Month: June 2012

On
John Huebscher

Judges on board deserve our thanks

Eye on the Capitol by John Huebscher

It is difficult to think of a scandal as a good thing. But the scandal triggered by violations of election and lobby laws 10 years ago, that led to reforming state regulation of both activities, had a positive effect.

One such reform merged the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board into a new Government Accountability Board (GAB) with different membership. This has proven to be a very good thing.

Most members of the former Elections Board were designees of partisan leadership in the legislature. Board members did their best, but they had limited powers and were often expected to represent the interests of partisan leaders who appointed them.

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On
Christopher Stefanick

The priest: in persona Christi

Real Life Cathoic by Christopher Stefanick

I met a young priest in Fairfax, Va., last week. Of course “young” is a relative term. Everyone around me gets younger with each passing year.

Father Jaffe had been at the parish for less than a week and was the priest on call for the local hospital. It was 2 a.m. when his pager went off. A couple had lost their eight-year-old son hours before and the mother wouldn’t let go of his body.

All attempts of the staff and hospital chaplain to get her to release her son had failed. She sat rocking him, unresponsive to anyone. The woman wasn’t Catholic, but the staff knew from experience that it was time to call in a priest.

When the newly ordained 26-year-old arrived, he did the only thing that came to mind. He sat with the parents in silence for a moment and said, “It looks like you need some prayer.” He opened his rite book, The Pastoral Care of the Sick to the section with the prayers for the deceased and he began to pray aloud.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Moving on from here: In a renewed kind of politics based on faithful citizenship

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Now that the Wisconsin recall election is over, some people are rejoicing and others are disappointed in the outcomes. However, I think almost every citizen in our state is happy to be moving on, away from the incessant political ads, phone calls, and media hype.

Now that the recall is in the history books, the question is: Where do we go from here? I think most Wisconsinites want to live and work together peacefully, yet the climate in our state — and in our nation, for that matter — has been so contentious.

Steps towards healing

Governor Scott Walker took one step by inviting legislators and staff members of both political parties to what was called the “Brat Summit” at the governor’s mansion. The governor himself grilled the brats, and it seemed that those attending enjoyed themselves.

Spending time talking with each other might be a first step in the process of healing in our state. If we listen to what people say, we might start understanding their point of view. It doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything they say, but we might be able to find some common ground and ways to work together.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Serving the Truth to the world

Editor’s Note: The following is a copy of Bishop Morlino’s Homily for the celebration of the Ordination to the Diaconate of Rev. Mr. Vincent Brewer and Rev. Mr. Garrett Kau, for the Diocese of Madison.

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

We know that the Holy Spirit hovers over this celebration tonight and that in just a few moments, the Holy Spirit is going to rush onto your souls and He’s going to change you, Vince and Garrett, into the person of Jesus Christ, the servant. This will be a lifelong change at the deepest level of your soul and you will be very different when you go to sleep tonight, than you were when you woke up this morning. And if you had moments of nervousness about this today, they will disappear, as the Holy Spirit will take up residence at the deepest level of your soul, in a whole new way — and it really is a big deal!

In the Second Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:26-40), we heard the Ethiopian eunuch reading from the Prophet Isaiah, and talking about Jesus, the suffering servant. Of course, the identity of the diaconate is all about being servant — servant of the Word, and servant of charity. It’s a very interesting description that we have of the servanthood of Jesus, this description of the suffering servant.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Serviendo al mundo con la Verdad

Nota del editor: la siguiente es copia de la homilía del Obispo Morlino para la celebración de la ordenación diaconal del reverendo Vincent Brewer y del reverendo Garrett Kau, ambos para la diócesis de Madison.

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.

Sabemos que el Espíritu Santo preside la celebración de esta noche y que en tan solo algunos minutos, el Espíritu Santo va a derramarse en sus almas y los va a transformar, Vince y Garrett, en la persona de Jesucristo, el siervo. Será un cambio de por vida al nivel más profundo en sus almas y cuando se vayan a dormir serán muy distintos a como eran esta mañana al levantarse. Y si estuvieron nerviosos por esto durante este día, eso desaparecerá, ya que el Espíritu Santo tomará como morada lo más profundo de sus almas de una manera totalmente nueva. ¡Y sin duda eso es un asunto de muchísima importancia!

En la segunda lectura de los Hechos de los Apóstoles (Hech. 8, 26-40), escuchamos el pasaje del eunuco etíope que escribe el profeta Isaías, y hablando de Jesús, el siervo sufriente. Es claro que la identidad del diaconado tiene todo que ver con ser siervo, siervo de la Palabra y siervo de la caridad. Es una descripción muy interesante la que tenemos sobre el servicio de Jesús, esta descripción del siervo sufriente.

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