Local Efforts Planned to Defend Religious Liberty Father Haney
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JUNE 22, 2012 VOLUME 48, NUMBER 12 INSIDE: Page 16: Bishop to celebrate local World Youth Day Mass Page 5: Msgr. Gribbin marks 65 years of priesthood Page 6: Recalling Daughters of Charity’s service during Civil War Page 8: Sisters celebrate jubilees “In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host….” ~ Pope Benedict XVI, Visit to Poland, May 2006 JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS The Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph Parish in Lancaster is one ten Chapels of Perpetual Adoration of the Holy Eucharist in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Regu- lar adorers at this chapel joined Msgr. Thomas Smith, pastor, in reflecting on the fruits of adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. See page 9. Father Haney Local Efforts Planned to Remembered as Defend Religious Liberty Bishop Joseph P. McFadden has announced that and inform them that as believers it is vital that we the Diocese of Harrisburg will take part and be are able to practice our faith in every dimension of Prolific Writer, fully supportive of the Fortnight for Freedom, a our lives. 14-day period of prayer, education and action in Culminating on Independence Day, the Fortnight support of religious freedom. More FORTNIGHT, page 2 Homilist, Educator The two-week initiative, June 21- By Jen Reed July 4, was called for by the United The Catholic Witness States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Lib- Father T. Ronald Haney, a priest of the Diocese of Har- erty and was instituted because of con- risburg for 54 years and Editor of The Catholic Witness cerns over threats to religious freedom, from 1975-2006, died June 16 in Danville. He was 80 both at home and abroad. years old. “Without exaggeration, I tell you The funeral Mass was to be that we are engaged in one of the most celebrated June 22 at noon at important challenges of our lifetime. St. Theresa Church in New Every priest and deacon, every conse- Cumberland, with burial in the crated man and woman, every member Priests’ Circle at Holy Cross of the laity needs to understand fully Cemetery in Harrisburg. that the loss of this struggle is the loss Closing Mass Father Haney was known as of our personal and God-given right a prolific writer, gifted homilist to practice our Christian faith in this • Wednesday, July 4 at 9 a.m. and insightful conversationalist country,” Bishop McFadden wrote in • St. Patrick Cathedral, who could challenge people in a letter to priests in the diocese. 212 State Street, Harrisburg their thoughts and actions. The bishop stressed that the defense “He kind of marched to a different drummer,” said Fa- of religious freedom is not a political • Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, Celebrant ther William Sullivan, a retired priest of the diocese who effort but one that is motivated by faith. All are encouraged to attend, as we pray for and witness to religious was close friends with Father Haney since their seminary He called the faithful to take action in liberty. It is expected that this service will be streamed live on the years. addition to prayer and fasting, asking Diocese of Harrisburg’s website, www.HbgDiocese.org. More FATHER HANEY, page 10 them to contact their elected officials 2 - THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, JUNE 22, 2012 Faith and Life ishes via DVD. These presentations, which cies,” by Father Paul CB Schenck, Director declares: “Religious liberty is not only Fortnight are also available on the Diocesan website of the Diocesan Respect Life Office about our ability to go to Mass on Sun- and You Tube Channel, are: Websites of the United States Confer- day or pray the Rosary at home. It is about Continued from 1 “Moral and Pastoral Perspectives on the ence of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb. whether we can make our contribution to for Freedom is a special period of prayer, HHS Mandate,” by Father David L. Dan- org), the Diocese of Harrisburg (www.hbg- the common good of all Americans. Can study, catechesis and public action that will neker, Ph.D., a medical ethicist and pastor diocese.org) and the Pennsylvania Catholic we do the good works our faith calls us emphasize both our Christian and Ameri- of St. Peter Parish in Elizabethtown Conference (www.pacatholic.org) offer a to do, without having to compromise that can heritage of liberty. Special events that “The Next Mandate: Abortion Services,” plethora of information on religious liberty, very same faith? Without religious liberty support this great national campaign of by Michael Ciccocioppo of the Pennsylva- as well as information on how Catholics properly understood, all Americans suffer, teaching and witness for religious liberty nia Pro-Life Federation can take action through prayer, events and deprived of the essential contribution in have been scheduled. “Answering Tough Questions about the contacting elected officials. education, health care, feeding the hungry, In the Diocese of Harrisburg, the Fort- HHS Mandate,” by Amy Hill of the Penn- In “A Statement on Religious Liberty,” civil rights, and social services that reli- night for Freedom began with an opening sylvania Catholic Conference the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s gious Americans make every day, both here Mass June 22, at 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick “Church and State: Relative Competen- Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty at home and overseas.” Church in Carlisle. Bishop McFadden cel- ebrated the Mass, held on the feast of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of states- men and politicians. Local ‘Fortnight for Freedom’ Efforts St. Thomas More served King Henry VIII as a diplomat and attorney until the • St. Joseph Parish in York will host a Day of Prayer and • St. John the Baptist Parish in New Freedom will celebrate king had him beheaded for refusing to Adoration for Religious Liberty June 21. Mass will be celebrat- religious freedom at the “Field of Flags” June 24 at church’s Consti- comply with the Act of Supremacy that ed at 8 a.m., followed by a day of Adoration, a Holy Hour from tution Avenue entrance. From 4:30-5:30 p.m., bring a lawn chair or required English subjects to recognize the 6-7 p.m., and a movie, “Nine Days that Changed the World” at 7 blanket for a time of prayer and music. Speakers include Father Paul king’s supremacy over the pope. St. Thom- p.m., with discussion led by Father Zenon Maszczyk. CB Schenck, Director of the Diocesan Respect Life Office; Pastor as More was recognized in an Apostolic Dione Klepetka of Christ Lutheran Church; and Michael Ciccociop- Letter from Pope John Paul II as “a source • Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Mount Carmel will po of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. At 6 p.m., contemporary th of inspiration for a political system which have a Prayer Rally in the parish parking lot at 4 and Market Mass will be celebrated in the main church. has as its supreme goal the service of the streets June 25 and July 3.After each Mass throughout the Fort- • Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish human person.” night, we will pray the Prayer to St. Thomas More and present in York will have daily recitation of the rosary for the intention of A Closing Mass for the Fortnight for the Fortnight teaching component from the USCCB. restoring religious liberty in our country, June 21 to July 4. For a Freedom will be celebrated on Wednesday, • Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lan- complete schedule of events, visit www.stmarysyork.org or call the July 4 at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral in caster will celebrate the Fortnight for Freedom with a Venera- parish office at 717-845-7629. Harrisburg. It is expected that this service tion of the Relics of the Early Martyrs June 23 from 4-5 p.m. • The Columbiettes of York are organizing a Rally for Reli- will be streamed live on the Diocesan web- and June 24 before and between Masses. The same schedule for gious Freedom on the square in the city of York (George and Market site at www.HbgDiocese.org. The bells of Veneration will take place the following weekend. The novena streets) on June 22 at 7 p.m. every Catholic church in the diocese will to St. John the Baptist will begin the weekend of June 23 and • St. Rita Parish in Blue Ridge Summit will have a showing of ring in support of religious freedom at noon June 24. A Holy Hour for Religious Liberty will be held at 7 the movie, “A Man for all Seasons – The life of St. Thomas More” on July 4 as the faithful pray that freedom p.m. on June 28. Stations of the Cross will be held on Friday, on June 21 at 7 p.m. Each evening at 7 p.m., there will be Prayer will resound boldly in our land. June 29, at 7 p.m. with the Veneration of the True Cross Relic. for Religious Liberty, Rosary, and a variation of the following on Throughout this 14-day period, addi- different nights: talk on Catholic social teaching, and brief DVD’s tional on-line resources will be available Members of the parish will give brief comments on the impor- tance of religious liberty at all the Masses the weekends of June on topics such as Forming a Catholic Conscience, and Voting as a at www.hbgdiocese.org to both educate Catholic.