Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 5 Editorial . 4 Question Corner . 15 Sunday and Daily Readings . 15 Spring Marriage Supplement . 9 Serving the ChurchCriterion in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 www.archindy.org February 4, 2005 Vol. XXXXIV, No. 17 75¢ Eucharist helps couples keep God at center of their lives By Mary Ann Wyand David Bethuram explained, as a reminder become one. This is a very important As an integral part of Christian life, he that the sacrament of marriage is both a point being made in Scripture. Marriage said, the Eucharist is a celebration of unity (Editor’s note: celebration of unity and an essential part has a deep social meaning. Marriage is the that provides spiritual support to help The Catholic of the life of the Church. closest interpersonal relationship imagin- engaged and married couples keep God in Church is In his ministry as director of the arch- able by adults.” the center of their relationship. observing the diocesan Office of Family Ministries, Christian marriage connects life with “Married persons go their way together Year of the Bethuram often talks with couples about love, he said. “It embraces the fundamen- in faith,” Bethuram said. “A married cou- Eucharist. This article is part of a the vocation of marriage. The Office of tal need for togetherness, reconciliation, ple starts together in their search for God. Criterion series exploring the importance Family Ministries sponsors monthly faithfulness and living out God’s love in Together they try to follow Christ, of the Eucharist in all facets of the life of Pre Cana Programs at Our Lady of Fatima everyday life.” together they share their ideas, together the archdiocese.) Retreat House in Indianapolis to help In Pope John Paul II’s 2004 apostolic they pray, together they are sent into the engaged couples prepare for the sacrament letter “Mane nobiscum Domine” (“Stay world, which is a basic element for “And the two shall become one flesh” of marriage. With Us Lord”), Bethuram said, the Holy See MARRIAGE, page 2 (Gn 2:24). “When describing marriage, the Book Father “calls upon the Church, particularly This Scripture passage from the Book of Genesis says that a man shall leave his during the Year of the Eucharist, to study See Spring Marriage of Genesis is frequently included in the father and mother and join with his wife,” and grasp the spiritual significance of the Supplement, page 9 Liturgy of the Word at nuptial Masses, Bethuram said. “Then the two shall Eucharist.” Bishops and Vatican to CNS photo from Reuters review abuse norms soon VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Two years after adopting special norms for dealing with priestly sex abusers, U.S. bishops and Vatican officials plan to meet early this month to review how the new policies have worked and to consider possible revisions. Vatican officials described the meeting as a simple consultation. They said the talks are expected to be positive, reflect- ing progress made since the first major U.S.-Vatican meetings on sex abuse in 2002. “The climate has matured. The norms have been in place for two years, and a lot of cases have been handled. On all sides, there is recognition that much has been Men and women line up separately at a polling station in Basra in southern Iraq on Jan. 30. The country held its first free elections in a half-century. accomplished,” said one Vatican official. Iraqi Catholic leaders praised the turnout of voters despite fears of attacks, and they said they were optimistic that the democratic process will The “Essential Norms” laid out a strict benefit the country. policy on priestly sex abuse, providing for removal from ministry or laicization of priests who have sexually abused minors. Iraqi Church officials laud country’s election The Vatican approved the norms on an experimental basis for a two-year period ROME (CNS)—Every Iraqi who representative of the Chaldean-rite Even if polling in some places proved beginning in March 2003; new Vatican cast a vote on Jan. 30 amid continued Baghdad Patriarchate. less than perfect, “the most important approval, called a recognitio, would pre- chaos and violence showed that The greater-than-expected voter turnout thing is that the people went; they went sumably have to be given again this year, democracy will win over terrorism, is “a positive sign” as it marks a turning despite the violence, the fear and terror- whether or not revisions are made. said a top Iraqi Church official. point in Iraq’s future, he said. ism,” he said. Some Vatican sources said they do not “This is a big lesson to terrorism, a “It shows the whole world how edu- Millions of Iraqis cast their votes on expect major changes to the norms. They great message that says we are not cated the Iraqi people are and that we are Jan. 30 in the country’s first democratic pointed to improved coordination on sex afraid” of terrorists and “we will capable of reaching freedom and democ- election in decades. They voted for a See NORMS, page 7 rebuild our country,” said Father racy,” the Iraqi-born priest told Catholic 275-member transitional National Philip Najim, the Rome-based News Service on Jan. 31. See IRAQ, page 20 State legislature is working on tax credits and medical benefits for low-income families By Brigid Curtis Ayer and Rep. John Day, D-Indianapolis. Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, are also The bill would provide qualifying Senate co-sponsors of the bill. The Indiana General Assembly is con- households with a tax credit, thus allow- The Earned Income Tax Credit began sidering several bills this year that would ing a wage-earner who heads a household as a federal program during the 1970s and help low- to retain more of his or her earnings by several states have created their own ver- income fami- lowering their tax liabilities. The bill sion of it. Indiana’s credit is 6 percent of lies lower passed out of the House Ways and Means the federal credit. their state Committee by a 22-0, bipartisan vote. Day, a member of Holy Cross Parish in taxes and The measure passed the full House in a Indianapolis, said Indiana’s state Earned provide med- 97-0 vote. Rep. Shelia Johnston Klinker, Income Tax Credit program was to expire ical benefits for them. D-Lafayette, and Rep. Cindy Noe, at the end of this year, but the bill cur- The Indiana Catholic Conference is R-Indianapolis, are also co-authors of the rently before the legislature would make tracking legislation such as the Earned bill. Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, is the the tax credit permanent. The state credit Income Tax Credit (EITC), House Bill Senate sponsor who will help move the benefits families or single persons earning 1083, a bipartisan effort authored by bill along in the Senate. Sen. Howard $33,000 or less a year. Rep. Michael B. Murphy, R-Indianapolis “Luke” Kenley, R-Noblesville, and See LEGISLATURE, page 8 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, February 4, 2005 Holy Spirit, which bonds and unites MARRIAGE spouses in the sacrament of marriage.” Tips for creating a healthy marriage continued from page 1 St. Vincent de Paul parishioners Dale and Monica Siefker of Bedford have Christian belief.” taught Natural Family Planning classes for By Mary Ann Wyand making time for one another. Set In a very real way, he said, marriage is six years to help married couples embrace aside time to go on dates and just about understanding how living faith God as the center of their marriage. “A Lifetime Together: Thoughts for talk with each other. together is a communion. The Siefkers welcome children in their Engaged Couples” and “Marriage, • Separate myths about marriage But with the challenges of daily life, marriage as gifts from God and feel After All These Years” are the topics from reality. Good marriages are life- even married couples who strive for unity blessed to have five children ranging in of two News Notes recently released long works in progress. and togetherness still need to be willing to age from 10 to 2. They are expecting a by The Christophers. “Marriage, After All These Years” turn to the sacrament of reconciliation for baby in May. The brochures offer valuable advice explains that successfully married the graces to sustain their relationship. Praying together and practicing Natural from married couples and marriage couples and those who are divorcing “Wherever people … live their life Family Planning have strengthened their counselors that are intended to help have the same number and kinds of together in such an intensive process as marriage, Dale Siefker said. NFP is an couples who are preparing for mar- arguments, but the difference is how marriage is,” he said, “there will necessar- expression of their love for God and for riage and couples who have been mar- they disagree about issues. ily be conflict, quarrels and confronta- children, and is the result of sharing ried for a number of years. The brochure suggests that cou- tion.” prayer and receiving the Eucharist as fre- Suggestions from the brochures ples accept the fact that some amount That’s why reconciliation is so impor- quently as possible. include these tips for a healthy mar- of arguing is inevitable, and that a tant in a couple’s relationship with each “There’s no substitute for the sacrament riage: husband and wife should be willing other and with God, Bethuram said, as of the Eucharist,” Siefker said during a • Keep God an integral part of mar- to ask for forgiveness and be willing they strive to start life anew, accept each recent telephone interview.