Month: November 2009

On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Lleno de esperanza y gratitud

Bajo el libro del evangelio por Obispo Robert C. Morlino
Esta columna está dirigida a los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia transgrede la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos,

Escribo esto recién llegado de la asamblea anual de la Conferencia Nacional de Obispos y lleno, realmente, de esperanza. De camino a Baltimore para este encuentro, me detuve en Washington y tuve la oportunidad de visitar a nuestro seminarista que tiene una Basselin Scholar (beca de tres años de filosofía para seminaristas) en la Catholic University of America, y a algunos de los seminaristas que ha conocido. La experiencia fue bastante buena y me llenó de esperanza, no solo para el presente sino también para el futuro.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Anwar al Awlaki y la opción fundamental

Bajo el libro del evangelio por Obispo Robert C. Morlino
Esta columna está dirigida a los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia transgrede la intención del Obispo.

Nota del editor: La siguiente columna es una adaptación de la catequesis del Obispo Robert C. Morlino del 11 de noviembre.

Si le han prestado atención a las noticias durante las últimas semanas, deben haber escuchado el nombre de Anwar al Awlaki. Él era el imán (la versión musulmana del pastor) de la mezquita de Fairfax County, Virginia, en cuyas pláticas estuvieron presentes el mayor Nidal Malik Hasan, el asesino de Fort Hood, y simultáneamente, tres de los secuestradores del 11 de septiembre.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, editor

What happened to freedom of religion?

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

With efforts to banish religion from the public square in this country, I’ve begun to wonder what is happening to freedom of religion in the United States.

The beginning of the first amendment to the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that while there should be no specific state religion, those with religious beliefs should be able to practice their faith freely.

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On
Audrey Mettel Fixmer

Old age: The equalizer?

Grand Mom by Audrey Mettel Fixmer

It’s a privilege to get old; not everyone has the chance to experience life in their 80s. It’s a time when we can no longer hide our age with cosmetics and high style when there are other obvious signs of deterioration.

Whereas we once walked tall, carrying ourselves with grace, we are now shrunken and our backs are bent. The sure-footed stride has evolved into cautious baby steps. And the head held high now is bent to watch for possible ice or bumps on our path.

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On
Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

Our covenant through Baptism

Living and Learning column by Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert

Thankfulness for many blessings over this past year already fills the minds and hearts of my family and, I imagine, yours, as well. In particular, thanking God for my cousins’ now one-year-old quadruplets. Yes, that’s right. We are all still amazed at this spontaneous gift from God to Michael, Angela, and little Delaney. Now they are seven. Like some other great stories it happened once upon a night.

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On
Patti Wetzel, RN, Watertown

Nurse comments on ectopic pregnancy

To the editor:

I would like to comment on Fr. Tad Pacholczyk’s article on ectopic pregnancy in the October 22, 2009, issue. As an RN I have over 18 years of experience in obstetrics and gynecology.

Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside of the uterus) is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. Sadly, this is a nonviable pregnancy and the embryo cannot be saved. At times the embryo will be spontaneously expelled and at other times medical intervention is required. The procedure depends on the clinical situation and location of the pregnancy. In early detection Methotrexate is the least invasive intervention.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Share Your Faith Campaign

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

On the weekend of November 21st and 22nd we will be faced with an unique opportunity to assist, once again, some very specific brothers and sisters in need, by way of the national “Share your Faith Campaign” (also known generally as the CCHD Collection). With this year’s portion of the funds collected for national impact we, as a diocese, will be reaching out to the elderly and sick of our society, particularly those served by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Anwar al Awlaki and the Fundamental Option

Editor’s note: The following column is adapted from Bishop Robert C. Morlino’s staff catechesis on November 11.

If you’ve paid attention to the news in recent weeks, you may have heard the name Anwar al Awlaki. He is the former imam (which is the Muslim term for pastor) of a mosque in Fairfax County, Virginia, whose services and sermons were attended by Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood killer, and simultaneously, three of the 9-11 hijackers.

Awlaki, who now resides in Yemen, has articulated, as a pastor, a concept of conscience. This is one of our main words of interest as Catholics: “conscience.” Awlaki has said that Major Hasan, who killed 13 and wounded many others, is in very good conscience as a Muslim because it is good to prevent American service people from waging war in Islamic countries, however you do it. It is, Awlaki articulated, the Will of Allah, that faithful Muslims take such preventative measures against American or allied service people, because the good of the worldwide Islamic Caliphate requires it. The Caliphate, in general, refers to a huge Islamic State which is desired by many Islamic extremists.

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