Category: Around the Diocese

News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.

On
Patrick Delaney, For the Catholic Herald

Local Catholics join hundreds of thousands at March for Life

Attending the March for Life in Washington, D.C., were representatives from the Diocese of Madison including, from left, Jennifer Dunnett, Bob Dorn, and Patrick Delaney pictured as they stand in front of the Supreme Court Building. (Contributed photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite a significant snow storm and particularly frigid weather, the 2014 March for Life in Washington, D.C., rallied-on with undaunted participation and unquenchable energy.

The march remains the largest annual demonstration in the world regularly garnering hundreds of thousands of participants.

The dignity of human life

This persistent high representation indicates a cause which is deeper in significance than congressional budgetary items or tax policy.

Indeed, it touches upon the very foundation of civilized society, the inviolable dignity of the human person.

It affirms the fundamental truth that human rights precede the state, and — as acknowledged by the Declaration of Independence — the fundamental purpose of government is to affirm and protect these rights.

Blessed Pope John XXIII rightly taught that when these fundamental rights are not recognized and protected by government, it calls the very legitimacy of such governments into question.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

St. Francis Xavier to hold fifth annual Casino Night

CROSS PLAINS — The St. Francis Xavier Endowment Committee will be hosting the parish’s fifth annual Casino Night on Saturday, March 1, in the parish fellowship hall at 6 p.m.

This year’s Mardi Gras-style Casino Night is an opportunity for parishioners — and all friends of St. Francis Parish — to get together for a fun-filled evening that includes food, beverages, entertainment, and prizes galore.

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On
Chris Lee

Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive

MADISON — Annually for 22 years, thousands of generous donors have searched their closets, wallets, and purses to provide the Society of St. Vincent de Paul with the resources to give gently used and new blankets to Dane County people in need.

The society’s annual “Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive” — long held on January’s last full weekend — will once again offer the community an opportunity to share some practical comfort with local families struggling with poverty.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Liturgy and social doctrine courses offered

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison is offering two series of courses on both the liturgical year and the Social Doctrine of the Church in the coming months.

Study of liturgical year

A comprehensive study on the liturgical year is being offered by Abbot Marcel Rooney through the Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute.

Remaining sessions are open to everyone and will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., on the following Saturday mornings.

 

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On
Kevin Wondrash

City considers buffer zone around clinics

MADISON — The city of Madison is considering a proposal to impose a buffer zone of 160 feet around abortion clinics in the city.

“This buffer zone is quite severe — over four times the size of the controversial Massachusetts buffer zone being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court — and it would effectively end all sidewalk counseling at the Planned Parenthood abortion center on Orin Rd.,” said Pro-Life Wisconsin in a statement.

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On
Patrick Delaney, For the Catholic Herald

U.S. bishops call for prayer and postcard campaign addressing critical concerns

Patrick Delaney

At their annual meeting in November 2012, the U.S. Catholic bishops launched a pastoral strategy addressing critical life, marriage, and religious liberty concerns. This strategy included first and foremost a call to prayer and sacrifice along with the activism of a nationwide postcard campaign.

In addition to the continued promotion of contraception and abortifacients in our schools, neighborhoods, and in international population control programs, and the resulting sadness and crime of widespread surgical abortion, two additional recent “flashpoints” elevated the urgency of our need for prayer and action.

First ‘flashpoint’: HHS Mandate

The first is the Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandate which requires almost all employers, including Catholic employers, to pay for employees’ contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs regardless of conscientious objections. Not only, therefore, are Catholics and other people of good will expected to live in a society which promotes these evils to our young people with our tax dollars, but now the government wants us to pay for and provide them ourselves within our own communities.

Each of these practices violate what Pope Benedict XVI called the “language of creation,” traditionally referred to as the Natural Moral Law, which proceeds from the Creator and is inscribed on the human heart. And attempting to force Catholic and non-Catholic citizens to violate the laws of God the Creator is a grave affront to America’s first freedom, religious liberty, as well as to the inherent dignity of every human person.

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