed.” (20:8) “He is the only character in the New Testament who believes in the Resurrection merely because of the physical evidence of the tomb.” (Culpepper) This moment of belief finishes a sort of “paschal discipleship” of the Beloved. He follows the Lord to his trial from the Garden of Gethsemane, remains under the Cross with the Lord’s mother and now, after witnessing the physical evidence of the empty tomb, believes the word Christ had spoken.

After witnessing the displaced stone and retrieving Peter and the Beloved Disciple we witness the moving scene of Mary’s encounter with the risen Lord. She stands weeping at the empty tomb, not knowing where the Body of her Lord has been taken. Mary weeps because she seeks her love but cannot find him. She does not seek him alone, however. He is there helping her, though she doesn’t know it. Christ is always present to those who seek him, even though the soul seeking him may not know it or even not recognize him as Mary didn’t when she called him the Gardener. Christ always remains the Good Shepherd, though, who calls us by name, thus revealing himself and his love for us.

Mary reaches out to grasp at Jesus but Jesus cannot be held. As he explains, he is ascending to the Father. He cannot be held to Earth. As he tells the disciples, he must ascend so he can send down the counselor. His work is not yet complete until he returns to the Father with the marks of redemption. The time of everlasting companionship with him has not yet come.

Later in the evening, the Lord appears finally to all the disciples. He gives them his peace and breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. Yet one is missing. Thomas, the Twin, as John calls him, is not present with the twelve and when they proclaim to him the Good News of the Lord’s Resurrection he will not believe, thus shedding a very poor light on himself.

What Thomas requires for belief, however, is commendable. He desires interaction with his friend. He wants to see his face and embrace him, he wants an experience of Jesus, and this is a desire worthy of praise. Yet even more than a simple experience of Jesus, Thomas wants to experience his redemption in Jesus. He doesn’t want to simply see the marks, the evidence of his freedom won by Christ on the cross; he wants to delve into them, to go as a free man to the place where the man of sin had scared the Lord’s body. He wants to approach the beating heart of the Lord where the price of sin had opened a doorway. Thomas’ desires are exemplary, he desires the Lord as did Mary, but Thomas cannot be content with mere sight.

The Lord answers Thomas’ challenge and arrives again, one week later and offers Thomas his side. The author does not say whether Thomas actually placed his hand in the wounds of Christ but only supplies Thomas’ beautiful answer; an exclamation of joy: “My Lord and My God!”

John’s arrangement of these first encounters with our Lord are carefully planned out to describe the belief that the Church is called to seek in the Risen Lord.

Beginning with Mary, the woman freed from sin and become bride, John sets the stage: we are Mary; we are the Bride seeking her Lord. Peter and John are not given a vision of Christ, only evidence of his work. They believe, but they do not know the risen Christ because they do not know the Scriptures. They go “back to their homes.” (20:10)

Mary seeks Jesus as well, but when he comes she does not recognize him, he is the “gardener” one who may even have taken Christ from her. As Jesus reveals himself to her she greets him as Teacher and goes to embrace him, thus revealing still some blindness as to who Jesus is now. He is not simply “Teacher,” “The death and resurrection of Jesus had put an end to the familiar relationships of human life.” (Hahn, Mitch, Ignatius Study Bible) As John states in the Prologue, Jesus is God (1:2). Mary rejoices in her Lord but John’s project is not yet complete, he wants to proclaim Jesus as God, ending the Gospel how he began it.

Finally, Thomas seeks belief in the Lord as the other three had. To complete the process of post-resurrection revelation John gives Thomas the most complete experience of Christ. Peter and the Beloved only had the evidence of the tomb. Mary had the vision but no physical interaction. Thomas, one may conjecture, reached in and touched the Savior’s very heart. His experience is the most complete and contains all others. All three scenes are replayed by analogy to show that this is the crowning moment; this is the point at which Jesus’ majestic sovereignty is displayed. For Peter and the Beloved, it was witnessing the power of Jesus to not be bound by the grave. Jesus walks through locked doors and is not held bound to them just as the linen burial cloths and the stone could not hold him. For Mary it was the word of greeting that enabled her to see and believe. Jesus enters and greets them with the Easter Word: “Peace.” Now Christ completes the work of these acts and calls Thomas to touch him, to communicate with him in a physical way. This calls forth the most complete act of belief. Now Jesus is proclaimed as God.

As we move through the Easter Season let’s remember that we can also experience these three moments of the Risen Lord when we go to Mass. As Church we proclaim that we are not held bound by the tomb of sin, we break through during the penitential rite as a people free from sin and death. In the Liturgy of the Word we see the risen Lord but it is limited to his spoken greeting to us. Finally, in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Christ reaches in and touches our hearts, we experience him in a physical way and exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord and My God!”

Not Attending the White House Dinner in Honor of Pope Benedict XVI: The Pope.

2008-04-11T20:44:00.004-04:00

This at FoxNews.com:

WASHINGTON — Guess who's not coming to dinner?

Pope Benedict XVI -- he's not attending a White House dinner in his honor on Wednesday.

President Bush will go out to Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday to welcome the pope on his first visit to the United States since he was elected pontiff in 2005. On Wednesday there will be a formal welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House with up to 12,000 guests.

White House planners are anxious about getting that many people through the metal detectors and in place for the splashy ceremony at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Afterwards, the president and the pope will meet in the Oval Office. Later that day, the pope will attend a prayer service with U.S. bishops.

Wednesday night's dinner, hosted by the president, will be in the East Room, which normally contains little furniture and traditionally is used for large gatherings such as news conferences, bill-signing ceremonies, awards presentations and after-dinner entertainment.

"It's in honor of his visit," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. "There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit."

He said he did not know why the pope would not attend.

Oh, In Case You Haven't Heard...The Pope Is Coming!!!

2008-04-11T19:56:00.005-04:00

In case you haven't heard, Pope Benedict XVI will be in the United States from April 15th to the 20th. He will visit Washington D.C. and New York City. Living in D.C., I've been hearing about this for weeks. The Church, as well as the local media have given quite a bit of attention to Pontiff's 1st visit to the United States, everything from the Metro's now famous commercial featuring a bobble head pope to the Archdiocesan-wide food drive this coming weekend at all the parishes.

The Pope plans on arriving on Tuesday, the 15th and spending a few days in D.C. until Friday when he departs for New York. While in D.C. his schedule includes the typical state events like meeting with the President and another with the Bishops of the U.S. One event that has me interested will occur on Thursday evening when he will meet with the presidents of 200 catholic colleges and universities. While in New York, he will again have the "typical" meetings with the U.N. and ecumenical leaders, with a large Mass in Yankee Stadium on Sunday. (Being a Red Sox fan, I'm not entirely pleased at the location...) Event of note in New York: a Sunday morning visit to Ground Zero.

Because of the timing of his D.C. visit I will not be able to attend any of the public events (stupid work...) I have, however, secured tickets for the Yankee Stadium Mass in New York and will be driving up there next weekend. Count on some blogging as a result...

I encourage everyone to pray for the success and safety of the Pope's trip. A Papal visit rarely goes without any effect. Look for more reports and commentary coming in the next few days.

Once Again, Courts Protect the Criminals instead of the Innocent

2008-03-12T16:00:00.003-04:00

From FoxNews:

A man accused of using a camera to take pictures under the skirt of an unsuspecting 16-year-old girl at a Tulsa store did not commit a crime, a state appeals court has ruled.

The state Court of Criminal Appeals voted 4-1 in favor of Riccardo Gino Ferrante, who was arrested in 2006 for situating a camera underneath the girl's skirt at a Target store and taking photographs.

Ferrante, now 34, was charged under a "Peeping Tom" statute that requires the victim to be "in a place where there is a right to a reasonable expectation of privacy." Testimony indicated he followed the girl, knelt down behind her and placed the camera under her skirt.

In January 2007, Tulsa County District Judge Tom Gillert ordered Ferrante's felony charge dismissed. That was based upon a determination that "the person photographed was not in a place where she had a reasonable expectation of privacy," according to the appellate ruling issued last week.

The District Attorney's Office had appealed Gillert's ruling to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

"We agree with the district court's analysis," stated the opinion written by Appeals Judge Charles Johnson, with Judges Charles Chapel, David Lewis and Arlene Johnson concurring.

In a dissent, Appeals Judge Gary Lumpkin wrote that "what this decision does is state to women who desire to wear dresses that there is no expectation of privacy as to what they have covered with their dress."

"In other words, it is open season for peeping Toms in public places who want to look under a woman's dress," Lumpkin wrote.

He said he found the majority's finding of no reasonable expectation of privacy "interesting and disturbing."

Assistant District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said he will explore the possibility of getting the Legislature to change the law.

"We certainly are going to seek to amend this statute to criminalize what we consider to be outrageous conduct," he said.

Ferrante's attorney, Kevin Adams, said Tuesday that Gillert "made the right decision" and that "it is really up to the Legislature to make this against the law if they want to do so.

"I think it is a scenario where the law has not caught up with technology," Adams said.

Video: John Paul II Visits CUA in 1979

2008-03-10T18:20:00.004-04:00

Excitement is building here in the DC area over next month's visit of the Holy Father. The Pope will be speaking with Catholic educators at the Catholic University of America as did JPII on April 17th and so the University has done some nice videos commemorating the last visit of Peter to their campus:

Sadly, This Isn't New

2008-03-10T17:02:00.006-04:00

News broke today on several major news media that our drinking water is contaminated.

The drinking water supplies of some 41 million Americans showed the presence of the by-products of medications we take every day. The contaminants included antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, and sex hormones.

FoxNews reporting:

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.

But the presence of so many prescription drugs — and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen — in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas — from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.

Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed, the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers said the public "doesn't know how to interpret the information" and might be unduly alarmed.

It seems however, that no one is really too concerned about all this:

The AP's investigation also indicates that watersheds, the natural sources of most of the nation's water supply, also are contaminated. Tests were conducted in the watersheds of 35 of the 62 major providers surveyed by the AP, and pharmaceuticals were detected in 28.

Yet officials in six of those 28 metropolitan areas said they did not go on to test their drinking water — Fairfax, Va.; Montgomery County in Maryland; Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City; Santa Clara, Calif., and New York City.

This is great news, considering I live in Montgomery County and I spent 10 weeks in Omaha last summer...ugh.

The FoxNews article tended to stay pretty focused on contaminating pharmaceuticals in general but a USAToday article went on to focus on the changes certain pharmaceuticals are having on the wildlife:

Pharmaceuticals in the water are being blamed for severe reproductive problems in many types of fish: The endangered razorback sucker and male fathead minnow have been found with lower sperm counts and damaged sperm; some walleyes and male carp have become what are called feminized fish, producing egg yolk proteins typically made only by females.

Meanwhile, female fish have developed male genital organs. Also, there are skewed sex ratios in some aquatic populations, and sexually abnormal bass that produce cells for both sperm and eggs.

But this isn't new news. I published a piece on this last summer over at the Saginaw Seminarians site which not only described the problem but also "wonders" why officials aren't more motivated to correct this problem.

Then, even more recently, in the Kansas City Star, Lisa Cupido published a story describing the debate that is now heating up between conservatives and liberals on the matter. In their effort to uphold the "rights" of women, many question if this is such an important matter like Tina Casale who is quoted saying: "to me, the health effects of the pill are a much greater concern than the fate of fish.” Or others who simply outright deny that there is an issue here:

But many women and women’s groups are not buying into the message.

“It sounds to me like this is a pollution issue rather than a birth control issue,” said Kaycie Rene Booher, 20, a student at the University of Central Missouri. “People are jumping for a chance to discredit birth control as an important option for women’s health and safety.”

Heather Trim, the Urban Bays and Toxics Program Manager at the People for Puget Sound in Washington, warns women that there is no evidence in the United States of the human impact of contaminated estrogen water and that women should not discard their pills just yet.

Not wanting to be accused of being sexist or anything...not all women are turning a blind eye. “It gets me angry,” said Tracy Oetting, 47, an environmental and political activist from Washington State. “It appears that there is no concern for women or the environment if everyone is OK with the eco-damage that hormones can do to women, men, fish and animals.”

My wish? That people would pay attention to what nature is telling them. Not only the fishes and the wildlife, but their own. Dr. Janet Smith, take it away...

when does one generally take a "pill"? Obviously, when one is ill. But is fertility a sickness? Isn't fertility, a healthy, natural condition? Doesn't "The Pill" treat fertility as though it were an illness, a defect, not a natural good? And think of the side effects of The Pill. The insert that comes with The Pill lists a large number of counterindications or bad side effects. It can cause blood clots and strokes and infertility; in a small percentage of cases to be sure, but when millions of women are using The Pill, the small percentages can add up to large numbers. Think of the everyday, common side effects. It is common for women who use The Pill to complain of increased irritability, depression, weight gain, and a decreased libido. Isn't The Pill something every woman wants — something to help her be more irritable, to be more depressed, to gain weight, and to have a decreased desire to have sexual intercourse! Why would any man want the woman he cares for and maybe even loves to take such a chemical monstrosity? In our age when we have come to discover how foolish it is to dump alien chemicals into the environment, why do we think it sensible for women to put so many alien chemicals into their bodies?

When will we wake up?

Retraction...

2008-03-10T16:57:00.004-04:00

Wow, so this is a bit embarrassing. I've never had to post a retraction before...

In my hastiness to publish the previous post, I failed to check it out to see if it was legit. Turns out the details are slightly skewed...

Thanks to reader "Athens110" for directing me here to find out the truth of the article's true author. So sorry for the confusion...

Description of Heaven

2008-03-04T17:37:00.004-05:00

A friend sent this to me earlier, I think it's a good reminder of how much we've been forgiven during this period of Lent...

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em,' he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote...' It also was the last.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. The Moore's framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. 'I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,' Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. 'I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.'

Brian's Essay: The Room
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." II Corinthians 5:21
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he who believes in me has everlasting life" John 6:47
"These thing have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God." I John 5:13
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'-Phil. 4:13.

Book Review: The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

2008-02-29T21:50:00.007-05:00

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind,” effectively saying that the two compliment and complete each other. It has also been said that the scientist and the theologian both seek the same thing, so why do they seem to often be at odds with one another? The conflict and clashing between the two disciplines, has become so taken for granted that we are surprised when a religious leader makes statements having to do with the realm of science as the Vatican did this summer about reducing carbon emissions, or when a scientist claims belief in God.

This apparent conflict is the springboard for Francis Collins’ book, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief (Free Press). Collins, one of the world’s leading scientists, most well known for leading the Human Genome Project, the complete mapping of the human genome, which is undoubtedly an achievement of legendary proportions, is also a man of faith who sees in his science much evidence for belief in God.

He begins his book by briefly giving an outline of his story to becoming the believing scientist he is today and lays out his main reason for belief in something beyond this physical world. His number one evidence for belief: the moral law. He sees in this common, innate understanding of a right and wrong the hand of a Great Influence. In particular to the moral law, it is the altruistic impulse where he sees the most evidence. Collins:

Agape, or selfless altruism, presents a major challenge for the evolutionist. It is quite frankly a scandal to reductionist reasoning. It cannot be accounted for by the drive of individual selfish genes to perpetuate themselves. Quite the contrary: it may lead humans to make sacrifices that lead to great personal suffering, injury, or death, without any evidence of benefit. And yet, if we carefully examine that inner voice we sometimes call conscience, the motivation to practice this kind of love exists within all of us, despite our frequent efforts to ignore it. (p. 27)

After laying out the current clash between Science and Faith, Collins approaches the “Two Great Questions” which ultimately lie at the center of the debate: The Origin of the Universe and The Origin of Life. Science can delve quite deeply into the history of how and even when the universe was first formed, yet there is a precise moment where it must stop, it cannot answer the question why it all started to begin with. On the other side of the coin however, faith can provide the why, but not necessarily the how. It is when each of these two try to answer the question of the other that we find problems arise. Some scientists attempt to answer the why using only their materialistic world view, while some in the sphere of faith hold so tightly to their literal interpretations of religious texts that they ignore, grossly, at times, the undeniable evidence science presents for examination.

After then explaining DNA, genetics, and some basic principles of biology, he presents what he sees as four options one can choose in the clash between science and faith. The first is atheism and agnosticism. Which he ultimately concludes does not adequately answer the apparent problem because of the afore mentioned moral philosophy and human altruism. Secondly he presents Creationism, the belief of a literal interpretation of texts such as Genesis 1 and 2 which describe creation happening in only 6 days and the age of the earth being only about 11,000 years old. His judgment on this approach is that it is merely the flipside of atheism, faith that doesn’t make room for the truths and reasonings of science. Thirdly he presents Intelligent Design or I.D. Intelligent Design theorists point to “holes” in the evolutionary theory and make the conclusion that these defects negate the credibility of the theory. They then simply insert an “intelligence” to account for things such as the complexity of life. Collins calls this a “God of the Gaps” approach and claims that eventually this will do more to hurt faith because advances in science often explain what was previously unexplainable “pushing” God out of the picture.

Collins presents for the reader, then, a fourth option: BioLogos, or Theistic Evolution. This theory seeks to wed the two together by saying that

God, who is not limited in space or time, created the universe and established natural laws that govern it. Seeking to populate this otherwise sterile universe with living creatures, God chose the elegant mechanism of evolution to create microbes, plants, and animals of all sorts. Most remarkably, God intentionally chose the same mechanism to give rise to special creatures who would have intelligence, a knowledge of right and wrong, free will, and a desire to seek fellowship with Him. He also knew these creatures would ultimately choose to disobey the Moral Law. (p. 200 - 201)

Collins goes on to explain where he believes each side needs to give a little in embracing what seems to be a truer picture of the origin of the universe and life. Yet, in doing so, he makes a case for abandoning monogenesis, a belief that all of humanity derives from a single set of parents. I believe this would present serious problems for the theologian to address, particularly in the areas of the origin of sin and the need for a universal savior. But, since science has not yet been able to come to a decisive conclusion on the issue of monogenesis or polygenesis, theologians should not feel threatened.

In the end I believe that Collins’ book offers the science-faith debate some serious points to consider. Not only is it presented by a giant in the science world, a man who lead a project which will undoubtedly be placed alongside the great advancements in the history of science, but also because it is presented simply and with sympathies to both sides of the argument. Maybe the problem isn’t an either-or issue, but a both-and. Science and faith should not feel threatened by the advancements of the other because if both honestly seek truth, both will ultimately arrive at the same place.

Electron Filmed for the First Time

2008-02-29T17:02:00.006-05:00

Interesting news...

Scientists have filmed an electron in motion for the first time, using a new technique that will allow researchers to study the tiny particle's movements directly.

Previously it was impossible to photograph electrons because of their extreme speediness, so scientists had to rely on more indirect methods. These methods could only measure the effect of an electron's movement, whereas the new technique can capture the entire event.

Extremely short flashes of light are necessary to capture an electron in motion. A technology developed within the last few years can generate short pulses of intense laser light, called attosecond pulses, to get the job done.

"It takes about 150 attoseconds for an electron to circle the nucleus of an atom. An attosecond is 10-18 seconds long, or, expressed in another way: an attosecond is related to a second as a second is related to the age of the universe," said Johan Mauritsson of Lund University in Sweden.

Using another laser, scientists can guide the motion of the electron to capture a collision between an electron and an atom on film.

The length of the film Mauritsson and his colleagues made corresponds to a single oscillation of a wave of light. The speed of the event has been slowed down for human eyes. The results are detailed in the latest issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.

Mauritsson says the technique could also be used to study what happens in an atom when an electron leaves its shell.

Video here

Lansing Has a Bishop! Lansing Has a Bishop!

2008-02-28T20:44:00.006-05:00

I heard the news of this just a day or two ago.

His Excellency, Earl Boyea has been named the new ordinary of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, replacing the much loved Bishop Mengeling about two and a half years after he first requested retirement from the Holy See.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Bishop Boyea on several occasions, both as a teacher at a school near Flint, Mi. and during my time in the Seminary in Detroit. He is a great man and I foresee him being a great addition to the rapidly growing Church of Lansing.

I have many friends who live in the Lansing area and are close with several of the men preparing for the priesthood for the diocese which boasts the most priestly vocations in the state of Michigan, if my memory serves me correctly.

Welcome to Lansing your Excellency!

Bishop Boyea's statement to the Press

Will the Pope Visit the Holy Land? It's Up To Them...

2008-02-28T20:21:00.004-05:00

From CNA:

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Holy Land, Archbishop Antonio Franco, reiterated his hope this week that Pope Benedict XVI would visit the region, but said the trip would only be possible if the difficulties being experienced by the Christian community are overcome and if progress is made on the Palestinian issue.

In an interview with terrasanta.net, the archbishop said, “Our hope is that that day will arrive (the papal visit), and I am convinced that this trip would be beneficial for all. But what our negotiators keep repeating is that the Pope should be able travel in a positive atmosphere. If the Catholic Christian community is experiencing difficulties and is in a state of permanent tension, it will be more difficult for the Pope to visit us, because we want the most serene atmosphere possible.”

“Insofar as the practical problems are resolved and progress is made on the core problem of the Palestinian issue, which in the end is the root of all other problems, the climate and the groundwork is created for a papal visit,” the archbishop said.

During the interview, he also stressed that the Holy See cannot sign any agreement with the State of Israel that includes fiscal obligations that the Christian community “cannot sustain.” “The Holy See is not asking for privileges, but rather that the rights of Christians who live in this land be respected,” he said.

He warned that making the Catholic communities pay more would lead to their disappearance, as they depend on what they receive from the universal Church.

Yet Another Blog?

2008-02-24T20:11:00.003-05:00

...I hope not.

I started Blogging a little over a year ago on a blog called Saginaw Seminarians. That blog was meant not only to keep people updated on the state of priestly vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, Mi, but also to offer commentary on various topics in the Church and in the world.

Last December, however, after two and a half years in the seminary and many gratifying and holy experiences, I discerned that God wasn't calling me to live a life of ordained ministry; he had other plans for my life. So, I packed my bags and moved out East to Washington D.C. where I'll be starting classes at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family this coming fall.

No longer being a seminarian for the Saginaw Diocese, I stopped publishing for the Seminarians' blog and left it to the capable hands of another seminarian from the diocese. Yet, I decided that blogging provided a wonderful opportunity for me to engage the world with my own ideas and to present them to whomever took the time to engage them with theirs.

For readers who became familiar with my work at Saginaw Seminarians, you will find similar work here. I plan to present relevant stories in the news while offering my own thoughts and ideas. I invite you always to leave your input in the combox at the bottom of each entry. I also plan on focusing on topics which have particular interest to me. For example, the interactions of science and theology, moral issues, John Paul the Great's Theology of the Body and related topics such as human love and life. Finally, I'd also like to share my thoughts and insights on books and movies because, not only do I enjoy them as a past time, but I think they hold a privileged place in our society in forming our thoughts, values, and ways of understanding daily human experiences, such as love, hate, fear, and desire.

I hope you enjoy the blog and that you visit often. Feel free to subscribe to the RSS feed so that you know exactly when there is a new entry. Thanks for stopping by!