| July 14, 2008 | Volume 83, Number 19 | |
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SCAP acronym focuses on what is absentI read the article in the June 30 Catholic Virginian about SCAP (Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest) and am very unhappy about the current title of the action we will be taking in the future. An acronym, SCAP, just doesn’t do it for me. Let’s take another look at the title and consider “Morning or Evening Prayer” or “Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word” or even “Celebration of Holy Eucharist” when that is available. We could at least put to focus on what is present, Prayer, the Word of God, Holy Eucharist, rather than what is absent, the priest. Most anything is better than reducing our worship to an acronym, especially one like SCAP.
SCAP article shows need for priestsFirst a word of thanks to Father Renninger and all men and women who prayerfully and actively seek to support men discerning a priestly vocation. It is because of the combined efforts of priests and laity that our diocese has experienced a marked increase of men studying for the priesthood! I would like to offer a comment on the “SCAP” rite article written upon in the 30 June 2008 issue of The Catholic Virginian. As this is the second time we have been blessed with the news of men and women in training to step into the priest-void when parishioners in hopes of participating in Holy Mass find themselves instead faced with participating in a Communion Service on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, it is my prayerful hope that all involved in this project and all who took the time to read the article will take to heart the passage from this partial quote attributed to Bishop Trautman, “...the necessity of fostering and praying for vocations to the priesthood, asking God to give us the grace to work for that day when no community will be denied the Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist.” Reading that quote made my heart rejoice and motivated me to share with your readers an initiative I was introduced to a few months ago. A prayer project to promote confident prayer for an increase in priestly vocations was initiated by members of the Congregation of the Clergy. Here follows a partial quote from a letter sent to the world’s bishops signed the 8th of December 2007, by Claudio Cardinal Hummes and Bishop Mauro Piacenza, “We are asking, therefore, all diocesan Ordinaries who apprehend in a particular way the specificity and irreplaceability of the ordained ministry in the life of the Church, together with the urgency of a common action in support of the ministerial priesthood, to take an active role and promote ... true and proper cenacles in which clerics, religious and lay people ... may devote themselves to prayer, in the form of continuous Eucharistic Adoration in a spirit of genuine and authentic reparation and purification....” The letter and the document that features very inspiring stories of the effects of Adoration in the lives of the faithful can be found at: www.clerus.org. May the clergy and faithful of the Catholic Church believe the words of Jesus when He Himself exhorted His apostles and disciples to, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth labourers into His harvest.” (Gospel of St. Matthew 9:38)
New Catholic puzzled by CARA surveyAs a former Episcopalian who recently converted to Roman Catholicism (at St. Thomas Aquinas, Charlottesville), I was very surprised that a recent survey by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate revealed that 58 percent of the respondants agreed with the statement “A woman should have the right to choose to abort an unwanted pregnancy.” My seven months of RCIA and daily reading of Catholic catechesis and commentary on social issues lead me to understand that such a position is clearly incompatible with Church doctrine. Perhaps Catholics holding such a view are among those whom G. K. Chesterton had in mind when he observed that some folks “merely take the modern mood...and then require any creed to be cut down to fit that mood....They say they want a religion like this because they are like this already. They say they want it, when they mean they could do without it.”
Abortion and scandal leads to confusionWe are all deeply saddened, vexed and ashamed by the actions of those within Commonwealth Catholic Charities involved or complicit in the destruction of innocent human life, God’s precious gift, by facilitating the abortion performed on and contraception procured for the minor in their care. Through this horrible act, however, we have an opportunity to look within ourselves for an answer as to how and why this occurred. In many respects, this sinful act is the fruit and result of scandal within the Church, that is ourselves, the Body of Christ.
When those in public life openly flout the clear and non-negotiable teachings of the Church, such as those in opposition to the taking of innocent human life through abortion, and do so without consequence, it is no wonder that members of our Church and our associated apostolates, are confused into thinking and acting contrary to Church teaching. We must hope and pray that those Catholics in public life who continue to speak, act, and take positions contrary to our faith will conform. In addition, it is the responsibility of our clergy, our shepherds in the faith, and all faithful Catholics to speak out against scandal. If we fail to do so, we may be perceived as complicit in the scandal, we will be permitting negative perceptions of the Catholic faith to persist and we will be abandoning those striving to live the faith in the world.
(Editor: The workers of Commonwealth Catholic Charities who were responsible for making arrangements for and carrying out the abortion are no longer working for the agency. They lost their jobs as a result of their actions. One cannot say they did so without consequence.)
Headline misplaced on abortion storyToday’s (July 2, 2008) Richmond Times-Dispatch headline about the CCC... “Abortion Plan Was Known” is misplaced and written out of context. It assumes some sort of absolute power over the situation and the actual actors in it, which neither the Bishop nor the Executive Director of CCC possess. What occurred was permitted by Virginia law and that is where the change is needed. While the Bishop is most undeserving of blame here, perhaps the attention brought to this unfortunate event will help the diocese’s lobbying efforts to seek ever restrictive abortion legislation in the Commonwealth. We can pray that ours and the Bishop’s grief over this is thus redeemed.
Torture methods said to deter attacksI just finished reading your essay in the June 30 issue of The Catholic Virginian on Torture. Although I agree with you in principle that we should always take the higher moral ground, the reality of the vicious and lawless world we live in requires extraordinary measures in dealing with extraordinary mass Islamic terrorist murderers. I submit that torture such as water boarding has only been used three times since 9-11 and on all three occasions, as reported by official channels, the subjects were hardened and determined criminal terrorists that had resisted all other forms of interrogation over a protracted period of time. They came clean with information that prevented at least seven further terrorists’ attacks against the West and they gave up the information in less than 90 seconds. I object to the notion that we have delved into barbarity for barbarity’s sake. We are a responsible nation that operates under the rule of law. The ends may not always justify the means but when it comes to high value mass murdering terrorists, I don’t lose any sleep or my faith knowing they have experienced some of their own medicine for 90 seconds that bears fruit to stop further attacks on us. Are these low life, miserable terrorists demonstrative of what you’d call “made in God’s own image?” Is their dignity worth more than the value of the life of your own family? These are the issues that are glossed over without any consideration of what our national leadership is to do other than to take the high moral ground. Well, I believe we’ve taken it for far too long and it’s time to get in the gutter with Osama bin Laden and company and fight fire with fire until we eradicate Islam and terrorists from the face of the earth. There is nothing we can give the terrorists other than full capitulation and enslavement under their rule that will stop their quest to kill us all. And don’t fool yourself — writing an editorial that essentially protects them will engender no special treatment for you, only the sword.
Death said to come to us allIn the last couple of weeks, several famous Americans who were also baptized Catholics have passed away. We watched news stories announcing that newsman Tim Russert and comedian George Carlin had suddenly died. Tim Russert was a practicing Catholic and even had his son baptized by Pope John Paul II. George Carlin was a practicing atheist and had a long career of demeaning the Catholic Church and God in general. Both of these men, with their personal merits and faults, have now been judged by our Lord. The real reason for their existence (to love and serve God) has now been measured. Jesus has judged these men worthy of everlasting life or everlasting punishment. It is done! It is all over! For those of us still in the Church Militant, the words of our Lord reminding us that death comes to us like a thief in the night should give us food for thought. Our lives can end at any time. Is our Lord satisfied with us right now? Are we in a state of grace right now? Are we living chastely according to our state in life right now? Are we using our God-given talents for His Kingdom right now? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then we must still remember that Jesus said “be perfect as My Father in heaven is perfect.” If the answer is no to any of these questions, then we must reconcile ourselves with God through confession and amend our lives accordingly. Let us pray that we are always aware of that fact so that we will be ready when death comes to us all.
CV asked to feature retreat centersWhen your car begins to rattle, in it goes for a tune up. When you feel aches, pains and chills, it’s off to the Doctor or possibly the Hospital. We battle for HealthCare, but what about Spiritual care, the care of one’s soul? In the Richmond Diocese we have four excellent Retreat Centers: Jubilee House in Abingdon, 278–619–0919; Tabor Retreat Center in Lynchburg, 434–846–6475; Shalom House in Montpelier, 804–883–6149, The Well in Smithfield, 757–255–2366. Why with the riches they provide, are they not known to the overall laity? Like private schools one must pay, upkeep and all! So, for many, the cost is prohibitive. Being ecumenical and open to all on a faith journey, grant money and subsidies should be available! Where in all of this is The Catholic Virginian our faith bulletin? Retreat Centers should be front page news. Try a time away in prayer, in silence, in spiritual direction. I promise no vacation will ever be as rewarding. One prays that The Catholic Virginian, which I have always found fair, will shake dust and sound the trumpet! As different parishes are featured regularly and beautifully, so may we look forward to four separate weeks of “Jubilee House”, “Tabor”, “Shalom”, “The Well.”
(Editor: The Catholic Virginian has featured articles on all four retreat centers, usually in connection with the announcement of a new director. That person is interviewed and has the opportunity to reflect on the goals of the retreat center and the overall purpose of a retreat. There are still many parishes in the diocese which have not yet been featured in a parish profile and that centerfold feature will continue until all have been spotlighted. In the current issue is a community profile of the Sisters of the Visitation and Monte Maria Monastery in Rockville, a cloistered community many people do not know.) About Us | Archives | Around | Articles | Columns | Contact Us | Editorial | Hispanic Apostolate | Home | Opportunities | Parish Profile | Shortakes | The Catholic Diocese of RichmondCopyright © 2008 The Catholic Virginian Press. Articles from Catholic News Services, including Fr. Dietzen’s column, may not be reproduced due to copyright considerations.The Catholic Virginian is a biweekly publication serving the people of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. This website includes some, but not all, of the articles from the print version of The Catholic Virginian.For subscription information Contact Us. |
When those in public life openly speak and act contrary to Church doctrine, they promote scandal, which leads to confusion among the faithful as to what is acceptable behavior within the faith and within the Church. Unchecked scandal leads to misunderstanding, confusion and eventually to apostasy among the faithful.