May 20, 2011

May 20, 2011

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

A month of celebrations

FUNDED by the parishioners of the diocese of charlotte

‘Go forth and love one another,’

THANK YOU!

Parishioners across the diocese celebrated the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation, and honored Mary and all mothers. Inside, a collection of images from across western North Carolina,

10-16

Report on ‘causes and context’ of U.S. clergy sex abuse released, 3, 22-23 Vatican orders all bishops to draft guidelines for reporting, reviewing sex abuse cases, 24 Not your everyday Stations

Rain on Saturday didn’t dampen spirits at Belmont Abbey College’s commencement.

Life-sized Stations of the Cross dedicated at St. Joseph Church in Charlotte, 3

5 Calendar 4 Diocese 3-16

FAITH 2

mix 20

nation & World 22-25 Schools 17-19

Viewpoints 26-27

Call us: 704-370-3333 E-mail us: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

Our faith

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Bede known for scholarship and holiness Feast day: May 25 Pope Benedict XVI

Catholics in China need prayers

T

he persecuted Catholic Church in China needs and deserves the prayers of Catholics throughout the world, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“There, as elsewhere, Christ is living His passion” because of government restrictions and pressures on the Church, the pope said May 18 at the end of his weekly general audience.

He asked Catholics everywhere to observe May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, as a day of prayer for Catholics in mainland China. He established the annual day of prayer in 2007 when he wrote a letter to Catholics in China outlining ways to promote greater unity between those exercising their faith clandestinely and those participating in communities overseen by the government-backed Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

At his general audience, the pope emphasized the need for unity between the Church in China and Rome.

“Chinese Catholics, as they have said many times, want unity with the universal Church, with the supreme pastor, with the successor of Peter,” he said. China’s communist government has insisted on controlling the country’s Catholic community, defining ties with the Vatican as interference in its internal affairs.

“By our prayers we can obtain for the Church in China that it remain one, holy and Catholic, faithful and steadfast in doctrine and in ecclesial discipline,” the pope said.

He offered special prayers for the bishops, priests and laity who face severe limits on their freedom and their exercise of the faith. “By our prayers we can help them to find the path to keep their faith alive, to keep their hope strong, to keep their love for all people ardent” and to avoid “the temptation to follow a path independent of Peter.”

The pope’s remarks came after his main audience talk on the power of intercessory prayer. He said he would be discussing Biblical examples of prayer for several weeks as a stimulus for people to get to know the Bible, “which I hope you have at home.”

Benjamin Mann Catholic News Agency

The Church will celebrate the feast of St. Bede May 25. The English priest, monk and scholar is sometimes known as “the Venerable Bede” for his combination of personal holiness and intellectual brilliance.

Bede was born during 673 near the English town of Jarrow. His parents sent him at the age of 7 to study at a monastery founded by a Benedictine abbot who would later be canonized in his own right as St. Benedict Biscop. The abbot’s extensive library may have sparked an early curiosity in the boy, who would grow up to be a voracious reader and prolific writer.

Later, Bede returned to Jarrow and continued his studies with an abbot named Ceolfrid, who was a companion of St. Benedict Biscop.

The abbot and a group of other monks instructed Bede not only in Scripture and theology, but also in in sacred music, poetry and Greek.

Bede’s tutors could see that his life demonstrated a remarkable devotion to prayer and study, and Ceolfrid made the decision to have him ordained a deacon when Bede was just 19. Another Benedictine monk and future saint, the bishop John of Beverley, ordained Bede in 691.

Bede studied for 11 more years before entering the priesthood at 30, around the beginning of the eighth century. Afterward, Bede took on the responsibility of celebrating daily Mass for the members of his Benedictine community, while also working on farming, baking and other works of the monastery.

As a monk, Bede gave absolute priority to prayer, fasting and charitable hospitality. He regarded all other works as valueless without the love of God and one’s neighbor. However, Bede also possessed astounding intellectual gifts, which he used to survey and master a wide range of subjects according to an all-encompassing vision of Christian scholarship.

Bede declined a request to become abbot of his monastery. Instead, he concentrated on writing, producing more than 45 books – primarily about theology and the Bible, but also on science, literature and history. He taught hundreds of students at the monastery and its school, which became renowned throughout Britain.

His extensive scholarly contributions include championing the use of B.C. (“Before Christ”) and A.D. (“Anno Domini,” “the year of Our Lord”) in dates, and contributing scientific calculations in the longstanding debate of the era over how to set the date for Easter, using the phases of the moon. With his renowned work “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People,” Bede is also called the father of English history, credited with creating a sense of English national identity among the people of Britain that was founded on a common Christian faith.

During Bede’s own lifetime, his spiritual and intellectual gifts garnered wide recognition. His writings on Scripture were considered so authoritative that a Church council ordered them to be publicly read in England’s churches. Some of the most illustrious members of English society made pilgrimages to his monastery to seek his

“The Venerable Bede Translates John” by James Doyle Penrose, 1902 guidance, and he was personally invited to Rome by Pope Sergius.

Bede, however, was unaffected by these honors. Perhaps inspired by the Benedictine monastic ethos, which emphasizes one’s absolute commitment to the monastic community, he chose not to visit Rome, or even to travel much beyond the Monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul in Jarrow throughout his entire adult life.

Instead, the world came to him – through the visitors he received, according to the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, and through his voluminous reading. And Bede, in turn, reached the world without leaving his monastery, writing books that were copied with reverence for centuries and still read today. He is one of the last western Christian writers to be numbered among the Church Fathers.

But Bede understood that love, rather than learning, was his life’s purpose.

“It is better,” he famously said, “to be a stupid and uneducated brother who, working at the good things he knows, merits life in heaven, than to be one who – though being distinguished for his learning in the Scriptures, or even holding the place of a teacher – lacks the bread of love.”

Bede died on the vigil of the feast of the Ascension of Christ in 735, shortly after finishing an Anglo-Saxon translation of the Gospel of John. Pope Leo XIII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1899.

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 22 - MAY 28

Sunday, Acts 6:1-7, 1 Peter 2:4-9, John 14:1-12; Monday, Acts 14:5-18, John 14:21-26; Tuesday, Acts 14:19-28, John 14:27-31; Wednesday (Sts. Bede, Gregory VII, and Mary Magdalene de Pazzi), Acts 15:1-6, John 15:1-8; Thursday (St. Philip Neri), Acts 15:7-21, John 15:9-11; Friday (St. Augustine of Canterbury), Acts 15:22-31, John 15:12-17; Saturday, Acts 16:1-10, John 15:18-21

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 29 - JUNE 4

Sunday, Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, 1 Peter 3:15-18, John 14:15-21; Monday, Acts 16:11-15, John 15:26-16:4; Tuesday (Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Zephaniah 3:14-18, Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 1:39-56; Wednesday (St. Justin),

Acts 17:15, 22-18:1, John 16:12-15; Thursday (Ascension of the Lord), Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, Matthew 18:16-20; Friday (St. Charles Lwanga and Companions), Acts 18:9-18, John 16:20-23; Saturday, Acts 18:23-28, John 16:23-28

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 5 - JUNE 11

Sunday, Acts 1:12-14, 1 Peter 4:13-16, John 17:1-11; Monday (St. Norbert), Acts 19:1-8, John 16:29-33; Tuesday, Acts 20:17-27, John 17:1-11; Wednesday, Acts 20:28-38, John 17:11-19; Thursday (St. Ephrem), Acts 22:30, 23:6-11, John 17:20-26; Friday, Acts 25:13-21, John 21:15-19; Saturday (St. Barnabas), Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3, John 21:20-25

Our parishes

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Bishops support bill to inform abortion patients North Carolina’s two bishops have urged Catholics to contact their legislators in support of the “Woman’s Right to Know” bill.

Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh made the request through Catholic Voice North Carolina, the nonpartisan public policy Web site of the bishops, www.

CatholicVoiceNC.Org. The bill requires a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion could be performed in North Carolina. During that time a woman who is considering an abortion would be provided with information to make an informed decision, including the name of the physician who will perform the abortion, the medical risks associated with the procedure and the location of the hospital that offers obstetrical or gynecological care within 30 miles where the abortionist has clinical privileges, should hospitalization be necessary.

The bishop’s call to action says the bill “affirms the life of the innocent unborn at the most critical juncture when an abortion is being considered.”

— David Hains

Corrections In the May 5 story “Heightened security measures slow arrival of refugees to U.S.”, the time periods of when the Catholic Social Services Refugee Resettlement Office welcomed 192 refugees in 2009-2010 and 112 refugees in 2010 - 2011 were six months each, going from October to March.

Also in the May 5 edition, the contact person for the Diocesan Youth Conference was misidentified.

We regret the errors.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte blesses the 10th Station of the Cross at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte May 7. The 16 stations are open to the public for veneration and feature lights to encourage evening prayer.

Below left, the 12th Station depicts Jesus being nailed to the cross.

Below middle, the 15th Station depicts Mary being comforted

by St. John as Jesus’ body is being taken to the tomb for burial.

Below right, Bishop Jugis prays before the crucified Christ.

Photos by sueann howell | catholic news herald

Larger than life SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — Sixteen larger-than-life Stations of the Cross, the first ever like it in the diocese, have been installed at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte.

The gleaming white statues were blessed and dedicated

by Bishop Peter J. Jugis May 7 – just in time before the church’s beloved pastor, Father Peter Tan Van Le, retires.

The Stations of the Cross, which now encircle the back of the church’s property, have been Father Tan Le’s dream for more than eight years. He got the idea for the stations in 2003 when he returned to Vietnam for his godson’s ordination to the priesthood. He admired the Stations of the Cross at the Seminary St. Qui at Cai Rang, Can Tho. He brought pictures back to the U.S. for everyone in the parish to see, and he shared his desire to build similar stations at St. Joseph Church.

Parishioners have been working mightily to complete

Stations of the Cross installed at St. Joseph Church the project in honor of Father Tan Le before his retirement May 23. The parish’s new pastor, Father Tri Vinh Truong, will be welcomed and installed May 29.

“This is a work of great desire,” said Father Tan Le. “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to work with everyone in the parish to build the Church, and now before my retirement I want to give a souvenir to the parish which I have long cherished, and I am very satisfied.”

The 16 stations, including the birth of Jesus and His Resurrection, were donated by a family at St. Joseph Church who wishes to remain anonymous. The stations were created in Saigon, Vietnam, and shipped to Charlotte for a total cost of $80,000. They are each 6 feet tall or higher, weigh more than 16 tons and took 10 months to create. Each one sits on a large concrete base and is individually lit with spotlights. The 16 statues ring the church’s property, from the church’s front door all the way around the expansive parking lot.

Paul Tran, finance council chairman and St. Joseph STATIONS, SEE page 21

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New sex abuse study/local figures David Hains Director of Communication

CHARLOTTE —A new report on clergy sex abuse in the Church that was presented to the USCCB on May 18 puts a spotlight on the causes and context of the problem. The comprehensive study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice is the first of its kind for organizations that have routine contact with children.

In the Diocese of Charlotte, claims of sexual abuse are reported as news items in the Catholic News Herald, distributed online and as a newspaper to nearly 56,000 homes in the 46 counties of the diocese. In addition, annual expense figures have been compiled and reported in the annual financial report of the diocese distributed to the same households in October of each year.

Beginning in 2004 the diocese incurred administrative costs related to background checks for diocesan employees as well as church and school volunteers, and training expenses for the program “Protecting God’s Children.” Since 1995 it has also incurred costs related to legal settlements and counseling for victims.

The administrative costs total $561,355. Legal costs, settlements and counseling for victims paid STUDY, SEE page 21

More inside Read more about the newly released John Jay study on pages 22-23.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Diocesan calendar ASHEVILLE st. EUGENE church, 72 CULVERN ST.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the next two weeks: May 22 – 11 a.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Angels Mission, Marion May 24 – 7 a.m.

Mass for Missionaries of Charity Charlotte May 24 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Church, Shelby May 25 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. John the Evangelist Church, Waynesville May 26 – 10 a.m.

Foundation Board Meeting Catholic Conference Center, Hickory May 27 – 7:30 p.m.

Baccalaureate Mass for Bishop McGuinness High School St. Pius X Church, Greensboro May 28 – 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Michael the Archangel Church, Gastonia May 29 – 12:30 p.m.

Installation of Father Tri Vinh Truong as Pastor St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, Charlotte June 1 – 5 p.m.

Baccalaureate Mass for Charlotte Catholic High School St. Matthew Church, Charlotte June 3 – 5 p.m.

Holy Hour for Priesthood Ordination candidate St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

May 20, 2011 Volume 20 • Number 23

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org 704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

— Healing Prayer, All Saints Chapel, 9:45-10:45 a.m. May 22 — “Tools for Prayer.” Elder Ministry Day of Reflection for Seniors, 8 a.m. June 16. Register at 336-254-5193, Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or Sherrill Beason at 704-3703228.

CHARLOTTE st. ANN church, 3635 PARK Road — John Paul II Culture Day, 3:30 p.m. May 29, will include children performing music, poetry, art and the debut of the play “The Missing Archangel.” Contact Tina Witt at 704-846-7361.

— Missa Cantata, 7 p.m. June 2 St. basil eastern catholic mission, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC H.S., 7702 PINEVILLE-MATTHEWS ROAD — Feast of the Ascension Vespers and Typica Service with Holy Communion, 5:30 p.m. June 1. Visit www.stbasil. weebly.com ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, 8451 idlewild road — SonFest 2011 Family Festival, 3-10 p.m. June 17, Visit www.4sjnc.org/sonfest2011.

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — St. Peregrine Healing Prayer Service, 7:30 p.m. May 26 — Charismatic Prayer Group, Choir Room, 7:30-9 p.m.

Mondays — Caring for Caregivers Support Group, NLC Room 206, 10:20 a.m.-noon second and fourth Wednesdays ST. pATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 DILWORTH ROAD E.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, 1400 suther road — Anointing of the Sick, 11 a.m. May 21. Contact annettemorales@carolina.rr.com or 704-549-1607.

— Multicultural Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 11

CLEMMONS HOLY family CHURCH, 4820 kinnamon road — Charismatic Prayer Group, 7:15 p.m. Mondays — Eucharistic Adoration, Curlin Center, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.Thursdays

DENVER HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH, 537 N. HWY. 16 — Healing Mass, 7 p.m. June 1

HIGH POINT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, 4145 JOHNSON ST. — Respect Life Rosary, SFDS Chapel, 7 p.m. May 25 — Seventh International Festival, 3:30-7:30 p.m. June 12.

Bring your favorite internation or local family-sized dish to share.

Topic: discuss the future of Pure Fashion and how you can be involved.

RSVP to Cathy Purvis at cathypurvis@me.com Contact Lynne Tatum Little at ltlittle@me.com or 704-333-9459

HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 STUMPTOWN ROAD — Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians meeting, Room 203, open to women who are Catholic and Irish by birth or descent, or who are the wives of members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, or the mothers of Junior members, 7 p.m. first Thursday of each month. Contact Bernadette Brady at mcbernie@msn.com or 704-210-8060.

KERNERSVILLE HOLY CROSS church, 616 S. CHERRY ST. — “The Holy Eucharist: Source and Summit of Our Faith,” 40 hours devotion begins following 9 a.m. Mass June 24 through 5 p.m. June 26. Contact Geri Breeding at geribreeding@triad.rr.com or Kathy Garlow at kgarlow@ triad.rr.com.

MOORESVILLE st. therese church, 217 brawley school road — Seasons of Hope Bereavement Group, 7 p.m. beginning May 15 for six weeks. Contact Bonnie Louthan at 704664-7652.

— Women’s Ministry: Women with SOUL Meeting, Family Room, 10 a.m.-noon or 7-9 p.m. May 24

MOUNT AIRY HOLY ANGELS CHURCH, 1208 N Main st.

— Mass in Extraordinary Form, noon Sundays. Contact holyangelsmountairy@charlottediocese.org or 336-7868147.

Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Calendar is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or fax to 704-370-3282.

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Denise Onativia 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 35 times a year.

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Cindi Feerick 704-370-3332, ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photographs for publication in our print and online PDF editions.

Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS: Carlos Castañeda 704-370-3375, cmcastaneda@charlottediocese.org

Location: 9239 Woodriver Lane, Charlotte

Visit www.purefashion.com

— Eucharistic Adoration, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays

STAFF WRITER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org

Pure Fashion is a faith-based program that encourages teen girls to live, act, and dress in accordance with their dignity as children of God. Pure Fashion focuses on guiding young women aged 14 to 18 to become confident, competent leaders who live the virtues of modesty and purity in their schools and communities.

Save the date: Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

— Cancer Support Group, Parish Activity Center, 2-3 p.m. first Thursdays

— 70th Semi-Annual Rosary Rally, 3 p.m. May 22 — Mass for U.S. Military, 3:30 p.m. July 3. To include your service member, please mail a color or black/white photocopy of them, preferably in uniform, with their name and military rank on the back of the photocopy to Nancy Weber, Office of the Bishop, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 no later than June 24. (Please do not send originals, as they cannot be returned).

This week’s spotlight: Are you interested in continuing Pure Fashion in Charlotte?

ADVERTISING: For advertising rates and information about reaching our more than 165,000 readers, contact Advertising Manager Cindi Feerick at 704-370-3332 or ckfeerick@ charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others.

POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

In Brief

CHARLOTTE — Father Tri Vinh Truong has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte effective May 23, Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces. Father Truong replaces Father Peter Tan Van Le, who will take a medical leave effective May 23.

Father Truong will be installed as pastor at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29.

New permanent diaconate director appointed

Photo by Patrick Schneider Photography

‘Go forth and love one another, ’ Belmont Abbey grads are told Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

Sacred Heart honored for blood drive work BREVARD — Sacred Heart Church in Brevard is one of 10 groups in the western North Carolina/Eastern Tennessee region recently honored by the Red Cross. Through multiple blood drives, each group collected at least 350 pints of blood. Pictured from left are: Marti Felker, Grand Knight; John Flynn, Knights of Columbus blood drive coordinator; Bill Roseborough, CSR Carolinas Blood Services, Asheville; and Meredith Silliman, executive director, ARC Transylvania Chapter.

— Dorice Narins

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More than 180 Belmont Abbey College graduates received their diplomas from Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor, (left) and Dr. William Thierfelder, president, (right) on the plaza of Mary Help of Christians Basilica Saturday, beneath rainy skies.

Charleston Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone celebrated the baccalaureate Mass, which moved inside the basilica when the rain became too much for everyone to bear. He encouraged graduates to live as joyful ambassadors for Christ in whatever direction their lives take them. See more photos online at www. catholicnewsherald. com.

New pastor to be installed

Bishop Peter J. Jugis has appointed Deacon Ronald F. Steinkamp as director of the permanent Steinkamp diaconate for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Deacon Steinkamp is a permanent deacon at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. He will coordinate all formation and activities pertaining to the permanent diaconate in the diocese, and he will serve a term of five years. He takes over from Deacon Louis Pais, permanent deacon at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

catholic news heraldI

BELMONT — Intermittent showers didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended Belmont Abbey College’s commencement May 14 to see more than 180 students receive their degrees.

Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of the Diocese of Charleston celebrated the baccalaureate Mass, joking during his homily that in this Easter season, the Lord must be providing for the renewal of everyone’s baptismal vows. The Mass was moved inside from the plaza of Mary Help of Christians Basilica, followed by the 133rd commencement exercises back out on the plaza – with the graduates cheering each time there was a downpour.

Bishop Guglielmone urged the Class of 2011 to follow Jesus’ call to love one another and follow Him with a spirit of joy and friendship – the theme of the day’s Gospel passage, John 15:9-17.

Like Matthias, who was chosen to take Judas’ place among the Apostles because he was a witness to the Resurrection and was personally involved in Jesus’ earthly ministry, Christians are called to a personal relationship with Jesus, Bishop Guglielmone said. And once we know Him, we must make what He taught real in our world today, no matter what we do in life, he said.

“We are commanded to go forth and love one

another as Jesus loves us,” he emphasized.

The world says we need to compete with one another, but God teaches us “to work with one another as we share the love of God,” “to deal with one another as Jesus deals with us,” he said.

Our call as Christians “is to respond to the commencement address that Jesus gives to His apostles as He leaves.

“You remember that address – it’s probably the shortest commencement address that was ever given,” he said. “As Jesus is being ascended, being raised into heaven, as He leaves His apostles, He says, ‘Go therefore, go and teach them everything I have commanded you. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Know that I am with you always, even to the end of time.’”

Jesus calls us to an intimate relationship with Him, not just as His followers but as His friends – to walk with Him in partnership, to cooperate with Him in fulfilling the kingdom of God, Bishop Guglielmone said. No matter what our vocation or career is, he said, that is our mission.

“Our faith is not a private thing. Our relationship with God is not simply for our own salvation,” he said. “We’re asked to be ambassadors – to represent God in the world in which we live.”

Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor of Belmont Abbey College, presented Bishop Guglielmone with an honorary doctor of humane letters,

calling him a “respected educator, faithful priest, accomplished administrator, wise shepherd and passionate defender of the faith.”

Also receiving an honorary degree was Benedictine Abbot Claude Peifer of St. Bede Abbey in Peru, Ill., a Biblical scholar, theology teacher and author.

Before he and Abbot Placid handed out the degrees to graduates, Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, congratulated them, saying, “You are the fruit of our work and prayers here.”

Senior class president Patrick Jacobeen said he and the other graduates are leaving with joy tinged with sadness because they love the abbey college as their second home. He encouraged his classmates to continue the college’s mission of growing “in mind, body and spirit,” and to live lives of gratitude and thanksgiving for everyone who has helped them along the way – especially the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey, “who opened their home to us for four years, invited us in, invited us to pray with them, invited us to eat with them, and to share life with them, and to learn from them.”

College students’ freewheeling lifestyles certainly aren’t conducive to the peaceful life of the monks, Jacobeen noted, “but they’re willing to give that up to welcome us and to teach us.”

“Hopefully they continue to do so after dealing with our class for four years,” he joked.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 OUR PARISHES

David Hains | Catholic News Herald

Diocesan Youth Conference held May 13-15 More than 200 high school students from parishes throughout the Diocese of Charlotte gathered for the 34th Diocesan Youth Conference May 13-15 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. The theme of this year’s conference was “Remember – Anamnesis.” The Greek word “anamnesis” means to remember who you are. In a letter to the youth, Bishop Peter J. Jugis explained, “We should never forget the saving actions of Jesus, those sacred mysteries that we call to mind each and every time we gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.” The conference featured daily Mass, praise and worship music, workshops, skits and awards. Pictured distributing Holy Communion at the Saturday morning Mass are Father Adrian Porras, left, and Father Benjamin Roberts.

George A. Hoffman Jr. | Catholic News Herald

Organist riffs on new custom organ at St. Gabriel Church Organ phenom Cameron Carpenter, 29, serenaded the congregation of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte using his hands and feet while putting a new spin on classical numbers on a new custom Rodgers organ just dedicated at the church. After the free performance by the Grammy Award nominee, Carpenter signed autographs for excited fans.

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

catholic news heraldI

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In Brief Rosary Rally set for May 22 CHARLOTTE — The 70th Semi-Annual Rosary Rally will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East. This 35-year diocesan tradition will include recitation of the rosary, a Eucharistic Procession and Benediction. Homilist will be Deacon John Kopfle. Come honor Our Lady and pray for our country. For information or if children aged 7-17 would like to participate in the procession, call Tina Witt at 704-846-7361.

Join in first JPII Culture Day CHARLOTTE — The first John Paul II Culture Day will be held starting at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Held in honor of Blessed John Paul II and in response to his 1999 “Letter to the Artists” to promote Catholic culture, the event is free and will include children performing music, poetry, art and the debut of the play “The Missing Archangel.” For inquiries, call Tina Witt at 704-846-7361.

photo by Carla Aguilar, courtesy of Catholic Relief Services

Women participating in a fair trade co-operative group weave baskets which are made available to U.S. consumers through CRS’ Work of Human Hands catalogs. The group is supported through Trade Aid Integrated, a non-governmental organization in Ghana that works to generate employment and wealth for the rural poor.

World Fair Trade Day: Singing God’s praises CHARLOTTE — A performance featuring Tajci, an international teen pop star from Croatia who gave up her successful music career and fans to return to her Catholic faith, was an inspiration for concert-goers at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte April 13. Tajci performed a powerful musical adaptation of “The Crucifixion Story,” part of her 2011 Lent Tour 2011 entitled “I Thirst – The Crucifixion Story.” She sings in nine languages, and her performances are becoming well-known in churches around the world. At one point during the concert in Charlotte, Tajci called up Sister Gloria Camitan, OP (both pictured above) and they sang a Filipino song together.

— Dina D. Wilson, photo by Alan Benson

SonFest 2011 is coming CHARLOTTE — St. John Neumann Church is gearing up for SonFest 2011 – a family festival featuring games, rides, ethnic and traditional fair foods, a petting zoo, entertainment, arts and crafts, silent auctions and more – set for Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, at the church located at 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte. For details, go to www.4sjnc.org/sonfest2011.

We welcome your parish’s news. E-mail Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.

A time to learn and make an impact

Katy Cantrell and Augusto Michael Trujillo catholic relief services

Catholic Relief Services’ Fair Trade program was once again a proud sponsor of World Fair Trade Day on May 14. The CRS Fair Trade program works in partnership with fair trade organizations to bring fair trade handcrafts, coffee and chocolate to thousands of communities across the U.S. “Fair trade” is based on the principle that people should earn a fair profit for the items they produce. It offers farmers and producers a fair price for their products, safe and healthy work conditions, and longterm relationships with buyers. CRS works with poor communities in Latin America, Africa and beyond, and knows how to help struggling producers build their businesses, plan for the future and eventually achieve a more secure living.

Catholic social teaching is filled with guidance about how people of faith can transform the world. This can be done through the simple, everyday decisions we make as consumers. Buying fair trade products is one easy way Catholics can live their faith in a way that fairly rewards the hard work of producers.

World Fair Trade Day presents us with

an opportunity to learn more about what Fair Trade is and who it represents – for example, the more than 1 million producers and farmers around the world who already benefit from fair trade. Every cup of fair trade coffee matters and can have a good impact.

Local CRS “fair trade ambassadors” are trained to provide information to their parishes and communities, and support fair trade events throughout the year. The Diocese of Charlotte is lucky to have Ken Hillberry, a parishioner of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, as a CRS fair trade ambassador.

Hillberry is planning a fair trade festival in Asheville for the weekend of June 18.

Parishes can serve fair trade coffee at their parish coffee hour and parish meetings, or sell it after Mass as an easy way to introduce fair trade. Everyone can enjoy gourmet fair trade chocolate, in turn supporting families around the world. Fair trade items can be obtained through CRS at www.crsfairtrade.org.

The CRS Fair Trade program partners with local coffee companies, including Larry’s Beans, a Raleigh-based coffee roaster offering great fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee. Upon your request, CRS Fair Trade partners make a donation to the CRS Fair Trade Fund when you

Photo courtesy of Catholic Relief Services

Ken Hillberry, a parishioner of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, is a “fair trade ambassador” for Catholic Relief Services. Hillberry is planning a fair trade festival in Asheville for the weekend of June 18. place an order, so your purchases have even greater impact. To learn more about Larry’s Beans, visit www.larrysbeans.com.

For details about Catholic Relief Services, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 OUR PARISHES

CSS Food Pantry shifts to food choice plan SueAnn Howell Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE — People who used to come to Catholic Social Services’ food pantries were given pre-packed grocery bags filled with items they may or may not have used, and they had little choice in selecting what they really needed.

That is no longer the case.

CSS has launched an initiative called “Providing Food With Dignity,” enabling people to choose the foods they want when they come to the food pantry and empowering them to make healthier choices that better match their needs – a shift in philosophy that emphasizes their human dignity.

“The new process lets people create their own selections, in all of our offices in the

diocese,” said Sharon Davis, area director of the CSS Charlotte Regional Office. “Our clients receive a sheet with the items that are in stock and they can check off the items they can use.”

This shift from handing out food to giving people a choice also helps the Catholic agency, the local arm of Catholic Charities, be better stewards of the donated food and resources it receives.

Since January, more than 1,300 families have come to the CSS food pantries in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Asheville to receive food aid. CSS has distributed more than 87,500 pounds of food at these three pantries.

According to a Gallup survey, the three pantries serve some of the neediest areas in the country. Winston-Salem ranks third, Asheville ranks seventh and Charlotte ranks

43rd among U.S. cities whose people cannot afford to feed themselves or their families.

“We’re seeing a rise in large families coming in for food – households of six to 10 people, multiple family members moving in together to make ends meet,” Davis said.

“We’ve seen a rise in the elderly population, too – people aged 75 or above who need food.”

Even with donations from churches and others across the diocese, CSS still has to buy some of the food it needs. Since February, CSS has bought weekly food supplies from Second Harvest Metrolina Food Bank at 16 cents per pound.

The improvements are really making an impact on the families they help, she noted.

“Our clients are so appreciative. They are amazed that we are asking them what they would like. It has been very well received.”

Pantry has critical need The CSS Food Pantry welcomes assistance from churches, groups and individuals around the diocese. Help is needed with conducting food drives, donating funds to help buy food, and volunteering to help stock the food pantries. Donations of refrigerators are also needed to store refrigerated foods.

A CSS representative can come to your church, school or organization to conduct a workshop about “Providing Food With Dignity.”

Contact Sharon Davis at 704-370-3218 or swdavis@charlottediocese.org for more information.

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Father Matthew Buettner

I

In the Penitential Act, we approach God’s altar with humility

n previous columns, I described the Introductory Rites of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: the entrance procession, incensation of the altar, the Sign of the Cross and the celebrant’s formal greeting. Now, let’s continue our discussion of the Introductory Rites by examining the “Penitential Rite.”

And as we enter this discussion of what’s now called the Penitential Act, we discover that we are in the midst of a conversation on prayer.

As I mentioned in previous columns, from beginning to end the Mass is a prayer – in fact, the highest act of This is part 18 of prayer known to mankind, since the a year-long series Mass is the worship of the Son of God featuring the revised rendered unto the Father. As members translation of the of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, Third Missal. For more we participate in His perfect worship. resources, check The Mass therefore teaches us how to out the U.S. bishops’ pray, educates us in the language and extensive material grammar of prayer. online at usccb.org/ The first lesson of prayer, the romanmissal. primary movement of the Mass, is one of humility. In imitation of Christ, the Son of God who humbled Himself to become man, who humbled Himself to take upon Himself our sins, who humbled Himself to undergo His Passion, crucifixion and death on our behalf, we must humble ourselves. The Church seeks to imitate the humility of Christ by first recognizing our sins and acknowledging the fact that we are sinners in desperate need of God’s abundant mercy. We must first recognize that we are empty, before we can be filled. Therefore, the celebrant invites us to pause, examine our conscience in silence, and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness: “Brethren (Brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.”

During this brief moment of silence at the beginning of the Mass, we might be wondering what to think about: What I did last night or the child who’s disrupting my peace or what to eat for breakfast after Mass? During this precious moment, we should examine our conscience and acknowledge our sins.

Above all, we need to become aware of our overall need for forgiveness and mercy for the sins we have committed and the good we have omitted, which we may have forgotten. It is a moment to prepare our souls to abandon our old sinful habits and seek the grace and mercy God has prepared for us in receiving His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. If we become conscious of having committed mortal sins, we should resolve to go to the sacrament of penance as soon as possible and refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Although the Penitential Act does not grant absolution for mortal sins, it does help us to receive forgiveness for our less serious sins – venial sins – which are forgiven when we receive Holy Communion with humility and love.

After a few moments of silence, the celebrant may begin a prayer, known by its first word in Latin, the “Confiteor”:

Learn more

“I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, [and striking our chests, we continue:] through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.” When we pray the Confiteor as a community, we confess we are guilty of sins in thought, word and deed, as well as sins of omission. The three-fold confession of sin, ending with the superlative “my most grievous fault,” is a traditional formula meant to highlight the seriousness of our faults and sins. It is one of the more noticeable changes we will see this November in the revised English translation of the Missal.

Then, continuing in prayer, we seek the intercession of: Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, who was conceived without sin and remained sinless throughout her life; the angels, who battle with Satan and defeat evil; the saints, who were sinners like us but cooperated with God’s grace and mercy to defeat their own sinfulness and persevered in holiness of life; and finally, the members of the Church Militant (the pilgrim Church on earth, our brothers and sisters) to pray for us. The celebrant completes this prayer with a prayer of absolution that begs for God’s mercy, seeks forgiveness and leads us to heaven.

Finally, the Penitential Act may close with the ancient threefold litany: “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.”

This litany of mercy, which means “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,” is the only surviving vestige of the Greek language remaining in the Latin Rite of the Church.

Whether the Mass is offered in Latin, English, Spanish or any other language, this Greek prayer may be recited by the celebrant or deacon, or may be chanted by the celebrant, deacon or cantor.

This formula comes straight from the Gospel. Oftentimes a great healing by Christ was preceded by the humble cry of a beggar, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

This is precisely where we find ourselves at the beginning of Mass: poor beggars in need of God’s mercy. That is why we approach the throne of our Heavenly Father in humility from the very beginning.

Now that we have acknowledged our sinfulness before God and our neighbor, we now sing the Biblical hymn of praise, known by its first word in Latin, The Gloria, which we will discuss next week.

Father Matthew Buettner is the pastor of St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton. This is excerpted from “Understanding the Mystery of the Mass – Revisited,” available for purchase online at tedeumfoundation.org. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of land for a future seminary in the Diocese of Charlotte.

OUR PARISHESI

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Father Brandon H. Jones

You, the centurion and the words we speak

A

n important facet of the revised English translation of the Roman Missal is the clearer connection between Sacred Scripture and the liturgical texts. Most of the prayers of the Liturgy are taken directly from either the Bible or the Church Fathers. For this moment together, I would like to point out just three examples of this Scriptural usage.

In the Third Eucharistic Prayer, we currently hear this: “From age to age You gather a people to Yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of Your name.”

In the new translation we shall hear: “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, and all You have created rightly gives you praise, for through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, You give life to all things and make them holy, and You never cease to gather a people to Yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to Your name.”

“From the rising of the sun to its setting”: This prayer is taken from the prophecy of Malachi, chapter one, verse 11. Malachi’s prophecy is fulfilled in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the one sacrifice of Christ, the pure offering that is celebrated on every Catholic altar throughout the world.

The next two examples I’d like to highlight are taken from the Communion rite. As the priest shows the host to the people, he currently says: “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Happy are those who are called to His supper.”

In the revised translation, he will say: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”

This is taken from Revelation 19:9: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’”

The current response to this invitation, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed,” will change to: “Lord, I JONES, SEE page 21

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Mary: we honor our mother

Crowning Our Lady of Consolation Children and youths at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte honored Mary with a May crowning on May 8. Pictured at right is Shalom Aziague, who was confirmed this month as well.

Originally from Togo, Africa, she was chosen to place the crown of flowers on the statue of Mary in the church’s garden.

Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

Mary crowned at Holy Spirit Photos courtesy of Capuchin Father Martin Schratz

Crowning Mary at Holy Cross

First Communicants Lexie Muckler and Edouard Nadra were selected to crown Mary at Holy Spirit Church on May 8.

Crowning Mary with flowers

Children of the parish crowned an outdoor statue of Mary at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville during three Masses over the weekend of May 14-15. Pictured at right is Julia Sims (confirmation candidate and cross bearer), with her sponsor giving her a boost.

Other children who participated in the May crownings at the parish were: Ashlen Emerich, first Communicant; Riley Kimball, confirmation candidate; Emi Curia, first Communicant; Dylan Ford, confirmation candidate; and Trenton McCann, first Communicant.

Students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem honored Mary for Mother’s Day at their annual May Crowning ceremony on May 6, with the eighth-graders leading the service. Pictured at left is eighth-grader Sabrina Eulberg, who had the honor of placing the crown on Mary’s head.

photo provided by Ruben Ricardo and Marie Kinney

PHOTO COURTESY OF Lara Davenport

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

catholic news heraldI

Photo courtesy of Ed Boos

Crowning Our Lady of the Mountains Father Dean Cesa, pastor, watches on as Eden Ingate places a crown of flowers on the statue of Mary at Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Highlands recently. Reid and Davis Ingate are also pictured.

Photos courtesy of Father Joseph Mack and Deacon Gerald Potkay

Celebrating her first Communion, then crowning Mary Cassandra Smith made her first Holy Communion on May 7 at Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, then she was selected to crown Mary during the parish’s May Crowning on May 8, Mother’s Day. Other children, including those making their first Communion and other students, parents and teachers at the parish also participated in the May crowning. Also pictured is Chris de la Cruz with his mother Alba de la Cruz.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Girton

St. Lawrence children honor Mary Children of the parish at St. Lawrence Basilica honored Mary on May 1 with May crownings at two Masses. Pictured are Diana Martínez-Galván and Johnathan Romero Carballo.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Photo courtesy of Linda McAdam

Honoring Mary in procession Students in the faith formation classes of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington took part in a procession down Main Street to the front of the church on Mother’s Day, May 8, in honor of Mary. The procession, led by Father Albert Gondek, O.S.F.S., included prayers and hymns and concluded with the crowning of a statue of Mary by Marialy Aguirre outside the church. Parishioners enjoyed glorious weather for the day – a fitting celebration for Mother’s Day!

Honoring Mary in May The youth of St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Maggie Valley honored the Blessed Virgin Mother after Mass May 1, with hymns, prayers, a procession and the traditional May crowning of the statue of Mary on the church grounds. Father William Morgan blessed the crown of flowers, held

by Hannah Yarrington, who was selected to carry the crown on her eighth birthday.

She is the daughter of Eric and Shannon Yarrington of Waynesville. Pictured with Father Morgan and Deacon Gerard LaPointe are Hannah and Elena Clark, 5, the daughter of Craig and Maria Clark of Canton.

Photo courtesy of Jasay Ketchum, Paul Viau and Betsy McLeod

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

catholic news heraldI

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Celebrating first Holy Communion

Photo courtesy of Lara Davenport

Helping babies, helping mommies in need The pre-kindergarten class at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem recently knotted fleece baby blankets and collected baby items to donate to Catholic Social Services’ Wee Care Program for moms in need in honor of Mother’s Day.

In honor of all mothers on Mother’s Day The parish ministries of Care and Concern, St. Gerard and PrayerWorks teamed up with the Respect Life Committee at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte this month to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and all mothers for Mother’s Day, with a special remembrance entitled “Honor Your Mother.” Parishioners were given the opportunity to buy a single rose in honor of their mothers and grandmothers (red for living, white for deceased) and also for the loss of a child (pink). One thousand roses were collected and then placed at the feet of Our Lady in the cathedral’s courtyard, along with a remembrance book listing the names of those being honored so that the parish may pray for each “rose” represented. photo courtesy of Anita Veyera

Photo courtesy of H. Kennedy McGovern

Welcoming Christ in the Eucharist Children at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem received their first Holy Communion recently. Pictured (from left to right) are: William Gray, Antwan Ramseur, Dakota Hunt, Andrea Hidalgo, Reagan McGovern and Xavier Shepard.

14 iiiMay 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

FROM TH

Sacramental

Carlos CastaĂąeda | Catholic News Herald

Celebrating the sacraments of first Communion and confirmation (Above) Four of the six children who made their first Communion at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte are pictured during the SPRED first Communion Mass on May 14. (Above right) Catechists lead the Responsorial Psalm during the SPRED confirmation Mass at St. Matthew on May 14. (Below right) Nine participants of SPRED, the Special Religious Development Program at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, were confirmed. The Special Friends received the sacrament during the closing SPRED Mass, celebrated by St. Matthew’s pastor, Monsignor John J. McSweeney, and concelebrated by parochial vicars Father Patrick Toole and Father Robert Conway. Pictured are: (front row) Miguel Marcelino, Carlee Guidice, Lindsey Baist, Jack Kennedy, Alex Pineura, Everett Boyd, David Pineura and Father Toole; and (back row) Father Conway, Marco Spinelli, Pedro Cuevas and Monsignor McSweeney.

HE COVER

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnewsiii

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l celebrations Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist Chloe Clark receives her first Holy Communion from Father Carmen Malacari at Holy Spirit Church in Denver May 7. She was among 51 students who received their first Holy Communion at the parish that weekend.

photo courtesy of Elizabeth Girton

Celebrating their first Communions in Asheville Children at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville celebrated first Holy Communion May 1 at noon.

Pictured (from left, front row) are: Max Martin, Satchel McCutchen, Isla Lackey, Danneal Bowich, Maria Escobedo, Ashton Dickerson and Kayla Bennett; (from left, second row) Jacob Halfacre, Richard Handy, Kobi McClain, Kathrina Burleson, Father Wilbur Thomas, pastor, Sarah Lewis and Evan Lewis.

Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

Confirming their faith at Holy Spirit Thirty-three students at Holy Spirit Church in Denver received the sacrament of confirmation May 12 during a Mass celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey. Pictured at right is Casey D’Amato and his sponsor, Leo Karl Jr. photo courtesy of Elizabeth Girton

Children at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville also celebrated first Holy Communion May 1 at 5 p.m.

Pictured with Father Morris Boyd (from left, front row) are: Diana Martínez-Galván, Roger Antonio Arias, Johnathan Romero Carballo, Roberto García Ledesma and María Iveth Carballo-Funes; (from left, second row): Father Morris Boyd, Héctor Cardona Gómez, Ana Cardona Gómez, Guadalupe Correa and Humberto Conejo.

Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 FROM THE COVER

photo courtesy of Donna F. Smith

Celebrating first Holy Communion at St. Mark St. Mark Church in Huntersville had its First Communion Mass on May 7. This year more than 270 children celebrated their First Communion at St. Mark Church, over two weekends and four Masses.

Photos courtesy of Michelle L. Calascione

Two groups of children receive first Holy Communion at St. William Father George Kloster, pastor of St. William Church in Murphy, recently celebrated two Masses in which children in the parish received first Holy Communion. Pictured above are (from left): Jazmin Godinez, Shea Thompson and Father Kloster.

Pictured below are (from left): Catherine Nieves, Father Kloster, Angelo Scionti, Johnathon Kraus and Juliette Ponce.

Our schools

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

catholic news heraldI

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Diocesan schools superintendent to retire

In Brief Two principals leaving their posts CHARLOTTE — Two principal positions are coming open effective next month, Superintendent of Diocesan Schools Linda Cherry has announced.

Gary Gelo, principal of Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, is leaving to become superintendent in the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., July 1. Assistant Principal Shirley Kinlaw is also retiring June 30. A search committee to replace both positions is now being led by Father John Eckert, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church.

Donna Gilson, principal at Asheville Catholic School in Asheville, will take a year’s sabbatical effective June 30.

Father Ed Sheridan, pastor of St. Eugene Church in Asheville, is working with a search committee to find a replacement.

BMHS golf team earns state title KERNERSVILLE — The golf team of Bishop McGuinness High School recently captured the 1A State title. Team members include: Daniel Barrett, William Whitacre; Brain Sowinski; Brandon Conrad; Stanhope Johnson, who took first place in the individual competition; and Tanner Owen, who won second place in the individual results.

Coach is Pearse Mahon.

— John Bunyea

CCHS rugby team heads to nationals CHARLOTTE — For the third consecutive year, Charlotte Catholic High School’s varsity rugby squad returns to the national tournament, set for May 20 in Salt Lake City, following their win at the USARugby South Youth Championship in Florida April 30-May 1. Charlotte Catholic is ranked third in the nation by Rugby Magazine. Last year, the squad finished fourth at nationals.

— Tom Cook We welcome your school’s news. E-mail items to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.

SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — The search process for a new superintendent of diocesan schools is under way following the announcement earlier this month by Linda Cherry that she will be retiring effective July 5.

Cherry has served as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Charlotte since February 2003. During her tenure, the number of students attending Catholic schools in the diocese increased from 7,120 to 7,628, and the

pre-kindergarten program grew from six schools to 10.

“As I reflected on my 42 years in Catholic school education as a teacher, principal, director of government programs and school finances, as well as superintendent for the last eight and one-half years, I made a decision,” Cherry wrote Cherry in a letter to parents May 4.

“With pride in all that I have accomplished especially during my last years as

superintendent, I have let Bishop (Peter) Jugis know that I am retiring on July 5, 2011.”

“I assured Bishop Jugis that I would do everything to ensure a smooth transition for the next superintendent, as ‘my’ wonderful Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte continue to keep Christ and our Catholic identity as the focus and remain outstanding in all curricular and extra-curricular areas,” she added.

Bishop Jugis and Father Roger K. Arnsparger, vicar of education, will be working to identify Cherry’s successor, but no details have been announced.

New high school to be located in Mooresville – for now SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — Mooresville will become the temporary home for the new Christ the King High School starting this fall. The temporary site at 753 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy. is adjacent to Curlin Commons, a diocesan-sponsored senior living community named for Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, and is located in the fastgrowing suburbs 30 miles north of Charlotte.

The temporary location is a building originally designed to be a school, so beyond infrastructure improvements to accommodate Christ the King High School’s technological needs, any improvements to the facility will be mostly cosmetic.

“We have architectural renderings of the temporary facility that show what we will do to update the classrooms and improve the façade,” said Dan Dolan, project manager for the new Catholic high school. “We have posted all of the images on the school’s Web site so our entire community can begin to get excited about what lies ahead.”

The diocesan schools transportation department is evaluating the busing needs of the school community, but will likely provide bus service from the Mallard Creek subdivision in north Charlotte and from St. Mark School in Huntersville. A survey has been sent to enrolled families to determine if more extensive service is warranted.

“Enrollment this fall is projected to be 45 to 50 students,” said Dolan.

Christ the King will be the second high school for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools and the third overall in the diocesan schools system.

It will open with a staff of nine: six teachers, one full-time information technology employee, an administrative assistant and Dolan as principal.

“It’s the most talented group I have ever worked with,” Dolan said.

The IT staffer will be key, as digital learning will be a main component of the school’s environment – a venture already underway at Charlotte Catholic High School that diocesan schools officials hope could serve as a model for growth and advancement at other schools in the future.

Two entirely digital courses will be offered this fall, and more may be introduced. Accordingly, each student at the school will be equipped with a laptop.

“We will be the first high school in the MACS system to offer honors Courtesy of Diocesan Schools Office courses for freshmen,” Rendering of Christ The King Catholic High School’s temporary location in Mooresville Dolan said. “We will due to open this fall. require Logic as a Kannapolis in Cabarrus County, just beyond the freshman course. Those who have interest, and Huntersville line on Route 73 near Poplar Tent talent, can go on to Advanced Logic and Debate courses. We have also reconsidered the sequence Road.

“The diocese is fully committed to building the in which we will introduce our science program new school and hopes to begin construction this and all students will start with physics, then fall,” Dolan said. chemistry, and students will take biology in the School hours at the temporary location this junior year.” fall will be from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. weekdays, This method, called “Physics First” and starting Aug. 24 with the other MACS schools. embraced nation-wide in independent schools, Applications for ninth and 10th grades can be is “an exciting way to engage students in the found at www.christthekinghs.com. For more sciences,” said Dolan, who has studied it for the information, call Dolan at 704-370-3355 or e-mail past decade. dgdolan@charlottdiocese.org.

“It encourages a whole new level of Meanwhile work continues on developing the understanding as students go into chemistry new school’s unique identity. The mascot will and biology with a greater conceptual be the Crusaders, and the school colors will be understanding of the world around them.” royal blue and silver.

The diocese expects to build the permanent school on a 95-acre tract just annexed by

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Schools office surveys parents SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools office is surveying parents and supporters in an effort to improve its practices.

Parents and other stakeholders in the diocesan school system were sent e-mail surveys on May 3, asking for feedback on areas such as the purpose and direction of the schools, school governance and leadership, and teaching and assessing for learning, just to name a few.

Mike Ford, director of marketing for the diocese, wrote in the communication that the purpose of the “Parent Opinion Inventory” is to improve practices.

“The accreditation process through AdvancEd requires that schools and school systems develop some means of soliciting stakeholder feedback,” he said. “As part of district accreditation, we strive to gain input from all of the stakeholders in the Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools.”

AdvancEd is made up of the two largest U.S.-based education accreditation agencies – the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement – which measure the quality of public and private schools across the U.S. Last year the diocesan schools system won accreditation as a whole for the first time, rather than pursuing accreditation on an individual school basis as in years past.

The parent survey will become a regular means of gaining feedback. “A regular survey is one means of gaining this input and provides one tool in our assessment,” Ford said.

To complete the survey, go to www.advanc-ed.org/surveys/ CharlotteParentSurvey.

Photos courtesy of Edward Faircloth

Retired Army Colonel Harold Graziano (right) is pictured with students and parents from Amani School in Kabul, Afghanistan, in April while they are picking out school supplies donated by the Charlotte Catholic High School community. Graziano’s son Robert, a senior at Charlotte Catholic High School and Honor Society member, helped organize the drive conducted by the Honor Society at CCHS.

The Amani Kabul school is surrounded by high walls and barbed wire to protect the children from the violence in Afghanistan.

Pupils, pencils and prayers CCHS sends enduring gifts to children halfway around the world SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — If you heard that Muslim children in war-torn Afghanistan, 7,500 miles away, desperately needed school supplies at the start of a new school year, what would you do? The answer for Charlotte Catholic High School students, parents and staff was easy: collect what the children need and send it to them.

Charlotte Catholic students first learned of the Afghan students’ need from Robert Graziano, a senior at Charlotte Catholic, whose father, Harold Graziano, is a retired Army Colonel working in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the senior advisor to the director of the general staff of the National Afghan Army.

The elder Graziano shared with his son the needs of the more than 4,600 students who attend the co-ed Kabul Amani School, which is encircled by high walls and barbed wire due in part to opposition from some in the Muslim community over educating girls.

In fact, it has only been within the past nine years, since the fall of the Taliban and the assistance of U.S. and NATO forces in the

country, that girls have been allowed to go to school in more than a generation.

Robert Graziano then wrote a letter earlier this year to Charlotte Catholic’s administration detailing the Afghan children’s need, and Principal Jerry Healy and Charlotte Catholic Honor Society advisors agreed to help the 97 CCHS Honor Society students organize a school supply drive.

When the school children in Afghanistan heard the good news, they started praying for “the students in the Christian school.”

“I shared that information with Shannon Kirchmer (president of the CCHS Honor Society) and we got pretty motivated about that. It’s powerful to know that there are people on the other side of the world praying for you,” Graziano said.

Over a period of two weeks in March, he and Kirchmer spearheaded the Honor Society’s efforts to collect paper, pencils, crayons, notebook paper, pencil sharpeners and other basics.

Students dropped items off in their homerooms. Athletic teams rallied along with their parents and spectators, bringing supplies to the rugby, men’s lacrosse and baseball games.

Their donations added up to 80 boxes that were shipped to the students at Amani School in Kabul.

“The children have always been very happy kids, but seeing many of them being given the first ‘notebook of their own’ for the very first time was an amazing thing,” said the elder Graziano from Afghanistan last week. “Being able to tell them that American

children and their parents sent the muchneeded supplies has been wonderful.

Listening to them as they explained that they will pray for the students and parents of Charlotte Catholic High School has been uplifting. In Islam, they stop five times a day to pray – prayers are being showered on Charlotte Catholic High School by children five times daily from here. Imagine!”

Charlotte Catholic High School has received thank-yous from top brass for their outreach efforts.

Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Army fighting in Afghanistan, sent a letter to Healy, stating, “I want to assure you that the positive actions you, your students and your parents have taken in furnishing basic school supplies will help to educate future leaders in Afghanistan. Moreover, your thoughtfulness will be remembered long after the gifts have been used by the eager Afghan students.”

E-mailing from Afghanistan, Graziano echoed the significance of Charlotte Catholic’s contribution for the children of Afghanistan: “We are doing many things here that will promote the peace and security of Afghanistan, but nothing will be as ‘enduring’ as the education of its citizens (boys AND girls).”

His son, who will be graduating from Charlotte Catholic on June 4, shared his thoughts on the outreach effort: “The hope is that this not only has a positive impact on the kids, but a positive impact on the area in general. My dad told me there is always bad news, and it was nice to be a part of positive news everyone in the area could focus on.”

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

catholic news heraldI

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DEADLINE SOON! Air rates guaranteed until June 17th only! photo courtesy of Jean Navarro

Touring the nation’s capital The eighth-grade class of St. Pius X School in Greensboro, along with their homeroom teachers, parent chaperones and Principal Anne Knapke, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to tour and study our nation’s capital. They visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Union Station, the National Archives, the Smithsonian museums, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Library of Congress, the Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Iwo Jima Memorial, the U.S. Air Force Memorial and Mount Vernon.

‘I could have danced all night’ Caitlyn Carmean (as Eliza Doolittle) and Nicholas Cook (as Freddy Eynsford-Hill), perform in Bishop McGuinness High School’s spring musical “My Fair Lady,” held March 18-20. The production was directed by Micki Sharpe and Sister Anne Taylor.

The music was performed by the school orchestra, conducted by Dr. Alan Hirsh. photo provided by Nancy Carmean

IHM students celebrate Earth Day in style Students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point created hats (being modeled above) and purses out of recycled items for a “green” fashion show April 20 in conjunction with Earth Day. The event was sponsored by the school’s environmental club.

Students also raised $433 to buy trees to plant at the new school on Johnson Street.

Photo courtesy of Mendy Yarborough

Mix 20

charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 OUR PARISHES

In theaters

‘Prom’

Belmont Abbey College launches a news Web site BELMONT — Thanks to the work of a few dedicated students, Belmont Abbey College has launched an online news Web site. The Crusader, the student newspaper, will continue to be printed monthly, but the news Web site – www.TheCrusaderOnline.com – will allow more immediate news to be shared with students in a timely fashion. Anthony Perlas, a junior at Belmont Abbey was instrumental in the development of the new site. He wanted to launch a site for the college community that would “acknowledge the God-given talents of students,” he says. The site, “created by a community effort,” will “allow students to nourish their talents as the site is

fueled by community-driven content from students.”

Perlas not only pitched the idea of the site and received permission from the college to do it, he also created the site’s layout, design and logo. Now its webmaster, his hope is that www.TheCrusaderOnline. com will create a place where “students, faculty, staff and friends locally and around the world can see the current activities of the college.”

It took a lot of time and work to get the paper online.

Craig Taffaro, The Crusader’s editor, says, “the approval process was a little lengthy, but understandably so.”

— Christopher Lux, Correspondent

Wholesome but ho-hum high school-set romantic comedy in which a variety of teen couples (Aimee Teegarden and Thomas McDonell) discover, renew or lose love in the buildup to the big dance. Appropriate and agreeable, if not especially enthralling, entertainment for all.

CNS: A-I (general patronage), MPAA: PG

‘Jumping the Broom’ Faith-tinged family comedy about the lead-up to a Martha’s Vineyard wedding between a postal worker’s (Loretta Devine) son (Laz Alonso) and the daughter (Paula Patton) of a wealthy couple (Angela Bassett and Brian Stokes Mitchell). Director Salim Akil and screenwriters Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs embrace all the familiar conventions of upscale vs. downscale. But they make poor use of a clergyman (played by reallife Bishop T.D. Jakes) who offers useful advice early on but is absent when the families have to deal with serious issues. Fleeting, mild sexual banter and a couple of references to masturbation.

CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: PG-13

n Sunday, May 22, 12 a.m.

(EWTN) “Daily Mass Diaconate Ordination: Brother Leonard & Brother Patrick, M.F.V.A.s” from Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Ala. n Sunday, May 22, 1:30 p.m. (EWTN) “In Concert – Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.”

While writing “Missa Solemnis,” Beethoven was overcome by the beauty of the Mass, creating a work considered by many from the time of its first presentation in St. Petersburg in 1824 as the pinnacle of Beethoven’s musical career. n Sunday, May 22, 10 p.m., Tuesday, May 24, 1 p.m. and Thursday, May 26, 5 a.m.

(EWTN) “Pope Benedict XVI: My Vatican.” Features interviews with Pope Benedict XVI before and after his election, and follows his daily routine in the Vatican.

‘Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil’ Hansel and Gretel have been kidnapped, and the prime suspect is a witch. Their rescue is clearly a job for the super-spies of the Happily Ever After Agency, led by a long-legged frog, and including Red Riding Hood who must reunite with her partner, the Big Bad Wolf, and join forces with her granny to make sure the villains get their just desserts, and don’t get possession of a chocolate truffle that renders the eater invincible. Mildly rude bathroom humor and some very loud action sequences.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents), MPAA: PG

On TV

Chaplain Dale Recinella talks to inmates about suffering during religious education instruction at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Fla., May 11.

Recinella also ministers to death-row inmates at least twice a week.

n Monday, May 23, 3 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Hours to Ordination.” Host Bob Dolan visits seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome as they reveal their emotions and thoughts standing on the threshold of the priesthood.

CNS | Daron Dean

Wall Street lawyer gave up high finance for death-row chaplaincy Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dale Recinella played the financing game like a fiddle, even working through Christmas one year to secure the complex arrangements to finance a new stadium for the Miami Dolphins. Yet he turned his back on wealth and power to minister to some of the most downtrodden: prisoners on death row.

Recinella has chronicled his journey in the book, “Now I Walk on Death Row.” “The book is not so much about the death penalty than it is about seeking the answer to the question: Did Jesus mean what He said?” Recinella said.

As a volunteer chaplain, he ministers on death row three days each week, all day Mondays at a deathrow prison and part of the day Wednesdays and some Saturdays. He gives religious education instruction

Wednesday nights at another prison, too. He teaches inmates about “living Gospel values authentically in our lives and in situations we encounter day in and day out. ” Recinella is now an opponent of the death penalty but had long been unaware of the inconsistency in his position on life issues. “Even as a teenager and a college student, I was very active in right-to-life, but I also strongly supported capital punishment,” he said. “I had no clue that our bishops had already come out and asked us to stop using capital punishment.”

Recinella reflected on the seemingly sudden change in his career path. “My lawyerly training trained me to fix things,” he said. “What I learned in this journey is that my wife and my children did not want to so much to be fixed; they wanted to know that I cared for them. And that means time. I came to think that time means money, and one of the things that God has shaken me out of is that time is a gift, and time is the most precious gift I can give.”

n Monday, May 23, 2:30 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 3 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 28, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “EWTN’s Vatican Report.” n Friday, May 27, 6:30-7 p.m.

(EWTN) “Blessed Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury.”

Filmed on location at the site of her imprisonment, the ruins of Britain’s Cowdray House, this documentary on the life of Blessed Margaret Pole explores its subject’s undaunted bravery in the face of persecution brought on by King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church. n Friday, May 27, 10-11 p.m. and Saturday, May 28, 2-3 p.m.

(EWTN) “Madonna House.”

A documentary look at the Madonna House Apostolate, a Catholic community made up of laity and priests in Combermere, Ontario, that espouses a spirituality of poverty, simplicity, love and duty to the demands of the moment.

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

STATIONS FROM PAGE 3

parishioner for 18 years, helped coordinate the project.

“I’m very happy to see the Station of the Cross at St. Joseph Vietnamese Catholic Church,” Tran said.

More than 15 parishioners helped Tran in the preparation and installation of the stations over a period of seven long work days.

“As a parishioner, I am very happy to have these statues on the grounds of our parish,” said Hang Nguyen, a member of the parish for more than 20 years. “I am also very happy to hear that our parish is the only one in the whole Diocese of Charlotte to have such a beautiful project. I hope our parish will be the place for other parishioners around the diocese to visit, to have a few moments of quiet

STUDY FROM PAGE 3

by the diocese amount to $800,662. These funds were paid from insurance reserves maintained by the Diocese of Charlotte. In addition $1.1 million was paid by insurance companies for legal settlements.

Background checks have been conducted on 29,595 people, and more than 26,000 people have participated in the abuse awareness training.

Diocesan compliance to the 2002 Charter has been audited seven times by an independent auditing firm. After each audit, the diocese has been found to be in compliance with the charter.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis described the Causes

JONES FROM PAGE 9

am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

These words are adapted from those of the Roman centurion in Matthew, chapter 8 and Luke, chapter 7. There the centurion is asking the Lord Jesus to heal his servant.

The Liturgy appropriates these words and places them upon our lips as the moment for Holy Communion approaches.

Instead of using the word “servant” as the centurion did, we now beseech the Lord to heal our souls. This prayer is placed upon our lips to illustrate the disposition we are to have before receiving our Lord in His Real Presence.

The Centurion gave evidence of great faith in Jesus’ ability to heal. In addition, being a Roman, he did not want Jesus to become legally unclean by entering his house. The centurion was expressing a sentiment of the utmost reverence.

prayer, and to walk through the stations and really feel the love that Jesus has given us.”

Bishop Jugis blessed and dedicated each of the stations May 7 as more than 100 people prayed the Way of the Cross.

“It is a wonderful gift not only to the parish but to the whole diocese,” he said to parishioners who had gathered for the dedication. “I am very grateful for this sign of devotion. Thank you.”

After the dedication, 21 parishioners were recognized for their efforts in bringing the stations to the parish and those present were given a papal family blessing certificate acknowledging their work, presented by Bishop Jugis.

The Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church are open daily, located at 4929 Sandy Porter Road near Arrowood Road and I-485 in southwest Charlotte. For details and directions, go to www.charlottediocese.org and search Charlotte parishes for the St. Joseph information page, or call 704-588-9022.

The Causes and Context study is ‘a document that will be useful to any organization that believes in the importance of protecting children.’

— Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Context study as “a document that will be useful to any organization that believes in the importance of protecting children.”

He went on to say, “the Diocese of Charlotte looks forward to making a careful study of the document and learning from its recommendations.”

St. Augustine commented on this passage: “By declaring himself unworthy, [the centurion] showed himself worthy, not indeed into whose house, but into whose heart, Christ the Word of God should enter.”

The writer Pseudo-Origen, another Church Father, wrote, “…when you eat and drink the Lord’s Body, then the Lord enters under your roof, and you then should humble yourself, saying, Lord I am not worthy. For where he enters unworthily, there He enters to the condemnation of him who receives Him.” Every word we utter during the Sacred Liturgy is invested with profound meaning.

After all, it is the work of God in which you and I are privileged to participate. I hope this time together will help us to realize this and to glimpse the profound connection between Sacred Scripture and the Liturgy, which we shall soon experience in the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

Father Brandon H. Jones is parochial administrator of St. Joseph Church in Asheboro. This is a transcript of the third in the monthly video series “Missal Moments,” about the revised translation of the Roman Missal. “Missal Moments” can be seen on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel or by visiting www.MissalMoment.com.

OUR PARISHESI

21

Our nation

charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ExtEnt and History of sExual abusE against Minors by u.s. CatHoliC ClErgy

In Brief Obama launches new push for immigration reform WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama chose El Paso, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border to launch a push for immigration reform that the administration has been working toward for about a month. As dozens of states this legislative session have considered – and most rejected – measures to localize immigration enforcement, Obama has been building support among religious leaders, business groups, prominent immigrants and others for a new immigration reform effort. His May 10 speech was accompanied by the release of a 34-page ‘blueprint,” called “Building a 21st Century Immigration System.” It outlines an approach to immigration reform that includes emphasizing federal responsibility for enforcement of immigration laws and holding employers accountable if they hire illegal workers, among other changes.

Bishop of Steubenville to head Diocese of Joliet WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio, to head the Diocese of Joliet, Ill. He succeeds Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, who was Joliet’s bishop for four years until he was named to head the Seattle Archdiocese last September. Bishop Conlon, 62, has been the head of the Steubenville Diocese since 2002.

— Catholic News Service

REPORTED INCIDENTS IN U.S. CLERGY SEX ABUSE CRISIS Incidents of sexual abuse of minors by priests reported to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

2,500

reported incidents of abuse

22

2,370 2,342

reported to CARA after 2003 reported to John Jay College in 2003

2,014

2,000

1,810 1,636

1,500

1,000

975

940 607

500

418 253

0 1954 or 1955earlier 1959

CNS | Emily Thompson and Nancy Wiechec

19601964

19651969

19701974

1975- 1980- 1985- 1990- 19951979 1984 1989 1994 1999

133

no data collected

73

2000- 2003 2004- 2010 2002 2009

Causes and context report released on clergy sexual abuse of minors 1983

1985

1992

First nationally publicized case: Father Gilbert Gauthe admits to having sexually abused at least three dozen children.

Several dioceses begin developing policies governing abuse allegations. Bishops discuss problem at June meeting.

Annual audits of dioVatican issues revised Bishops affirm Vatican doctrinal ceses begin to ensure procedures, penalties five principles for congregation takes compliance with the for clergy sex abuse dealing with abuse juridical control over charter. cases. allegations. Cardinal cases of sexual abuse Roger M. Mahony of of minors by priests, Los Angeles, other classifying it as one 2004 2011 bishops meet with of several “graver offebruary: Report february: Philavictims. fenses” against on nature and scope delphia grand jury of had sexual behavior with church adults,” the study found. The majority law. not “specialize”ofin problem in U.S. “particular indicts priests, others priest-abusers did abusing types of released, shows that for abusing or failing 1993 victims.”

4,392 priests were to protect children, The new study’s goal was to understand what factors “led Bishop’s Ad Hoc to a sexual andsays “make accused ofChurch” sexuallegations Committee on Sexualabuse ‘crisis’ in the Catholic recommendations to Catholic leadership” for reducing abuse, ally abusing 10,667 against 37 prieststhe Abuse established.

John Jay College researchers explained.

They said their report also minors between 1950 still in ministry were “provides a framework” for understanding of and 2002. “sexual victimization credible. children in any institution” and how respond.

July:organizations Archdiocese May: Vatican says all 1994-2001 otherissues institution has undertaken a public of sexual abuse of Portland, Ore., studybishops’ conferences Ad hocNo committee “Restoring Trust” like this one, they said. becomes first U.S. in the world must materials to dioceses, emphasizing education, Priests who abused minors were not carbon copies of one another. diocese to file for have guidelines for prevention and pastoral response.

The report said they constituted a “heterogeneous population.” bankruptcy protechandling accusations The majority “appear to have had certain vulnerabilities,” such as tion because of abuse clerical sex abuse “emotional congruence to adolescents” or difficulty ofinterrelating 1994 2002 lawsuits. in place within a year. with adults.

Pope Some John Paulpriest-abusers II January: Boston Globe John Jay reportsexually on were abused as youths. “Having been allows for someby an adult launches series on 2005 context abused while a minor increased the risk causes thatand priests exceptions canon abuse clergy abuse focusBishops approve new of clergy sex abuse wouldtolater a sex child,” the report said. law toThe make itstress easier priests ing on case of defrocked Program of Priestly problem says there is may experience at transitional moments to -laicize priests who priest John J. Geoghan.

It orders no moving from seminary to parishFormation. life; transferring tosingle newidentifiable parishes; as aoffactor that increase commit sex crimesbecoming april: Inpastors face-to-face– was cited the rejection any causecan of sexually abu“vulnerability to abuse.” against minors. meeting at Vatican, seminary applicant sive behavior toward The report indicated that “situational stressors” do not cause pope tells U.S. cardinals and expulsion of any minors. abuse, but may serve High alcohol there is no“as placetriggers.” in the seminarian who has consumption during stressful times can lower inhibitions, it noted. priesthood or religious molested a child or “The peak of the passed,” report life forcrisis those whohas would showsthe inclination to observed. It said the Church “responded,” and abuse cases harm children. do so. decreased substantially.

A “system of change” has begun in the Church, according to the June: Bishops approve report. However, it said, “organizational changes take years, and “Charter for the Protec2008 often decades, to fully implement.” tion of Children and Benedict “a XVI long-term societal The report called sexual abuse ofPope minors Young People, their meets with victimsininorganizations that problem,” one “likely to ”persist, particularly landmarkadolescents.” document Washington. nurture and mentor It said diocesan leaders “must to the crisis. continue to dealresponding with abuse allegations appropriately.”

David Gibson Catholic News Service

1988

Bishops’ general counsel acknowledges extentofof crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. — Because potential sexual abusers minors cannot be pinpointed through “identifiable psychological in public statement. characteristics,” it is “very important” to prevent abuse by limiting Survivors’ Network the “situational factors” associated with it, accordingofto a longthose Abused by awaited report on the causes and context of sexual abuse priests Priests by (SNAP) forms. in the U.S. The report, released May 18, said there is “no single identifiable ‘cause’ of sexually abusive behavior The toward minors.”

It encouraged statistics are incidents of Catholic clergy steps to deny abusers “the opportunity abuse.”

Causes sexual to abuse againstTitled minors “The as reported by and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the dioceses, eparchies and religious orders in the United States, 1950-2010,” it reports the findings of a study mandated United States and its territories. in 2002 under the U.S. Catholic bishops’ “Charter for the Protection Data released by the John Jay College in 2004 of Children and Young People.” cameatfrom detailed surveys.

Ninety-seven percent The charter, adopted by the bishops a historic meeting in Dallas, of all dioceses and eparchies participated. created a National Review Board and directed the lay consultative The problem’s Center for Applied Research body to commission studies of the abuse “nature and in the has done annual since scope” and its “causes and context.”Apostolate The John Jaysimilar College ofsurveys Criminal 2004.

For itsconducted 2010 report, CARA received responses Justice of the City University of New York both studies. from 194 the 195 dioceses andThe eparchies and The nature and scope study appeared inofFebruary 2004. causes and context study commenced in 2006.

156 of the 218 religious orders of men.

The new report addressed several misperceptions about the sexual abuse of minors by priests. It said: n Priestly celibacy does not explain this problem. “Constant in the Catholic Church since the 11th century,” celibacy cannot “account for the rise and subsequent decline in abuse cases from the 1960s through the 1980s.” n Despite “widespread speculation,” priests with a homosexual identity “were not significantly more likely to abuse minors” than heterosexual priests. Sexual “identity” should be differentiated from “behavior.” A possible reason so many male minors were abused is that priests had greater access to them. n Seventy percent of priests referred for abusing a minor “had also

2001

2003

7

2010

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Major recommendations from ‘causes and context’ report on abuse WASHINGTON, D.C. — Making recommendations “to Catholic leadership” was an objective of the “causes and context” study released in Washington, D.C., May 18. The study sought to understand factors that led to sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in the U.S. In a key summary observation on abuse prevention, the report said: “For abuse to occur, three factors must converge: There must be a person who is motivated to commit the act of abuse, there must be a potential victim and there must be a lack of a ‘capable guardian.’”

In light of that, the report recommended that “careful attention” be paid to the “situational factors” associated with abuse.

“Reduce the opportunities for abuse to occur,” it said.

Putting the findings of the study itself to use in seminaries and in the continuing education of priests was a recommendation.

The report said: n The study findings “should be digested and used as the basis for a mandatory curriculum for a workshop for all seminary faculty.” n The human formation of seminarians and priests “should include a thorough understanding of the major findings of this study.”

Abuse prevention policies should “focus on three factors: education, situational prevention models, and oversight and accountability,” the report said. It recommended that leaders and others in the

Church: n Make it more difficult for priests to commit acts of abuse. Safe environment programs serve this goal. n Increase the risks of abuse. Make it more likely abusers will be identified. n Refuse to accept “techniques of neutralization,” used by abusers to “excuse and justify” their behavior. n Educate seminarians and priests “about the harm of abuse to victims.” n Clearly delineate “behavioral expectations appropriate to a life of celibacy.” n Institute periodic evaluation of the performance of priests. n Maintain and evaluate steps to prevent abuse. n Exercise “transparency in reporting and dealing with sexual abuse.”

The report recommended steps to reduce “the need for priests to develop social bonds with adolescents they are mentoring.” It said priests should have “outlets to form social friendships and suitable bonds with ageappropriate persons.”

The report stressed that “to fully achieve change in the Catholic Church, all diocesan leaders must be committed to transparency about their actions, ensure that the immediate and appropriate responses to abuse become routine and ensure that such actions are adopted on a national level by all Church leaders.”

— Catholic News Service

The report says...

Key comments from the report titled “The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010,” released this week: n “The problem of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests peaked in the 1970s, with a decline by the mid1980s in all regions of the Catholic Church in the United States.” n “Some percentage of priests will be vulnerable to sexually abuse children. Although a vulnerability or predisposition may exist in general, this situation does not imply that it is possible to either identify specific ‘causes’ of the abusive behavior or identify specific individuals who will commit acts of abuse.” n “The failure to recognize the harm of physical or sexual abuse was not atypical in American society generally in the late 1970s and 1980s.” n “(It is) crucial to recognize that the abuse was concentrated in the 1960s and 1970s, and that those generations of Catholic priests were vulnerable without having had either a careful preparation for a celibate life or the understanding of the harm of sexual abuse that is now part of the overall culture.” n “Over the past 25 years, a remarkable intensification of human formation and deeper understanding of the importance of its role are evident in almost every seminary. Over the same period, the total number of accusations of sexual abuse of a minor by a Catholic priest has fallen.” n “Prior to 1984, the common assumption of those who the bishops consulted was that clergy sexual misbehavior was both psychologically curable and could be spiritually remedied.” n “After the ‘Five Principles’ were affirmed (by the bishops) in the early 1990s, there was general consensus that a response to sexual abuse was necessary; yet diocesan implementation varied considerably. This pattern is consistent with innovation in organizations in general.” n “Pope Benedict XVI’s recent and highly publicized support for accountability and transparency regarding abuse victims and hierarchical neglect should encourage Catholic dioceses to continue to complete their innovation in response to and prevention of sexual abuse of minors.”

— Catholic News Service

OUR PARISHESI 23

Our world 24

charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Vatican orders bishops to draft guidelines to handle sex abuse cases Cindy Wooden and Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY— Every bishops’ conference in the world must have guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sex abuse in place within a year, said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In a letter dated May 3 and released by the Vatican May 16, U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada, congregation prefect, said that in every nation and region, bishops should have “clear and coordinated procedures” for protecting children, assisting victims of abuse, dealing with accused priests, training clergy and cooperating with civil authorities.

Describing sexual abuse of minors as “a crime prosecuted by civil law,” the doctrinal congregation said bishops should follow local laws that require reporting cases of sexual abuse to police.

Since the early 1990s about two dozen bishops’ conferences, starting mainly with English-speaking countries, have drawn up guidelines for dealing with accusations of sexual abuse of minors filed against clergy and other church employees. Other conferences – for example, the Italian bishops’ conference – have said they did not draw up guidelines because bishops were obliged to follow canon law and special provisions enacted in 2001 by Blessed Pope John Paul II and in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the fact that conferences were given a precise deadline and only 12 months to draft their guidelines demonstrates how seriously the Vatican takes the matter.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International named the Vatican in its annual report on human rights’ concerns for not sufficiently complying with international mandates on protecting children from abuse. It marked the first time the Vatican was named in the group’s Annual Report on the state of human rights around the world.

The 2011 Annual Report covered human rights in 157 countries, looking particularly at rights abuses and restrictions and at failures to implement international rights’ agreements.

The report said, “The Holy See did not sufficiently comply with its international obligations relating to the protection of children,” specifically regarding sex abuse.

The Vatican is party to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 19 of the convention says that states parties “shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.”

The article also says measures should be implemented to aid in prevention, reporting and investigation of abuse as well as care for victims and, “as appropriate,” the involvement of the court system.

The Amnesty International report said, “Increasing evidence of widespread child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy over the past decades, and of the enduring failure of the Catholic Church to address these crimes properly, continued to emerge in various countries.”

CNS | Toru Hanai, Reuters

Earthquake evacuees observe moment of silence at shelter in Japan Evacuees observe a moment of silence for earthquake victims at 2:46 p.m. local time at a shelter in Watari in Japan’s Miyagi prefecture April 22. Two months after a magnitude 9 earthquake created havoc in Japan March 11, Pope Benedict XVI sent an envoy to the disaster area to express the pope’s concern for all affected, the Vatican said.

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

In Brief Vatican asked Australian bishop to resign six times before his removal PERTH, Australia — Toowoomba Bishop William Morris was asked to resign six times by three Vatican congregations and Pope Benedict XVI before the pontiff finally insisted that he leave office May 2, said documents obtained by The Record, Perth archdiocesan newspaper. The documents also showed that Bishop Morris asked Vatican congregations for more time to resign because he was dealing with a protracted case involving sexual abuse.

Pope Benedict appointed Brisbane Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Toowoomba in northern Queensland to replace Bishop Morris, who was ordained bishop of Toowoomba in 1993.

In a letter to Bishop Finnigan dated May 12, Australia’s bishops expressed their support and said they had spent much time at their recent meeting discussing the events surrounding Bishop Morris’ removal, a process they called “difficult and distressing.” They reaffirmed their commitment to the pope’s decision and said they would continue discussions about the process when they visited the Vatican later this year for their “ad limina” visits.

Pope Benedict’s removal of Bishop Morris, 67, came after more than a decade of conflict between the prelate and the Vatican, according to documents obtained by The Record.

Anger rises over bail granted to two accused of raping Indian nun BHUBANESWAR, India — Church workers and community activists voiced shock and dismay at a court ruling to grant bail to two men accused of raping a nun.

“We’re aghast,” Bipra Charan Nayak, convener of the Survivors Association of Kandhamal, told the Asian church news agency UCA News May 12. On May 9, Justice Chittaranjan Das granted bail to Pandit Bishimajhi and Jatia Sahu, saying he could not find enough evidence linking them to the alleged rape.

The nun said she was raped Aug. 25, 2008, during anti-Christian violence.

Bishimajhi and Sahu are accused of being the masterminds behind the 2008 attacks on Christian targets, which resulted in 90 deaths and 50,000 people being displaced. Mobs also destroyed churches and convents and burned Christian homes. The accused men later went into hiding. They were discovered by police and taken into custody in June 2010. Bishimajhi is secretary of a local unit of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party and is a close associate of local legislative assembly member Karendra Majhi.

Pope’s ‘reform of the reform’ in liturgy to continue, cardinal says VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI’s easing of restrictions on use of the 1962 Roman Missal, known as the Tridentine rite, is just the first step in a “reform of the reform” in liturgy, the Vatican’s top ecumenist said.

The pope’s long-term aim is not simply to allow the old and new rites to coexist, but to move toward a “common rite” that is shaped by

the mutual enrichment of the two Mass forms, Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said May 14. In effect, the pope is launching a new liturgical reform movement, the cardinal said. Those who resist it, including “rigid” progressives, mistakenly view the Second Vatican Council as a rupture with the Church’s liturgical tradition, he said.

Cardinal Koch made the remarks at a Rome conference on “Summorum Pontificum,” Pope Benedict’s 2007 apostolic letter that offered wider latitude for use of the Tridentine rite. The cardinal’s text was published the same day by L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper.

Cardinal Koch said Pope Benedict thinks the post-Vatican II liturgical changes have brought “many positive fruits” but also problems, including a focus on purely practical matters and a neglect of the paschal mystery in the Eucharistic celebration. The cardinal said it was legitimate to ask whether liturgical innovators had intentionally gone beyond the council’s stated intentions.

Vatican norms: ‘Generous’ approval for use of Tridentine rite VATICAN CITY — A new Vatican instruction calls on local bishops and pastors to respond generously to Catholics who seek celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal, commonly known as the Tridentine rite. The instruction, issued May 13, said pastors should approve such Masses for groups of faithful, even when such groups are small or are formed of people from different parishes or dioceses. These faithful cannot, however, contest the validity of the modern Mass or the authority of the pope.

“In deciding individual cases, the pastor or the rector, or the priest responsible for a church, is to be guided by his own prudence, motivated by pastoral zeal and a spirit of generous welcome,” it said. The instruction said that, depending on pastoral needs, bishops should make sure seminarians are trained in celebrating the Tridentine rite, or “extraordinary form” of the Mass.

The instruction came nearly four years after the pope, in an apostolic letter titled “Summorum Pontificum,” relaxed restrictions on use of the Tridentine rite and said it should be made available in every parish where groups of the faithful desire it.

Pope to meet Catholic families, pray at tomb of martyr in Croatia VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI will meet with politicians and professionals, families and clergy on his first trip to Croatia June 4-5. He will fly to the Croatian capital of Zagreb for an event-packed two-day trip that begins with a visit to President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. He will also join young people in a prayer vigil in a Zagreb square, and he will celebrate a Mass dedicated to Croatian Catholic families. One of the highlights will be during an evening liturgy when he will pray at the tomb of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, the archbishop of Zagreb from 1937 to 1960. The cardinal was persecuted by the communist regime of Marshal Tito and died a martyr.

— Catholic News Service

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ViewPoints

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | May 20, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

By the numbers

Cheryl Dickow

Boys will be boys

I

remember when my first son was in need of his first haircut. I took him to a professional stylist and, with 35mm camera in hand, clicked away, literally walking around and around his seat, so that, once developed, the pictures would immortalize that very special day in my life, in his life, in the world, I was sure.

By the time my third son needed his first haircut, I let my mom have at it and, as it turned out, time had not improved her haircutting skills. My youngest son ended up with the same bangs that I had worn some 30 years earlier.

Things really do change from the first born to the second and then to the third.

And as that is all the children we were blessed with, I can go no further with my experience but my assumptions would be that by the fifth or sixth child, he or she may very well be performing his or her own first haircut.

Now, my oldest is graduating from college, the second is mid-way through his college career, and my youngest has almost completed high school. All the years since those first haircuts have truly gone by in the blink of an eye.

I can’t say, for sure, what each of my son’s take on things has been; but, for me it has been an incredible journey. And I’ll admit that I look back and find great relief that my oldest, in particular, has been so forgiving towards me in all the ways I tried to shape and mold him into what I thought was right – and certainly in keeping with my post-feminist upbringing, which included the need to neutralize any distinctions between the sexes along with my politically-correct interest in taming all things that could even appear to have a glimmer of “inappropriateness” attached to them.

No matter how hard I tried, though, he was still a “boy.” And that means something. They all were very much “boys.” For instance, they simply weren’t able to pass each other in the hall without a push and a shove for good luck. Try as I might to dissuade them, they were just so “physical” all the time! I once received a note from a teacher who, in all seriousness, felt it was imperative to tell me that my son, while playing “Duck-Duck-Goose” became so mischievous that he tapped two children instead of one! I can only imagine the pandemonium that ensued and my son

received from me the sternest of warning against such wild classroom antics. At the time, I was duly mortified that I would have birthed the child who wreaked havoc with “Duck-Duck-Goose” rules.

There were times I was forced to walk away from parent-teacher conferences with a piece of paper held in front of my face in hopes of obscuring my identity as I made a beeline towards the door. But, all in all, they were really fine young boys on their way growing into fine young men.

One dinner, when the boys were aged about 2, 4 and 6, I remember one of them eating a piece of bread into the shape of a gun – and me being completely convinced that I had failed as a mother.

“How,” I moaned to my husband, “could they even know about such things?!”

Boys will be boys. If we understand it not as an excuse for bad behavior but, rather, being a plausible testament to some basic genetic truths, we are able to more sufficiently appreciate how God created male and female and the path on which each will proceed towards developing virtuous behaviors and moral choices.

Denying the genetic and natural differences between male and female will not make them go away.

In His immense wisdom, God gave me all sons. I have learned so much about our Creator through my life as a mother of boys. So many of the ill-conceived notions about gender-neutrality, part and parcel of my life as a teenager in the radicalfeminist-movement that pervaded the 1970s, have been washed away in the truth about male and female, their inherent differences, their shared dignity, their beauty as having been created, equally but diverse, in His image, His likeness.

As my own sons grow into men, I am grateful for the gifts they have received from their Creator and feel blessed that I discovered, sooner rather than later, how important their unique “maleness” is and how it has been a gift to participate in helping them grow into all that God has called them to be as they venture out into the world as men.

Cheryl Dickow is a Catholic wife, mother, author and speaker, as well as president of Bezalel Books. Her latest book is “Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman’s Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with Her Past.” Write to her at Cheryl@BezalelBooks.com.

REACTION TO BIN LADEN’S DEATH Catholic opinion on the killing of Osama bin Laden does not differ significantly from the opinion of all U.S. adults.

Scripture says, ‘Do not rejoice when your enemies fall.’ Do you believe this applies to how Americans should react to the death of Osama bin Laden?

TIM P. FARAGHER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bin Laden’s death brings relief, chance to reflect on a violent world WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has been nearly 10 years since her death, but for Thomas Heidenberger, his wife Michele remains foremost in his mind. Michele died as a crew member on American Airlines Flight 77, which hijackers crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001.

Memories of the life the two shared in their Chevy Chase, Md., home and the devotion to family are what Heidenberger tries to keep alive.

Never mind that Osama bin Laden is dead, said Heidenberger, a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in suburban Washington, D.C. “For myself and my children, it (bin Laden’s death) did not make an iota of difference,” he told Catholic News Service May 10. “It doesn’t change things.

“To a certain amount of people, they call it justice,” he continued. “I wouldn’t even call it that

on account it did not bring Michele back. It will not bring back any of the 3,000 who perished that day. To the families themselves it doesn’t change things in the broader spectrum.”

Heidenberger, now 65, said he’s not bitter about Michele’s death. Neither does he feel that the man who controlled the al-Qaida terror network got what he deserved because he cannot, as a Catholic, rejoice in the death of another human being. He said he harbors no doubts, however, that the violence that bin Laden espoused and the equally violent assault on his compound feeds a spiral that does little good.

“Violence begets violence,” he said. “Where does it get you? I don’t want 3,000 people or one individual to go through what we had to go through 10 years ago.”

— Catholic News Service

May 20, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

The Poor Clares

P

Gifts for the call

erhaps you have heard phrases like: “Men talk about things, women talk about people.” Or, “Women nag their husbands about showing affection and men accuse women of being too sensitive.”

Men and women share much in their respective human natures, but we are not the same. Our differences are not just superficial ones, but are part of our very souls – gifts for the unique call we have been given from God. Edith Stein, in her book entitled “Woman,” breaks down the differences between men and women to a root element: Men are naturally more focused on doing, women on being.

Men operate primarily with intellect, women with emotions.

What does this mean in practical terms? It means that men’s desires are fulfilled through achieving goals, accomplishing tasks. Women are more concerned with the importance of being a whole person, not just through exterior accomplishments, but through being emotionally fulfilled and developing relationships with others.

Occasional struggles in our relationships with each other may spring from the fact that we approach life from different directions. Our way of expressing love is also affected by this. Men express their love primarily by actions, women by words.

An important fact to remember, though, is that masculinity and femininity are not that simple to grasp. God works outside the box! A person can possess characteristics more common to the opposite sex and not be any less a man or woman because of it.

Think of a man who is a great poet.

He can be more sensitive than the classic, stereotypical man. But though he may be as comfortable with his emotions as a woman is, he will still

express them in a masculine way.

A life of holiness actually calls us to round out these characteristics within ourselves. St. Teresa of Avila wrote that she wished for “manly nuns” – women full of courage and undaunted zeal for the salvation of souls. The love that pulls a man’s heart to devote his life to the care of souls as a priest involves a degree of compassion that may be described as “motherly.”

Jesus Himself compared His love for Jerusalem to that of “a hen gathering her chicks under her wings” (Lk 13:34).

The ideal is not one or the other root element, either “doing” or “being.”

God is both.

Who could be more active than God, who brought the whole world into being, whose activity is seen on every page of Sacred Scripture, whose grace is ceaselessly active in our hearts?

But He chose to reveal Himself based on who He is in Himself, not what He does. He proclaimed to Moses in the burning bush “I AM Who AM”(Ex 3:14). This is being in its utter simplicity.

God has designed men and women differently, and we operate in ways based on these differences. One is not better than the other. Both are deeper than humorous peculiarities and both are reflected in God Himself. These complementary elements point to a gift that is given us as part of our call as man or woman, and a gift that is meant to be shared.

Sister Marie Thérèse of the divine child jesus is professed with the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration St. Joseph Monastery in Charlotte. This is part of a monthly commentary by the Poor Clares to focus on topics of faith and to address questions about religious life.

Learn more about the community and subscribe to their newsletter by going online to www. stjosephmonastery.com.

Letters policy The Catholic News Herald welcomes letters from readers. We ask that letters be originals of 250 words or fewer, pertain to recent newspaper content or Catholic issues, and be in good taste.

Mail: Letters to the Editor Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203 E-mail: c atholicnews@charlottediocese.org

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Deacon James H. Toner

Rules, results and realities R

ecently I spoke with someone studying Catholic moral theology. He finds the subject complex, and he is having a difficult time with it.

I can relate. My first real “problem” with Catholic moral theology took place in a restaurant, where my date and I had gone after seeing a movie. One of the issues in the movie concerned a woman who was about to deliver a baby, but according to the film’s plot, could not deliver the child without risking her own death. It was possible to kill the unborn child so that complications to the mother would not arise. Her husband was gone, she was unconscious, and her brother (and “attorney”) was a priest. Of course, he could not consent to the deliberate killing of the unborn child, so his sister died – and the baby was safely delivered.

I was very serious about the young woman I was dating. She was a non-denominational

cut up one person and distribute his various body parts to, say, a dozen people who need them? Sure: “The good of the many outweighs the good of the one,” doesn’t it? See what happens when Hollywood teaches ethics?

The Church has consistently rejected utilitarianism or, as it’s known in some theological circles, proportionalism. (The fancy noun doesn’t correct the mistaken morality.)

Let’s see: results are inadequate for good moral judgment; and so are situational “realities.” How about rules? There must be some duties that are always binding, and we find these in rules, don’t we? Well, this gets us closer to the truth. Some things, by nature, we must know – even though we are experts at self-deception.

Also, we can learn about these rules. A good place to start is the Catechism (see CCC 1776-1802, and “Veritatis Splendor” 72). It is

‘Most moral problems we confront can be resolved by the application of basic Catholic teaching.’

Protestant and somewhat less than thrilled with my Catholicism. I was silently kicking myself: “There are a dozen movies we could have seen, and I pick THAT one!” Too late!

“So,” she said, “what would you do if you and I were ever in that situation?”

“How about them Red Sox!” “No, really – what choice would you make?’

“Great hamburgers, eh? Pass the mustard!”

Finally, I had to answer the question: “I hope I would make the same choice as the priest in the movie.”

If all that matters in Catholic moral theology is circumstances or situations, then perhaps the “movie priest” could have consented to the medically-imposed death of the baby. In this view, all that matters in making a proper moral judgment is the reality of the moment.

Pope Pius XII understandably condemned situational ethics in 1952. There must be some enduring things we know, and there must be some moral reference we can use other than our own desires. (Also see John Paul II’s “Veritatis Splendor,” 59.)

If all that matters in morality is how things turn out, then perhaps the “movie priest” could have decided differently. Utilitarianism (of various types) is a popular moral theory because we think we can measure various outcomes and choose “the best.” So could we

possible that moral principles can conflict, though, so there is need for the virtue of prudence (CCC 1806), which means the educated ability to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time in the right way.

We hear that we should follow our conscience, but only if it is well formed (CCC 1783). We hear that we should always speak the truth, but there are times not to reveal the truth (CCC 2488). We hear that private property must be respected, but only up to a point (CCC 2404).

Is this just a way of saying that there are no absolutes? Absolutely not (sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Hard cases make bad laws.

The fact is, most moral problems we confront can be resolved by the application of basic Catholic teaching: Consider but don’t be controlled by circumstances; have the right end in view, which is our eternal salvation; and do the proper thing properly.

As to how it turned out for me with that young woman and the movie discussion: She and I just had the joy of our ninth grandchild, whom I baptized at Our Lady of Grace. Deo gratias!

Deacon James H. Toner, who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame, has taught and lectured about ethics and moral philosophy at numerous colleges. He serves at our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

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