Newsmagazine Bringing the Good News to the Diocese of Fort Worth Vol. 28 No. 5 May 2012 More than 700 Religious Freedom: gathered in Fort Worth, joining in one of many The most cherished of Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rallies across American freedoms the country. More than 700 people gathered outside the Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building in Fort Worth March 23 to protest the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate forcing religious institutions to violate their consciences. The rally was one of 140 held at cities across the United States. Story and Photos by Joan Kurkowski-Gillen ■ Correspondent my Lerner packed a sack lunch for her three young children “There are people who want to convince religious freedom.” us that this argument is simply about Addressing the group from a cement and braved the traffic and congestion of downtown Fort contraception and the Catholic Church,” he bench, Tabitha Mattiace read an open letter Worth on a busy Friday at mid-day for a very special reason. told the retirees, home-schooled youngsters, to President Obama, explaining the position A and picketers who filled the small park in front of women who oppose the HHS contraceptive The determined mother joined more than 700 Catholics and non- of the federal building. “We are here to defend mandate. Proponents of the federal requirement our freedoms, and that is the message we want have linked the controversy to preventive health Catholics outside the Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building on March 23 to send to our representatives in Washington care for women. to peacefully rally against a U.S. Department of Health and Human and at the state level.” “Those currently invoking ‘women’s During the rally, participants circulated health’ in an attempt to shout down anyone Services (HHS) mandate that threatens religious freedom. a petition addressed to President Barack who disagrees with forcing religious institutions Obama that stated the health care mandate is to violate deeply held beliefs are more than a Under the federal order, Catholic religious freedom growing up, and I want my not supported by all women. Pat McMahan, little mistaken,” Mattiace said. “It’s simply an institutions are required to disregard Church children to experience that too.” a registered nurse trained at the Holy Cross attempt to deflect attention from the serious teachings and offer free contraceptives, The local Stand Up For Religious School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana, religious liberty issues at stake.” sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs in Freedom gathering was one of 140 rallies added her name to the list of signers. She also dismissed the argument that their employee health plans. held across the country in front of historical “This mandate forces people to costless birth control equals sexual equality. “Religious liberty is guaranteed in the sites and government buildings. Organized violate religious beliefs in order to meet the “No one speaks for all women on these Constitution, and the HHS mandate does at the national level by the Pro-Life Action requirements of the government,” said the issues,” she insisted. “Each of us, Catholic not allow Catholics or anyone else to practice League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, parishioner from St. Vincent de Paul Church in or not, is proud to stand with the Catholic religion freely,” said Lerner as she handed the public protest brought out more than Arlington who is also president of the parish’s Church and its rich, life-affirming teachings on sandwiches to Andrew, 7, Peter, 4, and 50,000 supporters nationwide who listened to St. Vincent de Paul Society. “I’m against that.” sex, marriage, and family life.” 18-month-old Clara. motivating speeches, sang hymns, and offered The long-time health care worker fears One of the rally’s keynote speakers was At home, naps routinely follow lunchtime, prayers. imposing the edict could force Catholic Michele Wetteland, wife of John Wetteland, and giving up that needed break to attend the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner hospitals to close. the 1996 World Series MVP and the 2005 rally was a sacrifice, the active mom admits. Joe Jordan kicked-off Fort Worth’s outdoor “They can’t violate Catholic principles in Texas Rangers Hall of Fame inductee. A “But this is so very important,” Lerner assembly with a prayer and a partial reading of order to accommodate the government,” she explained. “I had the wonderful liberty of the Declaration of Independence. pointed out. “That’s clearly an intrusion of RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, P. 18 PAGE 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, MAY, 2012 ShepherdOur Speaks Ad Limina visit, an experience of ‘ecclesial communion’ Dear Brothers and to the 1500s and it is only one block over from gratitude, and Faith, as this was my first report the Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome. to the Holy See as the Bishop of the Diocese. Sisters in Christ, Currently Father Jonathon Wallis from our It is a reflection of all of your lives, and your Diocese is in residence there while completing powerful witness to the presence of Christ to ast month’s North Texas Catholic had his S.T.L. (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) from all in our Diocese and far beyond as well. some pictures from the Ad Limina visit the Gregorian University. The entire visit was I dedicated the Ad Limina report to all Lof the Region X Bishops to the Holy See. coordinated by the North American College, who have come before us, and I would like to For all of us bishops from Texas, Oklahoma, and I extend a special thanks to Monsignor close with that dedication. It is taken from a and Arkansas, it was an experience of what James Checchio, the Rector, and the staff of the book that describes the early history of the life could be called “ecclesial communion” and College, for their coordination of these visits. I of the Church here in Texas. This is how the certainly a profound experience of Faith. The was accompanied by Father Isaac Orozco, our dedication appears on the first page of the Ad word Ad Limina means “to the threshold,” – new Vocations Director, and our Diocesan Limina report: this is a visit to the “threshold of the Apostles,” Chancellor, Father Dan Kelley. We had the specifically the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. chance to visit with not only Fr. Wallis, but DEDICATION T h i s w a s a n e x p er ienc e of e c c le si a l c om mu n ion our two seminarians, Matthew Tatyrek and “The story told in the preceding chapters because the purpose of the visit is to reflect on Joseph Keating who are both completing their is not one of perfect people who always got it and strengthen the reality of the communion studies in Rome. right but rather the story of men and women of Faith of the local Church with the Universal In addition to all the official business that who strived, in spite of their weaknesses and Bishop Kevin Vann Church, especially in the person of the Bishop of ne e de d to b e done , t here were p er s on a l moment s prejudices, to dedicate themselves to eternal Rome, Pope Benedict XVI, who is the successor for me as well. I had the chance to visit with ideals in the service of others. All in all, the of St. Peter. A month later, as I am writing these Pope Benedict and made us all realize just how longtime priests, religious, and laity in Rome Catholic Church thrived in frontier Texas. words, I see St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the St. united in faith we are with the Holy Father, and and Italy who are close friends. Bishop Richard Often poor, its people were nevertheless a I g n at iu s bu i ld i n g f rom t he w i ndow of my of f ic e through him with the entire Universal Church. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, and I were also able hearty lot who took their faith seriously and at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and think of the time During the remaining days we visited with to have lunch at the Angelicum (the University flourished spiritually. And this was in large with the Holy Father at St. Peter’s and how the the officials of the various departments of the of St. Thomas Aquinas in the city) with the part due to the determined priests and Universal Church and the local Church here in Holy See called “dicasteries” which assist the Dominican Friars who are on the faculty. I religious who led the frontier Church. Though Fort Worth are truly in communion. Pope in teaching, governing, and sanctifying earned my J.C.D. (Doctorate in Canon Law) not perfect, when viewed in the perspective This reality of ecclesial communion was the Universal Church. We had the opportunity from the Angelicum, so this was a homecoming of when and where they labored, they tend also reinforced by making this visit together to visit such dicasteries as the Congregation for for me as well! to put later generations to shame.” with the Bishops of the Provinces of San the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for This visit was also a visit of prayer and faith (From the concluding chapter of Antonio, Galveston-Houston, and Oklahoma Bishops, the Congregation for Religious and which was a blessing to me both personally and THROUGH FIRE AND FLOOD: THE CATHOLIC City. When our Province of San Antonio had Secular Institutes, the Congregation for Divine for my ministry as a bishop.