Podcasts about archbishop romero

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Third Week of Lent Lectionary: 237The Saint of the day is Saint Oscar Arnulfo RomeroSaint Oscar Romero's Story The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God that says ‘Do not kill!' should prevail. “No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is the time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. . . . Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!'” Simultaneously, Romero had eloquently upheld the gospel and effectively signed his own death warrant. When he was appointed archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, Bishop Romero was considered a very “safe” choice. He had served as auxiliary bishop there for four years before his three years as bishop of Santiago de Maria. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '513a1c02-2ac3-4332-82b8-f4b809487bc1', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Oscar's father wanted him to be a carpenter—a trade for which he demonstrated some talent. Seminary classes in El Salvador preceded his studies at Rome's Gregorian University and his ordination in 1942. After earning a doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest and later rector of an interdiocesan seminary. Three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, Romero was shaken by the murder of his good friend Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero's years as its shepherd. When a military junta seized control of the national government in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available. Romero's funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners. His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador on May 23, 2015, and he was canonized on October 14, 2018. Reflection Oscar Romero and many other Latin American martyrs for the faith were falsely accused of advocating a Marxist-inspired “theology of liberation.” Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero's fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. An incarnational faith must be expressed publicly. Click here for more on Saint Oscar Romero! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsPalm Sunday of the Lord's Passion Lectionary: 37 and 38The Saint of the day is Saint Oscar Arnulfo RomeroSaint Oscar Romero's Story The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God that says ‘Do not kill!' should prevail. “No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is the time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. . . . Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!'” Simultaneously, Romero had eloquently upheld the gospel and effectively signed his own death warrant. When he was appointed archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, Bishop Romero was considered a very “safe” choice. He had served as auxiliary bishop there for four years before his three years as bishop of Santiago de Maria. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '4e73adc9-f10b-41f5-b2c4-2e25026b4466', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Oscar's father wanted him to be a carpenter—a trade for which he demonstrated some talent. Seminary classes in El Salvador preceded his studies at Rome's Gregorian University and his ordination in 1942. After earning a doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest and later rector of an interdiocesan seminary. Three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, Romero was shaken by the murder of his good friend Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero's years as its shepherd. When a military junta seized control of the national government in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available. Romero's funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners. His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador on May 23, 2015, and he was canonized on October 14, 2018. Reflection Oscar Romero and many other Latin American martyrs for the faith were falsely accused of advocating a Marxist-inspired “theology of liberation.” Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero's fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. An incarnational faith must be expressed publicly. Click here for more on Saint Oscar Romero! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

We welcome Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric to The Weight for a discussion of Maundy Thursday (the day Christians commemorate Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples before his arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection) through the lens of the ministry of Fr. Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980. Edgardo was drawn to the way Archbishop Romero read the gospel through the context of where and when he lived, especially how Romero dedicated himself in his short time as Archbishop to the lives of the people he served, who mostly lived in overwhelming poverty.Edgardo is dean of Duke Divinity School, the Irene and William McCutchen Professor of Reconciliation and Theology, and director of the Center for Reconciliation. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Duke University in 1997 and his Ph.D. from Duke University in 2007. He was also the first Latino to be ordained as an elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.Resources:Buy Óscar Romero's Theological Vision: Liberation and the Transfiguration of the Poor

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Fourth Week of Lent Lectionary: 248The Saint of the day is Saint Oscar Arnulfo RomeroSaint Oscar Romero's Story The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God that says ‘Do not kill!' should prevail. “No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is the time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. . . . Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!'” Simultaneously, Romero had eloquently upheld the gospel and effectively signed his own death warrant. When he was appointed archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, Bishop Romero was considered a very “safe” choice. He had served as auxiliary bishop there for four years before his three years as bishop of Santiago de Maria. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '5a2b81a8-8ae8-4485-acdf-425e313e469b', {}); Oscar's father wanted him to be a carpenter—a trade for which he demonstrated some talent. Seminary classes in El Salvador preceded his studies at Rome's Gregorian University and his ordination in 1942. After earning a doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest and later rector of an interdiocesan seminary. Three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, Romero was shaken by the murder of his good friend Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero's years as its shepherd. When a military junta seized control of the national government in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available. Romero's funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners. His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador on May 23, 2015, and he was canonized on October 14, 2018. Reflection Oscar Romero and many other Latin American martyrs for the faith were falsely accused of advocating a Marxist-inspired “theology of liberation.” Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero's fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. An incarnational faith must be expressed publicly. Click here for more on Saint Oscar Romero! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

This was both an easy and tough episode to record.   John Giuliano being one of my mentors and heroes, I could talk about him for days (or more). But to really capture the essence of what he brings us, with his Being, is beyond my ability to share.   But, you know, Nate and I did our best.   We get into Romero, Gandhi, John's history with prisons, the difference between having an orchestrated plan and having an unorchestrated exploration, and what lies in between.   Nate retells his favorite moment (Archbishop Romero being converted by a tomato).   And we end with an invitation: If you are moved by John's story and want to visit his village in El Salvador, I want to take you. I'm not sure when, or how, but I'm going to make it happen. It changed my life 21 years ago, and it'll change my life again. And yours. And your kids. Etc.   Show Links: Voicemail:  https://www.speakpipe.com/10khshow Email: info@10kh.show Podcast website: http://momentumlab.com/podcast Momentum Lab: http://www.momentumlab.com   About our sponsor: 10,000 Heroes is brought to you by Momentum Lab.    I normally refer to Momentum Lab as an experiment-based coaching program or a goal accelerator.   But it's beyond that. It's a deep investigation into Purpose, Vision, and what it takes to achieve our goals in every area of life.   If you're interested in falling in love with who you are, what you're doing, or what you're surrounded with, there's two roads:   Accepting what is Transforming your situation   We help you do both.    The best way of learning more is to sign up for our weekly email: (Momentum) Lab Notes   http://momentumlab.com/podcast

Dr Charlie Clements - A Journey of Conscience: The Anniversary of Archbishop Romero Assassination, US enabled Death Squads and War Crimes Remembered Dr Charlie Clements was radicalized into a peace justice activist through the lies he saw and was a part of in Viet Nam. On 3/7/1982 he entered FMLN controlled area on Guazapa Volcano El Salvador to provide medicine to peasant campesinos For Charlie best example of war crimes was symbolized by Archbishop and our US nuns being raped and murdered. They like so many others were accused of being communist because they were working with the poor. US allied slogans included ‘Be Patriotic, kill a Priest!” Meanwhile fraudulent elections were put forth as proof of democracy to the US public by Dick Cheney and others. To support unfairness most often requires repression. A thousand Salvadorans not military operatives but mainly civil society noncombatants per month were being disappeared, tortured and/or killed by US enabled death squads. FMLN broadly supported by the people. That's how they got food, intelligence & hid. Its very hard to defeat a movement supported by the majority population. During govt sweeps whole villages had to move often through government controlled areas. If they were caught worse than death awaited them. Stories of a mother suffocating her child to keep from giving up positions and certain slaughter of all. Therefore, often that was the function of the FMLN to stall or distract army so civilians could flee government sweeps . Imagine: a 1980 NYT picture of a peasant holding up a bolt action rifle from WWI, & shooting at an A-37 fighter jet with a gatling gun on board that is shooting a hundred thousand rounds per minute (the equivalent of putting a bullet in every square foot of a football field every 60 seconds). And the question posed by our government & the MSM war promoting propagandists is: “Where did that peasant get that rifle?” Don't Be Late! and siempre fieles, Pgatos 4/3/2022 pgatos00@gmail.com

Dr Charlie Clements - A Journey of Conscience: The Anniversary of Archbishop Romero Assassination, US enabled Death Squads and War Crimes Remembered Dr Charlie Clements was radicalized into a peace justice activist through the lies he saw and was a part of in Viet Nam. On 3/7/1982 he entered FMLN controlled area on Guazapa Volcano El Salvador to provide medicine to peasant campesinos For Charlie best example of war crimes was symbolized by Archbishop and our US nuns being raped and murdered. They like so many others were accused of being communist because they were working with the poor. US allied slogans included ‘Be Patriotic, kill a Priest!” Meanwhile fraudulent elections were put forth as proof of democracy to the US public by Dick Cheney and others. To support unfairness most often requires repression. A thousand Salvadorans not military operatives but mainly civil society noncombatants per month were being disappeared, tortured and/or killed by US enabled death squads. FMLN broadly supported by the people. That's how they got food, intelligence & hid. Its very hard to defeat a movement supported by the majority population. During govt sweeps whole villages had to move often through government controlled areas. If they were caught worse than death awaited them. Stories of a mother suffocating her child to keep from giving up positions and certain slaughter of all. Therefore, often that was the function of the FMLN to stall or distract army so civilians could flee government sweeps . Imagine: a 1980 NYT picture of a peasant holding up a bolt action rifle from WWI, & shooting at an A-37 fighter jet with a gatling gun on board that is shooting a hundred thousand rounds per minute (the equivalent of putting a bullet in every square foot of a football field every 60 seconds). And the question posed by our government & the MSM war promoting propagandists is: “Where did that peasant get that rifle?” Don't Be Late! and siempre fieles, Pgatos 4/3/2022 pgatos00@gmail.com

We often assume that radicalism emerges from radical texts.  Someone reads the text and becomes a radical.  But sometimes it grows from experience and the fact that a efforts at moderate reform are blocked by resistant forces.  

This is part I of a two part talk.  Part I deals with the political background to Liberation Theology, especially the role of US involvement in Central America as a radicalizing force. Part II deals with stories about people, particularly Archbishop Romero, who was assassinated during mass, and Che Guevara, and how they were transformed by circumstances from moderates to radicals.  

Originally delivered on September 10, 1989 Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18; Paul to Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33 In this Gospel, we are reminded of what it takes for us to be followers of Jesus.  We must be ready to sacrifice ourselves, as Archbishop Romero did, for our sisters and brothers. Unless we embrace the cross each […]

Jesus calls us to take up our crosses, to die to self and to this world. Deacon John explores themes involving works of art, 20th Century Martyrs, and our call to life into a crucified life today. The Scripture reference is Matthew 16:21-28. For links to some of the artwork that was shown during the sermon, here are some links. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agony_in_the_Garden: Painting on display by Heinrich Hofmann, 1886. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agony_in_the_Garden_(Blake): Painting by William Blake, 1799-1800. For more information regarding Oscar Romero and the troubles of El Salvador, please read, "Voice of the Voiceless", which contains a biography of Archbishop Romero, as well as some of his letters. You can purchase it from Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Voiceless-Pastoral-Letters-Statements/dp/0883445255/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3G2T3EUH16XC2&dchild=1&keywords=voice+of+the+voiceless&qid=1598796158&sprefix=voice+of+the+vo%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

This episode is a conversation with Jacob Torbeck. Jacob is a PhD candidate at Loyola University in Chicago's Integrated Studies in Ethics and Theology program. Jacob and I have crossed paths many times over the past 20 or so years, but have never gotten to know each other well. In this conversation, we talk a bit about his background, then turn to a host of other topics: Jesuits and liberation theology, the unity and diversity within Catholicism, Jake's faith and his reasons for pursuing theology as an academic discipline, teaching theology and ethics to college students, faith, and the relationships between faith and science, faith and institutions, and faith and today's party politics. Enjoy. Things to Check Out (shared by Jacob): The Left Side of the Church (article published in Jacobin, available here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/12/church-liberation-theology-latin-america-left) The Violence of Love: Quotations from Archbishop Romero (free book, available here: http://www.romerotrust.org.uk/homilies-and-writings/violence-love) Silence by Shusaku Endo (book, available here: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results&kn=Endo%20Silence&sts=t) Book debunking the "skills gap" myth: About halfway through our conversation, I got sidetracked talking about STEM and the myth of the "skills gap." If you're interested in that topic, check out the book Why Good People Can't Get Jobs: The Skills Gap and What Companies Can Do About It by Peter Cappelli (available here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/why-good-people-cant-get-jobs-peter-cappelli/1110912284) Music for this episode: Good Night by Siobhan Dakay (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/SiobhanD/60107 Ft: MyVanillaworld Episode art: Photograph by yours truly.

Father Thomas Reese -- Senior Analyst -- Religion News Service; Author -- INSIDE the VATICAN: The POLITICS & ORGANIZATION of The CATHOLIC CHURCH, talks to WDEL's Allan Loudell from Rome

Father Thomas Reese -- Senior Analyst -- Religion News Service; Author -- INSIDE the VATICAN: The POLITICS & ORGANIZATION of The CATHOLIC CHURCH, talks to WDEL's Allan Loudell from Rome

A conversation with Hakam Takash about the closing of the Palestinian mission in Washington D.C. by the Trump Administration.  The reason Trump said he ordered the closing, is because Palestine had not done enough for peace negotiations with Israel. Guest: Hakam Takash, was a top diplomat for the Palestinian Consular's affairs office. Then, we talk about Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who will be canonized by Pope Francis this Weekend. Guest: Matt Eisenbrandt is a human-rights attorney.  He served as the Center for Justice and Accountability's Legal Director and a member of the trial team against one of Óscar Romero's killers.  Matt Eisenbrandt is currently a special adviser to the Canadian Centre for International Justice, where he previously served as Legal Director, he is author of Assassination of a Saint: The Plot to Murder Oscar Romero and the Quest to Bring his Killers to Justice. The post The Closing of the Palestinian Office in Washington. Then, The Canonization of Salvadoran Archbishop Romero appeared first on KPFA.

In today’s podcast we’re talking about the connection between declining family stability and the increasing stronghold of secularism in society. Mary Eberstadt of the Faith and Reason Institute joins us for that conversation. In our Classic Catholic Social Teaching segment we’re discussing Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero’s final homily which he finished just moments before being fatally shot in El Salvador on March 24th, 1980. Pope Francis will canonize Archbishop Romero on October 14th. And, we’re getting close to election day so we’re going to talk about what voters can do to get to know their candidates and how to help your neighbors get to know the candidates as well. And we finish out with a bit of sacred music from the Gregorian Chant Schola of Saint John’s Abbey and University performing “Vivo autem ego”- “I still Live” in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day is October 4th.

Convo with Kyle: Bishop Rhoades talks about his message for the youth of our diocese as they are confirmed in the Holy Spirit. Then it’s on to the lives and legacies of a few soon-to-be saints, including Archbishop Oscar Romero and Mother Mary Katherine Casper. Both will be canonized in Rome this weekend (October 14). Then Bishop reflects on Sunday's Gospel (October 14) on Jesus’s call for material detachment. Listener Questions: - 28:59 - Do you have a favorite church in Rome? - 30:28 - How often do you go to Rome? What do you talk about when you meet with Pope Francis? - 34:33 - How does God judge a person who commits mortal sin but doesn't believe, and/or know, that they are committing mortal sin? - 37:42 - Can you explain the difference between particular judgement vs final judgement? - 41:05 - I drive twice a week to school and there is a panhandler who is always stays in a certain spot on the road, he seems to have this spot picked out, and on the days that he isn't there he leaves a pile of trash in the grass. how do I handle situations like this when I encounter beggars on the street? 43:27 - Did you ever play a musical instrument? ------ RESOURCES: - Sunday, October 14 Readings - http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101418.cfm ------ Truth in Charity is brought to you in part by Notre Dame Federal Credit Union. ------ Live: www.redeemerradio.com Follow us on social media: www.Facebook.com/RedeemerRadio www.Twitter.com/RedeemerRadio www.Instagram.com/Instagram Submit your question(s): Call / Text (Holy Cross College text line) - 260-436-9598 Online - www.RedeemerRadio.com/AskBishop E-mail - AskBishop@RedeemerRadio.com Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes | Google Play | SoundCloud | RSS

Fr. Dan and David welcome America Magazine's Jim Keane to talk about the canonization of Oscar Romero. We also talk trade wars and the recent Supreme Court case, Janus v. AFSCME

On March 24 1980, as El Salvador edged towards civil war, a right-wing death squad shot dead the head of the Roman Catholic church. Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed by a single bullet as he said mass at the altar in San Salvador. Mike Lanchin hears from local journalist, Milagro Granados, who was there at the moment of the assassination. (Photo: A man cleans a mural of former Archbishop Romero in Panchimalco, El Salvador. Credit: Marvin RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images)

On March 24 1980, as El Salvador edged towards civil war, a right-wing death squad shot dead the head of the Roman Catholic church. Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed by a single bullet as he said mass at the altar in San Salvador. Mike Lanchin hears from local journalist, Milagro Granados, who was there at the moment of the assassination. (Photo: A man cleans a mural of former Archbishop Romero in Panchimalco, El Salvador. Credit: Marvin RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images)

A look at the recent changes of climate and how Christians should view these reports.

Journalist Milagro Granados recalls the murder of the outspoken Salvadoran cleric, who was shot dead while saying mass at the altar by a right-wing death squad in March 1980. She was there at the moment of his assassination. Archbishop Romero is soon to be declared a saint. (Photo: A man cleans a mural of former Archbishop Romero in Panchimalco, El Salvador. Credit: Marvin RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images)

On 24 March 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot dead while saying mass in San Salvador. His murder by a right-wing death squad, pushed El Salvador towards bloody civil war. Today, he is still revered by many Catholics as a saint. Photo: A portrait of Archbishop Romero on a wall in San Salvador (AFP)

Summary of today's show: This Sunday, Cardinal Seán is taking the unusual step of asking every parish in the Archdiocese of Boston to play a video or audio of a special homily he's written to talk about the attempt to legalize physician-assisted suicide in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the November 6 ballot. Scot Landry, Fr. Mark O'Connell, Fr. Chip Hines and the listeners of The Good Catholic Life get an exclusive advance look at the homily and our panel discusses the Cardinal's appeal to the moral law, the good of society, love of the most vulnerable, and our Christian duty to be a family of faith for those in need. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry, Fr. Mark O'Connell and Fr. Chip Hines Links from today's show: from on . Today's topics: Cardinal Seán's homily on Assisted Suicide 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show and welcomed Fr. Mark O'Connell and Fr. Chip Hines back to the show. Fr. Chip is back for the first time since becoming pastor of St. Joseph parish in Medford. Fr. Mark said he had a pretty normal week. Scot said the Pastoral Center is busy getting ready for the Social Justice Convocation tomorrow. He said the Daughters of St. Paul are setting up their bookstall in the lobby of the Pastoral Center right now. Scot said we're starting this week with this Sunday's Gospel and then hear Cardinal Seán's homily that will be heard in all the parishes of the archdiocese this weekend. Gospel for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 10:46-52) As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Scot said Cardinal Seán pronounces Bartimaeus differently, probably the way it's pronounced in one of the other languages he speaks. They now played the beginning of Cardinal Seán's homily. People often find beggars annoying. Some will cross the street to avoid them. A man who was raised during the depression told of how the hobos, the knights of the road, would constantly arrive at their kitchen door asking for a handout. His mom would prepare sandwiches, a piece of fruit and a cup of coffee. They wondered why their back door seemed to attract more beggars than the rest of the neighborhood. One day they discovered that there was a mark on the curb in front of their house that indicated that this family would give something. The little boy asked his mother if he should erase the markings. His mom told him to leave them alone. It was a lesson that the boy never forgot. Today's Gospel is about a Beggar named, Bartimaeus, which means Tim's son. Bartimaeus is a blind beggar who has placed himself on the side of the road where all the pilgrims will pass on the way from Jericho to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. Everyone over 12 years of age who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem was expected to go to Jerusalem for the feast. I cannot hear this Gospel without remembering a young man from South America by the name of Segundo who arrived at National Airport in Washington and was referred to the Travelers' Aid Desk. Segundo did not speak English. He knew no one in Washington, he had no money and he was blind. Someone who worked for an airline had gotten him an airplane ticket and a visitor's visa. Travelers' Aid sent him to me at the Centro Católico Hispano. As politely as I could, I asked “What possessed you to come to Washington without knowing anyone, without a plan, with nothing?” He said: “Padre in my country there are no seeing eye dogs, no schools for the blind, and not much medical attention. Blind people in my town spend their whole life sitting on the steps of the Church begging from the people going to Mass.”” I said: “Segundo, welcome to Washington. Welcome to the Spanish Catholic Center.” In today's Gospel, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, is there hoping to get a handout from the Church goers. The Gospels often describe for us two categories of people; the crowd and the community. The crowd is a collection of individuals who are quite content to put their own personal interest first, and to mind their own business. This group is often portrayed as pushing people away from the Lord, like the crowd in today's Gospel who keep telling the beggar to shut up. The community are those who share Jesus' mission and are calling people to draw near, to be closer to the Lord, to be a part of their family of faith. The community are the ones in the Gospel who say: “Take courage, get up, Jesus is calling you.” We want to form not a crowd, but a community; a family of faith, a community that cares for the blind beggar, the helpless child, the sick and the dying. Scot said Cardinal Seán will tie in the Church's care of the needy with the need to care for the dying. Of the story of Segundo, Scot said it reflects our welcoming of the immigrant. Fr. Chip said Cardinal Seán often speaks about Centro Catolico and you get the sense that was some of the best times of his priesthood. Scot said from the time of Cardinal Seán's ordination to the priesthood until becoming a bishop in the Virgin Islands, nearly every single Mass he celebrated was in a language other than English. The Centro Catolico was formed to help care for the influx of immigrants to the United States in that area. Fr. Mark said the Centro is a safe haven. He said as a priest it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the people that need help. He told a story of a man approaching him after Mass one day and how he pre-judged someone as wanting to ask for money when all they wanted was to tell him what a good homily he had given. Even priests can become wearied of the work. Scot noted that the beggars and hobos and Segundo and Bartimaeus were able to advocate for themselves. But Cardinal Seán will speak to those who are unable to speak for themselves, like the unborn or the terminally ill. The family of faith, the People of God, the Church needs to be their voice. He distinguishes between two categories of people in society and in the Church. Sometimes we're the crowd and sometimes we're the community of faith. We could sit back and be judgmental of many things and of people. Other times we can be a family of faith caring for the blind, the helpless child, the sick, and the dying. Over the next 11 days we need to ensure we're going to be a family of faith. Fr. Chip said the people expect priests to be available and it's part of who they are. There are times he's in the middle of something, but he makes the time for the person. St. Francis loved beggars and became a beggar himself and wanted us his friars to be beggars because being a beggar reveals a lot about our human condition, our dependence upon God, and our interdependence among ourselves. At periods of our life, we are completely dependent on others for our basic needs; at the beginning and at the end of life. Somewhere in between, we get to be caregivers. The Elizabethan poet, John Donne, wrote that no man is an island, that we are diminished by each death because we are part of humanity. The poet bids us: “Inquire not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” We cannot ignore the impending legalization of Physician-Assisted-Suicide as if it did not affect us. It would bring spiritual death, a cheapening of human life, and a corrupting of the medical profession. PhysicianAssisted-Suicide means making the pharmacists, doctors, nurses, family members, friends and society itself, accomplices in a suicide. Our task is to help prevent suicide and provide the very best palliative and hospice care for our terminally ill loved ones. You will hear many emotional arguments in favor of Assisted-Suicide. We all get emotional when we talk about the death of those whom we love the most. Laws must not be born out of emotions. Laws need to reflect the moral law, the common good and the protection of the most vulnerable. Scot said what jumps out to him that in periods of our life we are completely dependent on others, but in the middle of our lives we often get to become caregivers. Being dependent is not a bad thing. When your children are dependent on you as a parent because it gives an opportunity to share love. At the end of life, even if in a diminished physical capacity, you can experience that love. Fr. Mark said before the show he was with his father, just holding his hand for 20 minutes and reflected on the doctors and nurses caring for him so well. That's how our seniors should be treated; with love and a place to call home and freed from pain. On the fact that we can't ignore assisted suicide as if it doesn't affect us, the Cardinal is saying it impacts us because it affects others and affects society. Fr. Mark said the Church has a duty to speak up against immorality because we are part of society. The cardinal then outlines how it would affect society. Fr. Chip said at funeral Masses, the last caregivers are there. How would they deal with contributing to the death of the person? How would we be able to comfort them? The people who care for others at the end of life need to be cared for too. Scot said suicide by those we know affects us deeply even if we don't think it will. This law would allow someone to kill themselves without even notifying their spouse or children. How would that leave them after death? Fr. Chip said he celebrated his own uncle's funeral who took his own life and he remembers seeing his father and his siblings and his cousins and wondering how it will affect them all. Fr. Mark pointed out that it's not going too far from the topic to talk about all suicide, not just assisted suicide. In Oregon, the overall suicide rate has gone way up and it's because of the cheapening of human life. Scot said assisted suicide sends the message that suicide is sometimes a solution to our problems. Fr. Mark said there is a copycat effect. Scot said we're hearing the Question 2 advocates are emotional arguments. Cardinal Seán is saying that laws must not be born out of emotions. Your heart goes out to some of the key spokesmen for Yes on 2, because they obviously went through difficulty with a loved one who wanted to take their life. But the emotion in those individual cases should not make laws for everyone. Laws should reflect the moral law and common good for the most vulnerable. Fr. Chip said the response to suffering is not death, it's love. Jaymie Stuart Wolfe wrote that in her column in the Pilot this week. Our response should be love to those who are elderly, dying, going through a hard time. There are many citizens of this State who do not share our faith and for whom the clear Biblical teaching is not a convincing argument. To them, we make an appeal to reason: that this is bad legislation because it puts vulnerable people at risk and it promotes suicide. Some of the perilous flaws of this legislation that need careful reflection even by those persons who favor physician assisted suicide are: Doctors agree that terminal diagnoses of 6 months or less are often wrong. Many people with a terminal diagnosis live for years. Patients requesting suicide do not need to be examined by a psychiatrist before receiving a lethal prescription, despite that many of them are suffering from the depression. This prescription is for about 100 capsules of Seconal. Of course, people can't ingest 100 capsules all at once. So they pour the contents into juice or applesauce to consume it. Poisoning is never a dignified way to die, especially with no doctor present. There is no requirement that the patient notify family members. Compassionate care at the end of life should involve the loving support of family members. We should be supporting improved hospice and palliative care statewide, not legalized suicide. It is also important that some people in Massachusetts oppose Question 2 because they believe that a ballot initiative process is not a good way to deal with a complex, ethical issue involving life and death. The legislature exists to be able to review proposals, hold public hearings and build consensus on complicated issues. Scot said that the Cardinal is saying we are a people of life. To defeat assisted suicide, we need people who may not be pro-life to be with us. We as mass-attending Catholics need to have the facts and arguments that would be persuasive to those who won't hear this homily. It's bad legislation because it puts vulnerable people at risk without safeguards. Scot said every newspaper in Massachusetts that's taken up Question 2 in its editorials has said Vote No. One of the major arguments has been that such an important law should be taken up by the Legislature. If there's going to be a real discussion, make it a real discussion. Fr. Chip said it's not really physician-assisted suicide. You fill a prescription and go home alone. This law is so flawed with so many problems that even appealing to just logic and sense and the process will work. Scot points out that most doctors in Oregon want nothing to do with this and so doctors affiliated with the pro-suicide group Compassion in Dying write the prescriptions and they barely know the patients. In Massachusetts, the people go to the neighborhood pharmacy and get a lethal dose in between all the flu medication and asthma inhalers. Fr. Chip asks what happens if they change their mind halfway through. Fr. Mark points out that the law doesn't prohibit someone with a financial or other interest in spooning the poison into the patients. He said in many cases people get the prescription to keep around in case they want it and so the pills are laying around with the possibility of someone else getting them. Scot pointed out that no one is saying most people would do this, but if it happens once, it's too many times. We are asking our Catholic parishioners to help in this very challenging time. We feel confident that if the voters have a chance to hear about the flaws in this proposed legislation, they will vote No on Question 2. It all hinges on our ability to get the message out. Please take copies of the hand out cards, and distribute them to your family, friends and neighbors at the events you attend over the next week. You might ask people if they have heard about Question 2, and tell them you would like to read the card with some of the reasons that medical organizations, disability groups, and other community leaders are voting no. There are also sample texts on that you can use to e-mail folks, post on Facebook, Twitter or Google-Plus. I would not be asking this of you if it were not so critical. I would hope that each of us would try to reach at least 10 people with this message. This is not partisan politics, it is simply exercising our right to contribute to the exchange of ideas that the Constitution of the United States guarantees. The Churches perform an important service by weighing in on moral and ethical issues. Many people objected to Archbishop Romero advocating for the poor and objected to Reverend Martin Luther King's work on behalf of social justice. They both gave their lives to make their countries better places where human dignity was respected. We are all called to work for a more just society where the weak and the vulnerable are nurtured and protected. Our faith demands that we not be guilty bystanders. That's why I am asking you to join me and partner with so many medical and disability groups to stop assisted suicide by Voting No on Question 2 on Election Day. Scot added that if you're on Twitter follow and retweet what he posts there. He said the Cardinal is specifically asking everyone who hears this to reach out to one person per day until the election that Question 2 would be a tragedy if passed. You don't have to persuade or convince them. Just let them know, send them a link, and ask them to consider this. Fr. Mark said we need the Catholic vote, but we need more as well. Our neighbors need to hear about this. We can pass out the literature and even talk to those leaning in that direction. Fr. Chip said people can follow him on Twitter too . The beggar Bartimaeus was ignored by the maddening crowd. They tried to silence him, but Bartimaeus refused to be intimidated. It took courage to cry out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” It was interpreted as a political statement by some, no doubt. It was rather a cry to escape from the world of darkness. Jesus heard Bartimaeus' cry and called him over and asked what he wanted. Bartimaeus said: “Lord that I might see.” Jesus who spent his ministry trying to heal blindnesses of minds and hearts says to the beggar: “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” The Gospel said, he immediately received his sight and followed Jesus on the way. What a beautiful ending to this Gospel. Bartimaeus did not disappear when he received what he asked for. With faith and gratitude he became Jesus' disciple and followed the Lord to Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified ten days later – and three days after that, rose from the dead. Let us beg the Lord to cure all our societal blindnesses and help us to follow Jesus with the faith and gratitude of Bartimaeus. Following Jesus is never easy, but it always leads to deeper love and joy. Just ask the beggar. Fr. Chip said he sometimes wonder if assisted suicide is more for the people around the sick person to relieve their burden. Scot said with the exception of the main signatories of the ballot question, he's yet to see any doctor appear on TV or in print in favor of it. Doctors he talks to say that a massive majority of doctors are strongly opposed to this. Fr. Mark pointed out that there are great advances in palliative care in our day and we have compassionate ways to treat people with love.