Articles by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi
God bless Pope Benedict
Feb 21, 2013 / 00:00 amThe surprising news spread quickly around the world: The Holy Father had resigned! The last time a Pope had resigned was in 1415, almost 600 years ago. Although more than once Pope Benedict XVI had given some indications that he would resign if he ever thought he could not fulfill the ministry of Pope due to age or infirmity, the timing of his announcement took the Church by surprise.At age 85, Pope Benedict apparently felt now was the time to step aside. As he explained in his statement of resignation: "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry." He went on to explain that in fulfilling the role of Holy Father, "...both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."This act of resignation was first and foremost an act of faith. Jesus entrusted to St. Peter the role of being the shepherd of the Church on earth. After the Resurrection, Jesus told Peter three times to "Feed my lambs." "Tend my sheep." "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-16) The Lord entrusted His own flock to St. Peter, the apostle whom was originally called Simon and whose name Jesus changed to Peter, the Rock, upon which Jesus promised to build His Church. (Mt 16:18) Peter was also the apostle to whom Jesus promised: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 16:19) Peter eventually moved to Rome, where he served in his ministry and where he was martyred. We believe that the ministry Jesus entrusted to Peter ("the Petrine Ministry"), did not die with Peter any more than the Church died with Peter. The early Church understood, and it has been passed on through the centuries, that whoever succeeds Peter as the Bishop of Rome, succeeds Peter in the ministry Jesus entrusted to Peter to strengthen the Church in faith and safeguard its unity. Pope Benedict, believing in how vitally important this ministry is to the people of the Church, came, through prayer, to feel called by God to relinquish it for the good of the Church.This act of resignation was also an act of humility. It takes humility to admit ones limitations and to be willing to lay down prestige and authority so that another may take it up for the good of the Church. The role of Holy Father is a role of service. The traditional title of the Pope is "Servant to the Servants of God." He, as is true of all of us, is called to follow the Lord who said: "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve..." (Mt 20:28) At the same time, the office of Pope is surrounded at times by great pomp and beauty. The significance of the office can tempt frail human nature to lose sight of the Lord’s call to serve and not be served. It is obvious that this is not true of Pope Benedict. He has devoted himself to service and is willing to step aside from the trappings of office as his conscience directs.Finally, this act was also an act of love. It was a sign of the love of a shepherd for the flock. The decision to retire, although brought about by the Holy Father examining the state of his health, was not at its core a decision focused upon him at all. It was a decision which at its core focused upon what is good for the flock. This shepherd was willing to act out of a genuine concern for the flock because of his love for the flock.Let us pray for Pope Benedict, especially in this time of transition. Any transition in life, whether it is the first day of school, a wedding, or resigning from the Papacy, brings with it a mixture of emotions. We cannot know what emotions Pope Benedict is feeling, but we can pray for him. Please remember him in your prayers.God Bless Pope Benedict. Reprinted with permission from The Catholic Week, official newspaper for the diocese of Mobile.
Catholics Come Home
Jan 26, 2012 / 00:00 amPerhaps you have seen the commercials. These commercials have been played during December and January on several national television networks. They are entitled "Catholics Come Home."Beautifully prepared, they point out facts about our Catholic Church:• Our family is made up of every race.• We are young and old, rich and poor, men and women, sinners and saints.• Our family has spanned the centuries and the globe.• With God’s help, we have established hospitals and orphanages.• We are the largest charitable organization on the planet bringing help to those in need.• We educate more children than any other scholarly or religious institution.• We developed the scientifi c method and laws of evidence.• We founded the college system.• We defend the dignity of all human life and uphold marriage and family.• Cities were named after our revered saints.• Guided by the Holy Spirit, we compiled the bible.• We are transformed by sacred scripture and sacred tradition which has consistently guided us for 2,000 years.• Jesus Himself laid the foundation of our Church when he said to Peter, the first Pope, "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church."• We are over one billion in number and for over 2,000 years we have had an unbroken line of shepherds guiding the Catholic Church with love and truth in a confused and hurting world.In this world filled with chaos, hardship, and pain it is comforting to know that some things remain consistent, true, and strong-our Catholic faith.The commercials end with an invitation: If you have been away from the Catholic Church we invite you to take another look.If you have missed these commercials, they are available at the website: catholicscomehome.org.How blessed we are to belong to the family of God, the Catholic Church, which Jesus Himself founded. It is for us to invite others to be active members of the Church. Perhaps we know people who have been away from the Church or perhaps we know people who are not members that we could invite to join.The story of salvation history, contained in the bible, is God calling His people together. In the Old Testament he established a people and made a covenant with them. In the New Testament God gathers His followers into the Church. Always, God brings us together. Even when God calls individuals, it is to entrust to the individual a mission to be brought back into the community.Sadly, there is an increasing tendency in modern society for people not to be active members of God’s family. We increasingly have become a society where many are a "church of one." We seek to live our faith as an individual and not as a member of the family of God.I remember speaking some years ago with a man in Mississippi who had not always been a Catholic. I asked him what he used to be and he told me that he did not used to be anything at all. But he told me that he realized one day that no one preached to him except him; no one taught him right from wrong except him; no one told him what was important, true, and lasting, except him. He told me that he realized that he had become (in his words) "my own personal religious cult." He said that he knew that he had to become part of something bigger than himself and needed to belong to the Church; so he became a Catholic.Commercials can be very effective, but even more effective are individual invitations. Please invite others to come back or to become part of the Catholic Church. God wishes to use us as His instruments of grace and faith. Please reach out and invite. Reprinted with permission from the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama.
An Attack on Conscience
Oct 13, 2011 / 00:00 amA department of the federal government is seeking to force churches to violate their conscience. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently issued a new regulation requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilization as "preventive services" for women. The mandate even forces individuals and groups with religious or moral objections to purchase and provide such services if they are to receive or provide health coverage at all.
Fourth of July
Jun 30, 2011 / 00:00 amWe will soon celebrate Independence Day. It is indeed a time to celebrate the freedoms which we enjoy. This day was envisioned by our Founding Fathers on the first Independence Day when in 1776 John Adams wrote this about the Fourth of July:"It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with shews, games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."It is of importance that this first manner in which John Adams felt the day should be celebrated would be "by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty." This would do us well to remember this fact. Our Founding Fathers had just signed the Declaration of Independence. They did so at grave risk to their welfare for they knew that, if caught, they would be executed for such an act. However, with the courage of principle, they declared to the King of England that their rights did not come to them from any monarch or parliament, nor did their rights come to them by being free-born Englishmen. Instead they wrote that:"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."Boldly they proclaimed that our most fundamental rights come to us from God our Creator. We forget this at our own peril. Our most fundamental rights do not come to us from any president, congress, court, or even from the fact that we are Americans. Our most basic and important rights come to us from God. We give thanks that we live in a country where so many have sacrificed so greatly so that we may enjoy these rights, but we cannot lose sight of the source of these rights: God alone to whom we owe of first and highest allegiance. God spoke to the people of Israel through Moses and reminded them of this very fact:"Therefore, keep the commandments of the Lord, your God, by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord, your God, is bringing you into a good country, a land with streams of water, with springs and fountains welling up in the hills and valleys, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, of olive trees and honey, a land where you can eat bread without stint and where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones contain iron and in whose hills you can mine copper. But when you have eaten your fill, you must bless the Lord, your God, for the good country he has given you. Be careful not to forget the Lord, your God, by neglecting his commandments and decrees and statutes which I enjoin of you today, lest when you have eaten your fill, and have built fine houses and have lived in them, and have increased your herds and flocks, your silver and gold, and all your property, you then become haughty of heart and unmindful of the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt....Otherwise, you might say to yourselves, "It is my own power and the strength of my own hand that has obtained for me this wealth." Remember then, it is the Lord, your God, who gives you the power to acquire wealth, by fulfilling, as he has now done, the covenant which he swore to your fathers. But if you forget the Lord, your God, and follow other gods, serving and worshiping them, I forewarn you this day that you will perish utterly. Like the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so shall you too perish for not heeding the voice of the Lord, your God" (Deuteronomy 8).As we celebrate this Fourth of July, let us be mindful of our need of God and his goodness to us. Perhaps this prayer, often attributed to George Washington, helps put this celebration into a proper focus:"Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness and in the day of trouble, do not allow our trust in you to fail; all this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord."
How to make a good confession
Feb 24, 2011 / 00:00 amI remember my First Grade teacher explaining the sacrament of Confession to us. She drew a smiling face on the blackboard (We used blackboards and chalk when I was young). She told us that when we were good, God was happy. Then she drew a sad face and told us that, when we sinned, God was unhappy. Then she drew another smiling face and told us that, when we went to Confession, God was happy again. That was not a bad lesson for first graders. The problem was that I continued to think of Confession that way for many years afterwards. Whether out of love for God or fear of Him, I did not want God to be unhappy with me, so I went to Confession. Confession was my way to change God.What I needed to learn was that God does not change. Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke. The Father in the parable does not change. He never stops loving his son no matter even when the son finds himself in the gutter. It is the son who changes and comes to his senses. The father does not change.Confession does not change God. It is meant to change us. I invite all to approach this sacrament as part of our Lenten observance. As we prepare for Lent, some have asked the question: "How does one make a good confession?" Allow me to answer with the following five traditional steps for making a good confession and then add two steps of my own.First, examine one’s conscience. In doing so, we should pray for wisdom and honesty.Wisdom guides us in asking the right questions of ourselves. Some people begin an examination of conscience by going through the Ten Commandments. As much as this is a good way to start, it is not a good way to finish. These commandments are rules and rules usually only tell us what not to do. They seldom tell us the standard to which God calls us. We also need to include the Two Great Commandments in our examination: Love of God and love of neighbor. It is not sufficient to ask "Have I killed anyone?" We must also ask "Do I build peace in my family?" It is not sufficient to ask "Have I stolen?" We must also ask "Have I been as generous as God asks me to be?" The Ten Commandments give us the foundation. The Two Great Commandments enable us to see where God calls us to fully live our faith. We need to ask the questions which come from both.Honesty then helps us to see ourselves as we truly are. We have a great ability to be blind to our sins and faults. We can see the speck in someone else’s eye but fail to notice the beam of wood in our own.I recall an elderly priest telling me that one day a man came to Confession and said that he had no sins. The priest asked the man, "Are you married?" Yes," he replied. "Do you have a job?" Again the answer was "Yes." The priest then asked:" Do you mind if I ask your wife and coworkers if you have any sins?" The man smiled and told the priest that obviously he needed to give more thought to his sins and that he would return in a few minutes. Honesty helps us to see ourselves as we really are, both with our good points and with our sins. It is only when we acknowledge that we are sinners that God can forgive us. The only people Jesus became angry with in the Gospels were those who could not see their sins. The Lord cannot forgive those who cannot acknowledge that they need His forgiveness. Remember the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee in the temple. The Publican beat his chest and prayed to be forgiven. The Pharisee told God all the good things that he was doing. Jesus said that the Publican, though a much greater sinner than the Pharisee, went home forgiven. The Pharisee did not.Second, be sorry for our sins. Once we admit that we have sinned, God’s grace stirs us to remorse for our falling into sins. We admit we have turned from God and hurt our relationship with both God and neighbor.Third, resolve to do better. True contrition for sins is more than an emotion of remorse for sin. True contrition means that we intend to live differently from now on.If we have sorrow but no resolve to change, we are like me in the first grade thinking that Confession is intended to change God. Confession has to be more than telling God I am sorry. It is a firm and sincere commitment before God to live differently. This does not mean that we will never sin again. Human nature is too frail for that. It does mean that we will continue to try to live our faith.Often we confess the same sins Confession after Confession. There is nothing wrong with this. It shows our drive to continue to confront our sins and, little by little, to grow into the person God calls us to be. It may take time to do this, and the grace of the sacrament of Confession is working to help us overcome our sins. I remember for years taking a monthly allergy shot to overcome my allergies. For a long time it seemed that I was not getting anywhere. I knew that I had to take the shot every month. I was not aware that the shot was changing my allergies little by little until after some years the shot was no longer necessary. The grace of God can work within us step by step, sometimes without us being aware, in order to change us and help us overcome our sins, even the ones that seem most ingrained in us.Fourth, confess one’s sins. We speak our sins in Confession to the best of our ability knowing that God forgives any sin we meant to confess and sincerely forgot to mention.Fifth, do the penance the priest gives us. This may be a prayer or an act of mercy intended to remind us of God’s love and our resolve to live differently.Finally, allow me to add two more conditions for a good Confession. I will write about these two in future articles:Accept God’s forgiveness.Pass the forgiveness on to others.Reprinted with permission from The Catholic Week.
Certain Unalienable Rights
Oct 28, 2010 / 00:00 amPope Benedict recently made a state visit to England. His address to Parliament was eloquent and one which I recommend everyone read. It contained great wisdom in examining a fundamental challenge faced by modern secular societies. Wisdom can come to us from various sources. One possible source of wisdom is from those who have a wealth of experience, especially experience learned from times of struggle. Pope Benedict’s talk, which is a continuation of the teaching of Pope John Paul II, offers much for our reflection. These two popes offer our society guidance derived from brilliant minds and challenging personal experience. Popes John Paul and Benedict were both raised in countries, Poland and Germany, which during the twentieth century experienced both fascism and communism. These two different political systems had at least one thing in common. Both told the people that their human dignity and the principles of human morality did not come from God but from the state. The fascists told people that their dignity derived from the fact that they were members of the Reich. The communists told people that their dignity came from being workers for the state. Pope John Paul II, during the more than thirty years that he served in his native Poland, taught that this message was a lie and that the dignity of the individual, and the moral principles governing human behavior, come, not from a political structure or system, nor from those who currently hold power, but from God and the natural law God has placed in human hearts. This was a difficult message to preach in a dictatorship but Pope John Paul II, as a man of faith, was convinced that the truth will ultimately and inescapably triumph over error. Ultimately, communism fell under its own weight or error.It is notable that, after communism fell in Eastern Europe, Pope John Paul II increasingly directed to the democracies of the western world this same message he had taught under communism. He did so because he saw a similar error creeping into western thought. Today Pope Benedict continues this powerful and timely message. Why would these two men offer this message to the West? The reason is this: in our increasingly secular society many are reluctant to acknowledge that our human dignity and moral principles ultimately come from God. In our increasingly secular society, any mention of God can be portrayed by some to be out of step with the proper functioning of a pluralistic democracy. It is felt by some that it is far better to avoid the mention of the divine or attributing to God any role or significance in the operation of a modern secular state.The fact that England would invite the Pope to make a state visit to that country was itself historic. But the visit was made even more significant by the fact that the Pope was invited to address Parliament and the setting was remarkable. The address was in the Palace of Westminster, but not in the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Parliament assembled in Westminster Hall --- the very room where 500 years earlier Thomas More was tried and condemned for treason. His treason consisted of this, that he would not act against his conscience and assent to what he considered wrong. He would not separate his faith and values from his public life. As Thomas said as he placed his head into the block to be executed. “I die as the King’s true servant, but as God’s servant first…” The mutual gesture of reconciliation in having the Pope address Parliament in that Hall was lost on no one present. It was in this setting that the Pope laid before Parliament the challenge modern secular society must confront. The challenging question is this: If human dignity does not come from God, where else can it come from? In a democratic society the only answer must be that it comes from the consent of those governed or, in other words, from the state created by consensus of those governed. This echoes back to the message of totalitarian regimes with chilling histories. For what the state can grant, the state can revoke. Even in a democracy, popular consensus can be an uncertain foundation for so important a matter as individual dignity.The dilemma, as stated by Pope Benedict, is this:If moral principles and human dignity underpinning the democratic process are themselves determined by nothing more solid than social consensus, the fragility of the process becomes all too evident…herein lies the challenge for democracy. Thus, hopefully, society will remain open to faith in public life in order to build a pluralistic society based upon more than majority consensus. Faith is not to be excluded from the public square but needs to be included. Otherwise, we fall into the same error of other political systems that failed to acknowledge that human dignity and moral principles come from God.Faith brings the conviction that human dignity comes from God. Such conviction was espoused in the Declaration of Independence where it is written: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” Our founding fathers did not wish for there to be an established church in this new republic. They did not want its citizens to be forced to act against their conscience. Today it is the secular society that increasingly considers forcing citizens to act against their consciences in the name of the proper functioning of a pluralistic secular state.But as Pope Benedict stated before Parliament:The inclusion of faith in the public square is not antithetical to liberty and pluralism. The world of reason and world of faith --- the world of secular rationality and the world of religious belief --- need one another and should not be afraid to enter into a profound and ongoing dialogue, for the good of our civilization. Religion, in other words, is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.Or as Pope John Paul II once stated, "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to contemplation of truth…"The absence of faith from the public square results in (as Pope Benedict also stated in his speech) the "building of a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one’s own ego and desires.” Freedom of religion cannot become, as some would wish, merely freedom of worship. Or in other words, that faith and morality may be observed only privately but have no place in public discourse or life. Society needs to welcome both faith and reason into the search for truth because both are needed for the good of our own free society.In sharing these few words of wisdom from Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, perhaps it would be appropriate to reflect upon the words of a great American, our first president. These words of wisdom are taken from his farewell address in 1796:Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.Reprinted with permission from The Catholic Week.
Mass Attendance
Jul 22, 2010 / 00:00 amThe Vatican is currently in the process of finalizing a new translation of the prayers of the Mass. We will learn more about this new translation in the coming weeks. As we await the publication of the new translation, we have the opportunity to reflect upon the richness of God’s love which we celebrate every time we consecrate the bread and wine as Jesus commanded us to do at the Last Supper. In beginning this ongoing reflection of the Mass, the first issue we should address is the importance of being present at Mass. Attendance at Mass has declined substantially over the last few decades. In the 1950’s about 75% of Catholics attended Mass every Sunday; today about 30% attend weekly Mass. Every Christian denomination is experiencing a similar decline in church attendance. About 50 years ago a majority of Christians in the United States were in church on Sunday. Today a majority are not.Another statistic is very striking. About 100 years ago the average American worked 6 days a week, 9 to 10 hours a day. Yet in 1910, even though people worked long hours 6 days a week, most Christians went to church on Sunday. It is remarkable that today, even though we have a 5 day/40 hour work week and more disposable time, we are less likely to go to church than people who had a 6 day/60 hour work week! There are probably many reasons that could explain this development. The bottom line, however, is that our society has changed from a "Lord’s Day" mentality to a "Weekend" mentality. Allow me to explain what I mean by those terms. In past decades, people worked during the week, but on the Lord’s Day they paused from work in order to worship God. In contemporary society, we work during the week and then feel that we need a weekend during which we can relax and be entertained. Our mentality has changed from Sunday as being a day to worship God to a mentality of a weekend focused upon ourselves and our desire to relax and be entertained. The problem with the weekend mentality is that it tells us that, after a week of work, we need time to relax in order so that we can go back to work on Monday and work some more. (Ironically, I know some people who actually look forward to going back to work on Monday because they are exhausted from their weekend!) In effect, however, this mentality tells us that we are only created for work. In the old days, if a farmer had a mule, he would work the mule, but he would also give the mule some time off so that the mule would be ready to work some more. Our weekend mentality tells us that we are merely beasts of burden that need time off for rest and entertainment so that we can then work some more. The Lord’s Day mentality tells us that we are not just beasts of burden. Instead, we have a God-given dignity. Jesus calls us together on the Lord’s Day so that He may tell us who He is and in doing so to tell us who we are. Jesus tells us who He is whenever we worship at Mass. He tells us that he is Abba’s Son. He tells us that he and the Father have a relationship so strong and deep that He and the Father are One. He tells us that their Spirit reaches out to us to invite us into this Communion, with God and our brothers and sisters, not only here and now, but for all eternity. This is why we exist, not merely to work, but to be a part of the communion of Father, Son, and Spirit. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He gave us the Ten Commandments for our own good. We know that God meant it seriously when He told us not to steal, lie, kill, or commit adultery. But before God gave us these commandments, He gave us the commandment: "Keep Holy the Sabbath." He meant for us to keep this commandment just as seriously as He meant for us to keep the others. God knew that if we forgot to worship Him, we would slowly but surely forget who God is and, therefore, who we are. This is what is happening in our modern society. As we increasingly look upon our weekend as a time for relaxation and entertainment, we increasingly drift away from the worship of God. Sometimes people tell me that they do not go to Mass because it is boring. In effect they are saying that the weekend is meant for their entertainment and, if Mass is not as entertaining as the other options open to them, they will not go to Mass. It is not God’s responsibility to entertain us. It is our responsibility to bend the knee before our God and worship Him. If our worship of God is boring to us, that says more about us than it does about God or the worship God commanded of us at the Last Supper. Do not get me wrong, I have nothing against being entertained. During the football season, I enjoy watching the Saints on television on Sunday afternoon. However, the worship of God comes first. I also know that some people must work on Sunday, especially those who safeguard our protection, health, and vital services. They, in particular, must seek a way to keep holy the Lord’s Day. But this does not describe most of us. God speaks clearly and for our own good: "Keep Holy the Sabbath." If we do not, the weekend will only be some "down time" before we work some more. We will slowly forget God. We will forget who He is and, in doing so, forget the fundamental dignity that God has given to us in creating us to be a part of the communion of Father, Son, and Spirit, now and for all eternity.
Oil Spill
Jun 17, 2010 / 00:00 am"God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good." (Genesis 1:31)
Fathers
Feb 25, 2010 / 00:00 amOne evening, as I surfed the television channels, I came across one of those comedy series usually referred to as a "sit-com." In this program, the father of the television family was portrayed as clueless, out of touch with everything and everyone around him, foolish, ignorant, and incapable of discussing anything intelligently. Such a character in television comedies is all too well known. It is my understanding that the television industry has a term for this character: "the doofus father."
Haiti
Jan 28, 2010 / 00:00 amOf all the images from Haiti portrayed in the media these past several days, the ones which have affected me the deepest are the eyes of the people. They are the eyes of people who have lost tens of thousands of loved ones and countless homes.
Hispanic Ministry
Oct 22, 2009 / 00:00 amIt is obvious, even to the most causal observer, that the number of Hispanic Catholics in our country is increasing dramatically. Alabama is no exception to this national trend. It is estimated by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University that most Catholics in the U.S. under the age of 20 are Hispanic. As the number of Hispanic Catholics increases, our parishes must attend to the pastoral needs of all Catholics including those who are Hispanic.
Moral Issues and the Health Care Debate
Sep 3, 2009 / 00:00 amOur country is currently engaged in a national debate regarding the manner in which the people in this country will have access to health care. This is a very complicated issue. The ongoing debate has shown the complexity of health care policies and the fact that people of good will can and will have varying opinions as all attempt to foster the best possible health care policies for the good of our country.
Catholic Schools
Aug 13, 2009 / 00:00 amAs the new school year begins, I thank God for our Catholic schools. Through the centuries, the Catholic Church has valued education. The first universities of Europe were established by the Catholic Church. The history of the Church is filled by outstanding saints who labored to provide Catholic education for young people: St. John Bosco, St. Angela Merici, St. John Baptiste de la Salle, St. Francis de Sales, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Katherine Drexel, etc.
Change
Feb 10, 2009 / 00:00 amCan people change? We would certainly admit that we human beings need to change. There is a great deal about us that needs improving. But are we human beings capable of changing?