Español | Português | AUDIO | VIDEO | Advertise with us | Donations | About us

Home » Columns

We all know the reality of today’s Europe. However, as the leader of a Vatican committee said at our ad limina visit to Rome last year, “If we keep talking about the crisis, we are the ones who make it worse.” Instead of complaining, we must speak about hope. The family is Gospel, “good news,” as Pope John Paul II says. We have come together to celebrate the family and to witness to each other that living in a family based on marriage is great and beautiful.

The family is a value. In our age, which denies God and moral values, value is difficult to define – but it is still possible to live out. The vocation of European Christians today is similar to that of the early Church in the background of Hellenistic culture. The Hellenistic culture, just like today’s world, cherished possessive love, while Christians demonstrated unselfish love by being faithful in their marriage and taking care of the elderly. Through this, Christianity became a significant factor in society within 300 years. The thinking that ridicules marriage will not survive, but those who live in unselfish love will. This is our hope, despite today’s reality: that unselfish love is stronger than possessive love!  (Read more)

In Jeremiah l:4-10, l7-19, the prophet describes the call he received from the Lord in these words: "The word of the Lord came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. "Ah, Lord God!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young." But the Lord answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms... but do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."

Like Jeremiah, everyone receives a call from the Lord, who sends us on a unique mission which he gives to no other person. The call of the Lord is my focus this week. (Read more)

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of participating in the seminary visitation which took place, under the auspices of the Holy See, over the course of more than a year. I participated in teams that visited two different seminaries over the course of the year. Many other bishops also participated in these teams since every seminary in the country was visited.

After the visitations, each team sent a report to the Holy See, and their work was completed. Later the seminary and its bishops or religious superiors received confidential feedback from the office of the Holy See, which initiated the visitation. Prior to the visitation I was not sure what to expect but, as it turned out, the experience was very positive for me and, I think, for the other bishops who participated and for the seminaries, as well. (Read more)

 As I write, there are two proposed bills in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives. In spite of reassurances from the president and various members of Congress, the Catholic perspective apparently has fallen on deaf ears. The bottom line is that bishops (and hopefully those open to the position of the Church) will have to oppose a final health care bill if it fails to address key concerns. There are three of them:

• Policies against abortion funding and in support of conscience rights must be in the bill; (Read more)

It 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.

This is nothing new for the Catholic Church in the United States. Throughout our American Catholic history, the Catholic Church has sought to meet the spiritual and physical needs of all the members of the Church, regardless of background. (Read more)

In April 2009, the Center for Applied Research (CARA) at Georgetown University published an important study titled “The Class of 2009: A Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned the study to provide diocesan bishops, vocation directors, seminary faculty, parish priests and parishioners with information and insights into the changing profile of the American seminarian. (Read more)

I’ve noted that parish bulletins are making reference to the special Year for Priests inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI on June 19 with a grand celebration held in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. You may recall my column in the June 14 issue of The Catholic Moment was dedicated to this papal initiative. I indicated that a committee under the chairmanship of Father Brian Dudzinski, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Fishers, would be formed to plan diocesan events during the Year for Priests. That committee is now in place. It is composed of Father Don Gross, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Fowler and St. Mary Parish in Dunnington; Father Dennis O’Keeffe, pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Zionsville; Father Josh Janko, associate at St. Alphonsus; Father Jeff Martin, associate at All Saints Parish, Logansport; and Father Don Eder, one of our senior priests.

The committee has chosen as the theme for our celebration "The Priesthood is the Fidelity and Love of the Heart of Jesus." This theme draws on the reflections of St. John Vianney, who coined the phrase "the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus." St. John Vianney is the patron of all priests. The Holy Father has proclaimed this special year to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of John Vianney, who is considered the model and protector of priests. (Read more)

Many Alaskans are not aware that in our state a young woman less than 18 years of age can obtain an abortion without the knowledge of her parents. They must have permission to go on a field trip or obtain an aspirin from the school nurse; however, current law does not require any parental involvement or even notification before a minor undergoes an abortion.

How did we get to this sad state of affairs? In 1997, the Alaska Legislature passed a law that required the consent of at least one parent before a doctor could perform an abortion on a girl under 17 years of age. However this law was immediately blocked from being enforced by a state judge. Ten years later, the justices of the Alaska Supreme Court, by a narrow 3 to 2 vote, agreed with the lower court’s decision and declared the parental consent law to be unconstitutional. (Read more)

For many months, in fact, for many years, our country has been focused on the need for national health care reform legislation. In the heat of the current debate, the attention at times seems to be directed more to payment reform than to health reform. In every instance, fundamental issues are at stake.

The needs are acute, and the matters are complicated. Thousands of pages and various bills have been written for health care legislation. Still, there is much confusion and misinformation. There is a clear need for clarification on principles and policies relating to health care. (Read more)

Our 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.

While these public policy issues are debated, it is essential that the moral issues are clearly stated so that the health care policies adopted by our political leaders will be for the common good. Among these issues are the following: (Read more)

Latest news:

02:36 pm | Expert explains upcoming battle over pro-abortion Senate health care bill

01:22 pm | Fourteenth Fort Hood victim forgotten

12:06 pm | Obama EEOC nominee calls support for radical marriage manifesto a ‘mistake’

11:45 am | Bosnian Cardinal denies claims of Vatican commission for Medjugorje

10:33 am | Benedict XVI meets with president of Suriname