Faith and Family Waiting can take on new meaning during Advent, page 12. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com November 27, 2020 Vol. LXI, No. 9 75¢ A Call to Civility ‘God is still November 27, 2020 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Advent, a season of preparation and hope, blessing me marks the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Church. It allows for a time of renewal that can bring about what Pope Francis has referred to as the each day’ warming of hearts and healing of wounds. As we await with active anticipation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I offer this reflection as a means Archbishop Charles of underscoring the C. Thompson spirit of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical letter, “Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship,” as a reminder of our interconnectedness as a human family and the need for our witness to hope that lies at the heart of our capacity to attract believers and transform society. The ability of any community or group to survive, even thrive, amid adversity is the measure of civility. This is especially true during times of chaos, division and transitioning of authority. Unfortunately, the misuse of today’s Retired Msgr. Paul Koetter types into a tablet on Oct. 29 in his office at Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis, where he previously served as pastor. social media includes Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has taken away his ability to speak. He types what he wants to say, and Letter in Spanish, the proliferation of software on his tablet vocalizes his words in what sounds like his voice. (Photo by Sean Gallagher) page 8. shaming, abusing and scapegoating that marks practically every sphere of our society. Msgr. Paul Koetter continues to Far from the ability of being able to agree to disagree, persons of differing opinions are quick to demonize one another. With minister despite challenges of ALS little ground for compromise, there is little possibility for authentic dialogue. Relating By Sean Gallagher way he helps connect the people he serves with God, and a to everything as “black and white,” one prime way through which God blesses him by connecting him can only perceive another as “for me” or The pilgrims rode in a boat across choppy waves on the Sea to his parishioners. “against me.” Such are the effects of the of Galilee with wind gusting and rain blowing into their boat. As the waves rocked the boat, as the wind blew in the rain, the extreme polarization that exists. A greater storm was churning in the hearts and minds of pilgrims gathered around Msgr. Koetter, lovingly known as Father The lack of civility is probably no more the pilgrims and the priest who was leading them in their Paul in the parishes in which he has served, to pray for him. palpable than what we have experienced in journey of faith through the Holy Land in November 2019. “We all prayed, our hands touching him,” said Cindy our country during these last few months Msgr. Paul Koetter, at the time pastor of Holy Spirit Parish Thomas, a pilgrim and a Holy Spirit parishioner. “As soon as with the pandemic, social unrest and the in Indianapolis, was suffering from amyotrophic lateral we did that, the storm stopped. The sea calmed. The sun came political election process. The freedom to sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative nerve disorder commonly out. It was like God saying, ‘OK. I hear you. I’ve got you.’ It protest, march, advocate, hold up signs and known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. was the most powerful thing.” make one’s voice heard is a right that we all The condition was taking away his ability to speak, a prime See KOETTER, page 10 share. Such freedom gives none of us the See CIVILITY, page 7 In virtual meeting, U.S. bishops focus on McCarrick report, pandemic and racism WASHINGTON (CNS)—The two place in Baltimore, was virtual this McCarrick, released less than a week days of the virtual assembly of the year due to COVID-19 restrictions, and before on Nov. 10. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops the public sessions were livestreamed. Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, (USCCB) on Nov. 16-17 initially included About 300 bishops Texas, said the report—which described discussion of the Vatican report on former logged on, and McCarrick’s ascent to the highest rungs of cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. But for the most part, the Church, even amid rumors of abuse— the bulk of the bishops’ conversation they crossed the read like a list of the seven deadly sins. focused on the ongoing pandemic and the technological “It’s very clear that there’s still very Church’s response to racism. hurdles of making much a tendency in the world and in The meeting concluded with reaction sure their individual the Church to turn a blind eye to many to the presidential election, as Los responses came of these sins,” he added during the 45 Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, through on the minutes of discussion about the long- president of the USCCB, announced teleconference awaited 460-page report. formation of a working group to address Archbishop Jose format. Chicago’s Cardinal Blase J. Cupich various issues of top importance to the H. Gomez The main said Pope Francis had taken historic Church with the new administration of topic on Nov. 16, action in issuing the document as well President-elect Joe Biden. added late to the bishops’ agenda, was as other unprecedented measures. The assembly, which usually takes discussion on the Vatican report on See BISHOPS, page 3 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, November 27, 2020 Supreme Court allows execution Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Texas inmate to proceed __________ WASHINGTON (CNS)—Late on Oklahoma City, chairman of the United December 1–8, 2020 Nov. 19, the Supreme Court denied a States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ stay of execution for federal inmate (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Orlando Hall, who was put to death by Justice and Human Development, December 1 – 10 a.m. December 7 – 7 p.m. lethal injection an hour later, just before and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Clergy Advent Day of Prayer at Mass of Confirmation for youths of midnight. of Kansas City, Kan., chairman of St. Bartholomew Parish, Columbus Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis, at Last minute filings led to a district the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Holy Spirit Church judge’s injunction earlier that day, Activities. December 3 – 10 a.m. temporarily halting the execution. The Earlier in the day of Hall’s execution, Catholic Center Connection meeting December 8 – 10 a.m. decision was immediately appealed to the U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said at Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Mass at Marian University, Supreme Court. Justices Stephen Breyer, it had to be temporarily halted while the Catholic Center, Indianapolis Indianapolis Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan court examined the issues raised by Hall’s dissented. attorneys. December 3 – noon December 8 – noon The court also rejected, with no “The court is deeply concerned that Mass for feast of St. Francis Xavier Mass for the Solemnity of the noted dissents, three separate emergency the government intends to proceed with at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed requests filed days prior to Hall’s a method of execution that this court and Indianapolis Virgin Mary at SS. Peter and Paul execution, seeking a postponement. the Court of Appeals have found violates Cathedral Hall, 49, was the eighth federal inmate federal law,” she wrote. December 3 – 3 p.m. CST executed at the Federal Correctional Hall and Brandon Bernard, Region VII Bishops’ virtual meeting December 8 – 3 p.m. Complex in Terre Haute since the Trump scheduled to be executed on Indiana Bishops’ Province meeting administration resumed federal executions Dec. 10, had joined a group of 13 December 3 – 6:30 p.m. at Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara this past summer. He was convicted of inmates appealing that the drug used by Baptism at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Center kidnapping and killing a Texas teenager the federal government in executions Church, Indianapolis in 1994. causes “excruciating pain and suffering Last minute appeals for Hall stressed before dying” when not paired with a December 6 – 4 p.m. that bias played a role in his death separate pain-relieving drug. Seminarian Prayer and Dinner at sentence. Hall is Black, and his sentence Their attorneys told the U.S. Court Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was recommended by an all-white jury. of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that this Parish, Indianapolis His lawyers also said that COVID-19 execution method was in violation of the restrictions limited their ability to help Eighth Amendment prohibition against him. cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court’s action in Although the three-judge panel allowed Hall’s case was the first death penalty the executions to go forward, it said the How has your Catholic education decision for Justice Amy Coney Barrett. lower court was wrong to throw out the In 1998, she co-wrote an article saying inmates’ challenge to the execution drug had an impact on your life? Catholic judges shouldn’t have to recuse used by the federal government and themselves in death penalty cases because would allow litigation against this method As part of our coverage for the a daytime phone number where you of the Church’s opposition to capital to continue.