The Aug. 7 Issue of the Criterion
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It’s All Good Columnist Patti Lamb reflects on having ‘a nice, normal family,’ page 12. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com August 7, 2015 Vol. LV, No. 43 75¢ Cardinal urges senators to back Finding God, embracing joy measure to defund Planned Parenthood WASHINGTON (CNS)—The head of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee on Aug. 3 urged U.S. senators to take the federal money that goes to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and instead fund women’s health care providers that do not promote abortion. “It has long been troubling to many Americans that the nation’s largest abortion network, performing over a third of all abortions, receives over half a billion taxpayer dollars a year,” said Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley. “This concern has rightly grown in recent years,” he wrote in a letter to the senators. The cardinal, who is chairman of the Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, urged senators to support S. 1881, a measure that would defund Planned Parenthood and its The journey of Mike Waters, left, into the Catholic Church received a substantial boost from William Ritz after an unexpected encounter in an exercise affiliates. facility. Here, the two friends talk after morning Mass on July 30 inside Holy Family Church in Richmond. (Photo by John Shaughnessy) Later that day, the Senate voted 53-46 to stop efforts that Republicans said Democrats were using to delay Youth minister and religion teacher uses his life See related stories, and ultimately kill pages 2-3. S. 1881. According story to teach young people about faith, friendship to an Associated Press (AP) story, By John Shaughnessy the Richmond Catholic Community and a encourage them. I also tell them that no 60 votes were needed to enable the defunding religion teacher at Seton Catholic School. one is going to think you’re not cool if measure to move forward. Both of Indiana’s RICHMOND—Every school year, “One day, a guy was calling me names, and you’re friends with everyone. And I tell senators, Republican Dan Coats and Mike Waters shares with students I started to cry, which is the worst thing a them that’s one of those moments when Democrat Joe Donnelly, supported the bill. two stories that show the tremendous boy can do in middle school. you know God is with you.” The Senate action came just days before power that one person can have in “My friend, Adam Golden, was part of That mention of God leads to the Congress was to begin its August recess. matters of friendship and faith. that group of guys—the ‘cool’ group. In second inspiring story that Waters shares AP said the House is expected to vote on a The first story takes the 32-year-old the midst of all of them, Adam spoke up about the power that one person can have similar measure when Congress returns. Waters back to his own days in and said, ‘I like Michael.’ ” in matters of friendship and faith. Cardinal O’Malley’s letter followed middle school and what may be his Waters pauses for a moment as the the release in mid-July of videos of the worst—and also his best—experience emotion of that experience returns to him. An unexpected discovery organization’s officials filmed undercover during that time. “To this day, he’s my best friend. Flash forward to 2006 when Waters by a nonprofit California-based organization “It was a little rocky at home for me “I tell the kids how powerful they can was a student at Bethany Theological called the Center for Medical Progress. then, and it would spill over into school,” be in situations like that—that if they see Seminary at Earlham College in “The most recent revelations about recalls Waters, the youth minister for someone having a bad day to stand up and See FAITH, page 8 See O’MALLEY, page 16 Serra canonization should be call to respect cultures, Franciscan superior says ROME (CNS)—The canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra honors a famous missionary who was motivated by love of God, but it also is a call to recognize how the process of evangelization must respect peoples and their cultures, said the head of the Franciscan order. Franciscan Father Michael Perry, a native of Indianapolis and minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, will be in attendance in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23 when Pope Francis canonizes Blessed Serra, the 18th-century Franciscan missionary who founded the string of famous California missions. The pope’s decision to canonize Blessed Junipero has provoked some controversy, mainly because of the impact of the missions on native peoples and cultures and because of claims that Father Junipero used corporal punishment on the Indians who lived at the missions. Franciscan Father Michael Perry, minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, In an interview with Catholic News Service on is pictured at the Franciscan headquarters in Rome on June 12. A native of July 31, Father Michael, who grew up in Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis, Father Michael said the canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra is Indianapolis, said, “When I first got word about the canonization, a call to recognize how the process of evangelization must respect all people See SERRA, page 8 and their cultures. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Page 2 The Criterion Friday, August 7, 2015 Ethical issues arise from California center’s ‘undercover’ videos OXNARD, Calif. (CNS)—The use by California Attorney General, of “undercover” reporting tactics by a Kamala Harris. California pro-life group in an attempt The center said in a July 30 statement to expose suspected illegal actions by that it “follows all applicable laws in the Planned Parenthood doctors pertaining course of our investigative journalism to solicitation of funds for the acquisition work, and will contest all attempts from of fetal tissue has stirred discussion Planned Parenthood and their allies to and debate. silence our First Amendment rights and In recent weeks, the California-based suppress investigative journalism.” Center for Medical Progress has released The National Abortion Federation several videos—and plans to release filed an injunction on July 31 in the more—that show doctors affiliated with U.S. District Court of the Northern District the nation’s leading abortion provider of California against the center. discussing fees for fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood disputes what the Federal law prohibits the sale of fetal videos show, saying they were severely tissue from abortions, though it allows edited to distort what the doctors being reimbursement for some costs connected interviewed said to make it sound like to the handling and processing of they are selling baby parts for money. such tissue. Planned Parenthood said its doctors are In the first two videos, the center’s salvaging fetal tissue and organs for reporters—armed with video cameras— researchers, and the talk of money was for posed as representatives of a mythical customary handling fees to provide the Jane Patnaude of Elk Point, S.D., prays at the Planned Parenthood facility in Sioux City, Iowa, after fetal tissue procurement firm who met parts to research labs. attending a #WomenBetrayed rally in Sioux City on July 28. Demonstrations were held in more at public restaurants with the doctors. From a Catholic standpoint, the issue than 60 cities across the country calling for an end to federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Over lunch, the reporters pretended to of undercover reporting points to several The use of recent “undercover” videos by a pro-life group to expose suspected illegal actions by solicit fetal tissue from the doctors, who conflicting principles. The Catechism Planned Parenthood has stirred discussion and debate. (CNS photo/Jerry L. Mennenga, The Catholic Globe) discussed possible price points for various of the Catholic Church, for example, body organs gleaned from abortions. suggests that those who lie—including, So how do the Center for Medical Archdiocese’s Respect Life Program. Undercover techniques—including the it would seem, those who misrepresent Progress reporters’ actions connect with “I would argue that they are bringing use of hidden cameras and “manufactured themselves—are in error. these teachings? Does their exposing of a corrupt institution to justice, in perhaps identities” including false names, fake “Lying is the most direct offense alleged wrongdoing connected with the the only way possible, to save innocent affiliation and even disguises—have long against the truth” (#2483). Moreover, “by practice of abortion—the willful taking lives—without a profit motive, with no been utilized by investigative journalists. its very nature, lying is to be condemned” of life, as defined by the Church—trump personal benefit, and with full knowledge In the case of the center’s videos, it is (#2485). their act of misrepresenting themselves? that they might be putting their futures unclear whether the Planned Parenthood At the same time, the catechism offers In other words, do the ends justify in jeopardy.” officials were notified that they were a further perspective with respect to the means, especially if a greater good Roberto Dell’Oro, director of the being recorded. Under California Penal communication and journalistic practices: stands to benefit? Because that is not Bioethics Institute at Loyola Marymount Code Section 632, “all parties to any • “The information provided by the an argument the Church accepts when University in Los Angeles, said that while confidential communication must give media is at the service of the common researchers who utilize embryos and it is always best to be above board in permission to be recorded, according to good.