Bishop Says to Police, Firefighters, EMS, Military
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October 2, 2020 Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Vol. 51, No. 26 Pope Releases ‘Hold Your Heads High,’ Bishop Says Apostolic Letter on to Police, Firefighters, EMS, Military Sacred Scripture By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an apostolic letter dedicated to Sacred Scripture, Pope Francis said that even today, Christians can learn new things from the countless translations of the Bible that exist. The variety of translations of the Bible in the world today “teaches us that the values and positive forms of every culture represent an enrich- ment for the whole church,” the pope said in his apostolic letter, “Scripturae Sacrae affectus” (“Devo- tion to Sacred Scripture”). “The different ways by which the word of God is proclaimed, un- derstood and experienced in each new translation enrich Scripture See “Pope” on Page 2 October is Respect Life Month By Joyce Bibey As a Catholic community we Colleen Rowan Photo celebrate Respect Life Month in Oc- Members of the Follansbee Fire Department, Police Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and those serving in tober. The United States Conference the U.S. Military look on as Bishop Mark Brennan offers his homily during the Blue Mass at St. Anthony Church in Follansbee of Catholic Bishops also observes Sept. 29. the first Sunday of October as Re- spect Life Sunday, when we are By Colleen Rowan dignitaries, as well as the family and Christian traditions have hon- asked to reflect more deeply FOLLANSBEE — “Hold your members and community members ored the angels and seen them as a every day on the dignity of every heads high. You have noble profes- who support these men and women true ministry of God toward man- human life from conception until sions,” Bishop Mark Brennan said. who risk their lives in public service. kind. Most notably, he pointed to the natural death. This year’s theme for This was his message to members of Concelebrating the Mass were Father Archangels Michael, the defender of Respect Life Month is “Live the Gos- Police and Fire departments, Emer- L.J. Asantha Jude Perera, TOR, ad- God’s people; Raphael, whose angelic pel of Life.” The bishops across the gency Medical Services (EMS) person- ministrator of St. Anthony’s, and mission on earth was to heal; and Ga- country hope this theme reminds nel, and those serving in the U.S. Mil- Father Arul Anthony, administrator briel, messenger of divine comfort, and inspires us to “transform our itary at his celebration of the Blue of St. John the Evangelist Parish in most particularly when he reveals to culture by allowing the Gospel Mass at St. Anthony Parish in Follans- nearby Wellsburg. Mary that she will be the mother of of Christ to touch and transform bee Sept. 29. Bishop Brennan began his homily our savior. See “Life” on Page 4 Present for the Mass were local for the Blue Mass, noting that Jewish See “Bishop” on Page 9 Inside: A Letter from Bishop Brennan, Even If We Don’t Deserve It, Page 3 We Can Preserve It, Page 10 2 The Catholic Spirit October 2, 2020 Bishop Brennan to Preach in To Report Suspected Cases of Sexual Abuse of Children To Report Suspected Cases of Sexual Abuse of Children: The Di- ocese of Wheeling-Charleston encourages reporting to civil authorities first and foremost if a crime has been committed. We also encourage utilizing Observance of Domestic www.reportbishopabuse.org to make a report about any bishop in the U.S. If you have reason to believe that a bishop has engaged in sexual misconduct or has interfered with an investigation into sexual misconduct, please con- tact civil authorities in the applicable jurisdiction and visit www.reportbish- Violence Awareness Month opabuse.org. WHEELING—Catholics For Family Peace announces that Bishop Mark Bren- To Report to Civil Authorities: Contact your local law enforcement; nan will celebrate the 4th Annual National Catholic Vigil Mass in Observance of numbers will vary based on your location. If you believe someone is in im- Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling mediate danger, call 911. To confidentially report any incidence of sus- pected child abuse or neglect, including sexual abuse, contact the West Vir- on Saturday, October 3 at 6 p.m. ginia Bureau for Children and Families’ Child Protective Services by calling The Mass is co-hosted by the USCCB’s Secretariat Laity, Marriage, Family Life the Child Abuse Hotline at 800.352.6513. You may report anonymously to and Youth. It will be livestreamed on the Dioceses’ YouTube channel and Face- this hotline if you prefer. book page. To Report to Diocesan Authorities: The diocese encourages report- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)’s Pastoral State- ing to the appropriate civil authorities first and foremost if a crime has been ment When I Call for Help (2002) encourages pastors to dedicate at least one week- committed. The diocese also encourages reporting to the appropriate end of October to inform people how they can recognize and respond to the signs church authorities. To report suspected cases of sexual abuse of children by personnel of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to the Diocese, contact of abuse. one of the following designees at 1.888.434.6237 or 304.233.0880: Sr. Ellen If you or someone you know is experiencing any form of abuse, please know Dunn, O.P., ext. 264; Mr. Bryan Minor, ext. 263; Mr. Tim Bishop, ext. 353; there is hope, help, and healing. In an emergency, recommend they call 911. For or Very Rev. Dennis Schuelkens, Jr., V.E., ext. 270. You may also call the Di- information on local resources, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1- ocese’s Office of Safe Environment at 304.230.1504. You may also call the 800-799-7233; TTY: 800-787-3224. Diocese’s sexual abuse hotline at 833.230.5656. Complaint forms are avail- To learn more about the Catholic response to domestic violence, please visit able online at www.dwc.org, click “Diocese” on the menu bar, then “Of- https://www.usccb.org/topics/marriage-and-family-life-ministries/domestic- fices,” then “Safe Environment”, then “Download Files and Forms.” The form is titled “Complaint Form for Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.” violence and www.CatholicsForFamilyPeace.org or contact Dr. Sharon A. O’Brien, The form may be returned via U.S. mail to: Office of Safe Environment, Di- Director of Catholics For Family Peace at catholicfamilypeace@gmailcom. ocese of Wheeling-Charleston, PO Box 230, Wheeling WV 26003. To Report to the Diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator: becomes service, for no genuine and in- please call Dr. Patricia Bailey at 304.242.6988. Pope ... tegral human development can occur In addition to the methods listed above for reporting sexual abuse, the Cont’d from Page 1 without a body of knowledge that is the Diocese also has partnered with Navex Global to offer the EthicsPoint plat- itself since, according to the well- fruit of cooperation and leads to greater form to report other, additional concerns, such as suspected financial, pro- fessional, and personal misconduct of a priest, deacon, religious, or lay em- known expression of Gregory the cooperation,’” he said, quoting a ployee of the Diocese or any Catholic parish or school in West Virginia. The Great, Scripture grows with the reader, speech he gave in 2019 to the pontifical EthicsPoint platform can be accessed via www.dwc.org, under “Account- taking on new accents and new res- academies. St. Jerome’s life and work ability”, then “Report Misconduct” or by calling 844.723.8381. EthicsPoint onance throughout the centuries,” he also highlight the need for true wit- is a third-party reporting system that reports to civil authorities where ap- wrote in the letter released by the Vat- nesses of Christ who can faithfully in- plicable and Diocesan authorities, and the identity of the person reporting ican Sept. 30. terpret Scripture which often seems as if is protected. Earlier in the day, before concluding it is “‘sealed,’ hermetically closed to in- Links and information: WV Department of Health and Human Re- sources: https://www.wvdhhr.org/report.asp. West Virginia State Police, his weekly general audience, the pope terpretation.” Crimes Against Children Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children told pilgrims he had signed the doc- “Many, even among practicing ument to coincide with the 16th cente- Christians, say openly that they are not nary of St. Jerome’s death. able to read it, not because of illiteracy, Sexual Abuse Awareness Training “May the example of this great doc- but because they are unprepared for the The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) requires that all tor and father of the church, who biblical language, its modes of expres- Dioceses/Eparchies have in place a Safe Environment Program for the placed the Bible at the center of his life, sion and its ancient cultural traditions,” protection of children and young people. In accordance with these re- quirements, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Safe Environment awaken in us a renewed love for the he said. “As a result, the biblical text be- Program consists of the following components for persons seeking em- Sacred Scripture and the desire to live in comes indecipherable, as if it were ployment or to volunteer—directly or indirectly—with children: back- a personal dialogue with the word of written in an unknown alphabet and ground check; receipt of the Diocese’s Policy Relating to Sexual Abuse God,” he said. an esoteric tongue.” of Children; and sexual abuse awareness training for adults.