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Why Conscience Is Important
During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Americans shone the light of the Gospel on a dark history of slavery, segregation, and racial bigotry. The civil rights movement was an essentially religious movement, a call to awaken consciences. In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. boldly said, “The goal of America is freedom.” As a Christian pastor, he argued that to call America to the full measure of that freedom was the specific contribution Christians are obliged to make. He rooted his legal and constitutional arguments about justice in the long Christian tradition: “I would agree with Saint Augustine that ”˜An unjust law is no law at all.'”¦ A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An … [Read more...]
Where Charity and Love Prevail”¦
I am rarely prouder of our parish as a whole than when I witness its generosity to the poor. I see it in our volunteers who come to daily to help with our ministry to the poor. I see it in our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, who cooks for the poor at the Rebuild Center. I see it in our parish staff, who is so patient with the many people who come to our door or call for assistance. But last week I received a letter than made my day. You might remember that Cross Catholic Outreach came to parish while I was on retreat in January of this year. And they did a mission appeal. They let me know last week that our parish had donated over $6000 to their ministry that helps the world's needy and poor. Â Wow. Â That's so wonderful. And it makes me happier that 97% of Cross's money goes directly … [Read more...]
More the U.S. Bishops
Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans. Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith? Without religious liberty properly understood, all Americans suffer, deprived of the essential contribution in education, health care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and social services that religious Americans make every day, both here at home and overseas. What is at stake is whether America will continue to have a free, creative, and robust civil society-or whether the state alone will determine who gets to contribute to the common good, and how they get to do it. Religious believers are part of … [Read more...]
Corpus Christi 2012 – Thank You!
Thanks to all who helped celebrate Corpus Christi on Sunday! Even though the Archdiocese had to cancel the Corpus Christ Eucharistic Procession from Our Lady of Prompt Succor to Holy Name of Jesus, God gave us a gift of sunshine for the procession. It was also such a wonderful day to have the Eucharist returned to St Henry Church! Even our police office Karl was surprised we were able to process since his daughters were in the other procession that got cancelled when they opened the church door at 10:30am and it was pouring on State Street! Thanks to all of our canopy bearers, Jeff Tegue, Kevin Bastian, Justin Lacour and Chris Heard, who encountered trees, sidewalk issues and I am sure a lot of perspiration for the Lord! Thanks to for our Knights of Columbus, and for the … [Read more...]
Come Home to Camp Abbey This Summer
Camp Abbey is an overnight, Catholic summer camp for children completing 2nd through 8th grades sponsored by the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Boys' sessions are June 3-9, June 10-6, June 17-23, and June 24-30. Girls' sessions are July 8-14, July 15-21, July 22-28, and July 29-August 4. The cost is $395 per week inclusive, and partial scholarships are available. Camp includes opportunities for prayer, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration, as well as activities such as volleyball, basketball, softball, flag football, arts & crafts, archery, swimming, boating, performing arts, camping, hiking, and rock climbing. Come home to Camp Abbey and make lifelong friends and great memories, and grow in your … [Read more...]
Congratulations
Congratulations to our first communicants! Lorenzo Bogaert Tristan ClincyIsabella Dupre Therese FayardOlivia Francis Anabelle Goggin Anna HutchinsonKalia JacksonRaelyn Mornay Paris RayfieldJosephine Someillan-Harris … [Read more...]
Artificial Contraception
Moral Concerns Over the last two weeks, I have briefly defended the Church's teachings on artificial contraception by examining societal and scientific/medical concerns. This week I want to briefly examine the moral concerns. Once again, it will be impossible to concentrate on all of the moral concerns associated with artificial contraception. I encourage the reader (and especially the dissenter) to engage in research on the issue. But I caution: if one reads nothing but opinions disagreeing with the Church, then all one does is reinforce one's own ideas. I want to approach the moral concerns on three levels (1) the contraceptive mentality; (2) the slippery slope of dissent; and (3) the inevitable consequences. Most people who have a vague understanding of the Church understand that … [Read more...]
Artificial Contraception? No!
The Beauty of Human Sexuality Over the last three weeks, I have tried to explain – by outlining sociological, medical and moral concerns – some of the reasons that the Church has consistently taught that artificial contraception violates the dignity of the human person. In this brief article, I would rather focus on the “other side of the coin'”: what the Church teaches about the beauty of human sexuality within the context of a holy, healthy marriage. Far from bringing in secular sources for this article, I would rather summarize one particular document issued by the Pontifical Council for the Family entitled “The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality.” It can be found here: www.vatican.va Althought the document is very lengthy, I want to focus on three points: (1) the call to love; … [Read more...]
Artificial Contraception
Medical/Scientific Concerns Last week, I briefly presented the Church's teachings on the artificial contraception through examining societal concerns. This week I want to briefly examine the medical/scientific concerns. Although there are many ways of engaging in artificial contraception, the most popular method is the oral use of artificial hormones, including estrogen and progestogen. Collectively known as “the Pill,” these medications inhibit female fertility. In August of 1960 the first contraceptive pill, Enovid, was launched for sale in the USA. The mass-marketing of the drug was so successful that within one year of the product's launch, over 1 million American women were using it. Let me begin by stating that there is no way that this short article can cover all aspects of the … [Read more...]
