The Official Bishop Helmsing Institute Blog

A Word from Dr. Wylie … Baptism

Baptism - the sacrament that initiates us into the Life of God; the sacrament that adopts us as His sons and daughters distinguished as rightful heirs to Heaven; the sacrament that “supersizes” our soul forever to a capacity for living in supernatural ways – -- let us be thankful for Baptism! In the beginning, God created us to share His Goodness and invite us to a relationship of love with Him. Adam and Eve rejected the relationship. In the intensity of His love, God reached out to us again with a promise to redeem the loss. He did it awesomely: in the fullness of time, He Himself entered the world He had created – on human terms. In the person of Jesus Christ, God-made-man, God extended to us again an unmistakable and enduring invitation to a relationship of love with Him. When Jesus gave us Baptism, it was the relationship-restoring gift. Now each of us is in the place that Adam was: we can accept or reject God’s offer to live in a relationship of love with Him. For Baptism enlarges our human soul to accommodate superhuman Life, God’s divine Life. Baptism gives us the potential to live supernaturally, and, like Adam, we are free to do so or not. Living supernaturally is “living large,” that is, above our own human nature. Through Baptism, we gain the extraordinary power to share out to others, at will, God’s love and goodness from within our own selves, for He is living in us. Jesus urges us to do this whether others deserve it or not, just as God does. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) “Love one another; do good to those who hate you” (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, John 13:34, Eph. 4:32) ALL who are baptized have the ability to relate to others in this way, and activating that baptismal gift propagates the kingdom of God in our world. Divine, the gift is inexhaustible; to share it, God-like.

CATECHISTS

Some share what Baptism gave them through a systematic approach, as Catechists. “Go, teach all nations all that I have commanded you … Catechists help others to find God, come to God, and learn how they can live in His Goodness and Love. “… baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).” Catechists have a special relationship to the Church, as theirs is an ecclesiastical science concerned with practical teaching that gives formation in the way of life that leads to God both on earth and after death. Some Catholics who want to lend themselves to teaching the Word of God think, at first glance, “I couldn’t do that”; but most of these actually can. Most Catholics who are ready, willing and able to take the necessary training can catechize others, for -- Catechists are made, not born! “Whosoever shall do [i.e., keep the law and the prophets] and teach shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:19)

Think it over!

© J. M. Wylie, Ed.D. Use with written permission jmwylie@gmail.com

Fortnight For Freedom Day 14 – Religious Leaders Join With Catholics to Protect Religious Liberty

It’s not just a Catholic thing.  It’s also not simply about contraception.  As we celebrate Independence Day today and close the Fortnight For Freedom we do well to revisit the major misunderstanding that has been repeated so very many times in the media, “it’s just the Catholics who don’t like contraception!”  Using the rallying cry that the bishops are waging a “war on women” many commentators claim that it is unreasonable for Catholics to object to the HHS Mandate because doing so shows that “they are against women’s rights.”  Further the claim is made that Catholics should have no right to impose their beliefs on others.  Is this really the case?

Prior to the Fortnight For Freedom, several U.S. Bishops gathered with a diverse group of religious leaders to sign a document “Free Exercise of Religion: Putting Beliefs into Practice.”  You may want to read the entire one page document here.

In the central passage they make the point that the issue Catholics have with the mandate is not that Catholics seek to force others to believe or act upon Catholic teachings, rather Catholics seek to have their own faith respected so that they may be free to act according to their conscience.  This means that there will be things that will arise that Catholics will refuse to do because of their moral convictions, like abortion, for example.  Catholics are working to protect all American’s right to live in this way, free to practice their religion in the public square and not simply free to worship in private.

They write:

As religious leaders from a variety of perspectives and communities, we are compelled to make known our protest against the incursion of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) into the realm of religious liberty. HHS has mandated that religious institutions, with only a narrow religious exception, must provide access to certain contraceptive benefits, even if the covered medications or procedures are contradictory to their beliefs. We who oppose the application of this mandate to religious institutions include not only the leaders of religious groups morally opposed to contraception, but also leaders of other religious groups that do not share that particular moral conviction.

That we share an opposition to the mandate to religious institutions while disagreeing about specific moral teachings is a crucial fact. Religious freedom is the principle on which we stand. Because of differing understandings of moral and religious authority, people of good will can and often do come to different conclusions about moral questions. Yet, even we who hold differing convictions on specific moral issues are united in the conviction that no religious institution should be penalized for refusing to go against its beliefs. The issue is the First Amendment, not specific moral teachings or specific products or services.

The undersigned list is really quite impressive.  I recommend that you check it out and see for yourself that this really is not simply a Catholic issue.

Fortnight For Freedom Day 13 – Information on the Mandate

Today, July 3, Bishop Finn will offer Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to pray for the preservation of religious freedom in our country, at 6:30 p.m. After Mass there will be a reception at the Catholic Center at 20 W. 9th St. This Mass will mark the closing hours of this special time of prayer, study, catechesis and public action. You can extend the celebration by attending one of the Informational Meetings About the HHS Mandate and Religious Liberty being offered by the diocese. Bill Francis, Director of the Diocesan Respect Life and Human Rights Office will host a series of informational gatherings to discuss the mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services, and its impact on our religious liberties. The presentations that have already been planned are at the times and locations below. Everyone is welcome to attend. A list of the remaining dates follow: Friday July 6, 12:00 p.m. – 1 p.m., The Catholic Center (Cardinal Baum Room), 20 West Ninth Street, Kansas City, MO 54105 Wednesday October 3, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd (Parish Hall), 18601 North 169 Highway, Smithville, MO 64089 Sunday October 7, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. Rose of Lima Church (Parish Hall), 707 South Hall Avenue, Savannah, MO 64485 Thursday October 11, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., University of Central Missouri Newman Center (Location TBD), 116 West South Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093 Wednesday October 17, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., St. Gregory Barbarigo Church (Parish Hall), 315 South Davis Street, Maryville, MO 64468 The U.S. Bishops’ website has other background information, prayers, and suggestions for the observance of the Fortnight for Freedom.

Fortnight For Freedom Day 12 - Mass to Pray for the Preservation of Religious Freedom

Tomorrow evening, on Tuesday, July 3, Bishop Finn will offer Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to pray for the preservation of religious freedom in our country, at 6:30 p.m.  After Mass there will be a reception at the Catholic Center at 20 W. 9^th St.

This Mass will mark the closing hours of this special time of prayer, study, catechesis and public action.

Perhaps this is the time to pause and ask ourselves what this time of prayer has meant.  How have you taken advantage of this opportunity?  Have you made any resolutions?  Will you engage in ongoing prayers in the defense of religious liberty?  Will you do any kind of public action in the coming months to follow up on the fortnight?  Will you study the issues surrounding the concerns we should all have about our freedom to act according to our conscience?

Let us all take time to pray and discern God’s will about these questions.

-Dino Durando

Fortnight For Freedom Day 11 – First Martyrs of Rome

In AD 64 the Roman Emperor Nero called for a serious persecution of the Christians in Rome.  Many were martyred in blood giving witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.  The Church should always remain free to act and speak in the public square.  We celebrated the memorial of the Roman Proto-martyrs on June 30^th, following the June 29^th Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul who also died a bloody martyrdom in Rome.  These brave members of the Church gave their lives to bear witness to Jesus, to the fact that they believed He is God and that he deserves their absolute fidelity.  We can also see in their witness an act of witness to the liberty that the Church insists she have in all times and all places.

Throughout her history, the Church has faced governments that were bent on taking this right away or maintaining its lack.  Why?  Because the Church speaks the truth and when coupled with a live of charity speaks very persuasively.  When she challenges the state she risks angering the state and in extreme cases this has resulted in persecutions that follow the model of Rome in AD 64.  The Church has suffered at the hands of many like Nero through the years.  However, not all persecution comes in the form of a bloody execution.  Often it comes in the form of ridicule, restrictive laws or coercion.  The challenge we face today in the HHS contraceptive mandate (which includes abortion causing drugs and sterilization) is not unlike a host of other issues placed before us.  Will we give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God?  Or will be fudge a little here, compromise a little there and end up giving away our most sacred right, that of freedom of conscience?  Will doctors and nurses be forced to perform acts they consider morally reprehensible?  Will they be allowed to hold this belief and act on it?  Will people of faith be forced to pay (and therefore cooperate) for things they find morally reprehensible?  Will hospitals have to offer services that are evil for the sake of just getting along?  Will Catholic Charities throughout the country be forced to perform adoptions that they cannot in good conscience do, just to stay open?  Many Catholic adoption agencies have been shut down for exactly this reality.  Many medical professionals have already been coerced into violating their conscience “just to get along” or keep their job.   Where will this stop?  It only stops when someone stands up and says, “No, I won’t do that, go ahead and fire me.”  It stops when Catholic hospitals and charities say, “No, we won’t do that even if you shut down our agency or take away funding or close our doors.”

Let us pray that the many Catholics who find themselves in situations that will test their resolve will choose the path of most resistance rather than the path of least resistance.  It is hard to paddle against the current.  May the Lord strengthen our resolve and may each one of us have the courage to risk it all for the sake of fidelity to Jesus Christ.

-Dino Durando

Fortnight For Freedom Day 10 – Comments on Recent Archbishop Naumann Interview

This is it folks.  If you haven't already read this interview please do.  Archbishop Naumann the ordinary of Kansas City, Kansas speaks very clearly on a host of issues surrounding the Fortnight For Freedom, the recent Supreme Court ruling and more.

Central to the recent posts on the BHI Blog is this statement made by the good archbishop:  "I think one of the things counseled against in various Church documents is what Pope Benedict XVI has sometimes referred to as 'statism,' that the state becomes the solution for everything, whereas in the past the family and other mediating institutions were really the vehicles for providing health-care, food, and shelter for the poor."

This "statism" is the basis for many of the concerns that the USCCB has voiced in recent months.  There should be certain limits to the reach and power of government.  Limits that are good for society and good for people because as Naumann puts it, "the history of states that become more and more powerful is not good; the more power that is accumulated without checks and balances being in place, then there is the potential for a great abuse of power."  Let us continue to pray, fast and speak out.

-Dino Durando

Fortnight For Freedom Day 9 – Answering Journalist’s Misconceptions

Laura W. Murphy

Writing as a “Guest Voice” for the Washington Post, Laura W. Murphy, Director of the Washington Legislative Office of the ACLU urges readers to reject the basis of the USCCB Campaign of prayer, study and action with the following headline: “Fortnight for Freedom’ distorts true religious liberty”.  Is her argument correct?  Many in the media are mimicking her words.  In fact, after dealing with Murphy’s claims I’ll point out the exhaustive list of answers to the media’s objections to the campaign from the USCCB’s June 27 “Advisory Memo to Journalists”.

I find several major flaws in her approach.  Her central claim is that this “much-hyped campaign […] purports to champion religious freedom, but in actuality distorts it by promoting the use of religion as a license to discriminate.”  Without actually using the word “bigot” she essentially has written a skewed rant trying to connect the insistence of Catholics (not just bishops mind you) that they not be forced to violate their conscience by being forced to do things that are immoral.  This approach is really just one small step above playground bully.

Her proof that “it’s about discrimination plain and simple” is a list of supposed religiously motivated discrimination.  She connects religious motivation to businesses that “claimed that religion compelled them to segregate their establishments,” efforts to prevent mixed-race marriages, and even the use of the Bible to defend slavery.  Next she adds a list of “The same arguments […] used to exclude women from public life.”  She closes her argument with the bold statement that, “these claims are all borne out of the same world view – that ‘religion’ justifies treating certain segments of our society as second-class citizens.”

The big problem with her argument; none of her examples are instances of Catholic bigotry or discrimination. In fact, the history of most of these issues are marked by support and direct action by Catholics (including bishops) to bring an end to misuse of the Bible to argue that women are second class citizens or that mixed-race marriages should be forbidden.  Let’s not forget (as people like Laura Murphy seem to want us to) that the Catholic Church stood side-by-side with the leaders of the civil rights movement.  Let us also not forget that movement to abolish slavery in Great Britain, in Europe and the U.S. was led by Christians including many Catholics.  While it is true that some Christians have used religion to support slavery and unjust discrimination based on race or sex, this is not the real history of Catholicism.

The Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas helped convince the Spanish government to enact the first European law abolishing colonial slavery in 1542 (Wikipedia).

Finally, we must answer her claim that Catholic adoption agencies which refuse to facilitate the adoption of children to same-sex couples commit an act of unjust discrimination.  What is true is that the Catholic religion is only willing to place children in homes where the couple is married.  The very definition of marriage and family are at stake and the Church refuses to compromise the truth about these institutions.  Refusing to do something that is not good for children and not good for society and is against our moral principles is exactly what is at stake.  The playground charge of “bigot” only sticks if we allow it to and Catholics should not back down or be cowed into submission.  Our answer must point out the above facts and with our head held high we can then point out the fact that we will be on the side of truth and real justice.  For example Peter Kreeft points out the accurate picture of the real principles that motivate the actions of Catholics in relation to those with same-sex attraction and their rights in society.  In a 2004 interview he said:

“One of the things I fear from this is an ugly backlash against homosexuals. If the truth is now whatever we will, then just as there is nothing to stop society today from redefining marriage, there is nothing to stop it tomorrow from redefining personal dignity and rights so as to take them away from homosexuals. The Nazis did exactly that.

The Church is the best friend of homosexuals, both because she tells them they are made in God’s image and have intrinsic dignity and rights and are called to be saints, and because she is the only social force left that insists on moral absolutes—so when they sin against themselves she says NO, just as she does to heterosexuals who sin against themselves sexually, but when others sin against them she says NO also.

No one else dares to say NO. She speaks up for everyone, including homosexuals.”

The Note to Journalists

Finally let us look at the main point of the USCCB’s June 27 “Advisory Memo to Journalists”.  I recommend that you read the entire text if you have the time.

To help the media prepare what he thought would be embarrassing questions related to the Fortnight For Freedom, John Gehring of Faith in Public Life distributed a memo to journalists on June 7^th.  The Bishop’s media office does a masterful job answering his long list of “facts” with a long list of responses and actual facts.  The basis for all of Mr. Gehrings’s concerns is his underlying premise that the Catholic Bishops (and the Catholic faithful) don’t really have the right to speak up about their concerns that religious liberty is under assault.  His list of accusations attack the bishops for making this a political battle against Obama and for narrowly focusing in on the HHS Contraception Mandate.  The answer to this charge from the USCCB Note: “[Gehring] should have noticed that the bishops’ key insert for Church bulletins during the Fortnight for Freedom lists seven recent threats to religious liberty – only two of which have anything to do with the President or his administration.”

Catholics do have the right as Americans to speak out about issues, and so do tax-exempt entities.  Last time I checked it’s called freedom of speech.  It seems to me that if folks like Gehring get their wish churches and perhaps even individuals who do not agree with his political or moral views would be silenced.  This is why we are praying to maintain the right to exercise our religion in the public square.  To settle for mere freedom of worship would be a loss for all Americans.  Freedom of worship remains in many countries where freedom of religion has been long ago suppressed and forbidden.  Americans deserve the kind of America where freedom of religion is respected.  Isn’t that why so many of our ancestors came here in the first place?

-Dino Durando

Fortnight For Freedom Day 8 – Contacting Your Government Representatives

We now begin the second half of the fortnight a period of prayer, study, catechesis and action.  Today we examine what actions might be done.  Sharing the facts surrounding this issue with the people God puts in our path is one way we already discussed in a previous post.  While this is not always an easy thing to do it is very important.  This may be done face-to-face or even through social media or other means.  Another important thing to do is attend a public rally.  Perhaps there is one that you can attend locally?  Many locals from both sides of the border are planning to attend this event in Topeka.

Something we all can and should do is to contact our state and federal representatives and let them know that the HHS contraceptive mandate (which includes a mandate for abortion causing drugs and sterilization) is wrong and that you expect them to do something to fix it at their level of government if they have any influence on the issue whatsoever.  You can find a link to do so here on the USCCB website.  The Missouri Catholic Conference and Kansas Catholic Conference also provide links to help you contact your representatives.  You can also call your member of Congress using the Capitol Switchboard (202) 225-3121.  You might not have much luck getting through today with the follow-up to the Supreme Court ruling given this morning, but we should not let this issue fall to the wayside in the wake of the larger questions over the Affordable Healthcare Act.  Speak up.  Let your representatives know what you think and do your best to provide clear reasons why this mandate is unjust and must be fixed before it goes into place in January 2013.  If we don’t speak up then our government representatives will not know what they should know from the voters who put them in office.

Many people I have spoken with about this issue have been under the impression that this is only a federal issue.  However, in Missouri it is possible that a law currently waiting to be signed or vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon could become one of the country’s strongest conscience protection laws.  Here’s the scoop from the Missouri Catholic Conference website: “SB 749, if signed by Gov. Nixon, will give Missouri one of the strongest, if not the strongest, conscience protection law in the nation. Most significantly, it will allow individuals to make sure elective abortion is not included in their health coverage.

As the controversy over the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate has grown, some purchasers of insurance have found out that, unbeknownst to them, their health plan covered contraceptives or even elective abortions. If enacted into law, SB 749 will put an end to this secrecy; people will know whether their plans cover items such as elective abortions, and they will be able to exclude these items from their plans if they so choose. It turns out that choice is not a concept owned by the pro-abortion forces. People of faith ought to have the right to refuse to pay for abortion and abortion drugs.”

Again, you can go to the Missouri Catholic Conference website to learn more about SB 749 and to contact Gov. Nixon and your state representative to voice your support for SB 749.

-Dino Durando

A “loss of the culture of childhood”

A recent study has shown that;

On average, American children have eight fewer hours of unstructured playtime after school each week than they did 25 years ago, according to research by David Elkind, a professor emeritus of child development at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. Mr. Elkind attributes a “loss of the culture of childhood” to increasing parent concerns over child safety during free time and a rise in academic focus for both school time and extracurricular activities, leading to more structured, scheduled play.

What is the impact on family life of an overscheduled life of sports and activities?  While the activities themselves are good, we frequently see parents who spend little time together, and families who almost never eat a meal together.

Fortnight For Freedom Day 7 - The Power of Prayer

Can our prayers really make a difference?  The simple answer is yes.  We are now one week into this fortnight of prayer and we may be tempted to give up because we may get the sense that nothing is changing.  Up to this point the world seems to be largely ignoring our efforts.  The media certainly doesn't seem to be going out of their way to cover this movement of prayer and action.  No sweeping announcements of reversal have come from the HHS department.  Will our efforts really make any difference?

Prayer is never a waste of our time or effort.  Several points on prayer may help to bolster our confidence in God and in the power of prayer.

From the Compendium of the Catechism we read:

545. Why is our prayer efficacious?

Our prayer is efficacious because it is united in faith with the prayer of Jesus. In him Christian prayer becomes a communion of love with the Father. In this way we can present our petitions to God and be heard: “Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

It is precisely because our prayer is Christian that is fruitful.  It is Jesus who makes our prayers powerful.  We must always resist the temptation to doubt this, even when we don't immediately "see" our prayers answered.  Christian prayer is Christian precisely because it is united to the will of God.  It follows the model of Christ's prayer in Gethsemane "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)

When we are moved by the Holy Spirit to pray, it is often when we need something or perceive that someone else needs something.  This form of prayer is called intercession.  The Compendium of the Catechism has this on intercessory prayer:

554. In what does the prayer of intercession consist?

Intercession consists in asking on behalf of another. It conforms us and unites us to the prayer of Jesus who intercedes with the Father for all, especially sinners. Intercession must extend even to one’s enemies.

Notice how the answer reminds us of the prayer of Jesus.  Our unity with Him is the source of power for our prayers.  He intercedes to the Father, to His Father whom we call "Our Father."  Notice too, how emphasis is placed upon prayer for one's enemies, not as an option, but as a requirement.  This is not a prayer of spite.  We do not curse our enemies, rather we are called to offer prayer as Jesus did.  This is loving prayer that offers mercy and forgiveness to one's enemies. "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

If we have difficulty believing in the power of prayer we might be helped by Mary.  The Compendium presents the truth about Mary's role in this way:

562. How is Christian prayer Marian?

Because of her singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit, the Church loves to pray to Mary and with Mary, the perfect ‘pray-er’, and to “magnify” and invoke the Lord with her. Mary in effect shows us the “Way” who is her Son, the one and only Mediator.

When we have difficulty believing in the power of prayer it is really a crisis of faith.  Central to our faith is the conviction that God is directly involved in the world, in the activities of our daily life.  Mary can help us to see God's providence in our everyday circumstances precisely because she is the mother, the one who notices our needs and rushes to give us aid.  She is the one who believed the words of the angel Gabriel and magnified the Lord in prayer and action.  Turning to her and trusting in her intercession  is a sure path to Jesus and greater trust in His power in our world today.

Let us turn to Jesus and offer our prayers throughout each day, in union with Holy Mary and with the whole Church gathered around the throne of God, begging mercy, love and the triumph of the truth.  If you have not already been saying this prayer "For the Protection of Religious Liberty" provided by the USCCB you may want to do so starting today.

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator,

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This prayer is from the USCCB Fortnight For Freedom website which includes several other prayer resources.

-Dino Durando