November 23, 2007 Vol

Inside State of the archdiocese Read the 2007 Accountability Report, pages 11-14. Serving the ChurchCriterion in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com November 23, 2007 Vol. XLVIII, No. 8 75¢ U.S. bishops AP Photo/Ed Reinke overwhelmingly approve politics document, bulletin insert BALTIMORE (CNS)—In what several bishops called “a watershed moment” for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the full body of bishops overwhelmingly approved a document intended to help Catholic voters form their consciences on a variety of issues before the 2008 elections. “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility From the Catholic Bishops of the United States” was approved by a 221-4 vote on Nov. 14, the last public day of the Nov. 12-15 USCCB fall general assembly in Baltimore. The bishops also endorsed a shorter document, designed as a parish bulletin insert, by a 221-1 vote. Prepared by a task force made up of the chairmen of seven USCCB committees, the document underwent more than a dozen drafts and was still heavily amended during the meeting and immediately before the Nov. 14 vote. The longer document rejects politics based on “powerful interests, partisan Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rocky Boiman stands amidst confetti after the Colts beat the New England Patriots, 38-34, to win the AFC Championship attacks, sound bites and media hype,” game on Jan. 21 in Indianapolis, and advance to the Super Bowl. and calls instead for “a different kind of political engagement.” That engagement must be “shaped by Faith helps football players on and off the field the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of By Sean Gallagher bone-jarring tackle that results in a career- helping him step back and re-examine every human being, the pursuit of the ending injury or a series of small injuries what is most important in his life. common good and the protection of the After beating the Chicago Bears in that just keep adding up. Former Colts teammates weak and vulnerable,” it says. Super Bowl XLI in February, the This season, the Colts have arguably had Rocky Boiman and Keith O’Neil have Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Indianapolis Colts stormed to another more than their fair share of serious injuries. experienced the effects of injuries this Brooklyn, N.Y., introduced the documents strong start, winning their first seven Future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver season, and both have relied on their on Nov. 12, saying that he spoke not only games of the 2007-08 season. Marvin Harrison has missed several games Catholic faith to keep them grounded as chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Even with a faith-filled head coach like with a knee injury. Defensive starters through the many twists and turns of a Domestic Policy, but as “the leader of Tony Dungy, it might have been easy for Anthony McFarland and Rob Morris’ professional football career. an unprecedented, extensive and some players on the team to think they are season came to a quick end due to knee would say endless consultation” among invincible. injuries. Concussions have kept tight end Striving for excellence seven USCCB committees. But the players know better. And Dallas Clark and linebacker Freddy Keiaho Last season was Boiman’s first year “This document is a summary of consecutive losses to the New England off the field. And All-Pro defensive end with the Colts after spending four years Catholic teaching; it is not a voter guide,” Patriots and the San Diego Chargers Dwight Freeney’s season ended because of with the Tennessee Titans. He played Bishop DiMarzio said shortly before the helped bring that reality into perspective. a serious foot injury. mainly on special teams and had limited Nov. 14 vote. “It calls us as bishops to Though the Colts are one of the When one player goes down, it gives playing time on defense as a backup help form consciences for political life, youngest teams in the NFL, the players another player the chance to step up, get linebacker. not tell people how to vote.” learned long ago that, no matter how far more playing time and show he belongs on But due to several injuries to defen- But he also said “Faithful Citizenship” they go in fulfilling their gridiron dreams, the field. But an injury can present an sive players this season, Boiman has clearly distinguishes between “intrinsic that journey can end suddenly with one opportunity for the sidelined player as well, See FAITH, page 2 See BISHOPS, page 10 Share your experiences as a member of the local Chur ch Responses for • What things should the leadership of the archdiocese consider in its next plan- planning process ning process based on your experience as a Catholic in this archdiocese? needed by Dec. 10 Please take a few minutes to answer Sean Gallagher File photo by this question. We will summarize the Criterion staff report responses, and report them in a future issue of The Criterion. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is An online version of the question- continuing to gather information to be naire is also available at used in its next strategic planning www.archindy.org/blessings. Please log process. on to the Web site to complete the Archdiocesan officials thank parish- process. ioners who have already taken the time Please submit your answers by to share their insights. Dec. 10. Thank you for taking the time The next step is to get more feedback to be part of this important process. Regina Gerstbauer sits on the lap of her mother, Cindy, from the people that make up the Send responses by e-mail to during the Feb. 26 Mass in honor of St. Theodora Guérin Church in central and southern Indiana. [email protected] or mail to at St. Louis Church in Batesville. Regina’s sister, Rachel, With that in mind, we are looking for The Criterion, 1400 N. Meridian St., P.O. sits to the right of her mother. All are members of people of faith to respond to this question: Box 1717, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1717. † St. Louis Parish. Page 2 The Criterion Friday, Novermber 23, 2007 Wherever he has played, Boiman has always strived for FAITH excellence. But he sees this inner drive more as a duty than as continued from page 1 a way to gain personal accolades. “I definitely feel very fortunate for the things that I’ve been been a starter in several games. blessed with,” Boiman said. “And, therefore, I feel obligated Although injuries make his profession a tenuous one, to go out and give my all, and excel as much as I can. Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Colts Boiman said they aren’t part of his mindset. “To those who have been given much, much is expected. I “I never try to focus on them because try to live up to that.” you get negative thoughts in your mind,” he said. “But whatever happens, I just try Faith, family and football to play the hardest I can and the fullest I Even if you’ve been given much, success doesn’t always can. And whatever happens, happens. come easily or stay around for long. “Football or not, I know I’m going to Just ask Keith O’Neil. be fine in life. I know I’d have another O’Neil was on top of the football world last February as a calling in life.” reserve linebacker for the world champion Colts. Like Being confident when your career can Boiman, he also played on special teams. end at a moment’s notice. Striving for But a series of lingering injuries con- Rocky Boiman excellence despite the risks. Boiman tributed to his being cut from the team on became a champion because of these Aug. 26—his 27th birthday—during the principles instilled at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. team’s training camp this summer. “You just always got the feeling that there was a standard As difficult as this was for O’Neil, it’s that was set before you got there,” he said. “And you had to been a part of his life from the very live up to that standard of excellence and of being a good beginning—literally. person.” O’Neil’s father was cut from the The bar continued to be set high when he enrolled at the New England Patriots by then assistant University of Notre Dame in the fall of 1998. Keith O’Neil coach Bill Parcells on the day that Keith “You always strive to be the best person and everything was born in 1980. you can be,” Boiman said. “I think that’s something that Keith grew up with a love of football, played at Notre Dame always preached, in the classroom and outside Northern Arizona University, and survived the final cut and the classroom. I think it was definitely something that helped earned a roster spot with the Dallas Cowboys on—you shape who I am.” guessed it—his birthday in 2003. After winning the Super Bowl with the Colts, Boiman The head coach of Dallas at the time? Bill Parcells. became a free agent. With such success, he could have gone O’Neil eventually made his way to the Colts and was to another team for a bigger contract and offers of increased getting ready to start his third year with the team when he playing time. was cut on his birthday this year. But a driving factor that led him to re-sign with the Colts Such coincidences might have led O’Neil to think that God Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Keith O’Neil walks on the was the team’s proximity to his family in Cincinnati.

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