Podcasts about archbishop gomez

A visit to the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese gives the opportunity to enter a world envisioned by the L. A. Archbishop Jose Gomez, and Pope Francis just days after his passing. And how can we describe that vision? One way is to picture the great power of a Church with a following of five million across the expanse of Parishes in Southern California, dedicating this power to making a better life for all, Catholic and non-Catholic. The vision manifests itself clearly in the subject of this episode - the Archdiocese Office of Life, Justice and Peace. Michael Donaldson, Office Director, and Jeanette Gomez Senerviatne, Director of the Whole Person, are carrying forward all that Pope Francis and Archbishop Gomez would hope for. They are addressing the most pressing issues in every community they serve, giving voice to the voiceless, collaborating with and creating partnerships to bring supportive resources to individuals and families. Listen to how their programming acts as a showcase for good emanating from a global city like Los Angeles. At this time, as the three of us sat together in conversation, grateful for Pope Francis, we are dedicating the episode to him, and remembering the way he brought us to focus on the suffering while celebrating the joy of life. The Office of Life, Justice and Peace will continue developing projects and activities in that spirit. “Hope never disappoints”, is what he said in his last Easter message to the world. TO CONTACT: Mpdonaldson@la-archdiocese.org - for Michael Donaldson JSeneviratne@la-archdiocese.org - for Jeanette Seneviratne

In this episode, I speak with Isaac Cuevas. Isaac is the director of the Office of Immigration Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Office of Immigration Affairs was created as part of Archbishop Gomez' vision for helping parishes and people in the LA community with immigration issues. Hiis office has developed a network of community leaders that implement workshops, develop programs, and provide resources for the largest immigrant community in the country. In addition to community outreach, Mr. Cuevas works as an immigration advocate, serving as the voice for the Archdiocese among policy leaders and civil rights groups. Prior to this, he worked in the Entertainment industry making movies and television shows. In our conversation, we talked about walking away from his successful career in holywood. By listening to this episode you will hear the first person account of someone who works directly with migrant bus arrivals. We will talk about how the immigrant experience has changed over the decades and what Catholics should consider when thinking about this issue during the coming general election. Learn more about Catholic Social Teaching on immigration here, here, here, and here. Want to connect with me? ReclaimingSJ@gmail.com Have feedback? Send your thoughts and recommendations here: https://bit.ly/reclaimingsjfeedback --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reclaimingsj/message

Have you ever heard of “time anxiety”? Many feel it's too late to do the things they wanted to accomplish in life. But is it? Plus: testimonials from the Walk to Mary, and Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles shares about a beautiful Marian devotion unknown to many.    Archbishop Gomez: https://angelusnews.com/voices/mary-jesus-easter-return/  Time Anxiety: Is it Too Late? https://nesslabs.com/time-anxiety  

We get a preview of the Eucharistic Revival with Tim Glemkowski and Donald Critchlow explains how The Pill was sold to America. In this hour of the Countdown, Al looks to Archbishop Gomez for advice on evangelizing a hostile culture and Sandra Miesel tells us the real story of Medieval witch burnings.

Friends of the Rosary: This week, we celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe. This feast highlights, as Archbishop Jose Gomez, said that “who we are, the dearest sons and daughters of God Our Lord.” We remember the words she addressed to St. Juan Diego: ‘Am I not here, I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and shelter? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?' “When we look into her eyes, we experience the love she has for each one of us, for our families, the Church, and the society in which we live,” Archbishop Gomez said. “Mary of Guadalupe opens her arms with tenderness and compassion and embraces us all with motherly love.” Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • December 15, 2021, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

An EWTN reporter has been interrogated by Cuban police. Matthew Bunson explains what's going on and recaps the USCCB Fall Assembly. Also, Luke Foster asks if America has an “elite” problem. Al shares some thoughts from Archbishop Gomez on evangelizing a secular culture and we look at the changing role of religion in American public life with James Patterson.

On Sunday, May 29, Pope Francis announced he would create 21 new cardinals this year, including American Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego and several other surprise choices. 16 of the new cardinals are under 80 and will be able to vote in a conclave, meaning Pope Francis has now appointed just under two-thirds of the current cardinal-electors. As of December, that number will rise to 69 percent. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O'Connel discuss some of Pope Francis' most interesting picks for the college of cardinals. He has traditionally passed over so-called “cardinalatial sees,” big cities where the bishop has often been named a cardinal, in favor of bishops from underrepresented communities. This idea of Francis choosing the person over the place was evident in the case of the sole American bishop who was named a cardinal-designate this weekend: Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego. Bishop McElroy, one of the leading intellectuals in the U.S. hierarchy, has been named while the bishops of two larger cities, Archbishop Gomez in Los Angeles and Archbishop Cordileone in San Francisco, were not. Gerry and Colleen discuss the message this appointment sends to the U.S. church, while dispelling speculation that Bishop McElroy was appointed in direct response to Archbishop Cordileone's decision to bar U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion. Then, Colleen and Gerry turn their focus to the global stage. Pope Francis named the first cardinal from the Dalit, or “untouchable,” caste in India. The hosts examine what effect this will have on India's leadership, which sees Christianity as a threat to the caste system. Gerry also tells the story behind Cardinal-designate Peter Ebere Okpaleke, a Nigerian prelate who was once rejected by the priests of a diocese for belonging to a different ethnic group. Links from the show: Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego Bishop McElroy: Pope Francis and Vatican II give us a road map for the synodal process Voting Catholic: How to vote Catholic with Bishop Robert McElroy Bishop McElroy: When bishops increase barriers to Communion, we are not being the pastors Pope Francis called us to be. The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History by Gerard O'Connell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News topics include a transgender swimmer and comments from Archbishop Gomez on the elite leadership class, as Fr. Spitzer and Doug Keck take viewer questions and continue their discussion on demonic possession.

Read the address here: https://archbishopgomez.org/blog/reflections-on-the-church-and-americas-new-religions

Regular guest Dr. Jon Schaff returns to the show to unpack a new address given by Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the USCCB, titled, "Reflections on the Church and America's New Religions," in which he proposes that Marxist secular ideologies must primarily be understood in spiritual terms in their quest to displace Christianity and authentic cultural forms.  Jon and Chris walk through the underlying ideas at stake and the Christian answer.  Archbishop Gomez's full address can be found https://archbishopgomez.org/blog/reflections-on-the-church-and-americas-new-religions (here).  They also briefly discuss a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V727AcOoogQ&t=1255s (recent lecture )given by Alasdair MacIntyre on human dignity and justice.  Jon also mentions a Bishop Barron video on René Girard, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSzF2OG2ejI (here).

Speaking via video link to the Congress of Catholics and Public Life in Madrid, Spain, Archbishop Gomez, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described recent "social justice" movements as "political religions" that offer a different "story of salvation" than the Christian faith. "Whatever we call these movements — 'social justice,' 'wokeness,' 'identity politics,' 'intersectionality,' 'successor ideology' — they claim to offer what religion provides," the archbishop noted. Regrettably, "these strictly secular movements are causing new forms of social division, discrimination, intolerance, and injustice," he said. Archbishop Gomez spoke in Spanish. An English transcript of his remarks is at https://archbishopgomez.org/blog/reflections-on-the-church-and-americas-new-religions José Gomez was born in Mexico and educated in Mexico and Spain. He has served as the Archbishop of Los Angeles since 2011 and was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2019. If you have a comment or question about the Notable Speeches podcast, email feedback@notablespeeches.com.

Archbishop Gomez, President of the American Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Los Angeles, recently gave a speech which directly addressed the pressures from the politically correct “woke culture” that is increasingly hostile to Christ and the Church. Following upon Pope Benedict XVI's warning about the demands of the culture to bow down before it and the specter of the anti-Christ and President Putin's warning that the dominant Western culture is now thoroughly following the Marxist play book that led to such disaster in Russia, Archbishop Gomez' strong warnings and "simple solution" are well worth paying attention to. Now, who else will step up? Link to the Archbishop's address: https://archbishopgomez.org/blog/reflections-on-the-church-and-americas-new-religions Link to Putin's comments here: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/66975

Fr. Daniel, Heidi, and David talk about the Bishops' Conference on the Eucharist, the recent comments by the Archbishop of Los Angeles about social justice, and the policy memo from the Diocese of Madison forbidding parishes to be used as vaccination sites  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Omar breaks down the Archbishops comments in context and explains why we need to fight against the false religions (wokeness) in our culture. He notes that while there is some good in the social justice part of these cultural religions, they do not lead to full truth and freedom. Ashley recaps Pope Francis’ dissertation on […]

John and Glen discuss the latest on the USCCB Bishops conference and Archbishop Gomez’s comments and mention that deliberations continue on the Kyle Rittenhouse case in Wisconsin. Fr. Marcel explains what intercessory prayer is and what Catholics believe when it comes to the Communion of saints. He encourages listeners to intercede as an act of […]

Hour 2 of The Drew Mariani Show on 11-11-21 Drew reads from Archbishop Gomez’ letter about New Religions and shares some of his thoughts All show notes at Chaplet / “New Religions” in US - This podcast produced by Relevant Radio

In light of Archbishop Gomez's recent words on woke ideologies becoming the new religions of our day, Noelle Mering of the Ethics and Public Policy Center joins to discuss what we as Catholics can do to combat these popular movements in light of her own research and book: Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology. Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann also joins of 'My Catholic Doctor' to discuss new threats to the Catholic conscience and how our faith inspires the true heart of a physician. Father Roger Landry also offers a moving homily to prepare for this Sunday's Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 7am ET/5pmET on EWTN radio!

Fr. Spitzer and Doug Keck discuss how Jesus' act of total sacrifice outshines the totality of human evil, and wins redemption for all mankind. Plus, Archbishop Gomez speaks on wokeness and questions from our viewers.

Tom Riello talks about Archbishop Gomez's response to secular ideology. Fr Mitch Pacwa discusses his commentary on a Polish Saints. Bill Donahue speaks on truth about clergy sex abuse. 

In response to a letter from multiple US bishops urging USCCB President Archbishop Jose Gomez to delay discussion on Eucharistic coherence, Archbishop Samuel Aquila released this statement in support of Archbishop Gomez keeping the discussion as scheduled http://bit.ly/3bTy78L Ryan – Where does the term ‘Roman Catholic’ come from? Jesenia – Did the Pope give Biden […] All show notes at The Patrick Madrid Show: May 26, 2021 – Hour 2 - This podcast produced by Relevant Radio

Questions Covered: 24:02 – Is the pope trying to lead the Church in a new direction that’s more compassionate, or is he actually teaching things contrary to the faith?  32:16 – If it came to the point where the German bishops had to be deposed, what would that mean for the Church’s property-holding in Germany?  34:53 – What is the situation with the diocese in Nigeria that rejected their bishop?  41:11 – What is the prognosis for getting Biden excommunicated?  46:01 – If there were to be a schism, what should, and would the laity do?  49:26 – What did Archbishop Gomez say about the George Floyd ruling?  …

[Comment: Intentions of Our Hearts] Friends of the Rosary, “We are all under the watchful eye of God, who alone knows and can judge the intentions of our hearts.” Talking about what's happening in politics, Archbishop Gomez said this yesterday. That's true. In the media, we report facts and issue opinions, doing a lot of guessing. But do we know what's going on in the hearts of leaders and those who govern and shape society? We don't. Moreover, we all change and evolve. There are falls and there are conversions. The point is that only the Father in Heaven knows what's happening. We get easily distracted with temporary things, forgetting what really matters—which is helping to build the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, as we learn in the Luminous Mysteries that we pray today. Ave Maria! [Written by Mikel A | TheRosaryNetwork.org, New York] ___ Today's Holy Rosary in Video | Today's Broadcast at 7:30 pm ET on YouTube.com/TheRosaryNetwork

In this episode of The Open Door, Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss, the day after, the November 3rd election. The regular panel (to wit, Hanink and Ramos-Reyes and Zehnder), also known as “The Irregulars,” will consider the following questions. Feel free to suggest others. Remember: we're card-carrying members of the American Solidarity Party. That is, we would be if the ASP had a budget for such things!1. Anybody want to ask me who I voted for in the presidential & vice presidential race? I (name) voted for _______________________.2. Anybody want to ask me why? I (name) did so because _________________________.3. What state and local races did the panelists find especially important? How did they vote in them and why?4. Is there such a thing as “the Catholic vote”? If so, how does it vote? If not, why not?5. Have the Catholic bishops done a good job in helping form consciences in the matter of electoral politics?6. St. Thomas Aquinas writes that “As to the proper conclusions of practical reason, neither is the truth or rectitude the same for all, nor, where it is the same, is it equally known by all. Thus it is right and true for all to act according reason: and from this principle it follows as a proper conclusion, that goods entrusted to another should be returned to their owner”; but he then observes that “as we descend into further detail” and as “the number of conditions” increases “the greater the number of ways in which the principle may fail…” (ST I-II, q. 94, art. 4 Respondeo) How does this passage relate to political judgement?7. Archbishop Jose Gomez (Los Angeles) recently wrote that “This country's founding commitments to equality and human rights have no foundation apart from this belief in a Creator who endows men and women with inalienable rights. That is why the indifference toward religion in American public life and the marginalizing of religious believers is so disturbing.” How might secularists respond, and how might we answer them?8. Archbishop Gomez also writes that “Our mission as the Church and our duty as Catholics remains bigger than politics. We are here to serve God and bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the coming of his kingdom…. Most important of all, we need to be deliberate and vigilant about passing on this story — our Catholic way of life — to the younger generation.” How deliberate and vigilant have we been? How could we do better?9. The late, and in some ways great, Joe Hill said: “Don't mourn for America, organize”! How should the American Solidarity be organizing at this time?10. Looking ahead, does the refrain that “time is money” have special significance in our organizing work? And what about the adage “your dollar is your best friend”?

Summary of today's show: The story of the Mexican martyrs of the Cristero Wars, fighting against religious persecution in the 1920s, was virtually unknown, even in Mexico, until recently. Now the blockbuster film “For Greater Glory” has shed new light on these heroes of the faith. In anticipation of the release of the DVD and Blu-Ray, Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor welcome producer Pablo Jose Barroso to talk about how he saw the film as a work of his own faith. They also talk to Ruben Quezada, author of the official companion book, about his lifetime effort to make know this troubling time in Mexico's history and what it could mean for the US today. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Pablo Jose Barroso and Ruben Quezada Links from today's show: Today's topics: The movie “For Greater Glory” 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Chris O'Connor to the show and said today's show will focus on For Greater Glory, a movie about the Mexican civil war and the fight for religious freedom. Fr. Chris said the movie also addresses the idea of what it means to be a priest. Scot welcomed Pablo Barroso, the producer of the movie, to the show. He noted that Pablo has not always been a film producer. but has been a Mexican Catholic businessman. Pablo said he has felt called to the New Evangelization and is concerned about creating Catholic movies for the sake of his four children and other children. They want to bring Hollywood-level production values to movies with good content. Scot said before the movie he knew nothing about the Cristero War in the 1920s and very few Mexicans knew about it either. Pablo said this sad period of history in his country has been written out of the history books. He said the concerns over religious freedom, especially in the United States today, see the same kind of conflict in Mexico in the 1920s. Pablo said it was a struggle to produce the movie, but it was worth it. The Holy Spirit wanted this movie to be delivered in this moment. It took three years to produce and he worried about the timing. The timing allowed many of the fabulous people involved to participate including composer James Horner, who said he was blown away by the movie himself. Fr. Chris asked Pablo when he first heard about this battle for religious freedom and what does he hope it does for younger viewers. Pablo said he is 41 years old and his father passed away when he was 9, so he never heard from his own father about the Cristeros, but society never really talked about it. But 5 years ago suddenly he heard from the same story from a number of different people and realized that he had to make this movie. He hopes young people will be inspired and entertained by both the values and the action included in the film. He hopes they come to understand everything the Lord has done for us and why we follow Him, if not in taking up arms, but through peaceful means where possible. We raise up our voice and be close to Our Lord and be clear about what we believe and practice. Scot said there's no doubt this is an epic film, especially in the battle scenes and cinematography around Mexico. He said he read that it's the biggest budget film shot in Mexico. Pablo confirmed that it was a very expensive movie, but he wouldn't focus on the money. Instead he focuses on the cast and crew he put their hearts into high production values so that the people in the theaters will be drawn into the story. He noted that the director worked on the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings and so knew how to make these big scenes and to address a young audience. Pablo said it was a dream come true to have so many big stars and names in Hollywood trust in him as an inexperienced producer and to help him create this true story. Scot said the Blu-Ray and DVD come out one week from today on September 11. Scot said Pope Benedict surprised Mexicans with a plan to visit Mexico and honored those being profiled in the film at the same time that the movie was coming out. Pablo said the Holy Father came to the location where the statue of Christ the King is being built. Pablo said there was no way to anticipate that the Holy Father would make this trip at this time. Fr. Chris asked Pablo about the novel by Graham Greene that includes the events of the Cristero War and then Scot asked about the number of people who died in the war and how many have been canonized and beatified. Pablo said it killed 250,000 people, more than the Mexican Revolution. There are more than 25 canonized saints and 23 beati, some of them priests and some of them laypeople. Some are martyrs from the Knights of Columbus, which was very supportive at the time, trying to end the war through pressure in the American embassy. America had economic interests in Mexican oil at the time and so there was great interest throughout North America. Pablo talked about one of the priests who is canonized today who was among the martyrs. He is played in the movie by Peter O'Toole. He refuses to leave and stays to comfort the people. Another martyr is a 13-year-old boy who refused to renounce his faith. Andy Garcia portrays an agnostic general who was hired to lead the army and ended up finding his faith. Another was the man some call the Mexican Ghandi, who tried in every way to avoid violence and war. Fr. Chris noted that there were women-only St. Joan of Arc brigades. Pablo said if not for the women, there would have been no fight in the war. They were the support behind the army. They took care of the soldiers, providing food and medical care. Scot asked Pablo why they made the movie in English and subtitled it in Spanish for Mexico. Pablo said English is the international language of film and appeals to the widest audience throughout the world. He noted Schindler's List wasn't filmed in German and Troy not in Greek. 2nd segment: Scot said the companion book “For Greatery Glory: The Story of the Cristiada” is written by our next guest Ruben Quezada. Scot and Fr. Chris talked about the foreword to the book by Archbishbop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles. Ruben is the director of operations of the Catholic Resource Center. Scot asked Ruben how the idea for the companion book for the movie came about. He said he'd been speaking nationally and internationally on the subject of the Cristiada and he was contacted by Ignatius Press, the publisher of the book. He said he'd also helped some of the actors as they prepared to play their characters in the film. Fr. Chris asked about a Jesuit priest he talks about in the book. Ruben talked about how the priest inspired him as a child, and encouraged him to learn about the persecution of Catholics in Mexico and the story of Blessed Miguel Pro. He told about going to the library and trying to find anything about the Cristero War and learned how well these events were suppressed by the Mexican government for over seven decades. Scot noted that the ruling party in Mexico from the 1920s into the 1990s was the same party that engaged in the same persecution and so was successful in suppressing it. Ruben said he hears two responses: it happened in Mexico and can't happen here or it was all so long ago. He noted that the same roots of the persecution have started today. He said Archbishop Gomez has said when it looks like outright persecution it may too late. We have to stand up and profess our faith before it gets to that point. Ruben said the Cristiada was about controlling the people. When President Calles came into power in 1924, he was already an atheist and he didn't want the Church to have any influence or to compete with the socialist ideals he was putting into place. They started by kicking out all foreign priests from the country. In order to be a priest, they had to register with the local government and even then they were required to violate their faith by charging for sacraments for example. Some of the foreign priests stayed behind to risk everything and others went underground. There are images of the execution and torture of priests for saying Masses, hearing confessions and anointing the sick. Scot said the book contains questions and answers on all the key facts from the war, photos from the movie and of actual events, along with discussion points for parishes. Scot said his favorite parts were the letters sent from the pope to the Mexican people at the time as well as the remarks by Carl Anderson, Supreme Knights of the Knights of Columbus, on the Cristero War. He said 90% of the priests in Mexico were either killed or forced to leave the country. Scot said people will want to draw parallels between the persecution in Mexico and what the US Bishops have been writing about what we're experiencing in the US. Ruben said we have to raise our eyebrows at the parallels. He gave the quote from the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller: “When they came for the Jews I did not speak, because I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak for me.” This is not a Catholic issue, but is important for all people in the US. Ruben said people wondering whether to read the book or the film first. He said it works either way, but he recommends seeing the film first because the book gives the depth that the movie can't give. He said more information is also available on his website vivacristorey.com. Ruben said what affects him most is knowing that these men gave their lives for him and for all of us, the next generations. The question is whether we will respond in kind.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. **Today's topics:** St. John Vianney; contraceptive mandate; immigrants' contributions to US; the Knights' new priorities; the new euthanasia push **Summary of today's show:** Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry join Scot to discuss the news of the week, including Houston's Cardinal DiNardo's statement on the proposed religious exemption from a federal contraception mandate; Archbishop Gomez's remarks on the contributions of Catholic immigrants to the US; the four new initiatives of the Knights of Columbus, including the purchase of the John Paul II Cultural Center; and Fr. Roger's editorial on euthanasia. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Roger and Greg back to the show. Susan is off this week. Scot said today is an important day in the Church's calendar for priests because it is St. John Vianney's priest. He asked why the Church has singled out this one priest to be the patron saint of priest. Fr. Roger said he showed proper priestly priorities. When he went to Ars, France, it was dead spiritually and he prayed daily in his church for 10 years asking God to convert his people and spent 18 hours per day in the confessional. There was a lot of sin in his town when he arrived, but at the end people who came to Ars were amazed at the holiness of the people of Ars. He was not a gifted man in human measurement. He was kicked out of seminary three times for his academic deficiencies, but he shows that you don't have to be as smart as Pope John Paul to be a good priest. * [St John Vianney](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney) Greg said St. John Vianney really came into his consciousness when his relic came to Boston. It was available for veneration and he saw many people come to visit with him during the Year of the Priest. He was a man of deep, fundamental faith, not necessarily learned or a scholar, but truly one who has inspired millions through his humble Christian life. Scot said he's like Tom Brady, nobody's first pick, but on his way to the Hall of Fame. Scot asked everyone to pray for all priests today. **2nd segment:** Scot said earlier this week, the Department of Health and human Services proposed a religious exemption for the mandate on all new health insurance plans to include coverage of contraception. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston said this exemption is way too narrow. For example, Catholic Charities would have to only employ Catholics and stop serving non-Catholics. * ["Cardinal criticizes contraceptive mandate, calls exemption too narrow," CNS, 8/3/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1103049.htm) * ["USCCB: HHS Mandate for Contraceptive and Abortifacient Drugs Violates Conscience Rights"](http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-154.shtml) * [Full text of Cardinal DiNardo's letter](http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/religious-liberty/upload/respect-for-rights-of-conscience-act-cardinal-dinardo-letter-to-congress-hr1179-07-22-11.pdf) Greg said this follows up recent coverage on this issue. As part of the new federal health mandate, "preventative" care must be provided free of charge and contraception is considered preventative care. Planned Parenthood has said there is an "epidemic" of unplanned pregnancy, but pregnancy is not a disease. HHS issued the regulations that include the abortifacient morning-after pill and sterilizations. Greg read the religious exemption in the regulations: >Employers "that: (1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a nonprofit organization." This would not include Catholic schools, hospitals, and social service agencies. While HHS said the language is taken from existing state regulations, many state regulations simply don't cover health insurance plans provided by religious employers. Federal law does not provide the same exemption. Scot said the cardinal said Catholics aren't alone in objecting to these mandates. >Cardinal DiNardo added: “Catholics are not alone in conscientiously objecting to this mandate.  The drugs that Americans would be forced to subsidize under the new rule include Ella, which was approved by the FDA as an ‘emergency contraceptive' but can act like the abortion drug RU-486.  It can abort an established pregnancy weeks after conception.  The pro-life majority of Americans – Catholics and others – would be outraged to learn that their premiums must be used for this purpose.” >“HHS says the intent of its ‘preventive services' mandate is to help ‘stop health problems before they start,' said Cardinal DiNardo. “But pregnancy is not a disease, and children are not a ‘health problem' – they are the next generation of Americans.” >“It's now more vital than ever that Congress pass the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act to close the gaps in conscience protection in the new health care reform act, so employers and employees alike will have the freedom to choose health plans in accordance with their deeply held moral and religious beliefs.” Scot said one of his biggest concerns about the Obama universal healthcare plan was how sweeping the changes to health care would be. Fr. Roger said a big concern here is that it says that taxpayers need to pay for abortifacient pills, even before we talk about religious exemptions and conscientious objection. He said for a long time the strategy of the Church was too lax because it sought just exemptions for the Church rather than saying that the principle itself of violating the consciences of all Americans by forcing them to pay for abortifacients, contraceptives, and sterilization. They're forcing their immorality on all Americans. Are we going to stand up and say enough is enough. **3rd segment:** Scot said the Anchor this week has an article called "When children are immigrants" about a recent forum in the Fall River diocese to discuss the support of children who are immigrants, especially those born to undocumented parents. Fr. Roger said the issue of immigration policy is shown in relief when we look at how we treat the kids. He recalled an immigration raid in New Bedford a few years ago in which parents were rounded up and sent off to Texas while the kids were still in school. When first- and second-graders returned home, their parents and cousins and aunts and uncles were nowhere to be found and it was up to the Catholic churches to find and take care of these kids. Often these kids are exploited in the underground system they find themselves and they are denied full legal representation and advocacy in our government system. Scot said immigrants are too often dehumanized by those opposed to some kinds of immigration, especially when their own parents were themselves immigrants. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles is himself an immigrant from Mexico and recently spoke on immigration. * ["Archbishop Gomez: immigrations helps recover Christian origins of America," CNA, 8/2/11](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-gomez-immigration-helps-recover-christian-origins-of-america/) Greg said the archbishop was speaking on the important role of Hispanic immigrants in the nation. He said we have a too-New England-centric view, but "long before the Boston Tea Party, Catholic missionaries were naming this countries rivers, mountains, and lakes for Catholic saints." Catholics were here for many decades before the first immigrants on the Eastern seaboard. Scot said he liked that Archbishop Gomez said: >While the New England-focused American history tells the story of “great men” like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and also of “great documents” like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, it is not the entire story. >“When we forget our country's roots in the Hispanic-Catholic mission to the new world, we end up with distorted ideas about our national identity,” Archbishop Gomez said. “We end up with the idea that Americans are descended from only white Europeans and that our culture is based only on the individualism, work ethic and rule of law that we inherited from our Anglo-Protestant forebears.” >The “whole story” about America starts in the 1520s in Florida and in the 1540s in California. This story also centers on New Spain and teaches that “before this land had a name its inhabitants were being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Fr. Roger said Gomez has seen this firsthand and now presides over a church with more than 5 million immigrants. He is thrilled that the archbishop has become a spokesman for the entire Church on immigration and becoming a voice for the voiceless on this issue. He agrees that the notion of our history is too New England-centric. >The archbishop said that although America was founded by Christians, it has become home to “an amazing diversity” of cultures and religions that flourishes “precisely because our nation's founders had a Christian vision of the human person, freedom and truth.” >But America is changing because of globalization, threats from abroad, and internal cultural forces. >“We have an elite culture — in government, the media and academia — that is openly hostile to religious faith,” he continued. “America is becoming a fundamentally different country. It is time for all of us to recognize this — no matter what our position is on the political issue of immigration.” Greg said it is true that there is a creeping secularism in America's elites and it is significant to him that these immigrants are coming here with a strong faith. Those most active in our Church with growing families are Hispanic. He noted that Europe is also experiencing massive immigration, but these communities are not integrating into society and hold values different from the historical values of Europe. In the United States, immigrants from Central America want to become part of our society and hold the same Christian values. Fr. Roger said the HHS mandate is a clear example of the elite openly hostile to religious faith. They do not want to accord us a right to say this is wrong. He noted that the US State Department has re-defined the right to religious belief to the right to worship; i.e. the right to attend a church, not a right to live out our faith the rest of the week. He said Archbishop Gomez speaks not just to immigration, but also the xenophobia of those who don't want those with a great religious faith to come in and renew our country. **4th segment:** Scot said the Knights of COlumbus are having their annual meeting in Denver this week. They have 1.8 million members and donated more than $150 million to Catholic causes and more than 70 million volunteer hours. The Knights also give a lot of support to the Vatican. they announced four new initiatives this year. The first is a disaster-response fund to help local councils become second-responders in providing food, clothing, and shelter in response to disasters. They are are setting up an outreach for children in Africa. The third is supporting vocations and Catholic chaplaincy in the military. And fourth the Knights are purchasing the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington and expanding it to encompass the whole 500year history of Catholic culture in North America. * ["Supreme Knight Announces New Initiatives for Knights"](http://www.kofc.org/un/en/news/releases/detail/new_initiatives_08032011.html) * ["Knights of Columbus Plan Shrine to Blessed John Paul II in Washington, DC"](http://www.kofc.org/un/en/news/releases/detail/jpii_shrine.html) * ["Preserving Blessed John Paul's Legacy," Annual Report of the Supreme Knight 2011](http://www.kofc.org/un/en/conv/2011/skreport/jp2.html) * [John Paul II Cultural Center](http://jp2cf.org/_index.php) Fr. Roger said Cardinal Adam Maida, the former archbishop of Detroit, was the leader in getting this started back in the 90s. It is a first-rate museum, but suffered from low attendance. Fr. Roger think the Knights will draw far more people there. He's very excited that there's a resolution for the center. The Archdiocese of Detroit has been trying to find a buyer for several years. A women's religious order in Michigan had tried to buy it, but that fell through. He said Catholics need a museum in the City of Museums. Greg said it's the Knights coming to the rescue once again. They have such a love for the Church and that's why the Church goes to them when there's a special need. The Knights have provided such critical support to the Archdiocese of Boston in the recent past. Greg admits he's walked by the JP2 Center many times, often because he's in town on other business and never seemed to make it inside. With the extra visibility that the Knights bring to it, especially if they make it a centerpiece of other activity there, it will draw much larger crowds. Scot said when Supreme Knight Carl Anderson was on The Good Catholic Life back in April he was much more excited about the time the Knights gave in volunteerism than the money they give. Scot said he's especially happy about the second-responder program. Fr. Roger launched a Knights of Columbus council in his parish a few years ago. He said it forms men into strong men of the Church and of their families. It calls them clearly to live up to chivalrous heroism. The Knights have four pillars, one of which is service of community. In north New Bedford, they've been very active in the community especially for disabled and deceased veterans, programs for youth, Marian pilgrimages, pro-life activity in and around New Bedford including supporting crisis pregnancy centers. The Knights overall are getting stronger in both numbers but also the quality of the men and organization. Scot said the Knights of Columbus annual gathering is important in the life of the Church, especially since so many bishops from around the US gather to express their gratitude for all the Knights do, including Cardinal Seán and Bishop Hennessey. Some of the addresses given at the meeting are available at [CatholicTV](http://www.catholictv.com), which has been covering it live. **5th segment:** Scot wanted to follow up that the reason the Knights can give so much to Catholic causes is because they provide life insurance to Catholics and because so many men join. * [Massachusetts State Council Knights of Columbus](http://massachusettsstatekofc.org/) Fr. Roger said in June the US bishops had a pastoral letter on living each day with dignity and he had not had a chance to work closely with that letter to explain it. Also Dr. Jack Kevorkian died in early June which focused attention again on the idea that killing those with terminal illness is compassionate. The bishops said that there is a movement to pass laws in certain places where they think it will be easier to set a precedent for killing people with terminal illnesses and other debilitating and chronic diseases. Economic arguments about health care costs are often cited. The US bishops are ahead of the curve. There are only two states in the US that have passed referenda allowing assisted suicide, but there is a growing movement to push the ides of "dying with dignity" through euthanasia. Fr. Roger quoted the bishops: >“The sufferings caused by chronic or terminal illness are often severe,” the bishops wrote. “They cry out for our compassion, a word whose root meaning is to ‘suffer with' another person. True compassion alleviates suffering while maintaining solidarity with those who suffer. It does not put lethal drugs in their hands and abandon them to their suicidal impulses, or to the self-serving motives of others who may want them dead. It helps vulnerable people with their problems instead of treating them as the problem.” * ["Pressured to Die: Euthanasia push continues," Zenit, 7/17/11](http://www.zenit.org/article-33090?l=english) * ["Living and Dying with Dignity," Fr. Roger Landry, The Anchor, 8/5/11](http://catholicpreaching.com/index.php?content=articles&articles=20110805anchor) * ["US Bishops approve statement on physician-assisted suicide," EWTN News/Catholic World News, 6/17/11](http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=113955) Greg notes that in Europe this issue has progressed much further than here, even to the point where the decision to kill the victim has been undertaken by others, including doctors and family members. Fr. Roger noted also in the Anchor this week that the Fall River diocese had a pro-life boot camp. The last abortion clinic in the diocese is in Attleboro and they're working to put them out of business. The boot camp gathered about 35 young people to teach them how to be advocates for life and then be witnesses themselves, including praying outside the abortion clinic. Greg pointed a story about Bishop Elias Chacour from Haifa, Israel, visiting Boston recently and being interviewed by the Pilot about the state of Christians in the Holy Land. Scot pointed out a story about the parishioners of St. Evangelist in East Bridgewater reaching out to youth.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Gregory Tracy, Managing Editor of The Pilot newspaper, and Father Roger Landry, Executive Editor of The Anchor newspaper.  * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) **Today's topics:** Immigration reform, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Benedict on prayer, and more **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Susan talk with Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy about a Catholic response to the political question of immigration reform; Pope Benedict's advice on how dioceses should approach praying and preparing for vocations; the Holy Father's ongoing catechesis on prayer; and more in the news from The Pilot and The Anchor. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Susan back to the show. Susan said she enjoyed yesterday's show on adult faith formation and would like to re-visit the topic of the US bishops' document on the subject again on the show some day. She's also getting involved in budget process for her office of Religious Education. The Archdiocese's fiscal year begins on June 1 and all the ministries are preparing plans and budgets for next year. **2nd segment:** Scot and Susan welcome Gregory and Fr. Roger back to the show. President Obama made a speech on May 10 in El Paso, Texas, and released a 34-page blueprint for immigration reform. He emphasized federal responsibility for immigration; to hold employers responsible for hiring illegals, create a system that provides for the demands of employment and family unification, and to hold people in the US illegally accountable for their action before enabling to get them on the right side of the law. * ["Obama launches new push for immigration reform," Catholic News Service, 5/11/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110511.htm) * ["The Catholic voice in the immigration debate," Fr. Roger Landry, The Anchor, 6/25/10](http://www.anchornews.org/editorial/2010/june_25_2010.php) Gregory said the Church has always had a great interest in immigration reform, ensuring that whatever reforms are made respect human dignity.  Scot said the President accused Republicans of moving the goal posts so that whatever Democrats offer, the Republicans always want more. Republicans shot back that the mission of securing the border has never been accomplished. Susan said we are all descendants of immigrants and need to welcome people, but we also need to be responsible. Sometimes when immigration is discussed, an elitist mindset comes out and that's not who we are as Catholics. The chairman of the US bishops' committee on immigration is Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, who is himself an immigrant. Fr. Roger said Gomez says we are talking here about brothers and sisters in Christ and we need keep that in mind in any conversation about immigration reform. He also says the Church is not a political party and we're not advocating any particular policy, but we're promoting an attitude of respect and welcoming. Archbishop Gomez also said that anti-Hispanic bias is a factor in some of the conversation about reform. Scot said Archbishop Gomez's letter last year said 10 million illegals are in the country, so what we do we do with them. While we have to uphold our laws, we have to ask what is proper and just. From a moral standpoint, he concludes that deporting immigrants is too severe a penalty. He suggests intensive long-term community service. Gregory thinks it's a reasonable suggestion and it's important to remember that this is a question of civil law, not criminal law. Susan quoted a priest from Fall River who said, "If you are baptized, you are home."  Fr. Landry said we have to treat them like human beings rather than treat then like they're doing something horrible by trying to work and feed their kids. This is their experience in New Bedford after the big immigration raid on a Defense Dept. contractor in 2007 that resulted in the arrests of dozens of undocumented aliens. **3rd segment:** Fr. Roger's editorial this week in the Anchor is on the World Day of Vocations, which is this Sunday. This year, the Holy Father's message speaks of the work of dioceses in forming and recruiting vocations. * [Pope Benedict's message of the 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/vocations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101115_xlviii-vocations_en.html) Fr. Roger said the day normally occurs on Good Shepherd Sunday, which is now the fourth Sunday of Easter. Jesus knew there would always be a vocations crisis, which is why He told us that the harvest is great and the laborers are few. Pope Benedict describes the vitality of a local Church as being seen in the ability to foster vocations. He notes that in certain places vocations are thriving and in others they are sterile.  Pope Benedict said: 1. Pray 2. Train young people a total commitment to Christ and in love 3. Help young people to hear the voice of God in the cacophony of the world 4. Take advantage of every opportunity to promote vocations: in families, in parishes, and in our communities. Fostering vocations starts with forming your children from a young age.  Scot said Cardinal Seán always says that vocations are everyone's business, not just priests or bishops. Susan said our religious education programs promote the call to vocation at all ages. We have to ask the question of the young people we meet because God's voice is being drowned out and so they need to hear from us. One of the best advertisements for vocations is seeing a priest so in love with his ministry. But we have to raise the topic with the young men in our lives. Gregory said vocations don't come from a vacuum. It's particularly important to understand the connectedness to the vocation of marriage. When a couple truly lives the vocation of marriage, their children will see the importance of vocation, whether it be marriage or religious life or priesthood and it's not a foreign concept to them. **4th segment:** In his general audience on Wednesday, Pope Benedict gave the second installment in what will be a long series of catechetical talks on prayer in the Christian life. * [Pope Benedict's message to the General Audience on 5/11/11](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20110511_en.html) * ["Prayer reveals Man's need for God, says Pope," Zenit, 5/11/11](http://www.zenit.org/article-32548?l=english) >In our catechesis on Christian prayer, we have seen how prayer is part of the universal human experience. Our own age, marked by secularism, rationalism and an apparent eclipse of God, is showing signs of a renewed religious sense and a recognition of the inadequacy of a purely horizontal, material vision of life. Man is made in the image of God; a desire for God is present in every heart and man in some way knows that he is capable of speaking to God in prayer. Saint Thomas Aquinas tells us that prayer is the expression of our desire for God, a desire which is itself God's gift. Prayer is first and foremost a matter of the heart, where we experience God's call and our dependence on his help to transcend our limitations and sinfulness. The posture of kneeling at prayer expresses this acknowledgment of our need and our openness to God's gift of himself in a mysterious encounter of friendship. Let us resolve to pray more frequently, to listen in the silence of our hearts to God's voice, and to grow in union with the God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, with the One who is infinite Love. Susan recalled St. Augustine's quote: "You have made us for yourself O Lord and our hearts will not rest until they rest in you" and thinks it echoes with Pope Benedict's quote of St. Thomas Aquinas. Gregory was struck by the statement that to really pray is hard work. We have to consciously listen to God. It's hard to set aside prayer time in our busy lives and it's easy to say, "I prayed" with a quick tossed off prayer, but it's hard to set aside time for serious prayer. Fr. Roger said Pope Benedict also said in his audience that man is religious by nature. He is as much homo religiosus (religious man) as he is homo sapiens. To Pray is to feel that meaning in the world is outside the world. The school exists as a school of prayer to teach them to prayer. Prayer is faith in action and sometimes it comes in the least likely of circumstances. An anecdote of a man who said: "Lord, help me I don't know how to pray." The Lord replied, "You are already doing it." Scot highlighted the Pope's further words from the audience: >Man bears within himself a thirst for the infinite," he continued, "a nostalgia for eternity, a search for beauty, a desire for love, a need for light and truth, which drive him toward the Absolute; man bears within himself the desire for God. And man knows, in some way, that he can address himself to God, that he can pray to him." >The Pontiff said that the attraction toward God "is the soul of prayer, which is cloaked in many forms and modalities according to the history, time, moment, grace and finally the sin of each one of those who pray." >He added that prayer is a mindset, and not a "series of practices and formulas." Prayer, he said, is "a way of being before God, rather than carrying out acts of worship or pronouncing words." Other great stores in the Pilot and the Anchor this week: * In the Pilot, Fr. Thomas Morgan passed to the Lord. He had been pastor in Salisbury since the mid-1970s.  * In the Anchor, 75 years after "the Little Rose" died, many people are still working for her canonization. * In the Pilot, Fr. Dick Rieman, priest of Opus Dei, reflects on his personal experience of St. Josemaria Escriva. * Also in the Pilot, more info on [Why Catholic?: Journey Through the Catechism](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/whycatholic.aspx?pid=464)