Faith-Based Initiative Plan Draws Praise, Questions Bishops Launch Dialogue with Philosophers, Theologians Vocations Event Atten
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PITTSBURGH www.pittsburghcatholic.org 156th Year, CLVI No. 48 350 Established in 1844: America’s Oldest Catholic Newspaper in Continuous Publication Friday, February 9, 2001 Faith-based initiative plan draws praise, questions By PATRICIA ZAPOR a culture of charity and compassion to See related story on page 10 Americans United and a United Church The offices’ objective is to help com Catholic News Service this great country of ours.“ of Christ minister. munity and faith-based organizations New York Cardinal-designate Church and State warned that Bush’s Lining up somewhere in between Car of all sizes and denominations partici WASHINGTON — President Bush’s Edward Egan made the comments proposal holds dangers both for the dinal-designate Egan’s enthusiasm and pate in federally funded social service faith-based Initiatives program Intro after participating in a White House government and for religious groups Rev. Lynn’s skepticism were those who programs. Another aspect of the ini duced late In January drew everything meeting Jan. 31 with Bush, members that accept its funding. see much to support in Bush’s plan but tiative would allow tax write-offs for from high praise to condemnation. of his Cabinet and about two dozen “Once churches, temples, mosques had concerns about how the initiative charitable donations for people who While he had a few words of caution, others representing Catholic organi and synagogues are being financed by will actually work. do not itemize on their federal taxes. the archbishop of New York said he zations. the public, some of their freedom will Bush’s executive order created the Tom Chabolla, director of the Los believes the initiative “is going to be a Meanwhile, leaders of the organiza be placed in jeopardy by the almost- White House Office of Faith-Based and Angeles Archdiocese Office of Justice great success — bringing a culture of tions People for the American Way and certain regulation to follow," said Rev. Community Initiatives and called for sep understanding, a culture of concern, Americans United for Separation of Barry Lynn, executive director of arate offices within five Cabinet agencies. See FAITH on page 2 inside catholic Vocations event Schools week attendees open Five pictures capture a sampling of the activities that occurred hearts to God’s call throughout the diocese in celebra tion of Catholic Schools Week. By JOHN FRANKO or active lay ministry. See page 7. Staff Writer “It’s important to open our hearts to what God has in Bishop’s column: Bishop Donald Maureen Bonczek looked store and to let Him speak to Wuerl writes about Catholic faith around at the large number us in a way that we hear,” — the natural moral law. See of young people and noted said Bishop Donald Wuerl. page 4. the importance of having The gathering featured a them witness the faith of breakfast, keynote presenta Retirement home: The Holy others. tions by KDKA-TV’s Bob Ghost Fathers USA East Province “It’s good for them to see Pompeani and actress Mag has dedicated Libermann Hall, people with strong beliefs gie Stewart of “Mister Rogers the assisted/independent living who also have a strong Neighborhood" and a Mass. facility for its members in Bethel career that goes hand in Also included were witness Park. See page 3. hand," she said. “It’s good talks by Father Robert for them to see that God is Miller, parochial vicar at St. Family choir: When St. Pius X important in everyone’s life." Valentine in Bethel Park; Parish in Pittsburgh’s Brookline The director of religious Vincentian Sister of Charity section decided to form a choir, education at St. Louise de Michelle Grgurich; seminari organizers wanted to try some Marillac in Upper St. Clair an Terrance O’Connor; and thing different so they formed a was one of more than 250 Jamie Dillon, a youth minis family choir. See page 11. people who attended the sec ter at St. Scholastica in ond annual “Come and See: Aspinwall. Devastating blow: The fire that Find the ‘U’ in Church" voca Stewart described herself Photos by Dave Rentz gutted the former St. Joseph tions event held Feb. 4 at the as “a practicing Roman Listening to Bob Pompeani are Bishop Donald Wuerl, right, and Father Dave Bonnar, rector of St. Paul Seminary. - Church in Natrona was a crushing Green Tree Holiday Inn. Catholic very much in love blow to the drama department of The event was designed to with my church.” A convert value of her education at the where he is today. gathering reminded all that St. Joseph High School, which help men and women ages to the faith, she spoke of the former Sacred Heart High He pointed out the birth of they are called to a spiritual used the facility for storage. See 15 to 50 discern their call to “beautiful" religious sisters School in Pittsburgh's East his two daughters showed vocation. page 11. the priesthood, religious life who influenced her, and the Liberty section. him and his wife, Lisa, the "We take time to listen to It was there, she noted, responsibility of parenthood. God so we hear His voice and Operation Safety Net: The Pitts that she learned to sing, act He said parents must raise know where He is calling burgh Mercy Health System pro and express herself. She their kids and he questioned us,” Sister Pat said. gram that provides medical care also learned American Sign media tactics in explaining That call was evident in to Pittsburgh's homeless has Language, which she uses to youth violence in society. the witness talks. been given a three-year, interpret the Gospel for the “The one thing they don’t Father Miller said he once $275,000 grant from Glaxo deaf community at her home want to ask is the most considered a career in mete SmithKline’s U.S. Community parish of St. Justin in Pitts important of all," he said. orology, only to find that Partnership Team. See page 3. burgh’s Mount Washington “Where are the parents of God had different plans for section. these kids?" him. Father Bober’s column: Father “More often than ‘My goal must Pompeani said He spoke of his joy in being Charles Bober answers a reader's not, something be to maximize the beauty of a priest, and he said he question about the basic human comes over me," God is that He never feels alone. “You don't difficulty of making decisions. See she said. “It’s my my talents for has a place for have time to feel lonely," he page 7. Pentecost. I’m the greater goal each person and said. “If I devote myself to given the grace to calls them in dif people as a priest should do, Serra Club: John Pillar, a former express the Word of humanity ferent ways. He I find they take care of me." official of the Serra Club, explains of God.” and for my own pointed out the Father Miller said he still that the main purpose of the Stewart said she salvation.’ work of spread dreams about what could organization of laymen and lay- knows her spiritu ing God’s mes have been, but he realizes women is to foster and promote al mission is being — Maggie Stewart sage is ultimately how limited his dreams religious vocations. See page 5. fulfilled when she the best reward. were. uses her God- “Talent is a gift Winning not everything: A “When I gave my life to given talents, adding, “My from God, but how you use God, the ride began," he diocesan school official points out goal must be to maximize my that talent is your gift back said. “And what a ride it’s anyone can win well, but the real talents for the greater goal of to him,” he said. been." heroes in sports are those who humanity and for my own Sister of St. Francis Patri Sister Michelle said she lose graciously. See Page 5. salvation.” cia Rogan, director of the loves religious life and feels Pompeani spoke of the Earthquake relief: Christian diocesan Institute for Min called to spread the good challenge of overcoming two bishops have urged church agen istries, who co-chaired the news of it. open-heart surgeries during cies to join Hindus to help sur event with Judy Kirk, direc “Religious life is alive his youth. He said that while tor of the diocesan Depart vivors of India’s devastating earth today, and it is a valid and they cut short his dream of ment for Religious Educa quake, despite claims that right- grace-filled way of life.” becoming a professional tion/CCD, and Father wing Hindu groups have inter She said that while her Maggie Stewart addresses the 250 people gathered for the dioce golfer, they were actually a James Ruggiero, diocesan fered in their relief work. See san vocations event. gift that help lead him to vicar for clergy, said the page 9. See VOCATIONS on page 2 Bishops launch dialogue with philosophers, theologians By GENE STOWE ology of hum an freedom and on the possessing a yearning for transcen knowing and loving and feeling." rest of the planet," he said. “It's no Catholic News Service ethics of harvesting organs from dence.” Piety, doctrine, creeds and dogma, longer possible, it seems to me, to “brain-dead” patients. Father Stephen Happel of The all reflected in the modern catechism, keep the two languages completely NOTRE DAME, Ind. — A committee “While religion talks about the soul, Catholic University of America in sometimes use different vocabularies distinct." of bishops, scientists and theologians philosophy about mind, and neuro Washington presented reflections on in image-rich approaches to reality, he At the same time, he said, partici met Feb.