BringingNorth the Good News to the Diocese Texas of Fort Worth Catholic Vol. 25 No. 16 October 2, 2009 Bishops say health reform should include all immigrants By Chaz Muth the opinion that one of the richest Catholic News Service countries in the world should fi nd WASHINGTON — Though a way to guarantee that everyone Bishop William F. Murphy of within its borders has access to Rockville Centre, New York, medical care, from conception to concedes there’s no political will natural death. in Washington to include illegal Several Hispanic bishops met immigrants in health care reform, with members of the House and he believes it’s the country’s Senate Sept. 17 to convey their moral obligation to ensure that concern that immigrants — legal everyone in the nation receives and illegal — might be left out of proper medical care. health reform. That includes those who en- Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacra- ter the country illegally, he told mento, California, said that in Catholic News Service in mid- addition to President Barack September. Obama’s pledge not to provide “I agree that there is a special government-funded care to problem with those who have people in the country illegally, entered here without the permis- concerns have been expressed ABOVE: Pope Benedict XVI, followed by Czech sion of the United States, and that that even legal immigrants might Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, blesses well-wishers in the has to be looked at,” said Bishop Church of Our Lady of Victory in Prague, Czech be left out of the system. Republic, Sept. 26. (CNS photo/Petr Josek, Reuters) Murphy, who chairs the U.S. Bishop Soto said the exclu- Conference of Catholic Bishops’ sion of government-supported Bishops sit below a giant image of St. Wenceslas Committee on Domestic Justice insurance for undocumented im- during Mass celebrated Sept. 28 by Pope Benedict XVI and Human Development. “But migrants is an issue with which in the place of the saint’s martyrdom, Stara Boleslav, Czech Republic. (CNS photo/Petr Josek, Reuters) that’s a problem unto itself.” the bishops might disagree, but Most U.S. Catholic bishops could concede as a political ne- who have spoken publicly about cessity. But the legislation “has Pope urges Czechs to regain values health care reform have expressed SEE BISHOPS, P. 21 that inspired fi ght for freedom By Carol Glatz gious leaders as well as the Catho- Brno, and Stara Boleslav was his Catholic News Service lic faithful, the pope delivered a 13th trip abroad and his seventh PRAGUE, Czech Republic message of hope meant to inspire to Europe. The fact that more than — Commemorating the 20th an- both the country’s majority of half of his apostolic journeys so far niversary of the peaceful revolt nonbelievers and the minority have been to Europe refl ects his that brought down the country’s Catholic community. deep concern for revitalizing the communist regime, Pope Bene- Central to his message was continent’s Christian heritage. dict XVI urged people in the that no society, no matter how “True freedom presupposes Czech Republic to rediscover democratic, could ever maintain the search for truth — for the the spiritual and moral values a healthy and ethical sense of true good — and hence fi nds its that sustained their struggle for freedom without guidance from fulfi llment precisely in knowing freedom. the truth found in God and the and doing what is right and just,” In gatherings Sept. 26-28 with wisdom of faith. the pope said during a meeting political, social, cultural, and reli- The pope’s trip to Prague, SEE POPE, P. 2 Fr. Stephen Jasso, TOR, receives the Ohtli award from the Institute for Mexicans Recession drives 10 percent more to Abroad. Alberto Bernal, alternate consul for the Mexican Consulate in Dallas, presents the award at the consulate. seek Catholic Charities assistance Fr. Jasso honored for work By Dennis Sadowski could afford an apartment. There For Sondra, the new home is Catholic News Service was no chance of moving back a godsend, far better than her with Mexican immigrants WOODBRIDGE, Va. — In a home, even if she and her husband old life — the one that revolved time of recession, Sondra knows could reconcile; their home had around smoking crack and binge On Sept. 15, Father Stephen ed by the National Association of she and her 4-year-old daughter gone into foreclosure. drinking mixed with beatings by Jasso, TOR, pastor of All Saints Latino Elected Offi cials (NALEO) Hope could be on the street. Enter St. Margaret of Cortona her husband. Parish in Fort Worth, received the and are presented annually by the Forced to flee an abusive Transitional Residences in Wood- “I love it here,” she said. Ohtli award from the Institute for Mexican government to a person relationship with her husband, bridge, Virginia. It’s where Sondra A program of Catholic Chari- Mexicans Abroad (Instituto de los who lives outside of Mexico but Sondra, 45, who asked that her last and Hope now have a home. ties of the Diocese of Arlington, Mexicanos en el Exterior) organi- works for the benefi t of Mexican name not be used, had nowhere to It’s a peaceful, cozy, and, most Virginia, the residence brings sta- zation. Alberto Bernal, alternate citizens living outside of their turn. Her time at the emergency importantly, safe place where they bility to nine single mothers and consul, presented the award to Fr. country. shelter was limited. While Sondra can enjoy dinner every evening. their children, most of whom have Jasso at a ceremony held in Dallas Bishop Kevin Vann, who ac- had a job as a custodian at a lo- It’s where they can read and play escaped domestic violence. The at the Mexican Consulate. companied Fr. Jasso to the award cal church, there was no way she and learn together. SEE CHARITIES, P. 14 Award recipients are nominat- SEE ALL SAINTS, P. 2 Page 2 North Texas Catholic October 2, 2009 International / Diocesan Pope urges Czechs to share light of Gospel with others FROM PAGE 1 nor welcomed, nor respected. How many of Sept. 26 with diplomats and political, civil, them suffer violence and every kind of ex- religious, and cultural leaders in Prague’s ploitation by the unscrupulous,” he said. presidential palace. There was not much public sign of the Under the soaring gilded stucco ceil- pope’s presence in Prague, with few post- ings of the palace, the pope reminded his ers and very little fanfare along the routes audience that the country’s hard-fought taken by the papal motorcade. Much of freedom must be properly used. Leaders in the city had emptied out for the three-day society have the duty to encourage citizens holiday weekend, perhaps spurred by to seek the truth and goodness, he said. dire warnings of traffi c snarls during the “Jointly we must engage in the struggle papal visit. for freedom and the search for truth, which But the papal visit drew Catholics from either go together, hand in hand, or together all over the Czech nation and from neigh- they perish in misery,” the pope said. boring Austria, Slovakia, Germany, and He urged people “to apply their faith re- Poland, specifi cally for the outdoor Mass spectfully yet decisively in the public arena” Sept. 27 in the Moravian diocese of Brno, so that the truth and wisdom of faith could some 140 miles southeast of Prague. Local light the path of human progress. organizers said 120,000 people attended Young people in traditional dress pray before the event, making it the largest Mass ever “Far from threatening the tolerance of the start of Mass with Pope Benedict XVI in differences or cultural plurality, the pursuit Brno, Czech Republic, Sept. 27. The papal Mass celebrated in the Czech Republic. of truth makes consensus possible, keeps drew an estimated 120,000 people and included Gathered on a mowed hayfi eld at the public debate logical, honest, and account- pilgrims from the Czech Republic, Austria, airport, the jubilant crowd waved fl ags and able” and ensures a society that is united and Slovakia, Germany and Poland. (CNS photo/Petr cheered when the pope’s plane landed. dedicated to the common good, he said. Josek, Reuters) Some pilgrims wore colorful traditional The Czech Republic represents a unique dress, while others sported backpacks and challenge for the church. Some 60 percent said in his homily. pedaled bicycles to get to the event. of the population claims to profess no reli- Sometimes it seems there is little motiva- The pope’s homily focused on hope and gious belief — making it the most secular tion to put Christ fi rst when so many people how “the only certain and reliable hope is country in Europe. who exclude God from their lives and show founded on God.” The largest faith community on the land- no respect for others end up reaching the “History has demonstrated the absurdi- scape is the Catholic Church, but Catholics highest pinnacles of power or achieve great ties to which man descends when he ex- are still only 30 percent of all inhabitants, success, he said. cludes God from the horizon of his choices and only a small percent say they are active But “one need only scratch the surface to and actions, and how hard it is to build a members of the Church. realize how sad and unfulfi lled these people society inspired by the values of goodness, The pope told journalists aboard the are,” and history points to many powerful justice, and fraternity” he said.