World Youth Day Native Bradford Logo for 2013 event in Brazil unveiled, page 2. priest recognized Father Leo Gallina to receive Pitt-Bradford’s highest honor, page 4. www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE February 26, 2012 Church Calendar Events of the local, American and universal church HHS mandate a threat to religious liberty, bishop says to this new rule.” comes to truth.” Bishop Trautman on HHS compromise: Sebelius announced the mandate In a move that appears unlikely Feast days and a narrow religious exemption to end the controversy over the HHS ‘our position remains unchanged’ to it Aug. 1, 2011. Under the plan, mandate, President Barack Obama after Aug. 1 of this year, new or sig- outlined a plan Feb. 10 that would al- By Jason Koshinskie Clause of the First Amendment.” nifi cantly altered health plans will be low religious employers not to offer FaithLife editor The public controversy erupted required to provide all FDA-approved such services to their employees but when Kathleen Sebelius, secretary contraceptives, including some that would compel insurance companies to In a letter to parishioners through- of the U.S. De- can cause abortions, without co-pays do so. out the Diocese of Erie, Bishop Don- partment of or deductibles as part of preventive The president announced the policy ald Trautman reiterated his stance Health and Hu- health care for women. in a brief statement but took no ques- along with the bishops of the United man Services, The announcement delays but does tions. States against the Obama administra- announced Jan. not change the HHS ruling on contra- “At this point our position remains tion’s support of compulsory health 20 that instead ceptive coverage. unchanged,” Bishop Trautman said in insurance funding for contraceptives, of revising its “Please understand that this issue response to the president’s statement. St. Katharine Drexel St. John of God sterilizations and abortifacients. religious ex- is much broader than contraception,” “The Catholic Diocese of Erie, like “I want to underscore the fact that emption to the Bishop Trautman said in his letter. “In many other church institutions, is self- March 2 World Day of Prayer this is not a Republican or a Demo- requirement addition to the fact that we are mor- insured. Many questions remain about March 3 St. Katharine Drexel cratic issue, but rather a fundamental, that all health ally opposed to contraception, ster- the status of self-insured entities with constitutional issue,” Bishop Traut- plans cover ilization and abortifacients, we must the Obama compromise.” March 7 Ss. Perpetua and Felicity Bishop Donald man said in the letter dated Feb. 8. “At contraceptives Trautman stand against this ruling in order to Bishop Trautman said it’s important March 8 St. John of God stake is our own constitutional right to and steriliza- preserve the civil rights and the con- See HHS MANDATE, March 9 St. Frances of Rome religious liberty and freedom of con- tions free of charge, nonprofi t groups science rights of Catholic Americans. science protected by the Free Exercise will get an additional year “to adapt There can be no compromise when it page 2 March 11 Girl Scout Sunday Confi rmations Bishop Donald Trautman will visit the following churches to offer the sacrament of confi rmation: Queen of the World, St. Marys – Sunday, Process begins at diocesan level before reaching Rome March 11 at 2 p.m. Confi rmation classes include St. Mary, St. Marys; Sacred Heart, St. Marys; and Queen of the World, St. Marys. By Jason Koshinskie good candidates,” said Father Chris FaithLife editor Singer, chancellor of the diocese and a St. Boniface, Erie – Monday, March 12 canon lawyer. at 7 p.m. Confi rmation classes include Holy When Bishop Donald Trautman For the Diocese of Erie, our prov- Family, Erie, and St. Boniface, Erie. turned 75 on June 24, he submitted his ince is made up of the dioceses of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. Pennsylvania and the metropolitan is The Catholic Church's Code of Can- the archbishop of Philadelphia. Operation Rice Bowl on Law requires all bishops to submit a Canon law requires that a bishop letter of resignation when they turn 75; candidate should be: Every year, millions of Catholics in the United although the pope rarely accepts the res- Outstanding in solid faith, good States participate in Operation Rice Bowl, Catholic ignation immediately. morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, Relief Services’ annual Lenten program that starts It often takes six to eight months— prudence and human virtues and en- on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. Each Lent, Catho- and sometimes longer—from the time dowed with other qualities which make lic parishes and schools from more than 12,000 a diocese becomes vacant until a new him suitable to fulfi ll the offi ce in ques- communities use symbolic rice bowls as the focal bishop is appointed, according to the tion; point for their prayer, fasting and learning. Getting United States Conference of Catholic Of good reputation involved in the program is a tangible way to help Bishops (USCCB). At least 35 years old people living in poverty around the world. The eight-month mark came this Ordained to the priesthood for at Participants in Operation Rice Bowl month, so the Diocese of Erie is already least fi ve years make the small sacrifi ce of preparing simple, meat- in the “sometimes longer” timeframe. In possession of a doctorate or less recipes each week and putting the money they So who actually appoints a new bish- at least a licentiate in sacred scripture, otherwise would have spent on a big meal into sym- op? theology or canon law from an institute bolic rice bowls. That money goes to support CRS’ The short answer to that question is of higher studies approved by the Ap- mission to fi ght global hunger and poverty. the Holy Spirit. Prayer is an important ostolic See or at least truly expert in the For more information on Operation Rice Bowl, part of the process. The Holy Spirit is same disciplines. visit www.orb.crs.org. called upon to guide deliberations and “The practice is for the bishops of candidate selections so that the will of each province to meet periodically and Rite of Election – Feb. 26 God is working through the entire pro- to fl oat names of priests they think would make good bishops,” said Vati- Candidates and catechumens participating in cess. The ultimate decision in appoint- ing a new bishop rests with the pope. can journalist John Allen. the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) A Vatican correspondent for the Na- program at their respective parishes in the Diocese But how does he know whom to se- lect? tional Catholic Reporter (NCR) and a of Erie will celebrate the Rite of Election on Sun- Vatican analyst for CNN and National day, Feb. 26, the fi rst Sunday of Lent. The Rite of “The primary process is that at least once every three years, the bishops of a Public Radio, Allen writes the weekly The mitre, a liturgical headdress, is a symbol of the offi ce of a bishop. The Election will be celebrated at 3 p.m. at two loca- “All Things Catholic” blog for NCR tions: St. Peter Cathedral in Erie and St. Francis of province come together with the metro- Diocese of Erie will soon have a new bishop, but the process in selecting a Assisi Parish in Clearfi eld. politan and put together a list of names candidate is a lengthy one. Pictured is a mitre belonging to Bishop Donald of priests whom they think would make See BISHOP, page 3 Trautman. Catholic Schools Week brings pastoral visit Child protection audit fi nds to St. Michael School in Greenville diocese in full compliance By Jason Koshinskie FaithLife editor The Diocese of Erie and its Offi ce for Protec- tion of Children and Youth were found to be in full compliance (with) the U.S. Catholic bish- ops’ Charter for the Protection of Children dur- ing its most recent audit. For the eighth time in eight years, the diocese has complied with the church’s national standardss for child protection programs and the preven- tion of and response to sexual abuse. The bishops’ charter went into effect in Child Protection — By the numbers: June 2002. The diocesan policy, based Data from this year’s Child Protection audit on the charter, went into effect in June showed a total of 23,005 children, youth and 2003. The charter calls for annual au- adults in-serviced on the Diocese of Erie’s safe dits to ensure that dioceses across the environment practices. The in-servicing took nation are in compliance with the place from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. charter’s provisions. As part of the in-service process, all adults have “We’ve always been found in had background checks completed and cleared. full compliance of the charter,” In-services were conducted with: said Msgr. Robert Smith, vicar general of the diocese and director 18,638 children and youth of the Offi ce for Protection of Children and 173 priests Youth. “And that’s very important. Full compli- 64 deacons ance is a good indicator of the many people in 34 candidates for ordination GREENVILLE – Bishop Donald Trautman visited the summer. The $750,000 project included new doors, 762 educators (teachers, principals) fl oors, plumbing, windows and wiring. our parishes—priests, religious education direc- St. Michael School in Greenville Jan. 27 to celebrate tors, coaches and volunteers who are working 934 parish and school employees Mass for the school community to begin Catholic The project was completed with pledges from parents 2,400 parish and school volunteers and parishioners and proceeds from fundraisers, said very hard to ensure the protection of children.