Western Kentucky Catholic 600 Locust Street Nonprofit Org
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Western Kentucky Catholic 600 Locust Street Nonprofit Org. Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 U.S. Postage Western Kentucky Paid Owensboro, KY Permit No. 111 Change Service Requested 42301 Volume 28, Number 7 CATHOLIC The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky September, 2001 To give or not to give Bishop John McRaith invites you The Bishop annually asks us this question to the Diaconate during the Disciples Response Fund Appeal Ordination The signs of the giving season are here. Disciples Response Fund Contributors of Mr. Mark Disciples Response Fund materials are are listed inside this edition of the being mailed to homes across the diocese. Western Kentucky Catholic Buckner Every parish will read the Bishop’s remark at St. Stephen Cathedral from the pulpit by September 9th. And this it accomplishes great things for the Catholic 12:05 p.m., Noon Mass, issue of the Western Kentucky Catholic has Church of Western Kentucky. I realize that October 20, 2001 printed the names of nearly 5000 donors to people are asked on a continual basis for Mark is the son of Joseph the annual Disciples Response Fund Ap- money, but then I am too. All that I ask is that and Claudine Blandford of we prayerfully consider what God has en- peal. It’s time to consider giving again. St. Stephen Parish, The Disciples Response Fund is the an- trusted to our care, and share some of that Owensboro, and is enrolled nual diocesan effort that encourages homes portion with these important efforts. to make generous financial contributions to “When people look at the way we do in Sacred Heart Seminary Mark Buckner diocesan efforts of outreach, education and business they know we carefully steward School of Theology, evangelization. Many new programs and the dollars entrusted to us. We are currently Hales Corners, Wisconsin. efforts have started as a direct result of working on our new five year plan. Much of contributions to this effort. The Diocese our planning occurs with the lay and priest recently completed certification as a Catho- deaneries. While we can’t get to everything, And the beat goes on... lic adoption placement agency, and has we are trying to address important issues placed a baby, and already several birth- with these dollars. I think our well docu- By Vanessa Tong mothers intend to use these services to mented successes can be attributed to the KNOTTSVILLE,Ky. - Un- provide their babies with a loving Catholic great generosity of people,” said Bishop daunted bv seemingly insur- family. In addition, a new faith-based coun- McRaith. mountable financial woes, the selling program is being established for par- The Diocese ranks at or near the top in combined forces of St. William ishes that choose to participate, that will many giving statistics, and also leads na- and St, Lawrence Parishes in financially subsidize homes in need of coun- tional statistics in weekly mass attendance Daviess County are determined selling services. The services will range from and in the number of seminarians per capita. to fly. marriage counselling to crisis and addiction “We are blessed in this Diocese because Many fundraising efforts are counselling. people take being Catholic very seriously,” under way, and Parish excitement In addition, over $70,000 was distributed he said. is running high. On Saturday, this year from the fund to Catholic parishes, The Disciples Response Fund has also October 13, at the St. Lawrence schools and agencies across the diocese been the beneficiary of gifts from wills and picnic grounds, a music festival that are ministering to abused children, pro- estates as well. like no other will be held. viding health care, educating and evangeliz- Bishop McRaith concluded,“Most of the Beginning at 2:00 p.m. the fun ing. problems we face are centered on the issues begins. Music featuring gospel, On July 15, families enjoyed excellent bluegrass Ten percent of the money collected is of conversion and stewardship. But we need country, bluegrass, and more, will tunes at St. Lawrence picnic grounds, a great place distributed as seed money to parish endow- more people coordinating efforts of minis- keep families entertained for for spending an afternoon listening to music and ments, and other dollars provide for retired try, education and outreach if we hope to hours. Chili, hotdogs, burgers, visiting family and friends. The musicians in the priests and even help educate seminarians. continue to reach hearts and touch lives. cold drinks, and popcorn will be background here are all from Eastern Daviess “This has been a very ambitious program This is one way we grow as the Catholic available. Entry fee will be $5.00 County. Staff Photo from the beginning,”said Bishop John Church of Western Kentucky. It’s obvious for adults, $3.00 for children 12 says, “‘These Parishes will fly!” Bring your family and McRaith. “I was here 13 years before I by the response of people that we do indeed and under. your guitar, banjo or fiddle. Join us for an evening of thought this type of effort was needed, and want to see the Church grow and thrive.” As Pastor Fr. Tony Stevenson great entertainment, and help us fly. 2 The Western Kentucky Catholic, September, 2001 Diocese We can have profound influence on life decisions by being informed, committed to life, sharing our commitment with others My Dear Friends, couraging the destruction of human em- Recent news has been filled with debate obtain the cells. bryos in the future. Some doctrinal sources to explain the prob- over embryo research. There is a struggle Key points in the critique of this policy by between those who would use life for re- lem of funding this research. the Catholics bishops’ conference: Donum Vitae (Instruction on Respect for search and in the process end that life and Research on cell lines already established those who condemn this process (the Catho- Human Life In its Origin and on the Dignity by destroying human embryos does not avoid of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions lic Church being among those opposed). moral complicity in such destruction. This concern seems to touch on so many of the Day, Sacred Congregation for the These human embryos did not die of natu- Doctrine of the Faith, 1987): other life issues, such as cloning and other ral causes or for reasons unrelated to re- misuse of life, that it becomes a very impor- “To use human embryos or fetuses as the searches’ goals. They were destroyed for object or instrument of experimentation con- tant issue for all of us. All of this seems so the sake of this research in ways tailored to new to many of us, but we can be sure that stitutes a crime against their dignity as hu- provide the most usable cells for the re- man beings having a right to the same re- the question is not settled by any means. search. Federal funds will be awarded di- Just as the struggle to bring an end to abor- spect that is due to the child already born and rectly to those researchers who destroyed to every human person...The corpses of hu- tion continues to rage, so will issues such as the embryos for this purpose, or to those embryo research. man embryos and fetuses, whether they have who pay those researchers for the right to been deliberately aborted or not, must be That is the reason I want to share with you use the cell lines. the following statement by the President of respected just as the remains of other human The fact that the embryos were destroyed beings...Futhermore, the moral requirements the United States Catholic Conference of with private funds does not solve the moral Bishops, as well as a fact sheet that will assist must be safeguarded, that there be no com- problem. plicity in deliberate abortion and that the risk you to stand up for life in all its forms. The The embryos were destroyed in anticipa- statement was issued following President Most Reverend John J. McRaith, D.D. of scandal be avoided” (I.4) Bishop of Owensboro, Ky. tion of receiving federal grants for the result- “It is a duty to condemn the particular George Bush’s decision to allow govern- ing research. The researchers created the ment money to support research that relies gravity of the voluntary destruction of hu- ing that these limits will interfere with efforts cell lines following the NTH’s standards for man embryos obtained ‘in vitro’ for the sole on the destruction of defenseless human life to turn embryonic stem cell research into obtaining consent from the embryos’ par- for the possible benefit to others. The fact purpose of research...” (I.5) possible medical treatments. The President’s ents, etc., so they would qualify for federal Declaration on the Production and the sheet was compiled by the Bishops’ Secre- policy may therefore prove to be as unwork- grants. tariat for Pro-Life Activities. It is my hope Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human able as it is morally wrong, ultimately serving The new policy abandons important ethi- Embryonic Stem Cells (Pontifical Academy that both of these will assist all of you to not only those whose goal is unlimited embryo cal limits found in current law on fetal tissue only appreciate the seriousness of the issue, for Life, 2000): research. research. “Is it morally licit to use ES (embryonic but also give you answers and facts that “We hope and pray that President Bush Fetal tissue research is ineligible for federal support the position of the Church, which stem) cells, and the differentiated cells ob- will return to a principled stand against treat- funding if an abortion was performed specifi- tained from them, which are supplied by you can use in your own discussions with ing some human lives as nothing more than cally to obtain the tissue; the researcher family and friends.