Month: September 2012

On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Loving those with disabilities

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Many of us have hidden fears and hesitations when it comes to dealing with persons with severe disabilities. Their unfamiliar gestures, behaviors, and limitations can challenge us and infringe on our comfort zones.

We may be tempted to apply a different standard when we deal with them. Even very young children with disabilities may suffer discrimination through denial of care as newborns, or through abortion in utero.

Santorums’ daughter Bella

During his presidential campaign, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and his wife Karen were often asked by people on the campaign trail about their daughter Bella, who was born with Trisomy 18, a severe genetic defect caused by an extra chromosome.

Such children tend to have shorter lifespans, with 90 percent dying during the first year of life. Nevertheless, with proper care, some can live well into their teens, and even into their 20’s or 30’s.

Bella became known to the public during her father’s candidacy in part because of several memorable moments during the TV debates where Rick powerfully described how Bella’s birth and struggles had impacted their family.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Religious education: It’s not just for kids anymore

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

The late Jack McBride, who used to be in charge of adult education programs in the Diocese of Madison, often reminded me that Jesus taught adults and blessed children.

When I think about Jesus’ life as recorded in the Scriptures, I realize that Jack was right. Jesus is almost always found teaching adults. As we know, Jesus often used parables to help get his message across in words his audience could understand in that time and place.

I’m sure Jack realized that we do need to educate our children. However, he felt that the Catholic Church should do much more to educate adults on matters of the faith.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Facing the challenge of learning your faith

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.

Dear Friends,

The week of Labor Day now having come and gone, schools everywhere are kicking into “high gear,” and thus it’s important that we remember to pray for all of our students. It’s also a good time for Catholic parents to remember to reapply themselves to educating and forming their children in the faith, and for all of us to support them! It is a large task, but one which will bear fruit for all of eternity.

Next week I’ll be blessed to celebrate two Masses with students, one with students at the UW-Madison, and another which will gather together students from all of the Catholic schools in our diocese. I can’t wait to be with all of these young, energetic young people. Next week’s issue of the Catholic Herald will also focus on the 32 men who I call “my sons” in a particular way. In recent weeks I’ve also seen almost all of the seminarians head back to school — and I can certainly identify with those parents who are missing students, who are back in the dorms!

 

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Facing the challenge of learning your faith

Dear Friends,
The week of Labor Day now having come and gone, schools everywhere are kicking into “high gear,” and thus it’s important that we remember to pray for all of our students. It’s also a good time for Catholic parents to remember to reapply themselves to educating and forming their children in the faith, and for all of us to support them! It is a large task, but one which will bear fruit for all of eternity.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Buscar la belleza en el mundo cotidiano del trabajo

Esta columna es la comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la diócesis de Madison. Cualquier divulgación más amplia va más allá de la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos:

Mientras escribo esta columna, llegamos rápidamente al feriado por el Día del Trabajo. Es, de varias formar, un hito agridulce para mí cada año, porque es señal de que están por acabar los días de sol y calor (¡aunque este año cualquier quiebre con el extremo calor es bienvenido!), y antes de que nos demos cuenta, estaremos en medio del invierno.

Al mismo tiempo, con gran velocidad cada año, Acción de Gracias parece correr luego del Día del Trabajo, y luego la Navidad, que es con seguridad un tiempo bendito.

El Día del Trabajo, sin embargo, no permite respirar y nos da una oportunidad para examinar nuestros esfuerzos y, yo propondría, para volver a aplicar en nuestro trabajo –sin importar lo que sea– el hecho de santificarlo alrededor nuestro. Todos y cada uno de los trabajos, ya sea criar a los hijos, trabajar como maestro, como vendedor, abogado o mecánico, debe ser un medio por medio del cual encontremos a Dios y testimoniemos Su preocupación por el mundo: y ese es mi primer punto.

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On
George Weigel

The war on (little) women and other insanities

The Catholic Difference column by George WeigelThe Supreme Court’s minor mistakes have few systemic consequences. But when the Supremes make a big mistake, the error tends to seep throughout the entire political process, poisoning everything in its path.

That was what happened with the court’s 1857 Dred Scott decision, which intensified the passions and accelerated the dynamics that led to the Civil War — and to 600,000 Americans killing each other.

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On
Michelle Nilsson, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

Learn more about the sacraments

MADISON — Catholics all over the world are preparing for the Year of Faith proclaimed by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, which is to begin this October.

In his recent document on the year of faith, Porte Fide, the Holy Father states, “Ever since the start of my ministry as the Successor of Peter, I have spoken of the need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ.” The Holy Father goes on to explain that he wants to arouse a desire in the hearts of the faithful to make a profession of faith that is sincere, hopeful, and full of conviction.

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