ORDINARY TIME
Catholic san Francisco
Lent — a time for prayer, fasting, and charity
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
By Archbishop William J. Levada
(CNS PHOTO BY CHASE BECKER, SOUTHERN NEBRASKA REGISTER)
Each year the season of Lent offers us a kind of retreat, as we follow the liturgy and devotions of the Church, and read her Scriptures and receive her sacraments. As I write the words of this column, I am preparing for a week-long retreat at El Retiro, the Jesuit retreat center in Los Altos, with the Bishops of the Metropolitan Province of San Francisco, ending just the day before Ash Wednesday. Lent begins with the unforgettable ritual of Ash Wednesday. The Old Testament prophet Jonah proclaimed the Word of God in Nineveh, the great capital city of Assyria. He called the people to repentance for their sins, to conversion of their lives back to God. We are told that the people were so moved by the message of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, that they all covered their bodies with ashes and wore garments made of rough sackcloth to show the depth of their commitment to repent and be converted. They even put their animals in ashes and sackcloth to let God know how sincere they were! The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday remind us of the “dust of the earth” from which God created us; of the temporary, passing character of our pilgrim journey of life on this earth; of the importance above all that our pilgrimage have as its purpose and goal the God who made us and his divine will. As St. Paul will remind us again in the reading of the Palm Sunday liturgy, as Lent draws to its climax, Christ gave us the example of obedience to his Father’s will, for “he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Phil 2:9). Ash Wednesday is not the sum total of Lent, however. It is the doorway, inviting us to a 40-day retreat. Here the Church follows the ORDINARY TIME, page 3
Mayor Newsom defies same-sex marriage ban By Jack Smith In defiance of California State law and an overwhelmingly popular voter approved State proposition, the administration of newly installed San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has issued nearly 3,000 marriage licenses to couples of the same sex. California family code has always held that marriage consists of a union between one man and one woman. The code also contains criminal penalties for any official licensing a marriage in violation of the code.
In addition to pre-existing California law, the samesex marriage licenses issued by Newsom are in violation of Proposition 22, approved by the voters of California in 2000 by a margin of 61 to 39 per cent. The law created by that proposition read, in total, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The summary of the law provided to voters on the official ballot read, “This measure provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
But Newsom says the California family code and Proposition 22 are unconstitutionally discriminatory. “Less than a month ago I took the oath of office here at City Hall and swore to uphold California’s Constitution,” Newsom said in a statement issued after he directed County Clerk Nancy Alfaro to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Newsom said his move was mandated by the State Constitution’s “equal protection” clause. NEWSOM, page 7
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Marriage battles . . . . . . . . . 6 Young fogeys . . . . . . . . . . 13 Marriage Q & A . . . . . . . . 14 Vatican on same-sex . . . . . 15
News in brief
Gibson speaks on “The Passion”
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February 20, 2004
Eurotrip trashed. . . . . . . . 17
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Classified ads. . . . . . . . . . 19 ~ Pages 10-11 ~ FIFTY CENTS
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 6
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
On The Where You Live by Tom Burke “On the Street Where You Live” had its fifth birthday last week and it’s all because of you. We are now more than 200 columns down the road and none would have been possible without your willingness to share bits of your life with this page and takin’ the time to read about ‘em. Thank you very much. I know you’ve heard it before but this is an empty space without ya’!!!…Hats off to Cathedral cantor, Stephen Walsh, who also stays busy managing the daily Free Meals Program at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. “On weekends at
The Varsity Girls Golf Team from St. Ignatius College Preparatory took first place in Northern California contests and fourth in statewide matches. Front from left, Rosalie Tolentino, Keiki Fukuda, Colleen McHugh, Patti Pang, Katie Cavallero. Back from left, Dana Fisco; Julius Yap, coach; Elaine Harris; Bill Olinger, assistant coach; Katie Moran.
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Official newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Most Reverend William J. Levada, publisher Maurice E. Healy, associate publisher & editor Editorial Staff: Jack Smith, assistant editor; Evelyn Zappia, feature editor; Tom Burke, “On the Street” and Datebook; Patrick Joyce, contributing editor/senior writer; Sharon Abercrombie and Jayme George, reporters Advertising: Joseph Pena, director; Mary Podesta, account representative Production: Karessa McCartney, manager
Dolores Institute #7 of the Young Ladies Institute recently welcomed YLI Grand President, Barbara Lovio. The evening’s theme was Our Lady’s Rosary and also welcomed was newest member, Kathleen Manning. From left: Louise Thibeaux, Helga Zinck, visiting prez Lovio, Eileen desMeules, Dolores president; new member Kathleen, and Rosemary Shanahan. Thanks to Rose Marie Azinheira for the good news and her affirming words about this column.
the Cathedral I sing about feeding the hungry and during Petucci, assistant coach of girls junior varsity volleyball at the week I feed the hungry,” Stephen said with a laugh Our Lady of Angels and whose name didn’t make it into very happy to be handling both of the worthy works. an item lauding the championship team….Recently drove Stephen’s identical twin brother, Kevin, is also a singer, by a launderette named “Let’s Do Wash.” I think there and spends his time managing and singing on recordings should be a saloon next door called “Let’s Not.”…All of new offerings from Oregon Catholic Press, which is stops were out to celebrate Marcella Bondanza on the based in Portland, Oregon where the lads grew up and occasion of her 95th birthday January 10th. Facilitating publishes hymnals found in the festivities honoring the many parishes here. Over Our Lady of Loretto Thanksgiving, I had the parishioner were her son, opportunity to sing at my Ray, and his wife, Arline, boyhood church. Among the as well as her daughter, selections was a lovely piece Gina Moscone, 6 grandcalled “In Every Age” children and spouses, and 10 which I practiced in the car great grandchildren… from an OCP CD. I noticed Congrats to Science Fair the voice of the soloist winners and participants sounded much like Stephen. at Notre Dame Elementary “That was my brother,” the School, Belmont, five of proud sib told me. “I love whom will whip up potions singing at the Cathedral,” in the San Mateo County Stephen, who leads song at version of the contest next the 5:30 p.m. Saturday week including Dominic Mass, 9 and11 a.m. Sunday Ferrario, Caitlin Ellis, liturgies and additional Lauren Moissiy, Lyra Tan, major celebrations, said. Ryan Blumenthal. The baritone also sings from Honorably mentioned for Marcella Bondanza the repertoire of George their good work among the Gershwin and Cole Porter with a quintet called the compounds et al were Meaghan Fowler, Alexandra “Gala Singers.”… “Sorry” says I to Alex Ryles, an 8th Moreno, Jessica Chou, Amanda Deering….Remember, grader at St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart elementary, and this is an empty space without ya’!!! Send items and a Kathleen McGraw, a 7th grader at the school. Their follow up phone number to On the Street Where You names never made it into the caption for a Catholic Live, One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109. Fax (415) 614Schools Week picture they were in with Archbishop 5641; e-mail tburke@catholic-sf.org. Do not send William J. Levada during his December visit to their attachments except photos and those in jpeg, please. You Atherton campus….One more make good with Katie can reach Tom Burke at (415) 614-5634….
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February 20, 2004
Ordinary Time . . . ■ Continued from cover example of Jesus, who prepared for the work his Father sent him into the world to do, the work of announcing the Kingdom of God, by a 40-day “retreat” in the desert. The Gospels tell us that Jesus “fasted” for those forty days: “During that time he ate nothing, and at the end of it he was hungry” (Luke 4:2). The Gospel for Ash Wednesday’s liturgy illustrates three basic acts of Jewish piety — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — that Jesus warns his disciples not to do in order to receive comment or praise from others, but only to draw closer to God. These three acts of piety form the basic program for the Church’s celebration of Lent. Prayer is a staple of Christian life, and Lent invites us to renew our life of prayer and foster it. The Mass and the sacrament of Penance are at the center of our lives as disciples during these forty days; reading from the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, is a daily prayer everyone can engage in; the Stations of the Cross are designed to evoke from us the affective prayer of love for a Savior who suffered and died for our sins — out of such great love for us. Almsgiving, too, is a practice we Christians have inherited from our Jewish
roots. The Bishops’ Overseas Relief Collection, which funds the worldwide work of Catholic Relief Services, is always taken up during Lent, offering us a concrete means to focus our almsgiving. The CRS Rice Bowl Lenten practice is a wonderful tool to educate ourselves and our children to a personal commitment to helping the hungry people of the world. But fasting seems the most problematic part of the Lenten program for many of us. It is also traditionally at the heart of the celebration of Lent. Christians of the eastern churches mark this season as “Great Lent,” fasting throughout from meat, fish, eggs. We Catholics, on the other hand, have almost forgotten fasting and its important spiritual value. We are “obliged” to fast only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, a far cry from days of yore. By fasting we mean eating only one regular meal, with two other light meals as needed. It is true that Church law also retains the former practice of “abstaining” from meat on the Fridays of Lent (as well as Ash Wednesday). Many of us will remember the time when every Friday of the year was meatless, and when days of fasting occurred often during the year, and often enough during Lent to be a real penance. Eamon Duffy, Professor of History at the University of Cambridge in England, says
Celebrate God’s Creation of Marriage Saturday, Feb. 21 — 12:00 Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral Gough St. and Geary Blvd — San Francisco Everyone is invited to celebrate marriage as instituted by God and honor married men and women celebrating 25, 50 or more years of marriage. Wives and husbands celebrating one to ten years of marriage are warmly invited. Whatever anniversary you and your husband or you and your wife are celebrating this year, come to St. Mary’s Cathedral for 12:00 Mass — Saturday, Feb. 21. Cover: A cross is pictured at sunset at the Monastic Cemetery of Christ the King Priory near Schuyler, Neb. The New Testament cross is a symbol of redemption and the imitation of Christ.
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“the ritual observance of dietary rules — fasting and abstinence from meat in Lent, and abstinence from meat and meat products every Friday, ... were as much defining marks of Catholicism before the Council as abstention from pork is a defining characteristic of Judaism.” He laments the change in the Church’s discipline, saying “since 1967 what was once a truly corporate observance, reminding us of the Passion of Christ, or our own spiritual poverty and, even more concretely, of the material poverty of most of the human race, reminding us what it was like to be hungry, has become another individual consumer choice, like going on a diet.” While fasting and abstinence are important aspects of personal asceticism, when the whole Church commits herself to doing them corporately they also more clearly remind us of our commitment to solidarity with the poor and hungry of the world. At the same time, we should recall that in 1967 when the Bishops’ Conference in the United States made fast and abstinence for the most part “optional,” they reminded us of the religious reasons why fasting is important. They urged us American Catholics to continue these traditional practices as a way of identifying with and being grateful for the Passion of Christ, and as a means of helping to “preserve a saving and necessary difference from the spirit of the world.” In the ascetical tradition of the spiritual life, fasting is considered necessary in order to achieve true freedom of heart with regard to food. This is why the Eucharistic meal, a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, is preceded by a time of fasting (now reduced to a required one hour, but ideally — and optionally — extended to a meaningful period that can focus our attention on the coming ritual of “feasting” on the true Body and Blood of the Lord). Many parishes include fasting in the Lenten program, for example, by a Lenten
Catholic San Francisco
Archbishop William J. Levada
soup supper, combining fasting with charity for the poor. The “Rice Bowl” program helps families do the same. Perhaps it is time to reexamine the “option” provided us almost four decades ago, and “opt” once again for fuller use of the Church’s tradition of fasting and abstinence, in order to embrace more fully these penitential practices for the sake of our spiritual growth. I hope these reflections can assist us all in focusing on the upcoming season of Lent, so that we may make good use of its treasury of grace for our personal spiritual growth, and for the growth in holiness of the whole Church. May our observance of Lent renew in us the grace of our Baptism, and make us eager to welcome our brothers and sisters in the catechumenate, for whom this Lent will be their final preparation to receive the sacraments of Christian initiation at Easter, when they will join in full communion with Christ and his beloved Bride, the Church (cf. Eph 5:32; Rev 21:2.9).
Most Reverend William J. Levada Archbishop of San Francisco
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Catholic San Francisco
NEWS
February 20, 2004
in brief
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Archdiocese issued a list Feb. 16 of “210 priests, deacons, brothers and seminarians in the archdiocese and one bogus priest ... accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor” since 1930. It said an additional 33 men who were not listed have been accused. It said there had been no criminal or civil action against 28 of those; in the other five cases, the archdiocese could find no record that the person named in a lawsuit ever existed. In listing accusations going back to 1930, the archdiocese went 20 years beyond the investigations conducted last year by most U.S. dioceses in response to a national study of the extent of clergy sexual abuse of minors since 1950. In all, it said, “656 persons have accused 244 priests, deacons, brothers, seminarians and one bogus priest of child sexual abuse.” It said 5,000 priests served in the archdiocese during that time. It said the archdiocese has settled child molestation cases since 1985 for a total of $10.35 million. Of that, it said, the archdiocese paid about $3.75 million, insurance paid about $3.7 million and the remainder was paid by others, such as religious orders, other dioceses or the perpetrators themselves.
Retired Phoenix bishop guilty in fatal hit-and-run accident PHOENIX — Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien, resigned head of the Phoenix Diocese, was found guilty Feb. 17 of charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. After deliberating just sixand-a-half hours over two days, the eight jurors told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gerst in a packed courtroom that they unanimously agreed the bishop was guilty. Conviction carries a sentence ranging from probation to as long as three years and nine months in prison. Bishop O’Brien, 68, had admitted driving the car that struck and killed 43-year-old Jim Reed on a dark Phoenix street June 14. Although witnesses said a second car also hit Reed, no other vehicle has ever been traced to the accident. On June 18, two days after police arrested him on the felony charge, Bishop O’Brien resigned as head of the diocese, a position he had held for 21 years.
Horrors of past abuse must not be repeated: Justice Burke SALT LAKE CITY — Quoting Pope John Paul II, the interim chairwoman of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ National Review Board told a Salt Lake City audience that “there must be no more victims” of clergy sex abuse. Illinois Appellate Court Justice Anne Burke said the horrors of the past must not be repeated and the process of healing for abuse victims must prove that justice is being carried out in abuse cases. Burke, who spoke Feb. 7, is vice chairwoman of the review board and has headed it since former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating resigned last June. The 13member all-lay board was formed in June 2002 as part of the program to fight child sexual abuse adopted by the U.S. bishops in their “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” The U.S. Catholic Church “is experiencing a rebirth made possible only through faith and human anguish,” Burke said. Only faith can make sense out of the struggle brought on by the clergy sex abuse scandal, she said, “and our survival depends on the ability of our hearts to go beyond what our eyes can see.”
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Los Angeles Archdiocese reports on clergy sexual abuse numbers
Archbishop Carroll High School senior Christina Beauzile presents a letter jacket to President Bush during his visit to the school Feb. 13 in Washington. At left is the school's president, John Butler. Bush led a forum on school choice and the No Child Left Behind Act during his visit.
Picture of child sex abuse in U.S.society clouded by lack of data WASHINGTON — The clergy child sex abuse crisis has thrown light on a major problem throughout the United States that is still much in the shadows. Child sex abuse is grossly underreported and underinvestigated, making a comprehensive national picture difficult to develop, according to experts researching the issue. But, they added, it is a national problem that cuts across professions and organizations dealing with children. Most abusers are not strangers but individuals who are well-known to children, including relatives, friends and people in positions of trust, said experts interviewed by telephone by Catholic News Service. “As a ballpark figure, in excess of 200,000 children a year are sexually abused” in the United States, said David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Sid Johnson, president of the nonprofit Prevent Child Abuse America, said about 500,000 reports of child sex abuse are made yearly to state child prevention agencies. His organization estimates that 20 percent of women and 5 to 16 percent of men in the United States experienced sex abuse as minors.
Child sex abusers often relatives or friends, say experts WASHINGTON — A positive result of the clergy child sex abuse scandal is the warning signal it gave parents that abusers are often people known and trusted by minors and their families, said a top U.S. expert on child abuse. David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, said 70 to 80 percent of abusers are known to the child and include relatives and friends. Sid Johnson, president of the nonprofit Prevent Child Abuse America, said uncles, fathers, live-in boyfriends and others who can gain trust of a minor are among the abusers. “Perpetrators often place themselves in a position where they are in a respected role,” said HELPLINES FOR CLERGY/CHURCH SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS 415-614-5506 This number is answered by Barbara Elordi, Archdiocesan Pastoral Outreach Coordinator. This is a secured line and is answered only by Barbara Elordi. 415-614-5503 If you wish to speak to a non-archdiocesan employee please call this nunmber. This is also a secured line and is answered only by a victim survivor.
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Johnson, who believes the percentage of abusers who are wellknown to the child could reach 90 percent. His organization is involved in educational and advocacy programs to prevent child abuse. In telephone interviews with Catholic News Service, experts said professions which attract abusers include teaching and coaching. Volunteering for organizations dealing with minors also presents many opportunities for abusers, they said.
Vatican official and U.S. cardinal criticize So. Korean human cloning VATICAN CITY — The first successful cloning of human embryos to provide stem cells marks a dangerous step toward the unregulated commercialization of human life, said a leading Vatican official. Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said Feb. 12 that the mining of stem cells from embryos, which are then discarded, was a procedure “full of illicit acts.” In the United States, Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore said the creation and destruction of human embryos “is a sign of moral regress.” “Seldom have researchers done so much harm to so many fellow humans, with so little justification,” he said. The church leaders were reacting to news that scientists in South Korea had cloned 30 human embryos and grown them to the stage where they produce stem cells. The stem cells, which have the ability to turn into any cell in the body, were then extracted and the embryos destroyed. The scientists said they were trying to patent their technique and the stem cells produced. It was considered a major step toward so-called “therapeutic” cloning, which is undertaken not to create a human being but to produce stem cells that can be used to grow replacement tissue in treating disease. The church teaches that human cloning is wrong and that any destruction of human embryos violates the right to life of the weakest human beings. BRIEFS, page 5
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February 20, 2004
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Leaked report says 4,450 priests abused 11,000 children since 1950 By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — CNN reported Feb. 16 that, according to a draft report it obtained on sexual abuse of minors by U.S. Catholic priests and deacons, roughly 4,450 clergy have been accused of abusing a total of 11,000 minors between 1950 and 2002. “Whatever they reported is premature,” said James Levine, dean of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. The college conducted a nationwide study last year of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy and plans to release its report Feb. 27. The study was commissioned by the independent National Review Board established by the U.S. bishops in 2002 to help them deal with the clergy sex abuse crisis. “We’re still finalizing our report,” Levine told Catholic News Service Feb. 16 by telephone. He said “it would be irresponsible” for him to comment on the figures reported by CNN. He said a final portion of the CNN news story, reporting underlying causes of abuse, simply did not come from a draft of the John Jay study. CNN cited that study as its source for the causes as well as the figures it gave. “We are not dealing with causes. We are dealing with scope and incidence. ... That’s not verbiage from us,” Levine said. In a written statement released later, the college said, “The numbers reported in the media were apparently taken from a preliminary report (by John Jay researchers) completed in January 2004. ... The report will not address causes of the abuse problem. Media reports referring to such conclusions as part of the John Jay report are inaccurate.” Illinois Appellate Court Justice Anne M. Burke, acting chair of the bishops’ all-lay National Review Board — which besides commissioning the John Jay report also plans to issue its own report Feb. 27 on the causes and context of the abuse — told CNS Feb. 16 she had no idea what was the source of the CNN report on causes. Asked if it was possible CNN had obtained a draft of the board’s “causes and context” report as a source for its mate-
Briefs . . . ■ Continued from page 4
South African Archbishop Hurley, apartheid opponent, dies at age 88 CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Retired Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban, South Africa, an outspoken opponent of apartheid, died Feb. 13 at age 88. Archbishop Hurley “will be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the struggle against apartheid, for his concern for the poor and his commitment to a more just and peaceful society,” the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference said in a statement. Hurley was born in Cape Town to Irish parents. He studied for the priesthood in Ireland with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained in 1939. In
rial on the causes, she said, “I would highly doubt that. I can’t imagine how they would get it.” She said the board’s report, like the John Jay study, was still in the process of being completed. When asked if language about causes in the CNN report might reflect views discussed in the board’s report, she declined to make any comment that would relate to the substance of that report before its Feb. 27 release. Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement late Feb. 16 that the two reports to be issued Feb. 27 “will be a very important and sobering milestone” but the bishops’ conference will only respond to them “when they are finalized and released on Feb. 27 by the National Review Board.” Bishop Gregory added that the bishops requested the two studies “so that we could understand as fully as possible what caused this terrible occurrence in the life of our community to make sure that it never happens again.” William Burleigh, a board member and retired newspaper executive who is coordinating the board’s media relations, said in an e-mail to CNS that the board promised the bishops it would “not release the statistical study” without putting it into the context of the causes. “Thus the John Jay and board reports must be twinned” and the board will not discuss them before their simultaneous release Feb. 27, he said. By mid-February about 90 of the 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States had released summaries of the local statistical data they supplied to the John Jay researchers for the 52year study on the nature and scope of abuse of minors by clerics. But many of the local summaries did not provide breakdowns by age of alleged victims or number of clerics facing more than one accusation. Later versions of the CNN report said there were 110,000 priests serving in the United States during that time — indicating that nationally, 4 percent of all U.S. priests serving during those years have been accused of sexual misconduct with a minor. From other evidence not
addressed in the CNN report, only a small fraction of the accused clerics around the country were deacons. According to CNN, the national draft report said 78 percent of the alleged victims were 11 to 17 years old at the time of the abuse, 16 percent were 8 to 10 years old, and 6 percent were 7 or younger. CNN said “more than half” of the accused clerics faced only one allegation, 25 percent had two or three allegations, 13 percent faced four to nine, and 3 percent had 10 or more. The 147 priests who comprised the 3 percent with the most allegations accounted for about 3,000 of the 11,000 alleged victims, CNN said. In later TV and Internet versions of its story, CNN added that of the 11,000 allegations cited in the draft report it saw, 6,700, or 61 percent, were substantiated. It said 1,000 could not be substantiated and 3,300 “were not investigated because the priests involved were no longer alive.” CNN said reasons cited for the extent of the abuse in the church included “failure to grasp the gravity of the problem,” “an overemphasis on avoidance of scandal,” “use of unqualified treatment centers,” “a misguided willingness to forgive” and “insufficient accountability.” It cited the John Jay study as its source for those assessments. Levine said it was not within the scope of the John Jay study to address questions of that kind, and the subsequent written statement from the college said it was inaccurate to attribute such conclusions to its study. When the John Jay study is released, it will be the first comprehensive national attempt by any major organization or profession in the United States to study and report publicly on the extent of sexual abuse of minors within its ranks. For the other report to be released Feb. 27, the National Review Board interviewed about 75 bishops, priests, abuse victims and experts from areas such as treatment, law enforcement and child protection. The board’s “causes and context” report is to serve as a basic framework for establishing a more extensive, scientific study into the reasons behind the clergy sexual abuse crisis.
1947, he was named to replace Bishop Henry Delalle of Durban. And was made an archbishop five years later. At the Second Vatican Council, Archbishop Hurley was among 25 members of the agenda-setting Central Preparatory Commission. He first served as chairman of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 1952 to 1961, during which time the conference spoke against apartheid for the first time. In 1957, the conference issued a statement describing the system of enforced racial segregation as “inherently evil.”
and useless (armament),” Archbishop Silvano Tomasi told a meeting of land-mine experts in Geneva Feb. 10. Archbishop Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative to U.N. organizations in Geneva, emphasized the Holy See’s support of the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which called for a ban on land mines, destruction of stockpiles and increased aid to mine victims. The convention has been signed by about three-fourths of the world’s countries. But 47 countries — including the United States, China and Russia — with a combined stockpile of 200 million anti-personnel mines remain outside the treaty. Archbishop Tomasi cited his own experience as a Vatican diplomat in countries where thousands of land mines remain buried. “In Asia and Africa I have personally seen the ravages caused by anti-personnel mines on the bodies of fleeing refugees and of working women and men in border villages. Such mines are a source of inhuman suffering,” he said.
Land-mine victims need world’s attention, Vatican official says VATICAN CITY — A Vatican official called for improved assistance to victims of anti-personnel mines around the world. The international community has a responsibility to help “the innocent victims of this vile, murderous
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Same-sex marriage backers seek to impose their view via courts News Analysis By Patrick Joyce The decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco is the latest volley fired in a culture war that has been raging for more than a decade. Over that time, the advocates of same-sex marriage have lost battles across the country: in Congress, state legislatures and at the polls. They have won three times in state courts. Voters overturned one of those wins, and another resulted in a civil union law that continues to limit marriage to woman and a man. Thirty-eight states, including California, have enacted laws limiting marriage to a man and a woman. In May, Massachusetts, as the result of a ruling by its highest court, will become the first state to recognize same-sex unions as marriage. The change may be short lived. Many observers believe the ruling will be overturned by a constitutional amendment now under consideration by state lawmakers. The Massachusetts ruling also faces a possible challenge on the federal level. President Bush has said he believes that “Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.” He called the Massachusetts ruling “deeply troubling” and said, “If activist judges insist on redefining marriage by court order, the only alternative will be the constitutional process.” The President has not spelled out his position, but an amendment to the U.S. constitution declaring “that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman” has been introduced in Congress. The legislation has 112 co-sponsors. Same-sex marriage is opposed by three Democrat candidates for president: former Governor Howard Dean of Vermont, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. It is supported by Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al. Sharpton of New York. The long-running conflict over the definition of marriage erupted in 1993 when the Hawaii Supreme Court ordered the state to show that its ban on same-sex marriage did not violate the state constitution’s equal protection clause. A lower court later ruled that the state had failed to justify the law, and the state seemed on the brink of allowing same-sex marriage. Advocates of traditional marriage responded by backing state and federal Defense of Marriage laws. The state laws vary but they all define marriage as between a man and a woman. Six days before officials in San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Ohio Governor Bob Taft signed a law banning such marriages in the state. Ohio became the 38th state to enact legislation defining mar-
riage as between one man and one woman. California joined that list four years ago when voters approved, by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent, a 14-word initiative that declared: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Despite their success in enacting the new state laws, opponents of same-sex marriage continued to worry about insulating their states from the impact of laws or court rulings in other states. In the mid-1990s, with the outcome of the Hawaii case still uncertain, they turned their efforts to Congress. In 1996, the federal Defense of Marriage Act sailed through Congress on votes of 85 to 14 in the Senate and 342 to 67 in the House of Representatives. President Clinton signed the bill into law, saying he had long opposed same-sex marriages. Under the federal law, states can refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. It also prohibits treating same-sex couples as married for the purposes of receiving Social Security and other federal benefits, but it does not enact a federal ban on such marriages. Two years later, the issue in Hawaii, was finally decided by the people. In 1998, voters, by a 2 to 1 majority, approved a constitutional amendment supporting a state law defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. By that time, however, the battle had shifted across the country to Vermont. Again, advocates of same-sex marriage took to the courts. In 1997 they challenged the state’s marriage law and won. In December, 1999, the state Supreme Court ruled that a ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples violated the state constitution. The court gave the Legislature the choice of allowing marriage or creating a similar but separate arrangement for samesex couples. Lawmakers chose to retain the traditional definition of marriage while creating civil unions for lesbians and male homosexuals. The law, signed by Governor Howard Dean in April 2000, continues to describe marriage as a union between a man and a woman but grants rights and responsibilities of marriage to gays and lesbians. The law also includes provisions for divorce. Homosexual activists responded to the Vermont law with mixed feelings. Some were elated, others promised to push beyond civic unions to marriage. They took to the courts in neighboring Massachusetts and won a landmark victory in the state’s highest court last November. Like courts in Hawaii and Vermont, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rested its 4-3 ruling on the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. The ruling also relied in part on last June’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down state
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sodomy laws. Under the Massachusetts ruling, same-sex couples will be allowed to marry beginning in May. State lawmakers responded by meeting as a constitutional convention last week to draft an amendment to overturn the court ruling. Those efforts failed but only about 20 percent of the lawmakers approved of same-sex marriage. The rest were split over whether to simply ban the marriages or to retain the traditional concept of marriage between a man and a woman while instituting Vermont-style civil unions for same-sex couples. They will resume deliberations next month. Last year, homosexual advocates in California carefully avoided promoting same-sex marriage in the legislature. Instead, they introduced the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003. This bill, signed into law by Governor Gray Davis, creates a same-sex legal partnership that is the equivalent to marriage, even including provisions for divorce. This year, apparently inspired by the Massachusetts ruling, they are pushing for same-sex marriage, and they are following the pattern in other states: attempting to take the issue out of the Legislature and initiative process and into the courts. City officials expected Mayor Newsom’s decision Feb. 12 to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples to be quickly challenged in
court, and it was. In addition, a leading opponent of the marriages promised to go to court if a bill, AB 1967, introduced the same day by Assemblyman Mark Leno becomes law. Both the issuing of the marriage licenses and the Leno bill directly challenge the 2000 Definition of Marriage initiative. The Leno bill, the “California Marriage License Nondiscrimination Act,” would effectively overturn the initiative by simple changes in the marriage law: it substitutes the word “person” for man and woman, and male and female, in the law. Senator William S. “Pete” Knight, the author of the initiative, said that change would be illegal. “What has been implemented by initiative cannot be changed by legislation. You have to go back to the people,” he said. “If it passed and was signed into law, it would not be constitutional. I would sue to negate it.” “Eventually the people of this country are going to have to make up their minds, to decide whether they want to change the definition of marriage,” Senator Knight said. “This is a significant change in public policy. For the policy to be changed by judges in a court I don’t believe is in the best interest of the people and I don’t think it’s fair to the people. “The people ought to decide,” he said. “It would be a travesty if it was forced on the people by the courts.”
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Catholic San Francisco
7
Newsom . . . No other mayor or administrative agency in the history of the State has acted on this interpretation of the California Constitution and no court has ever proposed a view of the California Constitution which mandates gay marriage. Newsom’s City Attorney, Dennis Herrera, said at a press conference, Feb. 17, that his client’s determination about the State Constitution “trumps” Proposition 22. On Feb. 11, Newsom asked County Clerk Nancy Alfaro to investigate how “forms and documents used to apply for and issue marriage licenses” can be revised to issue licenses “on a nondiscriminatory basis, without regard to gender or sexual orientation.” Alfaro originally told reporters she did not know “what options we have or if we can do this,” as the granting of marriage licenses is “a state-mandated function.” Newsom’s press office told reporters that the Mayor hoped to officiate at “nuptials” within one to two weeks. However, two days after Newsom’s inquiry to Alfaro, County Assessor Mabel Teng officiated at a same sex marriage behind closed doors at City Hall with no public notice. The rush was intended to beat a threatened action by marriage advocacy groups to seek a restraining order against the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. According to statements made to the press, Newsom decided on this action because he took “umbrage” to comments made by President Bush regarding same-sex marriage during last month’s State of the Union address. “I felt a sense of weight and obligation,” he said at a Japantown press conference Feb. 11. Newsom’s gay marriage proposal was not mentioned in any of the 21 exhaustive policy statements which formed the centerpiece of his recent campaign for mayor. There is, however, a notation in his Curriculum Vitae, posted on his campaign web site that he once supported a proposal at the Board of Supervisors in support of gay marriage in 1999. On Feb. 13, Assemblyman Mark Leno, Assessor Mabel Teng, Mayor Gavin Newsom and dozens of newly deputized marriage commissioners began handling the onslaught of requests for gay marriage ceremonies. The City waived the $62 fee for commissioner presided weddings and kept the clerk’s office open over the three day President’s day holiday to facilitate same-sex marriages
Senior Living
(PHOTO BY JACK SMITH)
■ Continued from cover
Gavin Newsom (second from right) at a September mayoral debate at USF.
for applicants from throughout the Bay Area, California, and other states and countries. Marriage advocates also filed suit Feb. 13 seeking a temporary restraining order barring Newsom and Alfaro from issuing any further same-sex licenses and asking that licenses already issued be revoked. Alliance Defense Fund representing the Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund asked San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Warren for a restraining order last Friday, but Warren postponed the hearing until after the three day holiday because the City had not been given the required 24 hour notice. Campaign for California Families (CCF) gave notice to the City on Feb. 13 that it would seek a restraining order in a separate action in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay on Feb. 17. On the 17th, deputy city attorney Terry Stewart argued to the court that the City had not received complete notice by 10:00 a.m. on the previous business day (Feb. 13) as required by law. Some of the papers provided by CCF were filed
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later than 10:00 a.m., but CCF lawyers argued that notice was given well in advance of 24 hours. Judge Quidachay ruled with the City and postponed hearing the case until Feb. 20. As Catholic San Francisco goes to press, that action is the next possible date for a restraining order to be issued. The Alliance Defense Fund’s case was heard by Judge Warren on Feb. 17 in a two and a half hour hearing. Judge Warren did not issue an immediate restraining order, ruling that the plaintiffs had not suffered irreparable harm as a result of Newsom’s actions, as required by law. He did, however, order the City to immediately cease and desist from issuing same-sex licenses or return to court to explain why they have not ceased. As of press time on Feb. 18, the City has not ceased to issue same-sex licenses, and therefore must return to Warren’s court Mar. 29 to explain itself. Both the Alliance and CCF indicate they may seek relief in other courts. NEWSOM, page 8
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Archbishop William J. Levada’s Statement on Mayor Newsom’s Action The following statement by San Francisco Archbishop William J. Levada was sent to parishes, the media and Gavin Newsom on Feb 12 when the San Francisco Mayor defied state law and the teaching of the Catholic faith by issuing marriage licenses to samesex couples. The action taken by Mayor Gavin Newsom regarding same-sex marriages in San Francisco is counter to longestablished California law, which was reaffirmed overwhelmingly by California voters just four years ago. In addition, his action is counter to the will of the majority of citizens at the state and national levels as evidenced by the fact that 38 states and the federal government have approved laws or amendments barring the recognition of same-sex marriages. In the current national discussion of same-sex marriage, some voices define marriage only in terms of “personal choice,” as if marriage were merely a design of two persons – with nothing to do with family or society. Marriage is a relationship defined by nature, a reality which takes its origin in creation itself. Society does not create marriages, even though it sets parameters protecting it – such as the ban on polygamy and an age requirement to protect a mature decision to enter marriage. Society grants benefits to marriage for the purpose of fostering families, which in turn nurtures the future. Benefits are not primarily given to individuals who are married, but rather they are provided to establish a nur-
turing environment for children. Any discussion about same-sex marriage that misses this point becomes mired in confusion, for it is impossible to justify special benefits to married couples if these benefits are seen first as benefits to the spouses themselves. Heterosexual marriage, procreation, and the nurturing of children form the bedrock of the family, and the family unit lies at the heart of every society. To extend the meaning of marriage beyond a union of a man and a woman, their procreative capacity, and their establishment of family represents a misguided understanding of marriage itself. It is not discriminatory to limit “marriage” to heterosexual couples, as same-sex couples cannot bring into existence what marriage intends by its very definition. Other remedies can be found to protect the valid rights of persons in non-marital unions, for example civil rights given to individuals such as bereavement leave and inheritance rights, as well as benefits and protection for any children involved. Changing the definition of marriage to achieve benefit goals is ill-advised and harmful to society. Some may call this age-old stance discrimination against gay and lesbian persons. Such an interpretation is false and offensive to people whose goodwill is clear. The Catholic Church has often spoken of the respect, compassion and sensitivity demanded in our interactions with and attitudes toward homosexual people. Withholding support for same-sex marriage should never be equated with hostility toward homosexual people.
While the Catholic Church affirms that God created marriage as a union of a man and a woman, giving them a co-responsibility to establish a family by bringing children into the world, this tenet is not solely a Catholic one. Rather, it is the result of natural reason mirrored in every culture throughout humankind’s history. We need God’s wisdom as part of the current conversation on this subject. We need local, state and national debate conducted with respect, knowledge and understanding. Rushing to grant same-sex partners the right to “marriage” for the sake of status or benefits could not help but undermine human society’s foundational institutions of marriage and family. Here in San Francisco, the recent election of Mayor Newsom brought with it an expectation that he would invite the participation of the entire community in seeking solutions to issues such as the homeless crisis, affordable housing, budget difficulties and other important matters. For many of us, Mayor Newsom’s abrupt action on the issue of same-sex marriage – about which our society is so divided — raises concern and causes disappointment. We hope the mayor’s action on behalf of one segment of the community does not signal an abandonment of his commitment to respect the views of all groups in the community – and to use his leadership to draw our city together to address the pressing issues identified in the mayoral campaign.
Newsom . . .
Archbishop also said he was disappointed by Newsom’s “abrupt action” on so divisive an issue and hoped “the mayor’s action on behalf of one segment of the community does not signal an abandonment of his commitment to respect the views of all groups in the community.” While Newsom gave a “heads up” to numerous political leaders around the country about his forthcoming action according to press reports, no major elected official has publicly supported his move. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer has not yet moved to enforce state law or Proposition 22 against the City, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday, “I support that law and encourage San Francisco officials
to obey that law. The courts should act quickly to resolve the matter.” Ray Flynn, former Ambassador to the Holy See and Democratic Mayor of Boston issued a statement Feb. 17 calling Newsom’s action a “mockery of marriage and embarrassment.” Flynn is president of Your Catholic Voice, the largest lay Catholic grassroots political and policy organization in the America. “It is irresponsible for Mayor Newsom to violate his public trust in not upholding the law and by misleading sincere and loving people with the illusion of marriage. It is equally irresponsible for the court to not enjoin this activity until the case can be fully considered,” he said.
■ Continued from page 7 San Francisco Archbishop William J. Levada issued a statement on Newsom’s action Feb. 12 which was distributed to the press and archdiocesan parishes and agencies. Levada said Newsom’s action was “counter to longestablished California law,” and the will of a majority of citizens. “To extend the meaning of marriage beyond a union of man and woman, their procreative capacity, and their establishment of family represents a misguided understanding of marriage itself,” he said. The
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Gibson: Faith, hope — not blame for Crucifixion — at ‘Passion’ core WASHINGTON (CNS) — Blaming Jews for the death of Jesus is not the point of “The Passion of the Christ,” said its director, Mel Gibson, in a Feb. 16 interview on ABC’s “Primetime.” “It’s not about pointing the fingers. It’s not about playing the blame game,” Gibson told interviewer Diane Sawyer. “It’s about faith, hope, love and forgiveness. ... It is reality for me. ... I believe that.” When Sawyer asked him who killed Christ, Gibson replied: “The big answer is, we all did. I’ll be first in the culpability stakes.” Abraham Foxman, national director of the AntiDefamation League of B’nai B’rith, also interviewed on the program, said he did not believe that either Gibson or his film were anti-Semitic, but repeated his belief that “this movie has the potential to fuel anti-Semitism, to reinforce it.” Gibson said that to be anti-Semitic “goes against the tenets of my faith, to be racist in any form. To be antiSemitic is a sin. It’s been condemned by one papal council after another. There’s encyclicals on it ... to be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I’m not.” In the interview, Gibson acknowledged that “The Passion of the Christ” was “very violent, and if you don’t like it, don’t go, you know? That’s it. If you want to leave halfway through, go ahead. You know, there’s nothing that says you have to stay there.” The Motion Picture Association of America has given
Liturgical adaptations lifted In a Feb. 13 letter to priests, San Francisco Archbishop William J. Levada lifted the temporary liturgical adaptations he introduced late last year regarding receiving Holy Communion from a shared cup and the shaking of hands during the Sign of Peace. The adaptations, which were introduced to guard against the spread of influenza — then expected to reach epidemic proportions — will be effective Feb. 25, Ash Wednesday. Archbishop Levada also urged priests to offer catechesis to parishioners at this time. He said the U.S. Bishops Committee on the Liturgy has expressed a strong preference for the “orans” gesture (hands in supplication) rather than holding neighbors’ hands during the praying of the “Lord’s Prayer.” This is because the focus is prayer to the Father, and not primarily an expression of community and fellowship. In addition, the Office of Worship is preparing a catechesis on the sharing of the “Sign of Peace.” Archbishop Levada noted that the Sign of Peace constitutes a brief gesture within the Communion Rite and should not interrupt it. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for people to share the “Sign of Peace” with those nearby.
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By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
Actor Jim Caviezel portrays Jesus on the cross in a scene from "The Passion of the Christ." The movie, set to open across the country on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America for graphic violence.
the film an R rating for its sequences of graphic violence. The rating means “restricted, under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.” Gibson added he wanted the violence to be “shocking. And I also wanted it to be extreme. I wanted it to push the viewer over the edge. And it does that. I think it pushes one over the edge ... so that they see the enormity, the enormity of that sacrifice; to see that someone could endure that
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and still come back with love and forgiveness, even through extreme pain and suffering and ridicule.” Gibson said his film is “my version of what happened, according to the Gospels and what I wanted to show — the aspects of it I wanted to show.” Foxman said of Gibson on “Primetime”: “This is his vision, his faith. He’s a true believer, and I respect that. But there are times that there are unintended consequences.” “I hope that most people see it, Diane, as a passion of love,” Foxman told Sawyer with regard to the movie’s impact. “Maybe when it’s all over, in a sobering manner, we’ll be able to come back and look each other in the face and say, ‘We have to deal with this hatred that’s still out there.’” In an earlier interview on the EWTN cable channel, portions of which were shown Feb. 11 on NBC’s “Today” program, Gibson said the Passion account written by Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich “doesn’t contradict the Gospels in any way.” Gibson used the 19th-century German nun’s writings as source material for the script. Gibson criticized past filmed treatments of Jesus’ death and resurrection as “very hokey” with “stilted acting.” “They bore the hell out of me,” he said, adding that watching them was “like looking at it through the wrong end of the telescope.” On the movie’s violence, Gibson said, “I wanted the full savagery of it to jump out of the screen and move people.” Still, “I’ve stopped way short of what I think happened,” he added. “I don’t think anybody under the age of 12 should go see it.” He said the process of making and defending his film was uncomfortable at times, but shied away from the suggestion that the process was his own “passion.”
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 Income for the Archdiocese of San Francisco . . . This year, the total budget of the Archdiocese is over $10 million and the projected expenditure for the ministries and services that benefit Catholics and others in San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties is over $6.1 million. The total required of all parishes for the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 is $5.2 million. This means the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal provides over half the total budget and most of the money spent for ministries and programs. The remainder of the budget is funded by bequests, rents, investments, and special gifts.
. . . Where the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal money goes
Pastoral Ministries / Services:
$1,706,450
Office of Worship, Evangelization, Ethnic Ministries, Marriage and Family Life, School of Pastoral Leadership, ACCW, Tribunal, Vicar for Spanish speaking, Hospital Chaplains, and Archives.
Parish / School Support / Services:
$1,332,000
Parish and school subsidies, the Council of Priests, Human Resources, Real Estate, a portion of Administrative Services and Development
Communications, Public Affairs and Wider Church:
$1,431,400
Information Office, Catholic San Francisco/El Heraldo Católico, TV Mass and Radio Hour, USCCB, California Catholic Conference, Ecumenical and Inter-religious programs, Detention Ministry, Justice & Peace, Respect Life.
Clergy Formation, Support and Retirement:
$1,164,300
Vicar for Clergy, Vocations, Permanent Diaconate, priests continuing education, Priests Retirement Fund, and Serra Clergy House.
Youth and Education:
$509,000
Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Elementary Family Grants, Teacher Incentive Grants, Inner City Elementary schools.
TOTAL SERVICES & MINISTRIES:
$6,143,150
February 20, 2004
Catholic San Francisco
11
So many benefit . . . Yet, it costs each of us so little! Thousands of people are served by the many ministries of the Archdiocese, but the cost to each donor is minimal... A pledge of $400 per year is less than $40 per month - one family night out, one family movie with refreshments, of one carton of cigarettes. It's less than $10 per week - two lunches, two packs of cigarettes, or five gallons of gas.
We can make this sacrifice for others . . . “that they might have life . . . more abundantly.” John 10:10
Important Facts about the Annual Appeal THE PURPOSE We help fulfill the mission of Jesus when we share with others so that they might have the necessities of life. The Archbishop's Annual Appeal is a primary source of funds for Archdiocese-wide ministries, services and programs that provide help that no parish could do alone. We magnify our own effort when we join with others in a caring, sharing manner. That is what the Annual Appeal is all about.
RESTRICTED USE OF THE FUNDS Money contributed to the Archbishop's Annual Appeal 2004 will be "restricted funds". By law, those funds can be used only for the designated programs and ministries. Those programs do not include settlement of sexual abuse cases, legal fees associated with such cases, maintenance of priests on administrative leave, or the cost of insurance premiums to cover those cases.
THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY Some who normally donate have not been able to or have had to donate less. While others have donated more, even more is needed. These difficult times are hardest on those that need these ministries the most. The Annual Appeal depends of the goodness of all more than on the affluence of the few.
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Mocking law, culture, faith Gavin Newsom was a stealth candidate in the recent San Francisco Mayor’s race. He talked of bringing the community together, respecting people and groups and including differing opinions in the decision-making process. Yet his first major act as mayor was a unilateral assault on state law and the will of the majority of voters who four years ago passed Prop. 22 – affirming that in California marriage is only between a man and a woman. Newsom’s actions are counter to norms of society reaching back to the beginning of humankind. Archbishop Levada notes, “society grants benefits to marriage for the purpose of fostering families, which in turn nurtures the future. To extend the meaning of marriage beyond a union of a man and a woman, their procreative capacity, and their establishment of family represents a misguided understanding of marriage itself.” The teaching of the Catholic Church states that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions. A Vatican teaching last year noted that Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians. “When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.” “What a disappointment” wrote Father John Malloy, Salesian pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul parish in San Francisco in a Feb. 11 letter to Mayor Newsom. “I never thought you would be so hostile to marriage as to promote a concept that has been repudiated for thousands of years, not just by the Catholic faith in which you were baptized, but also historically by all other groups and civilizations.” Native San Franciscan Jim Quinn was furious, saying Newsom took the law into his own hands and turned his back on the Catholic faith. Now a parishioner at Our Lady of Angels parish in Burlingame, Quinn said “He [Newsom] doesn’t seem be conversant with the teachings of the Church.” Quinn added, “As a native, I am ashamed for San Francisco. Already when you travel to other parts of the country, San Francisco is the butt of jokes. This just makes it worse. The actions of the Mayor show a great disrespect for both marriage and the law.” Father John Jimenez framed the issue as the needs of children versus the desires of adults. The parochial vicar at the Church of the Visitacion in San Francisco, said “Gay marriage is about what two individual adults want. It is not about what children need.” Jimenez said children’s whole sense of who they are and well-being is very much shaped by their relationship with their mother and father. “That San Francisco is anti-child is obvious. While adults, both straight and gay, come here to live out their sexual liberty in a city where tremendous wealth is generated, children go to school in dilapidated buildings and stand at the gates of closed recreation centers.” “Permanent marriage between a man and a woman is the building block of society, where a child forms his and her identity and learns how to live. Gay marriage, and sex outside of marriage, undermines this,” said Jimenez. Father Michael Healy, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle church in San Francisco, spoke of the reaction of people in the parish. Healy said many people asked why would Mayor Newsom do such a thing, taking an action that is an attack on the law and on religion. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, elected last fall when voters recalled Gray Davis, urged Newsom to obey state law. In a Feb. 17 statement, Schwarzenegger said, “Californians spoke of the issue of same-sex marriage” when they approved a voter initiative in 2000, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. “I support that law and encourage San Francisco officials to obey that law.” When he was the San Francisco Chief of Police, Tony Ribera supported equal rights for gays and lesbians, but he said, “My belief always has been that marriage is between a man and a woman, and California law states that. “I can’t look inside Gavin Newsom’s mind for his motivation, but given that there are so many pressing problems in the city, I am taken aback by his action. “What we’re seeing is people drawing lines in the sand. You have President Bush raising the idea of a constitutional amendment and Mayor Newsom circumventing state law. I hope we would have respectful and reasonable discussions on the issue,” Ribera said. Mayor Newsom, however, has struck in a deliberate way designed to circumvent and block discussion and debate on the issue of same-sex marriage. The approach put forward by Archbishop Levada seems the better course: “We need God’s wisdom as part of the current conversation on this subject. We need local, state and national debate conducted with respect, knowledge and understanding. Rushing to grant same-sex partners the right to ‘marriage’ for the sake of status or benefits could not help but undermine human society’s foundational institutions of marriage and family.” Catholics here in the Archdiocese of San Francisco are urged to get involved in their parish and community. Use Catholic teaching to increase your knowledge and seek the support of other people. Be respectful and compassionate to men and women who are homosexual. If you have family members or friends who say they favor same-sex marriage, explain that redefining marriage as anything other than between a man and a woman is not the way to achieve status or benefit goals. MEH
City against children To quote a local, leading politician as we stood on the blood stained street corner of Sunnydale and Hahn, “San Francisco leaders like to congratulate themselves on being so liberal, but they are only liberal on issues of sexuality. They are not liberal when it comes to issues that matter to poor people and people of color…safety in our streets, funding for our schools and recreation centers to keep our children off the streets.” I do not say who this politician is because I want them to remain active in San Francisco politics and fight the good fight. Yet in this quote, we see the problem with gay marriage. Gay marriage is about what two individual adults want. It is not about what children want. A child’s whole sense of who they are and well being is very much shaped by their relationship with their mother and father. When this is not permanent, as signified by marriage, there is a much greater risk that that child will face much more problems. That San Francisco is anti-child is obvious. While the adults, both straight and gay, come here to live out their sexual liberty, in a city where tremendous wealth is accumulated, children go to school in dilapidated buildings and stand at the gates of closed recreation centers. Instead we have high drop out rates, and high rates of violence. Do we see the connection? Permanent marriage between a man and a woman is about the building block of society, where a child forms their identity and learns how to love. Gay marriage, and sex outside of marriage, both straight and gay, undermines this. Father John Jimenez Church of the Visitacion San Francisco
Modest proposal Plain and simple, the Mayor of San Francisco should be arrested for deliberately violating State Law and excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Tom Gherini San Mateo
Stephen St. Marie (Letters, 2/13) derides the Stanford lecture of Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga as reflecting bad economics and implicitly criticizes your “front page” treatment of his criticism of globalization. The unfettered operation of free markets, St. Marie argues, will lead to a more efficient and just allocation of resources among nations. Of course, St. Marie has a valid point: protectionism often works against the global common good. But the world is more complex than his economic theory. Contemporary processes of globalization can drain resources from poor nations, destroy fledgling industries, disrupt traditional ways of life, and suppress needed social services and environmental regulation. The past two decades of relatively free markets have witnessed increased inequality both among and within nations and a deterioration of the living conditions of the poorest of the poor almost everywhere.
Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers. Please:
➣ Include your name, address and daytime phone number. ➣ Sign your letter. ➣ Limit submissions to 250 words. ➣ Note that the newspaper reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. Send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Fax: (415) 614-5641 E-mail: mhealy@catholic-sf.org
Protectionist stagnation Stephen St. Marie (Letters, 2/13) is correct. Globalization does not promote injustice and inequality, as stated by Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga at Stanford on February 6th. It is the protectionist policies of the wealthy developed nations that promote injustice and inequality, not globalization. For example, wealthy nations like the United States, Japan, Germany, France, England, Italy, in total, spend $1 billion a day to subsidize their agricultural products. The protectionist subsidies of wealthy nations to prop up their private businesses and selected products are unjust. These lavish subsidies prevent farmers in poor undeveloped nations from competing in the world market. Similar artificial efforts to stop American businesses from relocating or outsourcing jobs are also unjust. When any business activity can no longer compete in the U.S. it should transfer to where it can thrive. This is how the new global economy is improving the lives of billions of people throughout the world, including the U.S. Well intentioned opponents of outsourcing are actually protecting stagnant private businesses, and stifling the creation of new jobs in America. They are also preventing the poor nations of the world from obtaining the outsourced jobs that are necessary to improve the lives of billions of people with better health care, schools, housing, roads and potable water. Mike DeNunzio San Francisco
L E T T E R S
Freedom and inequality
Letters welcome
The compassionate voice of Cardinal Rodriguez, deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching, calls us to an empirical examination of the processes of globalization, which can distinguish between positive and backlash effects, and lead to pragmatic strategies for a more equal and just world order. I applaud Catholic San Francisco for giving prominent treatment of his message. Michael E. Murphy San Francisco
Bad guests As it would seem that any institution that identifies itself as being Catholic would be loath to sponsor the speech of any individual who enables social conduct that is at odds with Church teachings, I was greatly disappointed to have learned that the University of San Francisco invited Justice Anthony Kennedy to be the keynote speaker at the opening of the Koret Law Center. In case nobody at the university was aware, Justice Kennedy has not only upheld the nonexistent right to abortion (Planned Parenthood v. Casey), he recently penned the incredibly tortured decision whereby consensual sodomy was deemed to be a constitutionally protected activity (Lawrence v. Texas). Defenders of USF will of course try to rationalize the school’s conduct away by arguing that, as an academic institution, USF must be open to differing points of view. Such an argument, however, is disingenuous because it tries to portray an otherwise nonessential public relations gathering into a formal and fairly represented classroom discussion on public policy. Roger Ho San Francisco
Enticing article Many thanks for your mention of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Jayme George’s article “Catholic websites - both near and far” on Feb. 6. What a pleasant surprise to find us noted, and so favorably, in the article as well as in the listing of websites you recommend. Jayme George’s article is well written to entice people to use the web, both for specific information and for exploring the Catholic world. Thanks again to J. George and to the paper for thinking of JVC. Yvonne Prowse Executive Director, JVC San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Catholic San Francisco
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The Catholic Difference Just a year ago, when it was edited by the late Michael Kelly (who died in Iraq in the first weeks of the war), The Atlantic could publish an article like David Brooks’ “Kicking the Secularist Habit,” a bracing challenge to the regnant media stereotypes about religious believers and their lives. Now, alas, The Atlantic has reverted to promoting stereotypes, this time with an assist from someone who ought to know better – Father Andrew Greeley. In the January-February Atlantic, Greeley wrote a short piece entitled “Young Fogeys.” As its subtitle put it, the article proposed that there was an “unusual clerical divide” in the Catholic Church in America, a divide between “young reactionaries” and “aging radicals.” Father Greeley’s data – and Father Greeley is never without “data” – “reveals a striking trend: a generation of conservative young priests is on the rise in the U.S. Church.” Moreover, Greeley wrote, “these are newly ordained men who seem in many ways intent on restoring the pre-Vatican II Church, and who, reversing classic generational roles, define themselves in direct opposition to the liberal priests who came of age in the 1960s and 1970s.” It’s a sadness that Father Greeley, who’s rarely been reluctant to challenge shibboleths and myths, couldn’t resist the temptation to stereotyping here. To begin with, Andrew Greeley is far too intelligent to believe that those familiar, shopworn “liberal/conservative” categories shed much light on the reality of the Catholic Church. If priests ordained since the mid-1980s show a greater disposition to believe that what the Catholic Church
teaches to be the truth is, in fact, true, why does that make them “conservative?” I should have thought it made them orthodox. Or faithful. Or honest. Perhaps even admirable. Then there’s that bit about “restoring the pre-Vatican II Church.” A man ordained in 1985, 1990, or 1995 is very unlikely to have experienced Going My Way Catholicism – so how can he want to “restore” what he never knew? It’s far more likely that that man had to fight his way through to a vibrant orthodoxy after experiencing priestly defections, liturgical oddities, and contempt for tradition. If he was in a seminary in the early 1980s, he was probably given a hard time by those among his “formators” who thought his quest for authentic Catholicism a form of mental illness. As I’ve encountered them, the men Greeley’s Atlantic article categorizes as “young fogeys” aren’t trying to “restore” something; they’re trying to build the Church of the new evangelization, in response to the invitation of Pope John Paul II. Father Greeley retails with alarm statistics from Catholic University’s Dean Hoge, who “reports that half the newly ordained priests he encountered believe that a priest is fundamentally different from a layperson – that he is literally a man apart.” Greeley then notes that “these beliefs are strikingly at odds with those of the predominantly liberal generation of new priests [sociologists] studied in...1970.” Those who remember that the latter generation contributed mightily to the greatest exodus from the priesthood since the Reformation may not be so inclined to grieve. At the same time, what’s truly wrongheaded here is the suggestion that young priests convinced of the distinctiveness of
their vocation are somehow out-of-sync with Vatican II. That would come as news to the Council fathers who, in the Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, taught that the George Weigel common priesthood of all the baptized and the ministerial priesthood “differ essentially and not only in degree” [Lumen Gentium 10]. Can that teaching about difference breed clericalism? It can, and it has. But in many of the young priests I know, it has led to something quite different – a conviction that the ordained priesthood exists to strengthen and ennoble the laity’s vocation to sanctify the world. Is a man a “reactionary” because he believes his ordination has configured him to Christ in a unique way, or because he believes what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, or because he believes that he was ordained to pastoral authority rather than to the dubious office of “facilitator”? Please. Do young priests need the counsel of their more experienced fellow-priests? Undoubtedly. But they’re rather unlikely to take it from men who dismiss them as “young fogeys.”
Some of our parents are 60 going on 90, with many physical ailments and complaints. Some are as active and as mentally alert as they were in their prime. They still swim or walk or play tennis every morning. Some work at their health; others live on cocktails and smokes. “Old age and the passage of time teach us everything,” writes the ancient Greek Sophocles. People either age gracefully or awkwardly; they embrace life and its seasons of joy and sorrow, or they defy it and resist the rhythm of its days, shutting down all vitality before its time. We young adults can learn a great deal from our parents on how to age, which so often reflects how to live. Research shows that those who stay physically and mentally active throughout their later years can successfully avert and overcome many diseases and cancers that plague their inactive friends. An unofficial survey conducted by my husband and I proves this point. Among our older neighbors and friends who volunteer and work-out and read and participate in community functions, disease and illness are virtually absent. But fatigue and high blood pressure and a list of other physical maladies immobilize those who have withdrawn from society, intellectual stim-
ulation and physical activities. I am inspired by those in their 70s, 80s and beyond who engage in life as fully as they did in their 20s and are uninhibited by their age to try new Therese J. things. They have Borchard taught me to embrace life as a young lover, and to appreciate each and every day. Eventually, however, there is no escaping death and aging and gray hair and wrinkles. I fear the day I won’t be able to worry about my mom and to hear her voice on the other end of the phone. Until then, I try to learn as much as I can from her lived experience.
going on inside us and are unconsciously breathing out the air of arrogance, self-interest, dishonesty, and are emitting signals that others are a threat to us as we seek attention and popularity, and jostle with them for sexual, financial, and professional position. We can learn something from watching toddlers play. There’s a disarming, brutal honesty in them. They simply rip what they want from each other’s hands and try to shout louder than the rest to gain attention. We do the same thing, except in subtler and less honest ways. Beneath the surface of our everyday politeness and decorum, in ways we don’t often have the courage to look at or acknowledge, we’re still toddlers trying to snatch the toys from each other and trying to shout louder than others to get attention. The real air we’re breathing out is fraught with self-interest, and less than full honesty. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways we’re saying to each other: “You’re a rival — sexually, professionally, and in terms of popularity and attention.” “I’m more important than you.” “I’m better looking than you.” “I’m sophisticated beyond your naivete.” “My sufferings are deeper and more important than yours.” “I hate you for your good looks and good luck, none of which you deserve.” We would never admit that we feel these things but, too often, that’s the air we’re breathing out. Is it any mystery, then, that our lives are full of competition, bitterness, and false judgment? Is it a mystery why so often, beneath a polite surface, there is so much thinly disguised competition, jealousy, and non-forgiveness around? We’re
breathing these things into the world; should we be surprised that we’re reinhaling them? And Jesus takes this even further. He adds: “To those who have much, even more will be given; and from those who have Father little, even what they have Ron Rolheiser will be taken away.” That sounds so unfair, the innate cruelty of nature, the survival of the fittest applied to the Gospels, Jesus as Darwin. Isn’t Jesus’ message supposed to be about the survival of the weakest? It is, but a certain law of karma still applies: To the big of heart, who breathe out what’s large and honest and full of blessing, the world will return a hundredfold in kind, honesty and blessing that swells the heart even more. Conversely, to the miserly of heart and dishonest of spirit, the world will give back, too, in kind, pettiness and lies that shrink the heart still further. That’s the deep mystery at the center of the universe. The air we breathe out into the world is the air we will re-inhale.
George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Family Life
Parents aging I hate seeing people age, especially parents. I want to color the gray out of their hair and buy them a lifetime prescription for aging cream so as to erase, along with their wrinkles, my fear of being left alone in this world. Young adults are entering that chapter in their lives when they must decide what to do if their parents are no longer able to meet their own needs. The young adults remember with nostalgia when Dad didn’t suffer from prostate cancer and when Mom’s eyes were still good. Each generation has had to care for the one before it, of course. But since many young adults are prolonging the decision to start a family of their own, a growing number of 30-somethings are faced with the double responsibility of changing diapers and Depends. “I thought the grandparents were supposed to be of help to us when we were raising babies,” a disgruntled and exhausted friend said the other night as he flung himself on our couch after a full day of work, grocery shopping and helping his mom with a water leak. Having lost our father in our early 20s, my sisters and I constantly monitor my mom’s health, discussing future options for when she is unable to bathe, eat and take care of the essentials.
Theresa J. Borchard is a columnist with Catholic News Service
Spirituality
The law of karma Faith and instinct both give us a sense of what Hindus and Buddhists call the law of karma. Simply put, we have a gut feeling that our actions, good and bad, have consequences that come back to either bless or haunt us. But is this true? Do we really have to pay for everything we do? Mary Jo Leddy, in her wonderful book on gratitude, claims that one of the great principles innate within reality itself is this: “The air you breathe into the universe is the air that it will breathe back, and if your energy is right it will renew itself even as you give it away.” In essence, that’s the law of karma, a mystery expressed in different ways in all the great religions of the world. Jesus, for instance, puts it this way: “The measure you measure out is the measure you will be given.” The air you breathe out is the air you will re-inhale. If that’s true, and it is, it explains a lot of things. Why, perennially, are we caught up in situations of pettiness, jealousy, and non-forgiveness? Why are we inhaling so much bitter air? Perhaps it has to do with the air we’re breathing out. What are we breathing out? We’d like, of course, to think that we’re breathing out the air of gratitude, forgiveness, honesty, delight. We’d also like to believe that we are breathing out the air of concern for the poor, the suffering, the bothersome. And, we’d like to believe, too, that we’re big-hearted people, breathing out understanding and reconciliation. Would it were so. Too often we’re blind to what’s really
Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author.
JOHN EARLE PHOTO
“Young fogeys” and disappointed liberals
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
Between Man and Woman Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions The following information was developed by the CCC, no. 1643). They are equal as human beings but dif- ety is dependent on the stability and flourishing of Committee on Marriage and Family Life of the United ferent as man and woman, fulfilling each other through healthy family life. The legal recognition of marriage, including the benStates Conference of Catholic Bishops. Here, the this natural difference. This unique complementarity Catholic bishops of the United States offer some basic makes possible the conjugal bond that is the core of mar- efits associated with it, is not only about personal commitment, but also about the social commitment that truths to assist people in understanding Catholic teach- riage. ing about marriage and to enable them to promote mar- 4. Why is a same-sex union not equivalent to a marriage? husband and wife make to the well-being of society. It For several reasons a would be wrong to redefine marriage for the sake of riage and its sacredness. same-sex union contradicts providing benefits to those who cannot rightfully enter A growing movement the nature of marriage: It is into marriage. today favors making those In marriage, husband and wife not based on the natural Some benefits currently sought by persons in homorelationships commonly complementarity of male sexual unions can already be obtained without regard to called same-sex unions the give themselves totally to each and female; it cannot coop- marital status. For example, individuals can agree to legal equivalent of marerate with God to create own property jointly with another, and they can generriage. This situation chal- other in their masculinity and new life; and the natural ally designate anyone they choose to be a beneficiary of lenges Catholics—and all purpose of sexual union their will or to make health care decisions in case they who seek the truth—to femininity. They are equal as cannot be achieved by a become incompetent. think deeply about the meaning of marriage, its human beings but different as man same-sex union. Persons in 8. In light of the Church’s teaching about the truth and same-sex unions cannot purposes, and its value to beauty of marriage, what should Catholics do? enter into a true conjugal individuals, families, and There is to be no separation between one’s faith and union. Therefore, it is life in either public or private realms. All Catholics society. This kind of and woman, fulfilling each other wrong to equate their rela- should act on their beliefs with a well-formed conreflection, using reason tionship to a marriage. and faith, is an appropriate through this natural difference. science based on Sacred Scripture and Tradition. They 5. Why is it so important should be a community of conscience within society. By starting point and frameto society that marriage their voice and their vote, they should contribute to work for the current This unique complementarity be preserved as the society’s welfare and test its public life by the standards debate. exclusive union of a man of right reason and Gospel truth. Responsible citizen1. What is marriage? makes possible the conjugal bond ship is a virtue. Participation in the political process is and a woman? Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, that is the core of marriage. Across times, cultures, a moral obligation. This is particularly urgent in light of exclusive, lifelong union and very different religious the need to defend marriage and to oppose the legalizaof a man and a woman beliefs, marriage is the tion of same-sex unions as marriages. Married couples themselves, by the witness of their joined in an intimate community of life and love. They foundation of the family. The family, in turn, is the basic commit themselves completely to each other and to the unit of society. Thus, marriage is a personal relationship faithful, life-giving love, are the best advocates for marriage. By their example, they are the first teachers of the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the with public significance. world and caring for them. The call to marriage is Marriage is the fundamental pattern for male-female next generation about the dignity of marriage and the woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman relationships. It contributes to society because it models need to uphold it. As leaders of their family—which the are equal. However, as created, they are different from the way in which women and men live interdependently Second Vatican Council called a “domestic church” but made for each other. This complementarity, includ- and commit, for the whole of life, to seek the good of (Lumen Gentium, no. 11)—couples should bring their gifts as well as their needs to the larger Church. There, ing sexual difference, draws them together in a mutual- each other. ly loving union that should be always open to the proThe marital union also provides the best conditions with the help of other couples and their pastors and colcreation of children (see Catechism of the Catholic for raising children: namely, the stable, loving relation- laborators, they can strengthen their commitment and Church [CCC], nos. 1602-1605). ship of a mother and father present only in marriage. The sustain their sacrament over a lifetime. These truths about marriage are present in the order of state rightly recognizes this relationship as a public insti- Conclusion nature and can be perceived by the light of human reason. tution in its laws because the relationship makes a unique Marriage is a basic human and social institution. They have been confirmed by divine Revelation in Sacred and essential contribution to the common good. Though it is regulated by civil laws and church laws, it Laws play an educational role insofar as they shape did not originate from either the church or state, but Scripture. patterns of thought and behavior, particularly about what from God. Therefore, neither church nor state can alter 2. What does our faith tell us about marriage? Marriage comes from the loving hand of God, who is socially permissible and acceptable. In effect, giving the basic meaning and structure of marriage. Marriage, whose nature and purposes are established fashioned both male and female in the divine image (see same-sex unions the legal status of marriage would grant Gn 1:27). A man “leaves his father and mother and official public approval to homosexual activity and by God, can only be the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any clings to his wife, and the two of them become one would treat it as if it were morally neutral. When marriage is redefined so as to make other rela- other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irrebody” (Gn 2:24). The man recognizes the woman as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gn 2:23). tionships equivalent to it, the institution of marriage is placeable contribution to the common good of society, God blesses the man and woman and commands them to devalued and further weakened. The weakening of this especially through the procreation and education of “be fertile and multiply” (Gn 1:28). Jesus reiterates basic institution at all levels and by various forces has children. The union of husband and wife becomes, over a lifethese teachings from Genesis, saying, “But from the already exacted too high a social cost. beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and 6. Does denying marriage to homosexual persons time, a great good for themselves, their family, commudemonstrate unjust discrimination and a lack of nities, and society. Marriage is a gift to be cherished and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and respect for them as persons? protected. mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh’” (Mk 10:6-8). It is not unjust to deny legal status to same-sex For Further Reading These biblical passages help us to appreciate God’s unions because marriage and same-sex unions are Second Vatican Council. Pastoral Constitution on the plan for marriage. It is an intimate union in which the essentially different realities. In fact, justice requires Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes), nos. spouses give themselves, as equal persons, completely society to do so. 47-52. December 1965. To uphold God’s intent and lovingly to one another. By their mutual gift of self, Available online at they cooperate with God in bringing children to life and for marriage, in which Marriage is a basic human and www.vatican.va. sexual relations have their in caring for them. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. Marriage is both a natural institution and a sacred proper and exclusive social institution. Though it is 369-373, nos. 1601-1666, union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation. place, is not to offend the and nos. 2331-2400. In addition, the Church teaches that the valid marriage of dignity of homosexual regulated by civil laws and Washington, DC: United baptized Christians is a sacrament—a saving reality. persons. Christians must States Conference of Jesus Christ made marriage a symbol of his love for his give witness to the whole church laws, it did not originate Catholic Bishops–Libreria Church (see Eph 5:25-33). This means that a sacramen- moral truth and oppose as Editrice Vaticana, 2000. tal marriage lets the world see, in human terms, some- immoral both homosexual from either the church or state, Pope John Paul II. On thing of the faithful, creative, abundant, and self-empty- acts and unjust discrimithe Family (Familiaris ing love of Christ. A true marriage in the Lord with his nation against homosexubut from God. Therefore, neither Consortio). Washington, grace will bring the spouses to holiness. Their love, al persons. The Catechism of the DC: United States manifested in fidelity, passion, fertility, generosity, sacConference of Catholic rifice, forgiveness, and healing, makes known God’s Catholic Church urges church nor state can alter the Bishops, 1982. love in their family, communities, and society. This that homosexual persons Congregation for the Christian meaning confirms and strengthens the human “be accepted with respect, basic meaning and structure of Doctrine of the Faith. value of a marital union (see CCC, nos. 1612-1617; compassion, and sensitivity” (no. 2358). It also marriage. Considerations Regarding 1641-1642). Proposals to Give Legal 3. Why can marriage exist only between a man and a encourages chaste friendships. “Chastity is Recognition to Unions woman? The natural structure of human sexuality makes man expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbor. Between Homosexual Persons. July 2003. Available and woman complementary partners for the transmission Whether it develops between persons of the same or online at www.vatican.va. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. of human life. Only a union of male and female can opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all” Follow the Way of Love: A Pastoral Message of the express the sexual complementarity willed by God for (no. 2347). marriage. The permanent and exclusive commitment of 7. Should persons who live in same-sex relationships be U.S. Catholic Bishops to Families. Washington, DC: marriage is the necessary context for the expression of entitled to some of the same social and economic bene- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1993. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. sexual love intended by God both to serve the transmis- fits given to married couples? sion of human life and to build up the bond between husThe state has an obligation to promote the family, Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political band and wife (see CCC, nos. 1639-1640). which is rooted in marriage. Therefore, it can justly give Responsibility. Washington, DC: United States In marriage, husband and wife give themselves total- married couples rights and benefits it does not extend to Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2003. Available on ly to each other in their masculinity and femininity (see others. Ultimately, the stability and flourishing of soci- line at www.usccb.org.
February 20, 2004
Catholic San Francisco
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This document was approved by Pope of man and woman a special participation John Paul II last March and was published in his work of creation. Thus, he blessed the by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the man and the woman with the words “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). Faith June 3, 2003. Therefore, in the Creator’s plan, sexual INTRODUCTION 1. In recent years, various questions complementarity and fruitfulness belong to relating to homosexuality have been the very nature of marriage. Furthermore, the marital union of man addressed with some frequency by Pope John Paul II and by the relevant Dicasteries and woman has been elevated by Christ to of the Holy See. Homosexuality is a trou- the dignity of a sacrament. The Church bling moral and social phenomenon, even teaches that Christian marriage is an efficain those countries where it does not present cious sign of the covenant between Christ significant legal issues. It gives rise to and the Church (cf. Eph 5:32). This greater concern in those countries that have Christian meaning of marriage, far from granted or intend to grant – legal recogni- diminishing the profoundly human value of the marital union tion to homosexbetween man and ual unions, woman, confirms which may There are absolutely no and strengthens it include the pos(cf. Mt 19:3-12; sibility of adopt- grounds for considering Mk 10:6-9). ing children. The 4. There are p r e s e n t homosexual unions to be in absolutely no Considerations grounds for condo not contain any way similar or even sidering homonew doctrinal sexual unions to elements; they remotely analogous to God’s be in any way seek rather to similar or even reiterate the essential points plan for marriage and family. remotely analogous to God’s on this question plan for marriage and provide Marriage is holy, while and family. arguments drawn Marriage is holy, from reason homosexual acts go against while homosexuwhich could be al acts go against used by Bishops the natural moral law. the natural moral in preparing law. Homosexual more specific interventions, appropriate to the different acts “close the sexual act to the gift of life. situations throughout the world, aimed at They do not proceed from a genuine affecprotecting and promoting the dignity of tive and sexual complementarity. Under no marriage, the foundation of the family, and circumstances can they be approved.”(CCC) Sacred Scripture condemns homosexual the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element. The present acts “as a serious depravity... “(cf. Rom Considerations are also intended to give 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This direction to Catholic politicians by indicat- judgment of Scripture does not of course ing the approaches to proposed legislation permit us to conclude that all those who in this area which would be consistent with suffer from this anomaly are personally Christian conscience. Since this question responsible for it, but it does attest to the relates to the natural moral law, the argu- fact that homosexual acts are intrinsically ments that follow are addressed not only to disordered. This same moral judgment is those who believe in Christ, but to all per- found in many Christian writers of the first sons committed to promoting and defend- centuries and is unanimously accepted by Catholic Tradition. ing the common good of society. Nonetheless, according to the teaching I. THE NATURE OF MARRIAGE AND ITS INALIENABLE CHARACTERISTICS of the Church, men and women with homo2. The Church’s teaching on marriage sexual tendencies “must be accepted with and on the complementarity of the sexes respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every reiterates a truth that is evident to right rea- sign of unjust discrimination in their regard son and recognized as such by all the major should be avoided.”(CCC) They are called, cultures of the world. Marriage is not just like other Christians, to live the virtue of any relationship between human beings. It chastity. The homosexual inclination is was established by the Creator with its own however “objectively disordered” and nature, essential properties and purpose. homosexual practices are “sins gravely No ideology can erase from the human spir- contrary to chastity.” it the certainty that marriage exists solely II. POSITIONS ON THE PROBLEM OF between a man and a woman, who by mutu- HOMOSEXUAL UNIONS al personal gift, proper and exclusive to 5. Faced with the fact of homosexual themselves, tend toward the communion of unions, civil authorities adopt different their persons. In this way, they mutually positions. At times they simply tolerate the perfect each other, in order to cooperate phenomenon; at other times they advocate with God in the procreation and upbringing legal recognition of such unions, under the of new human lives. pretext of avoiding, with regard to certain 3. The natural truth about marriage was rights, discrimination against persons who confirmed by the Revelation contained in live with someone of the same sex. In other the biblical accounts of creation, an expres- cases, they favor giving homosexual unions sion also of the original human wisdom, in legal equivalence to marriage properly sowhich the voice of nature itself is heard. called, along with the legal possibility of There are three fundamental elements of adopting children. the Creator’s plan for marriage, as narrated Where the government’s policy is de in the Book of Genesis. facto tolerance and there is no explicit legal In the first place, man, the image of recognition of homosexual unions, it is necGod, was created “male and female” (Gen essary to distinguish carefully the various 1:27). Men and women are equal as persons aspects of the problem. Moral conscience and complementary as male and female. requires that, in every occasion, Christians Sexuality is something that pertains to the give witness to the whole moral truth, which physical-biological realm and has also been is contradicted both by approval of homoraised to a new level – the personal level – sexual acts and unjust discrimination where nature and spirit are united. against homosexual persons. Therefore, disMarriage is instituted by the Creator as a creet and prudent actions can be effective; form of life in which a communion of per- these might involve: unmasking the way in sons is realized involving the use of the sex- which such tolerance might be exploited or ual faculty. “That is why a man leaves his used in the service of ideology; stating father and mother and clings to his wife and clearly the immoral nature of these unions; they become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). reminding the government of the need to Third, God has willed to give the union contain the phenomenon within certain lim-
(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)
From the Vatican: Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons
its so as to safeguard public morality and, analogous to those granted to marriage, to above all, to avoid exposing young people to unions between persons of the same sex. erroneous ideas about sexuality and mar- Given the values at stake in this question, riage that would deprive them of their nec- the State could not grant legal standing to essary defenses and contribute to the spread such unions without failing in its duty to of the phenomenon. Those who would promote and defend marriage as an institumove from tolerance to the legitimization of tion essential to the common good. It might be asked how a law can be conspecific rights for cohabiting homosexual persons need to be reminded that the trary to the common good if it does not approval or legalization of evil is something impose any particular kind of behavior, but simply gives legal recognition to a de facto far different from the toleration of evil. In those situations where homosexual reality which does not seem to cause injusunions have been legally recognized or have tice to anyone. In this area, one needs first to been given the legal status and rights belong- reflect on the difference between homosexuing to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition al behavior as a private phenomenon and the is a duty. One must refrain from any kind of same behavior as a relationship in society, formal cooperation in the enactment or appli- foreseen and approved by the law, to the cation of such gravely unjust laws and, as far point where it becomes one of the instituas possible, from material cooperation on the tions in the legal structure. This second phelevel of their application. In this area, every- nomenon is not only more serious, but also one can exercise the right to conscientious assumes a more wide-reaching and profound influence, and would result in changes to the objection. III. ARGUMENTS FROM REASON entire organization of society, contrary to the AGAINST LEGAL RECOGNITION OF common good. Civil laws are structuring principles of man’s life in society, for good HOMOSEXUAL UNIONS or for ill. They 6. To underplay a very stand why it is important and necessary to Those who would move sometimes decioppose legal sive role in influrecognition of from tolerance to the encing patterns homosexual of thought and unions, ethical legitimization of specific behavior. considerations Lifestyles and the of different rights for cohabiting underlying preorders need to suppositions be taken into homosexual persons need these express not consideration. only externally From the order to be reminded that the shape the life of of right reason society, but also The scope of tend to modify the civil law is approval or legalization of the younger gencertainly more limited than that evil is something far different eration’s perception and evaluaof the moral law, tion of forms of but civil law can- from the toleration of evil. behavior. Legal not contradict recognition of right reason without losing its binding force on con- homosexual unions would obscure certain science. Every humanly-created law is legit- basic moral values and cause a devaluation imate insofar as it is consistent with the nat- of the institution of marriage. ural moral law, recognized by right reason, From the biological and anthropological order and insofar as it respects the inalienable 7. Homosexual unions are totally lackrights of every person. Laws in favor of ing in the biological and anthropological homosexual unions are contrary to right rea- elements of marriage and family which FROM THE VATICAN, page 18 son because they confer legal guarantees,
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Catholic San Francisco
Food & Fun Feb. 24: Catholic Networking Night at St. Dominic’s Church, 2390 Bush St. at Steiner, SF from 7 – 9 p.m. "Widen your networking circle at this spirit-filled evening," said Connie D’Aura, a founder of the group. "Job seekers and those currently employed will pick up career tips from our guest speakers." Admission is free. Those attending are asked to bring a snack to share. Reservations are requested. Contact Connie at daura@ccwear.com or (415) 664-8108. Meetings also on March 30 and May 4. Feb. 28: Purple and Gold Gala benefiting Archbishop Riordan High School, at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame from 5:30 p.m. – midnight. "Join us for an evening of elegant dining, dancing and silent auction," said Patty Hoppe, school communication director. Tickets at $150 per person are available by calling (415) 586-9190. Feb. 28: Tesori d’Italia, Little Children’s Aid Junior Auxiliary Gala honoring former Juniors president, Carolyn Giannini. Silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. Proceeds benefit Catholic Charities CYO. Contact Connie D’Aura at daura@ccwear.com or Call (415) 592-9243. Feb. 28: Crab Bash sponsored by Serra Club of the Golden Gate and benefiting St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. Menu of salad, pasta, cracked crab, will be served up in Patron’s Hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough and Geary St., SF beginning with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Dancing from 8 p.m. Tickets at $35 per person are available by calling Margaret Diedrich at (415) 664-2088. March 6, 7: Annual Flea market at St. Elizabeth Parish, Goettingen and Wayland St., SF. A bundle of fun and treasures including snack bar. Sponsored bt parish Women’s Club. Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. March 6: Spring Festival benefiting Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory School in the new Student Life Center beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing till midnight. "Enjoy an evening of fabulous food, entertainment, auctions and dancing to the music of High Top Posse," said school PR director, Eileen Mize. Tickets at $150 per couple include entry in "the big drawing." Ticket information is available from Rosie Horan at (415) 775-6626, ext. 681 or www.shcp.edu. March 13: 2nd Annual International Food Festival benefiting St. Dunstan Elementary School 1133 Broadway, Millbrae from 5 – 9 p.m. Foods from many lands including Greece, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Asia plus delectable desserts," said Gale Yip. Entertainment, chldren’s activities, silent auction and raffle. Tickets $25 adults, $20 seniors, $12.50 children 5 – 14. Call (650) 692-9323 or (650) 583-4986. March 20: Casablanca…As Time Goes By, annual auction benefiting Mercy High School, Burlingame. Set in the famed Kohl Mansion, the evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with Silent Auction and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, live auction and dancing till midnight. Tickets $60 per person. Contact the Mercy Development Department at (650) 762-1190.
February 20, 2004
Datebook
Vocations/Lectures Feb. 22: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur offer Catholic Scholar Series featuring Notre Dame Sister Barbara Fiand in Ralston Hall 1520 Ralston Ave. on their Notre dame de Namur University campus in Belmont. The well known theologian will discuss Beacons of Light: Are We? Living the Good News in this time and culture.Call (650) 593-2045, ext. 350. March 23: Sulpician Father Richard Gula.
Retreats/Days of Recollection —— VALLOMBROSA CENTER ——
The Sisters of Mercy commemorate 150 years in the Archdiocese in 2004. More than 300 people gathered December 9th to kick-off the anniversary including, left, Mercy Sister Mary Waskowiak, president, Burlingame Region, and Ireland General Consul Donal Denham and his wife, Siobhan. Almost 13,000 young women have graduated from the congregation’s two high schools – Mercy, San Francisco, founded 1952, and Mercy, Burlingame, founded 1931. Among other events commemorating the occasion is a speaker series titled, From Prayer to Action. Sister Marie Chin, national Mercy Sisters’ president, opens the program March 4th at 7 p.m. at Mercy Center, Burlingame. Additional presentations March 18th at 7 p.m. at Notre Dame Plaza, 347 Dolores St., SF, and April 1st at 7 p.m. at Mercy Center. For more information, call Liz Dossa at (650) 340-7480. March 22: 6th anniversary and Mardi Gras Feast of National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, Vallejo at Columbus, SF featuring Cajun buffet and dancing to the music of the Zydeco Flames. Call (415) 983-0405. 3rd Thurs: Monthly breakfast meeting of Catholic Professional and Business Club featuring a popular speaker. Meeting includes light breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. in halls below St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough and Geary St., SF $20 for non-members/$15 for members. Memberships available at $45 annually. Call (415) 6145579 or visit the Web site at www.cpbc-sf.org. Sundays: Concerts at St. Mary Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. Gough and Geary Blvd., SF. Call (415) 5672020 ext. 213. Concerts are open to the public. Admission free. Feb. 22: Harry Bernstein Ensemble; March 7: Emma Lou Diemer, organist.
It’s laughs all the way with brothers Michael and Howard Meehan, February 27th at Notre Dame des Victoires Church hall, 566 Bush St. near Grant, SF. Doors open at 7 p.m. to gourmet goodies and no-host wine and beer bar. Showtime 8 p.m. Tickets $25/ $10 students. Proceeds benefit Birthright. Call (415) 664-9909. Tickets also available at door. March 20: Italian Catholic Federation presents renowned singer, Moreno Fruzzetti at San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware St. in San Mateo. Singer Simona and comedian, Florio Vivino, join him on the bill. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Showtime 8:30 p.m. Tickets $42.50/$37.50. Call (650) 355-1274.
Sept. 18: St. Paul High School, San Francisco, class of ’54, 1 p.m. at the Terrace Room of El Rancho Motel, Millbrae. Contact classmate, Liz Hannan, at lizhannan3@yahoo.com.
Parish, Redwood City and chaplain to Death Row inmates at San Quentin for more than a decade will speak on capital punishment "which is carried out right on the border of our Archdiocese," said Vicki Evans, coordinator. Call Vicki at (415) 945-0180 for reservations and additional information. March 13: 8th Annual Archbishop John R. Quinn Colloquium on Catholic Social Teaching at USF’s McLaren Center, 2130 Fulton St., SF from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Day’s topic is Stranger No Longer: Together with Immigrants on the Journey of Hope. Please RSVP to (415) 614-5567.
TV/Radio Mon – Fri., KEST 1450 AM, 7 p.m.: Catholic Radio Hour features rosary, music and commentary with Father Tom Daly. Sunday 6 a.m., WB Channel 20/Cable 13 and KTSF Channel 26/Cable 8: TV Mass with Msgr. Harry Schlitt presiding. 1st Sun, 5 a.m., CBS Channel 5: Mosaic, featuring conversations on current Catholic issues. 3rd Sun, 6:30 a.m., KRON Channel 4: For Heaven’s Sake, featuring conversations about Catholic spirituality.
Reunions
Social Justice/Respect Life Feb. 21: Potluck Dinner sponsored by Marin County Respect Life Program, at St. Sebastian Church, Bon Air Rd. at Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae beginning at 6 p.m. Deacon George Salinger of St. Matthias
Feb. 27: 20th annual luncheon/reunion for classes of ’57 from the City’s Catholic High Schools – St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart, and Archbishop Riordan at Caesar’s Restaurant, 2299 Powell St. at Bay, SF beginning with "libations" at noon. Tickets at $30 per person include meal, tax, tip and contribution to rotating scholarship fund. SI alums should call John Strain at (415) 492-3310 or Don McCann at (415) 924-4358; Sacred Heart, William Curren at (415) 621-6324; Riordan, Mike Farrah at (415) 681-0300 or Al Roensch at (415) 928-7721.
d e i f i s s Clapecial S ,000s 0 0 2 r Ove ustomer h c a e R ntial C cisco, PoteSan Fran& Marin! in Mateo San
250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. For fees, times and details about these and other offerings call (650) 325-5614. Presentation Sister Rosina Conrotto, Program Director. April 25: Take Time to Nurture Your Relationships, a Family Retreat, sponsored by Peninsula parishes of Deanery 11, 1:30 – 5 p.m. at Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. Let team speakers Eileen and Bill Healy help you uncover "the four barriers and four builders of relationships." Geared toward parents and their junior high and older children. Activities provided for younger children. Free admission. Register by April 15th with Laurie Coulter of Sabina Spence at (650) 366-7085; Sister Mary Keefe at (650) 368-0429; Terry Mooney at (650) 591-7349, ext. 29; or Michele Otte at (650) 323-6353.
Single, Divorced, Separated Separated and Divorced support groups meet 3rd Sat. at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, call Pat at (415) 492-3331; and 1st and 3rd Wed. at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen Parish Center, SF, call Gail at (650) 591-8452. Catholic Adult Singles Assoc. of Marin meets for support and activities. Call Bob at (415) 8970639 for information.
Consolation Ministry Groups meet at the following parishes. Please call numbers shown for more information. St. Catherine of Siena, Burlingame. Call Elaine Yastishock at (650) 344-6884; Our Lady of Angels, Burlingame. Call Louise Nelson at (650) 343-8457 or Barbara Arena at (650) 344-3579. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City. Call (650) 366-3802; Good Shepherd, Pacifica. Call Sister Carol Fleitz at (650) 355-2593; St. Robert, San Bruno. Call (650) 589-2800. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Belmont. Call Ann Ponty at (650) 598-0658 or Mary Wagner at (650) 591-3850. St. Isabella, San Rafael. Call Pat Sack at (415) 472-5732. Our Lady of Loretto, Novato. Call Sister Jeanette at (415) 897-2171. St. Gabriel, SF. Call Barbara Elordi at (415) 5647882. St. Finn Barr, SF in English and Spanish. Call Carmen Solis at (415) 584-0823; St. Cecilia, SF. Call Peggy Abdo at (415) 564-7882 ext. 3; Epiphany, SF in Spanish. Call Kathryn Keenan at (415) 564-7882.
Datebook is a free listing for parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Please include event name, time, date, place, address and an information phone number. Listing must reach Catholic San Francisco at least two weeks before the Friday publication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or fax it to (415) 614-5633.
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February 20, 2004
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Book collects Vatican II teaching on church’s relationship to Jews By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs has published a compilation of Catholic teaching since the Second Vatican Council on the church’s relationship with Jews and Judaism. Titled “The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus: A Collection of Catholic Documents,” the book includes excerpts from the Vatican II document on relations with non-Christian religions, “Nostra Aetate,” which condemned all forms of anti-Semitism and affirms the continuing validity of God’s covenant with the Jews. It also contains “Criteria for the Evaluation of Dramatizations of the Passion,” a 1988 document from the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The book, announced Feb. 11, was scheduled to be officially released Feb. 23, two days before the Ash Wednesday theatrical premiere of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” which some Catholic scholars and U.S. Jewish leaders have said could foster anti-Semitism. Other documents in the book include “Notes on the Correct Way to Present the Jews and Judaism in the Preaching and Catechesis in the Roman Catholic Church,” which was a 1985 document by the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews, and “God’s Mercy Endures Forever: Guidelines on the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in Catholic Preaching,” a 1988 document by the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy. “Behind all of these statements lies the determination of the church to oppose anti-Semitism and to understand more fully
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NEW YORK — Just when you thought that studio stiff shirts couldn’t stoop any lower into the bowels of bad taste, you discover that Tinseltown’s gutter has a trap door. Such is the case with director Jeff Schaffer’s smutty “Eurotrip” (Dreamworks), a relentlessly raunchy socalled comedy about a quartet of high-school friends let loose in Europe in search of good times — which on this sleazy teen trek means more lust than Louvre. Given the fact that the vulgarians behind “Eurotrip” are also responsible for such lowest-common-denominator fare as “Road Trip” and “Old School,” the puerile parade of debauchery that unfolds shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone. Included in the sleazy barrage are scenes involving foul-mouthed English soccer hooligans, an Italian pervert, an incestuous encounter, a kinky Amsterdam S&M parlor and a French nude beach complete with fully naked bathers. And while such gratuitous lewdness could be dismissed with a disgusted sigh, Schaffer crosses the line from offensive indecency to appalling insensitivity when the raunchy road trip hits Rome. During a severely unfunny sequence at the Vatican, the filmmaker shows a callous disregard for Catholic viewers by incorporating a crucifix hanging in the papal residence into the foursome’s irreverent antics. But Schaffer sinks to new lows of profanity by including in the film a racy sex scene which takes place in a confessional. “Eurotrip” is nothing more than Eurotrash. Due to several raunchy sexual encounters, including a sacrilegious sequence, recurring full and partial nudity, drug content, as well as much crude language and humor, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted.
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the salvation of all humanity in Christ while affirming the unique place of Jews and Judaism in the unfolding of the mysteries of salvation universally proclaimed by the church,” said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He made the comments in a statement accompanying the announcement of the book’s publication. “The documents included develop Catholic teaching on the interpretation of Scripture, Catholic understanding and proper presentation of the passion and death of Christ, and the church’s ongoing condemnation of the sin of anti-Semitism,” he added. Bishop Blaire credited Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, episcopal moderator for Catholic-Jewish relations, with the idea of publishing an anthology of Catholic teaching on Jews and Judaism. In his statement, Bishop Blaire quoted Cardinal Keeler: “Any Christians involved in the presentation of the events of Jesus’ death must hold, in the words of the 1974 guidelines of the Holy See to implement ‘Nostra Aetate’ No. 4, an ‘overriding preoccupation’ not only to avoid portrayals of Jews that might lead to collective guilt, but also to replace them with positive ones.” These guidelines are also included in “The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus.” “Nostra Aetate” repudiated all forms of anti-Semitism and called on Catholics to build mutual respect and understanding with Jews. Editor’s Note: “The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus: A Collection of Catholic Documents” can be ordered for $11.95 per copy by calling: (800) 235-8722.
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February 20, 2004
IV. POSITIONS OF CATHOLIC POLITICIANS WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATION IN FAVOR OF HOMOSEXUAL UNIONS ■ Continued from page 15 10. If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose would be the basis, on the level of reason, for granting them the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic legal recognition. Such unions are not able to contribute in politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human keeping with their responsibility as politicians. Faced race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods with legislative proposals in favor of homosexual unions, of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of Catholic politicians are to take account of the following respect for human dignity, does nothing to alter this inadeethical indications. quacy. When legislation in favor of the recognition of homoHomosexual unions are also totally lacking in the consexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislajugal dimension, which represents the human and ordered tive assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty form of sexuality. Sexual relations are human when and to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote insofar as they express and promote the mutual assistance against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the of the sexes in marriage and are open to the transmission of common good is gravely immoral. new life. When legislation in favor of the recognition of As experience has shown, the absence of sexual comhomosexual unions is already in force, the Catholic plementarity in these unions creates obstacles in the normal politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible development of children who would be placed in the for him and make his opposition known; it is his care of such persons. They would be deprived of the duty to witness to the truth. If it is not possible to experience of either fatherhood or motherhood. . . . the Catholic law-maker has a moral repeal such a law completely, the Catholic politiAllowing children to be adopted by persons living in cian, recalling the indications contained in the such unions would actually mean doing violence to duty to express his opposition clearly Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae, “could licitly these children, in the sense that their condition of support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done dependency would be used to place them in an envi- and publicly and to vote against it. To by such a law and at lessening its negative conseronment that is not conducive to their full human quences at the level of general opinion and public development. This is gravely immoral and in open vote in favor of a law so harmful to the morality,” on condition that his “absolute personal contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the opposition” to such laws was clear and well known United Nations Convention on the Rights of the common good is gravely immoral. and that the danger of scandal was avoided. This Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weakdoes not mean that a more restrictive law in this er and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount area could be considered just or even acceptable; consideration in every case. From the legal order rather, it is a question of the legitimate and dutiful From the social order 9. Because married couples ensure the succession of attempt to obtain at least the partial repeal of an unjust 8. Society owes its continued survival to the family, generations and are therefore eminently within the public law when its total abrogation is not possible at the founded on marriage. The inevitable consequence of legal interest, civil law grants them institutional recognition. moment. recognition of homosexual unions would be the redefini- Homosexual unions, on the other hand, do not need specif- CONCLUSION tion of marriage, which would become, in its legal status, ic attention from the legal standpoint since they do not 11. The Church teaches that respect for homosexual an institution devoid of essential reference to factors linked exercise this function for the common good. persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexto heterosexuality; for example, procreation and raising Nor is the argument valid according to which legal ual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual children. If, from the legal standpoint, marriage between a recognition of homosexual unions is necessary to avoid sit- unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, man and a woman were to be considered just one possible uations in which cohabiting homosexual persons, simply promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, form of marriage, the concept of marriage would undergo a because they live together, might be deprived of real recog- the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homoradical transformation, with grave detriment to the com- nition of their rights as persons and citizens. In reality, they sexual unions or placing them on the same level as marmon good. By putting homosexual unions on a legal plane can always make use of the provisions of law – like all cit- riage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavanalogous to that of marriage and the family, the State acts izens from the standpoint of their private autonomy – to ior, with the consequence of making it a model in presarbitrarily and in contradiction with its duties. protect their rights in matters of common interest. It would ent-day society, but would also obscure basic values The principles of respect and non-discrimination cannot be gravely unjust to sacrifice the common good and just which belong to the common inheritance of humanity. be invoked to support legal recognition of homosexual laws on the family in order to protect personal goods that The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the unions. Differentiating between persons or refusing social can and must be guaranteed in ways that do not harm the good of men and women and for the good of society recognition or benefits is unacceptable only when it is con- body of society. itself. trary to justice. The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and cannot be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it. Nor can the principle of the proper autonomy of the individual be reasonably invoked. It is one thing to maintain that individual citizens may freely engage in those activities that interest them and that this falls within the common civil right to freedom; it is something quite different to hold that activities which do not represent a significant or positive contribution to the development of the human person in society can receive specific and categorical legal recognition by the State. Not even in a remote analogous sense do homosexual unions fulfil the purpose for which marriage and family deserve specific categorical recognition. On the contrary, there are good reasons for holding that such unions are harmful to the proper development of human society, especially if their impact on society were to increase.
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Social Ministry Coordinator Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton FT position to implement variety of social ministry programs and projects. Coordinates Catholic parish and Catholic Charities social justice efforts; maintains network of people committed to social ministry agendas; directs annual Campaign for Human Development, Rice Bowl and Overseas Appeal collections; assists in implementing educational and advocacy efforts for various public policy issues. BA degree or equiv; successful experience in social ministry; esp managing fundraising appeals; commitment to Catholic Social Teaching; Starting salary range: $36,140 to $42,916. Excellent Benefits.
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Catholic San Francisco
February 20, 2004
First Filipino-American bishop ordained as Los Angeles auxiliary Noemi Castillo, director of Ethnic Ministries for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, said, “The Filipino-American LOS ANGELES — Father Oscar community is very proud of the new Azarcon Solis made U.S. Catholic histobishop. He has a commanding presence ry at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the and is very articulate and very pastoral. Angels in Los Angeles by becoming the We all are happy with the choice of first Filipino-American to be ordained a Bishop Solis as the first Filipinobishop. American bishop in the United States.” Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Castillo was part of a contingent from Angeles presided and was principal the Archdiocese of San Francisco that ordaining bishop at the trilingual — traveled to Los Angeles for the ordinaEnglish, Spanish and Tagalog – liturgy tion of Bishop Solis. The group included Feb. 10, which was concelebrated by San Francisco Pastors Msgr. Floro more than 40 bishops, including San Arcamo, of Star of the Sea, and Father Francisco Archbishop William J. Levada Eduardo Dura, of St. Anne of the Sunset, and San Francisco Auxiliary Bishops and Father Arturo Albano, pastor of St. John C. Wester and Ignatius C. Wang, Timothy in San Mateo, and others. and 400 hundred priests from the United Father Peter Balili, of Sacred Heart States and the Philippines. The nearly Church in Rancho Cucamonga in the three-hour Mass was attended by about San Bernardino Diocese, said the bish3,600 people. op’s ordination was a source of inspiraAmong government officials present tion for the Filipino people. “Our spirituwere Alberto Rosario, Philippine ambasality is recognized,” he said, noting that sador to the United States; Marciano Filipinos are devoted to community, Paynor, consul general of the Philippine family and to Mary. Newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Oscar A. Solis greets well-wishers Consulate in the United States; and “It feels like we’re giving a gift to the outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles Feb. 10. Tomas Joson III, governor of the archdiocese and to the whole church,” He became the first Filipino-American to be ordained a bishop for the U.S. church. province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. added Ana Gacasan of Blessed Junipero “With awe and gratitude, I praise and Serra Church in Camarillo and a member thank God for his countless gifts and blessings,” Bishop Following the laying on of hands by the bishops on of the archdiocesan Filipino Council of Servant Leaders. Solis, 50, told the congregation following his ordination. Bishop Solis, the newly ordained prelate used his hands to Ernie da Jose, who traveled from Riverside for the cerThe auxiliary bishop will help coordinate outreach pas- bless all those gathered as he walked around the cathedral emony, said the bishop’s ordination would encourage more toral efforts for all the archdiocesan ethnic groups; Mass is and repeatedly made the sign of the cross to sustained Filipinos to get involved in shaping the church. celebrated in the archdiocese each week in 42 languages. applause and cheering worshippers. Filipinos number about 400,000 out of the 5 million He said his new responsibilities were “a distinct privilege The ceremony was the first ordination of a bishop at the Catholics in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. to serve our archdiocese, which is alive and vibrant with new cathedral since its September 2002 dedication. “Bishop Solis will be a source of unity for Filipinos,” multiethnic communities.” Filipinos described the day as “overwhelming,” “fantas- said Good Shepherd Sister Mary Christina Sevilla, director He also invoked the intercession of Mary, whom he said tic” and “amazing.” of the archdiocesan Office of Filipino Ministry. “He can had been his source of strength during his priesthood. “We are proud of our brother,” said Celia Tapia, his eld- bring our people together and then we can be a bridge with Throughout the elaborate liturgy a 100-member choir est sister. In the face of large new responsibilities, Tapia other ethnic communities.” performed solemn traditional chants as well as soulful said her brother’s devotion to Mary would serve him well: Born in San Jose, Philippines, on Oct. 13, 1953, Solis songs featuring a bluesy saxophone, a tribute to Bishop “She’s the one guiding him.” studied at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City and the Solis’ previous Louisiana ministry. The bishop’s three sisters described their brother as University of St. Thomas Seminary in Manila. He was Prior to the ceremony Bishop Solis had decided to not approachable, warm and generous. Angie Pacubas said her ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, wear any distinctive Filipino vestments. He said he wanted brother calls her every week. The sisters said their brother Philippines, on April 28, 1979, and came to the United to convey that he was a bishop for all the people. enjoys basketball, tennis and golf as well as singing and States in 1984. He served in Newark, N.J., before transferThe liturgy, however, was influenced by Filipino culture playing the guitar and the piano. ring to Louisiana. His most recent appointment was as pas— in song, in prayer, and with a procession of liturgical Bishop Solis’ brother, a priest in Hong Kong, was also tor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, La. dancers carrying votive candles and wearing bright green, present, as were nieces and nephews. The Solis’ parents are pink, blue, and yellow costumes. deceased. Catholic San Francisco staff contributed to this story.
(CNS PHOTO FROM CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO)
(CNS PHOTO BY VICTOR ALEMAN)
By Ellie Hidalgo Catholic News Service
An aerial view of the Vatican shows St. Peter's Basilica and Square, as well as several other buildings in Vatican City, in a 2001 file photo. The Vatican celebrated its 75th birthday as a city-state on Feb. 11, which marks the signing of the Lateran Pacts of 1929. Under the agreements, the Vatican recognizes the Italian state and Italy recognizes the pope's absolute sovereignty and independence over the 109-acre property.