Pope calls for spirituality of work that sanctifies but warns: mankind must not be enslaved by it
Vatican City, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - In
honor of St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, Pope Benedict XVI
yesterday praised the holiness of work, recalling its biblical mandate
and manifestation in Jesus himself, but warned that mankind must not
become enslaved by it.
On Sunday, the
Pope presided at a Mass in the Vatican Basilica on the eve of the feast
of St. Joseph--the Holy Father’s own namesake.
A number of
important prelates concelebrated with the Pope, including Cardinal
Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome; Bishop Giuseppe
Betori, secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference; and
Bishop Arrigo Miglio, president of the Italian episcopal commission for
social and labor problems, for justice and peace.
During his
homily, the Holy Father cited scripture, which suggests that, "work is
part of the original condition of man," and forms part of "the divine
plan."
Pointing out
that "The Son of God Himself, becoming like us in all respects,
dedicated many years to manual labor, so much so that he became known
as the 'carpenter's son'.” Therefore he said, "The Church has always
shown, and especially over the last century, particular attention and
solicitude to this aspect of society…”
This, he said,
is “evinced by the many social initiatives of the Magisterium and the
activity of many Christian-inspired associations, some of which are
here today to represent the entire world of work."
The Pope said
that "work is of primary importance for the fulfillment of mankind and
the development of society,” adding that “for this reason it must
always be organized and carried out in full respect of human dignity
and at the service of the common good.”
“At the same
time”, he said, “it is indispensable that men and women do not let
themselves be enslaved by work, that they do not idolize it, expecting
to find therein the final and definitive meaning of life." Here, he
stressed that "biblical teaching on work finds its coronation in the
commandment to rest."
"Work”, the Holy
Father went on, “must serve the true good of humanity…To this end,
technical and professional qualifications, necessary though they may
be, are not enough. Nor is it enough to create a just social order
attentive to the good of all.”
Rather, he said,
“It is necessary to live a form of spirituality that helps believers to
sanctify themselves through their own work, imitating St. Joseph who
every day had to provide for the needs of the Holy Family with his own
hands, and who for this reason is identified by the Church as the
patron saint of workers.”
“His witness shows how mankind is both the subject and protagonist of work."
The pontiff
concluded his homily by entrusting "those young people who find it
difficult to enter the world of work, the unemployed, and all those who
suffer due to the widespread labor crisis,” to Joseph.
"Together with
his wife Mary,” the Pope prayed, “may St. Joseph watch over all workers
and ensure serenity and peace for families and for all humanity.
Looking to this great saint, may Christians in all working environments
learn to bear witness to the love of Christ, source of true solidarity
and of lasting peace."
CNA learned last
week that the Holy Father may currently be working on what will be his
first social encyclical. According to sources, it will discuss the
value of work for mankind.
Colorado Catholic bishops: respect, human dignity must presuppose any meaningful immigration reform
Denver, Colo., Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - As
the issue of undocumented immigration continues to heat up, both at
federal and many local levels, the Catholic Bishops of Colorado are
insisting on a comprehensive reform of the nation’s immigration laws
which, at their core, must assure that the immigrant’s dignity is not
left behind in their country of origin.
On Saturday, the
Colorado Catholic Conference hosted an Immigration Forum, attended by
all three of the state’s bishops, as well as San Antonio’s Archbishop
Jose Gomez and Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, a Catholic expert
on immigration issues, and consultant to the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops on the issue.
During a press
conference held prior to the Forum--which closed the Archdiocese of
Denver’s annual ‘Living the Catholic Faith Conference‘--Archbishop
Charles Chaput, along with Colorado Spring’s Bishop Michael Sheridan
and Pueblo’s Bishop Arthur Tafoya expressed their dissatisfaction at
the direction of the current national immigration dialogue.
For his part,
Bishop Sheridan said that Catholics should seek “real justice where
people are not unduly suffering,” referring to some 100 cases in which
he said the “plight of immigrants” led to their deaths crossing the
border last year.
“Things are not working now,” he said, and “we don’t like the direction things are headed.”
Archbishop
Chaput added that one of his main desires is that the immigration
debate might not be such a hot issue, but rather, one that can be
discussed reasonably. “People can’t even talk about it now,” he said,
noting the often temper-driven national debates.
He said that he
hopes that the Catholic Church can be a sign of hope to help bring
about a real national dialogue of healing, and added that any reform
that is not comprehensive is dangerous to the economy, to individuals
and to families.
He chided
election year legislations in which decisions tend to be politically
motivated rather than aimed at finding real solutions.
“We hope”, he said, “that the government would bring together common principles and form legislation that really might pass.”
The Forum comes
as the Colorado Bishops are launching a statewide campaign aiming to
educate and mobilize faithful to respond to the difficult issue in
light of Catholic Social Teaching.
The bishops
strove to convey the complexity of the issue, saying that
responsibility lies not only on the U.S., but on the immigrant’s
countries of origin to find a solution.
Catholic Social
Teaching, they pointed out, teaches first, that “persons have a right
to find opportunities in their homeland,” second, that “persons have a
right to migrate [in order] to support themselves and their families,”
third, that “sovereign nations have a right to control their borders,”
forth, that “refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded
protection,” and lastly, that “the dignity and human rights of
undocumented migrants should be respected.”
These principles, Bishop DiMarzio pointed out, need to be assessed in light of the common good of all involved
The Colorado campaign is part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s national Justice for Immigrants campaign.
One proposed
bill, already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, would seek
to criminalize those who assist undocumented immigrants--including
charitable and religious workers.
Similar pieces
of legislation are being debated in Colorado and around the country,
although some hope of compromise came last Friday as the U.S. Senate
Judiciary Committee presented a surprisingly bi-partisan bill which
shows signs of real compromise between sides.
Two more women die after taking abortion drug RU-486
Washington D.C., Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - Two
pro-life groups are wondering why the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) still has not pulled Mifeprex, an abortion drug more commonly
known as RU-486, after reporting March 17 that two more women died
after taking it.
“How many women will have to die after taking this drug?” asked Randall O’Bannon of National Right to Life.
“One death is
too many. But after at least seven American deaths and at least 12
reported deaths worldwide, it is clear that this drug should not be
given to women,” said the organization’s director of education and
research.
To date, the FDA
has directly linked to the drug to the deaths of seven women. As well,
the FDA has received more than 800 reports of complications caused by
the drug. The FDA admits that only 10 percent of complications from
drugs get reported.
An RU-486
abortion involves bleeding, pain, and cramping, often accompanied by
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The expectation of these side effects
often causes women and doctors to overlook important signs of infection
or serious conditions, like ectopic pregnancy.
National Right
to Life claims that many deaths and injuries related to the drug may
never be reported. Reporting is voluntary, and women going to the
emergency room may never tell the doctor they have taken the drug, the
organization explained in a press release.
In another
communiqué, Concerned Women for America pointed out that the FDA has
pulled other drugs that have caused fewer deaths and less severe
complications than RU-486.
For example,
NeutroSpec, an imaging agent used to diagnose internal infections, was
pulled after being linked to two deaths, 20 severe reactions, and 46
other "less" severe reactions.
Tysabri, a drug
to treat multiple sclerosis, was pulled after reports that three
patients taking it had developed PML, a rare brain disease.
Lotronex, used
to treat irritable bowel syndrome, was taken off the market after 70
patients had developed severe problems, and five patients died.
Given the
statistics, the CWA is wondering why the FDA is slacking in pulling
Mifeprex off the shelf. Mifeprex is distributed by Danco.
Pope Benedict: Saint Joseph’s humility, simplicity helps show the way of Christ
Vatican City, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - Today,
faithful around the world honor St. Joseph, the humble foster father of
Jesus who is patron saint to workers and fathers. Yesterday, Pope
Benedict reflected on this key figure in the Church‘s history, saying
that his simplicity and humility should help Christians live out
whatever role God grants to them in life with faithfulness.
The Pope’s words
came just prior to his Sunday angelus prayer, which was held in St.
Peter’s Square in the presence of thousands.
Benedict first
recalled the devotion of his predecessor, John Paul II's to St. Joseph
"to whom he dedicated his Apostolic Exhortation 'Redemptoris Custos',
Guardian of the Redeemer, and whose assistance he surely felt at the
hour of his death."
He went on,
highlighting Joseph’s profound importance in the history of salvation,
beginning with his belonging to the tribe of Judah. This "united Jesus
to the line of David" and ensured that the messianic promises were
fulfilled in Him.
"Like his wife
Mary," Benedict continued, St. Joseph "showed himself to be the true
heir of the faith of Abraham: faith in God Who guides the events of
history according to His mysterious salvific plan."
Pointing out
that St. Joseph's greatness "is even more evident because his mission
took place in the humility and obscurity of his house in Nazareth,” the
Pope said that “Indeed God Himself, in the Person of His Son incarnate,
chose this way of life and this path in His earthly existence."
He told the
crowd that St. Joseph's example presents all the faithful with "a
powerful invitation to perform the role that Providence has assigned us
with faithfulness, simplicity and modesty.”
He particularly
highlighted the role of “fathers and mothers in families,” adding his
prayers “that they may always know how to appreciate the beauty of a
simple and hard-working life, carefully cultivating their conjugal
relationship and enthusiastically accomplishing the great, and by no
means easy, mission of education."
Concluding his
midday remarks, Pope Benedict entrusted to St. Joseph "priests who
exercise their paternity over ecclesial communities, ... consecrated
people in their joyful and faithful observance of the evangelical
counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience," and "workers of the
entire world, that they may contribute with their various professions
to the progress of humanity entire."
Spokane parishes oppose $46-million sex-abuse settlement
Spokane, Wash., Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - The
Association of Parishes of the Diocese of Spokane intends to ask U.S.
Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams to reject the $45.7-million
settlement offer made by Bishop William Skylstad to 75 victims of
sexual abuse by priests.
Due to an
earlier court ruling, the 82 parishes are expected to provide for a
large portion of the settlement costs. But an attorney for the
parishes, Bob Hailey, told the Associated Press that the settlement
does not provide a mechanism for parishes to protect their churches and
schools.
The settlement
also does not account for other parish expenses, such as the legal
costs of the bankruptcy and priest retirement funds, which could total
more than $10 million.
The settlement
offer was first proposed Feb. 1 but it was to have been filed Friday.
It must be approved by the judge and the victims. The parishes have 23
days after the filing to submit objections or amendments.
Friday was also
the deadline for other victims to file sex-abuse claims. The AP
reported March 16 that diocesan officials said at least 176 people had
filed claims. This was not a final number, but it was already more than
double the amount that led the Diocese of Spokane to file for
bankruptcy a year ago.
Pro-life leader praises Ohio law banning ‘wrongful birth lawsuits’
Washington D.C., Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - The
Ohio legislature has voted to ban lawsuits that would allow parents to
claim that the birth of their disabled child was a “wrongful birth” and
that they should not have to incur the costs of caring for their
offspring.
Such wrongful
birth lawsuits claim that had a physician diagnosed a disability in a
child before birth, the parents of that child would have aborted the
baby.
In deciding to
ban such lawsuits, the Ohio legislature has made “a profound statement”
that “it is never wrongful for a baby to be born,” said national
director of Priests for Life Fr. Frank Pavone.
"No matter the
disability involved, no matter the hardship in caring for a helpless
child, grace, beauty, and love increase when God creates another baby,”
said the priest. “Birth should be a cause of joy, never a cause of
[legal] action."
"The disabled are like everyone else," said Fr. Pavone. "They're better off loved, not better off dead."
No true justice without respect of the truth, Pope tells Vatican’s international representatives
Vatican City, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - Over
the weekend, Pope Benedict XVI met with Vatican Secretary of State
Angelo Sodano, as well as a number of the Holy See’s representatives to
various international organizations. During the meeting, he praised the
Church’s role within these groups, stressing that relations between and
within states must respect the truth if they hope to attain true
justice.
Specifically, he
said that the Holy See’s presence within international institutions
makes "a fundamental contribution to the respect of human rights and
the common good and, as a result, to true /freedom and justice."
"Relations
between States and within States are just in so far as they respect the
truth,” he said. “When, however, the truth is offended, peace is
threatened and rule of law is compromised, then, as a logical
consequence, injustices arise."
The Holy Father
went on to say that these injustices “can adopt many faces,” citing for
example, “the face of disinterest or disorder, which can even go so far
as to damage the structure of that founding cell of society that is the
family; or perhaps the face of arrogance that can lead to abuse,
silencing those without a voice or without the strength to make
themselves heard, as happens in the case of today's gravest injustice,
that which suppresses nascent human life."
Benedict
concluded his brief address telling the Vatican representatives that
through "difficulties and misunderstandings" they "participate
authoritatively in the prophetic responsibility of the Church, which
intends to continue to raise her voice in defense of mankind.”
This is true, he
said, “even when policies of States and the majority of public opinion
moves in the opposite direction. Truth, indeed, draws strength from
itself and not from the amount of consent it arouses."
Pope Benedict calls Armenian Christians to greater unity; internally and with Rome
Vatican City, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - Pope
Benedict XVI called today for greater unity--both internally, and with
the See of Rome--for the Armenian people as he met with His Beatitude
Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians in
Lebanon.
His Beatitude was accompanied by members of the patriarchal synod as well as a group of Armenian pilgrims.
The Holy Father
began by speaking about the history of the Armenian people over the
centuries, particularly addressing the suffering "they underwent in the
name of the Christian faith during the years of terrible persecution,
which remain enshrined in history with the sadly meaningful name of
'Metz Yeghern,' the great evil."
Nonetheless, he
said, "the Armenians, who have always sought to integrate themselves
with hard work and dignity in the societies in which they found
themselves, continue even today to bear witness to their faithfulness
to the Gospel."
Recalling the
geographic diversity of the Armenian-Catholic community, which is
spread over many countries, the Pope said that "Providence placed the
patriarchate of the Armenian Catholics in the Middle East, in Cilicia
and, later, in Lebanon. All the Armenian-Catholic faithful look to that
patriarchate as a solid point of spiritual reference for their
centuries-old cultural and liturgical tradition."
Noting that
"various Churches…recognize St. Gregory the Illuminator as their common
founding father”, he lamented that they are “divided from one another,
although over the last few years they have resumed a cordial and
fruitful dialogue with the aim of discovering their shared roots.”
The Holy Father
encouraged this “renewed fraternity and collaboration hoping that it
may give rise to new initiatives for a joint journey towards full
unity, ... with its own hierarchy, in fraternal interior harmony and
full communion with the Bishop of Rome."
He said that
"One comforting sign of this hoped-for unity was the celebration of the
1700th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Church, with the
participation of my beloved predecessor John Paul II."
The pontiff
added that "We all wish to be instruments at the disposal of Christ.
May He - Who is Way, Truth and Life - enable us to continue with all
our strength, that, as soon as possible, there may be one flock with
one pastor."
Pope’s upcoming Apostolic Exhortation likely to call for increased liturgical solemnity, reintegration of Latin
Vatican City, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - In
June Pope Benedict XVI will receive the final proposal from the recent
Synod of Bishops for the drafting of his Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation on the Eucharist. The commission of 12 cardinals and
bishops from around the world, led by the secretary of the Synod of
Bishops, Archbishop Nicola Eterovic, will meet in June to present the
Holy Father a final proposal based on the 50 propositions that were
made at the conclusion of last October's Synod.
According to a
Vatican source, the commission will approve “a proposal and a plan for
liturgical reform,” which will be made public in the Apostolic
Exhortation that the Holy Father will tentatively issue in October.
The Vatican
source said that the exhortation would include an invitation to greater
use of Latin in the daily prayer of the Church and in the Mass—with the
exception of the Liturgy of the Word—as well as in large public and
international Masses.
The document
would also encourage a greater use of Gregorian chant and classical
polyphonic music; the gradual elimination of the use of songs whose
music or lyrics are secular in origin, as well as the elimination of
instruments that are “inadequate for liturgical use,” such as the
electric guitar or drums, although it is not likely that specific
instruments will be mentioned.
Lastly, the Pope
is expected to call for “more decorum and liturgical sobriety in the
celebration of the Eucharist, excluding dance and, as much as possible,
applause.”
Central American bishops call for a ‘humanitarian solution’ to US immigration law
San José, Costa Rica, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - The
Secretariat of Central American Bishops has called on the senators of
the United States to find a “humanitarian solution” to the problem of
illegal immigration before accepting a new bill sponsored by
Congressman James Sensenbrenner and recently passed by the House of
Representatives which criminalizes illegal immigrants and those who
help them.
“We exhort them
to pass humanitarian legislation for workers in the United States and
that will allow families to be reunited. And for those who are
undocumented, may they be able to come out from the shadows and with
dignity become a part of US society to contribute to its development,”
the bishops said in a statement sent to US senators.
The bishops
argued that approval of the Sensenbrenner law would result in “a
devastating disaster that would involve thousands of people, families
and communities of the Central American region,” which is overcome “by
poverty and extreme poverty.” Most of the 11 million illegals in
the US, they recalled, are Central Americans.
The wave of
immigration from Central America began in the 1970’s and 80’s as a
result of the violent conflicts and economic problems that plagued the
region. Money sent back to the region by family members in the US
has become the second largest source of income for Central America, the
bishops said, and cutting off that source of funding would bring
political, social and economic crisis to the region.
The bishops
reiterated that immigrants have rights and dignity and that the efforts
by US authorities to control immigration have not been as successful as
had been hoped. “As long as the immigration laws of United States
and its economic agreements are not synchronized with economic
realities in an equitable way, immigration in the hemisphere will
continue to be a significant challenge,” they added.
They reminded
senators of the importance of Central American stability for US
interests and said the lawmakers should “not lose sight of how your
decisions will impact your neighbors in the south.”
“In a globalized
world we are called to globalize solidarity with those most excluded
and marginalized,” the bishops stated. “We must not build walls
and borders, but rather bridges that unite us as brothers and sisters.”
The
Sensenbrenner law passed by the US House last December requires all
social and humanitarian organizations, including churches, to ask for
legal documentation before helping immigrants. It also encourages
the building of a wall on the US-Mexican border.
Challenge of secularism demands priests be holy, says Spanish bishop
Madrid, Spain, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - In
a letter marking Seminary Day in Spain, which was celebrated on March
19, Archbishop Francisco Martinez Fernandez of Granada said the
challenge of secularism in today’s society demands that priests be
particularly holy.
In noting the
close relationship between the Christian people and priestly vocations,
the archbishop underscored that the need for “priests, holy priests, is
greater in ‘difficult times,’ when the Church, because of our weakness
of faith or the difficulties of the persecution promised by the Lord,
or for both reasons, travels through history in the midst of storms.”
“In these
circumstances, the Lord calls us to return to the center of the faith,
to purify ourselves, to bear witness to the essential: the love
of the Father, the grace of Christ and the communion of the Holy
Spirit, lived in the Church. Those storms should not scandalize
us; rather, they are part of the normal life of the Church. Thus
the Lord warned us in a thousand ways,” the archbishop noted in his
letter.
“Times are
difficult,” he continued, “because a dogmatic, despotic, fundamentalist
and intolerant secularism, at the same time the fruit of relativism and
the worship of a freedom that has no sense or purpose, has the Church,
in her people and her works, as its only point of resistance against
its complete dominance over consciences and customs, that is, over the
entire life of mankind.”
This kind of
secularism, the archbishop warned, borders on the tyrannical because
“it finds itself before a Church that is almost without a body and is
profoundly debilitated in her faith, her communion and discipline.”
Today’s priests
carry out their ministries “in a nihilist world,” Archbishop Martinez
continued. As a consequence, the Church must live her life from a
cultural and human perspective that goes beyond the criticism that
modernity makes of religion in general, and Christianity and the Church
in particular.
In the
archbishop’s mind, to “go beyond” this criticism means to “absolutely
take seriously all of the aspects of truth that might be present in
it.” It means rejecting, for example, a Christianity that is
“bourgeois, fragmentary and hypocritical” or “the profound deformation
of the priestly ministry represented by clericalism.”
“It means
acknowledging the pain that, all too often, the life of the Church has
been used as an instrument for sustaining someone in power or an unjust
social order, or simply to cover up purely material and worldly
interests,” the archbishop said.
Ecuadorian bishops say citizens must be informed about trade agreement risks
Quito, Ecuador, Mar 20, 2006 (CNA) - Inresponse to tension surrounding the signing of the Free TradeAgreement, the bishops of Ecuador published an urgent statement lastFriday calling on the government to initiate a more extensive nationaldialogue before signing the treaty.
“Most of thedifficulties resulting from the FTA,” the bishops said, “have theirorigins in the lack of opportune and adequate information regarding anissue that greatly affects the lives of all Ecuadorians. We needto see clearly the advantages and disadvantages that come with the FTA,who will benefit and who will suffer, and in what measure.”
The bishopspointed out that it is essential “we understand the consequences ofboth signing and not signing the FTA. We understand many studieshave been done; but they have not been sufficiently known or discussedin Ecuadorian public opinion in order to establish of kind ofassessment between the costs and benefits of signing or not signing theTreaty.”
The statementwarns that “the lack of information and the way in which negotiationshave been carried out have created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.”
“We suggest,”the bishops state, “that the national government consult with thepeople before the next Congress ratifies or rejects the FTA, that allefforts be exhausted to obtain the greatest gain and the least amountof harm, and that a way for helping those who end up suffering the mostbe developed, which, although it would not be a permanent solution,would alleviate in some way those who are affected.”
The bishopsurged “all Ecuadorians, especially our indigenous peoples,” to rejectviolence and to accept dialogue as a way of resolving the issue. “We are aware that the FTA represents and demands big changes in theeconomy of the nation. Our immigrant brothers and sisters andthose of us who work here have shown the strong potential of theEcuadorian workforce. We trust in this creative capacity and wetrust in Divine Providence, which will never abandon those who placetheir trust in God the Father,” the bishops said in conclusion.
