A life of being present to others Celebrating the life and ministry of Father Gerald Kirkhoff, page 3. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com January 10, 2020 Vol. LX, No. 13 75¢ ICC to promote ‘We have to Church’s position on key issues do something’ during 2020 legislative session By Victoria Arthur As a new decade dawned at the Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis, the Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) was prepared to shed light on issues facing the legislature from the perspective of the Catholic Church and its timeless teachings. Lawmakers from across the state reconvened on Jan. 6 to open the 2020 Indiana General Assembly—a short session that could see up to a thousand bills filed on a wide range of matters affecting Hoosiers by its conclusion in early to mid-March. The ICC will once again serve as the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Indiana, following proposed legislation and promoting the Church’s position on key issues to legislators, the media As part of the approach of the Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford, Father Richard Eldred, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Bedford and and the general public. director Jennifer Richason help homeless men develop a plan to reach self-sufficiency. (Submitted photo) Angela Espada And now the ICC itself has a new voice, as Angela Espada became its executive director effective on Jan. 1. “Protecting the common good, the Tragedy inspires a community to join dignity of life and the dignity of the person will always be our core principles,” said Espada, a lifelong Catholic and an attorney forces to take care of ‘the least of them’ who brings an extensive background in By John Shaughnessy do something,” recalls Father Eldred, children that was already established law and higher education leadership to the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in in Bedford by Catholic Charities in the role. She is the first woman at the helm A tragedy can haunt us, making us Bedford. “With faith in God, we started archdiocese. of the ICC since its inception in 1966 and wonder how someone can die like that to put things together as a community to It’s also the story of how that the first woman of color to hold a Catholic in today’s world. make sure this didn’t happen again.” ecumenical effort connects the different Conference directorship nationwide. A tragedy can also motivate us, It’s the beginning of a story of faith communities in an inspiring Pro-life matters, predatory lending driving us to do everything we can so how the local churches and the city way, seven years after the death of the practices and other topics that have been the that it never happens again. administration of Bedford have homeless man in an alley. subject of many bills in recent legislative Father Richard Eldred had both those joined together to create a warm and sessions are expected to be debated once reactions when a homeless man was welcoming center for homeless men ‘We’re going to treat each other as again, according to Espada. found dead in an alley in the southern to escape the cold and the elements Christians should’ “There will be hundreds of bills filed Indiana community of Bedford after a from November through April—a Shortly after learning of the man’s during this short session,” Espada said. “The frigid night. natural complement to Becky’s Place, death, Father Eldred was determined to ICC will carefully follow, monitor and either “My initial reaction was we have to the homeless shelter for women and See TRAGEDY, page 16 speak in support of or in opposition to many See ICC, page 16 Hope for peace amid concerns about war after death of Iranian general in Baghdad WASHINGTON (CNS)—The tweet people of this nation. A divisive election past several years. early on Jan. 3 from Bishop Richard year. North Korea is watching all this and Bishop Stika told Catholic News F. Stika of Knoxville, Tenn., asked for now the assassination of the number 2 Service (CNS) on Jan. 6 that his tweet prayers. man in Iran. Prayers for the world during reflected a deep concern for uncertainty in It wasn’t an this time of unrest.” today’s world, especially as tensions rise unusual request from Bishop Stika’s tweet referred to a between the U.S. and Iran. a Church leader. Jan. 3 U.S. drone attack that killed “It just seems it could spark something, Still, its significance Soleimani and an Iraqi leader of an Iranian- and that it could be very difficult to stems from its context backed Shia militia at Baghdad International control the aftermath,” he said. and its timing: a Airport. Soleimani led Iran’s Islamic “I think about all of the individuals few hours after the Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. I have known who have been harshly overnight killing of A statement issued by the U.S. affected by being in wars. PTSD [post- Iran’s top military Defense Department noted that, at the traumatic stress disorder], lost limbs, leader, Maj. Gen. time of the drone strike, Soleimani was trauma,” the bishop continued. “It Bishop Richard Qassem Soleimani, in preparing attacks against U.S. diplomats concerns me it could be a dangerous F. Stika a U.S. drone strike in and military personnel. It also noted that thing. The uncertainty of this could Baghdad. he and the Quds Force were “responsible blossom into something that could “Welcome to the new year!” Bishop for the deaths of hundreds of American become horrific.” Stika wrote. “Congress and the President and coalition service members and the Bishop Stika is not alone. are playing with the emotions of the wounding of thousands more” over the See DRONE, page 10 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, January 10, 2020 Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson __________ January 15 – 23, 2020 January 15 – 10 a.m. January 19 – 6 p.m. Department heads meeting at Christian Unity Prayer Service at Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Zion Evangelical United Church of Catholic Center, Indianapolis Christ, Indianapolis January 16 – 10 a.m. January 21 – 10:30 a.m. Leadership Team meeting at Archbishop Priest Personnel Board meeting at Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center January 18 – 5 p.m. Mass and blessing of St. Theodora January 22 – 10:30 a.m. Guèrin Shrine at American Martyrs Respect Life Mass at St. John the Church, Scottsburg Evangelist Church, Indianapolis January 19 – 9:30 a.m. January 22 – 12:15 p.m. Morning Prayer and Mass at Bishop March for Life, Indianapolis Simon Bruté Seminary, Indianapolis Students of Lumen Christi Catholic School in Indianapolis carry a banner as they process up January 23 – 10 a.m. Meridian Street leading the second annual Indiana March for Life in Indianapolis on Jan. 22, 2019. January 19 – 12:45 p.m. Leadership Team meeting at Archbishop (File photo by Natalie Hoefer) Ribbon-cutting ceremony for official Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center opening of new spaces connecting church and gym and blessing crucifixes January 23 – 3 p.m. that will be hung in new rooms, St. Jude Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Vigil for Life, Indiana March for Life Church, Indianapolis, Commission meeting at Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center set for Jan. 21-22 in Indianapolis (Schedule subject to change.) Criterion staff report Parking will be available at two adjacent garages—Plaza Park Garage on The annual Vigil for Life and Indiana Capitol Avenue, or the World Wonders March for Life will take place on Jan. 21 Garage (mall parking) on Illinois Street. and 22 in Indianapolis. The events are Registration is not required, although held in solemn for planning purposes it is requested. To ‘No end in sight to the horror’: observance of the register, go to bit.ly/indymarch. 1973 Roe v. Wade The third annual Indiana March for Australian bishops respond to fires Supreme Court Life will take place the next day, on decision to legalize Jan. 22. CANBERRA, Australia (CNS)— “The efforts of firefighters have abortion in the United Mass will be celebrated at Saying that “there is no end in sight to the been heroic. The resilience of the States. Both events 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist horror which confronts us,” Archbishop communities affected has been draw attention to the Church. Archbishop Charles Mark B. Coleridge, extraordinary.” inherent dignity and C. Thompson of Indianapolis president of the At least 24 people have died in the respect for the lives of is scheduled to be the principal Australian Catholic fires, which began in August and now all unborn children. celebrant, with Lafayette Bishop Bishops Conference, are in four states. CNN reported on Jan. 7 Archbishop Charles The Vigil for Life Timothy L. Doherty concelebrating. said the bishops that more than 2,000 homes in the state C. Thompson will take place from At the same time, a memorial for the have implemented a of New South Wales alone have been 7-9 p.m. on Jan. 21 unborn, sponsored by Right to Life of national response to destroyed. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 126 W. Indianapolis, will take place in the months of wildfires. Archbishop Coleridge said the Georgia St., in Indianapolis. 500 Ballroom at the Indiana The bishops bishops were aware of “the huge This year’s evening of praise, worship Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., have set up a amount being done” by governments and reflections will feature Christian across from St.