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July 2012

July 25

Fascism, Catholicism, communism — and an Italian cyclist

July 25, 2012

ROAD TO VALOUR: A TRUE STORY OF WORLD WAR II ITALY, THE NAZIS AND THE CYCLIST WHO INSPIRED A NATION, BY ALLI AND ANDRES MCCONNON (DOUBLEDAY CANADA, HARDCOVER, 336 PAGES, $32.95). If you were Italian or French and crazy about cycling you would know Gino Bartali’s name. But we are not a cycling nation, even if Victoria, B.C.’s Ryder Hesjedal, winner of this year’s Giro d’Italia, has nudged Canadians toward some kind of appreciation of the sport. Bartali won the Giro d’Italia three times and the Tour de France twice. This true story of Bartali reads like fiction, so incredible are events and circumstances. The setting is mostly pre-war Italy under the rule of Mussolini but extends through the war and into the postwar period. Fascism, Catholicism and communism interject themselves into Bartali’s life. What could be more normal than a young man who loved to ride his bicycle, who displayed his faith openly, who exulted in the joy of effort for all to see? Bartali was an advocate for Catholic Action. That wasn’t so startling. What was surprising was “how zealously and publicly the Church embraced Gino. He was described as a ‘magnificent Christian athlete.’ ” Sport can be a powerful instrument called upon to serve any purpose, personal or otherwise. In Road to Valour, Bartali and his cycling ability combine to create a national hero, admired by all. Mussolini’s Fascists wanted Bartali’s endorsement of their system of governance. The Christian Democrats wanted him to align his popularity with their party. The Church, aware of his Catholic Action participation, enlisted his support to help shelter Jews in the Tuscan area. And then there was the case of Palmiro Togliatti, leader of the Italian Communist Party. It was 1948. The Tour de France was in progress. Togliatti was stabbed in an attempted assassination. He was left in critical condition and lapsed into a coma. At this moment there is turmoil in the nation and Italy’s government. The Christian Democrats and Communists are vying for power. Italy is on the verge of civil war. Prime Minister Alcide DeGasperi of the Christian Democrates makes a phone call to his friend Bartali. There is still a week to go in the Tour de France. He has a simple request: “Try to make it happen... it would be very important to all of us.” Bartali was also visited by a papal emissary and given a special medal. He was told “His Holiness wishes that you win the Tour as a loyal and athletic champion.” Bartali did win the Tour de France. As if on cue, Togliatti awoke from his coma. His first two questions were: “What happened at the Tour? How did Bartali do?” Bartali’s victory and Togliatti’s recovery, so close on the heels of each other, were summed up by the Le Monde correspondent in Italy: “No event in the world could have been as important as Bartali’s victory. This was clearly apparent on July 15 when the news of his exploits transformed the highly dramatic atmosphere into which Italy had been plunged following the attack on Togliatti.” One Italian journalist wrote of the triumph: “Bartali wrote in these last two days — if one can write with pedal strokes and drops of sweat — perhaps the most beautiful page of his career.” As for Bartali, he was to express later that “Everyone in their life has his own particular way of expressing life’s purpose... I have my bicycle.” Road to Valour is an excellent book that gives an informed snapshot of an era. In this case it was of Bartali and Italy, but it transcends that nation and could be descriptive of what happens in so many countries but is seldom recorded. Which is a shame because it leaves nations with nothing but cultural amnesia. The book is well researched and written, worth reading for pleasure, knowledge and a reminder of so many great stories waiting to be discovered. (Cosentino is Professor Emeritus at York University.)

God can be and should be trusted

July 25, 2012

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Aug. 5 (Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15, 31; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35) Moses had a revolt on his hands. The excitement and wonder of the exodus from Egypt had already worn off. Now boredom, hunger and fear had taken hold of the people. The anguish, tears and suffering of bondage in Egypt were quickly forgotten. The only thing that they remembered was that the food had been plentiful (and the memory may have been very selective) — so why not go back into Egypt? It wasn’t that bad! People usually disparage their present circumstances and romanticize the past or an imagined future. This was a massive failure in trust on the part of the people. God had brought them out of bondage with great signs and wonders but that was past. What about now? God came through again — this time with quail for meat and manna “from heaven.” The manna was most likely the secretion of two kinds of insects that feed on the sap of the tamarisk plant and it is rich in both sugar and pectin. That does not diminish the presence of divine care — often miracles are natural occurrences that are given precisely in the right moment and place. The instructions that accompany the miracle (omitted) are interesting — the people were expressly forbidden to gather an abundance of manna or to hoard. This was to be an exercise in trust rather than greed or fear. God would provide just enough — not too much or too little — and the people were to be content and at peace with that. If we would learn to live by this principle the needs of all people would be met. Some of the crowd refused to heed the instructions and the hoarded manna turned putrid before their eyes, a metaphor for what happens when greed and selfishness take hold of us. The consistent lesson of the desert experience was that God could be trusted and should be. The people were not to walk in fear or succumb to negativity and anger. The author of Ephesians had the same message in a different vein. Being a follower of Jesus does not mean business as usual and is not merely adopting a religion. It involves a “total makeover,” a shedding of all that is so typically human and yet not genuinely human: selfishness, lust, greed and negative thought patterns. Many secular ideologies have striven to create a “new man” but this is usually in pursuit of some political or economic goal. The renewal that we obtain through the spirit of Christ is a cleansing and restoration of the original spiritual image of God in which we were created. Often the only way that we begin to shed the old person is when we face challenges and struggles like the Israelites in the desert. The crowd that witnessed the miraculous feeding was in need of a bit of renewal. Their pursuit of Jesus was not a faith quest but a desire for more signs and wonders, and maybe a bit more of the free food. They asked the age-old question: what must we do to perform the works of God? What does God want and expect from us? The reply of Jesus was disarmingly simple: just this: believe in Him whom He has sent, referring of course to Himself. Is that all? Faith in Jesus, however, is not a free pass or an occasional venture. It is nothing less than a complete surrender of all of oneself to Jesus and willingness to embark on a whole new way of life. The people demanded a sign from Jesus before making any faith commitments, and they had one in mind. Their ancestors were fed with manna in the desert — can Jesus top this? Jesus corrected their understanding: God, not Moses, was the one who fed them. Manna and other forms of earthly sustenance are fleeting and limited. It is only heavenly food that sustains without end or limit and God is prepared to grant this. Showing the literal understanding typical of ordinary people in John’s Gospel, they were eager to have this food. Jesus then delivered the shocker: He Himself is this heavenly bread, as well as the source of living water. Only He can grant us nourishment without end, eternal life in God’s presence.

Faith brings life-giving spirit

July 25, 2012

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Aug. 12 (1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51) Everyone has their limit or breaking point, and Elijah had clearly reached his. Elijah had been fleeing from the assassins sent by Ahab and Jezebel and he was convinced that his days were numbered. He was worn out, disheartened and defeated. He just wanted to end it all so he prayed for death. Many people can probably empathize with Elijah — perhaps they have been there, maybe even more than once. Like most people, Elijah was not fully aware of just how much careful and provident care God was continually exercising on his behalf. He was never alone or without resources and neither are we. The angels provided him with food and drink sufficient for “40 days and 40 nights” — a symbolic rather than a literal number — and the remainder of his journey to the mountain of God. In this case the food and drink was literal but in many cases it consists of the strength, courage and grace to go on. As long as we rely solely on our own powers and efforts we will eventually begin to wear out. The psalm encourages us to “taste and see that the Lord is good,” something we are often reluctant to do. This is more than offering a few perfunctory prayers. It means admitting our own limits and surrendering to the higher power that is God. The tremendous grace that is offered by God can be blocked by our own stubborn efforts to remain in control and make everything happen by our own plans and efforts. God is our sustainer in more than the metaphorical or symbolic sense. God is the power that makes all things possible. People give the Holy Spirit ample reasons to be grieved. We have been given so much and are offered even more. God’s spirit is poured into our hearts and God shares the divine life with us. And yet the gift is spurned and treated with contempt by everyday human behaviour. Sharing in God’s life and being a temple of the Spirit requires that we imitate God. The New Testament is very clear on what divine qualities are called for: kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and compassion. When we display malice, wrath, slander, cruelty and bitterness God is not the one whom we are imitating. The Spirit is shut out of our hearts and we become a temple only for our negative attitudes and emotions. When we fall prey to this tendency we are not walking in the ways of God regardless of how religious or pious we might consider ourselves to be. Holiness does not consist of lip service but in the continual way we respond to the needs and the challenges represented by the world and the people around us. Imitating God is tricky business but exhilarating and transforming at the same time. The people listening to Jesus were shocked and scandalized. How can Jesus have come down from heaven? The crowd understood the words and the symbols that Jesus used in the most literal and superficial way. This very common human weakness is evident in many of the stories in John’s Gospel. Most people did not comprehend the deeper message hidden in the words. Jesus was speaking of His divine origin and the fact that He had become flesh for the sake of humanity. Jesus went on to insist that anyone who had really been listening to God with an open mind and heart would come to faith rather than finding fault and raising objections. Faith is a mysterious process and is not something we figure out or put together for ourselves. God is the one who draws us but it remains for us to respond and follow. Jesus pointed out that the manna in the desert was temporary. The life that it gave was physical and short; the people who ate it eventually met ordinary human death. In His self-revelation as the living bread from heaven, Jesus identified Himself as the divine sustainer. This time the sustenance is on a much higher level, for the life that it will provide is eternal. It was through the sacrifice of His own flesh on the cross that Jesus was able to become the life-giving force for all. This life-giving spirit is offered to us through faith.

Mount Alverno honours the unborn

July 25, 2012

As a tribute to those who have never been allowed to see the light of day, Mount Alverno Retreat Centre has undertaken its Sculpture to the Unborn project. The artwork at the Caledon, Ont., retreat centre comprises a life-sized wooden carving of a faceless pregnant woman. The issue now is finding financial support for the project. “Like most things we do, (the money’s) going to come from individuals and small groups,” said Capuchin Brother Alan Gaebel, who spearheaded the $3,400 project. “We’re just over the halfway mark and anything that we get that exceeds the actual cost will be put towards some kind of landscaping or gardening around it so that it will still be focused on the presentation of that statue.” The bulk of the funds to date have come from the Knights of Columbus’ Humber Valley council, which has offered $1,000. Other smaller donations have been made by the two branches of Catholic Women’s League of Canada, St. Timothy parish in Orangeville, Ont., and St. Philip Neri parish in Toronto, as well as various other regular benefactors. While the location of the statue, expected to stand almost two metres, has yet to be determined, its intended message is etched in Gaebel’s mind. “It’s just a female presence that is expected to cause us to stop and think,” said Gaebel. “So many people have sometimes negative expressions of life, it’s not this and not that, and we just wanted to say something different. We wanted to say that life is a positive thing.” The idea came about during the centre’s fall 2011 advisory board meeting as members sought a means to promote the culture of life. “For me a culture of life includes the pro-life issue but it also includes our response to elder abuse, our response to domestic violence,” said Gaebel, who also sits on the centre’s provincial council. “It also includes our response to the mistreatment of animals and so forth.” A sculpture was suggested and Gaebel grabbed the reins. While there is an obvious emphasis on the unborn, Gaebel said the statue represents more than just the pro-life movement. “I see it beyond pro-life. It reaches much further and more generally into our relationship with creation.” Using chainsaws, power tools and chisels, the statue will be carved by Orangeville’s Jim Menken. “It was kind of interesting to be part of the selection process and sending in drawings,” said Menken, selected over two other carvers. “Being a Christian myself, I was glad that I was able to participate in it too, to celebrate the unborn and be part of that.” The actual carving process should take somewhere between a few days to a week followed by staining and clear coating. “I never know until I get into it,” he said, adding that he expects to get started in August. Menken has completed more than 100 carvings since picking up the craft part-time in 2002 while working as a private Christian school teacher. Two years later his summer hobby turned into a full-time job as commissions from the Town of Orangeville and the City of Mississauga, along with private residents, began to pile up.

Cancer prevention on minds of Ontario CWL

July 25, 2012

Ontario's Catholic Women's League has put its support behind infrared breast screening thermography while expressing opposition to youth indoor tanning. These resolutions were passed at the 65th annual Ontario provincial convention of the CWL, which took place in Kingston, Ont., July 9 to 11. Marlene Pavletic, president of the provincial council, told The Catholic Register that each of the resolutions passed with little debate. “What we try to do is focus on the actual material, ensuring that we’ve got good Canadian material (that’s) current,” Pavletic said. “We’ve gone in depth to make sure our briefs are solid.” The first resolution, prepared by the St. Catharine’s Diocesan Council, looks at infrared breast screening thermography as an alternative to mammograms. “There is a concern about the extra radiation that women are getting from mammograms, and thermography doesn’t have any radiation,” Pavletic explained. This cancer detection treatment has not been approved in Ontario, but the council will now be insisting the Ontario Ministry of Health take another look. “We would like them to re-do some studies on it with the modern technology of thermography,” Pavletic said. For the second resolution, which was prepared by the Kingston council, the provincial council is joining many other advocacy groups pressing the government to prohibit the use of indoor tanning equipment by youth. “It’s a public health issue,” Pavletic said. “Our concern is that melanoma is one of the most serious cancers and the most common types of cancers. “We thought that if we could urge the government to prohibit the use of it before the age of 18, that might perhaps decrease the incidence of it.” Local MPP John Gerretsen was on hand to address the delegates at the opening ceremony. He said efforts like those of the Ontario CWL will slowly but surely make a difference. “I urged them to continue advocating,” he said. “One of the things that they’ve done over the last two or three years is have information sessions at Queen’s Park with members of all political parties, and I urged them to continue with that.”

D&P coming to grips with austerity

July 25, 2012

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is hiring, but by the time the new employees are at their desks the Catholic aid agency will have reduced its full-time staff by 15 per cent. Staff reductions became inevitable this spring when the Canadian International Development Agency reduced funding to D&P by more than $30 million over the next five years. The six job openings — two full-time permanent positions and four part-time contract jobs — are filling vacancies that have come up over the last year from retirements, expired contracts and voluntary resignations, said executive director Michael Casey. D&P had frozen all hiring over the last year while awaiting a funding decision from the government. After two years working with CIDA officials on a plan for continued development work in Africa, Asia and Latin America, then CIDA Minister Bev Oda announced in March her government would extend funding to select projects in just seven countries, leaving most of the 186 projects D&P runs in 30 countries unfunded. In June D&P’s national council approved a restructuring plan that will reduce staffing 15 per cent by Sept. 1. The plan reduces its budget by $5 million this year. But the Canadian partner in the international Caritas network is also planning for a future with less government support. The organization is shifting resources into fundraising and outreach in what some are calling a “re-launch.” “The restructuring plan was developed following an extensive consultation process with our membership and staff over the past year as the organization adapts to new challenges in our external environment, most notably the significant reduction in government financial support for our international programs,” wrote Casey in an e-mail to The Catholic Register. The new positions are posted at www.devp.org and in this edition of The Catholic Register.

Philly priest sentenced for endangering children

July 25, 2012

PHILADELPHIA - Common Pleas Court Judge Teresa Sarmina closed the latest chapter in the clergy sexual abuse scandal in Philadelphia by sentencing Msgr. William Lynn to three to six years in state prison. During the sentencing hearing July 24, after more than two hours of arguments and letters presented from victims and Lynn's defense, Sarmina handed down a sentence just shy of the maximum seven years. The former secretary for clergy, who recommended priest assignments to the archbishop of Philadelphia and investigated claims of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, was found guilty of one felony charge of endangering the welfare of a child June 22. He became the first official of the U.S. Catholic Church to be convicted of a felony not for abusing a child, or even witnessing it, but for his responsibilities in managing priests, some of whom abused children. District Attorney Seth Williams said the fact that Lynn, 61, was convicted not for abuse made this "a very different case," one that is "unprecedented in American jurisprudence." "We held responsible a man who did not abuse children himself, but who did not do enough to protect children," Williams said outside the Criminal Justice Centre in Philadelphia. The priest's defense lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, incredulously referred to the sentence as "grossly unfair" and "unbelievable." "He's being punished for things he did properly. He met with victims, he met with accused priests, he documented everything, he sent it up to the cardinal," Bergstrom said. Lynn's conviction resulted from the actions of a former priest, Edward V. Avery, who last March pleaded guilty to abusing an altar boy in 1990. Avery, who was laicized in 2006, is serving two-and-a-half to five years in prison. Williams said Lynn was "institutionally responsible" for the suffering of victims of sexual abuse by priests. Evidence at trial showed that months after becoming secretary for clergy in 1992, Lynn took the initiative to compile a list from church archives of known or possibly abusive priests spanning several decades. He presented the list of scores of priests to Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who was archbishop of Philadelphia at the time. The cardinal ordered that the list be shredded, but a copy was retained and forgotten in a locked safe at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre in Philadelphia. Once he knew of the list and the extent of the clergy sexual abuse problem, Lynn should have resigned, Williams said. Instead, "he locked the list of names away in a vault — names of priests he knew were abusive," Williams said. "Now he will be locked away for a fraction of that time." Bergstrom said Sarmina in her sentencing "didn't follow the facts of the case," including his contention that priests Lynn investigated and sent for treatment "never abused again."

Chalice again among Canada’s top charities

July 25, 2012

For the third straight year, Chalice, a Catholic charity based in Nova Scotia, has been awarded an overall “A” rating by MoneySense magazine in its “Charity 100” list. The Canadian business magazine annually publishes its ratings of the biggest 100 charities in Canada based on four categories — charity efficiency, fundraising efficiency, governance and transparency and reserve fund size. And each year, Chalice, primarily a sponsorship program between Canadians and children in developing nations that also runs mission trips and raises money for disaster relief, has received top marks. For Chalice marketing manager Sehne Connell, the rating means the world. “We look forward to this magazine and we really hope that we continue with our A rating,” Connell said. “It’s really, really important to us because it confirms to our existing sponsors and donors that they are part of an organization that can be trusted with their donations.” It’s also an extra marketing boost that makes a difference to this small charity, which relies primarily on word of mouth. “It allows others to get to know who we are,” Connell said. “We don’t spend a lot of money on … advertising. We rely on people to spread the word and let others know about Chalice.” Connell said the main reason Chalice is so tight with its advertising budget is because of the “golden ratio” — that is, sending 92-93 per cent of all donations overseas, to the children. “Every decision we make and expense we have to incur, we make sure upfront that we are going to be able to send (that percentage of) money to the children,” he said. It’s also why, according to Connell, the charity only received a B rating in the “reserve fund size” category. “We just don’t believe that we should keep money back and have a big reserve,” Connell explained. “The money we do have — four months reserve — is where we want to keep it.” But the B rating in the “governance and transparency” section is something Connell says Chalice will be working on. “We need to look at improvement. We’re not showing enough (financial information) on our web site,” he said. “We just need to get up there. That’s not something we would ever hide. It’s open to anybody.” In the other two categories, “charity efficiency” and “fundraising efficiency,” Chalice received two A+ grades. In the section of International Aid and Development charities, in which Chalice fit, the only other organizations to receive an overall A rating were Free the Children and Compassion Canada, another sponsorship program. For Connell, it’s not just about awareness, but also acknowledgment of hard work. “We love the work that we do and we get to see the results in the field and the difference that it makes,” he said. “It’s rewarding to see that you get recognition.”

Pope says he hopes London Olympics brings global peace

July 25, 2012

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hope that the Summer Olympics would help bring peace and reconciliation throughout the world. The Olympic Games, held this year in London, are "the greatest sports event in the world," drawing athletes from the myriad nations of the world to one city, the Pope told visitors gathered to pray the Angelus with him July 22 at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo. The games have "important symbolic value," and for that reason the Catholic Church looks to them "with special fondness and attention," he said. "I send greetings to the organizers, athletes and spectators alike, and pray that, in the spirit of the Olympic truce, the good will generated by this international sporting event may bear fruit, promoting peace and reconciliation throughout the world," he said. The Olympic truce tradition, originating in eighth-century B.C. Greece, asked that all wars and conflict be suspended before and during the games as a way make sure participants could travel to and from the venue safely. The Pope said he prayed the Olympics would be "a true experience of brotherhood between all peoples on Earth." He also gave his blessings to all those taking part in the games, which begin July 27.

These are a few of my favourite (P.E.I.) things

July 25, 2012

While on our annual family vacation to Prince Edward Island in July, a visiting friend from Ontario made an intriguing remark about her first impression of the island. “I simply cannot get over how Catholic P.E.I. seems to be,” she said. Such an impression never occurred to me. But her not being Catholic obviously gave her a different perspective. “Don’t get me wrong, I am not being critical,” she said. “I just mean driving here from the (Confederation) Bridge we saw so many pretty little Catholic churches, we’ve heard about the lobster suppers in Catholic churches and there just seems to be a ‘Catholic feel’ to the place.” We had a nice visit that afternoon with our friends and nothing more was said on the topic. But it got me thinking. She had a point. In fact, about half the population of 140,000 in P.E.I. is Catholic, according to Statistics Canada. Then I started thinking about some of my favourite “Catholic” things on the island and I quickly came up with a tidy little list. (We’ve been visiting P.E.I. each summer for almost a decade after buying a cottage, which we rent when we’re not there.) We’ve all heard the tourist spiel about Anne of Green Gables, white sandy beaches, the quaint red clay roads and the fabulous P.E.I. golf courses. And we might think potatoes or lobster when P.E.I. is mentioned, but Catholic is not a word that typically comes top of mind. So, here are some tourist ideas for things to check out with Catholic flavour the next time you are, as the locals say, “on island.” o The Confederation Trail is a walking and biking trail from one tip of the island to the other. The trail used to be the railway lands. I have not ridden the entire trail but I have found no prettier ride than the 12 kilometres from Morell to St. Peter’s. Most of the ride you’ll have a beautiful view of St. Peter’s Bay with the stately old St. Peter’s Church majestically standing on the hill across the bay. There are many places to stop along the trail for a picnic lunch and a clear vista of the big white church, which is generally open for a visit and with Sunday Mass at 11 a.m. o St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown is a century-old stone French Gothic church built from the remains of the cathedral that had been damaged by fire in 1913. It is the fourth church on the site and one of the most visible landmarks in Charlottetown with its three copper spires being some of the highest points on the city skyline. It is the only Roman Catholic cathedral in the province and one of the most elaborate churches in the Maritimes. The marble altar is 10 metres high and if you look closely at the ribs in the ceiling, you’ll see symbols of the Allied nations in the First World War, which was raging during St. Dunstan’s construction. Guided tours are available but you’re also welcome to quietly visit on your own or attend Mass. o Ceilidhs (pronounced kaylees) are a fun part of the musical culture in P.E.I. Though not specifically Catholic, the Ceilidh tradition of singing, dancing, fiddling and strumming occurs in many churches and halls around the island. Ceilidhs began some years ago as weekend “kitchen parties” and now they are open to the general public and occur most nights of the week in summer. Each year, we attend a couple of Ceilidhs, especially the Crane Family Ceilidh at the refurbished St. Andrew’s Chapel in Mount Stewart, near our cottage. o St. Andrew’s Chapel is significant on its own. It was the first church built in P.E.I. by Scottish settlers in 1772. In 1864 it was moved by horse and men on the ice down the river 28 kilometres to Charlottetown where it was converted into a school by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Later abandoned, it was restored and renovated and returned to Mount Stewart in 1998. Next to the chapel is the burial site of Fr. Angus MacEachern, the first bishop of P.E.I. His story is worth exploring and available at the site. o St. Mary’s Church is the largest wood church in the province and is renowned for its acoustics. Located near Cavendish in Kensington, it hosts the Indian River Festival with world-class vocalists and musicians. It attracts tourists and singers the world over, as well as worshippers every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. o The Chez Shea Inn and Spa is a former convent only minutes from the Confederation Bridge. We’ve never stayed overnight at the beautiful old three-storey building, but are told it is spiritually rejuvenating, although perhaps not as healing as the Sisters of St. Martha who used to reside there. Its grounds are peaceful amid a colourful and fragrant garden. A quick word about the P.E.I. lobster suppers; they are no longer run by church councils or CWL members. They are run by for-profit businesses in a few churches and restaurant halls. If you love lobster, they are worth checking out but the ambiance is more like a restaurant than an old-fashioned church supper. I am sure there are plenty more Catholic sites in P.E.I. and I expect to find more during our future visits.

Summer camp empowers special needs kids

July 25, 2012

TORONTO - Every child deserves a chance to attend a summer camp, including the 80 special needs students Pat Reilly is head counsellor to this summer. "These kids are the same as everybody else even though they cannot maybe do the same things as everybody else," said Reilly, who's overseen the Powerful Summer day-camp program since it began five years ago. "In everyday activities they are the same. They laugh the same, they cry the same and they try their best." Hosted at Michael Power/St. Joseph's Secondary School, Powerful Summer offers special-needs students, Grade 8 and above, from Toronto's Catholic schools west of Yonge Street a daily mixture of academic programs and physical activities while teaching basic life skills. Almost entirely funded by the Toronto Catholic District School Board's (TCDSB) continuing education department, the camp operated Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during July. Parents pay $85 to cover a weekly field trip and barbecue. "The biggest thing is it gives parents something for their kids to do," said Reilly, Michael Power's head of special education for the past 25 years. "It's just a really good experience for everybody." Powerful Summer veteran camper Jennifer Rocha, 20, can testify to that point. "I like to come to camp because it's really fun and I get to enjoy it with all my friends. I don't have anything to do at home, I don't have friends (there)," said Rocha. "Mr. Reilly has been really great. He's actually organized this camp really well for all of the students." Diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, Rocha, or "Rock Star" as Reilly's nicknamed her, has been attending Powerful Summer since it's inaugural year in 2007. Next summer Rocha will not be eligible to enroll at Powerful Summer but said she plans to take what she's learned over the past five years and apply it by getting involved in similar community programs. But it isn't just special needs students reaping the benefits, both short and long-term. Connor McGuckin, second-year York University kinesiology student, has been advancing his future career by working at the camp for the past two years. Several TCDSB students, mostly from Michael Power, volunteer at the camp earning their compulsory 40 hours of community service. "A camp like this is just a great experience to work at in the summer," said McGuckin, 18. "It gives me a chance to work with kids with special needs. I have an amazing time and I don't think that I'm coming into work everyday." A graduate of Michael Power, which has the largest special needs student population in the TCDSB, McGuckin felt he had very little exposure to caring for those with special needs prior to working at Powerful Summer. "At first I was really nervous about the scenario, what I'd be doing," he said. "But once all the kids were together everyone got along and it was a great thing." As one of 14 educational assistant students working alongside 16 full-time educational assistants and nine special-needs qualified teachers, McGuckin said he's learning as much as the campers. That's something Reilly's heard before, including from his own two children who've been involved with the camp over the years. "The nice thing about (Powerful Summer) is that it's given a number of kids over the years that are interested in becoming teachers some really good hands-on experience working with kids with special needs," said Reilly. "It gives them the realization that not everyone in this world has the same needs and the same abilities." Those attending the camp this summer range from high-needs autistic youth requiring constant one-on-one supervision to those with mild developmental delays like Rocha who frequently assists councillors in caring for the physically challenged campers. "All our students take a little bit of ownership," said Reilly. "Teachers did this for me as a kid and they let me get involved. Every kid should have something to do after school, even our special needs group of kids."

Beware putting your faith in princes

July 25, 2012

In a bookshop at Harvard University I picked up a book by a Catholic theologian famous in the United States. The blurb on the back enthused that this theologian was at the top of her profession. My thought was this could not be true, as the woman was still alive. I am sure she would agree, as a Catholic theologian, that it is the saints, particularly the martyrs, who are at the top of her profession. There are spiritual dangers in achieving financial success or fame as either a “professional Catholic” or a widely respected Catholic institution. I am thinking about Catholic universities in the United States founded to provide the children of Catholic immigrants with the means of social advancement while safeguarding their Catholic faith. Could the founders of Boston College, the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University ever have imagined that their schools would one day have so much worldly status? Or that they would honour pro-abortion politicians with pulpits and awards? I think also of an American Catholic theology professor who often took phone calls from U.S. senators. When confronting thorny ethical questions, like the starvation of Terri Schiavo, senators would indeed consult this professor and others for guidance and blessings. He told students about the general themes of these conversations; I was thrilled that some of the most powerful men in the world consulted my prof. Power is thrilling, isn’t it? But, as Psalm 146 warns, do not put your trust in princes. For many, power is a religion, and when your theology no longer serves the interests of the powerful, look out. We need look no further than the stories of the early Christian martyrs to see what can happen to those who merely try to live and profess their faith in Christ. We need look no further than the English-speaking Catholic martyrs of the Reformation to see what can happen to those who try to live and profess their belief in Catholic doctrine when those in power do not believe it themselves. It can be difficult to identify with the earliest Christian martyrs. They lived so long ago that their stories can seem like fairy tales. These martyrs came from unfamiliar countries. They did not speak our language. It’s easier to identify with martyrs of the modern period, those martyrs who spoke English and dealt with systems of law and government that were parents to our own. I think especially of St. John Ogilvie, S.J. (1579-1615). John Ogilvie could have been a powerful man. He belonged to a Scots family that was both politically connected — his grandfather had been the Treasurer of Mary Queen of Scots — and religiously correct — his family were now Calvinists. At a time when it was hard to get permission to travel to Catholic countries, John was permitted by James I of England (simultaneously James IV of Scotland) to get the continental education that would have made him useful to the King back home. But in Europe John fell in love with the Catholic faith and took instruction at the Scots College in Louvain. His family cast him off; at the age of 20 he joined the Jesuit order. John was determined to rekindle the Catholic faith in his beloved Scotland, and after years of study, teaching and rejected requests, Fr. Ogilvie was permitted by his superiors to return to Scotland. It was as safe for a Jesuit to say Mass in the Edinburgh of 1613 as it would be for you to set up an RCIA program in the Tehran of 2012. But Fr. Ogilvie returned anyway, and within a year and a half he was dead. The strange twist to this story is that soon after his return, Fr. Ogilvie had an audience with King James himself. In fact, he may have done service to this Protestant king by working to secure the loyalty of Catholic subjects at home and abroad. Certainly the King gave Fr. Ogilvie a passport to go to France. But in 1614 Fr. Ogilvie returned to his Scottish mission and was soon arrested for treason. He was imprisoned, interrogated and tortured. Because he was a Jesuit and had said Mass, he could have just been banished. But because under questioning Fr. Ogilvie denied the power of the King over his subjects in spiritual matters and because he professed that the pope was Christ’s vicar on Earth, he was executed. Despite his relationship with the King, John Ogilvie seemed to be under no illusions about his eventual fate. Unlike some modern Catholic institutions, he put no faith in princes. Indeed, by embracing the Catholic faith, John Ogilvie had lost the rewards princes had hoped to give him, and later offered him in return for giving up that faith. Instead he was true to the faith and died a horrible death in Glasgow. He had reached the top of his profession.

Finish well what God has begun in you

July 25, 2012

The following is adapted from a homily preached by Fr. de Souza at a Mass for the 10th anniversary of his ordination, on July 20, 2012. KRAKOW, POLAND - In this historic chapel of the residence of the archbishops of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaus Dziwisz has now fashioned a fitting shrine to its most famous resident, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. The new reredos imaginatively includes the churches linked to the life of Blessed John Paul II — his baptismal church in Wadowice; the sanctuary of the Queen of Poland at Czestochowa; the Mariacki church of Krakow’s heart; Our Lady of Fatima, the protectress of the pope’s life; the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the destination of his epic Jubilee pilgrimage; Wawel, his seat as successor of St. Stanislaus; the Vatican basilica, his Roman home as the successor of St. Peter; and the shrine of Divine Mercy, the mystery of which, as Cardinal Ratzinger said in his funeral homily, was the key to John Paul’s entire teaching, and the shrine of which the late pope consecrated on his farewell visit to this, his beloved Krakow, in 2002. That was 10 years ago next month. A few weeks before he returned to Krakow to consecrate the shrine of Divine Mercy, Blessed John Paul II was in Canada for Toronto’s World Youth Day. As part of those events, I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ in Kingston, 10 years ago today. And a few weeks before that I came to Krakow to rejoin for a few days the seminar which first brought me to this city in 1994. During those days I came to pray in this chapel, the very chapel where Karol Wojtyla was ordained a priest on All Saints Day 1946. I prayed then for the gift of the priesthood that awaited me; I return today to give thanks to the mercy of God for 10 years of priestly life. I return with my own parents, who made of our home a domestic church where the One greater than the temple found a place to dwell. After God Himself, to them belongs the gratitude of the Church for my priestly vocation and whatever fruit there has been from these 10 years of work in the Lord’s vineyard. I come today also with George Weigel, and in him is represented the Krakow seminar that was for me a decisive step on the path to the priesthood. To him God gave the great mission of explaining to the world who John Paul II is, and George knew that this extraordinary Christian disciple had to be explained “from the inside” not from the “outside.” In this chapel one now sees, behind the altar, the churches of Karol Wojtyla’s life, but in the tabernacle one beholds the mystery that is the window to understanding him from the inside. It was in this house that the young Karol Wojtyla would come to know Adam Sapieha, the prince archbishop, who, George Weigel tells us in Witness to Hope, “would be his model of Church leadership for more than half a century.” Archbishop Sapieha, made a cardinal after the war, was the great defender of the Church and the people during the long night of the occupation. He courageously opened a clandestine seminary in this residence, and the young men would often come to serve the archbishop’s Mass here. Karol Wojtyla came, as did another young man, Jerzy Zachuta. In April 1944, Jerzy was killed by the Gestapo. Later that year, Wojtyla and the others would move into this house, it being too dangerous to live outside in their own city. For Jerzy Zachuta his vocation finished almost as soon as it started. The Lord had a different plan for Karol Wojtyla. “For some time I thought about the possibility of becoming a Carmelite,” John Paul would write in 1996. “My uncertainties were resolved by Archbishop Cardinal Sapieha, who — in his usual manner — said briefly: ‘You should first of all finish what you started.’ And that is what I did.” It was an unusual answer, because finishing what he started meant, among other things, not becoming a Carmelite. Yet the unbroken prince archbishop spoke more providently than he knew; Karol Wojtyla would not finish what he started until he had done what the other great Polish cardinal of the 20th century, Stefan Wyszynski, prophesied, namely to lead the Church across the threshold of hope into the third Christian millennium. Finish what you have started. The Christian life might be summed up as just that — finish well what God has begun in you at baptism. It can summarize the great Christian pilgrimage through history. What my parents have done, what I and my brother and sisters must do, is to continue what has been lived by so many generations of faithful Catholics in our family. I carry in my heart today in particular the witness of my late grandmothers; I offered my first Mass for them 10 years ago, and I offer this Mass for them today. We do not know the finish. We walk by faith and trust in God. Yet I do know this, that the past 10 years have been a blessing beyond measure, that I cannot imagine another life that would have brought me more joy — or allowed me to have more fun! — than the great adventure of being a Catholic priest in the third millennium. I am a Catholic priest. That declaration is a sombre one to make in Krakow, as the image of St. Maximilian Kolbe in the church across the street reminds us. The Lord has not asked of me hardship, or even difficulty. He has granted me instead a full measure, pressed down and overflowing, the hundredfold return, and as yet without persecutions. Perhaps they will come; perhaps they will not. We do not know how we will finish. On July 20, 2002, the Most Reverend Francis John Spence, archbishop of Kingston, took my hands in his and said to me: “May God who has begun this good work in you now bring it to fulfilment.” We might translate that into the history of this chapel: You must finish what you have started. Amen.

I'm playing in the big leagues now

July 25, 2012

So, I’ve made it. I’m in the big league, I’m a player. It’s like being awarded the Order of Canada, but important. I’ve got a major death threat. I’ve had a few in the past, but this one is serious. Here it is: “Islam doesn’t allow honour killings, but yeah, people like Pamela Gellar and Coren, oh yeah, totally allowed, aren’t there any Muslims in the U.S. and Canada who can kill these pigs? Any Muslim? Please for the sake of Allah, can someone plz kill these pigs.” And then, “Guns can be bought in sports shops in the U.S. and Canada, people get mugged and even killed in the cities, can’t any Muslim kill these pigs? Ayan Hirsi, Pamela Gellar and Coren?” So, there it is. A member of the religion of peace calls for me and some much braver and bolder people to be killed. Why? Because I allow Islam to speak for itself, expose itself, explain itself. The police have been informed, the FBI alerted, but I’m not losing any sleep about it. Frankly, I’ve been threatened by better people than this. But it speaks of far more than its mere words. It’s self-evident, and almost redundant, that venomous and vile things are said about Christians, and in particular Roman Catholics, on a daily basis. In the past months alone, arsonists set fires at two Canadian Catholic churches and a convent was vandalized. These criminal acts were given hardly any publicity at all. Which is not to say that I think non-violent criticism, and even abuse, should be silenced. All I ask for is a level playing field, where we are given room to defend ourselves. As for anti-Muslim comments, they are similarly repugnant; but an informed criticism of Islam is something entirely different, and this is seldom heard or even allowed in mainstream media. I write and say things about the history and teaching of Islam because I appear on Sun News, a station that refuses to be intimidated. But I am part of a small group, and I could not speak and write this way in any Muslim country, and probably couldn’t say much or most of it even in Europe. In France, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Belgium and many other countries I’d probably be physically attacked and likely have my career terminated. But it’s not about me, but about free speech. Free speech not as some woolly, philosophical concept but as one of the bricks in the wall that provide the defence of our values and dignity against the barbarism that is beyond it. We have long taken it for granted because it seemed so obvious. We refrain from abuse and insult because we’re civilized; we speak truth, even if it offends, also because we’re civilized. But today we’ve reversed the equation. We insult and abuse and think it adult and sophisticated, but flee from bold, authentic speech because we’re frightened of being accused of political incorrectness, racism, homophobia or Islamophobia. Let’s speak briefly about the separation of church and state. We don’t have it officially in Canada, but most of us assume that the relationship between the secular and the religious is a tenuous one, one that we know has to be handled with mutual respect. Neither state not church should dominate. But this is a Christian or a Jewish idea, even a Hindu or Buddhist idea, not an Islamic one. It is intrinsic to genuine Islam that there is no, and can be no, separation; the state is Islamic, just as every aspect of one’s life is Islamic. In some ways this is admirable, but it does suggest that Western, Christian-based pluralism and democracy is incompatible with Islam. You may hear gentle, compromising talk from some Muslim leaders about this, but look to those countries with an Islamic majority, or even a substantial Muslim minority, and see that Islamic actions speak louder than liberal words. As the left folds and atheism surrenders, the Roman Catholic Church is left as the sole institution that can provide a wise, firm and compassionate opposition to Islamic aspirations. Death threats against me are mere symptoms. The cause is much deeper, and the remedy Christian, papal and with roots deep in Christendom, Rome and the Church.

Virtue of sport

July 25, 2012

Blessed John Paul II, an avid sportsman in his youth, once lauded the moral value of sports. “They are a training ground of virtue,” he said. His wisdom is worth contemplating during a busy summer that, in addition to the usual menu of baseball, football, tennis, golf, etc., offers the Olympic Summer Games in London, England. Unfortunately, virtue can sometimes be difficult to find in modern sport. Multi-million-dollar professional salaries, bloated TV ratings and lucrative endorsements frequently breed a cult of celebrity that often spawns immoral behaviour both on and off the playing field. The Olympics are supposed to represent sport in its purest form but, even if that was once the case, that purity has been compromised. Commercialism is rampant and, in many glamour sports, the financial stakes are high. Organizers in London will spend millions of dollars on drug testing and it will be a shock if they fail to expose some cheaters. But those inevitable incidents shouldn’t detract from the overall celebration of virtue that Pope John Paul II believed was the essence of sport. John Paul II was affectionately known as the “athlete pope.” As a student he was a runner and soccer player and later became an ardent swimmer, skier and hiker. He believed that sport, in its pure form, could provide an arena for evangelization because the attributes required to become a champion — sacrifice, passion, obedience, discipline — were similar in many respects to those required to become a saint. Sportsmanship, as an ideal, is all about character. It’s about humility, honesty, loyalty, respect and generosity. It is not a quest for perfection but, like a faith journey, is a quest for virtue. There will be moments of temptation and times of failure but the true sportsman, like the faithful person, will acknowledge setbacks with integrity and strive to become better. John Paul II once said the Church values sport because it advances the complete development of the body and soul and contributes to the advancement of a more human society. He believed the virtues evident in true sport could cultivate harmony among cultures and peace among nations. “Sports have, in themselves, an important moral and educative significance,” said John Paul II. “They are a training ground of virtue, a school of inner balance and outer control, an introduction to more true and lasting conquests.” He called sport a gift from God to mankind. And like the late pope, the 19th-century founders of the modern Olympics believed in sport as a training ground of virtue. That noble ideal may have taken a beating over the past century, but the pursuit of virtue is still worth championing and, when it bubbles to the surface in a young athlete, well worth celebrating.

July 26

Bishop Kirkpatrick comes to Toronto

July 26, 2012

TORONTO - On the feast day of Jesus' grandparents, a eucharistic celebration in honour of new Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick was held at St. Michael's Cathedral July 26, where his own grandparents were married about 100 years ago.

July 27

Catholics say AIDS cure won't solve all problems caused by the disease

July 27, 2012

WASHINGTON - As someone living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, Joshua Mavundu would welcome a cure for the disease. He knows intimately its ravages. His weight dropped to 70 pounds before he was tested and put on antiretroviral medication by a Catholic AIDS program in Zimbabwe. Today, he feels healthy and weighs almost 175 pounds. Mavundu was in Washington for the XIX International AIDS Conference July 22-27. He also participated in a two-day gathering of Catholic AIDS workers held beforehand. He arrived as news reports gushed about the U.S. government's approval of a pill to help prevent HIV infection, and the claims of some scientists to be close to developing a cure for the deadly disease. "I openly live with HIV, so I share the excitement about a possible vaccine and cure," Mavundu told Catholic News Service. "But we need to look back at what we've learned about solidarity, about people coming together and being united, and we should keep that intact. Talking about vaccines is fine, but we shouldn't forget solidarity and justice and community." Mavundu is the gender and advocacy officer of the Batanai HIV and AIDS Service Organization in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, a program supported by Trocaire, the Irish bishops' overseas aid agency. There have been rumours of a cure before, but the deadly virus has proved itself to be a wily survivor. This time around, however, scientists and AIDS officials believe they're on the verge of something big. Like Mavundu, several conference participants who work in faith-based responses to HIV and AIDS are nonetheless concerned that the sudden interest in the science of curing AIDS will distract the world from the lessons learned in 30 years of battling the epidemic. They say simply coming up with a pill to kill HIV won't solve all the problems the virus has caused. The initial conference discussions have focused heavily on medical issues, much to the frustration of Maryknoll Father Richard Bauer, who runs a massive HIV education and treatment program in Namibia. He told CNS July 24 that while finding a cure is vital, it is important that AIDS workers remember to work with local communities to limit the spread of the disease. Bauer said the virus will leave behind a painful legacy, even if a cure is found. "Even if we got a vaccine tomorrow and a cure on Monday, we have two generations of children who have not been parented," he said. "They're now becoming parents and they've never been parented. In the high impact countries that had all the deaths in the late 1990s and early 2000s, nobody is talking about the social and developmental ramifications of not being parented. Even if they announce a vaccine and a cure at this meeting, we still have a lot of work to do." Mavundu pointed out that some eight million people around the world are eligible for antiretroviral treatment but cannot afford the medicines. Such inequality, he warned, will likely plague the distribution of any new drugs. "Even with a cure, there's no guarantee that everyone can access it. Already we see shortages of ARVs in Africa, especially in my country," he said, referring to antiretroviral drugs. "So if a cure comes today, not everyone will be able to afford it." In Myanmar, one Catholic HIV expert said, the disease has provided a rare opportunity for collaboration. "In our country, AIDS is one place where people come together from different strata, backgrounds and beliefs, and work together in a very democratic process," said Soe Naing, social mobilization adviser at UNAIDS. "We listen to key affected populations, we listen to people living with HIV and we hear their voice and try to build up their capacity and empowerment. "This is unusual compared to other development sectors in a country like Myanmar. AIDS is definitely a bad disease but we can learn a lot of lessons from our experience with it, of bringing people together and building consensus. It has encouraged empathy and understanding. Even if HIV goes away tomorrow, that solidarity will remain," he said. Michele Broemmelsiek, the global director for AIDSRelief at Catholic Relief Services, said organizations like hers work best when they help community members solve their own problems. "When you truly engage the community, that's when you really win the fight against AIDS. If you just base your work on a medical response, train doctors, get the best laboratory equipment, fix up the pharmacy, you still haven't won the fight against AIDS. When you can address stigma and provide support to affected people in the community, that's when true justice happens," she said. Catholic institutions have long offered clinic- and home-based health care programs, but Broemmelsiek said AIDS has pushed the Church deeper into communities. "As faith-based groups advocate for health for everyone, they're building a future at the grassroots that's more important than a vaccine or new treatment, because it reknits the community together," she said. Finola Finnan, chair of the Catholic HIV/AIDS Network and the head of Trocaire's HIV and gender equality program, said the political and social context that made HIV infection a fatal epidemic remains a challenge, whether or not a cure appears. "The epidemic has taught us that we need to go back to our roots and talk about justice, gender and equality. Those are the social determinants that are driving this epidemic. HIV has put a spotlight on those at the margins who need to have a voice, on women needing to be at the decision-making table, and on the factors that drive poverty. That's what the epidemic has taught us, and we won't end it until we deal with those issues," Finnan said.

July 28

Fast vs. facts: Vatican spokesman tries to quickly help media get truth

July 28, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Throughout history, the Vatican has dealt with so many accusations and scandals, one would expect the Holy See to have a well-oiled PR machine primed to deal with the constant media onslaught. Well, better late than never. Recent changes — some official, some done on-the-fly — demonstrate the Vatican is taking seriously its need to face the media clearly and directly both on offense and defense. The first pivotal indication was the hiring of a seasoned lay journalist at the Vatican Secretariat of State to help "manage" the message. The Vatican created the new adviser position in June and handpicked American Greg Burke, a member of Opus Dei and longtime Rome correspondent for Fox News. The idea was to get someone knowledgeable about the Church, yet culled from far enough outside the Vatican bubble to be able to see if any train wrecks were coming. The Regensburg controversy is an example of one derailment that could have been avoided, many journalists have said, including Burke. A deeply intellectual and nuanced speech citing a controversial 14th-century Byzantine emperor on the evils of a faith disconnected from reason may not present problems in a lecture to a group of theology students, "but in a sound-bite, headline culture, it's a whole different thing," Burke has told CNS. Someone, in fact, who understood and sated the media's hunger for quick concise sound bites was Joaquin Navarro-Valls, another Opus Dei member and longtime lay journalist who headed the Vatican press office for 22 years. Some have said, in fact, that the Vatican's tailspin into the media maelstrom began not long after Navarro's retirement in July 2006 — just two months prior to the Pope's speech in Regensburg. He was replaced by a much more understated and paternal figure — Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, a northern Italian mathematician, who learned to compute the media equation as head of Vatican Radio and the Vatican television station. Measured, frank and open, Lombardi always answers journalists' questions patiently and in a timely way; he also tries to keep up with monitoring the deluge of what gets written about the Pope and the Vatican. One of his jobs, in fact, is to decide when to call out absurd or untrue stories. He said his style is to hold back and not give added attention to something that doesn't deserve it. One example was when an Italian scent maker created, on her own initiative, a cologne for Pope Benedict XVI; it morphed into headlines such as "Pope orders his own custom-made cologne." When the Vatican was asked at the time if it were true, one journalist was met with an arched eyebrow and a shake of a head. Not even "no comment" was uttered. Lombardi said prudence is key because making any kind of comment, including saying a story is false, often is taken as an "official" position statement from the Vatican and gives a baseless story even stronger legs to walk on, he told CNS. He said he has had journalists respond to denials with "See! You are just defending so-and-so!" when the problem was that the claim was unfounded and no one bothered to verify it or back it up. Part of the problem is media outlets competing to be the first out with the story or the first to repeat it to their own audience, he said. Writers may blindly rely on a shaky source, skip verifying or double-checking the facts "because they're afraid of being behind." Lombardi went on the offense this year in an effort to pre-empt the preposterous. He organized a landmark tour for journalists of the Vatican bank, which included a Q&A session and two-hour long presentation by the bank's director, as a way to bust its "secretive" image and help reporters get correct information. He also had a Vatican judge give a 90-minute briefing on the complex workings of the Vatican court system and explain what could or might happen to the papal butler accused of aggravated theft of confidential documents. Also on his own initiative, Lombardi started holding almost daily briefings. He said they were not part of a new communications strategy as much as a response to the nonsense and inaccuracies being written in the press in the wake of the "VatiLeaks" scandal. "I wouldn't have had to hold so many briefings, and everyone could have gone on vacation," if so many false and unsubstantiated stories hadn't been coming out every day, he said. The nature of the so-called news reports — many bordering on libel — also prompted him to intervene often and firmly, he said. The "VatiLeaks" scandal, which saw private correspondence between the Pope and Vatican officials published in the press, erupted in January. The leaked letters, revealing allegations of corruption and infighting, fueled an already sensationalist-minded press. In criticizing poor journalism, Lombardi hasn't gone as far as Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, who recently blamed the ongoing scandal on unethical journalists "imitating Dan Brown," and continuing "to invent fables or repeat legends." Lombardi has taken a more pastoral approach, peppering his statements and briefings with reminders that distortions and mistruths not only are not journalism, they are not in the public interest. At a time when the press is clamouring for the Vatican to be more transparent, Lombardi said he agrees, but he added that truth, honesty and high standards also should apply to journalism. Recognizing the pressure some writers are under from editors or management to favour fast over facts, he said he's tried "to get journalists to reflect on their real duty and a sense of serious professionalism." Writers need to strive to "understand things more and better, to have a critical eye toward information," which will benefit their audiences as well, he said.

July 29

Being Catholic is believing in Church, Vatican doctrinal chief says

July 29, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Asked about how he would handle the most controversial cases he inherited, the new head of the Vatican's doctrinal office said, "For the future of the Church, it's important to overcome ideological conflicts from whatever side they come." German Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, named prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in early July, told the Vatican newspaper that the congregation's discussions with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X and with the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious would focus on the fact that being Catholic means believing what the Church teaches. Although he has been a member of the congregation for five years, Muller told L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, that it would take him some time to get up to speed on all of the details of the congregation's work. The archbishop was asked what he thought about the ongoing discussions aimed at bringing the traditionalist SSPX back into full communion with the Church and about the congregation-ordered reform of the LCWR, the organization that brings together the superiors of most religious orders of women in the United States. Apparently referring to the talks with the SSPX, which rejects certain reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council, Muller said, "One cannot make reference to the tradition of the Church and then accept only parts of it." In an apparent reference to the LCWR, he said, "One cannot profess the three religious vows (poverty, chastity and obedience) and not take them seriously." Speaking about the role of women in the Church, Muller said, "For the Catholic Church it is completely obvious that men and women have the same value." Many supporters of the ordination of women, he said, "ignore an important aspect of priestly ministry," which is that it is not a position of power. It's a mistake to think "emancipation will occur only when everyone can occupy" that role, he said. "The Catholic faith knows that we are not the ones to dictate the conditions for priestly ministry and that behind being a priest there is always the will and the call of Christ," he said. The Vatican strongly and formally teaches that the Church cannot change the male-only priesthood because Christ chose only men to be His apostles. The Vatican newspaper asked Muller how it was that Pope Benedict not only chose him, but decided to give him the apartment where he had lived as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and where he still keeps many of his books. Muller, 64, said he would define the 85-year-old Pope as "a paternal friend, since he's older than I am by a generation." He said his job in Rome will be "to relieve part of his work and not bring him problems that can be resolved" at the level of the congregation. "The Holy Father has the important mission of proclaiming the Gospel and confirming his brothers and sisters in the faith. It's up to us to deal with the less pleasant matters so that he will not be burdened with too many things, although, naturally, he always will be informed of important matters." Muller said he knows the problems and challenges facing the Church are serious, including "the problem of groups — of the so-called right or left — that occupy much of our time and attention." However, he said, a bigger danger is losing sight of "our principal task, which is to proclaim the Gospel and explain in a concrete way the doctrine of the Church." The newspaper also asked Muller about his annual trips to Peru and his friendship with the liberation theologian Dominican Father Gustavo Gutierrez, with whom he wrote a book. In the 1990s, the doctrinal congregation had asked the Dominican to write and rewrite articles clarifying some of his theological and pastoral positions. The archbishop said he was invited to participate in a seminar with Gutierrez in 1988, and he went "with some reservations" because the doctrinal congregation had criticized aspects of liberation theology that it said were too influenced by Marxist ideology. "One must distinguish between an erroneous and a correct liberation theology," Muller told the newspaper. "I maintain that a good theology is involved with the freedom and glory of the children of God." While a Catholic must reject Marxist ideas and analysis, he said, "we must ask ourselves sincerely: How can we speak about the love and mercy of God in the face of the suffering of so many people who do not have food, water, medical care; who don't know how to give their own children a future; where human dignity really is lacking; where human rights are ignored by the powerful?" The archbishop said that for the past 15 years he has spent a month or two each year in Peru or other parts of Latin America, living simply and getting to know people. In his travels, he said, "this is what I've experienced: You can be at home anywhere. Where there is an altar, Christ is present. Wherever you are, you are part of God's big family."

July 30

London Catholic churches open hospitality centres for Olympic visitors

July 30, 2012

MANCHESTER, England - The peal of church bells across London for three minutes beginning at 8:12 a.m., July 27 signified that after seven years of intense preparation the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games had at last reached England's capital. The mass bell-ringing was an initiative in which all of the city's churches were invited to take part. Even "Edward," the massive bell of the Catholic Westminster Cathedral, was among those that rang out to herald the arrival of the games. Big Ben, the bell of St. Stephen's Tower at the Houses of Parliament, rang for three minutes for the first time since the funeral of King George VI in 1952. But as the bell tolling ended and the focus switched with anticipation to the opening ceremony later that day, three Catholic churches in particular understood that the chimes signaled the start of a very busy time. The churches are serving as hospitality centres for visitors to the games, which run until Aug. 12. One parish, St. Francis of Assisi, stands just a half-kilometre east of the Olympic Park. Two large marquees have been erected and fitted with big screen televisions in the church parking lot to broadcast all events live. Free refreshments were to be offered 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. "It is a very casual hospitality suite," Frank van Velzen, assistant Catholic co-ordinator for the games, told CNS. "We have got table tennis and badminton and games for the youngsters to play but there is also a quiet prayer garden for people to get away from the noise." St. Franciscan parish will see its clergy increase more than threefold as local pastors are joined by friars from Italy and Portugal so confessions can be heard in several languages and Mass and Benediction can be celebrated with unusual frequency. The church was to be open around the clock for eucharistic adoration. On July 29, athletes and their families packed the church when Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was to celebrate Mass for the Puerto Rican national team. The hospitality effort not only was to provide spiritual comfort to visitors but to make the churches better known to the wider London community. Fr. Michael Dunne, the pastor of Our Lady and St. Catherine of Sienna parish, also hosting a hospitality centre, is aware of the witness the church would give to people who pass by during the games. The church is situated on one of the main thoroughfares running west from the Olympic Park to central London and thousands of people will walk past its doors each day. "We are very excited and want to share the faith," Dunne said. "It is very important that we witness to Christ among us. This is faith-sharing on the maximum scale." Parishioners and volunteers were planning to stand on outside the church, offering visitors free bottles of water and votive candles and inviting them into the church. Sporting events were to be shown on a big screen television in the church hall. The parish garden, with 48 varieties of roses and a large statue of Mary, will be open for prayer. The hospitality centre that was to be burning the midnight oil, however, was at Notre Dame de France parish, situated off Leicester Square in the heart of the West End entertainment, shopping and dining district. As part of its attempt to offer hospitality, the Marist-run parish, was planning a "Praise Marathon" from 3 p.m., Aug. 4 and running through Aug. 5. Anne-Marie Salgo, the parish's evangelization project co-ordinator, said the West End was often busiest in the early hours of the morning and that the parish wanted to offer a "welcoming service centring on the games." "We believe that welcome is a very special charism of the Catholic Church in our location," she told CNS. "The Church of Notre Dame de France is an oasis of peace and a chance for people to get away from all the noise and to reflect on the deeper things in life."