From the Pastor’s Desk From Bulletin February 19, 2012... Dear Friends,
Many bishops, ours included, asked to have their letter read at Mass. As this was a request and not a mandate, I chose to have it printed in the bulletin and encouraged all adults to carefully read it and be informed. Other pastors around the Archdiocese chose to do the same. I want to tell you why I chose this way to address this issue. I chose this way because of the amount of information and seriousness of matter in the content of the letter. To read a letter of this kind of importance at the end of the liturgy diminishes that importance and can be too much for the average mind to comprehend by being read orally. Having it printed in the bulletin and reading it for oneself, leaves little room for any misunderstanding. It also indicates that I trust you as responsible adults to keep yourselves informed on the issue at hand. As we all know this country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, the very reason the colonists left England to form a new country. To have this basic principle come under attack is unconscionable. However, in my opinion what has happened is that a true and genuine dialogue between our bishops and our politicians has ceased to exist. Instead the strident voice of partisan politics and the equally strident voice of Church officials coupled with the misconception of the modern media, has given way to the clouding of the issue rather then the clarifying of it. And this leads to the confusion of even the most faithful of God's people. Perhaps each side could just step back a bit and take a deep breath and maybe each could begin to hear a voice of reason emerge. Our ancient father, St. Benedict, in his Holy Rule wrote about the importance of LISTENING, listening with the ear of our hearts. He also spoke of three monastic vows, stability, obedience and conversion of life. In the last one, conversion of life, Benedict uses the Latin word "conversatio", to talk or to be in dialogue which requires a listening spirit. He does not use the word "convertio" which means to change or become something else. Benedict was wise to know the difference and to understand that real change, conversion, takes place in the dialogue, the talking, the conversation that requires one to truly listen to the other and in the "conversatio", the conversation, to discover the truth. Perhaps less desire for each side to convert the other and more desire to truly dialogue with each other and arrive at a common ground would better serve us all. The right to exercise our conscience and to have religious freedom supersedes civil law and church law for it is moral law. And it is in the moral law that we can truly hear God's voice speak. In order to hear God's voice speak, we have to listen. While this dilemma is far from being resolved, let us do what Cardinal George has asked us to do, to fast and pray for a right and just resolve. With the season of Lent fast approaching, perhaps this can our charge and our call. May the Holy Spirit lead all involved and help us all to discover the truth. Fr. Mike Solazzo |
Last weekend we listened to Cardinal George speak to us of the importance of participating in the  |
Feel free to call with questions or concerns! |
|