Year: 2012

On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Nickels, dimes, and family size

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

A few years ago, I spoke with a young man preparing to get married. His aunt told him that she thought he and his fiancée were too financially-strapped to have a child, and that it wouldn’t be fair to bring up a baby in poverty. Keenly aware of his joblessness and his minuscule bank account, he concluded she was probably right.

The young man and his fiancée were ready to tie the knot in a few months and they expected that she would be at the infertile phase of her cycle around the time of their honeymoon, so they would be able to consummate the marriage while avoiding bringing a child into the world.

They agreed they would use Natural Family Planning (NFP) after that to avoid a pregnancy. A few years later when they felt financially secure, he told me, they would have their first child.

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On
C.J. Kruchten

Suggests writer should consult catechism rather than party talking points

To the editor:

John Murphy’s letter (February 9 issue of Catholic Herald) claims that Newt Gingrich, in calling President Obama the “food stamp President,” meant to demean African-Americans.

Mr. Murphy should be advised that ascribing racist motives to someone without any supporting evidence is calumny and therefore, sinful. Whatever one may think of Mr. Gingrich, his basic point that food stamps and dependency have increased exponentially under this president is factually correct.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Bautismo: Recibir el don de una conciencia clara

Queridos amigos:

Incluso después de algunas semanas en Roma, en donde pude tener algunos encuentros muy fructíferos y mucho tiempo de oración con obispos hermanos y el Santo Padre, en las tumbas de los Apóstoles, simplemente no puedo decirles lo feliz que estoy de haber vuelto a la diócesis, a donde he sido enviado como sucesor de los Apóstoles para mantener la unidad con el Obispo de Roma.

Por favor, hagan saber que los recordé a todos muy regularmente en mis oraciones, especialmente en los lugares santos, durante esos días en Roma. Gracias por haber rezado por mí. Podría decir que me sentido acompañado. Traigo además un saludo particular del Papa Benedicto XVI, nuestro Santo Padre, que ofreció su cariño y su bendición apostólica a toda la diócesis.

Ahora nos encontramos juntos al inicio de la Cuaresma, tiempo que nos lleva a la gran celebración de Resurrección. Uno de los momentos más grandes de esa celebración de la Resurrección se da a través del Bautismo de los nuevos católicos que entran a la Iglesia, en donde ponen a un lado sus antiguas existencias y son llenados por la vida Cristo Resucitado. De ese modo también tenemos algunas lecciones sobre el Bautismo en las lecturas del domingo pasado, el primero de la Cuaresma.

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On
Lindsey Hoppenjan, For the Catholic Herald

UW students share love of Christ through service

UW student carries concrete mix.MADISON — As Lent begins, we again focus on the three pillars of the Lenten journey: fasting, praying, and almsgiving.

Even before I cared or knew much about fasting and prayer, I understood the necessity of assisting those in need, including material donations or acts of service. I felt compelled to serve others and that eventually taught me how to serve God and discover His will and plan for my life.

Called to serve the needy

Throughout Scripture we are called to serve the needy in charity. In the book of James we are told, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I was involved in and benefited from service work and a variety of other programs at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center. It is because of these experiences that I am now an intern at St. Paul’s.

I work to coordinate service events for students, so that they too can learn to give of themselves through service and experience the realities of both spiritual and physical poverty.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Baptism: Receiving gift of a clear conscience

Dear Friends,
Even after a few weeks in Rome, where I was able to have some tremendously fruitful meetings and plenty of prayer time with brother bishops and the Holy Father, at the tombs of the Apostles, I simply can’t tell you how happy I am to be back here in the diocese, where indeed I have been sent as a successor to the Apostles, to maintain unity with the Bishop of Rome.

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