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Pope Francis recently visited Bulgaria and northern Macedonia. The Pope focused on immigrants and refugees in a call to people to come to the Catholic faith. He also sought to advance ecumenical dialogue. The pope said that Bulgaria is “a crossroads where various religious expressions encounter one another and engage in dialogue” which can be a message applies everywhere. At the end of his trip, he visited the birthplaces of St. Teresa of Calcutta

Our Sunday Visitor
https://www.osvnews.com/2019/05/07/editorial-during-his-trip-to-bulgaria-and-north-macedonia-pope-francis-was-talking-to-the-world/

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp approved a law that bans abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act will LIMIT abortions in the state of Georgia to around the first six weeks of gestation. According to kemp, the bill is "a declaration that all life has value, that all life matters, that all life is worthy of protection," he said. He also states that he realizes that "some may challenge it in the court of law. But out job is to do what is right, not what is easy," he said. I believe this bill will do wonders for Georgia. All life is worthy of protection, just as any human's life should be.

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.- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has approved a controversial law that bans abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The law will come in to force January 1, but is expected to be the subject of immediate legal challenge from abortion activists.

The Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act will limit abortion in the state of Georgia to about the first six weeks of gestation. Presently, abortion is legal in the state until the 20th week of a pregnancy.

"We stand up and speak for those unable to speak for themselves. The LIFE Act is very simple, but also very powerful," said Kemp prior to signing the bill.

The bill is "a declaration that all life has value, that all life matters, that all life is worthy of protection," he said.

Francis J. Mulcahy, the executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, said in a statement provided to CNA that the bishops were fully behind the bill and are pleased that Kemp signed it into law.

"The Catholic Bishops of Georgia supported this bill and commend Governor Kemp for signing it," said Mulcahy. The bishops said this law is a step forward compared to the present situation in the state, and "will bring protection of unborn human life to a point closer to conception than current law."

The American Civil Liberties Union has previously promised to fight the LIFE Act in court if the governor signed it into law. Other states have seen similar legislation struck down as unconstitutional by the courts following expensive legal battles.

Given the expensive legal processes which have followed the passage of heartbeat bills, many pro-life advocates, including some bishops, have witheld support from the measures, advocating instead for so-called "trigger laws" which would ban abortion in the event that Roe v Wade is overturned.

Kemp acknowledged the imminent legal battle, saying that he knew many people did not agree with the law.

"I realize that some may challenge it in the court of law. But our job is to do what is right, not what is easy," he said.

While the Georgia law is not the first such measure to be passed at the state level, it drew national attention following public opposition by actress Alyssa Milano.

Milano, who appeared on the television show "Who's the Boss?" and in the direct-to-video movie "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure," had threatened to organize a state-wide boycott by the film and television industry should Kemp sign the bill.

Georgia has a favorable state tax structure for TV and film production, and now attracts a larger share of the industry than Hollywood.

"We've always found (Georgia) to be populated with friendly and caring people," said Milano in March. "We've found the hotels in which we stay and restaurants in which we dine while filming there to be comfortable and of a high quality. We've been glad to bring billions of dollars in revenue to support Georgia's schools, parks, and communities."

"But we cannot in good conscience continue to recommend our industry remain in Georgia if H.B. 481 becomes law," she added.

Thus far, a boycott has failed to materialize, and many television shows and movies are still scheduled to be shot in Georgia in the coming months. A similar boycott was threatened following the election of Kemp but failed to materialize.

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has approved a controversial law that bans abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The law will come in to force January 1, but is expected to be the subject of immediate legal challenge from abortion activists.

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On May 7, 2019, a college student at UNC - Chapel Hill was arrested for attacking a member of a pro-life group called "Created Equal." It shows the woman asking the victim "Did you put these (signs) up?" And then punching the member multiple times in the stomach and face. "Created Equal" is a national organization that is against abortion that focuses on helping the children that aren't born yet. They do this by using a traveling photo exhibit to show people what abortion does to children (paraphrased). Obviously attacks like these are very wrong. It does not matter whether you are pro-life or pro-choice. This isn't right.

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.- A college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was arrested for assault after reportedly attacking the staff member of a pro-life group called "Created Equal" during an April 2 demonstration.

A video posted online appears to show the student attacking the staff member after confirming that the graphic images of abortion on display on the campus belonged to his group.

The video was taken by another member of "Created Equal." It appears to show the woman asking the staffer "Did you put these (signs) up?" and punching the staff member multiple times in the face and stomach when he confirms that he did.

Created Equal describes itself as "a national anti-abortion organization that focuses on training students to be pre-born defenders by using a traveling photo exhibit to show as many students as possible what abortion does to preborn children."

The group focuses on college campuses in order to "create debate on campus to influence America's future decision-makers and leaders."

The two members of Created Equal who were present for the UNC incident can be heard on the video saying "Ma'am, don't do that" before calling the police. After the physical assault, the woman appears to yell at the staff member that he is a "(expletive) terrible person," and that the signs are "wrong" and "triggering."

When the police arrived, they confirmed the alleged attack with the young man who filmed the incident. The police said in the video that they were giving the student who threw the punches an arrest by citation for assault, which they said was a misdemeanor.

Mark Harrington, president of Created Equal, said in a statement following the incident that his group will continue to "return hate with love."

"Pro-abortion activists are losing the argument, and instead of seeking debate they are escalating the violence on peaceful preborn defenders on college campuses," he said. "We will never cave to acts of violence or intimidation. We will return hate with love for mothers and their babies."

The UNC incident is the latest in a series of attacks and harassment of pro-life demonstrators in the U.S. and Canada.

On May 2, Pennsylvania lawmaker Brian Sims livestreamed himself harassing an elderly woman who was praying a rosary outside of a Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood.

On March 2 of this year, an 85 year-old pro-life demonstrator was thrown to the ground and kicked outside a Planned Parenthood facility in San Francisco.

In October 2018, a Canadian man was arrested for roundhouse kicking a female pro-life demonstrator at a pro-life rally that took place in Toronto in late September 2018.

In a statement following the UNC incident, Created Equal said it is "currently engaged in several open cases with prosecutors" that include cases of stolen or damaged property of the group or physical assault of its members.

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College student cited for assault after punching pro-life activist

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A college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was arrested for assault after reportedly attacking the staff member of a pro-life group called "Created Equal" during an April 2 demonstration. A video posted online appears to show the student attacking the staff member after confirming that the graphic images of abortion on display on the campus belonged to his group.

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On May 3rd, many families experienced tragic deaths during protest in Venezuela. Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo expressed his condolences on Thursday to those families. Protests occurred nationwide against of government of president Nicolas Maduro. Director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, Marco Antonio Ponce, declared that the people were all killed by gunfire while protesting. These clashes took place across Venezuela during the week of April 30th. The military responded to opponents in violent clashes, firing tear gas, and by arresting peaceful demonstrators. Maduro has caused Venezuela to be ruined by violence and social upheaval with his socialist administration.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-grieves-over-those-killed-in-protests-amid-venezuela-crisis-16140

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A budget bill became law in Iowa last week, adding restrictions to grants for abortion providers and Medicaid for gender reassignment surgery. Governor Kim Reynolds signed the Health and Human Services budget bill into law May 3 after it passed through the Senate and House in April. According to the Des Moines Register, the state will fund $1.9 million in health programs, including aid for veterans, elderly people, and children. The law will also remove a five-year waiting period before pregnant women are covered by Medicaid. These women have to be lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States in order to qualify.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-conference-supports-iowa-budget-cuts-to-abortion-providers-90802

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Pope Francis had a mass for 245 children to receive their first communion. This was in Bulgaria. He told them “Do not let yourselves be distracted; think only of Jesus. Come to the altar to receive Jesus in silence; silence your hearts.” The Pope personally gave communion to each child. The Pope urges Catholics to hand their faith to new generations.
CNS top stories
Catholic News Service
Cindy Wooden

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Pope Francis chose the Cardinal of Brazil, Cláudio Hummes to serve as relator general of next year's Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.  The nomination of this 84 year old retired Archbishop was announced on May 4th at the Vatican.  The relator's duties are providing a comprehensive outline of the synod's theme at the beginning of a meeting and summarizing the speeches of synod members.  The next synod is Octobe 6-27 and will focus on "Amazonia: New paths for the church and for an integral ecology".

National Catholic Reporter

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Pope names relator general, special secretaries for Amazon synod

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Pope Francis has chosen Brazil's Cardinal Cláudio Hummes to serve as relator general of next year's Synod of Bishops on the Amazon. The nomination of the 84-year-old retired Archbishop of Sao Paulo w...

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hey were founded three decades ago in southern Sudan, and named the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But in a region dramatically affected by the South Sudanese civil war, they are usually known by the bright color of their habits. To most who know them, they are the “Blue Sisters.” In the South Sudanese Diocese of Tombura Yambio, Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala has tasked them with providing permanent assistance to the many women, including young girls and teenagers, who have been raped, abused or abandoned amid the violent conflicts that have plagued the region for years.

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.- They were founded three decades ago in southern Sudan, and named the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But in a region dramatically affected by the South Sudanese civil war, they are usually known by the bright color of their habits. To most who know them, they are the "Blue Sisters."

In the South Sudanese Diocese of Tombura Yambio, Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala has tasked them with providing permanent assistance to the many women, including young girls and teenagers, who have been raped, abused or abandoned amid the violent conflicts that have plagued the region for years.

"There is a major stigma that falls over these mostly young women who are victims of the violence of war," said Sister Ester, local superior for the small community of the four "Blue Sisters" who help with the recovery of some 100 women in a facility in the town of Yambio, next to the diocesan chancery.

"The sisters are an incredible blessing," Bishop Hiiboro Kussala told CNA. "They were founded by my predecessor, Bishop Joseph Abangite Gasi upon the request of the Sudanese bishops, who realized that a community of African sisters was sorely needed."

According to Sister Ester, the women living at the shelter vary in age and with regard to their level of trauma.

"Several of them remain still in a state of shock, barely aware of their reality," she said. "Our ministry is to help them to recover from the consequences of the terrible suffering they have endured, through love, patience, prayer and therapy."

The sisters help some women cope with AIDS, and others to raise their children, many of whom were conceived in rape. According to Sister Ester, "the connection with their children, surprisingly, is a significant part of the healing process, and not part of the trauma, as some tend to believe."

Internal violence has been endemic to Sudan since it gained independence from Great Britain in 1956. At around that time, the Muslim, Arab-influenced north of the country launched an Islamization campaign against the mostly Christian south, leading to decades of fighting.

In 2011, South Sudan became an independent country, but in in December 2013, President Salva Kiir Mayardit accused his former deputy Riek Macho of attempting a coup, unleashing a civil war that Pope Francis himself has tried to stop by inviting both leaders to a recent spiritual retreat at the Vatican. The conflict has generated more than 1.5 million displaced people.

Although the civil war has significantly abated in this part of South Sudan, the shelter still welcomes abused women everyday. So the Blue Sisters have embarked on an ambitious project to expand their facility and improve their service.

"Thanks to the significant financial help of the Sudan Relief Fun d, we are a few months away from finishing a brand new facility, where the sisters, our experts and volunteers will be able to provide the best treatment possible to our women," Sister Ester told CNA.

"Our goal is to gradually integrate these women into society with the adequate spiritual and mental stability, and with a clear plan for their future," she also said

The "Blue Sisters," who only go by their religious names, and whose motto is "With Mary, we bring Christ to the World" were originally organized and directed by Italian Comboni Missionary Sisters, but a decade ago, their community became its own, African-led, institute of diocesan right.

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In South Sudan, the 'Blue Sisters' bring hope to abused women

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They were founded three decades ago in southern Sudan, and named the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But in a region dramatically affected by the South Sudanese civil war, they are usually known by the bright color of their habits. To most who know them, they are the "Blue Sisters."

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There are more saints in our world than we may realize. If you are in heaven because of your good soul, you are a part of the group called the "communion of saints." You may have done good works to be qualified as a high saint, but you may have just received bad luck in your recognition. When you are in a time of trouble, you do not have to be a famous saint. Rather, you can acknowledge the ordinary saints as well. You do not need to pray to a specific saint or an ordinary saint. Pray as much as you want and remember that there are so many people up in heaven that can listen to your prayers.
US Catholic
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201905/when-doubt-pray-saints-31715

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This article explains that we should pray to ordinary saints rather than the more well known saints. An example of this is if your child is struggling in school to pray to a saint that was a teacher. Annemarie Scobey explains that praying to these unknown saints reminds her of the community of believers she is apart of. It reminds her that anyone she meets could be a saint someday. Scobey also said that praying to ordinary saints helps her remember that our time hereon earth is just a small slice of eternity. We should pray to ordinary saints because they understand what it's like to be a human and to be struggling. Ordinary saints want to help us but all we have to do is ask.

US Catholic
Annemarie Scobey
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201905/when-doubt-pray-saints-31715

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A group of doctors, scientists, and bioethicists are calling for a temporary ban on gene altering. Their organization recently send a letter to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, saying "Although we recognize the great scientific advancement represented by gene editing technologies and their potential value for an improved understanding and possible treatment of human disease, we strongly believe the editing of human embryos that results in births carries serious problems for which there are no scientific, ethical, or societal consensuses." Human gene altering has been a large ethical debate since the start of the experiments, and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy is simply calling for a temporary halt until a decision is made.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/scientists-join-call-for-moratorium-on-embryonic-gene-editing-16655

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A category 4 cyclone recently struck the Odisha state of India. Fortunately, government and humanitarian groups are more prepared than they have been in the past. 3 deaths have been reported related to the storm. Catholic Relief Services explained their plans to ensure the safety of the citizens, and the communications director recently said "Our teams on the ground are making last-minute preparations so we can respond as soon as the storm moves on." The government has also made significant strides to protect their residents, after a cyclone in 1999 killed over 15,000 people. The government, Catholic Relief Services, and other groups have been working hard to prepare for this severe storm and ensure the safety of the people in the affected area.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholics-assist-those-impacted-by-cyclone-fani-in-india-bangladesh-88850

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Blaze erupts at Paris' iconic Notre Dame Cathedral; cause unknown
On Monday, April 15th, at around 6:30 pm local time, a fire erupted at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The cause of the fire is not certain, however, authorities say it could be connected to the renovation work the cathedral is undergoing. The 850-year-old cathedral has survived world war, plagues, and political turmoils throughout France's history. It is said that the fire erupted in the attic hence why most of the roof was destroyed by the flames. The area around the cathedral was evacuated. It is a very devastating event and everyone is very emotional. The church remains hopeful in the rising of the Notre Dame Cathedral again and continues to keep Paris in its prayers.

https://www.catholicherald.com/News/National__cause_unknown/

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A man who carried the wounds of Christ for nearly two decades could be declared a saint in the near future. Bishop John F. Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, opened the cause for canonization in early November of last year for Irving C. “Francis” Houle. “Everyone I spoke to about him unanimously spoke in witness to the holiness of his life,” Bishop Doerfler said. “The life of Irving Houle gives a good example of what a holy husband and father looks like. He laid down his life in loving service and sacrifice for others.”

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An unassuming husband and father who carried the wounds of Christ for nearly two decades could be declared a saint in the not so distant future. Bishop John F. Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, opened the cause for canonization in early November of last year for Irving C. "Francis" Houle.

"Everyone I spoke to about him unanimously spoke in witness to the holiness of his life," Bishop Doerfler said. "The life of Irving Houle gives a good example of what a holy husband and father looks like. He laid down his life in loving service and sacrifice for others."

Follow the Cause

For more information about Irving C. "Francis" Houle and his cause for sainthood, visit: irvingfrancishoule.org

Houle was born in 1925 in Wilson, Michigan, and was raised in a devout Catholic family. He was the sixth of seven children. After graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1944, he served overseas in the Army during World War II. He married Gail LaChapelle in November 1948, and they raised five children. Irving worked a variety of jobs over the years, including positions at Montgomery Ward and finally as a plant manager at Engineered Machine Products in Escanaba before retiring.

He and his family attended St. Joseph and St. Patrick Church in Escanaba where he was a Knight of Columbus. His wife described him as a quiet man who practiced the Faith in a similar manner. He was devoted to the Stations of the Cross and could be found praying them daily at 3 p.m. at the parish church. Over the years, Houle developed a reputation as a holy man and often was asked for prayers by those who had specific needs.

A miracle

Deacon Terry Saunders, a retired state-police detective, certainly can attest to the holiness of Houle's life. Saunders claims that more than 25 years ago he was healed from cancer through the touch of Houle. Today the deacon is the head of the Association for the Cause of Sainthood for Irving "Francis" Houle.

"In December 1992, I was diagnosed with an intramuscular tumor in my leg that had metastasized to my lungs," said Saunders, who is a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Escanaba. "My physician had given me six months to live. I was obviously devastated, as I was just 36 years old and had three young children."

During his sickness, ladies from his church who were bringing him holy Communion knew of Houle and his healing ministry, "The ladies asked me if I wanted Francis to come pray over me," Saunders recalled. "I said, 'Why not?' It couldn't hurt, as I had nothing to lose. I was dying."

At the time, Saunders described himself as a Sunday Catholic at best.

"The very first time he came to our house, he (Irving) told me that Jesus loved me and he cried," Saunders said. "He told me how sad he was about the situation, and he said he was going to ask Jesus to heal me. He then prayed with me. No one had ever told me that Jesus loved me, nor was I used to seeing someone cry over me."

Over the following months, Saunders went on to receive some experimental chemotherapy. Houle would visit Saunders upon his return home.

"One week after coming home, I did not have the same level of discomfort as I had in the past. In fact, one day I was walking down a road, and I thought, 'Maybe I am getting better,'" Saunders related.

"I came to learn that (Irving) had been in bed the whole week, but he had prayed to take my suffering. I should have been the one knocked out in bed."

In July 1993, Saunders went into surgery, and the doctors removed several lesions from his chest.

"That's all they could find," he said. "Where before there were thousands of lesions, there was no more cancer."

The stigmata

Deacon Saunders witnessed firsthand Houle's reception of the stigmata - the flesh wounds of Christ.

"A few days after Easter in 1993, Irving came to my house for his normal visit, and he looked tired and haggard," Saunders told Our Sunday Visitor. "I asked him what was wrong, and he raised up his hands. He had two small, purple marks in the center of each hand, and he said they were painful. When I saw them, I fell down on the couch. I knew it was the marks of Christ, and I thought, 'Thank you Jesus for dying for me.'"

Saunders added that Houle was as confused as everyone else as to why he received the stigmata.

"Irving later told me that he was given a dual mission from Jesus and Mary to suffer the Passion every night between midnight and 3 a.m. to save sinners and to touch his (God's) children," Saunders explained. "His entire suffering was for the conversion of sinners."

The ministry

The stigmata launched Houle into a public healing ministry until his death in 2009, a span of 16 years. It was a ministry practiced across the United States, mainly focused in the upper Midwest. Hundreds of people would line up to be touched and prayed over by Irving, usually after a healing Mass. Saunders has heard testimonies of the blind being able to see, the crippled being able to walk and babies being born after years of miscarriages or infertility.

"While the physical healings are incredible, it was the spiritual healings that moved Houle the most," Saunders said. "People went to confession after decades of being away from the sacraments or began praying the Rosary or attending Eucharistic adoration. The love of God and the truth of the Catholic Church suddenly became real for so many people who were touched by Irving. That was certainly true for me."

Members of the association noted that it is not the stigmata that is the reason for the petition for sainthood, but rather it is Houle's everyday sanctity.

"We petitioned because of his holiness, devotion to God and dedication to others," said Saunders, who worked with Houle for the last 16 years of his life.

"He was a family man who got up every day and went to work to put food on the table and provide for his family just like me and you. God then chose him to be a conduit to bring peace, love and joy to people, and he did."
Eddie O'Neill writes from Michigan.

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Michigan stigmatic on path toward sainthood

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An unassuming husband and father who carried the wounds of Christ for nearly two decades could be declared a saint in the not so distant future. Bishop John F. Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, opened the cause for canonization in early November of last year for Irving C.

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On May 3rd 2019, the partial destruction of Notre Dame basilica in a fire last month elicited morning from Catholics and non-catholic alike. Two centuries ago, during a hot summer July night, one of the greatest churches in Rome was consumed by fire for over five hours. When the flames finally subsided, almost the entire basilica had been destroyed. The fire was followed not long after by the death of Pope Pius VII and the election of Pope Leo XII, who launched an appeal for donations to rebuild the basilica as closely to its former glory as possible and reusing whatever art and materials had been saved. This is the basilica, with only some minor changes, which pilgrims and tourists to the Eternal City visit today, and to which all the bishops of the world make a quadrennial pilgrimage. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/how-an-italian-basilica-was-destroyed-by-fire-in-the-19th-century-19051

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Pope Francis welcomed the Swiss guards at the Vatican to witness the joy of Catholicism. He told them “During your stay in Rome, you are called to witness to your faith with joy, so that the many people you meet, especially at the entrances to Vatican City, can be favorably impressed by the spirit in which you do your work." He continued, “I ask each of you this, make sure that those you meet in your daily service, members of the Curia, work colleagues in various areas of the Vatican, pilgrims or tourists, can also discover through you the love of God for every man. This is the first mission of every Christian!”  The pope delivered this message a few days before the swearing-in ceremony of new Swiss guards. This year, there will be 23 new guards who will protect the Pope and hopefully hear his message.
Hannah Brockhaus
Catholic News Agency
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-urges-swiss-guard-to-witness-to-the-joy-of-faith-71235

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A new report has found that over one percent of all deaths last year in Canada resulted from euthanasia. Only one person self-administered their own lethal does in a physician - assissted suicide. In all other cases, according to the report, the patient died following a deliberately administered lethal dosage by a doctor or a nurse at the request of the patient - effectively medicinal homicide.Assisted suicide laws in the United States typically require patients to self-administer the drug, but this is not the case in Canada. In Oregon, the first state to legalize assisted suicide, only 0.4 percent of deaths each year are from euthanasia.Only seven percent of those who received medical aid in dying were between the ages of 18 and 55. The average age of a person who was euthanized was 72, and it was nearly evenly split between men and women. Over six out of 10 people who chose medical aid in dying had some form of cancer, which was by far the largest majority of cases. The next highest, with 16 percent, was circulatory/respiratory system issues.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/more-than-1-of-deaths-in-canada-caused-by-euthanasia-95595

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In the movie Shazam, it's about an ancient wizard who has battled demons who took the form of seven deadly sins for centuries but his powers were weakening. He searches for someone to take over who is "pure of heart" which he couldn't find. One rejected candidate Dr. Sivana returns to a magus and allowed friends to inhabit his body and wreak havoc on earth. The wizard was desperate and randomly invites a 14 year old foster child, Billy Batson to take on his abilities. Billy can then transform himself into a superhero with the body of an adult. Shazam is the wizard's name and Billy's new alter ego. It is mainly an action film with some comedy. Billy learns to use his gifts responsibly, along with life lessons. The film has some violence, under age drinking, sexual humor, some profanity and crude or crass terms. It is rated pg 13. It is above average entertainment for a lot of grownups.
John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/shazam.cfm

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In Canada, the death percent from anesthesia has gone up to 1 in 100 people. this is very alarming this month by Health Canada, showed that from January to October of 2018, a total of 2,613 people in Canada received “medical aid in dying,” amounting to 1.12% of all deaths. Only one person self-administered their own lethal does in physician-assisted suicide. The church prays for Canada and all the people going through surgery
CNA
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/more-than-1-of-deaths-in-canada-caused-by-euthanasia-95595

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Pro-life health care network gets a boost from federal HHS grant

Low-income individuals and families in California will be able to receive taxpayer-funded services from a Catholic-backed pro-life health care network, thanks to a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services and the end of a rule that required grantees to give abortion counseling. The $1.7 million grant for 2019 will be used to expand services to low income individuals and families in four California counties. The grant could total up to $5.1 million through 2022, provided funds are available, the grantee complies with standards, and the project shows progress.The HHS also announced multiple three-year Tile X grants to seven Planned Parenthood affiliates, with the total running at least $16 million, according to HHS grant listings. The department is cutting grants to some Planned Parenthood affiliates. Four affiliates in Hawaii, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia, lost funding. These serve about 40,000 people in their regions.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pro-life-health-care-network-gets-a-boost-from-federal-hhs-grant-46446

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Over one percent of all deaths last year in Canada were the result of euthanasia, a new government report has revealed. The Fourth Interim Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, released his month by Health Canada, showed that from January to October of 2018, a total of 2,613 people in Canada received “medical aid in dying,” amounting to 1.12% of all deaths. Only one person self-administered their own lethal does in a physician - assisted suicide. In all other cases, according to the report, the patient died following a deliberately administered lethal dosage by a doctor or a nurse at the request of the patient - effectively medicinal homicide.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/more-than-1-of-deaths-in-canada-caused-by-euthanasia-95595

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Pope Francis has donated $500,000 to assist migrants attempting to travel through Mexico. These migrants are attempting to make it into the US, but are finding great difficulty, and often live in dangerous conditions and travel south of the border. According to the Vatican charity Peter's Pence, the Pope's donation  "will be distributed among 27 projects in 16 dioceses and Mexican religious congregations that have asked for help to continue providing housing, food and basic necessities to these brothers and sisters." Many priests who work on immigration matters condemn the lack of governmental sympathy surrounding these migrants and their children.
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pope-makes-donation-to-help-migrants-traveling-through-mexico.cfm

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Pope Francis sent money to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi in an effort to help repair damage caused by the cyclone and major flooding. Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless, thousands are injured, and at least 300 have died. The Vatican described the Pope's donation as his first contribution and his "expression of his feelings" for those affected.

Our Sunday Visitor
https://www.osvnews.com/2019/03/22/pope-sends-aid-to-southeast-africa-after-cyclone/

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"If California moves forward with its proposed law trying to force priests to violate the seal of Confession, it is not just Catholicism but all religions that will suffer"said a Domincican priests. Califnornia Senate Bill 360, would seek to require priests to violate the sacramental seal of confession in suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. More than 40 professions, including clergy, are already covered by state law requiring them to notify civil authorities in cases of suspected abuse or neglect of children. Current law provides an exemption for “penitential communications” between an individual and their minister if the requirement of confidentiality is rooted in church doctrine. While the purpose of mandatory reporting statutes is good there is no evidence that forcing priests to disclose cases of abuse learned of in the confessional would have prevented a single case of child abuse.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dominican-priest-california-confession-bill-threatens-all-religions-33583

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Many people could question where God was while Notre Dame was in flames. The answer is that God was everywhere. God was in the crowd of devastate people and the firefighters that tried to put the fire out. The cross in the Cathedral did not burn down and this is a sign of hope. Hope is stronger than despair.  Let us pray for Our Lady, Notre Dame.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/04/16/father-james-martin-where-was-god-when-notre-dame-was-flames
The Jesuit Review
James Martin, S.J.

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This past weekend, Pope Francis met with a group of high school students this weekend, encouraging them to monitor their cell phone use, so as not to create obstacles to a culture of encounter. Students from Visconti High School visited with the pope at Paul VI Hall on April 13. The meeting comes a month after the 450th anniversary of the birth of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. The saint was known for his charitable work with the poor. In modern times, the pope warned, we must be cautious of anything that tears us away from encounter and authentic relationships. Pope Francis’ concerns about cell phone addictions echo those of technology experts in recent years, as computer and phone use have become more prevalent among children and teens, raising concerns about academic performance, social wellbeing and overall quality of life.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dont-let-your-cell-phone-become-an-addiction-pope-warns-high-schoolers-67796

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A priest ran into the Notre Dame Cathedral that was burning Monday night to save a religious relic. Jean-Marc Fournier rescued the Blessed Sacrament as well.

“Father Fournier is an absolute hero,” a member of the emergency services told the station. “He showed no fear at all as he made straight for the relics inside the cathedral, and made sure they were saved. He deals with life and death every day, and shows no fear.” The Crown of Thorns was said to be placed on the head of Jesus Christ at crucifixion.
https://nypost.com/2019/04/16/hero-priest-rescued-crown-of-thorns-from-notre-dame-cathedral-fire/
New York Post

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The cathedral towering above the island on the Seine that was the cradle of the city is more than a venerable medieval building, more than an exceptionally beautiful architectural masterpiece. It has been for centuries not only of Paris, but of the whole nation, the place where even atheistic presidents and ministers came to pray because they could not think of anything else to do when France was victorious (in 1918), defeated (in 1940) or liberated (in 1944). It was desecrated during the French Revolution and turned into a temple of the goddess Reason, but Napoleon realized he had to give it back to the Church and be crowned there if he was actually to become an Emperor.

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.- Seeing Notre Dame de Paris burning and threatening to collapse was a shock that left everyone voiceless - including President Emmanuel Macron, who canceled a speech dealing with the social unrest in France over the past few months.

The cathedral towering above the island on the Seine that was the cradle of the city is more than a venerable medieval building, more than an exceptionally beautiful architectural masterpiece. It has been for centuries the heart not only of Paris, but of the whole nation, the place where even atheistic presidents and ministers came to pray because they could not think of anything else to do when France was victorious (in 1918), defeated (in 1940) or liberated (in 1944). It was desecrated during the French Revolution and turned into a temple of the goddess Reason, but Napoleon realized he had to give it back to the Church and be crowned there if he was actually to become an Emperor.

It is also a vibrant reminder of the faith of our ancestors, which shaped the monument and inspired every detail as a facet of God's revelation and gifts as well as the overall design. It was meant and has survived as a representation of the celestial abode that everyone openly hopes for or secretly dreams of. That something so ancient should defy time and remain so mysteriously meaningful is perceived as a miracle that no science can either deny or explain. This is why even non-believers feel affected. The Paris cathedral is the symbol not just of the Catholic faith, but of the fact that all humans have souls.

Rather strangely, non-Catholics lament more noisily than Catholics. They fear the damage is irreversible. Can it be repaired? How much will it cost? Can it be afforded? A fund has already been started to raise the money that is needed. But will this be enough to restore everything as it was? Is it possible to rebuild the roof's oak framework that had resisted the elements since the 13th century? Will Notre Dame ever be the same again?

The faithful are less pessimistic, though they quite reasonably could be. The late Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger had centered the Paris Archdiocese's life in and around the cathedral and refashioned the interior with an elegant modern altar in the middle. The loss of all this might seem to be the last blow after all the sex abuse scandals that have hit the Church recently, and all the sociological studies highlighting the plummeting numbers of baptisms, ordinations and religious vocations, or revealing that the younger generations are simply unsure what Christians commemorate at Easter or what a parish is exactly.

On top of it all, this happens just at the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred time of year for Christians: Where will the Archbishop gather his priests for Chrism Mass? And finally, why did God allow this?

Notre Dame on fire and perhaps unusable for months if not years is undoubtedly a trial. But faith does not allow to see this as a punishment or the confirmation of a decline and fall. There is some comfort to be found in the massive sense of affliction and solidarity of non-believers, since it proves that for them, however irreligious they are, the visible Church is not a mere remnant of the past, but a vital part of the scenery, without which they themselves miss something. Yet, in the end, this support does not make that much of a difference.

What is decisive is the knowledge that Jesus Christ the Groom will never abandon his bride the Church - which does not mean that her faithfulness will never be tested. The Temple on Mount Zion was destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed again. St. Peter's in Rome was plundered several times. The crusaders lost Jerusalem. What ultimately matters is not the signifier (the cathedral), but the signified (God's glory) which remains forever fertile and will forever inspire those who long for it.

A note from Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap:

M. Jean Duchesne cofounded the French edition of the Communio international theological journal and served as special assistant to the late Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris for more than 25 years. The author of numerous books and articles on the faith, active in Jewish-Catholic dialogues, and a consultant to Lustiger's successors, he has been a friend to the Church in the United States for decades. He and his family live in Paris. I'm grateful for his willingness to offer his thoughts below on the Paris Holy Week fire. IMPORTANT NOTE: Notre Dame de Paris is a symbol of faith that belongs to Catholics around the world. Many of our parishes will be conducting a Second Collection on Easter Sunday to help repair and rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral. Please be as generous as your means allow. Please pray for the Catholic community in France, and may God bless all of us with a holy Triduum and joyful Easter. +Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia

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Commentary: Holy Week and the Notre Dame fire

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Seeing Notre Dame de Paris burning and threatening to collapse was a shock that left everyone voiceless - including President Emmanuel Macron, who canceled a speech dealing with the social unrest in France over the past few months.

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On Monday, the Cathedral of Notre Dame went up in flames. A hero priest dashed into the burning building to save the Crown of Thorns, a religious relic dating back to the 13th century. He also rescued the Blessed Sacrament. Father Fournier is no stranged to providing comfort in times of tragedy, in 2015, he prayed over the dead in the Batablan massacre in Paris.
https://nypost.com/2019/04/16/hero-priest-rescued-crown-of-thorns-from-notre-dame-cathedral-fire/

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Pope Francis met with a group of high school students motivating them to monitor their cell phone use, so as to not create obstacles to a culture of encounter. Students from Visconti High School visited with Pope on April 13th. The Pope warned the students to be cautious of anything that rips us way from encounter and relationships. Cell phones can be a great tool for communication but they can also reduce our freedom and present an obstacle to true dialogue the Pope claimed. The Popes concern about cell phone addictions echo those of technology experts in recent years, as phones and computer have become more popular among children and teens, raising concerns about academic performance and qualities of life.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dont-let-your-cell-phone-become-an-addiction-pope-warns-high-schoolers-67796

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I read the sad article about a college girl who died after falling from a bell tower on Sunday. Sydney Monfries was a senior and weeks away from graduating. She is remembered for her kindness, generosity, and compassion. She fell from the tower at around 3am after she had climbed up the tower with some friends. As said before she was very generous and on her birthday before she died asked for money to donate to help cure Alzheimer Disease.

Catholic Sentinel

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A former Jesuit student and Portland native died after falling from a bell tower at Fordham University in New York City early Sunday morning, April 14. Sydney M

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On April 15, a fire was started at the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, sending smoke and fire through the French capital. Officials say that it started around 6:30 pm and the cause is unknown, but  it could be linked to the recent renovation being done on the Cathedral. They evacuated the area around the 850 year-old church that had survived world wars and political turmoil through France's history.

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PARIS (CNS) - A major blaze engulfed the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral April 15, sending pillars of flame and billowing smoke over the center of the French capital.

The fire erupted about 6:30 p.m. local time. Authorities said the cause was not certain, but that it could be linked to renovation work that the cathedral was undergoing, the BBC reported.

Officials ordered an evacuation of the area around the 850-year-old cathedral that has withstood world wars and political turmoil throughout France's history.

Le Monde, a Paris daily newspaper, reported that the fire erupted in the attic of the cathedral. Televised images showed the church's iconic steeple was ablaze.

In 2018, the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Paris opened an urgent fundraising appeal to save the cathedral, which was starting to crumble.

The Associated Press reported that Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said about an hour after the fire started that firefighters were attempting to contain a "terrible fire" at the cathedral. An AP reporter at the scene said the roof at the back behind the cathedral, behind the nave, was in flames and yellow-brown smoke and ash filled the sky.

City officials cordoned off the area around the Gothic-style church and urged people to evacuate the immediate surroundings.

As the sun set over Paris, the fire consumed the upper portion of the cathedral and the main steeple was filled with flames. It eventually collapsed into the church.

"Everything is burning. The framing, which dates from the 19th century on one side and the 13th on the other, there will be nothing left," Andre Finot, a spokesman for the cathedral, told Agence France-Presse.

At one point, emergency responders entered the cathedral in an attempt to preserve priceless art and statues from destruction.

The blaze elicited emotional responses from throughout France as Christians began the observance of Holy Week.

"I had a scream of horror. I was ordained in this cathedral," Bishop Eric Moulin-Beaufort of Reims, president of the French bishops' conference, said in reaction to the disaster.

"For a Parisian, our lady is a kind of obvious," he said. "I've been here this afternoon. This tragedy reminds us that nothing on this earth is made to last forever. I think a lot about the Diocese of Paris. The chrism mass will not be celebrated. It is a part of our flesh that is damaged. But I hope this will create a new momentum, a universal movement."

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, "Our Lady of Paris in flames. It is emotional for a whole nation. Thoughts for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our countrymen, I'm sad tonight to see this part of us burn."

The magnitude of the fire resonated with church leaders as well as those involved in preserving culturally important sites around the world.

The Vatican issued a statement in the evening saying that it learned "with shock and sadness the news of the terrible fire that has devastated the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, symbol of Christianity, in France and in the world."

"We express our closeness to the French Catholic and to the people of Paris. We pray for the firefighters and for all those who are doing everything possible to face this dramatic situation," the statement said.

"The horrific fire that is engulfing the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris is shocking and saddens us all, for this particular cathedral is not only a majestic church, it is also a world treasure," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Noble in architecture and art, it has long been a symbol of the transcendent human spirit as well as our longing for God," the cardinal said in a statement April 15. "Our hearts go out to the archbishop and the people of Paris, and we pray for all the people of France, entrusting all to the prayers and intercession of the Mother of God, especially the firefighters battling the fire.

"We are a people of hope and of the resurrection, and as devastating as this fire is, I know that the faith and love embodied by this magnificent cathedral will grow stronger in the hearts of all Christians," he added.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, said in a statement from the archdiocese that he immediately went to St. Patrick Cathedral next to his office in midtown Manhattan and asked through "the intercession of Notre Dame, our Lady, for the cathedral at the heart of Paris, and of civilization, now in flames!"

"God preserve this splendid house of prayer, and protect those battling the blaze," he said he prayed.

Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO, the United Nation's cultural agency, said in a tweet that her office "stood at France's side to save and restore" the cathedral, which was added the organization's world heritage list in 1991.

She described the cathedral as "a priceless heritage" and that the agency was monitoring the effort to fight the blaze.

In addition, the Diocese of Rome tweeted, "We are close to our brothers and sisters of the Church of #France, to the ecclesial community and to all Parisians. United, let us pray to the Virgin Mary, revered to #NotreDame, as mother of hope and all consolations."

U.S. President Donald Trump also expressed concern for the cathedral in a tweet, writing, "So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris." He even offered a suggestion on how first responders could tackle it: "Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!"

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Blaze erupts at Paris' iconic Notre Dame Cathedral; cause unknown

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PARIS (CNS) - A major blaze engulfed the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral April 15, sending pillars of flame and billowing smoke over the center of the French capital. The fire erupted about 6:30 p.m. local time. Authorities said the cause was not certain, but that it could be linked to renovation work that the cathedral was undergoing, the BBC reported.

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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who sexually abused minors and seminarians for decades, was removed from the clerical state. He once led one of the most prominent archdioceses in America and had a very high profile. This move to remove someone from the Church like this is the most severe punishment for such an offense. There have been many allegation against McCarrick and most of them appear to be credible. He is currently living in Victoria, Kansas in the Diocese of Salina.
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/02/19/former-cardinal-theodore-mccarrick-removed-from-the-clerical-state/
Our Sunday Visitor

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This article talks about the movie Pet sematary. An adaptation of the 1983 Stephen King novel of the same name. It is about a family that just moved into a new home far from their last one. Their house is next to a pet cemetery. They also seem to be by another cemetery where their are some sort of zombies. One of the family members who has died is found alive or revived from the cemetery. The writer finds the movie morally wrong and very offensive. She claims it is to violent and gory. So it is basically a movie review saying that the movie is not worth your time.
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pet-sematary.cfm

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On April 12th, in Rome, Italy, Pop Francis decided to pay a surprise visit to a center for Alzheimer's patients. He visited Emmanuel Village, located on the outskirts of Rome. Pope Francis desired to turn attention to the exclusion and loneliness Alzheimer's disease can bring to patients and family members. According to a Vatican statement, these patients are often forgotten by society. He stated that "the continual increase in life expectancy also calls for greater awareness and respect for the needs and dignity of those who live this disease on themselves and those who are close to the patient." When he got to the Mercy center, Pope Francis toured the building while speaking with patients and engaging in their recreational activities.

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The church has been aware of the abuse scandals for a while now. Pope Francis said “We listened to the voice of victims, we prayed and asked for forgiveness from God and the people hurt, we took stock of our responsibility, and our duty to bring justice through truth and to radically reject every form of sexual abuse and the abuse of power and conscience." He believes that there can be no more excuses for this tragedy. The pope said in his closing at the end of Mass Feb. 24 at the Sala Regi to the 190 cardinals and bishops from around the world, “the time has come, then, to work together to eradicate this evil from the body of our humanity by adopting every necessary measure already in force on the international level and ecclesial levels.”
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/02/24/pope-no-more-excuses-time-for-all-out-battle-against-crime-of-abuse/
Our Sunday Visitor

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Pet Sematary is an adaptation of the 1983 Stephen King novel of the same name. The movie follows a newly relocated family. The family, it seems, has recently moved next to a pet cemetery- as well as another sinister kind of cemetery in which the dead emerge again alive. After a family member comes is revived after being buried, they inform the family that there is no heaven- only hell- and everyone goes there after death. Catholic News Service considers this movie morally offensive due to the use of profanity as well as excessive violence and gore.
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pet-sematary.cfm

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In the movie Shazam, it's about an ancient wizard who has battled demons who took the form of seven deadly sins for centuries but his powers were weakening. He searches for someone to take over who is "pure of heart" which he couldn't find. One rejected candidate Dr. Sivana returns to a magus and allowed friends to inhabit his body and wreak havoc on earth. The wizard was desperate and randomly invites a 14 year old foster child, Billy Batson to take on his abilities. Billy can then transform himself into a superhero with the body of an adult. Shazam is the wizard's name and Billy's new alter ego. It is mainly an action film with some comedy. Billy learns to use his gifts responsibly, along with life lessons. The film has some violence, under age drinking, sexual humor, some profanity and crude or crass terms. It is rated pg 13. It is above average entertainment for a lot of grownups.
John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/shazam.cfm

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The story of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugumba is a story of atheism and devout faith, of a strained marriage and a love that overcomes obstacles, of a powerful conversion that was able to change an entire life. Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered 25 years ago, at the start of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Today, their cause for sainthood is open, and their impact lives on through the Emmanuel Community, an international Catholic association of the faithful focused on adoration, compassion and evangelization, which the couple brought to Rwanda.  After a difficult 17 years of marriage, the relationship between Cyprien and Daphrose was renewed, united in a new fidelity and growing deeper in faith and joy together. Those who knew Cyprien said he became more humble and positive, trusting in God’s plan for his life. In 1989, Cyprien and Daphrose encountered the Emmanuel Community, a Catholic organization with an international presence, focused on discipleship and evangelization through prayer and charity.

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.- The story of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugumba is a story of atheism and devout faith, of a strained marriage and a love that overcomes obstacles, of a powerful conversion that was able to change an entire life.

Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered 25 years ago, at the start of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Today, their cause for sainthood is open, and their impact lives on through the Emmanuel Community, an international Catholic association of the faithful focused on adoration, compassion and evangelization, which the couple brought to Rwanda.

The Rugumba's story is recounted by the Emmanuel Community.

As a young man, Cyprien entered seminary. His time there was difficult. Shocked by scandals among the other seminarians and discouraged by the writings of philosophers who criticized the Catholic Church, he left the seminary and fell away from the faith.

Cyprien found success in the arts, working as a poet, author, and composer. He became an influential government administrator, helping to protect and encourage the creation of traditional Rwandan art.

When his fiancée was killed in 1963, he asked to marry her cousin Daphrose, a devout Catholic, in order to honor his engagement to her family.

They were wed in 1965. The marriage was a rocky one, leading to an eight-month separation at one point. Even after the two were reconciled, Cyprien was repeatedly unfaithful to his wife, fathering a child out of wedlock. He also ridiculed his wife's devotion to prayer and the Catholic Church.

Daphrose, however, remained undeterred in her faith and resolute in her beliefs about the sanctity of marriage. She prayed continually for her husband's conversion and raised their 10 children in the faith, taking them to Mass with her.

In 1982, Cyprien became seriously ill. Doctors were unable to determine the cause of his sickness. Fearing death, Cyprien had a powerful moment of conversion, believing in God's existence and love for him. This experience, which he would later attribute to his wife's tireless prayers on his behalf, led to a complete transformation of his life.

After a difficult 17 years of marriage, the relationship between Cyprien and Daphrose was renewed, united in a new fidelity and growing deeper in faith and joy together. Those who knew Cyprien said he became more humble and positive, trusting in God's plan for his life.

In 1989, Cyprien and Daphrose encountered the Emmanuel Community, a Catholic organization with an international presence, focused on discipleship and evangelization through prayer and charity.

The following year, they founded a chapter of the community in Rwanda. Over the next four years, they devoted their time to the quickly growing community.

But while the Rugumbas' marriage was filled with joy and peace, the country around them was not. Decades of ethnic tension dating back to Belgian colonialism was beginning to lead to calls for violence in Rwanda, fostered by propaganda backed by political extremists.

In April 1994, the tensions erupted into frenzied bloodshed, as members of the Hutu ethnic majority took up machetes and turned on their minority Tutsi neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In the 100-day genocide that followed, it is estimated that 1 million people were killed.

Cyprien, who was renowned in the country for his work preserving traditional art, had fought the growing tension. He denounced the violent and divisive radio broadcasts and the inclusion of ethnicities on identity cards.

In his work with the Emmanuel Community, Cyprien insisted that Hutus and Tutsis were both welcome. He stressed unity based in Christ as the center of the community. "We have only one party, that of Jesus," he would say.

But his outspoken criticism of those perpetrating the violence had drawn attention and made the Rugumba family a target.

On the morning of April 7, the start of the genocide, Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered in their home, along with six of their 10 children, following a night spent before the Eucharist in Adoration.

The canonization cause for Cyprien and Daphrose was opened Sept. 18, 2015, and the diocesan inquiry in currently underway.

The couple's work - particularly Daphrose's ministry to homeless children on the streets and Cyprien's music, poems and books - are still recognized today. In addition, the Emmanuel Community in Rwanda, founded by the Rugumbas, is currently the second largest in the world.

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Killed in the Rwandan genocide, this couple is being considered for sainthood

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The story of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugumba is a story of atheism and devout faith, of a strained marriage and a love that overcomes obstacles, of a powerful conversion that was able to change an entire life. Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered 25 years ago, at the start of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

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Author Steven Millies had a dear friend who at 92, was a priest longer than he was alive. While there are many different types of people who practice the Catholic faith in many different ways, there are some people who fail to practice completly. Recently, there have been events that may lead some to believe that the Catholic faith is starting to dominish. Howver, that is not true. The Catholic faith has been around, and will be around, for a very long time. Some people may think this about God but is that true? No! God will always be here for his children.The Catholic faith is a very important tradition in not only our country, but others as well.

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I have a dear friend who, at 92, has been a priest for much longer than I have been alive. Talking about his priesthood once, I asked him, "What do we look like in the pews from up where you are?" He didn't hesitate.

"Oh, it's awful! I can see you thinking about your grocery lists and who's going to let the dog out." My friend never was one to pull punches, but advanced age really has liberated him.

He did go on to clarify. Of course he sees prayerfulness in the congregation at Mass, too. But his overall impression after decades on his side of the sanctuary is that too many of us are bored, disengaged, and going through the motions. But that is not the worst of it.

The crisis at work since last summer's revelations about Theodore McCarrick has made clear that indifference among laypeople is far from the worst problem in the church. If we pause and reflect on it, what we know now about McCarrick is that he also seemed to be going through the motions.

Recent events seem to have revealed that McCarrick's persistent and deeply immoral behavior was no obstacle to his work as a bishop. Despite the vestments, the ring, the pectoral cross, and every other outward sign, the Word of God did not penetrate his life to bring about real conversion in how he lives. The same seems to have been true of many bishops and priests around him. The acid corrosion of that truth now unleashed in the church among us is the real crisis we face.

Thinking about this, and as bishops from around the world meet in Rome with Pope Francis to address the crisis together on February 21-24, it seems to me that only one question really matters right now: Does the church, as it is today, lead women and men to holiness?

If we are honest, the picture is not encouraging. From bored disengagement in the pews to careerist hypocrisy among our hierarchical leaders, the evidence does not suggest strongly that we can say the church does lead us to holiness.

Let me be clear about what I mean by that.

The visible church in the world is the People of God, and holiness abounds among us. I have known and been amazed by holy people in the church. But the question is not whether God has given holy people to the church. The question, with two thousand years to have made the effort and work out how to do it, is whether the church's institutions and structures are bringing people to holiness or whether holiness happens despite the familiar church that we all know.

Another friend put it this way. Recently he has found himself wondering, "When was the last time I was that excited about something the Catholic Church did?" As we talked, I wondered whether even those of us who still are in the pews every Sunday morning could conjure a satisfying or cheerful answer.

My purpose is not to pile up criticisms or to increase anyone's discouragement. Neither do I wish to say that the church offers the world nothing but scandal. I work for a church organization. I live my life in the church. My wife and I are raising our family in the church, we send our children to Catholic schools because we want them to receive faith formation. I am one of those people in the pews every Sunday. I know what the church offers.

Yet, when we think about the challenging problem of bringing about holiness, it seems to me that we want to begin by asking what the church seems like to the people it hopes to sanctify. If we are not finding what we need, we need to start thinking about what we are going to do.

Alfred Delp (1907-1945) was a German Jesuit, imprisoned and executed by the Nazis for resistance activities. Delp was martyred for his scrupulous faith in the gospel. Yet from his cell, he was critical of a church that failed to be holy while the Nazis rose to power. Delp wrote that "recently a man turning to the church for enlightenment has all to often found only a tired man to receive him-a man who had the dishonesty to hide his fatigue under pious words and fervent gestures."

Delp's prison meditations have been in my mind as this most recent scandal has unfolded, and I recommend them as a place to start imagining where we can go from here. Delp offers no answers, only the stiff demands that the search for holiness makes on us. For him, that search led to the gallows. Maybe we are tempted to say something like, "Teacher, this saying is too hard" (John 6:60). But that could be a sign we are on the right track.

How many of us are looking for this challenge? How many of our church leaders want to offer it? What, finally, do we really believe about the church and ourselves? What kind of church do we want to belong to?

If we want a more attractive church, one better at leading women and men to holiness, we are going to have to be that church. You and me. We must commit ourselves fully, like active citizens who will not settle merely for "pious words and fervent gestures." We must be Christians like Delp, as critical and rigorous about what we expect from the church as we are faithful to it.

Lukewarm Christianity will not be enough anymore, whether among our leaders or ourselves in the pews. To repair our broken church (which remains the best hope for our broken world), we must really live our baptismal calling every day. Like Delp, we must do it with integrity and we must not count the cost.

Our church is us. It will be what our real and lived faith makes it.
Image: Flickr cc via Jay Hsu

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I have a dear friend who, at 92, has been a priest for much longer than I have been alive. Talking about his priesthood once, I asked him, "What do we look like in the pews from up where you are?" He

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Perry West talks about a Catholic church in San Diego where they have put up signs in the parking lot reminding parishioners of the graces they have received at Mass. On Thursday, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church erected nine placards listing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The parish’s pastor, Father Anthony Saroki, told Catholic News  that the goal is to help parishioners focus on a life with Christ and the acquisition of spiritual fruits. "Even just those words, the power of those words – reading them, thinking about them – brings us into that contact with that reality which is that life in Christ and the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are a good representation of what that life is.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/calif-parish-hopes-parking-lot-signs-will-foster-fruits-of-holy-spirit-98138

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Since March 29th, faith-based groups and others have gathered to see the new movie "Unplanned." It shows the critical abortion rights and Planned Parenthood. The movie has banked on its potential to draw such crowds. The abortion scenes earned the movie its R rating for the graphic images. The movie comes as conservatives are feeling emboldened to roll back abortion rights, including potentially overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, after the confirmation last October of Justice Brett Kavanaugh solidified their majority on the Supreme court. The movie is very influential and is spreading across the truths that undergo abortion clinics.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/movies/unplanned-movie-abortion.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FReligion%20and%20Belief&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

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Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered 25 years ago, at the start of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. They are now being considered for sainthood because of their impact lives on through the Emmanuel Community, an international Catholic association of the faithful focused on adoration, compassion and evangelization, which the couple brought to Rwanda. In 1989, Cyprien and Daphrose encountered the Emmanuel Community, a Catholic organization with an international presence, focused on discipleship and evangelization through prayer and charity. The following year, they founded a chapter of the community in Rwanda. Over the next four years, they devoted their time to the quickly growing community. On the morning of April 7, the start of the genocide, Cyprien and Daphrose were murdered in their home, along with six of their 10 children, following a night spent before the Eucharist in Adoration. The canonization cause for Cyprien and Daphrose was opened Sept. 18, 2015, and the diocesan inquiry in currently underway.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/killed-in-the-rwandan-genocide-this-couple-is-being-considered-for-sainthood-32978

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Try to find little ways to include prayer throughout your day. You can write down Bible verses and read them throughout the day. When reading the Bible or saying a prayer, try to deeply understand it and find the meaning behind it. The text in the Bible can become a part of us and at any moment in our lives God could reveal his voice if we listen closely.
US Catholic
Jean P Kelly
http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201903/avid-reader-consider-spiritual-practice-lectio-divina-31680

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The Museum of the Bible in Washington has recently received a large grant from John Templeton Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust. Their plan is to foster a  “greater understanding of the shared curiosity about our world that stimulates both scientific inquiry and biblical interpretation.” They will be working with a panel of scholars from around the world to develop the exhibits and accompany educational classroom use. Artifacts from the museum’s collection and those borrowed from other institutions also will play a role in breaking open these mysteries for museum visitors.

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WASHINGTON (CNS) - From the 17th-century ban by the Vatican of Copernicus' mathematical calculation that the sun was at the center of the solar system to modern-day arguments about evolution's compatibility with a belief in God, science and faith have regularly butted heads in the public square.

Seeking to illuminate these debates for the public is the Museum of the Bible in Washington, which announced April 1 that it would be using sizable grants from the John Templeton Foundation and the Templeton Religion Trust toward fostering a "greater understanding of the shared curiosity about our world that stimulates both scientific inquiry and biblical interpretation."

The museum will be working with a panel of scholars and scientists from around the world to develop the exhibits as well as accompanying educational materials for classroom use.

Artifacts from the museum's collection and those borrowed from other institutions also will play a role in breaking open these mysteries for museum visitors.

"In keeping with the museum's intent to cater to all learning styles, this exhibition will not only be informative but engaging ... we hope guests will leave with a deeper appreciation for humanity's shared curiosity in the big questions that ultimately inspire both scientific inquiry and biblical exploration," Ken McKenzie, Museum of the Bible president and CEO, said in a statement.

The exhibits will be divided among six sections, each of which will be devoted to pressing existential questions about the beginning of the universe, what keeps it running, how humans and animals differ, what humans "are made of" and if humanity is alone in the universe.

McKenzie told Catholic News Service that the answers to such questions would bolster conversations on two oft-ignored aspects of science, specifically "what ... science mean(s) for the existence and activity of God" and what science means for the "sacredness of humanity."

He also noted that the decision to have such an exhibit emerged because people are beginning to view science and religion as a false dichotomy of thought.

"As we look at what some of the topics guests ask us about ... science keeps coming up," McKenzie explained, saying that "(especially) within the North American community, the conversations happen apart from each other."

However, McKenzie and his colleagues studied the issues more closely and found that the public is not always fairly informed. "We started to find a lot of work that has been done in the scientific community brings them (science and the Bible) together," he said.

When asked if he hopes that other museums will follow in the interdisciplinary footsteps of the Museum of the Bible, McKenzie seemed optimistic.

"Personally my answer is yes. ... We hope that it engenders a debate and a discussion ... about the myths that have surrounded these two topics," McKenzie said.

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Museum of the Bible receives grants for big exhibit on science and faith

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From the 17th-century ban by the Vatican of Copernicus' mathematical calculation that the sun was at the center of the solar system to modern-day arguments about evolution's compatibility with a belief in God, science and faith have regularly butted heads in the public square.

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The verses of 24 Psalm encourages us to let go and invites us to release whatever we may be holding onto whether it be grief from the passing of a loved one or stress from hardship.  Psalms reminds us that God is in control and has a plan for each one of us.  If we let him, God can restore us and guide us to the right path.  we can draw closer to God through reading verses of Psalms and other Bible passages.  Because we can trust in God, there is no need for fear because God is always here with us and guiding us.

The Jesuit Review

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff-they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. ~ Ps 23
Today, the gently-flowing verses of the 23rd Psalm-a much-loved fixture beside sickbeds, at funerals and in times of distress-encourage us to let go. The psalm invites us to open our clenched fists and release whatever we are clinging to so fiercely, whether it is the deep grief of losing someone we love, the depletion of our souls by unexpected hardship or our own need to act as if we are in charge of our lives. For as the very grammar of the psalm shows us, God is in control.

Throughout these verses, the psalmist does not do much at all; God, however, makes him-makes us-lie down, leads us by still waters, restores our soul, guides us in the right paths. Each of these divine actions has as its object "me," the pronoun attached to verb's end in a tightly-knit relationship of actor and acted-upon. In the process of reading (or saying aloud) these verses of trust, we find ourselves drawing closer to God, so close, in fact, that we leave off describing him in the detached third person and enter into the intimacy of "you." As the path in front of us leads into a "deep darkness," as the Hebrew reads, (or, in the phrase that the King James translators erroneously but eternally gave the English language, the "valley of the shadow of death"), we reach for God instinctively, urgently.

Y ou are here, your rod and your staff will protect me, you will comfort me. Perhaps as we prepare for the Holy Week that is to come, we will trust fully in God, knowing that whatever our circumstances, we need fear no evil, "for you are with me."
Loving shepherd and generous host, comfort me with the goodness of your presence today and always. Amen.
For today's readings, click here.

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff-they comfort me.

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The Georgia state legislature has passed a controversial fetal heartbeat bill Saturday, saying that abortion is illegal if you can detect a fetal heartbeat. There have been threats from people which say that they will remove production from Georgia if this becomes a law. “If Georgia is going to stop pretending it cares about women’s rights by banning abortion, we should stop pretending we want to go there for work,” said Chelsea Handler, star of National Lampoon’s Cattle Call and other productions. (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/georgia-passes-heartbeart-abortion-bill-despite-celebrity-criticism-89887, Catholic News Agency, JD Flynn)

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A nine-year old Brazilian boy was recognized by Pope Francis Money with having a heroic virtue. Instead of complaining about his cancer treatments, the boy offered his suffering to Jesus. Nelson Santana was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and asked his mother to "promise Jesus not to complain in the face of suffering and pain." The nurse who cared for Nelson realized the he had an extraordinary ability to understand the meaning of the suffering of Christ. Nelson was told that his arm had to be amputated, but he responded that "“pain is very important to increase true love and courageously maintain the love already conquered.” Nelson kept Jesus in his life throughout his treatment, but he died of cancer at the age of nine. The Vatican Congregation recognized the heroic virtue of Santana and six other Servants of God, and honored them.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/this-9-year-old-cancer-patient-who-never-complained-is-now-on-the-path-to-sainthood-84404

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Should we read the bible from start to finish in order? The answer this article provides says they recommend it but honestly the bible is a letter from God to his people and we should not pressure ourselves to read is like any other book we should take our time and ask questions. So if you want to read the bible from cover to cover it is up to you the writer of this article did and she said it was a great but long experience and recommends it. Again though she says it depends on your life's needs and pressers because you could be reading a more beneficial part to your situation.
U.S. Catholic
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201903/should-you-read-bible-start-finish-31674

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Alexa Hyman navigated her white Kia Optima, peering through sheets of rain, as she made her way to a Southern California Rite Aid. She already knew the answer, but she had to see it in flashing black and white. Sixteen dollars later, sitting at home in the tiny bathroom of her apartment, she had her answer: she was pregnant. And she was alone. Hyman said she felt like she had no choice other than to take an abortion-inducing pill. But the day before she was supposed to take the abortion pill, five days after the positive pregnancy test, she ran into a friend with whom she hadn’t shared the news of her unplanned pregnancy. Hyman tells the story on her new website, ‘Back in February:’ “Wrapped up in my own fear, I hardly made eye contact - worried I’d just break down then and there and cry uncontrollably. He made eye contact with me intentionally and blurted out a sentence I didn’t expect, and that would change everything:‘You guys can do this.

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.- Alexa Hyman navigated her white Kia Optima, peering through sheets of rain, as she made her way to a Southern California Rite Aid. She already knew the answer, but she had to see it in flashing black and white. Sixteen dollars later, sitting at home in the tiny bathroom of her apartment, she had her answer: she was pregnant. And she was alone.

It was February 2017. Hyman was 23.

Months earlier she had loaded that same white Kia up with boxes of clothing and a lot of hope, headed from her hometown in the suburbs of Chicago to a new job and a future on the West Coast. This - an unexpected pregnancy from a fleeting relationship that had already ended - was not in her plans.

In an interview with CNA, Hyman said she remembers feeling her whole life contract to that one moment, alone in her bathroom, the test in her hands confirming what she already knew.

"It was terrifying. Everything I thought about my future, my plan, my life... any perceived control, it was all in jeopardy," she said.

Numb, she told her roommate the news and tried to wrap her mind around her situation. She called and made an appointment for a first trimester abortion.

"I just thought that I had to have an abortion. At that very moment I didn't feel a lot of support, and I just kind of let my whole body go numb."

"I just desperately didn't want to be alone in my suffering," Hyman explained. "I was a problem solver, I'd always seen myself that way. And I didn't see any other way out."

"If you had asked me before this happened, 'was I pro-life?' I would have said yes. I was raised Catholic. We went to Mass. I even went to a March for Life in Chicago once. So, absolutely. And yet, once it happened to me, once it was me facing the unplanned pregnancy, abortion seemed like it was my only way out."

Hyman said she felt like she had no choice other than to take an abortion-inducing pill.

But the day before she was supposed to take the abortion pill, five days after the positive pregnancy test, she ran into a friend with whom she hadn't shared the news of her unplanned pregnancy.

Hyman tells the story on her new website, 'Back in February:' "Wrapped up in my own fear, I hardly made eye contact - worried I'd just break down then and there and cry uncontrollably. He made eye contact with me intentionally and blurted out a sentence I didn't expect, and that would change everything:'You guys can do this.'"

"Confused by how he knew, I proceeded cautiously, 'What?'"

"He responded, 'You can do this. And, heck, if you don't want this baby, I'll adopt it. But you can do this.'"

Hyman writes that "It was the first time I felt courage to make the decision that deep down I knew I needed to make. I dropped all of my bags and fell down on my knees, ready to puke. After a few minutes, I left for work still wrapped up in fear but with a new energy to find my way out of it."

Joy, she realized, would be the key to unlocking the fear and anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her. And joy would offer her a way forward.
Forward in joy
"Underneath the fear there was this tiny, little persisting sense of joy. Just this tiny little gut feeling that my body was starting to do exactly what it was supposed to do, and to do something unnatural to stop it just felt wrong," she told CNA.

"I couldn't bury that joy no matter how hard I tried."

"I imagine it's a tiny glimpse of what most women must feel like when they find out they're pregnant under normal - or ideal - circumstances."

"When I thought of abortion," Hyman continued, "I felt this emptiness. I felt like I was getting a glimpse of exactly the grief I was going to feel afterwards. And that emptiness felt so much deeper and harder than even what I felt being about being pregnant."

Later that morning, during a coffee meeting for work, Hyman revealed her news once again, bracing for shame, for judgement, for disbelief. The reaction from a colleague surprised her.

"Immediately he came around the table, placed a hand on my shoulder and with so much joy, said, 'Alexa, there's a baby inside of you!'"

"I immediately broke down in tears," Hyman said. "He was pulling out that inkling of joy and magnifying it. [He] responded to my scary surprise pregnancy with the joy with which we respond to all other pregnancy announcements. His eyes filled with genuine excitement, he smiled and I smiled back - for the first time allowing myself to exhale with the news that a baby was really beginning to grow within me."

Hyman knew then that she wouldn't have an abortion. She called the clinic and cancelled her appointment. And then she began to make a plan for how she was going to tell her family, her friends, and her coworkers.

Katherine Meeks, the wife of one of Alexa's coworkers, told CNA that while it came as a surprise, the pregnancy "very quickly became very purposeful. It was a growth opportunity for me, to put myself in her shoes and be the objective strength and shoulder when she was so scared and alone."

"I think that our generation needs more models in the faith of hope and joy. It was hard, and in many ways I will never know, but Alexa had the support and the courage to make this experience a beautiful one and wasn't ashamed to share this unexpected life with the world around her with such confidence and joy."

"The Church as a community of people was really incredible," Meeks continued. "Immediately, everyone recognized the joy of life within her. This decision and experience was not going to end her future, but rather was something to be excited about."

"No one was quiet, no one made her feel guilty or shamed, they all genuinely wanted to see her through this and give her hope. Everyone I talked to within the Catholic community was not only supportive but shared joy," Meeks said.

Meanwhile, Hyman was beginning to experience a glimmer of that joy for herself.

And while her parents, who visited LA just two weeks after she took the pregnancy test, were rocked by their daughter's announcement, they emphasized their unwavering support.

Nanci Hyman, Alexa's mother, told CNA that the day her daughter revealed her pregnancy to them she "was terrified for her, but I just kept repeating to her, we will help you, we are here, you are not alone."

Nanci said that while incredibly difficult in the beginning, it soon became clear that this was not "the worst thing that had ever happened to us, but one of the best things."

"You want your children to know that you love them unconditionally, that you will never stop loving them, no matter what. I am so grateful Alexa felt safe enough to come to us. Once her story began to get around, our eyes were opened to how many other women have walked this path, and how important it is to have support."

Nanci said when Hyman did finally start to share the news of her pregnancy, several young women reached out to her and confessed that they too were pregnant and had been considering having abortions. Alexa's story gave them courage to carry their babies to term.

"There are women out there - good girls from good homes who are being raised in the Church, attending Catholic schools, learning the Faith from their families, and we are not immune to this. The shame drives so many women to make irreversible decisions, and the silence enables the cycle to continue," Nanci told CNA.

Alexa Hyman, meanwhile, was beginning to feel more confident that maybe her life wasn't totally derailing after all.
"You can do this, Alexa."
"It was a real turning point," Hyman confessed, "when people responded to my situation with joy instead of fear or disappointment."

"Women are so buried in this fear. And the future looks totally black. But in sharing this message, I want other women in this circumstance to know that there is another side to the story. I know that it feels like your life is ending, but it's really just beginning."

The pro-life movement expends heroic effort and resources on material assistance to women in crisis pregnancies, meeting women in their deepest need and helping them to make a way forward.

But Hyman says that fear is a huge motivator for many women facing unplanned pregnancies.

"A woman is so afraid she will lose her relationship if she goes down this road. But you can't make a decision based on fear. At the end of the day, if the relationship doesn't work out, the relationship wasn't meant to be, but you're still left with a darling child."

"If you make a decision based on fear, based on trying to preserve a relationship - well, would you rather grieve the relationship or the baby who you sacrificed for the relationship?"
"Back in February"
Asked how her faith factored into her experience, Hyman said she grew close to Mary during her pregnancy.

"I kept praying the joyful mysteries of the Rosary, I became so infatuated with those reflections because I felt so alone, and I wanted to understand how she did it. And all the while, I kept hearing from her that I needed to share my story."

And so, after two years of journaling and countless revisions and second guessing, last month Hyman launched a website and accompanying social media channels called " Back in February," after that fateful month in 2017 when the course of her life changed.

"My big hope for 'Back in February' is that, specifically for women facing an unplanned pregnancy, this place becomes a living, breathing community of women ... where you can realize that you're not alone.," Hyman said.

Hyman now lives in Chicago, close to her family, where she works full time in the financial services industry and navigates life as a single mom. Her daughter, Renley Jane, is now almost 17 months old, and splits her weekdays between her nanny and her grandma.

"There is not a single day that goes by - even my hardest days - that I would make a single different choice," Hyman declared. "I have my daughter. She has opened me up to unconditional love."

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'Back in February'- How an unexpected pregnancy led to joy

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Alexa Hyman navigated her white Kia Optima, peering through sheets of rain, as she made her way to a Southern California Rite Aid. She already knew the answer, but she had to see it in flashing black and white. Sixteen dollars later, sitting at home in the tiny bathroom of her apartment, she had her answer: she was pregnant.

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While many people do not do this, you should read the Bible cover to cover. It expands your knowledge of your faith and virtues that you live by. Author Alice Camile, read the Bible cover to cover as a young adult. While it would make sense to read the Bible in order like any other book; believe it or not, it really does not matter which order you read it in. Reading the Bible expands our great minds and fills us with basic knowledge about the Catholic faith and is very beneficial when it comes to our relationship with God.

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Rarely is there only one way to do something. When it comes to exploring scripture, resist Bible fascists who insist their way is correct. Your best approach is influenced by a lot of factors, including context, time, and personality. Are you engaging this project alone or in a study group? Are you committed across a lifetime or compressing your effort into a single semester? Are you fierce about your goals, or do you tend to quit at the first obstacle?

As a young adult, I read the Bible cover to cover. This kamikaze method is generally discouraged: Many people get bogged down in the third book, Leviticus, and never recover. Since I'm into the completion thing, Leviticus wasn't going to defeat me! I limited my study to three chapters a day, including all footnotes-those really helped. It took two years to reach Revelations 22, and while I've never done the Genesis-to-Revelation route again, I've also never stopped reading the Bible by other means. The only troublesome result I faced is awakening a desire to go to seminary and study scripture in more depth.

Some books-like Genesis, Exodus, and the four gospels-are more familiar, involve more storytelling, and seem more accessible. That's why some experts recommend taking up those first or reading them interspersed with tougher texts like prophecy and the letters of Paul. If you prefer a little reward after hard effort, this might be a more helpful organization.

Reading the Bible "out of order" won't confuse the sacred story. This can't happen, since the present ordering is not the way it was written. These 73 books first appeared in isolated collections and were eventually stitched together in various ways.

For example, the Jewish Bible contains most (but not all) of our Old Testament, but is not organized the same. And while Genesis begins with the creation myth and Revelation concerns endings, some texts in-between exist in no particular time-like Proverbs, Song of Songs, Job, Esther, or Joel. Early prophetic passages were composed before Genesis. The Gospel of Mark was written before Matthew, which appears first in the New Testament. So don't worry excessively about maintaining an established order.

Our lectionary-the readings we hear at Mass-seeks to pair Old Testament "promises" with New Testament "fulfillments," or ancient stories with related events in the generation of Jesus. (The Second Reading follows other texts from start to finish and is only coincidentally related.) Some scripture study groups prefer this approach. The downside of lectionary-based study is that a great portion of the Bible isn't read on Sundays, and passages out of context miss a lot of good stuff that would give rise to other meanings and insights. The only necessary ingredients to reading the Bible? Do it prayerfully, carefully, and with an open heart.

This article also appears in the March 2019 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 84, No. 3, page 49).
Image: Josh Applegate on Unsplash

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Should you read the Bible from start to finish?

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Rarely is there only one way to do something. When it comes to exploring scripture, resist Bible fascists who insist their way is correct. Your best approach is influenced by a lot of factors, including context, time, and personality. Are you engaging this project alone or in a study group?

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Retired Bishop of Sacramento, California, Francis Quinn recently died at the age of 97. Even after he retired, he continued to minister to the poor people on the streets of Sacramento. He looked into the treatment of the Native Americans during the Spanish colonization of California and apologized for their mistreatment. Pope Quinn was a liberal and often controversial Pope. He brought difficult and controversial topics to attention.

National Catholic Reporter

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In recent years, Native Americans and other scholars have taken a more critical look at the California missions. Scholar Sherburne Cook wrote that the indigenous population declined from 224,000 in 1769 to 150,800 by 1836, because of diet changes, epidemics, forced labor and slave-like labor conditions.

No figure has been more controversial in the missions than Serra, a native of Majorca, Spain, who founded nine of the 21 California missions. Pope John Paul beatified him in 1988 and Pope Francis canonized him in 2015, despite protests from Native Americans, several petitions and open letters to the contrary.

Though personally austere spiritually and physically, Serra has been accused of authorizing beatings of the Indians, and he fought any attempts of the Spanish government to eventually allow the natives to govern the missions.

Historians such as Franciscan Fr. Francis Guest concluded in his book, Hispanic California Revisited, that "when a neophyte was whipped at a mission, he was, as a general rule, spanked rather than flogged."

But Professor Benjamin Madley of UCLA, author of An American Genocide, argues that the beatings were severe and that the missions were one of the greatest examples of mass incarceration in history.

"The missions did not have chain link fences, barbed wire, or guard towers," Madley wrote in the Pacific Historical Review. "But they used force to bring the natives to the missions, exploited their labor and restrained them with the use of shackles and stocks."

When Pope Francis announced plans to canonize Serra, he said that the Americas needed a role model and Serra fit the bill. Governor Jerry Brown, a former Jesuit scholastic, supported Serra's sainthood, calling him "California's founding father and a very courageous man."

The Vatican has promoted an official biography of Serra by Rose Marie Beebe and Robert M. Senkewicz of Santa Clara University. In remarks to the press, Senkewicz adhered to the Vatican's narrative, saying that Serra had flaws, but that in the long run, was a saint who did more good than harm to the mission Indians.

Bishop Quinn expressed his disagreement with that position in letters to Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

In contacting the Vatican, Quinn worked closely with Dr. Donna Schindler, a California psychiatrist who works with Native tribes, and with Valentin Lopez, chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, based in Central California.

"We reached out several times to the popes urging them not to canonize Serra, but all they did was offer us prayers," said Schindler, who specializes in intergenerational trauma. "Had they apologized, they would be forgiven. It would have been very healing."

Said Chairman Lopez, "We met with Bishop Quinn regularly. He referred to us as 'our team.' He said you don't evangelize with horses, weapons, armor and aggression, but as the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us, with words, deeds and love. He was one of my best friends, and I loved him."

[Mark R. Day is a former Franciscan friar. He covered the West Coast for NCR in the early 1980s. He can be reached at: mailto:mday700@yahoo.com]

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Remembering Francis Quinn, a bishop who spoke up for Indians

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In recent years, Native Americans and other scholars have taken a more critical look at the California missions. Scholar Sherburne Cook wrote that the indigenous population declined from 224,000 in 1769 to 150,800 by 1836, because of diet changes, epidemics, forced labor and slave-like labor conditions.

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On Saturday, 30 men were charged between 10 years and a life sentence for the suspected scheming to bomb a church in Alexandria, which was not carried out. In the past years, Egypt has had a number of attacks on Churches. The Islamic State is suspected to be responsible. Only 20 of the 30 sentenced appeared in court, with the other 10 still on the run. The were trained abroad and "influenced by Islamic state."
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/plotters-in-church-bombing-scheme-sentenced-in-egypt-80877
Catholic News Agency

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On April 1, Pope Francis talked about abortion. He talks about a scenario where a woman is raped. He said he could understand the desperation the woman in such a scenario might feel, but that “it is not lawful to eliminate a human life to solve a problem.” He thinks that taking a human life won't solve any problems. Francis said that women in crisis pregnancies should not be left “on the street,” but “thanks to God,” there is an increased awareness in the last decades of the need to help women in difficult situations.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-even-in-desperation-abortion-wont-solve-problems-80967

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Georgia state legislature has passed a controversial fetal heartbeat bill Saturday, despite protests from actors and business executives. An earlier draft of the bill had already been passed the House, with an amended version passed by the Senate last week before coming back to the House floor on Saturday. Governor Brian Kemp (R) has said that he will sign the bill. After the bill was passed, many of the Hollywood figures took to Twitter to criticize the legislation, with many repeating their pledge to pull business out of the state.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/georgia-passes-heartbeart-abortion-bill-despite-celebrity-criticism-89887

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Lent is a time for change and to work to better ourselves. Lent is a time for transformation. It is a very diverse world but we must live confidently in our faith. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Steven P Millies
US Catholic
https://uscatholic.org/articles/201903/taste-and-see-many-ways-being-christian-31671

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In Cairo, 30 men were sentenced to between 10 years and life imprisonment on Saturday. They were charged with planning to bomb a church in Alexandria but it was not carried out. Recently, many churches have been attacked in Egypt partly by a call from the Islamic State. Only 20 of the 30 men that were sentenced on March 30th were in court. Ten of the men are on the run. Prosecutors have said that these men had been trained abroad and were also influenced by Islamic State. The men were also accused of being a part of an illegal group. According to Reuters, this group possessed explosives and planned to attack a liquor store. The Islamic state issued a call to target Egypt's Christians in February 2017. In November 2018, an attack took place on a bus travelling to St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in Minya governorate. In this attack, at least seven Coptic Orthodox people were killed and 12 were injured. Another attack that targeted a group of pilgrims to the monastery happened in May 2017.  The attack resulted in 29 killed. A church in Helwan in Minya governorate was attacked in December 2017. Eleven people were killed. On Palm Sunday, attacks on churchs were committed and 45 were killed and 125 were injured. St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral was bombed in December 2016, killing 29. Almost 10% of Egypt's population are  Christians, some of which are Coptic Orthodox.
CNA
JD Flynn
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/plotters-in-church-bombing-scheme-sentenced-in-egypt-80877

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A new Marist Poll has found that the vast majority of New Yorkers are opposed to late-term abortion. The poll was co-sponsored by Knights of Columbus, which showed that nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers identify as being "pro-choice." Recently, in the last couple months, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed the Reproductive Health Act, which removed nearly all restrictions on abortion. But according to the poll, only 20% of those who surveyed, said they approved late term abortion (meaning the other 80% were opposed to it). Carl Anderson, CEO of Knights of Columbus, states that the RHA is a "radical policy" that is against the average people from all political stripes.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/poll-finds-two-thirds-of-new-yorkers-oppose-late-term-abortion-19075

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To protect children from more sex abuse, Pope Francis approved a new law and a set of guidelines for Vatican City and the Roman Curia. These guidelines should go into effect starting June 1st. The pope wrote in his letter, "I wish, therefore, to further strengthen the institutional and normative order to prevent and fight abuses against minors and vulnerable adults." The new law covers all forms of abuse and more mistreatments against minors. The guidelines approved by the pope are similar to the law but to read more, click the link below.

https://www.osvnews.com/2019/03/29/pope-issues-new-child-protection-law-guidelines-for-vatican-city-state/
Our Sunday Visitor

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The Pope has approved a new law to help protect vulnerable minors from all forms of abuse and set of guidelines for the Vatican City State. They are set to go into effect by June 1st. The new law states that respect and awareness of the rights and needs of minors and vulnerable adults; greater vigilance, prevention and corrective action when abuse or mistreatment is suspected or reported; clearer procedures as well as specific offices for making claims; support services and protections for alleged victims, their families and those accused; and adequate formation for and background checks of new personnel, including volunteers.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - To better protect minors and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse and exploitation, Pope Francis approved a new law and a set of safeguarding guidelines for Vatican City State and the Roman Curia.

Pope Francis established the new norms and legal, criminal and safeguarding procedures with an apostolic letter given "motu proprio" (on his own initiative), published March 29. The law and procedures were to go into effect June 1.

Because the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people is an integral part of the Gospel message, "I wish, therefore, to further strengthen the institutional and normative order to prevent and fight abuses against minors and vulnerable adults," the pope wrote.

The law and guidelines have been created, he wrote, "so that in the Roman Curia and in Vatican City State" there will be, among other things: respect and awareness of the rights and needs of minors and vulnerable adults; greater vigilance, prevention and corrective action when abuse or mistreatment is suspected or reported; clearer procedures as well as specific offices for making claims; support services and protections for alleged victims, their families and those accused; and adequate formation for and background checks of new personnel, including volunteers.

The new law "On the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons" further enhances a major set of criminal laws for Vatican City State the pope approved in 2013; the earlier laws dealt with child sexual abuse, child pornography and the sale or prostitution of children and specified that any Vatican employee around the world can be tried by the Vatican court for violating those laws.

While the amendments in 2013 brought Vatican law into detailed compliance with several international treaties the Vatican had signed over the past decades, the new law on child protection was meant to better comply with the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocol, which the Vatican ratified in 1990 and 2001, respectively.

While few minors are resident in Vatican City State, there are minors in the Sistine Chapel Choir, and there is a pediatric hospital and a minor seminary under Vatican City State jurisdiction. Since September 2017, Vatican City State officials have been investigating allegations that a future priest abused a younger fellow-student at the St. Pius X pre-seminary.

The new law will now cover all forms of physical and emotional abuse - not just sexual violence through coercion - as well as serious forms of mistreatment, neglect, abandonment and exploitation against minors, who are below the age of 18, and vulnerable adults.

It covers acts, behaviors or conditions: that occur on Vatican City State territory, including the Pontifical Villa of Castel Gandolfo; that harm any minor who is a citizen or resident; or that are allegedly perpetrated by any "public official," which includes all employees of Vatican City State and Holy See, members of the Roman Curia and related institutions as well as Vatican diplomats and personnel.

As long as they are not breaking the seal of confession, all "public officials" are required to report "without delay" to the promoter of justice at the Vatican City State's tribunal any abuse the official learns about or is given reason to suspect while operating as a Vatican official or employee.

A failure or "wrongful delay" in reporting can result in a fine of 1,000-5,000 euros for a "public official" or up to six months imprisonment for a police agent or official.

Any individual, even someone completely unconnected with the Vatican or Holy See, can also make a report if they are aware of behavior harming a minor, it added.

The crimes against minors are automatically prosecutable and the prosecutor's office can proceed automatically, it said, adding that the statute of limitations on the crimes is 20 years after the alleged victim turns 18.

If the suspected perpetrator is a priest or is a member of a religious order, his or her superior will be notified immediately so the procedures prescribed by canon law can begin.

The new law also outlines:

- The legal rights, specific protections and support services available to the alleged victim and family.

- The Vatican tribunal's obligations in protecting the alleged victim from the suspect, from a repeat of the crime and from "intimidation and retaliation."

- How the investigation and trial should be conducted so that it is fair, unbiased, maintains a presumption of innocence for the accused and respects the dignity and psychological state of the alleged victim.

- The creation of a special office within the Vatican's healthcare service that will offer victim assistance, starting with a "listening service" and including psychological, medical and social support.

- The availability of information and programs to educate all Vatican staff, minors and families about abuse, how to identify it, better prevent it and the obligation to report it.

- The obligation to do a background check and exercise more vigilance in the selection and hiring of personnel and volunteers.

The safeguarding guidelines for the Vicariate of Vatican City cover the same material in the new law with the addition of requiring the vicar general to appoint a delegate who will coordinate and verify the city state's safeguarding efforts.

The five-page set of guidelines apply to all areas and all clergy, chaplains, assistants, employees or volunteers of the vicariate, including at St. Peter's Basilica and the St. Pius X pre-seminary. The guidelines also apply to all members of consecrated life or lay associations who reside in Vatican City State.

The guidelines include prohibiting: corporal punishment; photographing, filming or contacting a minor by phone, online or through social media without written parental consent; being alone or out of sight of others when with a minor or vulnerable adult; and showing favoritism to one child with gifts.

The vicar general's office is also required to alert the Vatican's promoter of justice of any credible accusation and remove the suspected perpetrator from pastoral activity.

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Pope issues new child protection law, guidelines for Vatican City State

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - To better protect minors and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse and exploitation, Pope Francis approved a new law and a set of safeguarding guidelines for Vatican City State and the Roman Curia.

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An 18-year-old woman set fire to buildings belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orem Utah. Police responded to reports of a fire on Friday around 2 a.m. They found several fires and two shattered glass doors. The smell of gasoline was located of a second church building and an officer ran Robinson's (lady that set fire to the churches) license plate, connecting her to a previous drug case. Robinson has a marker, lighter, matches, and a bottle that smelled like gas.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/utah/articles/2019-04-01/woman-accused-of-setting-fire-to-lds-church-buildings

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Do we retire from being mothers? Do you ever act like a mother to someone without even realizing it? Once you retire, you are spending more time in home, which makes you automatically act like a mother to someone. Thousands of people need mothering so we must spread love. Do you have to have a mother or can you retire from being a mother? There comes a point in life when you need to be independent and not be mothered. Spread your wings and fly. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/25/do-we-ever-retire-being-mothers

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The question this article brought up was "do we ever retire from being mothers?". I writer talks about her fights with her husband and after he tells her i already have a mother you do not have to be one for me. She really took this in and realized she cant seem to stop being a mother. So she claims  no you can never stop being a mother you just have to learn when to be a mother and when to be a friend. Like to her children she will never see them as anything other than her sons and her daughters but everyone has to learn to be a good friend while being a mother to others.
America the Jesuit review
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/25/do-we-ever-retire-being-mothers

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In order to fight against clerical sexual abuse, the Catholic Church must have procedures and laws, but we also need to take part in "spiritual combat." On March 31st, on his way back to Rome from Morocco, the pope stated that stopping abuse entails a multi-pronged approach, inclusive of prayer and penance. Pope Francis says that is why he requested the U.S. bishops not to vote in November for a new code of conduct for bishops and new procedures for handling allegations against bishops. Pope Francis, rather than asked the bishops to have a retreat and wait until after February summit to agree how to move forward. Pope Francis said that his trip in February to the United Arab Emirates and his trip to Morocco were opportunities to establish the Catholic Church's promise to inter-religious dialogue.
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/spiritual-combat-must-be-part-of-fight-against-sex-abuse-pope-says.cfm

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Mothers love their children unconditionally. It is very hard as their children get older, to stop mothering and not worry as much about them. Often times, mothers cannot let go of their children and want to always mother them. At a certain point, it is time to take a step back and relax and retire from jobs of a mother.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/25/do-we-ever-retire-being-mothers
Valerie Schultz

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Prayer is not just talking to God, but having a conversation with him.  There needs to be an equal balance between talking and listening.  Many people find it challenging to find the happy balance between talking and listening.  Lectio is a different way of praying to God. You can pray Lectio with music, icons, poetry, and photography.  These are more creative ways that can help you to talk to God and hear the word of God.  If you are having trouble just sitting and praying to God, try Lectio prayer and explore your conversation with God!

Busted Halo

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I like to talk. My idea of a good night with friends is lounging in one of our living rooms with a glass of wine or a mug of tea and nothing to do but chat. My favorite lunch break activity is calling my mom to catch up on the latest family news, books we've read, and upcoming plans. My husband and I spend more or less every evening taking a long walk with our dog, and you guessed it, talking.

Now, when I say that I like talking, I actually mean that I like conversation. And the most satisfying conversations are ones in which talking and listening are balanced.

Given my love of conversation, you would think that prayer comes naturally to me. What is prayer, after all, but talking and listening to God?
RELATED: 4 Reasons Coloring Is Part of My Prayer Life
Prayer isn't easy for me, though, and part of the reason why is that I find it difficult to achieve the balance of talking and listening. I frequently, but I often finish writing a page feeling as if I talked and talked and talked but didn't listen. I like the idea of meditating , but I'm unable to sustain that level of intense listening for very long.

Because my primary challenge with prayer is finding the balance between talking and listening, my prayer life took a major turn when I began to think outside the box and explore non-conversational methods of prayer. Learning about and praying numerous variations of Lectio Divina during a two-week period that I spent at a Benedictine monastery opened this doorway for me.

Lectio Divina is a prayer method that typically immerses an individual in Scripture and helps them hear God's voice through a particular passage and their reflection on it. Lectio treats Scripture as the living, breathing Word of God - not an old and dusty book to be studied - reminding us that God is active in the world and in our hearts today as much as He was when the stories of Scripture were written. Our job, as praying people, is to slow down enough that we can become aware of and attentive to that presence. Lectio can help us do just that as it prompts us to let the Word of God sink into us through repeated reading and contemplation of a passage.
RELATED: Lectio Divina: A Beginner's Guide
During my time at the Benedictine monastery, I was taught that I could use the method of Lectio - a slow, careful, listening for God's voice - with items, objects, and experiences other than Scripture. In the words of St. Benedict, to pray Lectio is to "listen with the ear of the heart," and the heart can listen to all aspects of life. The sisters at Mount Saint Benedict showed me how to pray Lectio with music, icons, poetry, and photography.

I was introduced to musical Lectio with Puccini's "Humming Chorus," a piece I'd highly recommend for anyone who would like to try praying with music (though any music will do!). The exquisitely beautiful melody and the movement of the chorus evoked simultaneous senses of peace and longing within me. Experiencing this emotional reaction in the context of prayer helped me to recognize the feelings of peace and longing as coming from God.

Praying Lectio with involved slowly contemplating painted images of the Holy Family, other biblical figures, and saints. As I stared at one depiction of Jesus, I felt as if we were really making eye contact and communicating, wordlessly, through our locked gaze. I teared up as I felt truly seen.

We used Dan Berrigan's "Zen Poem (For Dorothy Day)" to experience Lectio with poetry and considered what appealed to us about the poem, how it made us feel, and if the poem reminded us of anything in our own lives. One particular line - "I know nothing of supernatural powers / I have yet to perfect my natural powers" - made me chuckle with understanding as I recognized the same feeling in myself. Relating to the poet gave me a sense of connection with humanity.
RELATED: How to Add Visualization Exercises to Your Prayer Practice
Lectio with photography was my favorite. We spent 30 minutes outside on a sunny afternoon capturing images of God's beauty revealed through nature. Focusing on one particular object or plant at a time called me to pay greater attention to the intricacies of light, shadow, shape, and color than I usually do. As I leaned in close to photograph the petals of a blooming flower, the fragrance exuding from it and the tickle of a gentle breeze on my skin delighted me. I felt God's presence through my senses.

Praying different forms of Lectio Divina reminded me that God speaks in many languages, some without words. God speaks through emotions, tears, laughter, and sensations. And noticing and responding to God in each of these contexts is just a different kind of communication. Lectio helped me to stop thinking of prayer as talking and listening in their traditional forms and enabled me to connect with God much more comfortably and deeply.

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Praying Outside the Box: 4 Variations of Lectio Divina That Will Enhance Your Prayer Life | Busted Halo

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I like to talk. My idea of a good night with friends is lounging in one of our living rooms with a glass of wine or a mug of tea and nothing to do but chat. My favorite lunch break activity is calling my mom to catch up on the latest family news, books we've read, and upcoming plans.

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In a joint letter to Congress March 20, the chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said they oppose to the Equality Act because while it is meant to provide protections to those who identify as LGBT, it would impose “sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole.” The measure would add the new terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the definition of “sex” in federal civil rights laws, they said. Such a move would have “wide-reaching impacts” on health care, women and girls’ legal protections, charitable services to needful populations, schools, personal privacy, athletics, free speech, religious liberties and potentially parental rights, the prelates said

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WASHINGTON (CNS) - In a joint letter to Congress March 20, the chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said they oppose to the Equality Act because while it is meant to provide protections to those who identify as LGBT, it would impose "sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole."

The measure would add the new terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the definition of "sex" in federal civil rights laws, they said. Such a move would have "wide-reaching impacts" on health care, women and girls' legal protections, charitable services to needful populations, schools, personal privacy, athletics, free speech, religious liberties and potentially parental rights, the prelates said.

The Equality Act was introduced in the House and Senate March 13. It also is known as H.R. 5 and S. 788.

The letter was signed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

Regarding individuals who identify as LGBT, "each and every person should be treated with dignity and respect, the chairmen said. "Part of that dignity, as Pope Benedict stated, is every person's right to gainful and decent employment free of unjust discrimination. Also included is each person's right to services that address their needs for health and safety."

However, "rather than offering meaningful protections for individuals," the Equality Act "would impose sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole," they explained.

"The act's definitions alone would remove women and girls from protected legal existence," the prelates said. "Furthermore, the act also fails to recognize the difference between the person - who has dignity and is entitled to recognition of it - and the actions of a person, which have ethical and social ramifications."

They added, "Conflating the two will introduce a plethora of further legal complications."

Archbishop Kurtz and Bishops Dewane and Conley outlined several areas they said the bill would have the most impact if it becomes law, including:

- Regulating "thought, belief and speech." "We treasure the First Amendment freedoms of speech, association, conscience and religious exercise," they said. "The Equality Act puts these at risk by requiring uniform assent to new beliefs about human identity that are contrary to those held by many -believers of diverse faiths and nonbelievers alike would have the most impact if it became law would have the most impact."

- "Explicitly" retracting religious freedom. "By exempting itself from the bipartisan Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 - an unprecedented move - the Equality Act represents an explicit departure from one of the founding principles of the United States, the freedom of religion," they said.

- Hindering quality health care. "Those experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence must be treated with care and compassion and should receive from health care professionals the same quality of services and moral protection from harm that is due to everyone," the bishops said. "The Equality Act, however, would force many health care professionals to perform certain treatments and procedures associated with "gender transition" against their best medical or ethical judgment with respect to a patient."

- Threatening charitable services. The measure "would force a multitude of charitable services to either violate their principles or shut down," they said in the letter. "With the lack of gender criteria, shelters would be required to house vulnerable, sometimes traumatized, women with biological men." Foster care and adoption agencies also "would be expected to place children with same-sex partners, regardless of some birth mothers' wishes and children's best interests," they added.

Archbishop Kurtz and Bishops Dewane and Conley also said the measure would endanger privacy since it lacks "firm criteria for 'gender identity.'" and could lead to emotional or physical harm against individuals "in highly personal sex-segregated spaces such as restrooms and locker rooms."

They also see the legislation having an impact on people's career choices and livelihoods. They pointed to the case of the Colorado cake maker who was sued because he would not make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple; baker Jack Phillips did not refuse outright service to the couple but would not make a cake for their wedding based on his Christian religious beliefs.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor, affirming his religious freedom to refuse such an order. The court said the state "must not be hostile to religion," the bishops noted, but the Equality Act, they said, "would set up entrepreneurs of faith ... for destructive litigation nationwide" because in serving customers, they would not be allowed to "express messages with which they disagree."

"Given all of these effects, we strongly oppose the Equality Act and respectfully urge you to oppose it as well," the bishops told members of Congress. "We pray that wisdom will inform your deliberations on these matters and we readily stand with you, and are willing to assist you, in developing compassionate and just means to eradicate unjust discrimination and harassment from our country."

- - -

The full text of the committee chairmen's letter can be found online at https://bit.ly/2JrHsZA.

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Bishops say 'sweeping regulations' of Equality Act will harm society

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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a joint letter to Congress March 20, the chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said they oppose to the Equality Act because while it is meant to provide protections to those who identify as LGBT, it would impose "sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole."

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Pope Francis recently sent money to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi in an effort to help repair damage caused by the cyclone and major flooding. Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless, thousands are injured, and at least 300 have died. The Vatican described the Pope's donation as his first contribution and his "expression of his feelings" for those affected.

Our Sunday Visitor
https://www.osvnews.com/2019/03/22/pope-sends-aid-to-southeast-africa-after-cyclone/

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While visiting Italy, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of family and marriage for society. He called the Virgin Mary a model for every location. “It is necessary to rediscover the plan drawn by God for the family, to reaffirm its greatness and irreplaceability in the service of life and society." The Holy House of Mary is the “home of the family,” Pope Francis said during his visit, noting that “in the delicate situation of today’s world, the family founded on marriage between a man and a woman takes on an importance and an essential mission.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-marriage-and-family-have-an-essential-mission-50975

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In Georgia, the Senate resently passed a bill banning abortion after a baby's heartbeat can be detected, which is generally around 6 weeks into pregnancy. The bill will now return to the House, who approved the original bill but will now have to approve the changes made by the Senate. The legislation has an exception for cases involving rape/incest, and if doctors determine that the woman's life is in danger or that the baby would not survive. The previous laws in Georgia bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/heartbeat-bill-passes-georgia-senate-48706
Catholic News Agency

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Fr. Claude Grou is the rector of St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Canada. He was stabbed on Friday, March 22. A suspect was taken into custody. Ten minutes into mass, the attacker ran from the back of the rectory and stabbed him in the chest. Adele Plamondon attended the mass and told CBC News that the attacker “was very determined in what he wanted to do. He didn’t yell, he didn’t say anything. He just took out his knife.” Since St. Joseph's Oratory is the biggest church in Canada, it's daily mass is broadcast live every morning which means that the stabbing was caught on video. The priest's injuries were not severe. According to the Diocese on Montreal, his health is stable. The mayor of Montreal Valerie Plante said that the attack was  “a horrible and inexcusable gesture that has no place in Montreal.” The Archdiocese of Toronto tweeted, “We offers our prayers for the priest stabbed this morning at @diocesemontreal's St. Joseph's Oratory while celebrating Mass.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-priest-in-montreal-stabbed-during-mass-61227
Catholic News Agency
JD Flynn

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There are many ways to have better conversations with your kids. First, you can listen to understand. This means, you should listen to your kids without questioning what they say. Second, balance criticism with affirmation. This means; if you give too much criticism, the child may feel intimidated and not inclinced to communicate. However, if you praise them too much, they are inclined to feel like they can say and do whatever they please (which should not be the case). Finally, stay faithful to communication. This means, set off time throughout the day or week to have time for you and your kids to communicate with each other. All of these are very important when it comes to communicating with your children.

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Kevin and Amy have a rule at their dinner table for their three teenagers as well as themselves: What is said at the table stays at the table. "Our family committed to this when the children were young so they could express themselves without worry that their siblings or parents would talk to other people about what they shared," Amy says. "They also don't need to worry they are going to get in trouble for what they say. This has worked well for us, and some of our best conversations continue to happen at dinner."

Conversation is at the heart of good relationships. Yet as much as we love our children, sometimes it's difficult to move past questions and reminders about routines and activities into discussions about thoughts, feelings, and ideas. A parent's daily responsibility to make sure children are healthy, clean, well-fed, appropriately dressed, and educated can drive all conversations of the day almost every day, including weekends.

"From morning until night, we are directing our kids as to what they should be doing," says Charles, a father of four grade-schoolers. "And I wouldn't say it's nagging or not age-appropriate. It's just where they are developmentally. 'Do you have your lunch?' 'Don't forget to brush your teeth.' 'Practice is in a half hour.' 'Is your homework done?' Sometimes it seems we never really talk about anything other than the tasks they need to do next."

Strong communication cannot be forced, but a few smart practices can help parents and children move toward authentic conversation with their family.

Listen to understand

Parents give their children a great gift when they listen to understand what their children are saying rather than listen to form a response. In so much of parenting it is important that we have a quick and ready answer; kids often come to us for very basic information. But when a child asks questions or shares information of a more emotional or complicated nature, having an answer ready is not key. Instead, it is important the child feels heard and respected. "The attitude behind your words is as important as the words themselves," writes Adele Faber in How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Scribner).

Parents can help kids feel understood by stating what they are observing without questioning it. "I see you are sad that Kayla didn't invite you to her party," is a better first response to a weepy 12-year-old than, "Don't be sad, there will be other parties." In the first response, the child feels understood; in the second, the child is told her feelings are incorrect. A child who is repeatedly told not to have certain feelings or reactions can become confused and eventually may stop sharing any feelings with her parent.

Acknowledging difficult feelings is not always easy for parents, who may believe it is their job to make everything "right" for their child. But Faber writes that children actually thrive when parents validate their sadness or anger: "Parents fear that by giving a name to the feeling they'll make it worse. Just the opposite is true. The child who hears the words for what she is experiencing is deeply comforted. Someone has acknowledged her inner experience."

Stay faithful to communication

Current social science points out that a person has to hear something 14 times to learn it. For parents on their 11th year of reminding three children to put away their shoes, 14 times seems low. But the spirit behind the theory of repeated opportunities to learn is that parents cannot expect an issue is closed or resolved after one discussion.

Denise, a mother of three, looks at her communication with her children through the lens of how God communicates in the Bible. "The Bible shows me so many ways God and Christ communicated with followers-compassionately, in parables, through angels, in dreams, and dramatically through the crucifixion," she says. "There was certainly some patience, but also some fire and brimstone. The enduring message was fidelity. I have grown to embrace this model with my children."

Denise and her husband, Arthur, set the stage for communication by making sure their kids have many opportunities to tell them stories about their interests, share information about events or happenings at school, and joke around. Denise sees this as important so when a heavier or more uncomfortable topic comes up, the family has already established a framework of open communication.

"We think when people are in deep relationship with and really trust each other, the hard discussions are easier to have," she says. "And we just keep working at it long past the point when one discussion has failed. We invite each other to keep coming back and remember that not all issues need to be resolved or perfected in a set time frame."

Mix it up

Familiarity can make it challenging to have strong discussions. We spend so much time with our children that it can sometimes be hard to get a good talk started. Amy and Kevin have added a new tradition to their dinner hour. "It's called two trues and a false," Amy says. "Everyone goes around the table and tells two truthful things about their day and one false statement. We try to guess which one is false. This leads to some lively discussion!"

Another family does something similar, but with board games. "When I buy a game to give the kids as a gift, I choose one that is going to lead to interaction," says Elizabeth, mom of two. "My favorite is 'Say Anything' because you have to guess family members' answers to thoughtful or funny questions. It's a good way to have fun, but at the same time learn what each other thinks."

Dave, a father of three, cautions that insisting that kids talk can cause them to shut down. "It's only through being married that I've learned to be a better communicator, so I'm not going to expect that our 15-year-old son is already great at it. Probably the best thing we do is require that some times of each day are designated phone-free for him. He also knows his phone is done for the night at 8:30. I'll notice that often sometime after that, he'll wander into the kitchen for a snack and might have something to say."

Balance criticism with affirmation

According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, the optimal ratio of positive-to-negative comments for peak-performing teams in the business world is 5-to-1. Research on strong marriages by marriage and relationship expert Dr. John Gottman shows a similar ratio to be true in strong marriages; couples with a 5-to-1 ratio of positive-to-negative comments are much less likely to divorce. Keeping the 5-to-1 ratio in mind when interacting with children builds the strength of the relationship.

Research also shows that the type of praise and criticism is important-for both it's better to be specific. "You studied hard for the test and got an A," is stronger than a more general, "You're so smart." Similarly, "I feel frustrated when you are late coming out of school," is more effective than, "You're so slow!" Parents who feel they are in a slump communicating well with their children can check their comments against this ratio and see if some intentionality to keeping the ratio can turn things around.

This article also appears in the January 2017 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 82, No. 1, pages 36-37).
Image: Chris Benson on Unsplash

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How to have better conversations with your kids

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Kevin and Amy have a rule at their dinner table for their three teenagers as well as themselves: What is said at the table stays at the table. "Our family committed to this when the children were young so they could express themselves without worry that their siblings or parents would talk to other people about what they shared," Amy says.

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Whatever it was, a photo of a religious procession with a circa-1940’s aesthetic recently fascinated Catholics, who shared it on social media and other places around the internet. Canon Stein is a member of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Roman Catholic society of apostolic life with an emphasis on the traditional Latin Mass. The Institute was invited to St. Joseph’s Church in Detroit in 2016 to revive what was then a struggling Church community. “He created a win-win situation by unmerging St. Joseph’s (from a cluster of three parishes), making it its own parish within the archdiocese, and then inviting the Institute of Christ the King to come live here and breathe daily parish life back into it from scratch, and that’s exactly what we’ve done for the past two years,” he said.

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.- Maybe it was the classic sunglasses, the skinny jeans or the flocculent mustache. Maybe it was the vintage-style religious art, the men in embellished uniforms, or what looks like incense rising from the streets.

Whatever it was, a photo of a religious procession with a circa-1940's aesthetic recently fascinated Catholics, who shared it on social media and other places around the internet.

Except the photo of a St. Joseph's procession on the streets of Detroit wasn't taken in 1945. It was taken last week.

"I guess what really makes it 'epic' in today's terms is the steam from the city that...looks like holy incense," said Canon Michael Stein, ICRSS, rector of St. Joseph's Oratory in Detroit, which sponsored the procession.

"We dubbed it 'city incense,'" he said of steam that can be seen rising up from the street in the already-iconic photo.

Canon Stein is a member of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Roman Catholic society of apostolic life with an emphasis on the traditional Latin Mass. The Institute was invited to St. Joseph's Church in Detroit in 2016 to revive what was then a struggling Church community.

(What is a "canon," you ask? "In layman's terms, if you take a monk on the one hand, and a diocesan priest on the other, and smoosh them together, you get a canon," Canon Stein said.)

"When there was every material reason to shut it down (not enough funds, not enough faithful, a crumbling building), we're very grateful that Archbishop Vigneron had a much grander vision (for the parish)," Stein told CNA.

"He created a win-win situation by unmerging St. Joseph's (from a cluster of three parishes), making it its own parish within the archdiocese, and then inviting the Institute of Christ the King to come live here and breathe daily parish life back into it from scratch, and that's exactly what we've done for the past two years," he said.

One very visible sign of that new life in the parish is the beautiful St. Joseph's procession, which the Institute has organized since 2017.

The appeal of the photo, and of the procession (which this year included 500 people), goes deeper than aesthetics, Stein said.

"I think it's safe to say there's a profound theological and spiritual reason why that photo resonates so much with our hearts," he said.

"We are the religion of the Incarnation. God became man, the invisible God became visible, he sanctified the material world and elevated these visible, tangible signs to communicate invisible graces and to convey eternal truths."

"This is my parish; this is what we do," said Daniel Egan told The Detroit Catholic about the procession.

"This is a perennial St. Joseph Day tradition. St. Joseph Parish has been here for almost 150 years, so this isn't new to this area. Maybe it fell out of practice for the last 30, 40 years, but we are showing we are Catholic, as we are called to," he said.

"As Catholics, we're told to live our faith in season and out of season, in the public square and in private, and that includes the city streets. If we're not Catholic out there, we are truly failing to be authentically Christian."

The photo of the procession includes the Knights of St. John in full uniform (a Catholic charitable organization with a very long history), as well as parish vicar Canon Adrian Sequeira, ICRSS, leading the procession in full choir habit, which is used when the order chants the Liturgy of the Hours together. The spots of blue throughout the photo symbolize the order's total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stein said.

St. Joseph speaks to the hearts of today as a gentle and loving man and father and worker, Stein told CNA.

Part of the homily from the feast day, he said, explained that God sends saints for the times - either holy people of the time who are witnessing to the Gospel, or saints of old who are re-presented and raised up as intercessors for the times.

"It only takes a quick glance around the world to see a fatherless society, and to see either a slothful or workaholic society, or a lack of an appropriate understanding of manliness," Stein said.

"It's neither brute nor effeminate, it's faithful, it's steadfast, it's courageous and gentle. And we find all those things in St. Joseph, so I think that's another part of the power of that picture."

The procession, which traveled for less than a mile, stopped rush-hour traffic in the city, with the collaboration of Detroit police. It travelled to the Eastern Market, an iconic makers market in Detroit that has remained in the city since the 1800s, where workers can sell their wares and fathers can support their families - two things of which St. Joseph is the patron, Stein noted.

"So all the workers got to see their patron processing through the streets, whether they knew it or not," he said.

The procession was part of numerous events celebrating St. Joseph that took place in both St. Joseph's parish and throughout the archdiocese. In addition to the procession, St. Joseph's parish had three Masses, an Italian dinner, and a running litany of other activities and devotions throughout the day.

Other Detroit parishes had St. Joseph's Masses and dinners, including San Francesco Parish, which held a Mass, Italian dinner and St. Joseph's play, and Holy Family Parish, which held an Italian-language Mass.

Beyond being a photogenic opportunity, Stein noted, the procession and all of the festivities on the feast of St. Joseph are the fruit of a lively spiritual and liturgical life.

"It shows that we're alive," Stein said. "These things are the fruit of a daily sacramental life, these things are the fruit of a reverent liturgy, and the fruit of a solid catechesis. They're the fruit of our young adults being committed...Detroit as a city is coming back, and a lot of millennials are staying after college to get their first career jobs here."

To fill the needs of an increasing number of young people, St. Joseph's offers teenage catechesis and young adult groups, Stein said. The parish also has daily Mass and confession, a schola choir, and active volunteer groups, among other ministries. Within just two years, it's become a hub for millennials in the Archdiocese, he noted.

"We are predominantly young," Stein said, and young people are hungry for an incarnational faith.

"We are body and soul, all these spiritual truths are meant to be communicated through our senses. We get to see our faith, hear our faith, taste our faith, etc., and that just appeals to us so much," he said.

"Truth needs to shine in beauty...we're not angels, we're not just pure intelligences, we need to see, touch, hear; and that's something the traditional liturgy has always done. That's something that a reverent Mass or procession can do, these visible signs that the Church has used throughout her history to excite devotion and promote devotion."

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Vintage-style procession photo a snapshot of renewal in Detroit, priest says

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Maybe it was the classic sunglasses, the skinny jeans or the flocculent mustache. Maybe it was the vintage-style religious art, the men in embellished uniforms, or what looks like incense rising from the streets. Whatever it was, a photo of a religious procession with a circa-1940's aesthetic recently fascinated Catholics, who shared it on social media and other places around the internet.

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Father Claude Grou was stabbed by an assassin in Canada during a televised mass. He later recovered in the hospital. Although this terrible incident he still gets back to work. This is an amazing miracle that he recovered to well and so fast. He said that he worked so hard to recover and get well because he wanted to send out a message to the world on perseverance. The people of his church were proud and shocked. This situation is so upsetting but the priest turned around the negativity into inspiration for the world to see. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/montreal-priest-stabbed-at-mass-eager-to-return-88961

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Father Claude Grou was stabbed by an assailant, but has recovered in the hospital. This incident occurred because Father was preaching during a mass, which is horrifying and terrible. Besides this incident, Father Claude Grou wants to go back to work! I think this shows a message that you should not back down or hide after you are let down. You should want to keep fighting. Everyone that was at the Mass is shocked and needs time to recover. A woman saw the
assailant take out his knife during the Mass and head toward Father. She immediately notified security. Overall, this is a tragic cause but it has a good message. It also shows others how to respond quickly to a situation.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/montreal-priest-stabbed-at-mass-eager-to-return-88961

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On March 23, 2019, Brother Peter Tabichi won $1 million at the Saturday conference in Dubai for the 2019 Global Teacher Prize. He is a science teacher at a school in rural Kenya. He explains that the prize does not recognize him but recognizes the young people who live throughout the world and that it tells the world that these young students can do anything because it gives them a chance. Tabichi was chosen from among 10,000 nominees, and will become a global ambassador for the Varkey Foundation, which established the award. This international organization was founded in 2010 by an Indian businessman named Sunny Varkey. It looks to raise the standards of education for students across the world. The school that Tabichi teaches at, is in need of resources and equipment but the students have thrived throughout the years because of teachers like him.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/franciscan-friar-from-kenya-wins-1m-global-teacher-prize-72003

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77 year old Father Claude Grou has recently recovered from a stab wound inflicted during a televised Mass at St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. The priest claims that he is eager to return to work after reluctantly taking a few days off. Father Claude Grou says that he is thankful for the support he has received, and that it “warm[s] my heart and allow me to contemplate these difficult moments peacefully.” The 26 year old attacker was captured and detained shortly after the incident, and according to police, is a man with a preexisting criminal record. On the day of the attack, Justin Trudeau tweeted words of support: “Father Claude Grou, Canadians are thinking of you and wishing you a swift recovery.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/montreal-priest-stabbed-at-mass-eager-to-return-88961

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An Irish bishop has denounced Catholics who have been spreading fear and mistrust of immigrants, particularly those who are Muslims. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin, chairman of the Council for Life of the Irish bishops' conference, told The Irish Catholic newspaper: "I've found that people who would classify themselves in some cases as traditional Catholics and faith-filled people  say 'oh well these Muslims are putting our civilization at risk and they pose a threat to us.'" Bishop Doran stated it was unacceptable of people to demonize Muslims for the actions of terrorism claiming to be inspired by Islam. He also talked about how defining a whole category of people, or a whole nation, or a while religious group as being in some way more prone to terrorism than any other group is irresponsible.
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/bishop-criticizes-faith-filled-catholics-who-spread-fear-of-muslims.cfm

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Newsroom announced on Thursday that the church will hold a birthday concert on Sept. 6 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. President Nelson was born on Sept. 9, 1924. The program will feature personal tributes and insights into his life as a surgeon, church leader father, husband, friend, and prophet. These celebrations give insight to the lives of people chosen by God. "These types of celebrations, which we have seen since the early years of the Church, give us inspiring insight into the lives of those chosen by God to serve as His prophets,” said President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency. “I have personally attended many such events for past prophets, and each time I leave with a sense of wonder and gratitude for the way in which our Father in Heaven shapes, trains and teaches His prophets. It will be a privilege for all of us to participate and to celebrate President Nelson’s 95th birthday.”
The Church of Later-Day Saints' Newsroom
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-nelson-95th-birthday-celebration-invitation

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In Ohio in 2016, a law was passed allowing state funds to be banned from going to medical providers that offer abortions. In 2018, the law was ruled unconstitutional and on Tuesday, March 12, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision "with an 11-6 vote". Judge Jeffrey Sutton from Ohio said that the state had "no constitutional requirement to provide money to any private organization, Planned Parenthood or otherwise." Sutton wrote that "The state may choose to not subsidize constitutionally protected activities. Just as it has no obligation to provide a platform for an individual's free speech, the state has no obligation to pay for a woman's abortion."
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/ohio-can-defund-planned-parenthood-court-rules-95098
Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency

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Georgia and Tennessee have created bills about abortion that say that if a fetal heartbeat is detected, then abortion will be banned. People are expecting controversy to arise about this if the law is eventually passed. The bill has an exception involving rape, which may calm some people's anger. Another exception is also is if the mother's health is in danger, then the law would not apply. Gov. Bill Lee has said he will sign the heartbeat bill into law if it makes it to his desk. There is controversy about this future bill because not everyone believes that abortion should be illegal. Maryland, Minnesota, Florida, West Virginia, Mississippi, Illinois, and South Carolina are currently considering heartbeat legislation.
Catholic News Agengy
(Heartbeat abortion bans move forward)
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/heartbeat-abortion-bans-move-forward-in-tennessee-georgia-96081

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Tennessee and Georgia now have advanced bills that state abortions illegal if the fetal heartbeat can be detected. You can normally detect the heartbeat around 6 weeks after conception. This law comes with legal challenges and courts have historically ruled similar laws unconstitutional. House Bill 481 in Georgia was the bill that won in support of the law last Thursday and now moves to the Senate. The bill bill does include exceptions though such as victims of rape or incest and if the mother's health is in danger. In Tennessee, House Bill 77 passed for this law and now continues to Senate.

Catholic News Agency

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.- Lawmakers in Georgia and Tennessee have advanced bills that would ban most abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy. Should they become law, both are expected to face legal challenges, as courts have historically ruled similar laws unconstitutional.

House Bill 481 passed the Georgia House by a vote of 93-73 last Thursday and now moves to the Senate, according to WSB-TV Atlanta. Governor Brian Kemp released a video message supporting the bill shortly after its passage.

The bill includes exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest- which would be demonstrated by a police report filed by the woman- as well as when a pregnancy is deemed to threaten the life of the mother or to be "medically futile."

The Georgia Health and Human Services Committee tabled a second piece of legislation that would have created a "trigger law" to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that found a Constitutional right to abortion, is overturned by the Supreme Court.

Georgia House Democrats turned their back on Republican Rep. Ed Setzler as he introduced the heartbeat bill in the house chamber. Several Democrats had already walked out in protest of the bill.

In Tennessee, House Bill 77 passed the legislature 65-21 the same day and continues to the Senate. Gov. Bill Lee has said he will sign the heartbeat bill into law if it makes it to his desk.

Tennessee's Catholic bishops chose to oppose the state's heartbeat bill over concerns that it would not stand up to judicial scrutiny. Tennessee Right to Life, the state's leading pro-life group, also opposed the bill.

"While we wholeheartedly support the intention of the 'Heartbeat Bill' being considered by the Tennessee Legislature, we must also be prudent in how we combat the pro-abortion evil that dwells in our society," the bishops wrote in a Feb. 26 open letter.

The bishops cited similar laws in other states that were signed into law but never went into effect because of legal challenges. In those cases, the laws were found to be unconstitutional, and the state was forced to pay significant sums of money to the lawyers representing the pro-abortion challengers to the laws.

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion chain, has already said they will file suit against Tennessee if the heartbeat bill becomes law. The American Civil Liberties Union has also vowed to challenge heartbeat bills in court in several states.

As an alternative, the bishops voiced "urgent support" for the "Human Life Protection Act," an bill which would, in the event that Roe were overturned, trigger an automatic ban on abortion in the state.

The Georgia and Tennessee heartbeat bills join a growing list of legislation recently passed in other states, some of which the courts have already thrown out.

In January, a district judge struck down Iowa's heartbeat abortion law, which Gov. Kim Reynolds had signed last May. The law had not yet gone into effect because of a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the abortion provider Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the Iowa City-based Emma Goldman Clinic, which also performs abortions.

The Kentucky House is considering a heartbeat bill that the Senate passed last month. If the bill becomes law, an examination would be required before an abortion to determine whether the unborn baby's heartbeat can be detected. If so, an abortion would be illegal, unless the mother's health is determined to be in danger.

Ohio lawmakers reintroduced a heartbeat bill last month after former Gov. John Kasich vetoed a previous version in December. Ohio's new governor, Mike DeWine, has reportedly expressed support for the measure.

Missouri lawmakers are currently considering a bill that includes a provision banning abortion if either a heartbeat or brain function can be detected.

The Arkansas legislature passed the first heartbeat-based abortion ban in 2013, and also voted to override a governor's veto of the bill. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled it was unconstitutional and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

Maryland, Minnesota, Florida, West Virginia, Mississippi, Illinois, and South Carolina are currently considering heartbeat legislation.

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Heartbeat abortion bans move forward in Tennessee, Georgia

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Lawmakers in Georgia and Tennessee have advanced bills that would ban most abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy. Should they become law, both are expected to face legal challenges, as courts have historically ruled similar laws unconstitutional.

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The state of Alabama recently experienced a severe tornado and 23 lives were lost, their ages ranging from 6-89. After the tornado, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi asked for prayers for the victims and their families etc. Pope Francis was saddened at this tragedy and expressed his solidarity for it. Those affected by the tornado in Alabama need all the prayers they can get.
Our Sunday Visitor
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/03/07/pope-conveys-heartfelt-solidarity-prayers-for-tornado-victims/

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There are many ways the members of the Catholic Church can be there for people that struggle with mentall illnesses. First, you can support people and be informed about the resources in your commnity. Second, make the subject known. It is important for the topic of mental illness to be discussed. Finally, you can get involved in your community (this could be something as simple as donating or volunteering).

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1. Support people. An integral part of recovery for people with mental illness is to have a supportive faith community to rely on for their spiritual needs. Families also need support when dealing with the mental illness of a family member. The parish community can offer much through inclusive, non-judgmental, and unconditional love.

2. Be informed about the available resources in your community. People with mental illness and their families will often go to a clergy person and/or parish leaders first. It is important for clergy and leaders to listen with compassion and to know when to refer people to mental health professionals rather than to attempt to solve psychological problems themselves or dismiss the problem. It is also important to know where in the community one can refer people for competent professional help and services.

3. Incorporate specific prayers for those suffering with mental health issues into prayers at worship services. This lets a faith community know that the community prays and cares for people with mental illness. The prayer sends a welcoming message and lets people know that their community supports them.

4. Preach on the subject. Include references to persons with mental illness in homilies about social justice, caring for the poor, discrimination, and compassionate outreach to others. Avoid words or phrases in all sermons and communications that add to the stigmas against mental illness.

5. Give the peace and justice ministry the opportunity to get involved in the systemic problems surrounding mental illness. The failure of the mental health system to meet people's basic needs is a moral issue. At least one half of the prison population and one third of people suffering from homelessness have some kind of mental illness. The nation's community mental health system is underfunded and provides inadequate services. Mental health workers are generally not well paid for their work. What programs do exist often create a continuous cycle of crisis for people with mental illness and their families. All this is morally unconscionable.

6. Engage in political activism, either through letter writing or direct action. Since much of the problem with obtaining adequate care comes from the lack of funding for existing programs and decent wages for health care workers, state legislators are key to improving the system.

7. Include information about mental illness in the church bulletin or newsletter. This should be a series of articles rather than one or two. This not only keeps the information readable instead of giving parishioners too much to digest at one time, but it also keeps the issue in people's minds instead of just making it a one-time thing.

8. Include mental illness in healing prayers and services (e.g., anointing of the sick). This gives a sign to the community that all illnesses are included in a parish's care. Faith communities have to be particularly sensitive in this area, as there is a history of misguided prayer: Mental illness is not demon possession or God's lack of love for us. It is a disease like any other.

9. Host speakers on the topic of mental illness. The Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness, The National Catholic Partnership on Disability, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Mental Health Association are just a few of the good resources for information and speakers.

10. Institute a peer-to-peer ministry program. People with mental illness often do not have a circle of friends, and an important element to recovery and healing is a caring community. Peers don't have to be medical professionals, but instead are people who are caring and able to listen. (Information on establishing a peer-to-peer program is available on NAMI's website.)

11. Develop liturgies. Join with your diocese or other local faith communities to have an annual liturgical celebration of persons with a mental illness, their families, and mental health workers/professionals. This gathering should be celebratory and positive and include time after the liturgy to share fellowship and conversation.

12. Promote the dignity of the individual. God loves us each as we are. Use "people first language" (e.g., phrases like "people with a mental illness" rather than "the mentally ill"). No one wants to be known as a disease.
Adapted with permission from the Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness.
This sidebar accompanies our interview with Deacon Tom Lambert, founder of the Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness. It also appears in the March 2019 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 84, No. 3, pages 28-32).
Image: Josh Applegate on Unsplash

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12 ways parishes can support people with mental illness

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1. Support people. An integral part of recovery for people with mental illness is to have a supportive faith community to rely on for their spiritual needs. Families also need support when dealing with the mental illness of a family member. The parish community can offer much through inclusive, non-judgmental, and unconditional love.

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Despite the peace agreement that was made last month, the Central African Republic government especially children, continue to face violence and famine. Ongoing battles between Muslim and Christian rebels have taken thousands of lives and displaced millions of people since 2013. The Political Accord for Peace and Reconciliation, signed in Kourham, Sudan, in February, is the eighth agreement to have occured. Rebel groups control about 75 percent of the country, while the government has authority over the capital and other small sections. Right now this is the most fangerous place for children to live.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/unicef-car-is-most-dangerous-country-for-children-95652

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Lauren Teruel Ridloff is a deaf actress. She uses American Sign Language to communicate. She was 2 years old when she was diagnosed deaf. She views being deaf as a gift. She is able to accept the challenge and conquer. She states that we should not let being scared stop us from doing what we love. She also says that we should not be afraid to make mistakes because that is what helps us learn.

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The lower house of the Maryland legislature passed a bill Thursday to legalize assisted suicide, in the face of critics' concerns about a lack of safeguards and economic discrimination. The House of Delegates approved the End-of-Life Options Act by a 74-66 vote March 7. Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has said the bill would “further undermine the dignity of human life.” “Physician-assisted suicide is not a partisan issue, and those who are concerned about the health disparity and economic discrimination issues raised by the bill stand in strong opposition to its passage,” said Jennifer Briemann, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference.

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.- The lower house of the Maryland legislature passed a bill Thursday to legalize assisted suicide, in the face of critics' concerns about a lack of safeguards and economic discrimination.

The House of Delegates approved the End-of-Life Options Act by a 74-66 vote March 7.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has said the bill would "further undermine the dignity of human life."

"Physician-assisted suicide is not a partisan issue, and those who are concerned about the health disparity and economic discrimination issues raised by the bill stand in strong opposition to its passage," said Jennifer Briemann, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference.

"Among those in opposition were a majority of the members of the Legislative Black Caucus and many members of Democratic House leadership, and we applaud their courage to stand up to the out-of-state interests pushing this predatory agenda."

"We call on the members of the Maryland Senate and Governor Hogan to act swiftly to decry the action of their colleagues in the House and stop this dangerously flawed bill from advancing."

Maryland Against Physician Assisted Suicide, a coalition opposed to the bill, expressed hope that the Senate would recognize "that the legislation simply does not address any of the dangers that physician assisted suicide poses to Maryland."

"As coalition members have said all along, there are no meaningful safeguards in this legislation to protect against the coercion and abuse of seniors, the disabled, and other vulnerable populations. There is no way to address the fact that patients in states where this practice is legal are requesting the lethal drugs because they feel like burdens on their families, not because they are in pain ... Alongside these dangers, this practice distorts medical ethics and devalues existing end-of-life care."

This is the fourth attempt in five years to legalize assisted suicide in the state. The move is being supported by the Compassion and Choices, an Oregon-based group that advocates for assisted suicide, and the bill is based on Oregon's assisted suicide law.

Similar bills were introduced in 2015, 2016, and 2017, but were withdrawn before they could be voted down.

If passed, the bill would permit doctors to prescribe lethal medications to adult patients with a terminal illness and six months left to live. The bill would overturn a 1999 Maryland law that banned assisted suicide, and it would protect from prosecution doctors who prescribe the drugs. It would require that a patient make two oral and one written request to a physician, waiting two to 15 days between requests.

Physicians who decline to provide the lethal medication would be required to refer the patient to another doctor.

The bills have also been opposed by groups such as the Maryland Psychiatric Society and Baltimore City Medical Society.

The MCC found that, under the bill, no assessment screens for depression nor is there a supervisor to ensure a patient is not pressured into the process. The bill also does not require a medical professional to be present during the suicide, or a contingency if the attempt is unsuccessful.

Delegate Nic Kipke noted that "if people cannot afford treatments they need for their care, and if people are making choices based on economic factors that is not consistent with choice or safety from coercion," WAMU reported.

The Senate version of the bill has at least 19 sponsors in the 47-member body.

Governor Larry Hogan, a Catholic and a Republican, has not indicated whether he would sign the bill. The Baltimore Sun reported that Hogan has said the bill is "one that I really wrestle with from a personal basis."

Assisted suicide is legal by law in the District of Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont, Hawaii, and Colorado; and in Montana through a state supreme court ruling.

According to MAPAS, Dr. Joseph Marine, an associate professor of medicine at John Hopkins, said this kind of end-of-life care is dangerous to Maryland, noting other states have already witnessed its ugly effects.

"We are already seeing reports of insurance companies in some states declining to cover the cost of life-extending treatments, and instead paying for these drug overdoses that end a patient's life."

During debate on the bill, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk said that "we have 40 years of documented evidence that this is not a problem and there has never been abuse."

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Assisted suicide bill advances in Maryland despite lack of 'meaningful safeguards'

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The lower house of the Maryland legislature passed a bill Thursday to legalize assisted suicide, in the face of critics' concerns about a lack of safeguards and economic discrimination. The House of Delegates approved the End-of-Life Options Act by a 74-66 vote March 7.

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This article was a letter from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, the Archbishop Of Galveston-Houston, and the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to Gregory John Mansour, the Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. The letter was about the plane crash on the March 9th. Four of the 157 people that died were employees of Catholic Relief Services. The names of the employees are Sara Chalachew, Getnet Alemayehu, Sintayehu Aymeku, and Mulusew Alemu. In this letter, the employees of the CRS that lost their lives, were recognized and remembered for their service to the poor. The bishops in the US were asked to pray for these employees especially at the meeting of USCCB Administrative Committee happening this week.
http://www.usccb.org/news/2019/19-046.cfm
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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The pope appointed new bishops to the dioceses of Memphis and Fresno and a new auxiliary bishop to Los Angeles. The former bishop of Memphis, Bishop Martin D. Holley had a divided audience on how he handled Tennessee. Bishop Martin D Holley had reassigned around two thirds of the Memphis priests which was not applauded by the people. Bishop Joseph Brennan was named the new head of the diocese of Fresno. Bishop Joseph Brennan is replacing Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa who retired at the age of 75. Fr. Alejandro D. Aclan is the new auxiliary bishop. He is a Filipino Catholic so he brings a new perspective and serves as a voice for this group of people in the Church.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-appoints-bishops-of-memphis-fresno-names-new-auxiliary-for-la-89445

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A fourth grader in the city of Bountiful, Utah was forced to remove his Lenten ashes by his teacher this past Ash Wednesday. The teacher claimed that they were "inappropriate" and forced the boy to wipe them off with a sanitizing wipe despite his protest and the other children's curiosity. Because Catholics are a minority in the predominately Mormon state of Utah, the student William McLeod was questioned by his peers and teachers. The questions were mostly harmless, but the incident turned sinister after the boy was forced to wipe them off. According to the school, the boy talked to the district psychologist in tears, embarrassed from the unwanted attention. After the incident, though, the the teacher sent the boy's family a handwritten apology along with a bag of candy. The teacher has since been placed on administrative leave, and the school has issued a formal apology. “The actions were unacceptable,” district spokesman Chris Williams said, according to the Associated Press. “No student should ever be asked or required to remove an ash cross from his or her forehead.”
Catholic News Agency
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/utah-school-apologizes-after-student-forced-to-remove-lenten-ashes-92683

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On Sunday, an Ethiopian plane crashed. It was the Ethiopian Airline Flight 302, and it crashed just minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa Sunday. The plane was headed towards Nairobi, Kenya.  It included a priest, a religious sister, and four staff members with Catholic Relief Services. Pope Frances has been offering prayers to the other 157 people who died as well. Most of the people on board of the plane were from Kenya. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-missionaries-aid-workers-among-victims-of-ethiopian-plane-crash-83324

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In Salt Lake City, Utah on March ninth the school district Valley View Elementary, issued an apology after a fourth-grader, William McLeod,  was demanded to remove his ashes from his forehead on Ash Wednesday. William McLeod was the only pupil with ashes at his school and other students were curious about them he said. His teacher Moana Patterson told William that the ashes were inappropriate and they needed to be removed. It was known that he went to see the school's psychologist crying that day. The school has released a statement of apology, describing how this matter is being taken very seriously. Moana Patterson has been placed on administrative leave, and additional disciplinary action is being considered.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/utah-school-apologizes-after-student-forced-to-remove-lenten-ashes-92683

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The question this article brings up is "can dogs love us back?". The answer they give us is "No, our pets cannot love us in any human sense of the word. Love requires freedom and a rational soul". although they have love like traits that are just as genuine. So just because they cant love us in the human form of the word they can love us in their own way. They have an ability to create a bond with a human and God gave us animals to take care of and bond with. The article also talks about sin and suffering and how Jesus died for us on the cross making his life the ultimatum sacrifice.
OSV
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/02/20/can-pets-love-us-back/

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Cardinal Philippe Barbarian was given a six-month suspended prison sentence for not reporting the cases between July 2014 and June 2015. Although he wasn't present at the hearing, his lawyer said that he will appeal, the lawyer also stated, "the court had been under pressure as a result of documentaries and a film about the case. The case against Philippe Barbarian was that 9 people claimed that Father Bernard Preynat abused them. They said that Archbishop of Lyon and other church officials covered up for the priest. Father Bernard's victims accused the cardinal of not bringing the abuse to justice. Thanks to other people bringing abuse scandals to light, others become empowered and justice is being found for many families.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-03/cardinal-barbarin-suspended-sentence-lyon-abuse-vatiab.html

France: Card. Barbarin sentenced to six months suspended sentence

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Lent is fast approaching. This is the time where many Catholics scramble to figure out what they are giving up, whether it be sweets, ice cream, soda, or various other things. But Pope Francis, in a homily addressing the Lent season, calls us to give more meaning to our Lenten sacrifice. By this he means that we should not just give something up for the sake of it, and we should not just go through the motions. We should truly reflect on how our sacrifice will further our relationship with God. Giving up sweets can be a part of it, but the main message is to not lose sight of why we are giving something up. Pope Francis also suggests that we try to incorporate the corporal works of mercy in our Lenten routine.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2014/02/11/mercy-filled-lent
America Magazine, The Jesuit Review, Kerry Weber

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Can dogs love us back? is the big question of this article. Priest, Paul VanHoudt answers no because he says that love requires freedom and a rational soul. Although he says that dogs cannot love us back, dogs can manifest love-like traits.  They can also associate pleasure with us and show excitement.  Though it is very sad that dogs cannot show the same love we have for them, they can exhibit loyalty and attraction to us.  Dogs are still able to form a connection or bond with their owners or family.

Our Sunday Visitor

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Question: Can our pets love us?

- Paul VanHoudt, Erie, Colorado

Answer: No, our pets cannot love us in any human sense of the word. Love requires freedom and a rational soul.

It is clear that pets, especially dogs and (sometimes) cats, do manifest lovelike traits - for example, they can exhibit a certain loyalty and attraction to us. They even manifest a kind of excitement at our return. Much of this can be explained by a pack-instinct or a connection in their experience between us and food or other pleasurable things. St. Thomas Aquinas says that animals can experience pleasure but not joy, which requires a rational soul. It is the same with love. They can anticipate pleasures associated with us and show excitement, but this should not be confused with love, which involves willing the good of the other.

Sin and suffering

Question: In one place in the Bible, the apostles ask Jesus if a man was born blind due to the sin of the father or his own sin. Neither, Jesus said, meaning sin does not cause illness or handicap. Yet every person he heals, he first says to them, "Your sins are forgiven," and then he heals their affliction. It seems to me a contradiction. Please clarify.

- Jeannine Aucoin, Henniker, New Hampshire

Answer: To be fair and accurate, Jesus did not always say, "Your sins are forgiven" when he healed someone. Rather, and in most cases, he says some version of, "Your faith has healed you." At other times he inquires, "Do you believe that I can do this?"

There are some cases, notably the paralytic in Capernaum, where the Lord says, "'Your sins are forgiven'" (Mt 9:5). But in such a passage, there are multiple layers going on. In the first place, Jesus is showing his authority to forgive sins. If he can say to a paralytic, "Take up your mat and walk," then he can also forgive sins.

At another, more implicit level, there is a teaching that our sins are more serious than we imagine. Jesus looks at a paralyzed man and sees his most serious problem to be his sins. We do not think like this. We are horrified at serious diseases and physical injuries. We dread them most of all. But the Lord sees our sins as our most serious problem. Thus Jesus ministers to the man's more serious problem and teaches us thereby to assess our situation differently. We are almost in a panic if we have financial or health problems. Instead we should be more concerned with our moral state than if our body is healthy and buff, or if our financial portfolio is robust.

So, Jesus' actions here do not amount to a contradiction of what is his overall teaching that illness or deformity are not necessarily the result of personal sins.

There is, of course, a broad relationship between sin and all suffering. God offered us paradise where suffering was unknown. He further warned that sinfully rejecting his warning about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would lead to suffering and death. Knowing this, Adam still sinned, and we now are consigned to live in paradise lost. Suffering and death came to us through original sin. Personal sin may also bring certain sufferings as well, such as disease and addiction.

However, there is an unevenness of sufferings in this world. Some do suffer as a result of sins committed, others suffer who have not personally sinned so as to cause it. Hence we do well to refrain from sweeping conclusions about how and why people suffer in this or that case.

Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., blog at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.

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Question: Can our pets love us? - Paul VanHoudt, Erie, Colorado Answer: No, our pets cannot love us in any human sense of the word. Love requires freedom and a rational soul. It is clear that pets, especially dogs and (sometimes) cats, do manifest lovelike traits - for example, they can exhibit a certain loyalty [...]

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Olney, England, and Liberal, Kansas, will compete against each other in the International Pancake Race. it is a 415-yard competition involving pancakes, skillets, and some serious flipping skills. This is the 70th race since the friendly feud began in 1950. Last year, Liberal beat Olney with the victory of Gaby Covarrubias, a local parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Although the competition has only been observed in Kansas for the last 69 years, the race itself is actually much older, said Greg Bird, general chairman to the Pancake Day Board. The committee runs the Pancake Hall of Fame, which is located at the finish line.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fat-tuesday-pancake-race-people-flip-out-to-show-off-their-skill-ets-53255