Talking about the "things that matter most" on Nov. 17
Live from the USCCB Fall Meeting in Baltimore, MD
4:00 – USCCB Pastoral Letter on Marriage- “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan”
The USCCB voted today on the approval of a pastoral letter on marriage. The letter, “Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” was overwhelmingly approved and is an important component of the Bishops’ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage that began in 2004. The pastoral letter is written with a broad and diverse audience in mind – ranging from young unmarried adults to married couples to those who offer pastoral ministries to those whose work informs and shapes opinion and public policy about marriage. The bishops write, “We address this pastoral letter first and foremost to the Catholic faithful in the United States. In a spirit of witness and service we also offer our message to all men and women in the hope of inspiring them to embrace this teaching.” We talk with Bishop Joseph Kurtz, who chairs the Committee that wrote this document.
4:20 – A Short History of the Crusades: Why Should Catholics Care?
Jonathan Riley-Smith tells the story of the Crusades as never before. He has written no less than 8 books that detail a comprehensive history that ranges from the preaching of the First Crusade in 1095 to the legacy of crusading ideals and imagery that continues today. We look at the ideas of apologists, propagandists, and poets about the Crusades, as well as the perceptions and motives of the crusaders themselves and the means by which they joined the movement. He joins us.
5:00 – Be Thou My Vision: Meditations on the Priesthood
The Year for Priests, announced by Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year, is intended to help priests build a strong spiritual identity. The year will close on June 19, 2010 in St. Peter’s Square at a world meeting for priests. For this year for priests, Bishop David Ricken has written Be Thou My Vision: Meditations on the Priesthood. The book is a series of short mediations that will lead priests on a contemplative journey to the core of the priesthood and will deepen and renew a priest’s love of his vocation. Bishop Ricken joins us.
5:20 – A Bishop’s Story of Vocation
Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette, MI has an incredible story of his calling to the priesthood, and he is here to share it. In this year for priests, the Bishops are calling on all Catholics to build up the priesthood, discuss the priesthood, and suggest the priesthood to young men. It is precisely because of this type of encouragement that Bishop Sample is a priest of God.
5:40 – Kresta Comments
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Al, I listened to the end of your 2nd hour on Tuesday's program and you quoted a priest who died April of 1947 and he wrote about the Church not being defensive. I was driving so I did not make notes.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I listende thoughts started forming around Archbishop Dolan's defensive response to the NY Times concerning anti-Catholic bias when he compared reporting on sexual abuse with other faiths and social systems. In general, he stated that the reporting was of a much more agressive nature against Catholicism even though the percentage of abusers are much smaller within the church than in the other populations.
He wonders why there is such an intense negative response. Here are the thoughts that entered my awareness.
1) The priesthood is a sacrament that is a holy institution. I heard you state that where there are holy priests the culture in that area thrives and becomes holy.
2) This points to the spiritual power of the priesthood and its profound spiritual impact on the culture. The example of John Paul II and the charisma that drew others to him with his obvious love of everyone.
3) This spiritual power can work just as intensely to harm the world and the Body of Christ. JPII wrote in Reconciliato et Paenitentia that "...every soul that rises above itself raises up the world..."--the law of ascent and the Communion of Saints. He also describes the "communion of sin" where each and every sin no matter how private harms the entire human family along with the church.
4) Just as the angels who fell from grace with God continue to retain the spiritual power and influence they were entrusted with, so do the priests who fall from grace.
Their sins and failures reveal the influence that the Church has on the entire world. This is why there is such an intense negative reaction to the relatively small numbers. The power of the priesthood is quantumly entangled with all humanity. This is why there is such a lingering and continuing deepening of resentment against the Church. We cannot be defensive and love at the same time.
This is why we are to love perfectly and not defend. Defense comes from fear and not love. Defense creates friction and does not illuminate the truth of love.