Faith and Back to football school For Pittsburgh Part 2 of our back to Steeler, faith is more school roundup of than a pre-game what’s new at Catholic prayer, page 2. schools in the Erie Diocese, page 3. www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE October 1, 2006 Church Calendar Events of the local, American and universal church Respect Life Sunday focuses on dignity of all life By Jason Koshinskie Feast days FaithLife editor Pro-life spokeswoman protests FDA approval of ‘Plan B’ without prescription Every human being has U.S. Conference of B available without a prescrip- been created, loved and re- Catholic Bishops tion completely unacceptable,” deemed by God. McQuade said in a statement. That divine thought is an The Food and Drug Admin- “Women deserve quality health invitation by the U.S. bish- istration (FDA) recently an- care, but over-the-counter nounced that it has approved (OTC) use of this potentially ops to respect all human life Barr Pharmaceutical’s “Plan B” abortifacient drug will compro- and the theme of Respect for distribution without a prescrip- mise informed consent and fol- Life Sunday, observed today tion to women age 18 and older. low-up care when necessary.” (Oct. 1) in parishes across Deirdre McQuade, director of Plan B is a powerful dose of the United States. Planning and Information for the the artificial hormone Levonorg- Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities estrel—40 times the amount “No matter what state of at the United States Conference found in comparable prescrip- St. Francis of Assisi St. Bruno life we’re in, all individuals of Catholic Bishops, objected to tion-only birth control pills. have been created in the like- the approval. Making the more potent dos- Oct. 2 Guardian Angels ness of God and are loved “We find the FDA’s unprec- age available to women upon Oct. 4 St. Francis of Assisi by him,” said Erin Landini, edented decision to make Plan request Oct. 6 St. Bruno, Blessed Marie-Rose director of Catholic Chari- Durocher ties’ Parish Social Ministry/ our neighbors. Interwoven in day on respecting life, there Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary Respect Life Office for the that, she said, clearly is the is- are many issues—some of Oct. 9 St. Denis and his companions, Erie Diocese. “That to me is sue of respecting life. which have been around for among others. For more St. John Leonardi pivotal in understanding the “The bishops believe that years and some only more “What is key is respecting information on Oct. 14 St. Callistus I broader picture of respect Respect Life encompasses recently.” and reverencing the dignity Respect Life Oct. 28 St. Wenceslaus, St. Lawrence Ruiz life.” many issues,” Landini said. Those issues include abor- of every human life,” Lan- issues, visit the and his companions The mission of her office “When people hear the words tion, contraception, stem dini said. “And that is seeing U.S. bishops’ site Oct. 29 Ss. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is to assist parishes in pro- ‘respect life,’ many times they cell research and cloning, the beauty of God’s design in on the Web at www.usccb.org Oct. 30 St. Jerome moting the social teaching might think of the abortion is- capital punishment, eutha- the infant but also witnessing and click on “Life Issues.” of the church and meeting sue, which is important. But nasia, health issues, pro-life the face of Christ in the most the social welfare needs of when the bishops’ focus this and natural family planning vulnerable.” Confirmation Controversy over remarks overshadows schedule Catholic News Service St. Mark Parish, Emporium – Sunday, The controversy over re- Pope’s trip to Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. marks made by Pope Bene- dict XVI during a scholarly lecture has taken the focus off Germany 12th annual rosary march – all other aspects of the pope’s recent visit to Germany. Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. The pope’s quotation of re- The 12th annual rosary march, sponsored marks critical of Islam made by the Erie Diocese’s Blue Army chapter of the by 14th-century Byzantine World Apostolate of Fatima, is scheduled for Emperor Manuel II Paleolo- Sun., Oct. 1. gus in his Sept. 12 academic The march will begin at 2:30 p.m. at St. Pe- address at the University of ter Cathedral, 10th and Sassafras streets in Erie. Regensburg soon dominated Those joining the march are asked to gather out- the headlines. side the cathedral at 2 p.m. For those unable to In his talk, the pope’s main participate in the walk, the rosary will be prayed theme was how reason and inside the cathedral while the march is taking faith must be reconciled in place. the West, but he introduced it by quoting a medieval em- peror on the errors of Islam and jihad, or holy war. The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI was not pre- senting an in-depth assess- ment of the concept of jihad CNS photos or Muslim thinking about Clockwise, Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims after a Mass held on holy war when he spoke to Islinger Field near Regensburg, Germany, Sept. 12; Kashmiri activists academics in Germany. In belonging to the Muslim League shout slogans during a protest against a statement issued late Sept. Pope Benedict XVI in Srinagar, capital of the Indian state of Jammu and 14, a few hours after the Kashmir, Sept. 15; Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims as he travels in pope’s return to Rome from his popemobile during his visit to Munich, Germany, Sept. 10. his trip to Germany, Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican of the divine.” to a historical criticism of Is- Several Muslim lead- In order to help calm the spokesman, reacted to criti- Strong reaction to Pope lam, which he said does not ers reacted positively to the waters roiled by controversy cal statements by some Mus- Benedict XVI’s reference to reflect his own opinion. The pope’s comments, which over Pope Benedict XVI’s lim representatives. a historical criticism of Islam pope’s remarks to pilgrims at were carried live on some Sept. 12 remarks on Islam, Father Lombardi said it continued around the world his summer residence in Cas- Arab TV networks. Other the Vatican called on its ex- was very important to the after the pope said Sept. 17 tel Gandolfo Sept. 17 were Islamic groups said a fuller tensive network of papal pope that there be a “clear that he was “deeply sorry for his first public reaction to a apology was needed. representatives around the and radical refusal of re- the reactions” to his address. wave of Muslim indignation Christian Palestinians world. While the Vatican ligious motivation of vio- While parts of the world over a university lecture he tried to downplay the sig- and the pope were issuing lence.” But he said it was cer- saw protests and attacks on delivered in Germany. “I am nificance of Muslim attacks clarifications about the papal tainly not the pope’s intention churches, Catholic and Mus- deeply sorry for the reactions on seven Christian churches address, dozens of nuncios to “offend the sensibilities of lim leaders issued statements in some countries to a few in the West Bank and Gaza and bishops in the Middle The next session of Why Catholic? begins Muslim believers.” Father attempting to put the situa- passages of my address at the in protest of Pope Benedict East and elsewhere were the week of Oct. 8. Lombardi noted that, on the tion into perspective. Indone- University of Regensburg, XVI’s remarks on Islam in busy speaking to Muslim Why Catholic? is a four-year program that contrary, the pope’s Sept. 12 sian Islamic leaders say they which were considered offen- Germany. representatives and the local focuses on Scripture related to the Catechism talk was primarily about the hope fellow Muslims will sive to the sensibility of Mus- Police, fearing attacks by press, trying to correct any of the Catholic Church. Small faith-sharing religious shortcomings of the think clearly and forgive the lims,” the pope said. “These Muslims angry about the misunderstandings about the groups will meet once a week during two West and that the pope had pope. in fact were a quotation from pope’s recent comments, pope’s speech or intent. six-week sessions each year. spoken at length about the re- The pope said he was a medieval text, which do not have increased patrols Pope Benedict XVI again luctance of other cultures to “deeply sorry” that Muslims in any way express my per- around hundreds of London It’s not too late! accept a Western “exclusion were offended by his reference sonal thought,” he said. Catholic churches. See POPE, page 3 If you would like to sign up to participate in this session of Why Catholic?, contact your parish office. Diocesan Stewardship Days schedule If your parish is not conducting the Why Stewardship Days set for Oct. 24-25 Tues., Oct. 24 Wed., Oct. 25 Catholic? program and you would like to be By Jason Koshinskie Day session: Day session: part of a small faith-sharing group, contact FaithLife editor St. Tobias Parish, St. Mark Catholic Center, Sister Nancy Fischer, SSJ, diocesan director Brockway Erie (8:15 a.m.-2:45 p.m.) of community formation and lay ministry Rather than thinking of (8:15 a.m.-2:45 p.m.) Evening session: training, at 814.824.1217 or e-mail stewardship as just giving Evening session: St.