Year: 2013

On
Doreen Abi Raad, Catholic News Service

Lebanese youth await participation in Vatican’s Way of the Cross

BEIRUT (CNS) — When a committee of Catholic youth in Lebanon set out to compose the meditations for the Way of the Cross, they had no idea that a new pope would preside over the Good Friday service at Rome’s Colosseum.

By custom, the pope invites a cardinal or an ecclesial community to prepare the meditations. This year is the first that young people of a particular country were asked to participate. Pope Benedict XVI invited the youth of Lebanon to participate through Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, who was named a cardinal in November.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Adaptándonos a la Sede vacante

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

Queridos amigos.

El jueves pasado por la mañana cuando volvía de Roma a Madison, el Papa Benedicto era aún el Obispo de Roma y el Papa de la Iglesia Universal; para cuando llegué a Estados Unidos a mitad de la tarde, la Sede de Pedro estaba vacía. Todo mientras estuve en el aire y se daba el más significativo episodio en la historia de la Iglesia, que el mundo también ha vivido. Tengo que admitir que el sentido de vacío de la Sede de Pedro, debido a la renuncia del Papa Benedicto, me dejó y me deja con un sentimiento que nunca antes había experimentado.

Y así, ¿qué nos toca hacer ante esto? En primer lugar, no puede haber duda de que el Espíritu Santo obrará en el Colegio de Cardenales para elegir al siguiente Obispo de Roma y Papa de la Iglesia Universal. Además, no puede haber duda de que el Espíritu Santo obrará en el siguiente Papa por el bien de la Iglesia. En tercer lugar, no puede haber duda de que el Papa Benedicto, tomó esta decisión en este momento de su vida en oración, muy sincera, muy sopesada y muy atentamente. Todas las razones de esta decisión suya (mientras son sujeto de infinitas especulaciones) probablemente nunca se sepan de hecho, pero las primeras tres consideraciones deben estar fuera de toda duda.

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On
George Weigel

Qualities needed for the unique papal office

The Catholic Difference column by George Weigel

At the point at which John Paul II began his papacy in the first volume of my biography of him, Witness to Hope, I borrowed some thoughts from Hans Urs von Balthasar and tried to explain a bit of the uniqueness of the papal office:

An impossible task

“To be pope is to take on a task that is, by precise theological definition, impossible. Like every other office in the Church, the papacy exists for the sake of holiness. The office, though, is a creature of time and space, and holiness is eternal. No one, not even a pope who is a saint, can fully satisfy the office’s demands.

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On
Chris Lee

Bishops urge support for choice in education

MADISON — The Roman Catholic bishops of Wisconsin wrote to members of the Wisconsin Legislature, urging them to support Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposal, which would expand parental choice programs in the state and create the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

Noting the Church’s long-standing commitment to quality education, especially for needy or vulnerable children, the bishops explained why educational choice is so vital. “We back this effort out of a conviction that parents, as the primary educators of their children, must have the community’s support in selecting a form of education that best meets their child’s needs — academic, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical.”

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On
Lillian Qinones, For the Catholic Herald

Researcher uncovers the dark world of the Pill

Heroes for Life by Lillian Quinones

Author’s note: This is the second in our series of interviews on Heroes for Life — Catholics who are doing extraordinary things for the pro-life movement. I have included the scientific citation links in the text of the interview so you can read more on the published research on this compelling topic which has far-reaching implications for our society. — Lillian Quinones, senior, St. Ambrose Academy, Madison

Following is an interview with Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel and the executive director of the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing located in Milwaukee.

She is an international speaker/author on the topic on post-abortion healing. She has done extensive research on the biology of bonding/attachment and on the biochemistry of attraction which relates to the Theology of the Body.

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On
Scott Emerson, For the Catholic Herald

Seminarian reflects on the final days of Benedict XVI

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of reflections on recent events happening at the Vatican by Diocese of Madison seminarians studying in Rome.

As a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, studying in Rome, the unexpected news of the pope’s resignation has dramatically impacted the life of the seminary and the spiritual life of each seminarian as we pray for His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus, and the cardinals as they prepare to enter conclave.

From the moment we heard the announcement, the North American College seminarians were in abuzz talking about the Holy Father’s decision while trying to concentrate on studying and completing final exams which we were in the midst of taking.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Challenges for the Church: Cardinal Dolan outlines key issues facing the next pope

There are many challenges facing the Catholic Church today, challenges which the new pope will have to address.

What are the most important challenges? If we only go by secular media reports, the key issues would seem to be the sexual abuse scandal, ordination of women, and same-sex marriage. These are some of the so-called “hot button” issues, but are they the major challenges facing the Church?

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