Tag: marriage

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Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

The sacred plan for marriage

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,

I cannot help but comment on the events of last week, namely the Supreme Court’s hearing of arguments with regard to a number of consolidated cases about the definition of marriage.

Now, in the first place, I must take a moment to remind you that when Christians speak of such things, we must be very clear about separating acts done from the individuals doing them.

We can speak of the inherent goodness of marriage, as it’s been understood from time immemorial, and we can even speak of the sin which is committed in same-sex physical unions (just as we can speak of the sin which is committed in adulterous acts, or even in “contracepted” marital acts) without condemning the individuals who may think it possible to make marriage something other than what it is, or those who undertake sexual acts that are far less than what sex is made to be — truly unitive and open to new life.

We can and we do hate the sin, while loving the sinner. It is a very important distinction and one that is sometimes forgotten by Christians, and sometimes glossed over and even rejected by those who wish to paint any attempt to preach the truth of marriage as a judgement of individuals.

What’s at stake

That being said, let us discuss what’s at stake in the cases that are being considered by the Supreme Court.

The case, of course, will have an impact on whether or not it is deemed constitutionally valid for us, as a society, to provide a certain designation for an institution that has been respected as necessary for the good of humankind since the beginning: that being the joining of one man and one woman, for one lifetime, with openness to children.

That institution, the stable formation of a micro-community with two individuals designed to be complementary, providing a united basis for the procreation and loving raising of children, has always been the most stable building block for society. As such, society has a vested interest in supporting and protecting it.

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Kevin Wondrash

Callin’ y’all to a Roundup Square Dance

STOUGHTON — All married couples are invited to a Roundup Square Dance sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the Madison community on Saturday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Ann gym, 323 N. Van Buren St.

There is a 5:15 p.m. Mass for those who wish to attend beforehand. A potluck dinner and drinks will be followed by two hours of square dancing guided by an official caller.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Pray for wisdom for the Supreme Court

On April 28, the Supreme Court of the United States began taking up the issue of same-sex marriage.

We’ve been hearing plenty of comments from people on this issue, from those who support the marriage of one man and one woman and states’ rights to define marriage to those who want same-sex marriage approved across the country.

People often react emotionally when talking about marriage, but I think we need to take time to study the issues before the Supreme Court and what they mean.

We also should consider what the Catholic Church teaches and be able to talk about our beliefs calmly in conversations about marriage.

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Kevin Wondrash

Christopher West will speak to students on a ‘new sexual revolution’

MADISON — Christopher West, globally recognized as a leading chastity speaker and author, will speak to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s students Thursday, April 23, at 7:15 p.m., at St. Paul University Catholic Center, 723 State St.

Badger Catholic invites all students and their friends to join the organization’s speaker event, “What is Love? A New Sexual Revolution.”

During the event, students will have the opportunity to learn more about “Theology of the Body,” a bold, biblical vision of love and sexuality written by St. John Paul II.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Love each other, don’t fight advice from couple married 76 years

MIDDLETON — On February 11, 1939, the start of World War II was more than six months away, the movie Stagecoach — John Wayne’s breakthrough role — was days away from premiering in New York and Los Angeles, and the Catholic Church mourned the death of Pope Pius XI, who died the day before.

The world, in many ways, has changed since then. One thing that has stayed in the same in the past 76 years is the love between Veronica and Donald Harrop.

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Jill Driscoll, For the Catholic Herald

2015 Annual Catholic Appeal: ‘Living Our Mission of Charity’

Annual Catholic Appeal 2015

MADISON — Have you ever modeled your charitable life around the Holy Family?

You may not give of yourselves the same way as Mary and Joseph did, but modeling your charitable giving through your time, talent, and treasure is your way of giving back.

One way to live your mission of charity is through giving to the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Each year, the ACA asks each parishioner in the Diocese of Madison to prayerfully consider what they are able to give back to their diocesan Church.The Diocese of Madison lives on your generosity to support its missions — missions that are critical in helping our neighbors in need, teaching those that need education and training on our faith.

The Annual Catholic Appeal reaches every corner of our diocese in some way, here are just a few.

Marriage Preparation — Does your parish offer marriage preparation classes to those seeking the sacrament Sacrament of Marriage? The ACA funds the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, which oversees the training and materials needed for marriage preparation classes around the diocese.

Catholic schools — Do you know of a child that attends a Catholic school? Just like every school district in the state, the Office of Catholic Schools is directed by the superintendent of Catholic schools. This office oversees all of the administrative functions supporting the Catholic school system in our diocese.

Catholic Charities — Has your parish community benefited from the Mobile Food Pantry? It travels around the diocese helping those that need that extra assistance at difficult times. This is just one mission that Catholic Charities does for our neighbors in need.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Celebrating love and marriage

We will be experiencing two very different ways to celebrate love this week as we approach Valentine’s Day.

On one hand, the week of February 7 to 14 is observed as National Marriage Week, a collaborative campaign which aims “to strengthen individual marriages, reduce the divorce rate, and build a stronger marriage culture, which in turn helps curtail poverty and benefits children.”

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Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Reclaim the gift of Fear of the Lord

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,

Last week I joined with a group of faithful men for their monthly time of prayer and spiritual reflection. With them I focused upon the seventh gift of the Holy Spirit, and I’d like to do the same with you here.

Hopefully you recall the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So many of us older folks have them memorized while unfortunately, some of the middle-aged and younger don’t even know that they have access to such gifts.

The gifts are: wisdom, understanding, council, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and Fear of the Lord. All of these gifts belong to the Christian first by way of their Baptism, and especially by the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.

If we use them and count upon them, these gifts help to perfect virtues in us and aid us in living the moral life and in obeying divine inspiration in our life.

Fear of the Lord

While it’s likely that all of us could use a refresher on every one of these tremendous gifts, I want to focus on that seventh gift at the moment: Fear of the Lord. Perhaps the timing will seem odd, because we’re getting ready to commemorate the coming of God into the world as a tiny baby, but Fear of the Lord properly understood, dovetails perfectly with God’s plan for our salvation, and I hope to help you understand why.

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Kevin Wondrash

Serra Club and Worldwide Marriage Encounter join efforts to celebrate priests

MADISON — Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the Diocese of Madison and the Madison Serra Club are joining efforts to celebrate priests on Sunday, Oct. 26, observed as Priesthood Sunday.

In cooperation with the diocesan Office of Vocations, volunteers with Marriage Encounter and the Serra Club are sending cards to all priests in the diocese.

Affirming priests

For 11 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has proclaimed a World Priest Day to honor the men who have dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

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