Author: Chris Lee

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Chris Lee

Article found ambiguous

To the editor:

We find the “Forming Consciences” article (Catholic Herald, September 27, 2012) to be both ambiguous and confusing. Stating that Catholics are to vote using a well-formed conscience is correct; however, our consciences have not been well-formed for the past 40 years or so. This close to the election it is essential that we speak plainly and clearly about what is at stake and disregard “nice platitudes and political correctness.”

Certain issues trump all other issues. The most significant issues trumping all others have to do with religious freedom, abortion, same-sex marriage, contraception, and other “culture of death” issues.

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Chris Lee

Join the worldwide prayer for an end to abortion

Coordinators discuss the “rules of the road” for the Madison 40 Days for Life vigil at the kick-off celebration in Pine Bluff on September 26. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner)

PINE BLUFF — On September 26 in cities across the globe, people began to pray earnestly for an end to abortion. This prayer, along with fasting and community outreach, will be constant for the next 40 days.

At 316 locations in 49 states and the District of Columbia, in seven Canadian provinces, and in four countries including Uganda, people will hold vigil for the 40 Days for Life through November 4. Forty-six of these campaigns are being held for the first time.

Here in the Diocese of Madison, a kickoff celebration was held at St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff, nine hours after the campaign officially began at the Planned Parenthood location on Madison’s east side.

The local campaign, organized by Madison Vigil for Life, has been ongoing since 2005. This year is the first in the leadership role for volunteer president Bette Weisshaar, but she said that though there have been worries and concerns, volunteers are coming forward, more parishes are getting involved, and hours are getting filled, even if they are filled sometimes last-minute.

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Chris Lee

Who gets to decide when to let go of life?

As a child I idolized my grandfather. One of my fondest memories is of him taking us to a neighborhood restaurant that had a little juke box in each booth. He would give my sisters and me a few quarters and we’d flip to the oldies to play Grandpa’s favorites.

From time to time I still hear those classics playing in my memory ­ from “Moon River” and “Doctor Zhivago” to “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”

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Chris Lee

La búsqueda de la verdadera belleza

Esta columna es una comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la diócesis de Madison. Cualquier otra circulación más amplia va más allá de las intenciones del Obispo.

Queridos amigos:

La próxima semana, el 11 de octubre, comenzamos el Año de la Fe que ha sido declarado por nuestro Santo Padre, el Papa Benedicto XVI, para invitar a la Iglesia, nuevamente, a través de la puerta de la fe que Dios ha abierto para nosotros. Es una excelente oportunidad para renovar nuestra fe y llegar a aquellos a nuestro alrededor, a invitarlos nuevamente a la vida de fe en la Iglesia. Cada una de vuestras parroquias, así como las oficinas diocesanas, ofrecerán muchas y variadas actividades por el Año de la Fe, y los aliento a tomar parte de ellas, de manera plena y activa, en este año celebra de manera particular el 50 aniversario del inicio del Concilio Vaticano II y el 20 aniversario de la promulgación del Catecismo.

Por mi parte, he estado alentando a los líderes parroquiales de nuestra diócesis a aproximarse a este Año de la Fe con un énfasis extra al impulsar la evangelización a través de la belleza. Permítanme explicar por qué.

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