Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 33 February 8, 2017 Solidarity Bishops address physician-assisted suicide Saskatoon residents have been expressing solidarity By Kiply Lukan Yaworski of the Sick, marked on Feb. 11, the the Catholic Church in pastoral in our respective dioceses and our with the Muslim community Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. care are asked to contact their eparchy for priests and chaplains to in the wake of a deadly REGINA — The Catholic Within the pastoral guidelines bishop for designated resource consult,” explained Bolen. “This shooting at an Islamic prayer bishops of Saskatchewan have the Saskatchewan bishops have persons to support discernment will help us to capture the dual centre in Quebec City. released three documents offering introduced a process whereby “around the pastoral approach to challenge, of responding pastorally — page 3 insights, reflections and guide - priests and lay chaplains faced those who have raised the possibil - to any given situation, while also Study sessions lines about death, dying and pas - with complex pastoral situations ity of physician-assisted suicide, holding firm to the framework of toral care in an era of assisted sui - related to assisted suicide and or regarding funeral requests for church teaching. Rather than issu - The Catholic and Lutheran cide and euthanasia. euthanasia can get assistance in those who have died in this way,” ing a set of very precise directives churches of Winnipeg are Sent to pastors and parishes discerning how best to respond. state the pastoral guidelines. presenting ecumenical study and posted on diocesan and Priests and those working for “We will have resource people — CATHOLIC , page 7 sessions to commemorate eparchial websites, the documents the 500th anniversary include a pastoral letter (“Living Salesians help former child soldiers heal of the Reformation. Through Our Dying”), a reflection — page 3 (“Jesus: the Word Who is Life”), and a set of guidelines for priests, By Junno Arocho Esteves Euthanasia threat deacons and laity providing pas - toral care to the sick and dying. ROME (CNS) — While the Even though medical assis - The three texts were released process of healing and reconcilia - tance in dying has been legal Feb. 6, 2017 — exactly two years tion continues in Colombia after in Quebec for almost a year after the Supreme Court decision 52 years of war, Salesians in the and in Canada for a few that struck down the ban on country are helping some of the months, Bishop Noel Simard physician-assisted suicide and most vulnerable victims of the has not yet come to terms euthanasia. The new reality came conflict: former child soldiers. with this new reality. To him, into effect across the country On the lush green hillsides of medically assisted death when Bill C-14 received royal Colombia’s second-largest city, is just plain euthanasia. assent in June 2016. Medellin, sits Ciudad Don Bosco — page 4 “Priests and chaplains now (Don Bosco City), an oasis of face the possibility that they will peace for young men and women TV series be called to offer pastoral care in who continue to bear — both condemned complex and painful situations physically and mentally — the where people are considering or scars of war and violence. The Catholic Women’s have chosen euthanasia or physi - Two former child soldiers League and the Council of cian assisted suicide,” said Arch- along with Salesian Father Rafael Canadians bishop Donald Bolen of Regina. Bejarano, director of Ciudad Don with Dis- “There is a need and a desire to Bosco , and James Areiza, the abilities have resources and clarity. The home’s program director for child have both guidelines and the pastoral letter protection, were in Rome Feb. 2 condemned are meant to serve as tools to help to present a documentary on some the Global navigate those situations.” of the children’s journey toward TV series In addition to Bolen, the texts recovery and reintegration. Mary Kills were signed by Archbishop Murray The Salesian-produced short CNS/Junno Arocho Esteves People Chatlain of the Archdiocese of film, Alto de Fuego (Ceasefire), COLOMBIA CHILD SOLDIERS — Former child soldiers, Manuel and because they say it seems Keewatin-Le Pas, Bishop Bryan follows the stories of Catalina and Catalina, speak to journalists Feb. 2 in Rome at the presentation of Manuel, two former child-sol - to glamorize euthanasia. Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Ceasefire, a Salesian-produced documentary on the process of recovery diers who are slowly rebuilding — page 5 Eparchy of Saskatoon, Bishop and reintegration for former child soldiers of Colombia’s 52-year war. Albert Thévenot of the Diocese of their lives at the Salesian house Indigenous voices Prince Albert, and diocesan admin - after enduring the carnage of joined the guerrilla group FARC, enduring physical abuse by her istrator Rev. Kevin McGee of guerrilla warfare at a young age. the Spanish acronym for the stepfather and an attempted sui- The strategic plan of St. Saskatoon. The documents were Nineteen-year old Catalina — Revolutionary Armed Forces of Thomas More College at the released in time for the World Day her real name kept hidden — Colombia, at the age of 13 after — CHILDREN , page 15 University of Saskatchewan speaks of a duty “to make of Palliative care bill passes to Health Committee STM a truly welcoming community where indige - nous voices are heard and By Deborah Gyapong tive care framework passed the the day after the bill passed sec - Gladu, who was first elected to celebrated,” writes House of Commons unanimously ond reading. the House of Commons in 2015 Christopher Hrynkow, chair OTTAWA (CCN) — Bill C- Jan. 31 and now goes to the “There are a few amendments as the Conservative MP for of the Academic Indigenous 277 calling for a national pallia - Health Committee for considera - that they want to see: one to Sarnia-Lambton, Ont., said she Working Group at STM. tion. include First Nations on the bill carefully consulted across the — page 6 “We’re grateful to MP Marilyn and the second is to make sure aisle with all parties to craft her Gladu for introducing this much- they are clear on provincial juris - bill, and relied heavily on the Sundance needed bill,” said Campaign Life diction and federal jurisdiction findings of the All-Party Parlia - Film Festival Coalition Ottawa lobbyist Johanne issues,” she said. mentary Committee on Palliative Brownrigg. Campaign Life was Gladu acknowledged the Care that released a 2011 report Opening the day before the among numerous groups that sup - Health Committee already has a calling for a national palliative inauguration of Donald port the bill, including the Cath- lot on its agenda, including a care strategy, suicide prevention Trump as U.S. president, the olic Women’s League, the Catho - study of the opioid crisis, and a and elder abuse prevention. timing of the Sundance lic Organization for Life and study of the impact of violent “I would like to congratulate festival — the world’s pre - Family and an interfaith coalition online pornography, but she the member for Sarnia-Lambton miere showcase for indepen - that included the Canadian Con - expects her bill won’t get for following up on the commit - dent cinema, both dramatic ference of Catholic Bishops. delayed. tee’s work with this important ini - and documentary — carried “She knows we support it en - “Palliative care is a priority tiative,” Liberal MP Francis an extra consciousness-rais - tirely,” said Brownrigg. “Hope - and I think you can see from the Scarpaleggia, an original member ing edge that was evident fully the committee recognizes discussion and the all-party sup - of the All-Party committee, told throughout, writes the need for palliative care, now port we got last night,” she said. the House Feb. 1. Gerald Schmitz. more than ever.” “People see this as a priority. We “Unfortunately, it is not within — page 9 “I’m pleased to see everybody have to move. There’s money in federal jurisdiction to give, or CCN/D. Gyapong come together to do the right the budget so I think it’s time for Marilyn Gladu thing for Canadians,” said Gladu action.” — ACCESS , page 4 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS February 8, 2017 Hope is more than ‘wishing for something nice’

By Carol Glatz audience hall. “When a woman realizes she St. Paul, he said, writes words is pregnant, she learns to live VATICAN CITY (CNS) — of encouragement, telling Chris- each day in expectation of seeing Christian hope isn’t about believ - tians to arm themselves against her child’s gaze,” he said. ing in something that may or may the onslaught of doubt and diffi - Everyone needs to learn to live not come true, like hoping tomor - culties by “putting on the breast - each day with this same joyful row’s weather will be pleasant, plate of faith and love and the anticipation — “to live in expec - Pope Francis said. helmet that is hope for salvation.” tation of gazing at the Lord, of “Christian hope is the expecta - This kind of hope, the pope said, finding the Lord,” he said. tion of something that already has has nothing to do with wishing for Learning to live in “sure ex- been fulfilled and that certainly “something nice,” something “that pectation” isn’t easy, but it can be will be attained for each one of may or may not happen.” learned, he said. us,” that is, knowing Christ died “For example, people say, ‘I “A humble, poor heart” knows and is truly risen so that all of hope it will be nice weather to - how to wait, but it is difficult for humanity may gain salvation and morrow,’ but we know that it someone who is “full of himself live together with God, the pope might be terrible weather instead.” and his possessions.” said Feb. 1 during his weekly Christian hope isn’t like that, The pope asked everyone to general audience. he said. It is belief in “a sure real - repeat aloud with him St. Paul’s Continuing a series of talks on ity” because it is rooted in the words (1 Thes 4:17) as a way to Christian hope, the pope looked real event of Christ’s resurrection find peace and consolation, at St. Paul’s First Letter to the and his promise of eternal life knowing that one day the faithful Thessalonians (5:4-11) and what with him. will be united with God and their it teaches about the Christian It’s knowing and seeing that loved ones: “Thus we shall belief in life after death. “there is a door over there,” he always be with the Lord.” CNS/Paul Haring The early Christian communi - said, pointing to the entryway At the end of his main audi - GENERAL AUDIENCE — Pope Francis embraces a man while meet - ty at Thessaloniki was firm in its into the Paul VI audience hall. ence talk, the pope greeted mem - ing the disabled during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the belief in Christ’s resurrection, but “There is a door. I hope to get bers of the Global Catholic Vatican Feb. 1. He continued his series of talks on Christian hope. trusting in one’s own resurrection to the door. What do I have to do? Climate Movement, which seeks and the resurrection of loved ones Walk toward the door. I am sure I to act upon the pope’s encyclical He encouraged them to contin - may respond with determination was a bit harder to grasp, the will make it to the door. That is Laudato Si’ and address climate ue to expand and strengthen their to the cry of the earth and the cry pope said. what Christian hope is like. Being change. networks “so that local churches of the poor.” Such doubts and uncertainty certain that I am walking” with He thanked them for their dedi - still exist today as “we all are a that destination, he said. cation to “taking care of our com - Amoris Laetitia is not up little afraid of dying,” he told Christian hope is living like an mon home during this time of seri - those gathered in the Paul VI expectant mother, the pope said. ous social-environmental crisis.” for personal interpretation

Religious called to be mothers, fathers By Junno Arocho Esteves act of adultery does not constitute a mortal sin.” By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The If a Catholic has not obtained Vatican’s doctrinal chief said some an annulment of their sacramental VATICAN CITY (CNS) — bishops are interpreting Pope marriage, entering into a new When religious orders focus on Francis’ document on marriage relationship would be considered survival rather than on sharing the and family in a way that is not in adultery. joy and hope of faith in Jesus, accordance with Catholic doctrine. While the pope’s apostolic ex- they end up being “professionals “I don’t like it. It is not correct hortation emphasizes the impor - of the sacred, but not fathers and that many bishops are interpreting tance of the sacrament of recon - mothers,” Pope Francis said. Amoris Laetitia according to their ciliation in accompanying peni - “The temptation of survival own way of understanding the tents on the path to receiving the turns what the Lord presents as an teaching of the pope. This is not eucharist, Müller said that contri - opportunity for mission into in line with Catholic doctrine,” tion, the resolve to sin no more something dangerous, threaten - said Cardinal Gerhard Müller, and confession are requirements ing, potentially disastrous,” the prefect of the Congregation for that must also be respected. pope told consecrated men and the Doctrine of the Faith. “This is the dogmatic doctrine of women who joined him Feb. 2 for In an interview published Feb. the church, independent of the fact mass on the feast of the Presen - 1 with Italian magazine Il Timone , that people may or may not accept tation of the Lord and the World Müller said the interpretation of it. We are called to help people — Day for Consecrated Life. Amoris Laetitia falls solely to the bit by bit — to gather the fullness of Speaking as a fellow member pope or the Vatican’s doctrinal their relationship with God, but we of a religious order, Pope Francis congregation. cannot make concessions,” he said. urged religious to keep alive the “To all these (bishops) who are Pope Francis’ teaching on the faith, hope and audacity of the talking too much, I urge them to family, he continued, is a help for men and women who founded the study first the doctrine (of the those living in situations that are councils) on the papacy and the not in keeping with the “moral orders to which they belong. CNS/Paul Haring “We are heirs to those who episcopate,” the cardinal said. “The and sacramental principles” of the have gone before us and had the WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE — Pope Francis cele - bishop, as teacher of the Word, church, but want to comply. brates mass marking the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in St. must himself be the first to be well Nevertheless, he added, the courage to dream,” he said during Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 2. The mass also marked the World the mass, which began with the Day for Consecrated Life. formed so as not to fall into the risk church cannot justify irregular sit - blessing of candles celebrating of the blind leading the blind.” uations “that are not in accor - the presentation of Christ as the temptation that can make our con - them of their original creative In their directives on how to dance with divine will.” light of the world. secrated life barren: the tempta - force,” Pope Francis continued. “It apply the pope’s teachings in their When asked if the abstinence The feast day Gospel reading tion of survival” and of preserv - makes us want to protect spaces, dioceses, some bishops have indi - requirement for divorced and re - from St. Luke tells the story of ing institutions above all else, buildings and structures, rather cated a possibility that after a seri - married couples who cannot sepa - Mary and Joseph bringing the said the pope, a member of the than to encourage new initiatives.” ous process of accompaniment rate still stands, Müller said that the newborn Jesus to the temple in Jesuit order. The temptation of survival, he and discernment, some divorced requirement is “not dispensable.” fulfilment of the law. The elderly “The mentality of survival said, “turns us into professionals and civilly remarried couples may Müller highlighted the need for and pious Simeon and Anna are makes us reactionaries, fearful, of the sacred but not fathers and be able to receive sacramental ab - bishops to read Amoris Laetitia in in the temple and rejoice when slowly and silently shutting our - mothers, brothers and sisters of solution and the eucharist; other its entirety rather than choosing they see Jesus, recognizing him selves up in our houses and in our that hope to which we are called bishops have said the pastoral and citing brief passages. He also as the Messiah. own preconceived notions,” he to bear prophetic witness.” accompaniment and discernment said that the “task of priests and Simeon and Anna, the pope said. “It makes us look back to Like Mary and Joseph, reli - should help those couples recog - bishops is not to create confusion said, testified that “life is worth the glory days — days that are gious are called to bring Jesus nize they are still part of the but to clarify.” living in hope because the Lord past — and rather than rekindling into the midst of his people, the church and encourage them to live “It is not Amoris Laetitia that keeps his promise.” the prophetic creativity born of pope said. “Only this will make without sexual relations if they has provoked a confusing inter - The pope said religious have our founders’ dreams, it looks for our lives fruitful and keep our want to receive the sacraments. pretation, but rather some of its inherited Simeon and Anna’s shortcuts in order to evade the hearts alive.” Müller, who said in an inter - confused interpreters,” the cardi - hymn of hope from their founders challenges knocking on our doors All Christians, but especially view Jan. 9 that the teaching in nal said. “We must all understand and elders, who “had the courage today. those consecrated with the vows the pope’s exhortation is clear, and accept the doctrine of Christ to dream.” “A survival mentality robs our of poverty, chastity and obedi - told Il Timone that a contradiction and of his church and, at the same Hope in the Lord and the charisms of power, because it ence, are called to be the leaven between personal conscience and time, be ready to help others to prophetic announcement of his leads us to ‘domesticate’ them, to of the Gospel in the world, he doctrine “is impossible” and that understand it and put in practice presence “will protect us from a make them ‘user-friendly,’ robbing said. no circumstances exist where “an even in difficult situations.” February 8, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 Saskatoon residents show solidarity with Muslims

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski the community to address the to half-mast, Clark continued, shooting at the mosque, sending a reading council’s statement about SASKATOON — Local resi - message to the Muslim communi - the shooting: “We condemn all dents and community leaders ty Jan. 30 expressing sorrow and acts of violence, and this is a have been expressing solidarity solidarity. chance for all of us in Saskatoon with the Muslim community in “We stand together with you to stand together, neighbour-to- the wake of a Jan. 29 deadly and leaders of all faith communi - neighbour, to ensure everyone shooting at an Islamic prayer cen - ties in condemning violence, par - feels safe in our community. Our tre in Quebec City. ticularly violence in the name of strength is when we work togeth - Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27- God, whose name is peace. Vio - er, continue to build relationships year-old student at Laval Uni - lence profanes the name of God,” based on understanding and versity, has been charged with six wrote the bishops. respect with each other, and show counts of first-degree murder and “Such inconceivable violence that all peoples of faiths are valued several counts of attempted mur - violates both the sacredness of and important in our community.” der in the shooting at Centre human life as well as the respect Don Kossick also spoke, sug - Culturel Islamique de Quebec , due to a community at prayer and gesting that Saskatoon officially which left six men dead and some its place of worship,” said the become a “Sanctuary City,” join - 20 others wounded. statement, signed by Archbishop ing communities across the Many are also speaking out Donald Bolen of the Archdiocese United States that are protecting against the American president’s of Regina, Archbishop Murray Kiply Yaworski undocumented citizens and others executive order, signed two days Chatlain of the Archdiocese of WINTER VIGIL — Hundreds gathered in the cold Jan. 31 for an out - across Canada that are reaching before the shooting, which bans Keewatin-Le Pas, Bishop Bryan door vigil at Saskatoon City Hall in support of those killed in a mosque out to assist stranded travellers refugees, migrants and foreign Bayda of the Eparchy of Saska - shooting in Quebec, and those affected by the U.S. travel ban on travel and to welcome refugees. nationals from seven predomi - toon, Bishop Albert Thévenot of from seven Muslim countries. Ayisha Kurji, a physician spe - nantly Muslim countries. the Diocese of Prince Albert, and cializing in pediatrics in Saska - A number of local prayer ser - diocesan administrator Rev. prayer. Everyone can be an arti - toon rally held at City Hall Jan. toon, described her initial fear of vices and public rallies have been Kevin McGee of the Diocese of san of peace.” 31, braving bitter cold under a speaking out at the rally. “I was held, including a public prayer Saskatoon. The executive order restricting crescent moon to express sorrow, afraid. Afraid to identify myself service at the Islamic Centre in The message quoted Pope travel to the U.S. has affected stu - stand in solidarity, and call for as a Muslim, afraid to speak up, Saskatoon Jan. 30, public rallies Francis’ 2017 message for the dents, faculties and staff at action in response to recent afraid I wouldn’t have the words, Jan. 30 in Regina, Jan. 31 in World Day of Peace: “May we Canada’s 97 member universities, events. Many held candles during that I would say something that Saskatoon, and Feb. 2 in Prince dedicate ourselves prayerfully according to a statement from the hour-long vigil, while others would offend or be taken out of Albert, events at the University of and actively to banishing violence Universities Canada. The order signed a declaration of support, or context, that I would be judged,” Saskatchewan, as well as an inter- from our hearts, words, and poses an impediment “to the free carried signs calling for peace she said, but added that she faith prayer service Feb. 5 at St. deeds, to becoming non-violent flow of people and ideas and to and inclusion. The rally opened reconsidered when considering John’s Anglican Cathedral in people and to building non-vio - the values of diversity, inclusion with a prayer and song by a First how to explain this to her young Saskatoon. lent communities that care for our and openness that are hallmarks Nations elder. children. The Catholic bishops of Sas- common home. Nothing is im- of a strong and healthy society.” Organizer Arisha Nazir, a Kurji said she turned to her katchewan were among leaders in possible if we turn to God in Hundreds attended the Saska - member of the Ahmadiyya Mus - faith and the call to show kind - lim Jama’at in Saskatoon, said the ness and compassion. “Families event was held to show solidarity were hurt, and that is not okay. Lutheran-Catholic study sessions held and support to all people affected These families feel alone now, by the Muslim ban and other ac- and so we are here. We light can - By James Buchok Pancake Supper. nity for Catholics and Lutherans tions of the U.S. government, as dles for them and we show them Designated Lutheran and to commemorate together the well as to express sorrow and we are with them, so they feel WINNIPEG — The Catholic Cath olic parishes in rural Mani - Reformation through a sympo - support for the family and friends stronger, and those that made the and Lutheran churches of Winni - toba are making their own sium and using a liturgical service of those killed or hurt in the trag - bad choices they made will know peg are presenting ecumenical arrangements to host and gather entitled Common Prayer, “one of ic attack on the Sainte Foy that we will not let this happen; study sessions to commemorate for some or all of the five ecu - the fruits of the Lutheran-Cath- mosque. that this is not okay. It is not fair the 500th anniversary of the menical study sessions. Dates and olic Common Commemora tion During the vigil Arif Juma, and it is not OK.” Reformation. venues for sessions outside of document.” director of religious affairs at the She added: “My faith does not Winnipeg will be announced as The Lund meeting, writes the Islamic Centre of Saskatchewan teach me to hurt. It teaches me to plans are finalized. archbishop, was part of the (Saskatoon), said, “We as Cana - love. My faith does not teach me The study sessions will touch “reception process of this docu - dians condemn this act of terror. that there is only one way to God. on some of the events and theo - ment and is meant to reverberate In Canada there is no room for It teaches me that there are many. logical questions surrounding the throughout the Lutheran World such hate.” My faith does not teach me that I Reformation and advancements in Federation and the Catholic Saskatoon Mayor Charlie am less because I am a woman. It reconciliation which have oc - Church during 2017. Clark also spoke, standing along - teaches me that I am equal. And so curred over the past 50 years. “In Canada, the Canadian side six city councilors. He de - I am sharing my voice with you, The Winnipeg sessions will Conference of Catholic Bishops scribed a special meeting of because I am lucky enough to each feature a different theme (CCCB) and the Evangelical council earlier that day, held to have one, and because our voices connected to the commemoration Lutheran Church in Canada have address the U.S. travel ban and are the most powerful thing that of the Reformation based on the formed a joint working group to the tragic events in Quebec City. we have. We need to speak up and document, From Conflict to develop a study guide for Lu - Clark read statements issued we need to speak out.” Communion: Lutheran-Catholic therans and Catholics at the local by city council about the recent Joel Schindel, a family physi - Common Commemoration of the level to commemorate the Refor- events. “Saskatoon has a long his - cian and a member of the Muslim Reformation in 2017, a product of ma tion together in light of their tory of being a safe place of chaplaincy team at the University Lutheran and Roman Catholic common baptism and the principles arrival for people seeking refuge, of Saskatchewan, called on the dialogue over the past 50 years; agreed to in the document. Com- beginning with the welcome crowd to address the rise of and the theological agreement menting on the mutual commemo - received from the First Nations Islamophobia, which he described Archbishop Richard Gagnon outlined in The Joint Declaration ration, Pope Francis stated, ‘I people to the first settlers on this as “one of the main issues that on the Doctrine of Justification , believe that it is truly important for land. In just the past 13 months, has contributed to this horrific Co-chairs of the Roman Cath - signed in 1999. everyone to confront in dialogue individuals and groups through - tragedy,” and stressed the impor - o lic-Evangelical Lutheran Church In a letter last year to the faithful the historical reality of the Ref- out our community have been tance of creating safe spaces on in Canada working group for the of the Archdiocese of Winni peg, ormation, its consequences and the supporting hundreds of people campus and in the community for 500th Year Commemo ra tion of Gagnon explained the “immense responses it elicited.’ ” from Syria and Iraq fleeing con - all people. the Reformation are Roman significance” of the events of Oct. The archbishop also quotes flict and persecution on their He said that Muslims are eager Catholic Archbishop of Winnipeg 31, 2016, at the 1,000-year-old Junge, who said at the Lund gath - home soil,” said the first state - to engage their neighbours — and Richard Gagnon and Rev. Susan Lutheran cathedral in Lund, Swe - ering, “I am convinced that by ment about the American presi - not just at times of tragedy. “We Johnson, national bishop of the den, when Pope Francis joined with working toward reconciliation dent’s executive order. are waiting to engage you, be - Evangelical Lu theran Church in leaders of the Lutheran World between Lutherans and Catholics, “We offer any support that we cause we are your neighbours; we Canada. Federation (LWF) to commemorate we are working toward justice, can to Prime Minister Trudeau are your classmates, your teach - The bishops will join in the the 500th Anniversary of the peace and reconciliation in a and Premier Wall in their commit - ers, your co-workers, your doc - five gatherings, under the banner Protestant Reformation. The LWF world torn apart by conflict and ment to assist people affected by tors, your lawyers, your bus dri - of “Together in Christ,” for con - bishop, Dr. Munib A. Younan, and violence.” the U.S. travel ban, and we will vers — and we would love for all versation, study and prayer at general secretary, Rev. Dr. Martin The full schedule of dates and continue to welcome refugees and of you to do whatever you can to Lutheran and Catholic churches, Junge, participated with Pope locations for the “Together in new Canadians to Saskatoon be - strive to better understand the one each month from February to Francis “in a communal liturgy Christ” sessions can be found on cause we believe that our strength way of life that we call Islam.” June. The first session is Feb. 28 highlighting the fruits of Lutheran- the Archdiocese of Winnipeg and as a city lies in our capacity to be Working against Islamophobia at Lutheran Church of the Cross Catholic dialogue.” Evangelical Lutheran Church in inclusive, resilient and a compas - and hatred will result in a better on Arlington Street. The evening Gagnon states that the gather - Canada Manitoba/Northwestern sionate city for all.” city, a better province and a better will begin with a Shrove Tuesday ing in Lund served as an opportu - Ontario Synod websites. Standing below flags lowered country, Schindel said.

4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS February 8, 2017 Euthanasia could be seen as moral obligation: bishop

By Philippe Vaillancourt In the past few years Simard and to contribute. That specific burden, an expense,” said Simard. of Catholic Bishops simply pub - has been one of the most vocal context is a direct threat for the “Beyond medical euthanasia, one lished a document to offer some VALLEYFIELD, Quebec Canadian bishops on this issue. sick, the crippled and the weak.” must be particularly attentive to spiritual guidance to terminally ill (CNS) — Even though medical He sometimes used harsh words The bishop said he was trou - ‘social euthanasia’ that abandons people. The Saskatchewan bish - assistance in dying has been legal to express his opposition to bled when he saw a study re - and casts some people aside, ops released their statement Feb. in Quebec for almost a year and euthanasia. cently published by the Cana- instead of helping and accompa - 6 (see story, page 1). In the early 1990s, in his early dian Medical Association sug - nying the most vulnerable mem - Simard said he was not sur - years as a priest, he accompanied gesting that medical assistance bers of our society.” prised to see so many church a score of terminally ill AIDS in dying could eventually allow In the past few months, the debates around the pastoral patients in Sudbury, Ont. When the country’s health care system Canadian Catholic Church has responses to medical assistance in he recalled those years, his voice to save $139 million yearly. had debates about the pastoral dying. As the official statistics became soft and muffled by emo - Such projections are Simard’s attitude to use with people who reveal that more and more tion. worst fears. choose a medically induced Canadians opt for euthanasia, the “I’ve seen people die, many. “My biggest worry is that death. Bishops from Alberta and church must continue its reflec - We all assume that terminally ill euthanasia — now enshrined as a the Northwest Territories opted to tion on “how to communicate patients desperately wish to die. right — will become a (moral) refuse funeral rites or sacraments Christ’s message, as well as the But it isn’t the case: What they duty. I’m afraid that pressures to people that deliberately want to teaching of the church, so to offer long for, first and foremost, is will be exerted on individuals to be euthanized. The Atlantic bish - some compassion and a soothing someone to hold their hand and make sure they ask to be eutha - ops said funeral rites could be and healing voice to broken accompany them,” said Simard. nized, because they’ve become a offered. In Quebec, the Assembly hearts,” he said. He said this whole process helps them give meaning to their suffering and reclaim for them - selves some dignity. “Too often, we tend to limit Diocese of Valleyfield one’s dignity to his ability to Bishop Noel Simard interact, to speak, and to remain conscious. But dignity shouldn’t in Canada for a few months, be related to a capacity: dignity is Bishop Noel Simard of intrinsically and inherently Valleyfield has not yet come to attached to us, as a human being. terms with this new reality. To And that intrinsic dignity remains him, medically assisted death is attached to us, no matter what just plain euthanasia. happens,” the bishop said. Simard acted as a spokesper - “Each individual is becoming son for Quebec and Canada’s his own standard. He’s offered Catholic bishops on issues related values of self-fulfilment through to life. The bishops have not been pleasure. No wonder suffering is able to persuade the legislators to being thrown away. It’s an obsta - refrain from legalizing euthanasia cle to pleasure and enjoyment. In and assisted suicide. Despite his a hedonistic and epicurean soci - numerous interventions on the ety such as ours, suffering is a issue, Simard had to watch this nonsense that needs to be elimi - new paradigm reshape the nated. When I’ll no longer be Canadian medical world. able to enjoy myself, help me get “This ‘medical assistance in out of here,” said Simard. dying’ is a threat to the founda - In today’s society, one’s ulti - tions of our society,” he said, mate value is too often deter - RNS/Reuters/Chris Wattie arguing that it challenges some mined by what he or she can pro - MOURNERS PRAY — Mourners pray during a funeral ceremony in Montreal Feb. 2 for three of the vic - basic values: the way laws used duce, said Simard. tims of the deadly shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City. At a second funeral in to prohibit homicide and the way “When we’re no longer able to Quebec City for the other three victims, Imam Hassan Guillet’s message resonated across the country: medical personnel are expected to produce the things that are valued “Let’s go from today to be a real society, united. The same way we are united today in our sorrow and in treat their patients. by our society, we become a bur - our pain, let us start today to be united in our dreams, our hopes and our plans for the future. Let the den,” said the former ethics pro - future that our friends planned for their kids, let us build this future ourselves too. In this way we will fessor. “What our society is saying respect their memory. Revenge will do nothing.” Vaillancourt is editor of the to us is that one’s worth is deter - Montreal-based Presence info. mined by his ability to produce PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY More access needed MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS KAPOOR, SELNES, & Continued from page 1 second and final hour of debate KLIMM SASKATOON: John Schachtel on the bill, Gladu pointed out Barristers & Solicitors (306) 653-2000 L.J.(Dick) Batten, QC 1201 - 8th St. East require provinces and territories only 30 per cent of Canadians W. Selnes, B.A., LL.B.; G. Klimm, B.A., LL.B.; Michel G. Thibault Saskatoon, Sask. to give, access to palliative care,” have access to palliative care “that David M.A. Stack,QC (306) 978-5200 Phone (306) 752-5777, P.O. Box 2200 Curtis J. Onishenko he said. “That said, the federal allows them to choose to live as Melfort, Saskatchewan S0E 1A0 Galen R. Richardson   
  government is well placed to sup - well as they can for as long as Phone (306) 873-4535, P.O. Box 760 Tisdale, Saskatchewan S0E 1T0 REGINA:     port the efforts of the provinces they can.” 306.565.6500 and territories and stakeholder “Bill C-277 is the next action David E. Thera, QC 
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By Deborah Gyapong with loved ones, educate them - aries of the law to help terminally and engages our diverse audi - selves about assisted suicide and ill patients end their lives so they ence,” Global TV said. “While OTTAWA (CCN) — The pray for those who are consider - can go out on their own terms.” this fictional series does feature Catholic Women’s League (CWL) ing taking their own lives,” the “CCD is worried that celebrat - assisted dying, it does not sensa - and the Council of Canadians CWL said. ing a euthanasia doctor as the tionalize this controversial topic with Disabilities (CCD) have both The miniseries, which began hero of the drama is meant to por - or encourage any one point of condemned the Global TV series Jan. 25, also alarms the Council tray euthanasia as a desirable view. Mary Kills People is mind - Mary Kills People that seems to of Canadians with Disabilities. response to disability and termi - ful to include various perspec - glamorize euthanasia. “My main concern is that it’s nal illness, and is nothing short of tives on the issue of assisted “A lot of our members are making a hero out of someone propaganda,” said a Jan. 24 CCD death, including those who do not really concerned,” said League who basically euthanizes people,” release. “We are also especially agree with its practice.” president Margaret Ann Jacobs in said Amy Hasbrouck, director of concerned that Mary Kills People Mary Kills People “does not an interview. “I watched the trail - Toujours Vivant Not Dead Yet, a will advance the ‘better dead than encourage one point of view,” the er. It was appalling and really project of CCD. disabled’ message so common in statement said. “It is ultimately upsetting to me.” “There’s no consideration of fictional portrayals of euthanasia centred around the character of “Death by any means is not the possibility of palliative care; and assisted suicide, such as Me Dr. Mary Harris, a dedicated ER glamorous and should not be por - it’s dismissed out of hand,” said Before You , and Million Dollar doctor who believes in doing trayed as such,” said a news Hasbrouck. “The assumption is a Baby.” everything she can to save lives.” release by the League on behalf of terminal diagnosis inevitably The CCD wrote Global TV a “Dr. Harris ensures that she the executive representing more leads to suffering, but the nature CCN/D. Gyapong letter last fall, Hasbrouck said, explores all the medical alterna - than 82,000 members. “League of the suffering is never discussed Amy Hasbrouck raising concerns the series might tives available to her patients,” sisters are encouraged to contact and the only alternative is violate CRTC’s Equitable Por - Global TV said. “Once she has Global Television Network and euthanasia or assisted suicide,” Hasbrouck said. trayal Code. exhausted these options, she request the removal of Mary Kills she said. According to Global TV, Mary Under the CRTC’s guidelines, respects the wishes of those who People from the television lineup.” “As soon as disability is going Kills People features “an ER doc - programs are “not supposed to have made the decision to end “Members are also encouraged to be portrayed, (it will convey) tor who maintains a sideline with - discriminate against any group, or their lives. These characters all to use this moment to discuss the assumption life with a disabil - in the hospital as an ‘angel of portray hatred against a particular have their own unique stories and compassionate end-of-life options ity is a fate worse than death,” death,’ working outside the bound - group,” Hasbrouck said. “When reasons for reaching this decision, people with disabilities are por - but none are treated lightly. This trayed with the idea life with dis - is a sensitive topic and all story - ‘Catholic’ means having a wide vision: Penna ability is a fate worse than death, lines are depicted with the utmost that perpetuates a negative view respect and dignity.” By Glen Argan the first high school teacher to The eucharist is what shapes of people with disabilities and Jacobs said she received a ver - Special to the Prairie become pope — as saying the the Catholic understanding of the that’s our principal concern.” sion of this statement in response Messenger challenge of education today is human person, he said. Just as the In a statement via email from a to her complaint to Global TV. not to teach students what to Holy Spirit transforms the ele - media spokesperson, Global TV “I am choosing not to support EDMONTON — Catholic think or how to think, but simply ments of bread and wine into defended the series as balanced. Global TV in this,” the CWL educators must stir their students to think. Christ’s body and blood, so the “As a national broadcaster, we president said. “My biggest con - with a grand vision of goodness Spirit “transforms our humanity want to assure you that it is not cern is they are glamorizing and beauty that can transform to be the bread of the new world.” our intention to promote or something that isn’t glamorous.” society, Rev. Stefano Penna told “This gives us wings, opens up oppose any topic but rather to Jacobs said good palliative Catholic education leaders from horizons beyond the crippling include varied and relevant con - care is the answer to providing across Alberta. demands of the present moment.” tent in our lineup that represents care for people who are dying. “The teacher who gives beauty doesn’t teach what the kid wants to hear; they teach what the kid Evolution: the way God created the world needs to hear,” Penna told a Feb. 4 Conversation on Catholic Edu- By Glen Argan People from 20 Catholic colleges “crushes” the dichotomy between cation and Contemporary Secular Special to the Prairie Messenger or school districts across Alberta faith and science. He believed in Society at the St. Anthony attended the event. both a personal God and God’s Teacher Centre. EDMONTON — By embrac - The professor, who has doctor - intelligent design of the universe. Penna recalled telling students ing the theory of evolution, Pope ates in both biology and theology Lamoureux presented the gath - at Edmonton’s Archbishop John Paul II became “one of the as well as in dentistry, is the author ering with a comment from a MacDonald High School the previ - great heroes in science and reli - of several books, including course evaluation by a Catholic ous day, “Don’t be small; don’t aim gion,” says a University of Alberta Evolution: Scripture and Nature student who said she was disap - at small things. Don’t let people tell professor. Say Yes! pointed with the Catholic school you that your marks, your pay - The late pope was one of the His career, he said, has been system for not teaching the rela - cheque, your little group is your Glen Argan most important people in “breaking one of trying to overcome the tionship between science and reli - identity, that that’s what you are. Rev. Stefano Penna through the warfare model of sci - divide between evolution and cre - gion. “ ‘Catholic’ means a wide ence and religion always being in ation. In that divide, “You’re either vision, so live for something If there is no search for truth conflict,” said Denis Lamoureux, on the evolution side or the cre - powerful and real, for something and students are simply left with who teaches a course in science ation side; you’re either buying that is worthy. Live for God. their own opinions, according to and religion at St. Joseph’s College modern science or Christian faith; Don’t let yourself be treated as an the pope, then there is no solution at the university. you either accept God or you object.” to the global economic crisis, no Lamoureux heralded Pope reject God; you either accept Penna, a priest of the Saska- tool with which to critique John Paul’s 1996 statement that morality or immorality. toon diocese, is now director of pornography and the enslavement evolution is “more than an “I cannot tell you how embed - the Benedict XVI Institute for of women, Penna related. hypothesis.” ded this dichotomy is.” New Evangelization at Newman If there is no truth, but only “In other words, evolution is In fact, he said, there are more Theological College in Edmon - opinions, then there is no struc - not a problem. It should be seen as than two positions on evolution, ton. The college and St. Joseph’s ture for freedom, he said. the way God created the world.” and then proceeded to outline five College at the University of “Kids come to us in a culture However, he said, “Somehow of them, two of which accept both Alberta sponsored the day of that loves tickling and distracting the message did not get out to the a divine creator and biological “conversation.” their ears,” Penna said. To accept church, to the pews.” evolution. Penna quoted Pope Francis — that approach would be to give A poll conducted by ABC Lamoureux devoted one chap - students a small vision. That News in 2004 found that 51 per ter of his recent book to “the reli - would be “a complete betrayal” cent of U.S. Catholics believe the gious evolution” of Charles of the Catholic vision of the world was created in six days and Darwin who put forward the theo - Are you human person. that Genesis 1 presents a literally ry of evolution in his 1859 book, Glen Argan Beyond the secular world of accurate account of creation. The Origin of Species. Denis Lamoureux Moving? the fragmented self and a lack of What the creation accounts in Darwin, he said, “was not a Please let us know a meaning, the Catholic vision is Genesis actually teach, Lamoureux Darwinist. He was never an athe - “This course really helped me one where science, nature, spiri - to regain faith and see I could be month in advance. said, is “big ideas” — that God ist.” Write to: tuality and faith each have their created the universe and life, that Darwin did oppose the prevail - both scientific and religious,” she Circulation Dept. part in “a harmonious ordered humans are created in God’s ing view that the universe was very wrote. Prairie Messenger whole,” he said. image, and that creation is good old, but that each form of life was Students, the professor said, Box 190 “The only reason we engage and we need to care for it. independently created by God. The come to his class believing that Muenster, Sask. S0K 2Y0 ourselves in the field of educa - He spoke Feb. 4 at A Conversa - evidence, he wrote, accords better one must choose between evolu - [email protected] tion is the hope for a new tion on Catholic Education and with the view that evolution is the tion and faith, but by the end of Undeliverable papers cost twice mankind in another possible Contemporary Secular Society result of “the laws impressed on the 12-week course, 85 per cent as much to return. world. The possible world is the sponsored by St. Joseph’s College matter by the Creator.” say they have changed their views reign of God.” and Newman Theological College. Lamoureux said Darwin dramatically. 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS February 8, 2017 Reformation poses a challenge to Christians

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski theological challenge to Chris- Unity in Saskatoon. on commemorating this anniver - tion” signed by the World Luther - tians, said Rev. Dirk G. Lange in Originally from Winnipeg, sary in an ecumenical and global an Federation and the Catholic SASKATOON — The com - a public lecture presented Jan. 26, Lange is an associate dean and age, as well as on considering new Church in 1999. memoration of 500 years of the part of the De Margerie Series on professor of worship at Luther perspectives related to Martin The Lutheran-Catholic dia - Reformation poses a spiritual and Christian Reconciliation and College in St. Paul, Minn. He is Luther, the Reformation and the logue continues to work on ques - also project officer for the global Catholic response, and examining tions that remain to be answered, Joint Commemoration of the themes of Martin Luther’s theolo - especially on questions of church, Reformation being prepared by gy in light of Lutheran-Roman ministry, and eucharist, he said. the Lutheran World Federation Catholic dialogues. “The next round of the joint com - and the Pontifical Council for The document and the anni - mission is addressing the ques - Promoting Christian Unity, and a versary invite all the faithful on a tion, if we are one in baptism, Lutheran member of the Inter - spiritual and a theological jour - why aren’t we one at the table?” national Joint Lutheran-Catholic ney, he said. Lange also pointed to the ever- Dialogue Commission. “It is meant to be read and relevant question, “As people of The Reformation was an event studied by anyone in our parishes faith, how does our witness today that affected the life of the church interested in understanding what continually point to the life, the and the faith of millions, said Catholics and Lutherans can say death and resurrection of Jesus?” Lange, tackling the question of to one another today, based on For instance, he pointed to “a how the past 500 years might be our history,” Lange said. deep, unnamed anxiety or an - celebrated in 2017. “Can Catho - He pointed to five ecumenical guish today, similar to the 16th lics and Lutherans say and do imperatives that conclude “From century fear of punishment — the anything together on this signifi - Conflict to Com munion,” citing anguish of separation or isolation cant anniversary, and if so, what the first all-encompassing impera - . . . a deep yearning for commu - would it be?” tive: Catho lics and Lutherans nion.” He reflected on the unique should always begin from the per - Lange cited the emotional document from the Lutheran- spective of unity, and all that is moment when a delegation from a Roman Catholic Commission on held in common, rather than from small Catholic parish in the Unity, entitled From Conflict to a point of view of division, and Swedish community processed Kiply Yaworski Communion, which was prepared that Catho lics and Lutherans into the cathedral as part of a litur - DE MARGERIE LECTURE — Dr. Darren Dahl, executive director of to mark the common commemo - should “witness together to the gy the night before Pope Francis the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, Rev. Bernard de Margerie, and ration of the Reformation anni - mercy of God in proclamation and arrived at the joint commemoration guest speaker Rev. Dirk Lange at the De Margerie Lecture held Jan. versary in 2017. service to the world.” event at Lund Cathedral in 2016. 26 at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon. The document includes sections The document concludes by “Tears and emotion in the cathe - affirming “The beginnings of the dral expressed this deep longing Reformation will be rightly re - for reconciliation. In that moment, Indigenous voices to be celebrated membered when Lutherans and in that procession, we all glimpsed, Catholics hear together the felt, touched unity,” he said. “It By Christopher Hrynkow basis to build quality relationships working group met the next day Gospel of Jesus Christ and allow was at that moment that I realized that will provide lasting founda - to begin acting on the insights themselves to be called anew into the wounds of separation are deep- SASKATOON — The strate - tions for success after indigenous shared by the panelists. This re - community with the Lord.” seated in the hearts of people.” gic plan of St. Thomas More students have completed their for - sponse was organized under three Lange also offered reflections This is true for the entire College (STM) at the University mal education. pillars, each accompanied by an on the events of the Joint Com- human family, he said, pointing of Saskatchewan (U of S) speaks Next up was John Merasty, a initiative that is now in process. memoration of the Reformation to the Canadian documentary film of a duty “to make of STM a truly 65-year-old member of Peter Under the “Support” pillar, the held Oct. 31, 2016, in Sweden to Reserve 107, which highlights the welcoming community where Ballantyne Cree Nation in his third working group is establishing a open a “year-long vigil” leading same longing for reconciliation in indigenous voices are heard and year of Environment and Society at “Reconciliation Bursary” specifi - up to the 500th anniversary in a different context — among the celebrated.” U of S. Merasty spoke about the cally for indigenous students from October 2017.” Young Chippewayan First Nation, On Jan. 17, STM’s Academic significance of basic gestures that northern communities. Under the As one of the co-ordinators of Lutherans and Mennonite com - Indigenous Working Group held make room for in digenous students, “Learn” pillar, the college is now that event, Lange expressed the munities just north of Saskatoon. an event in support of this imper - including hand shakes, greetings, planning a 14-session version of hope that it might serve as a “Here we see in our own back - ative. Four panelists came togeth - the ex changing of gifts, smudging the U of S’s successful “Indigenous “symbol of what we wish to do yard, on Treaty 6 land, a journey er to help the college community and powwows. He later recounted Voices” program to be tailored for together and how we wish to that renders reconciliation real answer the question: What does a his personal experience of abuse at the STM community, the first commemorate together,” while from the head to the heart, from Catholic college need to know to residential school and his apprecia - instalment of which will be given at offering a model for other groups paper to actual lives, from an idea be truly welcoming for indige - tion of systematic abuse in those the faculty and staff retreat in seeking to mark the anniversary. into a communion. In that move - nous people? This question-based schools being acknowledged in August. Under the “Engage” pillar, Rather than a conference or a ment, something of the founda - approach was chosen because it STM’s classrooms. the working group is organizing a symposium, the event featured tion, the root, the ground of our encourages the type of listening Merasty was followed by Verna faculty-partner colloquium to be common prayer, Lange noted. “A humanity, our inter-connected - on the part of Catholic institutions St. Denis of the U of S’s De - held twice each term, via which an liturgy launched this commemo - ness and the goodness of humani - that is part of the spirit of the partment of Educational Foun - STM faculty member co-presents ration of the 500 years.” ty is revealed. And when that truth and reconciliation process dations, who is both Cree and with an indigenous scholar or com - Worship was jointly led by goodness is revealed, something that continues across the country. Métis and a member of the munity collaborator on a topic of Pope Francis and the president of of God’s im measurable goodness The panelists were offered Beardy’s and Okemasis First mutual interest. the Lutheran World Federation, is also re vealed to the world,” tobacco before they spoke in Nation. She argued for anti-racist, The inaugural session will be Bishop Munib A. Younan, Lu - Lange said. order to follow protocol and to anti-colonial education as a path to on March 7, while on May 9 Harry theran bishop of Jordan and the For 50 years, Catholics and bring into being a sense of heal the legacy of cultural genocide Lafond of the Treaty Com mis- Holy Land. The liturgy was held Lutherans have been part of an accountability in terms of the that is a deeply regrettable product sioners Office and STM associate at the Lund Cathedral: built as a intense dialogue, but with the knowledge they shared in this of Catholic-indigenous encounters. dean Darrell McLaughlin will co- Catholic cathedral in the 12th commemoration of 500 years of public form. All the panelists St. Denis also spoke of the need for present on the experience of co- century, it became a Lutheran the Reformation, dialogue gives mentioned personal connections allies among settler academics, teaching the Seminar in Critical cathedral after the Reformation in way to liturgy, to prayer, to com - to Catholic education, which who are willing to listen and learn Perspectives on Social Justice and the 16th century. mon witness and service, Lange helped to set the stage for their from indigenous voices. Common Good this term. “In this liturgy, both Lutherans said. contributions that evening. Erica Violet Lee, a Nehiyaw These initiatives will join with and Catholics gave thanks for the “The very fact that the Catho - First to speak was Marie woman from inner-city Saskatoon existing programming at the col - gifts that the Reformation brought lic Church and the Lutheran Battiste, a Mi’kmaq educator from and Thunderchild First Nation who lege. However, the panelists to the church, they lamented and Church are together commemo - Potlotek First Nation and a profes - helped to start the Idle No More helped to demonstrate how there repented of the division and the rating, giving thanks, lamenting, sor in the School of Education at movement and who has co-taught is still a lot of work to be done violence that ensued, and they and committing to joint witness the U of S. She poignantly laid out a philosophy course at STM, within the STM and larger com - committed themselves to a com - and service is a huge symbolic a requirement for decolonization rounded out the panel contribu - munities to foster meaningful rec - mon witness and service.” gesture in itself,” he said. in education, emphasizing the tions. Lee emphasized the need to onciliation. Indeed, in terms of the A larger public event at the “Reconciliation is a work that is importance of empowering indige - more fully recognize the impor - focus question of the panel, there Malmö Arena focused on the never completed, it is not just a nous people to negotiate the divide tance of indigenous knowledge at is a cogent sense in which the commitment to common witness Catholic-Lutheran issue, it is one between indigenous knowledge the college. She also called on set - work of hospitality, most especial - and service of Catholics and for all the faithful,” he said. “The and university qualifications. tlers to ensure that they fulfil the ly when ensuring indigenous stu - Lutherans in a world, wounded common prayer becomes a call to Battiste further emphasized the treaty obligation for tuition-free dents feel welcome at a Catho lic and broken by conflict. us, a commitment. We enter the need for anti-racist education as a access to university education for college, is never done. Yet under - “The origins of this joint com - next 500 years in dialogue, yes, but indigenous students, particularly taking the duty to make STM a memoration lie in 50 years of dia - in prayer and action together. We from northern communities. welcoming community is essen - logue between Catholics and will struggle, we will fuss, we will Hrynkow is the chair of the Additionally, Lee addressed the tial if the college is to fulfil many Lutherans,” Lange said. The cele - admonish and console each other Academic Indigenous Working need to create faculty positions for of the commitments to social jus - bration’s origins can also be as we attempt to engage that ongo - Group at St. Thomas More indigenous academics at STM. tice and the common good it lays traced back to the “Joint Declara - ing reformation of the church, of College. STM’s Academic Indigenous out in its strategic plan. tion on the Doctrine of Justifica - our lives and our society.” February 8, 2017 LOCAL NEWS Prairie Messenger 7 Panel discusses disability issues

By Caitlin Ward staircase was replaced with a ramp. studies that engage directly with Though the person may still not people who have disabilities. She SASKATOON — Members of have complete use of his or her has recently begun several commu - the Saskatoon community gath - legs, that person’s ability to move nity research projects that she ered with staff, faculty and stu - around would not be constricted, hopes will help give voice to this dents at St. Thomas More College and that person would not be “dis - often-marginalized population. (STM) on the evening of Feb. 1 to abled” in any meaningful way. A lively question period fol - discuss how we approach disabili - Hingston went on to explain lowed the panel, in which audi - ty as a society. The discussion, led how significant stories are in ence members asked questions by three members of the STM fac - forming and changing the way we ranging from larger historical dis - ulty, addressed how social stigmas understand disability, which cussions around theory and insti - associated with disability adverse - dovetailed with clinical psycholo - tutionalization, to concrete ques - ly affect members of the disability gist and professor Dr. Paulette tions about how audience mem - community, where these stigmas Hunter’s presentation. Rather bers could change their behaviour come from, and how the larger than begin with an explanation of to support people who have dis - community can move forward to her professional work studying abilities in their own lives and become more inclusive and the effects of dementia, she told communities. respectful of those with disability. the audience her own story of Overall, the panel agreed that Dr. Kylee-Anne Hingston, a growing up with an aunt who had the most important thing any lecturer in English, began the dis - spina bifida. Hunter explained community or person could do is cussion with a brief history of how her grandparents’ decision to to open their minds when consid - Disability Studies. Disability bring her aunt into the family ering disability. Knudson noted Alisha Pomazon Rights, a movement that finds its home rather than institutionalize that one of the biggest barriers DISABILITY PANEL — A panel convened at St. Thomas More roots in the Civil Rights movement her was key to her aunt not only she has encountered in this work College in Saskatoon to discuss society’s attitude toward those with of the 1960s, first rose to promi - living, but thriving. is from people assuming that perceived disabilities included (from left) Sarah Knudson, Kylee-Anne nence in the 1970s. According to The final panelist, sociology nothing can change — or worse, Hingston and Paulette Hunter. Hingston, a fundamental aspect of professor Dr. Sarah Knudson, nothing needs to change. understanding the disability rights said she became interested in dis - The panelists, who have all movement is distinguishing be- ability studies not through per - made volunteering an optional part Catholic teaching affirmed tween “impairment” and “disabili - sonal experiences, but through of many of their classes through ty.” expanding her area of study to be STM’s Engaged Learning Office, Continued from page 1 will use our courage to witness to Whereas impairment speaks to inclusive of different communi - said that a fundamental part of the value of this work to the people a physical or cognitive limitation ties. Knudson has studied inti - changing mindsets is giving people and attempting to give answers to and the world we leave behind.” in an individual, disability refers to mate relationships, dating, and the opportunity to encounter people many possible circumstances, we In the letter on Living Through the social limitations imposed on family for most of her academic with disabilities. It is through put a process in place to assist in Our Dying, the bishops call on people who have physical or cog - career, but only recently began meaningful encounters that people discerning the best response to Christians to transform conversa - nitive limitations. As an example, doing research around the experi - are transformed, and the fear or dis - each unique situation.” tions about death and dying. “By Hingston asked the audience if ence of people with disabilities comfort people might feel concern - The pastoral guidelines begin by sharing our perspectives, beliefs society would consider a person in when they pursue relationships, ing disability is able to dissipate. affirming Catholic teaching about and actions, we can become au - a wheelchair “disabled” if every whether romantic or friendship. “Unless you die very young, at respecting and protecting human thentic witnesses to the gift of liv - She noted that there have been some point in your life you are life from conception to natural ing through dying in a world that is many studies exploring main - more than likely going to have to death, stating, “we cannot and will often afraid of death and desperate Ward, a regular PM columnist, stream attitudes toward disability. deal with a disability of your not participate in or support to control it,” states the letter. “God is the Engaged Learning co-ordi - Though this can be helpful to own,” Hingston said. “We need to euthanasia or physician-assisted has called us to walk through this nator at St. Thomas More College understand and change negative get away from the idea that there suicide, to which we are morally life together, and this includes jour - in Saskatoon. attitudes, there are surprisingly few is such a thing as ‘normal.’ ” opposed.” The document from the neying with people to the end of Saskatchewan bishops goes on to their days on earth. Now more than say, “We offer these guidelines to ever, our world needs to know that Bolen addresses prayer breakfast help our parishes to cultivate a we will not leave them to face their healthy and positive attitude toward dying alone.” By Frank Flegel love of God: “God is a God who Bergoglio?” and he re sponded, “I life, even amidst trials, and to assist Bolen is hopeful that the pas - embraces us with a great love and am a sinner who has experienced our pastoral ministers and care - toral letter and the pastoral reflec - REGINA — Archbishop infinite mercy. He is willing to go God’s mercy. God never tires of givers in walking compassionately tion will bring greater understand - Donald Bolen used his personal to any length to get to us. That’s showing us his mercy. Eventually and faithfully amidst painful and ing and engagement around the motto — Mercy within Mercy the Word, and it is at the heart of we are transformed by God’s complex end-of-life situations.” issues of death and dying. within Mercy — to begin his talk our Christian faith. Hope lies in mercy.” In addition to articulating the “There are those who do not to the Christ the King Ladies God’s inexhaustible energy. There The archbishop repeated the Christian call to accompany those understand the church’s opposition Prayer Breakfast held Jan. 28 in is no limit to God’s mercy. Mercy thought: “Eventually we are trans - who are dying, the bishops call on to assisted suicide and eutha nasia. the church hall. The archbishop is at the heart of God.” formed by God’s mercy.” He ex - priests, deacons and the Catholic We are inviting them from the explained how he came to use this Bolen asked his audience how pressed to the women that this faithful to join “in doing formative depths of our tradition, from the motto: “I was reading Thomas they could take this forward. He should make us a joyful people. work in your parishes and commu - very heart of it, to consider attitudes Merton’s book, The Sign of Jonas , suggested 10 of his own views of Our parishes should be places of nities to change the conversation toward living and toward dying,” and this phrase comes near the end the church, including that we need joy and mercy. If you are filled about dying so that fewer people said Bolen. “We hope to initiate a of the book,” and he felt it appro - to preach about God’s mercy; we with mercy, why wouldn’t you be will feel that ending their lives is dialogue with our culture.” priate in expressing his beliefs. need to be transformed by God’s joyful? an appropriate option . . . that wit - “I would hope that our parish - With that explanation, Bolen mercy. He quoted Pope Francis, Bolen referred briefly to the ness is especially needed in a con - ioners and people working in our led into his talk about how God’s who spoke often about God’s Truth and Reconciliation Com - text where many have lost sight of Catholic facilities and perhaps love and mercy is at the core of mercy during the extraordinary mission, the call to action and the the dignity of human life even other Christian communities our Catholic faith. He explained Year of Mercy and referred specif - harm done to indigenous people. amidst suffering and dying.” would grapple with this idea of that the Word that is often ically to Pope Francis’ response “Justice and mercy are not exclu - In their two other texts, the living through our dying and give referred to in liturgies is the great when he was asked, “Who is Jorge sive. Mercy causes us to work bishops themselves offer such for - serious consideration to the idea together to build com - mation: the pastoral letter articu - that dying is a part of living, and munity.” lates the challenge of placing trust God does not abandon us in our He asked his audi - in God and explores the invitation dying,” said Bolen. ence to be receptive to to hope offered by Christian faith, “We hope that the word that is other people’s gifts, as while the pastoral reflection situ - heard throughout these texts is a “We need to find God ates the Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ strong word about the dignity of in our everyday lives life, death and resurrection as the that last phase of human life, and as God finds us in our foundation for understanding the the possibility of living it in a everyday lives.” meaning of human dying. hope-filled way in spite of dark - The Christ the King The pastoral letter states: “The ness and suffering.” Ladies Prayer Break - world is in desperate need of our The release of the three texts is fast was an initiative of witness of living through our the third time that the Catholic the parish’s welcoming dying. So many have forgotten, or bishops of Saskatchewan have committee. Committee never knew, that death could be written to the faithful on this chair Annette Polasek gift. With God’s grace, and the issue: they also issued a pastoral said the event was the prayers and support of others, we letter in July 2015 on the issue of Frank Flegel first of what the com - can live through this dying as a gift assisted suicide and euthanasia, REGINA — The Christ the King Ladies Prayer Breakfast in Regina Jan. 28 was mittee would like to be even as we face difficulties we the importance of conscience an initiative of the parish’s welcoming committee. Committee chair Annette a se ries of events to would never have chosen. And rights and the need for palliative Polasek said the event was the first of what the committee would like to be a series bring the parish com - God, who knows the pain and care, as well as addressing the of events to bring the parish community closer together. munity closer together. struggle of death (cf. Heb. 5:8), issues again in March 2016. 8 Prairie Messenger ARTS & CULTURE February 8, 2017 Series examines pre-papal life of Jorge Bergoglio

By Chris Byrd the Argentine military dictator - more than 7,000 people and more pastoral work and religious piety. opportunity to craft as full and ship’s brutality and use of torture than 30,000 persons suspected of These concepts were out of fash - complex a portrait of this future NEW YORK (CNS) — “What during their “dirty war” of the sympathizing with the guerrillas ion among the Jesuits, who now pope as it could have. am I doing in Rome? People 1970s and ’80s. The scenes of fighting the government were focused primarily on social jus - Looking at a painting on the retire at my age,” a pensive, abuse are difficult to watch, but “disappeared.” tice instead. church’s wall, the woman explains melancholy Cardinal Jorge essential to the story and not lurid When Jalics and a brother Call Me Francis doesn’t dive that it represents Mary under her Bergoglio (Sergio Hernandez) in their presentation. Jesuit named Yorio (Agustin deeply into Bergoglio’s total title, Untier of Knots. This power - says early on in Call Me Francis . In this context, Call Me Rittano), who have been living estrangement from his own reli - ful image moves Bergoglio to Netflix’s miniseries renders a tex - Francis makes appropriate view - among Argentina’s poor people, gious order, however, missing an tears, begins to liberate him from tured, honest, yet sympathetic ing for discerning adults. In fall under suspicion, Bergoglio his pain and informs his work as portrait of our current pontiff Spanish with English subtitles, tells the priests he can’t protect an auxiliary bishop in Buenos before he was pope. the dramatization became avail - them — and the military kidnaps Aires in the 1990s. Having recently arrived for the able for streaming Dec. 16. them. The series’ most moving conclave that would eventually As a Jesuit novice, Bergoglio Although the film depicts scene occurs during this period see him succeed Pope Benedict displays his arrogance and Bergoglio appealing directly to in Bergoglio’s life. When devel - XVI, the Argentine cardinal naivete to his superiors when he Videla for the duo’s freedom, it opers threaten to uproot poor stands on his balcony outside St. expresses his desire to become a doesn’t reveal that Yorio, who people to make way for a large Peter’s Square as a reverie trans - missionary to Japan, confident of was finally released after a five- commercial development, ports the 76-year-old back to his his untested ability to win souls. month ordeal, didn’t forgive the Bergoglio helps them save their youth. First, his more seasoned confreres provincial. The series depicts homes. The people lift their bish - Italian director Daniele advise Bergoglio, he needs “to Bergoglio and Jalics reuniting, op up and bounce him like a Luchetti and his co-writer, Martin learn how to do simple stuff.” but doesn’t tell us what happened football coach celebrating a Salinas, use this scene to frame His theology instructor, Rev. when they met, missing an oppor - championship. Bergoglio’s story from his en - Franz Jalics (Alex Brendemuhl), tunity to explore more fully this De la Serna ably shifts from trance into the Jesuits to the con - introduces Bergoglio to Ignatian reconciliation’s impact on rigid, yet conflicted Jesuit, to lib - clave of 2013. spirituality, which encourages Bergoglio. erated and compassionate bishop. Originally produced as an believers to use their imagination “When the pain is great, And Hernandez may not match Italian feature film, Call Me to place themselves amid the Ignatian discernment is useless,” the pope’s physicality, but well Francis has been recast as a scenes of the Lord’s earthly life. Bergoglio says to a Venezuelan communicates the older man’s series of four 50-minute Bergoglio’s devotion to this woman he meets in a German warmth and wisdom. episodes, in which Hernandez form of meditation brings him to church in the late 1980s. Enhanced by Ivan Casalgrandi plays the older Bergoglio, and the attention of Rev. Pedro Though ostensibly in Germany and Claudio Collepiccolo’s Rodrigo de la Serna plays him in Arrupe (Bernardo Baras), the to study theology, Bergoglio was super-saturated colour cine - youth. order’s superior general. Arrupe really sent there for a very differ - matography, Call Me Francis is The series contains some gra - made Bergoglio provincial supe - ent reason that the series doesn’t largely true to the difficulty, pain, tuitous profanity; it also depicts rior of the Argentine community mention: Arrupe’s successor, Rev. CNS/TaodueFilm, distributed by Medusa controversies and misgivings in 1973, when he was only 36. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, is said Sergio Hernandez stars in a scene which shaped the man who today Bergoglio was provincial dur - not to have approved of Call Me Francesco, the first challenges Catholics and non- Byrd is a guest reviewer for ing a period when strongman Bergoglio’s style as a seminary movie based on the life of Pope Catholics alike to reclaim the joy Catholic News Service. Gen. Jorge Videla’s regime killed rector because of his emphasis on Francis. of the Gospel. We need to show up, every day, to make sure ‘never again’ is reality

By Caitlin Ward scrutiny. At this point, few people I know history is scattered professional life dedicated in never substantiated, the story are questioning that this White with the normalized, systematic part to studying and discussing serves as a perfect meta phor for I can’t talk about Denmark House is autocratic, brazen, and discrimination of whole groups the Shoah (or, as it’s more com - occupied Denmark. Militarily, without starting to cry at some racist, but at the same time no one of people, be it Catholics in monly known, the Holocaust) the country fell to the Nazis in a point. It’s gotten to the point knows how much of the execution Ireland in the 18th and 19th cen - puts the word “legal” in giant matter of days, but the people’s where I don’t teach certain of these executive orders is turies, or Aboriginal peoples in neon letters. Because that’s how resistance was constant and things in class anymore because, shrewdness, and how much of it the 19th and 20th centuries in the Shoah happened. They made extraordinary. By and large, their is sheer incompetence. Australia, Canada, and the a particular group of people ille - Jewish population lived. Salaam The question of shrewdness United States, or a hundred other gal. And once they were illegal, That night, at the mosque, I By Sami Yusuf or incompetence aside, though, examples you and I could both there was very little to protect began to feel better. They had to the thing that struck me most come up with if we had five min - them except the physical bodies bring out more chairs twice, and that morning was not the fact utes to talk. who chose to stand in the way. there were still not enough for even after seven years, I can’t that it might be some sort of test But that’s not immediately Tragically, and embarrassingly, the hundreds of people who get through the part about to see just how much the Amer - what this reminded me of — a not many physical bodies chose came to support Saskatoon’s Denmark without my eyes ican people care about rights to stand in Muslim community. Represen- welling up. and freedoms, or even the order I dream for a day the way. tatives from the government, But then, my eyes had been itself. No, what hit me in the gut When there’ll be That is the police, and most of the welling up on and off for most of was a few lines that briefly No more misery why I have major religious groups in the the day, and not about Denmark. explained a Fox News interview so much city offered solidarity, protec - On the morning of Jan. 30, when with Rudy Giuliani, in which he When there’s no more hunger trouble talk - tion, and prayers, respectively. I woke up, I read an article by said that, yes, this was meant to No need for shelter ing about Afterward, we ate potato pakora Yonatan Zunger on Medium.com be a ban on Muslims. He was Isn’t there enough to share Denmark. and samosas together, and there called “Trial Balloon for a one of the people that Trump Or is that we just don’t care? Unlike so were once again not enough Coup?” that discussed the recent consulted in finding a way to many other chairs. events in the United States in the make that happen legally. We’re here for a day or two people and so It’s easy to sound alarmist at context of each other. It postulat - It was the word “legally.” Let me show my way many other times like this, I know. But it’s ed a rather terrifying future: one With that word I started praying, Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaikum countries, the also easy to forget that totalitari - in which the executive order to begging God aloud that, this people of that an dictatorships do not blossom ban refugees and immigrants for time, we would be stronger, and I pray for a day nation spent overnight. Genocides don’t hap - a certain period of time was a test kinder, and braver. That when we When there’ll be the Second pen without laying groundwork balloon for just how easy it said “never again” the last time, Justice and unity World War first. Abusive relationships don’t would be to subvert and under - we really meant it. I walked standing in start with a punch to the head. mine the democratic processes in around mostly normally for most Where we put aside our differences the way. It’s a slow creep, a dawning real - the country. of the day, made plans to go to Fighting makes no sense There is an ization that things are no longer Now, Zunger is neither a social the mosque that evening to hold Just a little faith apocryphal as they once were. scientist nor a social activist, and vigil with those who mourned the To make it a better place story that And I also know that tears, on since that article was written it has loss of the men at prayer who Christian X, their own, mean very little. I come under a certain amount of had been gunned down in a We’re here for a day or two the King of know friendship must not only Quebec City mosque the night Let me show my way Denmark at be offered in times of crisis, but before. I told a few people that Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaikum the time, always. I know real resistance is Ward is a Saskatoon-based my heart hurt. But after work, I Salaamu alaikum Ya ahlas-salaam, Salamu wore a Star not showing up to one event, but freelance writer who spends her went to my parents’ house. I alaikum of David to showing up in one way or anoth - days (and most nights) working barely got a greeting to my father Salaamu alaikum Sayyid al-Kiram, Salaamu express his er every day. But I think — or I at a small Catholic college. Her out before I started sobbing. alaikum solidarity hope, at least — that if we all less eloquent thoughts can be Finally, I managed to choke out, Let me show my way . . . with Jewish show up in one way or another, found at http://www.twitter. “they’re trying to make people Salaamu alaikum, alaikum, alaikum Danes. “never again” will at least be, com/newsetofstrings illegal.” Though “not this time.” February 8, 2017 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 9 Sundance: cinema’s challenge of Truth to Power

the last feature docu - mentaries to be shown, Trumped: Screenings Inside the Greatest Political Upset in & Meanings History , was also adapted from material originally made for Gerald Schmitz television, an indica - tion of the increasing You want to look for where the from over 30 countries — took crossover between the light is going to come from. place in two parts. In the first, big and small screen. — Robert Redford, president founder Robert Redford was in Clearly the arts and founder, Sundance Institute, conversation with two filmmakers community has reason opening press conference of the whose work has benefited from to be concerned about 33rd Sundance Film Festival, Jan. the support of the Sundance developments in 19, 2017 Institute: Sydney Freeland, a America and globally. recipient of the Institute’s Native That was manifested Opening the day before the Lab Fellowship, and Texas writer- on the streets during inauguration of Donald Trump as director David Lowery. Both had the festival’s first U.S. president, the timing of the films in the festival’s innovative snowy Saturday when Sundance festival — the world’s “NEXT” category — Freeland over 8,000 people — Gerald Schmitz premiere showcase for indepen - with Deidra and Laney Rob a more than the entire SUNDANCE OPENING — Robert Redford, Sydney Freeland, and David Lowery dent cinema, both dramatic and Train and Lowery with A Ghost permanent population at the Sundance opening press conference Jan. 19. documentary — carried an extra Story. In the second part, Redford of Park City — came consciousness-raising edge that appeared with institute executive out in solidarity with the Women’s platforms with a global reach — dealing with the democracy crisis.” was evident throughout. The director Keri Putnam and festival March on Washington. Redford Netflix, Amazon, YouTube among The North-South divide also looms excellent four-hour PBS docu - director John Cooper to take ques - expressed the apprehension in the them — was much in evidence. large. Gore meets with Pope mentary series Divided States of tions from the assembled media. air when he told the press confer - This year Sundance also presented Francis who worries that “the America that aired just before I Sundance was not conceived as, ence that “it looks like a lot of 20 documentary and narrative vir - greatest effects of the climate crisis nor does it intend to be, an advoca - things are going to be taken away, tual reality works, an indication of will be visited on the poorest peo - cy organization, Redford empha - or try to be taken away from us.” growing interest in new forms of ple.” Yet in a country like India, sized. But neither can it be indiffer - That includes U.S. government cinematic expression. where millions still lack electricity, ent to the political context. In par - support for the arts. But he also Significantly, the intersection many more coal-fired plants will ticular it’s important to reaffirm the took heart from the democratic of nature and art, a founding be built unless there are affordable values of diversity and inclusion resistance that is galvanizing peo - inspiration of Sundance, was low-carbon alternatives. Gore’s that have always guided the festi - ple to rise up, “to go against what - given a major renewed impetus team was active during the tough val when these come under threat. ever choice is made to cut things with the festival’s “New Climate” negotiations at the Paris climate By nurturing independent creative away that affects people. They’re program. Headlining its list of conference, where India was a voices through the labs and giving going to rebel against that. A impressive film titles was An holdout until a clean-energy tech - them an opportunity to tell their movement will be created and I Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to nology transfer breakthrough stories, Sundance contributes to a think that will be very healthy.” Power, which premiered to a helped bring it onside the historic culture of openness. The trailer that played before standing ovation from the open - December 2015 global agreement The current challenging media every film screening (878 in total, ing night audience of 1,300 at the that Trump has threatened to aban - environment was on the minds of not counting those for press and Eccles Theatre. Featuring the tire - don. many. (Among the excellent pan - industry) was both timely and less work of former vice-presi - That would be a serious set - els at the Park City Filmmaker evocative. A young woman of dent Al Gore on climate change back, of course. But, watching Lodge was one on “Post-Truth colour lights a lamp with a match issues, it comes a decade after the Gore leading climate leadership and Consequences.”) Sundance that drops to the floor but the Oscar-winning An Inconvenient training sessions around the sees the documentary form as flame does not go out. Instead it Truth generated both heat and world, one gets the sense that this flew to Utah for the festival more important than ever in sparks a thread of light which she light, attracting the ire of deniers really is an unstoppable move - reminded me just how deeply the bringing real situations to the follows outside in a blazing including Donald Trump. Coming ment. And local examples of polarization inflamed by Trump attention of audiences. The festi - zigzag trajectory illuminating the on the eve of Trump’s inaugura - switching from fossil fuels to has affected us all. Trump’s hos - val screened 34 feature documen - dark woods. As a metaphor for tion, one could not help but recall renewables are cropping up all tility to the media, the arts, and tary premieres drawn from some cinematic creation shining a light that Gore was the only other pres - over. That includes the most con - the truth in general, was obvious - 1,700 submissions. In addition, as in the darkness, it could not have idential candidate in the past cen - servative part of Texas where ly going to become an irresistible part of its special events program - been more apt. tury and a half to lose the election Gore pays a visit to a town that target and talking point. ming, it presented episodes from That energizing empowering while winning the popular vote. has gone 100 per cent renewable The press conference launching promising television documentary spirit resonated through the festival. What struck me, however, was for what it sees as common-sense the festival’s 188 feature and short series including the Canadian- While funding for independent film how upbeat Gore’s message was reasons. He ends the film citing films selections — the great directed and produced Rise which has always been a challenge, in about both the fight against cli - the American poet Wallace majority world premieres chosen goes to the frontlines of indige - addition to established sources like mate change and what he sees as Stevens: “After the last no comes out of nearly 14,000 submissions nous peoples resistance. One of HBO, the emergence of new digital a “sustainability revolution” in a yes, and on that yes the future renewable energy solutions. Gore of the world depends.” did not want to elaborate on his That defiant optimism was dis - Must-see TV shows power of Divine Mercy post-election meeting with played at the “Power of Story” Trump, a brief clip of which panel several days later By Gerald Schmitz Knights of Columbus that “ high - a deep spirituality that appealed appears toward the end of the (livestreamed and available to light the transformative power of to God’s divine mercy as the anti - movie. But as he reassured the watch online at http://www.sun - The murders of men at prayer mercy in our contemporary dote to these moral catastrophes. Sundance audience: “No one per - dance.org/live). Introduced by in the Quebec City mosque world.” A notable influence was the son can stop this. It’s too big now. Robert Redford and his filmmaker showed that Canada is not The first of these, The Face of Polish nun and mystic Sister We are shifting, and we are going son Jamie, it included Canadian- immune from crimes of hate. In Mercy , will be broadcast Sunday Maria Faustina of the Congre - to win.” It was a theme he reiter - born Jeff Skoll of Participant the wake of such events it’s good night, Feb. 12, on Salt + Light gation of the Sisters of Our Lady ated during a subsequent “Power Media, which was instrumental in to be reminded that the Christian Television (check your local list - of Mercy, called an “Apostle of of Story: The New Climate” backing An Inconvenient Truth . answer to hate calls for mercy, ings). Divine Mercy,” canonized by panel that included Canada’s The role of independent film con - If the hour-long docu - John Paul II in the year 2000. David Suzuki. tinues to be critical in getting the The Face of Mercy mentary can be summed up The film also brings home the An Inconvenient Sequel offers climate crisis story into the public in a phrase, it is that the Christian call to mercy through both overwhelming evidence of sphere. Responding to the anxiety https://faceofmercyfilm.com/ mission of the church is the compelling testimonies of massive changes taking place, such over Trump, Gore was encouraged Salt + Light Television mercy and that only divine people — victims of terrible as on Greenland’s ice sheet, and a that “we are seeing the beginning 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 mercy and forgiveness can crimes — who have received the behind-the-scenes insight into the of the biggest outpouring of citizen heal our wounded humani - healing power of God’s merciful political obstacles to be overcome activism since the Vietnam War.” ty. love. Other examples of transfor - at home and abroad. For example, Another panel member, forgiveness and love. So I wel - Pope Francis, who proclaimed mative grace include a gangster Miami, one of the coastal cities Heather Rae, a Native American comed a recent email that began: the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of who became a priest and a former most at risk from sea-level arise, is filmmaker and former head of the “In a world oversaturated with Mercy in 2015, is continuing the sports star who forsake fame to already experiencing serious street Sundance Institute’s Native anger, entitlement and judgment, legacy of Saint Pope John Paul II bring the gospel message to the flooding yet the “sunshine state” Program, spoke passionately ‘mercy’ is a countercultural, revo - and his 1980 encyclical Rich in homeless and those on the mar - has put up barriers to solar power. about the role of indigenous peo - lutionary belief and way of life.” Mercy. The experience of the gins of society. “Blessed are the There’s a realization that “in order ples at the forefront of climate Its message was about several Polish church in enduring the hor - merciful” is a beatitude that calls to address the climate crisis we are new documentaries from the rors of the 20th century produced to us all. going to have to spend some time — EMERGENCE, page 13 10 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH February 8, 2017 The game plan: love your neighbour as yourself

and the perceived weaknesses of our opponents. The game “his followers and us to point out the abuses others make took on a mental as well as physical aspect. We always on us out of their power positions and not out of love. You entered a game with a plan in mind. point out to them where they are abusing you or the situa - Liturgy The first reading from Leviticus lays out a basic plan tion and you open them to the opportunity to learn and for all the followers of Yahweh to pursue. This passage change and grow.” Doesn’t that sound like the words of and Life from one of the five books of the Torah recounts the words God to the Israelites in Leviticus? “You shall reprove your of God that Moses was told to repeat to the Israelites fol - neighbour.” lowing their exodus from Egypt. “You shall love your Wink offered examples based on Matthew of the non- Michael Dougherty neighbour as yourself.” They must uncompromisingly fol - violent but forceful resistance and conversion plan Jesus low this path of holiness laid out before them during their proposed. And he placed the well-known examples in the desert wanderings. social context of first-century Palestine. When we read “if My Catholic elementary school had a football team. Paul’s words in his letter to the Corinthians deepen the anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them the sec - Just to give you a feel for how long ago it was that I first claim that Leviticus stakes. God is in us. “You are God’s ond mile,” Wink hears Jesus talking to a people who learned the game, on my first day with my fourth-grade temple.” We are of, with and for him. We “belong to “were under Roman occupation and the authorities had team they handed me a helmet made completely out of Christ and Christ belongs to God.” Our team colours must agreed that it was permissible for a Roman soldier to con - leather. Calisthenics, agility drills, and lots and lots of run - be true. Our individual wisdom or craftiness are futile in script a Jew to carry his pack for one mile. ning prepared our young bodies for the rigours of the light of the greater plan we are part of. The Romans were methodical and organized and there game, but that was only a small part of what we needed. The Gospel passages from Matthew raise our game to a were mile markers along major roads. If the Roman We learned the basics of the game quickly. Our coach new level. Both Matthew and the author of Leviticus cast legionnaire tried to force someone to carry his 30-kilo early on sat us down in front of a chalkboard and with aside the old “law of talion” — “an eye for an eye and a field pack beyond one-mile limit, he committed a punish - x’s and o’s laid out the basic elements of the strategy of tooth for a tooth.” Or in God’s words, “You shall not take able offence. Oppression had its limits even for the the game. The gaps between the centre who anchored vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people.” Romans. the front line and the guards on either side of him had a However, Wink sees Jesus directing “his followers to number assigned to them. He did the same with the Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 (offer to) go a second mile.” By doing so “that forces the Seventh Sunday spaces between the right and left guards and the tackles, Psalm 103 soldier to see that they are using their authority over you in Ordinary Time and then the tackles and the ends who then completed 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 and not treating you as an equal” and “that they are abus - February 19, 2017 the offensive line. The quarterback, two halfbacks and Matthew 5:38-48 ing their power over you and to consider changing their the full back in the backfield also received numbers. behaviour.” This gave our quarterback the ability to call the simplest What are we to do when faced with blatant injustices or “Love your enemies,” we are told, but also show them of plays with the first number being the gap and the sec - confronted by oppressive institutions? Are we meant to how they are being unjust and give them, Wink tells us, ond being the running back he would hand the football just swallow the insults and endure the pain? Jesus propos - “the opportunity to grow and learn from that experience off to. es a very different approach, and it wasn’t fight or flight. and to be open to God’s grace to change their violent and Slowly over the course of my grade school years and According to the late Dr. Walter Wink, a theologian who unjust and oppressive ways.” then on into high school we developed more and more spent most of his teaching career at the Auburn Who could do that in the face of violence? Ever hear complex plays to take advantage of our team’s strengths Theological Seminary in New York City, there was a of Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr.? How about “Third Way.” Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez or Malala Yousafzai? They Professor Wink argued, “Jesus never taught passivity in all had a simple and effective plan — “love your neigh - Dougherty is co-chair of the Social Justice Committee the face of evil. Jesus also never taught that violence is the bour as yourself” — even if that meant going the extra at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Whitehorse, Yukon. appropriate response to evil.” He writes that Jesus calls mile. God’s power in the world manifests as a powerlessness newborn

needs. And that’s how God is still when senseless accidents and ill - a newborn, like the power of beau - essentially present in our lives. nesses take the lives of countless ty itself, fully respects you. In Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Annie persons? Why doesn’t God force - When we look at the struggles Dillard suggests that this is how we fully intervene? within our world and within our forever find God in our lives, as a God is present and intervening private lives, it often seems like Exile helpless infant lying in the straw in all these situations, but not in the divine power is forever being whom we need to pick up, nurture, way we ordinarily understand pres - trumped by human power. As the and provide with human flesh. ence, power, and intervention. God cartoon character Ziggy likes to Ron Rolheiser, OMI She’s right, and her insight, is present the way beauty is pre - put it: The poor are still getting like that of Leon Bloy, has huge sent, in the way a helpless innocent clobbered in our world. But, like implications for how we under - newborn is present, and in the way David, standing with just a boy’s The French novelist and essay - nomic systems have power, bil - stand God’s power in our lives truth as a moral agent is always slingshot before Goliath, a giant ist Leon Bloy once made this lionaires have power, the rich and and for how we understand God’s present. God is never silent be - who looks overpowering in terms comment about God’s power in the famous have power, muscular seeming silence in our lives. cause beauty, innocence, helpless - of muscle and iron, and just like our world: “God seems to have bodies have power, and the play - First, God’s power in our ness, and truth are never silent. the apostles being asked to set five condemned himself until the end ground bully has power — power lives: When we examine the bib - They’re always present and inter - little loaves of bread and two tiny of time not to exercise any imme - that can make you buckle under, lical account of Adam and Eve vening, but unlike ordinary human fish before a crowd of 5,000, God diate right of a master over a ser - one way or the other. and original sin, we see that the power, they’re present in a way always looks underwhelming in vant or a king over a subject. We But such a notion of power is primary motivation for eating the that is completely non-manipula - our world. can do what we want. He will adolescent and superficial. Power apple was their desire to some - tive and fully respectful of your But we know how these stories defend himself only by his that can make you buckle under is how grasp at divinity, to become freedom. God’s power, like that of end. patience and his beauty.” only one kind of power and ulti - like God. They wanted Godlike God defends himself only by mately not the most transformative power. But they, like us, badly his patience and his beauty! How kind. Real power is moral. Real misunderstood what makes for true! And how significant for our power is the power of truth, beau - genuine power. St. Paul shows us NOW AVAILABLE understanding of power. ty, and patience. Paradoxically, the antithesis of that in how he e-Edition subscriptions The way we understand power real power generally looks help - describes Jesus in the famous visit: www.pmonline.ca is invariably bound up with how less. For example: If you put a Christological hymn in the for more information we see power exercised in our powerfully muscled athlete, the Epistle to the Philippians. Paul Receive 45 issues per year world. Our world understands CEO of a powerful corporation, a writes there that Jesus did not power precisely as a force that can playground bully, an academy- deem equality with God some - Mail coupon to: Prairie Messenger, Circulation Dept. lord it over others, a force that can award winning movie star, and a thing to be grasped at, but rather Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 compel others to obey. In our baby into the same room, who has that he emptied himself of that Phone: (306) 682-1772 Fax: (306) 682-5285 email: [email protected] world, power is understood to be the most power? Ultimately, it’s power to become helpless, trust - J real only when it can forcibly the baby. At the end of the day, the ing that this emptying and help - J One YearJ $37.00 assert itself to make others obey it. baby’s helplessness overpowers lessness would ultimately be the U.S. $170.00 Foreign $269.00 For us, strong people have power, physical muscle, economic mus - most transformative power of all. Applicable tax included J J political rulers have power, eco - cle, and charismatic muscle. Jesus submitted to helplessness to New Renewal Babies cleanse a room morally. become truly powerful. They do exorcisms, even the most That insight can shed light on Name: ______Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, callous watch their language how we understand God’s appar - and award-winning author, is around a baby. ent absence in our world. How Address: ______president of the Oblate School of That’s the kind of power God might we comprehend what is Theology in San Antonio, Texas. revealed in the incarnation. Against often called “the silence of God”? City/Town: ______Prov: ______He can be contacted through his almost all human expectation, God Where was God during the website: www.ronrolheiser.com. was born into this world, not as Holocaust? Where is God during Postal Code: ______Tel: ______Now on Facebook: www.face - Superman or superstar, but as a natural disasters that kill thou - Visa/MC: ______Expiry: ______book.com/ronrolheiser baby, helpless to care for his own sands of people? Where is God February 8, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 11 Travel, and taking the lid off the bucket list

By Edna Froese East or the Far East. The traffic through airports the world over has Perpetually lagging behind on become heavy and constant. the movie scene, I hadn’t watched My reaction to this powerful The Bucket List (2007) until its cultural expectation to sample all popularity was well established the pleasures and sights of a mag - and its title had become common nificent world is about as confused parlance. Everyone, it seemed, had as our recent experience of our begun talking about their bucket own pilgrimage to Russia and lists. And are still talking about Ukraine, the land where my par - their bucket lists, eight years later. ents and my husband’s father were Oddly enough, although the born. In the midst of our amaze - movie’s two protagonists do ment at being in astonishing include on their lists items like places we’d never imagined we “help a complete stranger for the would see was a nagging discom - good,” what seems to have taken fort at being tourists, consumers of root in collective memory is the experiences, gawkers at the locals, desire to travel, to experience the stumblers through markets and unusual, the exotic, the expensive. museums where we did not speak These days a bucket list typical - the language or know the history, ly means a list of places to visit throwers-away of innumerable before death ends all bodily travel: plastic water bottles and “Oh, I finally got to see Styrofoam food containers, takers Buckingham Palace — that’s been of thousands of pictures without on my bucket list for years”; “I knowing real contexts, beneficia - really want to hike the Pacific Trail ries of those who earned their before I get too old and rickety to Edna Froese wages catering to tourist “needs.” be able to manage”; “I’ve always We understood, of course, that TRAVEL AND BUCKET LISTS — The Cathedral of Vassily the Blessed (St. Basil’s Cathedral) on Red wanted to see Aztec ruins and next Square, Moscow, is now a museum. our participation in the entire year we’re going.” Often included tourist enterprise brought wel - in such lists are expensive adven - come currency into struggling tures such as hang-gliding or sky- the wild, float in our own dead sea, what Klein calls “extractivism”: ment, there was a half-acknowl - economies, and that travel, of diving, which could, I suppose, be spend a night in an ice hotel, walk the earth and the fullness thereof edged hope that at least one major whatever sort, offers valuable considered a form of travel as well. the seabed at Hopewell Rocks, exists solely for our pleasure and trip overseas might be possible. It education. At the same time, we It’s enough to make one wonder cycle across Prince Edward Island, our consumption. Hence, none of was becoming entirely too awk - couldn’t ignore troubling ques - whether some travel agency com - hike in the far North, go heli-skiing, what typically appears on bucket ward to function conversationally tions about appropriate steward - missioned the original film. sail in Haida Gwai, heli-yoga in the lists calls for anything other than in a mostly middle-class environ - ship of the earth and its resources, Recently I happened upon Robin Rockies, . . . .” I would rejoice over temporary engagement. No bucket ment without being able to share about the need for an understand - Esrock’s The Great Canadian the emphasis on physical fitness list mentioned in my hearing travel stories. I often felt provin - ing of others more nuanced than Bucket List website. Its opening pic - were it not that such a list seems to includes something like “I want to cial, resentful even, when asked, what could be offered by tour torial preview of “Canada’s ultimate encourage that whiff of one-upman - live, on minimal income, for sev - “you’ve never been to . . . ?” espe - leader monologues or quick tour activities and destinations” suggests ship I’ve occasionally sensed in cof - eral years in the favelas of Brazil.” cially when the followup sentence bus stops in tiny villages with the following: “hike to an Arctic fee-row swapping of travel stories. Most often bucket lists are buffet began, “Oh, you should . . . .” subsistence living conditions. waterfall, cross the Northwest Even before reading Naomi lines of places and events, meant Such is the flavour of our cul - To date, I have made no bucket Passage, encounter polar bears in Klein’s This Changes Everything, to be sampled with gusto, captured ture. What was once the painful list. I don’t know how to wrestle I had been uneasy about the envi - in photos, and then left for the necessity of refugees (my parents the bucket out of the hands of the ronmental footprint of extensive next location. among them) has become a neces - sellers of experiences and destina - Froese taught English litera - tourist travel. Now I couldn’t help To speak honestly here, my sary reverse pilgrimage for their tions, and I lack the moral courage ture at St. Thomas More College but begin to look harder at the position is not objective; my descendants. What was once the to write down those purposes that in Saskatoon for many years until assumptions underneath the entire observations are thoroughly privilege of the very rich has I wish I could make my own. Such her retirement. She currently concept of the bucket list. The mixed with desire and guilt. become de rigueur for anyone at all as advocating for social justice, works part time as academic edi - aforementioned suggestions on While my husband and I submit - who aspires to a good life: holidays mending neglected relationships, tor while relishing the freedom to The Great Canadian Bucket List ted no exotic travel agenda to our in Mexico or Hawaii, cruises to or learning how to walk alongside read and write for pleasure. all depend on a certain attitude — financial adviser before our retire - Pacific Islands, tours to the Middle the poor, wherever they may live. We are called to live our lives as a blessing to others, and to the world

their mark on human society, as would be mistaken for saints, as (a.k.a. lies) to our hearts’ content you can see from my arbitrary Francis said, were “not born per - in an environment that frequently list. fect.” They just tried harder than lacks accountability. Some more recent recipients the rest of us to live holy lives, to The 2006 choice for person of Everyday include: Amazon.com founder be unassailably worthy in the sight the year was both controversial and Jeff Bezos (1999), Bill and of God. gimmicky. It was a clever market - Theology Melinda Gates and Bono (2005), In 2006, “You” were the person ing ploy that reverberated in peo - Putin (2007), and Facebook of the year. That year the cover ple’s imaginations for years. As Louise McEwan founder Mark Zuckerberg (2010). featured a blank computer screen recently as a few years ago, people Looking back further in history made of reflective material. were still listing themselves as 2006 the following caught my attention: Readers could look at their reflec - person of the year on their twitter It was no surprise that Time “All the world’s a stage,” wrote Charles Lindbergh (1927), Walter tion in the screen and envision bios. magazine selected Donald Trump Shakespeare. “And all the men Chrysler (1928), Mahatma Gandhi themselves as person of the year. Yet, there is a distinctly serious as 2016 person of the year. and women merely players/ They (1930), Wallis Simpson (1936), The 2006 choice linked the and personal aspect to “You” per - The magazine’s annual pick have their exits and entrances/ Adolf Hitler (1938), Josef Stalin shaping of human destiny to the son of the year. All of us are called recognizes someone who has most And one man in his time plays (1939, 1942), Queen Elizabeth actions of ordinary people engag - to unassailable worthiness. We are influenced events, for better or for many parts.” (1952) and Richard Nixon (1971). ing with the World Wide Web. called to be saints, to live our life worse, and like it or not, Trump’s While Shakespeare was reflect - (Every sitting United States presi - You and me, the choice pro - as blessing to others and for the influence was extraordinary. ing on the stages of life from dent has been named person of the claimed, were changing the world world. With the exception of a select infancy to old age, the manner in year.) Three Roman Catholic through online collaboration and I am reminded of the Carole few, we won’t see ourselves grac - which we play our parts over time popes got the nod: Pope John community building. King song “Legacy,” which chal - ing the cover of Time. We won’t will determine our legacy. XXIII (1962), Pope John Paul II Social media has exploded lenges us to be a driving force for be garnering person of the year Time editor Nancy Gibbs has (1994), and Pope Francis (2013). since 2006. It has a profound the good. The song asks of us, honours. We do, however, leave a said that occasionally Time The reader can decide if any influence on attitudes and behav - “Don’t you want to leave a better legacy. We touch the lives of oth - chooses someone who is “unas - of my arbitrary examples deserve iour. It can magnify the best and world than you find?” ers. We exert influence on some - sailably worthy. Normally that is to be called unassailably worthy. the worst of our shared human We may not get the nod from one, somewhere at sometime. not the case.” Since the inception Even Popes John XXIII and John traits, and influence our actions in Time magazine. But each of us of person of the year in 1927, the Paul II, whom Pope Francis ele - a heartbeat. Social media provides leaves a legacy. Regardless the selections are a mixed bag of the vated to sainthood in 2014, were us with a platform for influencing size of the stage — international Trail, B.C., resident Louise illustrious and the infamous. The flawed individuals, and had their others, for better or for worse, or intimate — we play a part in McEwan is a freelance writer, recipients represent the broad detractors. within our immediate circle and the unfolding of human society, religion columnist and catechist. spectrum of human traits from the We might reasonably conclude beyond. We can blog, tweet, post, for better or for worse. “It’s your She blogs at www.faithcoloured laudable to the deplorable. For that saints led impeccable lives comment, criticize, laud, organize legacy. Baby whatcha gonna do glasses.blogspot.ca better or for worse, all have left during their time on earth. We and spew “alternative facts” about it?” 12 Prairie Messenger FEATURE February 8, 2017 Inmates deserve the basic right of communication

By Peter Oliver money into the inmate’s account, “This deposit will be subject to an a letter to let him know he can months to resolve the issue and, or I can link the money to my additional $2 plus 15 per cent in call me (add $1 for a stamp). Joe even though I have not done any - If you have spent any time try - phone number. Both approaches local, county, state and federal is overjoyed when he gets my let - thing wrong, I am sternly warned ing to support “Joe Inmate” in a have additional fees. surcharges and regulatory assess - ter and at his first chance he gives not to do it again. Saskatchewan provincial prison, In order to put money into an ments.” For example, a $20 me a call. Unfortunately, I’m on Perhaps this situation sounds a you know you can’t give him a inmate’s account, I will need to deposit would be assessed an the line and my answering bit unlikely, but this is exactly ring to see how things are going. know the inmate’s CMIS number. additional $5, making the total machine picks up. There goes what happened to a colleague. If Joe wants to talk to you, he has Chances are I won’t have that payment $25. Still, I’m concerned $1.35 because local calls are My friend persisted with the situ - to make the call. What you may handy, so lets go with linking the about Joe and want to stay in charged a flat rate and the service ation until it was resolved. Many not know is that Joe’s family has money to my phone number. touch, so I put money in the sys - fee applies even if he just gets my other people simply give up. to pay a Texas-based phone com - Here’s how the system website tem. answering machine. With limited They resolve the situation by get - pany every time Joe decides to delineates the fees for this option: With that done I can send Joe access to the phone, Joe likely ting a new phone number and make that call. won’t get another shot at a call putting more money into the sys - The private company Joe will until tomorrow but, Joe is deter - tem. I’m not sure what happens to use is aptly named Telmate. Its mined to make the best of it, so the cash linked to the first phone one of a myriad of companies he gives it another try on the fol - number, but I know they can’t get with names like Securus lowing day. it back without a lot of red tape. Technologies, Pay Tel and Value- By some good fortune I hap - This is only one of many, Added Communications. These pen to pick up when Joe calls. On many problems with the system. companies have been capitalizing this call we work out a schedule The system is voice activated and on soaring prison populations in so we don’t blow any more often fails to recognize an the U.S. and, in the last decade or money on missed calls. Things go inmate’s voice, phones are locat - so, have started to turn a profit in along fairly smoothly until Joe ed in public areas so everyone on Canada. The Telmate system is tries to make the most of a call. a unit can hear what you are talk - now operating in Nova Scotia, His wife can’t afford to put ing about (a situation that can New Brunswick, Prince Edward money into the system so he asks become dangerous in prison), Island, Manitoba, Alberta and if I can give her a ring so he can access to the phone is restricted Saskatchewan. find out how his daughter is by extremely rigid schedules, One of the most frustrating doing in the hospital. Like many exorbitant fees make inmates vul - things about the system is deter - homes where income is less of a nerable to muscling for their mining how much it costs to problem, I have a cellphone and phone time — the list goes on. make a call. The basic cost is landline, so I say, “sure just hang Sadly the exploitation of about $1.35 for a local 20-minute on.” I give Joe’s wife a call, ask inmates’ friends and family is not call and $7 for a 22-minute long how their daughter is doing and the most disturbing issue about distance call. But there are hidden get back on the phone to let Joe the Telmate system. The system costs and unexpected catches. In know what I have found out. contributes to the exclusion and order to make a call, someone has Here’s where things get inter - isolation of inmates. In most to put money into the Telmate esting. The system is designed to cases, sustaining relationships system. There are a couple of block three-way calls and has with family and friends con - ways of doing this. I can put picked up the sound of my land - tributes to people getting out of Peter Oliver line when I called Joe’s wife. prison and staying out of prison. COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS — Sustaining relationships with When I return to my cell to give That is a reality that is well-docu - Oliver works in chaplaincy family and friends contributes to people getting out of prison and stay - Joe the information about his mented. Systems that disrupt and development for The Micah ing out of prison, writes Peter Oliver. But some systems disrupt these daughter, the line is dead. Joe these relationships could lead to Mission in Saskatoon. relationships. doesn’t call again — ever. At first increased prison counts. This I don’t know why. Then I learn benefits companies like Telmate, that the system has permanently but it definitely does not serve Benedictine prayer counteracts perfectionism blocked my number because it our community well. It means mistakenly interpreted my call to more crime, more money spent We seem to be an experimental Joe’s wife as a three-way call. I on courts, police and prison and, species, neither animal nor angel begin a grievance process about worst of all, more harm. but a strange mixture, so it’s nat - the situation. It takes three Stop the insanity! Outlooks from ural to be torn between the two and pursue illusions of the ego, the Inner Life i.e. Edging God Out. — It is the Lord who grants St. Benedict’s favours to those whom he loves, Retreat & Conference Centre Cedric Speyer the Lord hears me whenever I call Spirituality Programs February ~ July him. Grace takes the place of strate - Fermata (meaning ‘pause’) Retreat ~ Feb. 24 - 26. “Perfection belongs to an imaginary world. According to traditional gies for happiness, whenever I For busy people who need to pause and learn some ways to teaching, it is the life-embedded soul, not soaring spirit, that defines can surrender those. balance their lives through practices like spiritual direction, humanity.” — Thomas Moore — Fear him; do not sin; pon - silence, lectio divina and more. Cost: $155 private room. der on your bed and be still. STAR — Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience One reason the psalms still ness is Psalm 4, the Benedictine Make justice your sacrifice and March 24 - 25. A research-supported approach to addressing speak to us in the 21st century, night prayer, sung by monks dur - trust in the Lord. trauma and building resilience. Experiential but not therapy. and don’t read as some kind of ing compline. In the following When hopes are dashed Cost: $80 - $126. archaic anthropology of faith, is walk-through, let us see how it against the harsh realities of this that we are still working out our serves to counteract tendencies to world, let us let go and let God. Re-Creating the Heart of Compassion: Mindfulness salvation between heaven and unhealthy perfectionism, whereby — “What can bring us happi - Meditation Retreat ~ March 12 - 17. Cost: $650 private room. earth. We are still human crea - goodness has to be earned under ness?” many say. Lift up the light Sabbath Retreat for Young Adults ~ June 1 - 4 tures who are earthbound, incar - the tyranny of the idealized self. of your face on us, O Lord. Subsidized by St. Benedict’s Foundation, Inc. Cost: $80. nated for good reason, and sum - At the end of each day, as “suc - That’s a beautiful way of say - moned to our soul work. The cessful” as it might have been, ing it’s the wrong question. Life Ordinary Mystics ~ July 2 - 6 psalms, with their double aware - growing persons are painfully and light are never our own. A Silent guided retreat led by Brother Don Bisson, fms. ness of a numinous vision and our aware and yet self-forgiving of — You have put into my heart Cost: $600. muddied versions of it, serve as the gap between who they are and a greater joy than they have from 225 Masters Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R4A 2A1 an antidote to pitfalls on the path who they could be. abundance of corn and new such as premature transcendence, — When I call, answer me, O wine. Ph: 204-339-1705 Fax: 204-334-8840 spiritual bypass, or high level God of justice, from anguish you We try to fill a God-shaped [email protected] www.stbens.ca denial. released me, have mercy and hear void with all the addictions luring An example of this grounded- me! us away from true presence. God is not a projected emblem — I will lie down in peace and of a superior “spiritual” self, sleep comes at once, for you Speyer is a Benedictine Oblate whereby we surpass limitations alone Lord, make me dwell in Advertise in the as well as an author, subject mat - on our own steam. God listens to safety. ter expert for e-therapy, clinical those who have already gotten Hope and hopelessness com - consultant and director of their souls dirty. pete; wholeness and woundedness PrMaoinrdiaey - FMridaey 8s:3s0 -e 5n p.mg. er InnerView Guidance International — You rebels, how long will co-exist; love and fear have their (IGI). Connect with Cedric on your hearts be closed, will you tugs; yet we trust . . . that even in Ph. 306-682-1772 Fax 306-682-5285 https://www.facebook.com/cms94 love what is futile and seek what self-division, we are held by a email: [email protected] or via [email protected] is false? much bigger embrace. February 8, 2017 CHURCH AT HOME Prairie Messenger 13 There are all kinds of ways to survive winter

King Crescent. It was before a made me angry. How is it that the Oscar time, a few Netflix series, a building boom and the lot behind wind on a minus-2 day feels cold - treadmill and some vitamin D us was empty. It filled with water in er than it does if it’s minus 10? supplements. Around the the fall and flash-froze into a glass- It’s February now and winter Best of all, though: FaceTiming like surface. The ice was thick and never gets easier. Still, there are with my four-and-a-half-month- Kitchen Table crystal clear. The weeds beneath ways to survive — catching up on old granddaughter Anissa. Her looked as though they might undu - some absorbing mysteries, the tulip-blush cheeks remind me of late as they would in water, but award-nominated films before spring. Maureen Weber they were frozen in time, every leaf visible right down to the darkness of the earth below. I imagined spin - Some time into the second week Holy Family (now Bishop ning like Peggy Fleming, my of January I heard Canada’s senior Filevich) in Saskatoon. I’d been blades cutting spirals into the ice. I climatologist, David Phillips, men - hoping to try skating at the out - have a good imagination. tion on a radio program that we door rink in the schoolyard, but My skating career didn’t end were gaining two minutes of day - never had the nerve (I was not on that pond. There was a barn- light per day. It was the best news adventurous, even as a child). like arena in Humboldt in my I’d heard since the Christmas deco - When my dad finally brought me youth where I’d go public skating rations were put away. over to the rink the sun was higher on a Saturday afternoon. The The extra light is noticeable at than it is now and it seemed a per - rough wooden floor, dark and soft the end of the day — we’re no fect day. When I stepped onto the with age, bore the gouges of longer preparing our evening meal ice I realized I’d waited too long. decades of people walking in the dark. It’s in the morning My blades dug in. The ice had through with their skates. that the light takes longer to catch turned to thick slush. I could bare - Stepping onto the ice meant being up. Of all the winter sights that ly push through the mess and swept into a current — throngs of bug me, the low-lying sun sitting ended up skate-walking across the people skating in unison around sheepishly in the southeast of my rink as some kids ran around (sans the rink to Strauss’ “Blue Danube office window is the worst. I’d skates) hitting a ball back and Waltz” played on a scratchy loud - rather have an overcast sky than forth. In retrospect, I guess it was speaker. The air was always fresh be reminded that the sun is barely the perfect day because I didn’t and cool, pinking my cheeks as making an effort. If the sun can’t freeze. It was probably March. the afternoon wore on. In spring manage to get up, why should I? The next time I went outdoor the roof would leak along the Winter is tough. There’s even a skating was in Grade 3 at St. seams, dripping water from a Blue Monday (Jan. 16) to remind Augustine in Humboldt. The rink great height and plopping onto the us just how bad it can be. At this was across the street from my ice, creating perfect rows of men - time of year one can pick up grandmother’s house and I was acing small mounds. A couple of almost any magazine that contains able to lace up my skates in the falls and the season was over. an article about embracing winter comfort of her entrance, as I haven’t skated in years, by taking up a sport! Snowshoeing opposed to the poor kids who had though I sometimes wonder if the or skating! On one particularly bit - to put on their skates in the shack. gentle freshness that rises from ter day I sat in the warmth of the I remember my blades clacking the ice would feel the same as it Sheraton Cavalier restaurant cup - on the road as I gingerly walked did in my memory. ping my cold hands around a across the street. The ice was For now there’s walking. I steaming mug of coffee and hard, milky white and resisted the tried it recently on an unseason - watching a father and his child dull blades of a novice skater. It ably warm day, the kind the skating at the outdoor Meewasin was cold. I was miserable. How weather reporters rave about but Skating Rink across the street. I many wobbly rounds of the skat - just make driving treacherous. felt I should alert the authorities. ing rink does it take to make an Two inches of loose snow made It brought to mind the few honest effort before one can each step a frustrating chore. I felt times I skated outdoors. The first retreat into a warm house? like the proverbial drunken sailor. time was when I was in Grade 2 at The next year we moved to The stiff breeze bit my cheeks and

JOB SEARCH: BIOETHICIST Gerard Weber THE POSITION: An ethicist, working with and of the Grey Nuns. SPH operates within a highly OUTDOOR FUN — Those who enjoy outdoor winter activities are to for Catholic faith-based facilities in Saskatchewan, interdependent partnership with the Saskatoon be admired, but that does not mean everyone cares to partake. guided by the Health Ethics Guide (2012) and the Regional Health Authority. The ethicist will par- ethical teaching of the Catholic Community. He/ ticipate in this collaborative partnership. Emergence of indigenous she is also responsible for the standards of ethical practice as set out in common law and common THE PERSON: This position requires:

ethics within society. Six key priorities have been voices in film impressive  Graduate degree in ethics or bioethics. identified: support and guidance in ethical decision  making; ethics education; ethics consultation / Demonstrated experience in clinical ethics (a clinical fellowship is an asset). Continued from page 9 vision channel of Vice Media. mentorship; ethics committee support; ethics Sundance provided a world pre - guideline and policy development; and organiza-  Demonstrable awareness of the health care system, health care ethics issues, Catholic action, such as at Standing Rock miere platform for these episodes tional ethics. where protests continue against — Apache Stronghold, Sacred health care ethics and their complexity. the Dakota Access Pipeline (since Water, Red Power — directed by This position will be dedicated to the faith-based  Strong leadership skills including a demon- approved by President Trump). Toronto-based indigenous film - institutional members of the Catholic Health strated capacity for effective interpersonal “As media makers and storytellers maker Michelle Latimer and nar - Association of Saskatchewan in urban and rural interactions and relationship-building. we find ourselves woven into the rated by indigenous host Sarain Saskatchewan (some travel will be required). The  Effective collaborative skills both as a team narrative of resistance,” she said. Carson-Fox. ethicist is based out of St. Paul’s hospital and leader and team member, and the ability to work David Suzuki also stressed the I was able to interview Ms. functions within the context of the Mission Inte- with individuals at all levels of the organization value of the indigenous contribu - Latimer after the Power of Story gration team of SPH. The ethicist leads Catholic and with external stakeholders. tion to what is a global struggle, panel and will have more to say in health care facilities in the ongoing development,  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. noting with irony that “the people a future column on indigenous implementation, evaluation and integration of an  Strong teaching skills and experience, including we tried to stamp out are the ones perspectives in film. What de - ethics support service. The ethicist may also con- the ability to effectively deliver educational and taking the lead.” serves highlighting at this point is duct ethics research. academic material. Before that panel closed it was the truly impressive emergence of

 The ability to take individual initiative. St. Paul’s Hospital is a tertiary level acute care addressed from the floor by David indigenous voices, notably those  hospital, owned by Emmanuel Care in the tradition Valid drivers license. Archambault, tribal chair of the of women and youth, in telling Standing Rock Indian Reservation their own stories and bringing in North Dakota. The Standing them to the screen. Kudos to For detailed specific information please contact: Rock opposition to a pipeline Sundance for recognizing and Sandra Kary, Executive Director, Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan th development threatening the supporting this exciting develop - 1702 – 20 Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7M 0Z9 Lakota’s traditional land and ment. Phone (306) 655-5332 Fax (306) 655-5333 E-mail: [email protected] waters are the subject of two of A single column only scratches Resumes will be received in confidence until February 28, 2017. the first three episodes of Rise , the the surface of Sundance’s rich Remuneration commensurate with education and experience. eight-part Canadian-produced harvest. So watch for more high - documentary series that has begun lights from its feast of dramatic airing on Viceland, the new tele - and documentary features. 14 Prairie Messenger EDITORIALS February 8, 2017

When headlines go awry In fact, the story reported an incident that hap - to the church’s essential deposit of faith,’ it at the pened before the American election was even held! same time says that ‘no-one can be condemned for When St. Benedict wrote his Rule for monks In other words, it’s important to know “how to ever, because that is not the logic of the Gospel,’ the 1,500 years ago, he began with the word “Listen.” read.” In today’s world of social media and “fake bishops recalled. Commentaries have been written about his use of news,” one must be critical. “They noted that Amoris Laetitia particularly this word — “to listen.” In the context of the Rule, it This week’s Prairie Messenger reports that emphasizes the importance of avoiding judgments applies to listening both to God and to the members Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation which do not take into account the complexity of the of one’s community. for the Doctrine of the Faith, has warned that some different situations in which people live. In his inaugural encyclical in 1964, Ecclesiam bishops are interpreting Pope Francis’ document on “The bishops pointed to AL 305 which says that Suam , Pope Paul VI stressed the word “dialogue.” marriage and family, Amoris Laetitia , in a way that is if one receives the church’s help and in certain cases The church needs to dialogue with today’s world, he not in accordance with Catholic doctrine. The report also the help of the sacraments, one can live in God’s pointed out, and that attitude has replaced the image does not name any bishops or bishops conferences grace even if one is in an ‘objective situation of sin of the church as a walled fortress. that the cardinal may be referring to. — which may not subjectively be culpable or fully In the world of blogs and “alternate facts” today, Some bloggers, however, have filled in the culpable.’ another word comes to mind: “read.” Read what arti - blanks. They refer to the German bishops confer - “At the same time, however, they underlined that cles really say. Read and understand the whole story. ence, which issued a commentary on Amoris all remarried divorcees cannot automatically be read - In his Feb. 3 column in the National Catholic Laetitia , as giving approval to adulterers to receive mitted to the sacraments. An individual decision of Reporter, Jesuit Father Thomas Reese gives an exam - communion. conscience must be preceded by both a serious exam - ple of how important it is “to read” more than head - A quick reading of these headlines may lead one ination of conscience and a longer spiritual process lines. to think that the German church is close to formal accompanied by a priest, the bishops explained, and He quotes a headline from a blogger: “Pope dissent and schism. However, a report carried in the even then it will not always be possible to allow the Francis Just Issued a Blistering Statement Against English Tablet magazine, gives a fuller — and more individual concerned to receive the sacraments ‘in Christians Supporting Trump’s Muslim Ban.” The complete — context: every case.’ ” source cited was a Catholic News Service story that “The German bishops’ conference has underlined Do these reports cover the same story? we may ran in the Catholic Herald on Oct. 13, 2016. the importance of respecting individual decisions of ask. Reese notes: “The CNS story clearly states that conscience with regard to allowing remarried In a world where twitter and Facebook are the pope was speaking to German pilgrims on Oct. divorcees to receive the sacraments, in their long and replacing legitimate newspapers, we are in danger of 13, 2016, but the blogger blithely ignores the facts eagerly awaited interpretation of Pope Francis’ relying on catchy headlines and false news. It will be for the sake of a good headline. Nowhere in the CNS Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia . important “to read” and “to listen” to the whole story story is the name Trump or the words ‘executive “While emphasizing that Amoris Laetitia leaves or our “dialogue” with one another will be severely order.’ ” no doubt that the ‘indissolubility of marriage belongs distorted. — PWN Pastoral reflection by bishops of Saskatchewan on assisted suicide

Dear brother priests, deacons, help our parishes to cultivate a roles and respective accountabili - priately offering another way of What we can offer as church is and Catholic faithful of healthy and positive attitude ties we have as family members, seeing, with hope and trust in our promise to be there, to remain Saskatchewan, toward life, even amidst trials, caregivers, spiritual care pro - God. engaged and in relationship, to and to assist our pastoral minis - viders, or pastors, there are five ii) The call to walk with the help create a space where hope We have arrived, with sad - ters and caregivers in walking considerations which we would dying. A normal reaction for care - can make a home amid lingering ness and mourning, at a time in compassionately and faithfully ask you to keep at the forefront of givers as we witness the pain and fears. Our role is as one who our history and our country amidst painful and complex end- your ministry of care. suffering of others is our tenden - keeps vigil alongside others in where physician-assisted suicide of-life situations. i) The generous and uncondi - cy to try to “do” something to fix times of joy or sorrow, and stands and euthanasia are legal and Our ministry as Christians is tional love of God. Our ministry it, to make it better. But that is not with humble trust between what available through our health sys - twofold: first, to proclaim the is a participation in God’s love always helpful. Often, the most is known and the mystery of the tem. For those among us who good news and form people in it, for His people. We are called to important thing we can offer is to unknown. minister to people facing chron - and second, to be with God’s peo - act as witnesses to and bearers of “be” present and accompany iii) The freedom and con - ic and terminal illness, this new ple wherever life leads them, God’s generous love. Our bias is them in their darkest hour of their science of the person who is context is deeply troubling, and especially when they invite us toward abundant life, and we fears, uncertainties, questions, dying. Each of God’s people has made even more painful because into their journeys. offer sacraments, prayer, visit - and pain. been given the gift of freedom, as a society we have not priori - ing, accompaniment in palliative Serious illness can be excruci - and even while we hope that tized access to palliative care 1. To proclaim the good news care where possible, and many ating, and dying can be a pro - everyone chooses God freely, we with effective pain management and form people in it other kinds of support in the ser - longed agony. For some, the must never infringe on another’s for all our people. In light of our Christian hope, vice of loving people as God darkest moments may lead them freedom. Our Catholic faith is unwaver - we are asking you to join us in loves them. to contemplate physician-assisted In the very rare circumstances ing in its respect for and protec - doing formative work in your Where people are contem - suicide as an option. As people where a sacrament or funeral is tion of human life from concep - parishes and communities to plating decisions we disagree of faith and hope, this is not denied, it is because that rite tion to natural death. change the conversation about with, depending on your role, something we can support nor is would be a violation of that per- At the heart of our Christian dying so that fewer people will you may be able to assist in their it something we can participate faith is the conviction that God’s feel that ending their lives is an discernment, gently and appro - in. — CHURCH , page 15 love is revealed most profoundly appropriate option. All Christians in the dying and rising of Jesus, need to be able to speak about and that in our living and dying, and witness authentically to the we are drawn into this paschal spiritual work of living through mystery, which opens onto eter - the painful mystery of dying, for nal life. We believe that there is a our own sake and for the sake of great dignity in being human, and the world. That witness is espe - that God, who has authored cially needed in a context where human life, speaks to us and many have lost sight of the digni - draws us into communion with ty of human life even amidst suf - himself through our living and fering and dying. through our dying. As St. Paul says, “If we live, we live to the 2. To be with God’s people Lord, and if we die, we die to the wherever life leads them Lord” (Rom 14:8). We are called into ministry In our Christian lives, we are with people as they are, not as we invited to learn to live for others would hope them to be. This has and for God, dying to self (cf. always and ever been the case. In Rom 12:1); dying, as a stage of inviting us to share in his mis - living, is always in the context of sion, the Risen Lord sends us to the redemptive work of God. love his people in the messy and This more than anything else difficult circumstances of human shapes our approach to the end of life. We are privileged to be invit - life. ed into people’s lives; this is holy Trusting that God is present to ground and God precedes us and at work in every human life, there. we are called to minister gener - Within the church and outside ously to all who call on us, re - of it, some people will consider CNS/Kim Ludbrook, EPA gardless of their faith, with a bias and are considering physician- PATIENT DEATHS PROTESTED IN SOUTH AFRICA — People gather at a Feb. 2 vigil in Johannesburg toward life and our understanding assisted suicide. For any of us for the 94 mentally ill patients who died last year due to negligence. South Africa’s Jesuit Institute said it is of it as God’s beautiful gift. who might accompany one of appalled at government actions that led to the deaths of the patients in Gauteng province, and the bishops’ We offer these guidelines to these people, with respect for the justice and peace commission called for compensation to affected families. February 8, 2017 LETTERS Prairie Messenger 15

Euthanasia does not save health care costs

The Editor: It is frightening suicide or euthanasia. The ill and cause us pain and suffering. There to hear the statement that millions the elderly will feel they should are aids and medications available of dollars will be saved with the die to save the country money. to help us bear the suffering and implementation of doctor-assisted Many will be persuaded to choose pain. The solution is not to put an euthanasia rather than add to end to life. We need more pallia - Articles too negative health costs. tive care for those with terminal ill - Society is losing respect for ness. It is tragic that euthanasia is The Editor: After the election life by valuing cost saving as being presented as a solution to of Donald Trump, it is rather sad being better than caring for the saving health care dollars. to read so many of your articles sick and fragile until natural Has anyone considered that filled with hatred and disgust. death. It is immoral and inhuman caring for the ill and elderly pro - Obviously, the Holy Spirit to say that the ill should die in vides thousands of jobs? The (Galatians 5:22-23) had no input order to lower health care costs. workers contribute to the econo - into these articles. Your writers We are supposed to care for those my of our country. Declaring that surely know that God often uses in need, not require them to end euthanasia saves dollars does not flawed people to carry out his their life prematurely. make sense. Such a statement agenda. It’s up to us to use wis - We were given life as a gift makes our society colder and dom and discernment to deter - without any input from us. We harder — not more compassion - mine what that agenda could be. have no right to end that life. Many ate. — Naden Hewko, Macklin, M. Weber — Ernie Wesolowski, Regina events in life, including illness, Sask. Grandkid Therapy Children easily manipulated by fear After the morning rain I drive out to the farm for my weekly grandkid fix. Continued from page 1 A helicopter bombed the area reintegrate into society. Golden waxy lady slippers where the two were camped out Bejarano said that the Sale sians huddle in bunches in the ditch, cide, she told reporters in Rome. and they realized government and the Catholic Church in Co- mallards shoot into the sky Children such as Catalina, flee- forces were advancing. Her boy- lombia “believe in young people’s from sparkling sloughs ing from poverty and abuse, are friend told her to run as he pro - dreams” and that Catalina and and a pair of majestic geese the primary target of guerrilla vided cover fire. Manuel are just two of the many lead their brood across the road. groups as they can be easily “He was covering me and I young people who have regained manipulated by fear, often endur - told him, ‘Come on, don’t leave their hope, joy and dignity. At the house ing physical, sexual and psycho - me alone.’ And he said, ‘Yes, “We always believed that we bake mounds of cookies, logical abuse at the hands of their wait, wait, wait.’ And I heard through our work — the Salesian play a game of Life commanders, according to the (machine gun fire). When I said, youth pastoral ministry — we are and laugh — documentary. ‘Baby, now!’ he didn’t answer walking with young people and the kind of therapy “In the beginning, everything me. They killed him for covering help strengthen their personality money cannot buy. was fine. Eight days later, they me,” she said. so that they can turn their dreams By Marilyn Paul gave me a gun that was bigger After several years, Catalina into reality,” he said. than me,” Catalina told journalists. escaped and found her way to After just a few days, Catalina Ciudad Don Bosco , which pro - took part in her first battle against vides shelter, education and most Church never abandons people government forces. She vividly importantly, a sense of normalcy recalled the arrival of eight heli - after a life of violence. copters that proceeded to attack Areiza, who is also a teacher, Continued from page 14 We encourage our priests and potentially compromising, you her battalion. told journalists that Ciudad Don those working for the church in also have a duty to yourself: to “We were 44 young people Bosco follows a Salesian pas - son’s free decision to reject in pastoral care who face difficult violate your own conscience and adults and by the end of the toral model to help former child some measure God’s grace, and pastoral decisions to please con - would be both damaging and sin - attack, we were 22. It’s a deep soldiers regain the first funda - therefore would not be an honest tact your bishop for designated ful. For whatever reason, if you pain I carry with me,” she said. mental element in their recovery: expression of the church’s faith. resource persons to support your are not able to enter into a situa - Even sparks of normal teenage trust. Even in these instances, the discernment around the pastoral tion, there is no shame in asking life, such as falling in love, were “It means (providing) empa - church never abandons people. approach to those who have for assistance; indeed it is your immediately extinguished during thy, closeness and trust when they Non-sacramental rituals can raised the possibility of physi - responsibility to do so. Catalina’s time with the guerrilla arrive so they can feel like they and should be offered with rever - cian-assisted suicide, or regarding In this, as in all things, we bring group, she said. “Yes, I fell in are part of a family,” he said. ence for freedom and integrity. funeral requests for those who each and every person we serve to love. I had a boyfriend and he Therapy and group work also Ministry also must be offered have died in this way. the Lord in prayer. We mourn every was killed.” are important for instilling in generously to those who surround You are on the front lines of time a person contemplates or In the documentary, she re - the young people a sense of the person making the decision: the church’s pastoral outreach, chooses to end his or her own life. called her final moments with her hope for the future and convinc - friends and family, caregivers, and we trust that you will strive to We acknowledge and are deeply first love, a boy she knew since ing them that they can achieve and health care professionals. respond to situations which may saddened by the burden placed on she was 13. their goals and successfully iv) Your action on behalf of the be very complex with a deep pas - those asked to collaborate in ending whole church. To be a Christian is toral engagement and a desire to a life. We place ourselves and our to belong to the Body of Christ, show the face of God’s mercy. circumstances humbly in God’s www.prairiemessenger.ca one part among many members. We cannot anticipate all of the hands; we commit ourselves to When we act, we necessarily circumstances you might face, but working faithfully to the best of our impact our brothers and sisters. we can ensure that you do not ability to be artisans of Christ’s face them alone. healing and agents of the hope and We urge you not to make deci - love he came to bring. Letters to the editor sions on these situations without As we do so, we ask the inter - consulting those experts in ethics, cession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, We welcome your response to articles published in the Prairie Messenger. Two-way commu - theology, canon law, and pastoral who points us to her son, and nication assures everyone of a better exposure to the truth. practice who can help you to shows us how to accompany oth - make decisions in keeping with ers by the way she was receptive We cannot publish any letters to the editor unless you give us your full name, your address your conscience and the wisdom to Jesus in his living and kept vigil and your telephone number. (It is especially important to remember this if you are sending your of the broader church. with him in his dying. comments by email) . v) Your own well-being and conscience. These situations may Archbishop Donald Bolen Due to limited space we ask you to keep your letters short — 300 to 350 words maximum. The well push us as individuals to the Archbishop Murray Chatlain Prairie Messenger reserves the right to edit letters to conform to space requirements and newspaper edges of our own comfort and/or Bishop Bryan Bayda style . capacity. Amidst circumstances Bishop Albert Thévenot that are ethically challenging and Very Rev. Kevin McGee

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By Cindy Wooden issues, but some Catholics do not In January, the bishop began global population growth, has tribution of resources and a lack of understand that or object to it — receiving messages objecting to shared concern about increased will to find creative solutions. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — and there is no lack of evidence the invitation the academies poverty rates in the fastest-grow - Before making moral evalua - The Vatican believes scientific for that in Bishop Marcelo extended to Paul R. Ehrlich, pres - ing regions of the world and tions of policy, the pope and bish - facts exist and it wants to hear Sanchez Sorondo’s inbox. ident of the Centre for Conserva - accepts the scientific evidence ops need to know the scientific about them from world-renowned The bishop is chancellor of both tion Biology at Stanford Uni- that the growing population has facts. The Vatican gets those from scientists before it offers guidance the Pontifical Academy of Sciences versity. The letters of protest had a negative effect on the envi - scholars with scientific expertise, on or criticism of related political, and the Pontifical Academy of highlight Ehrlich’s controversial ronment. regardless of their religious be- social or economic policies. Social Sciences. The two academies book, The Population Bomb , pub - However, in evaluating policies liefs or their opinions on the poli - The facts and the practical are holding a workshop Feb. 27 - lished in 1968, and his advocacy to respond to the scientific fact of cy implications of the scientific responses to them are separate March 1 on preserving biodiversity. of strong population-control mea - population growth and environ - facts. sures, including mental destruction, the Vatican The object of the upcoming through abortion. insists on recognition of the workshop and Ehrlich’s speech is Ehrlich, a biol - sacredness of every human life, not population control, Sanchez ogist, is not a respect for human dignity and trust said. It is how to respond to the member of either in the human capacity to change call of Pope Francis in Laudato pontifical academy and to innovate. Si’ to protect the diversity of but has been invit - Where some scientists would plants and animals God created. ed to speak at the favour population-control policies, Objecting to the invitation of a workshop because modern popes consistently have scientist recognized as an expert of his studies in argued that the problem is less in his field “is not logical,” the the field of conser - about the number of people living bishop said. “Critics are only fol - vation biology. on the planet and more about lowing the logic of attack. And “Naturally, human selfishness, the unfair dis - it’s always the same people.” someone can say, ‘Oh, look who they Pope names official to Malta have invited to the Vatican,’ but the positive side is that as ‘exclusive spokesperson’ he can help us find the truth in the By Junno Arocho Esteves master of the order. theme we are dis - The pope’s letter made no cussing,” Sanchez VATICAN CITY (CNS) — mention of how Becciu’s respon - told Catholic News Pope Francis named Archbishop sibilities would overlap with those Service. Ehrlich is Angelo Becciu, Vatican substitute of Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, one of two people secretary of state, as his special the current cardinal patron of the asked to speak delegate and sole spokesperson to order. about how “con - the Sovereign Military Order of The mandate of the pope’s spe - sumption prefer - Malta. cial delegate to the order has simi - ences, population “Until the end of your man - lar responsibilities to that of the numbers, technolo - date, that is until the conclusion cardinal patron, who officially has gy (and) ecosystem of the extraordinary chapter, “the task of promoting the spiritu - productivity” which will elect the grand mas - al interests of the order and its impact biodiversi - ter, you will be my exclusive members and relations between CNS/Paul Jeffrey ty. spokes person in all matters relat - the Holy See and the order,” IRAQI FAMILIES FLEE — Displaced by fighting between the Iraqi army and the The Vatican has ing to relations between the according to the order’s constitu - Islamic State group, a family leaves a processing centre for displaced families Jan. 27 long acknowl - Apostolic See and the order,” the tion. outside Mosul, Iraq. edged the fact of pope wrote in a letter to Becciu “I delegate to you, therefore, Feb. 2. all the necessary powers to decide The special delegate, the pope any issues that may arise concern - Advocates want to welcome refugees said, also will work closely with ing the implementation of the Fra Ludwig Hoffmann von mandate entrusted to you,” the By Dennis Sadowski has a moral obligation to wel - threat, the leaders said. Rumerstein, the chivalric order’s pope told Becciu. come people fleeing for their “These refugees are victims of temporary head, to carry out “the Echoing his letter to members WASHINGTON (CNS) — lives. the same violence that we are try - appropriate renewal of the order’s of the order Jan. 28, the pope Leaders from six organizations They called the world’s refu - ing to protect ourselves from,” constitution.” said that as his special delegate, want Americans and President gee crisis a pro-life issue. said Jill Marie Gerschutz-Bell, Released by the Vatican Feb. 4, Becciu “will take care of all Donald Trump to understand that “One of the issues for many of senor legislative specialist at the pope’s letter to Becciu came matters relating to the spiritual refugees, especially those from us in this country is that we can’t Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. after several tense weeks which and moral renewal of the order,” wartorn Middle Eastern countries, imagine that the refugee is a per - bishops’ overseas relief and devel - led to the Jan. 24 resignation of particularly its professed mem - are average people with careers, son like ourselves, that many of opment agency. “And yet it is Fra Matthew Festing as grand bers. comfortable homes and loving the people that are now caught in American principles, of course, families rather than see them as a camps or horrible situations are that we are trying to protect. So a monolithic threat to the United people like ourselves who woke disproportionate security response States. up one morning and learned that leaves us wondering: What does it Their appeal during a Feb. 1 everything they had was de - mean to be American? What does news conference at Casa Italiana stroyed,” said Dominican Sister it mean to be Catholic?” at Holy Rosary Church in Wash - Donna Markham, president and Trump’s memorandum sus - ington came as refugees contin - CEO of Catholic Charities USA. pends the entire U.S. refugee ued to be denied entry into the “We all have to stop objectify - resettlement program for 120 U.S. nearly a week after Trump ing them. These are human days and bans entry of all citizens ordered a 120-day suspension of beings like you and I,” she said, from seven majority-Muslim the U.S. refugee resettlement pro - recalling the people in northern countries — Syria, Iraq, Iran, gram. Iraq she recently contacted via Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Officials of Catholic Charities online video communications. Somalia — for 90 days. USA, Migration and Refugee Other leaders cited the coun - The resettlement program’s sus - Services of the U.S. Conference try’s long history of welcoming pension also will affect about 700 of Catholic Bishops, Catholic refugees as well as church teach - employees of Catholic Chari ties Legal Immigration Network Inc., ing on welcoming the stranger. agencies nationwide, with layoffs Catholic Relief Services, the They said the U.S. should not re- expected for nearly all of the work - Association of Catholic Colleges linquish its role as a moral leader ers because the stream of refugees and Universities and the Center in refugee resettlement, especially has ended, said Markham. for Migration Studies called on for those who have been cleared “We absolutely depend on the Trump to rescind his presidential or are awaiting final approval to partnership between public and memorandum implementing the enter the country. Any delay in private funding to support these suspension, saying the country their arrival puts them at greater programs,” she explained. “We don’t have the resources to carry CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz them without that partnership. BLACK HISTORY MONTH — A woman and man pray during the Compassion becomes real when we recognize our Four months carrying 700 em - annual Black History Month mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New shared humanity. ployees with no income is not York Feb. 5. The mass, sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York’s — Pema Chödrön feasible for a charitable organiza - Office of Black Ministry, also was celebrated in observance of the tion like Catholic Charities.” National Day of Prayer for the African-American and African Family.