Podcast appearances and mentions of bishop richard malone

Bishop Michael Fisher tells us how the Buffalo Diocese plans to move forward after reaching a settlement with abuse survivors. Also, why is former Bishop Richard Malone still in good standing?

Siobhan O'Connor brought cases of clergy abuse within the Buffalo Diocese to light while serving as a secretary to Bishop Richard Malone. She gives her thoughts on the settlement reached with survivors.

JD Flynn, Ed Condon, and Carl Bunderson discuss and debate the week’s Catholic news. Topics discussed, timestamps, and links to learn more: (20:30) Coronavirus and reception of Holy Communion: https://bit.ly/2IogXkh (01:05:00) Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo suspended priest behind leaked chancery tapes: https://bit.ly/2Iq1HmV (01:09:30) The true identity of the creator of a 17th-century painting of David and Goliath: https://bit.ly/2PPtO3e (01:11:57) NJ boy with autism is denied First Communion: https://bit.ly/2PO292I

Johnny Enlow: God Is Using Trump to Separate History into Before Trump and After Trump Eras   Nepal’s mass animal slaughter begins despite outcry   Federal agency will be run by man who tried to ban feeding homeless   Buffalo’s Bishop Richard Malone resigns after a year of pressure and Buffalo Bishop Resigns After Scandal... The post Episode 500 Celebration first appeared on Cognitive Dissonance the Podcast.

Editors JD Flynn and Ed Condon are your hosts on JD’s second-favorite podcast of all time. (His favorite is CNA Newsroom.) This week’s news topics include the unexpected delay of the beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen; the other American set to be beatified soon, Brother James Miller; the resignation of the embattled Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo; continuing challenges for Catholics in China vs. the Communist Party; who are the good guys in the Star Wars series? (Spoiler alert: it’s not the Jedi); and more. This week’s game comes courtesy of a fan of the podcast: “Saints of the Silver Screen.” Shownotes: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/podcast/cna-newsroom https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-52-here-comes-emmanuel/id1442017977?i=1000458488011 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fulton-sheen-beatification-postponed-40527 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/diocese-of-rochester-confirms-it-requested-fulton-sheen-beatification-delay-95690 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/wisconsin-native-and-guatemalan-martyr-br-james-miller-to-be-beatified-88464 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/buffalos-bishop-richard-malone-resigns-after-year-of-scandal-67768 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-buffalo-apostolic-administrator-pledges-openness-with-victims-11281 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chinese-bishop-says-catholics-must-put-love-for-homeland-first-53789 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-zen-parolin-is-manipulating-the-holy-father-on-china-deal-57097

The impeachment inquiry is now entering a new chapter as it moves to the House Judiciary Committee; this a day after the House Intelligence Committee released a damming report of President Trump’s actions; and after months of pressure to step down, Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo New York finally has for his handling of sexual abuse claims.

New Zealand Bishop resigns over complaint of sexual nature by woman, Buffalo Diocese and Bishop Richard Malone being investigated over handling of sexual abuse allegations, over 1700 laicized priests with sexual abuse accusations left unsupervised, Catholics celebrate 150th anniversary of Gandhi's birth, Pope Francis plants a tree, Bishop Emeritus Gérard Tremblay of Montreal passes away.

Plastic bag ban and money for NFTA's expansion in the state budget (4:36). Sinatra & Company wins auction for Boulevard Mall (32:00). Bishop Richard Malone explains why he will not resign (1:01:25). Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeBaggerman

A busy week with recaps of the top news stories including Bishop Richard Malone's statement on Sunday where he does not step down, followed by outrage from area politicians. State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, dubbed as the favorite to get the spot on the ballot in NY-27, takes his name out of the running for Congress. An arrest was made in the July 2 slayings on Grape Street and we recap the bickering between Governor Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeBaggerman

A day after the Diocese of Buffalo released the names of over 40 priests accused of sexual abuse, Bishop Richard Malone took questions from the media

Today's topics: March for Life, New York's Cuomo, Transitional Deacons, Bishop Hennessey Summary of today's show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy consider the headlines of the week, including Wednesday's March for Life; Cardinal Seán's homily at the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's remarks about pro-lifers and Bishop Richard Malone's response; the Mass of ordination for transitional deacons; the move of Bishop Robert Hennessey to lead the Merrimack Region of the archdiocese; and Catholic Schools Week. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River Links from today's show: 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. George Martell's and George Martell's Gregory Tracy's CatholicTV recorded broadcast of the

Summary of today's show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy looked at the news headlines of the week, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan being asked to give the benediction at the Republican National Convention; Presidential candidate Mitt Romney agreeing to an interview with EWTN's The World Over program; the Archdiocese of Atlanta receiving Gone with the Wind as a bequest; the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm showing the alternative to assisted suicide; and Fr. Roger writing on the call to martyrdom as a witness to our culture. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River Links from today's show: 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: Cardinal Dolan at the GOP convention; Mitt Romney on EWTN; Gone with the Wind in Atlanta; Carmelite serving the infirm 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed the four Thursday regulars back to the show after a long time apart. Scot said that soon we will start making a live video stream of the show available for many shows. Susan said she is preparing for the new catechetical school year. She said August feels like the shortest month of the year sometimes because they're so busy getting ready. Scot welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry back to the show. At the top of the news was the invitation by Mitt Romney to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York to give the benediction at the Republican National Convention. Scot wondered if people will criticize the cardinal as being partisan. Susan said the move by the Republicans is brilliant. Cardinal Dolan is very articulate and will use the time to call down blessings on our country without being partisan. Susan then told the story of being at dinner with Cardinal Dolan during Bishop Richard Malone's installation celebrations in Buffalo, New York. Scot asked Greg why would a Catholic prelate say yes to such an invitation. Greg recalled the discussion about the invitation to the President Barack Obama to participate in New York's Al Smith dinner to benefit Catholic Charities. He said it's interesting that the Cardinal is blasted for inviting Obama and he'll be criticized for praying at the convention. Scot asked Fr. Roger about the involvement of the Catholic Church in the political sphere. Fr. Roger said the first thing to recognize is that Cardinal Dolan said he would be willing to speak at both conventions and that the principle is that we should start something so important with prayer to call upon God's authority and wisdom as we undertake such actions. He added that there are some people who think that the Catholic Church's business is to be in church on Sunday, not to be salt and light for the world. We're trying to lift everything up for the common good. It is a great sign that we begin so much of our public life with prayer because we can't evict God from our society. Cardinal Dolan has been trying to chart the path by which the faith will purify all political reason. This is the same goal of Pope Benedict XVI, who said during his visit to the United Kingdom that the political sphere has nothing to fear from the Church. The Church is trying to articulate the moral principles which aren't just for Christians, but apply to the dignity of every human person as part of natural law. Scot noted that Mitt Romney will be appearing on EWTN tonight in a significant interview. He said it's clearly an attempt to reach out to Catholics from the Romney campaign. Susan said the whole issue of the candidate's religion has come up before, but the issue of Mormonism is new today and should make for an interesting conversation. Scot said these are the sorts of interviews that frame lots of issues going forward. Greg said this looks like evidence that the Romney campaign is reaching for the Catholic vote. Greg said he's not sure that there is a Catholic vote, as if all Catholics vote the same. Traditionally Catholics did vote Democrat, but there seems to be a split between generations where older Catholics still tend to Democrats while younger Catholics often tend to be Republican for pro-life reasons. He thinks President Obama should take the opportunity to make his case to the Catholic voters like Romney is. Fr. Roger said he hopes Arroyo asks Romney about his conversions with regard tho the life issue. Early in Romney's life was pro-life, then was later pro-abortion running for governor, and then came back to a pro-life position. Catholics need to be able to get beyond the typical frame on Romney as a flip-flopper who switches for political expediency. Fr. Roger said he's heard that Romney's switch came when Fr. Tad Pacholczyk explained to him about what's going on in embryonic stem cell research. He'd also love to see what he likes about Paul Ryan in terms of Ryan's understanding of the Catholic faith as well as what Ryan has written with regard to Catholic teaching and public policy. Fr. Roger thinks Ryan's writings on the subject are the best attempt to apply the principles by any public elected official. Fr. Roger also always wants to see if candidates are men of personal faith and personal principle. Scot said he'd ask Romney how things would be different in a Romney administration with regard to religious liberty and how the HHS mandate might be reversed. Susan would ask him about his faith and why it's important to him and about his Mormon missionary commitment. Greg said he would ask him to speak a little about how Catholics can somehow relate to him in his Mormon faith. At the Pilot they've seen a lot of reluctance to support Romney because they're afraid of his Mormonism in the feedback they've received in letters to the editor and elsewhere. Scot said there is a deep connection between “Gone with the Wind” and the Archdiocese of Atlanta, because one of Margaret Mitchell's heirs has willed it to the archdiocese. From the Joseph Mitchell estate, Archbishop Gregory has designated that $7.5 million be given to the Cathedral of Christ the King for its building fund. He also has assigned $1.5 million to Catholic Charities Atlanta for its immediate use and an additional $2 million to create an endowment fund for the social services agency to address its long-term need for sustaining income. The archbishop also has asked the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia to create an endowment fund for each parish, mission and Catholic school of the archdiocese with a $10,000 gift apiece from the Joseph Mitchell estate, totaling more than $1 million. He also has assigned $150,000 to the Deacons' Assistance Fund, $100,000 of which will be a challenge grant that is in place until May 31,2013, to match any charitable contributions made to the fund during that time. The remainder of the Mitchell bequest will be held in reserve and used by the archdiocese for general religious purposes as requested in Joseph Mitchell's will, Deacon Swope said. Plans call for the cathedral parish, which has limited space on its Peachtree Road site, to use part of the bequest to purchase the nearby archbishop's residence on West Wesley and renovate it as a rectory. A new residence is planned for Archbishop Gregory and future archbishops of Atlanta on the property given to the archdiocese by Joseph Mitchell. Scot said he loves to highlight the living legacy that generous people leave to the Church. Susan said she didn't realize many of the details about Gone with the Wind in the story, like the language translations and how the estate had many artifacts from other authors, which they hope to put on public display. Scot said when an estate gives half or more to the Church, it shows the Catholic faith was central to the donor's life. Greg said it also provides a massive cultural icon. He also finds it shows how much the South is changing and growing and becoming so much more Catholic. He also noted that it's an ongoing gift that will benefit the archdiocese with future profits. Scot said he was surprised the Church didn't sell the rights and various art, rather than seek to maintain it. Fr. Roger has been writing recently on the importance of art and beauty to the soul. Fr. Roger said the Church has been preserving cultural treasures from the beginning because they are created through the genius of human beings that God has implanted in them. The second consideration is that if the Church tried to sell it, it would have been impossible for the other half-owner to buy it and could have damaged the cultural legacy they'd been endowed with. Fr. Roger's first thought was about the scandal years ago when Bob Dylan performed before Pope John Paul II and John Paul preached extemperaneously on what it means to be “blowing with the wind” and in similar way the Mitchell family has blown with the Wind of the Holy Spirit. 2nd segment: Scot called attention to a lengthy article in the Pilot this week about the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm in Massachusetts who run two homes for the elderly and infirm in Framingham and South Boston. They show that there's a better way than assisted suicide, which is to love. Susan said the dignity of the human person has been their stock in trade since the beginning. They address the fear people have about end of life issues and they have assembled a good staff to meet the needs and fears of the dying. They say that people don't come to them to die but to live, which is such an opposite attitude from the assisted suicide proponents. Scot said the founder of the Carmelite Sisters used to be one of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who focus mainly on the poorest at the end of life, but she wanted to offer the same care to everyone regardless of wealth or class. Scot noted how one of the sisters said with regard to assisted suicide that it not only could disrupt otherwise dignified lives, but also the peace of families that help someone end their own life. There will never be peace in that family again, she said. It will make everyone wonder what will happen to them if they get ill. The mission of the facility is to care our elders and to talk with them in this final stage of life so they don't feel alone. Scot and Fr. Roger said that this is how our whole society should treat every sick person, and it shouldn't be unique to the Carmelite Sisters. Fr. Roger said our culture is starting to look at people as disposable, as an economic burden. Instead we are a brother or sister and we are looked at with love. Mother Mark of the Sisters said “Somebody has to advocate for the elderly.” That should be all of us. Scot said people who contemplate suicide need help, no matter whether they are terminally ill. Susan said many years ago the Church started a program called “In Support of Life” and a priest told a gathering a story about interviews of families of elderly and terminally ill patients who said overwhelmingly that they should have the right to take their own life, but the elderly and terminally ill themselves said overwhelmingly that they shouldn't have that right. Scot said people can go to the Suicide is Always a Tragedy website and click through to stopassistedsuicide.org to donate, to get educated, and to learn how to talk to others about voting No on Question 2. Scot said in other news, EWTN host Johnette Benkovic will be speaking this weekend at the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, Mass. Call 508–995–7600. Fr. Roger has also restarted his Putting Into the Deep column in The Anchor newspaper. He has most recently written about the installation Mass homily by Bishop Richard Malone upon his arrival in Buffalo. He said the bishop preached about martyrdom, partly because he recognized that carrying out the New Evangelization today in a culture hostile to our faith, we need to have the grit of the martyrs to do what Christ has asked us to do. He said what our culture needs most today is the courage of the martyrs. The word martyr means witness in Greek and we are called to witness with our words and lives. Fr. Roger said we can't proclaim the Gospel if we have a watered-down cowardly vision of the faith. Too often people are afraid to engage their faith in politics or public affairs. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Scot said Fr. Charles Sheehy died at 94 years old on August 10, which was the 68th anniversary of his ordination. He served in 10 different towns in his time as a priest. Meanwhile, Fr. John Farrell, who just received Senior Priest status, served in only two different parishes, as well as teaching in the seminary. They also discussed how Fr. Farrell told his mother at his First Communion that he felt called to the priesthood.

Summary of today's show: On our Thursday show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Antonio Enrique considered the news headlines of the week as they appear in The Pilot and The Anchor newspapers, including a Mass of Thanksgiving on the 10 anniversary of the Dallas Charter; Stand Up For Religious Freedom rally; National Review Board reports to US bishops; Priests meeting on pastoral planning; Fathers for Good; and International Eucharistic Congress Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Antonio Enrique, editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: 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: 1st segment: Scot and Susan talked about baseball to start the show and the perfect game pitched by San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain. Scot said some say it was the best 9-inning pitching performance of all time. A perfect game is where a batter never reaches base, whether through walk, hit, hit by pitch or any other means. Fr. Roger said the best pitching performance was Scot's no-hitter that he caught for Scot in senior league. Scot said Kerry Woods' 20-strickeout, 1-hit performance for the Chicago Cubs. Antonio said he'd rather speak about the Euro 2012 Cup in soccer. He's hoping that his native Spain will win the Euro Cup, especially since they won the last World Cup and Euro Cup. Scot said Germany is the most frequent pick among the pundits. Scot recommends the Euro Cup for those who aren't soccer fans, but are sports fans. 2nd segment: Scot said Cardinal Sean celebrated Mass this past Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the charter for the protection of children. It was a Mass of Thanksgiving for all those who have worked in child protection. Susan said Cardinal Seán did a wonderful job of integrating this message with the Feast of Corpus Christi. She said the children's choir at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton was terrific. She said there was a sense that this was ongoing and the work would continue. Scot said it's an anniversary we wish we didn't have to celebrate because it recalls a very dark period, but it's important to mark such events and the progress we continue to make. Antonio said the purpose was mostly a recognition that the Church has listened and has acted in reaction to what happened. Also, to give thanks to all the volunteers who made the choice to get involved after learning of the scandal and who have implemented all these programs over the past 10 years. Scot said on the agenda of the US Bishops meeting being held in Atlanta this week was a report from the National Review Board. Fr. Roger said the secular media is only covering the Church when there's bad news to report. This report notes the real progress made in the Church in the past decade. He said the religious freedom angle has been getting a lot of attention, with people concerned over the impact this will have on the presidential election. But the bishops have said this is not a partisan effort or has an intention to affect the election. Fr. Roger thinks this focuses Catholics in the US on religious freedom and how that will affect how they vote. Scot said the other big front-page story in the Pilot this week is the convocation of priests for pastoral planning. A lot of the article covers the experience of Bishop Richard Malone in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, where they implemented similar changes for the sake of shoring up evangelization efforts. Antonio said Bishop Malone said you cannot make changes in the structure of the diocese without having a focus on evangelization. Bishop Malone said this is an opportunity to evangelize both those in the Church and those who are far away from Christ. Whenever people come back to the Church, they land in the parishes, so it's important to have a welcoming parish infrastructure. Scot said Bishop Malone's talk, which is available on Planning2012.com along with the other main talks, has two main points: “It is so important to have the lamp of the New Evangelization shining brightly on all the aspects of this pastoral planning process.” he said. “May your work together going forward, guided by the Holy Spirit, be for you and all you serve even with the challenges and all of that what John Paul II, in ‘Novo Millennio lneunte: called an exciting work of pastoral revitalization. Think of that, pastoral revitalization, our work involving all of us.” the bishop said. And “I do want to affirm how crucial your role is. Nothing good will come of this project without the highest quality of pastoral leadership offered by each one of you.” he told the priests. Susan said his comments about the crucial role of pastoral leadership connect to the experience of parishes where there is already great collaboration among pastoral leaders. Antonio said Bishop Malone said the unity of the presbyterate was vital got moving forward. Fr. Roger said he wasn't surprised that closing parishes was not very popular. A lot of hard work has gone into this. There's no easy way to do this. You need to move slowly. He was thrilled to see how so many of the comments were incorporated into the process. He also liked to see how priests can see whether their own opinions were outliers or whether they were in the mainstream. He thinks the big picture gives hop not just to the Archdiocese of Boston, but also gives hope to other dioceses who will go through the similar effort in the future. Antonio said at the most recent meeting showed how much the commission is listening. He also notes how the tone of immediacy has been dialed back. Now they are talking about phasing in by region and having pilot parishes to observe over a longer period of time. He said it's impressive how the people have complained about proposal to remove every pastor and have all new pastors. Scot said the idea was that if one of the parishes in a cluster kept its own pastor, there would be favoritism. But in the consultations they learned that no one liked that idea. Now the mantra is that they will find the best priest, whether a current pastor or another priest from outside. Susan said the nine key findings show that this process is not a rubber stamp and they are listening. She said she's heard from several parishes who are willing to go forward in the pilot process. A couple of official appointments this week: Fr. Paul Clifford has been named a new pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Braintree. It's former pastor was named Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership. This is pending Fr. Hamilton's successor being appointed at St. John the Evangelist in Hopkinton. In Lynnfield, Fr. John Farrell at Our Lady of the Assumption has been granted Senior Priest retirement status. Also the Standup for Religious Freedom Rally took place in Boston, along with those in 160 other cities in the US, last Friday. Ray Flynn, Janet Benestad, and Don Feder were among the speakers. Fr. Roger said this is citizens taking back their country from the elites running it, like with the Tea Party and Occupy movements. It builds a certain dynamism. What has happened is that Catholics have been a sleeping giant and now recognizing that we are to be salt and light in the world. We are recovering that flavor of Catholicism that helped make our country great. Ordinary citizens are saying “this is what we stand for, this is what we believe.” Antonio said he was impressed by Don Feder, who is Jewish, and it was very telling about his grandfather coming to the US where he found his human rights. He talked about the dangers of the overreach of government. Susan said Don has been a friend to the pro-life movement for many years. Susan said Janet Benestad's background was in political science and she noted that June 8 was the anniversary of the introduction of the Bill of Rights in the constitutional congress. Fr. Roger said these rallies encourage everyone to say that there's strength in numbers. The biggest thing for the Fortnight for Freedom is for Catholics to get together and pray about this, educate ourselves within the context of history, embolden ourselves and get ready for a long-term cultural education effort. He said some Catholics on the Cape have been standing on the sides of some roads educating people about the issues. Scot said the Knights of Columbus have a website called Fathers for Good. Fr. Roger said men and women need continual formation in the faith. Parishes can provide much, but not everything. One of the best organizations to form men to be real men of God is the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Roger has contributed some of this writings to Fathers for Good. He profiled it in the Anchor to educate men about this free resource and to lift up the work of the Knights to buttress them with a real fraternity that is very patriotic and helps many parishes. Fr. Roger said every man should consider becoming a Knight of Columbus. Susan noted from the article about Brian Caulfield who runs the site who spoke about the difficult birth of his son: “The first time I saw that beautiful little face lying in the incubator, I knew the great joy that God was sharing with me, and the great responsibility.” he said. “It struck me that this was for keeps - there would never be a moment for the rest of my life when I would not want to know how my son was doing, where he was going, and what I could do to help. I held him in my arms that day and walked around the neonatal unit praying softly in his ear. It was the start of a new life for me too, a life given for the good of another.” In Dublin right now is the International Eucharistic Congress. Scot said Ireland is going through tough times and he hopes the Congress will begin to create a stronger Church in Ireland. Antonio noted that so many missionaries have gone out from Ireland in the past. It's been a beacon of hope in Europe for being stalwart in faith, but sthe sex abuse crisis has injured that. He said hopes this Congress is an opportunity for renewal. Antonio said we turn to the Lord who renews, heals, and strengthens his people. Scot said we pray that publicity for the congress will renew people in their appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist. Fr. Roger said that during the Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi Thursday, Pope Benedict talked about the misconception that Eucharistic adoration was downplayed by Vatican II. Pope Benedict tells us we need to adore the Lord before, during, and after we receive Him. If we don't adore the Lord, we aren't really receiving him worthily. The connection between Communion and adoration was always meant to be there. He acknowledged that adoration is making a comeback in many places and he hopes it will continue. Fr. Roger said the more we love the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, the more we will care for every single part of the mystical body, the children of the Lord. Scot said the website Any Given Sunday is a great site with a fantastic video Why Go To Church. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Mary Adams from Stoneham, MA She wins by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program.

Summary of today's show: On our Thursday show, Scot Landry, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy considered the news headlines of the week as they appear in The Pilot and The Anchor newspapers, including the upcoming Fortnight 4 Freedom, including a televised town hall with Cardinal Seán; A celebration of marriage anniversaries at Holy Cross Cathedral; honoring decades of service by two priests; Dozens receiving catechetical certificates from the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization; Major reassignments of pastors in Fall River; and the World Meeting of Families in Milan last week and the next one in Philadelphia in 2015. Listen to the show: 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 Links from today's show: 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: Fortnight 4 Freedom; Renewal of marriage vows; Theological certificates; Priest assignments in Fall River; World Meeting of Families 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Roger and Gregory to the show. Susan is not available today. Scot said they're taping the show on Thursday morning because this afternoon is the annual convocation of all the priests of the Archdiocese with Cardinal Seán. Greg said Cardinal Seán always genuinely seeks feedback fom his priests on his priorities and initiatives. Scot said Bishop Richard Malone, most recently of Portland, Maine, and recently reassigned to Buffalo, NY, will speak at the convocation. He recently went through major pastoral reorganization of his diocese in Maine and will offer insights. Scot said the first topic is that Cardinal Seán will host a televised town hall meeting for the Fortnight for Freedom on June 25 at 8pm on CatholicTV. Scot and Dr. Angela Franks will appear on the panel. Greg said it will be very interesting to see how people will be able to pose questions to Cardinal Seán and the panel. Questions will be submitted via Facebook, Twitter, and email. [CatholicTV](http://www.catholictv.com] Fr. Roger said the US bishops are trying to accomplish what they learned from Pope John Paul II: It's not enough just to talk about something, but we have to add prayer to education. In Poland, their fight for freedom from Communism, including much public prayer in addition to other kinds of civil action. Pope John Paul II continued that in his papacy, narrowly focusing the attention of the Church on something important through prayer. The US bishops hope for an intense two-week period of liturgical prayer that includes some great saints related to the idea of religious freedom. He said we shouldn't have to choose between being a good Catholic and a good American. Scot said this is definitely appointment television or radio. People can watch it on CatholicTV on cable or online on CatholicTV's website or listen live on WQOM. Also in the Pilot this week is a story about 175 couple who were celebrating their 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries this past weekend at Holy Cross Cathedral during a Mass with Bishop Dooher. Greg said this is a great sign of the gift of Christian marriage. He said the cathedral was filled with many families and they showed the gift of life that these marriages created. Fr. Roger said it's a reminder of the vows these couples have made to one another in their sacrament strengthens us all in our fidelity to our faith. He said long-lived couples give him the advice on how they stayed together so long. He recalled one couple who said the secret was that they really trusted each other. Another story is about the certificate program at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization and the graduation of 115 people who spent many, many weekends studying their faith either for personal enrichment or to become catechists in their parishes. Greg said this is related to the Master of Arts in Ministry program that we talked about last week. That is a degree program, while this is a certificate. Only about 10 people per year graduate from MAM, but the certificates bring dozens of more people into parishes with this formation. Angela Franks described the coursework of the certificate programs. “The certificates are designed to provide an affordable yet intensive experience of the fullness of the faith. They cover the entire catechism and provide this essential foundation for further growth in the faith.” she said. Angela Franks said the focus on the catechism is critical to the program. She said the catechism provides definitive source for learning the teachings of the Church. “What we find is that a lot of students have been relying on other people relying them what the Church reaches, which is fine, but when you access the catechism you really have it from the horse's mouth. You have the explanation of the Catholic faith from the Catholic Church itself. Our students, after they go through the course, I felt very empowered.” she said. Fr. Roger said this is what Pope Benedict XVI intends for the Year of Faith. Dioceses have been encouraged to set up these kinds of institutes of instruction and formation. He said the Archdiocese is setting a standard for what should be occurring everywhere. The Pope has said that religious freedom depends on an engaged, articulate laity bringing the truths of the faith to the public square. Fr. Roger said it would be worth any sacrifice for listeners because knowing your faith is the most important part of our lives. Also in the Pilot, are two profiles of priests who provided many deuces of service. Msgr. William Roche, 90, served 30 years at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, was a paratrooper in US Army and the OSS, the predecessor of the CIA, during World War II. Fr. Patrick McLaughlin has recently accepted senior priest/retirement status after 51 years of service. He's served in Peabody and Brockton and in Bolivia in the St. James Society. He's been at St. Joseph's in Medford since 1976. In the Anchor, lots of stories about priestly assignments this week. In Boston, assignments of priests are done on a rolling basis. In other dioceses, including Fall River, they do them all at once around the first of July. Fr. Roger has received a new assignment. He aid this is an unprecedented number of moves, including 21 pastors being reassigned in some way, because 5 pastors are retiring, with 5 taking their places, and then musical chairs to cover everything. On June 27, Fr. Roger is moving from St. Anthony in New Bedford to become pastor of a new parish in Fall River, St. Bernadette, which is made up of the merger of two previous parishes, Immaculate Conception and Notre Dame. Fr. Roger said he's disappointed it's happening at the same time as the Fortnight 4 Freedom, which makes it more difficult to concentrate on this event at the same time they're moving. Scot said it can be compared to leaving an old job and going to a new job, but it's also the move of a physical residence. But these aren't just co-wrokers, they are people whose souls Fr. Roger has cared for. Fr. Roger said the Lord is calling him to preach the Gospel in another place, which is like when Jesus told the people of Capernaum that he had to go and preach to others. He aid he will very much miss the people of St. Anthony's, especially the kids for whom he's been the only pastor they've ever known. But if a priest is good at his task, he will have prepared people to focus not on himself, but on Jesus. Priests will come and go, but Jesus Christ is working through every priest. Fr. Roger said there are 90 parishes in Fall River and over one quarter of the pastors are moving. Next week, they will publish the changes in parochial vicars and they will have almost no parochial vicars left in parishes as they become pastors and hospital chaplains. Scot noted that there is an ordination Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River. Jason Brilhante will be ordained. He discerned his vocation while he was in college. He prepared for the priesthood at St. John Seminary. Fr. Roger said during their interview Jason couldn't contain the joy he felt at his imminent ordination. Fr. Roger said the ordination of a priest is a shot in the arm to all priests who are laboring in the vineyard. He said another priest will be coming back from Rome after finishing up an advanced degree there so Fall River will be getting two reinforcements. Scot said the ordination will be broadcast on CatholicTV. Scot said the World Meeting of Families took place in Milan last week, which included one million people at the final Mass. At the end of the event, Pope Benedict announced that the next meeting will take place in 2015 in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Greg said he's planning to go with his family. It will be a great sign for this country of hope for marriage and family. Scot said Philadelphia has many challenges. The situation in the Church there is like what it was in Boston in 2004. They're undergoing a trial of a prominent priest in connection to the sex abuse crisis, plus all the pastoral reorganization they're undergoing. Scot said he was surprised that they were chosen at this time. Fr. Roger said the Pope is going because of the struggles in Philadelphia, to support Archbishop Chaput, and because of the place of Philadelphia in American history, including the Declaration and Constitution, which outlines our religious liberties. Fr. Roger thinks it's going to be enormous, maybe not 1 million people, but people will be trying to get there like in 2008 when the Pope came tot he US last. Fr. Roger said he was surprised too. He's really praying that the Holy Father can make it to 2017 as a German on the throne of St. Peter on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation so he can explain how the differences of that time can be understood as misunderstandings of the Catholic faith. Fr. Roger asked the listeners of The Good Catholic Life to pray for the Holy Father's health and vigor. Scot said the Holy Father will be 88 in 2015 and a multi-city schedule on that trip would be difficult to plan for at this time. Fr. Roger said unlike John Paul II, they've been trying to conserve Pope Benedict's energies while he's traveling so the odds are slim he'll go any other place. Greg speculates that it would be someplace close to Philadelphia, like New York or DC. Also in the Anchor this week is a story about a defeat of a bill to ban sex-selection abortions on May 30. Scot said it's ironically shocking to him that women's organizations are okay with sex-selection abortion that predominately affects unborn girls. Fr. Roger shows the hypocrisy that they're not standing up for women's rights by not standing up for the young women being executed simply for being women. He noted that the only Massachusetts representative who voted in favor of this bill was Rep. Stephen Lynch. He said every listener should ask themselves if their representative thinks it's okay to kill little girls for being girls, do they actually represent our interests and the good of the human race? The real War on Women is being waged by the abortion business. “For most of us ‘it's a girl' is cause for enormous joy, happiness, and celebration,” said Rep, Chris Smith (R-NJ.). “But in many countries, including our own, it can be a death sentence.” Scot noted the US is one of the only developed countries that hasn't banned this practice. Greg said when it comes to issues of abortion that things that would make sense in any other context, like parental consent for medical procedures, when it has to do with abortion, anything goes. Scot said studies show that sex-selection abortion is indeed happening in the United States. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) argued thaI the bill is necessary to “give baby girls the same chance at life as baby boys.” She said that it is “hypocrisy” to call oneself “pro-woman” while supporting the abortion of a girl based on her gender. “Since when did America subscribe to the idea that males are worth more than females?” she asked.

Summary of today's show: Just when you might have given up on the next generation of young Catholics, we meet Kathleen Grey and Catherine Asher, two young women graduating from Ursuline Academy in Dedham, who sit down with Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor to talk about their strong Catholic faith, which was handed on by their families and strengthened in their parishes and school, and how they hope to grow and to serve God in their bright futures. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Kathleen Grey and Catherine Asher Links from today's show: Today's topics: Conversation with young Catholic women 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Chris caught up on their Memorial Day weekends. Fr. Chris was out at Castle Island in South Boston. He said it was a great day honoring our veterans. Fr. Chris was also out at Scot's parish, St. Agnes in Arlington, over the weekend, visiting with the priests there. Scot said his kids look up to Fr. Flatley and Fr. Graham as good role models. Fr. Chris lived at St. Agnes for a brief time after he was first ordained. They also discussed the graduation for the Master of Arts in Ministry program at St. John Seminary last weekend. Bishop Arthur Kennedy, the outgoing rector, gave the homily at the Mass and Cardinal Seán presided over the ceremonies. Fr. Chris said the participants in the program are laypeople who make sacrifices several nights every week in addition to their family and job obligations. This Friday, they are having a completion Mass for those who took part in the Catechetical Certificate program. About 150 people have been participating one Saturday per month since October to learn more about their faith. Scot notes that Bishop Richard Malone, who was an auxiliary bishop in Boston and most recently Bishop of Portland, Maine, has been named bishop of Buffalo, New York. Scot said Bishop Malone is a big supporter of Catholic radio, which is good for the Station of the Cross network. Fr. Chris said Bishop Malone used to be secretary for education in the Archdiocese of Boston and is scheduled to speak at the priests' convocation in Boston on June 7. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Kathleen Grey and Catherine Asher to the show. He asked Kathleen about her background. She as born in Boston and they lived in Norwood and then later moved to Canton. They remained parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood. She attended St. Catherine in Siena school. She's been an altar server and now trains younger kids as servers. The former pastor Msgr. Connie McCrae asked her to become the trainer for altar servers. When she started in 5th grade as an altar server, she didn't know what her faith meant to her. She had learned the facts, but was interested in learning what it meant for her life. By the time she transferred to Ursuline, she realized she wasn't going to let it go. She wanted to be involved in helping others in their faith and has since become a religious education teacher as well. Scot said teaching ninth grade catechism for anybody would be difficult, never mind a high school senior. He asked how it helped her grow? Kathleen said it's not easy because they want to be independent and speak for themselves. They are trying to find their own voices. She told them as someone who's seventeen teaching those who are 14 and 15, she doesn't have a lot more knowledge than them, but that they would take the journey together. Catherine said she's lived in Milton with her family. She attended Glover Elementary School and was involved in a French immersion program. She went to a public middle school for one year before deciding to attend Ursuline. She was a member of Girl Scouts for 10 years and has also played viola. She's been involved in a number of extra curricular activities, including choral group, which is the liturgical choir. She also sings in the church choir at St. Elizabeth's. Singing in the choir has been a turning point for her faith and was a way to bond with her family. Her father is musical director at the parish and her mom and three sisters also sing in the choir. Catherine said her extended family is also musical. At holidays, the whole family will sing together. For example at Christmas, they will sing carols as their dad plays the piano. Catherine said her favorite hymn is “Lead me, Lord” because it's uplifting. It's been anthem for her life because it's so difficult to lead a good Catholic life. Scot asked her what led her to play the viola. She said at Christmas and Easter in the parish, they pull out all the stops and she plays the viola during Mass. Her older sister had switched from violin to viola and when she entered Ursuline, she decided to switch as well. She said it allowed her to excel in her instrument. Violin is so competitive in the musical world because there are so many violinists. As a violist she's been able to be a leader in symphonies she's involved in. Kathleen said her favorite hymn is “Open my Eyes, Lord”. She learned it while preparing for First Communion and the teacher taught them how to Sign it. Scot asked Kathleen why she picked Ursuline Academy. She said in sixth grade she was struggling in her academics and her parents looked at other options to help her focus her academics. The only school she looked at was Ursuline. She remembers at the open house meeting the teachers and how everyone was very welcoming. It made her want to be part of that small community. She also was glad to not have the distractions of boys and not have to worry about her appearance every day. She saw it as a way to express her faith and be proud of it. Kathleen said there are about 400 students and there are 73 seniors graduating. Fr. Chris asked about St. Angela Merici. Catherine said St. Angela lived in Italy in the 16th century. She had a vision on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She founded a community of women to educate young women. The Ursuline Order has schools all over the world. Ursuline Academy is specifically a college preparatory school that pushes you to excel academically but also in your person, to be a right-thinking and right-acting person. Catherine said her two elder sisters went to different Catholic girls schools. Her parents strong believers in Catholic single-sex education for the education of the whole person. She decided to go to Ursuline because her third sister went there. At the time, Catherine the decision to leave her old school and go to Ursuline was difficult, but she became very comfortable at Ursuline very quickly. Scot said there are fewer single-sex schools. What does Kathleen think is the strongest reason to go to Ursuline? She said it helps you become who you are meant to be. You don't care what other people think. There are fewer distractions. It's a great opportunity to develop a close group of friends and to develop her faith. It's also a great education. Fr. Chris asked what traditions Ursuline has. Kathleen said one is Mission Day, a day for girls to shop, but all the money goes to various charities. It brings community, alumnae, and families altogether. Catherine said it's a far in the school where each homeroom becomes a store. One room is a country store. Another room is the jail where you can pay to send someone to “jail” and the person can either pay to make bail or just serve time there. Kathleen emphasized the day begins with Mass. Catherine said Serviam “I will Serve” is an integral part of the school. Everyone is required to serve a certain number of service hours each year. Catherine served at Beth Israel Deaconness Lab in Milton. Kathleen served her time in the Catholic Media Secretariat at the Pastoral Center. Kathleen said she wanted to do something connected to her faith and she's had an interest in communications and journalism. She spent a whole month in the Pastoral Center, working with Rick Heil on The Good Catholic Life and writing a couple of articles for The Pilot. Scot asked what it's like at the Pastoral Center. She was apprehensive at being the youngest. She made it a goal to start every day with Mass. She'd never had a job like this and so she learned a lot, whether sitting at her desk or sitting in on the show. She's learned a lot hearing God's message. Catherine said her classmates are working in hospitals, volunteering in local elementary schools, working with Friends of the Unborn in Quincy, volunteering with cancer patients, at the Mass. Hospital School helping children with developmental disabilities in horseback riding. Scot said what he liked about the program was that it says that their education is not complete until they've lived this service. Kathleen said she believes God has a plan for everything. Everything they've learned is not wasted and they will take it with them for their whole lives. Kathleen will be attending Emmanuel College in Boston. Her mom attend the college and she loved it. Her parents were married in the chapel there as well and they've stayed connected over the years. Catherine will be attending Fordham University in the Bronx. She won't be wearing a Yankees hat on campus. She's deferring for a year in order to study in France next year with Rotary International. She'll be a high school student for another year in southern Normandy and living with French families. She has a desire to immerse herself in another culture and try to understand another culture. There are so many different perspectives in the world and she hopes this year will give her a better understanding of people who live in a different environment. She hopes it expands her thinking and her view of the world. Kathleen plans to study communications and journalism, with a minor in theology. Catherine plans to to double major in French and biology. 3rd segment: Scot asked Kathleen and Catherine what they would say about their peers not practicing their faith with passion. Kathleen said teens who practice their faith are a minority. It is very difficult for them to express their faith confidently and to know there is truth in it. Scot asked why they think it's been sparked in them and how parents could help their own kids. Catherine said a great blessing for her has been adults who have led by example, including her parents and her priests. They are firm in their beliefs. She credits family dinners every night in which they discuss challenges they face every day. They talk about why the Church believes what she does, ethical issues, and how Catholics should respond. She added that adults who want their children to be active shouldn't stop encouraging them and show them why it's important to you that they have this faith. Encourage them to be involved in their parish in any way they can. Fr. Chris asked what excites them the most about their faith. Kathleen said the Church is constant. There are so many parts of our lives that change, but the Church always believes what she believes. Having that strong voice is important to teens. Catherine said the loving nature of the Church, no matter who you are or whatever stage, you are loved. Catherine recommended on Facebook as a daily inspiration. Kathleen admits to being new on social media and she often encourages others to move away from checking Facebook all the time because of the ways it can be negative for their lives. Scot asked what questions about their faith they've had. Kathleen said the question of abortion and physician-assisted suicide and generally making decisions to drink do drugs and bullying are important among her peer group. Catherine said human sexuality is a big question for teens. She had a friend who asked why the Church thinks sex is bad. She explained what the Church teaches and realized her friend had a set idea of what the Church teaches and wasn't open to hearing anything else. Scot noted how much racier television has become in the past 25 years. Fr. Chris said compared it to visiting Rome where everyone smokes. When you get home, everything in your suitcase smells like it. In our culture we are bombarded with these messages constantly and don't realize how much of it we're soaking up. He said the Church has a consistent message and if only we open our eyes and ears, how blessed we will be by it. Kathleen said she hopes in college that she stays close to her faith because it keeps her joyful, and that she stays prayerful. Catherine hopes that God will lead her where He needs her to be and that she will be an instrument of His will. Scot asked Catherine why Fordham and not Holy Cross, like her parents. She said she wanted to branch out on her own a little with a little distance from her family.

Summary of today's show: On our weekly headline show, Scot Landry and Susan Abbott discuss the news with Fr. Roger Landry and Antonio Enrique, including last weekend's Catechetical Congress; appointment of a pastor for the Archdiocese's largest parish; religious freedom rally in Boston and a day of prayer and fasting; the Pope's trip to Cuba and Mexico; and asking inactive Catholics why they left. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Antonio Enrique, editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: 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: Catechetical congress; day of fasting for liberty; Pope in Cuba, Mexico; exit interviews for Catholics 1st segment: Scot thanked everyone for joining us on our Thursday news show. Scot said Susan looks more relaxed this week after last weekend's Catechetical Congress and preparing for her office's day of prayer. Susan said her office goes away three times per year for prayer. Filling in for Gregory Tracy today who was with the Cardinal on his trip to Cuba is Antonio Enrique. Susan said the Pilot did a great job reporting on the Catechetical Congress and had many nice photos. It was a wonderful day at Boston College High School last Saturday. They had an overflow crowd. They had prepared for 850 people and even more came. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine, celebrated the opening Mass, Fr. Bryan Hehir preached the homily, and the Black Catholic Choir provided the music. Susan said she read every evaluation and people were so pleased with the 27 English workshops, 12 Spanish, and 4 Portuguese. Scot said he noticed that half of the participants were Spanish-speaking. Susan said the Spanish community is growing and Pilar de la Torre works closely with the Spanish-speaking communities and has a very personal relationship with those 20 communities that Susan and her co-worker Susan Kay can't have with 290 parishes. Antonio, as a Spanish immigrant, said he thinks catechetics is a very important value for the Spanish-speaking community. Those immigrants tend to be very committed to their faith and are a very close-knit community. Scot said he also learned the the word catechesis comes from the word “echo” and what we're echoing is the teaching of Christ. Susan said it's the Greek root for echo. We're talking about a systematic echoing of the faith. Scot said he noticed catechesis and catechist being used a lot more today than when he was younger when it was called CCD or religious education. Susan said that comes from the publication of the revised General Catechetical Directory by the Vatican in 1997. Scot said a huge focus for the Holy Father in the upcoming Year of Faith is improving how we catechize. Fr. Roger said the holy Father is much aware of a catechetical illiteracy amount adults and young adults, so we have to give the world a gift of true knowledge. Pope Benedict has always stressed that our catechesis must not be just pedagogy, i.e. instruction in knowledge, but must also be mystagogy, i.e. leading people in a way of life. Catecheists must tech by example in the practice of the faith, not just by words. Pope BEnedict is doing this with his weekly general audiences in St. Peter's Square. At the end of the article, Susan said she hopes continue to grow the congress: “”I live for the day when we have to turn people away, when we have to hold this at…is it still called Gillette Stadium?” she asked.” Another story in the Pilot this week is the official appointment of Fr. Kevin J. Deeley as the new pastor of St. Michael's in North Andover. Over the past several weeks we have seen three priests assigned to the parish leaving for health reasons, retirement, and reassignment to a new parish. He is the brother of vicar general Msgr. Robert Deeley. Scot said St. Michael's is the biggest parish in the archdiocese. Fr. Kevin Deeley was is returning from service as a US military chaplain. Antonio said Fr. Deeley had recently been filling in as a temporary administrator at St. Raphael's in Medford while their pastor was in Rome on a sabbatical. The appointment is effective April 27. Another story in the Pilot covers the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally at the State House in Boston. Scot was one of the speakers, as well as Massachusetts Citizens for Life Edwin Shanahan, Clarivel Marin de Dragas, and State Representative Jim Lyons of Andover. Antonio said the US bishops are drawing a line in the sand to protect our right to religious liberty and to protect our consciences from being forced to violate them. Antonio was recently at a meeting between Catholic press and the US bishops conference and they are seeing this as a very important moment in the history of our country. Scot said the bishops are trying to mobilize Catholic to be much more active in the public square. Fr. Roger said we're still in the first quarter, to use a sports analogy. We're getting organized and rallying our resources. We're somewhat on the defensive at the moment against those trying to curtail our rights. But the offensive aspect includes education from the US bishops religious freedom committee, which will be issuing a document on the history of religious freedom in America. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has hinted at some of the content, referring recently to some of the great events in our history which were a direct outgrowth of religious faith. This education initiative will help Catholics to take the fight for their freedom and rights into the public square. Scot said the bishops are also also asking all people of faith to fast and pray for religious freedom tomorrow. Scot said Catholics need to get educated and speak up or those who are opposed to us will be the only voices in the public square. But we must also recognize the importance of times of quiet and fasting. Many of the big problems in the world have been solved by prayer and fasting. Susan said as we enter Holy Week, it's a perfect time for such an initiative. Scot said it's always complicated in an election when the US bishops ask us to be active in the public square. Cardinal Dolan was on Fox News' O'Reilly Factor the other night and was asked whether the bishops were asking Catholics not to vote for Obama, and the cardinal said the bishops don't tell Catholics who to vote for. Fr. Roger said the cardinal said if they asked the people to vote one way, they'd end up motivating some to vote the other way. Instead, they are helping people build a properly informed conscience and once they are properly formed, the obvious vote can become clear. They are certainly hoping to bring clarity to all the various issues and to show that some issues are more important than others. 2nd segment: Scot said the biggest stories this week are the Holy Father's apostolic visits to Cuba and Mexico. He said the Holy Father singled out Cardinal Sean to thank him for helping with the building of a seminary outside of Havana. Antonio said in Boston there is a group of friends of Caritas Cubana, the Catholic charitable organization in Cuba, which means a special connection. The Pilot sent a reporter and photographer to Cuba to accompany the Boston pilgrims for a special perspective on the trip, giving a personal view of the conditions in Cuba and how their charity was received. Scot said there were some wonderful photos accompanying the articles. Antonio said they hope to have some more stories in next week's paper as well. They had hoped to show the reality from the perspective of the reporter as she encountered it, the crumbling infrastructure, the lives of the people, and more. Susan said the articles put a human face on the realities of Cuba. Scot said the Holy Father's message had some political content but were also meant to stoke the fires of religious belief. Fr. Roger said the Holy Father focuses on curing us of the spiritual diseases of secularism and does that wherever he goes. In Mexico, despite the deep faith of the people, there is a trend among the elites to drive the people to live as if God doesn't exist. Similarly in Cuba, where they have had two generations of official atheism. The Holy Father said we have to recognize that the atheism in Communism has failed. Fr. Roger said he was struck by the image of one of the Masses which included a huge statue of Christ the King. In the mid-20th century when the Mexican government was trying to exterminate the Church, theory of Viva Cristo Rey, All Hail, Christ the King was the cry of the martyrs. Pope Benedict was using this image to show that the Christian faith cannot be killed off. Christ is always persisting in all those places. Scot said there's a move coming out in June about the Cristeros, the Mexican martyrs, called “For Greater Glory.” Scot noted that Fidel Castro requested a private meeting with Pope Benedict. Antonio said it's impressive to see how Fidel, who took the Church out of Cuba with his revolution, went to see the Pope and reading the reports of the visit, he was struck by the question Fidel asked the Pope about how the Mass has changed from his childhood. Fidel is realizing how much the Church has changed since he was a boy practicing his faith. It shows the person behind the public persona and perhaps he's reconsidering his life as he gets older. Scot noted that the Missionaries of Charity has a charism where one of the sisters prays for a particular priest every day. One Cuban sister was assigned to pray for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger 25 years ago and they finally got to meet during this trip. Fr. Roger said this was a practice started by the Carmelites and Mother Teresa picked up many of the practices of the Carmelites. Fr. Roger said there was a Missionary of Charity in New Bedford who prayed for him every day. He said many cloistered nuns are co-workers in the ministry of the priests they pray for every day. Scot said many of the Pope's addresses can be found at the website of . Scot said in another story John Hancock Financial gave a gift of $1 million to Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester to be given over five years. Scot said the editorial in the Anchor refers to an article that was in America magazine in which a program of performing exit interviews of Catholics who abandoned the practice of the faith was discussed. Fr. Roger said they found a consistency in the reason why the people gave up. Some were on nonnegotiable issues, such as teachings that cannot be changed, but it's not just a rejection to he teachings. Sometimes people were looking for an explanation and a better way to understand it which wasn't provided. Some people said when they asked for a conversation, instead they got back flat statements. There were also negotiable issue the Church could do on: empty” homilies detached from daily life, uninspiring music, an insatiable focus on raising money, an inadequate response to the sexual abuse of minors, the sense that Church was simply a place to attend Mass lacking a true community spirit, an absence of consultation and transparency in Church administration, “arrogant” and “aloof” priests,, and so on. So the authors' hope was that the Church could address what could be fixed in order to encourage people to stay. Scot said there's a beauty in understanding where people are at and to help become formed, to gain understanding, to be enlightened. Susan said one of the saddest comments was that when they left the parish no one noticed, nobody called them, and nobody asked why. People wanted a community, wanted to be involved and couldn't find a way. Scot asked all listeners to make people know that we care when we see them at Mass each week.

Summary of today's show: In our regular Thursday news roundup, a new Catholic college is moving to the Archdiocese of Boston; palliative care is introduced as an alternative to assisted suicide; time is running out to show support for Choose Life license plates; a rally for religious freedom on Boston Common on Friday; new archbishop for Baltimore; Obama losing support from women; and Greg Tracy is going to Cuba. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott 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 Links from today's show: 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. Thomas More College; palliative care; Choose Life plates; stand up for religious freedom; Baltimore archbishop; going to Cuba 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan Abbott back to the show. She's planning this Saturday's Catechetical Congress. It's a gathering of 800 catechists and directors of religious education. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine, will celebrate Mass and be the keynote speaker. They will give out two awards for excellence in catechetical leadership and recognizing volunteer catechists nominated by their pastors. After lunch here will be a number of workshops in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. It's going to be held at Boston College High School. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry to the show. Scot said in the Pilot this week is a story about the move of Thomas More College, now in southern New Hampshire, that is moving to Groton, Mass., which is in the Archdiocese of Boston. Pilot reporter got a tour of the new land that the campus will be located on. It's an old farm and they intend to keep some of the farm buildings. It's about 35 acres, but it's surrounded by dozens of acres of conservation land. They intend to preserve the historic buildings, but they will be able to build new buildings. The college will be able to grow from about 80 students to over 300. The college president said they will like Groton because they were very serious about the whole of the community. He also likes that students will be able to enjoy an historic New England town. They also hope to buy the former Sacred Heart church building, which is closed, and move it to the new campus. Scot said this is a win for the Archdiocese. Susan said she's thrilled, especially because of the mission of the college. Scot explained where in the northwest corner of the Archdiocese Groton is located. The move is expected between 2014 and 2019. Fr. Roger talked about the college's positive features and advantages, including a semester abroad program in Rome. Scot said another story is about the Women Affirming Life spring breakfast at which the speaker was M.C. Sullivan - a nurse, bioethicist, attorney and Director of Ethics at Covenant Health Systems in Tewksbury—who said the answer to the push for assisted suicide is better palliative care, which treats not just bodily pain, but also spiritual and emotional pain. The women at the breakfast were fired up. Susan said she was glad to learn of the difference between palliative care and hospice care. Hospice focuses strictly on the end of life, but palliative care can also be used for those with chronic illness. Greg said more and more people are coming out to stay this assisted suicide is not curative and isn't really helping people. He said palliative care recognizes that quality of life is not solely about “fixing” or curing someone. Fr. Roger said the short-term focus in this fight is for those who are the end of life, but also for the fight against the legalization effort for November. The longer-term issue is about creating a culture of life, not just for palliative care, but also to provide companionship and compassion through presence for those who are suffering alone. Scot said another pro-life effort is the Massachusetts specialty license plate called Choose Life. Those who sponsor the plate effort have to give a bond to ensure to the state that enough plates will be issued. The organizers need about 600 plates in order to read their goal in the next few months. Fr. Roger said these plates are one of the best pro-life efforts we've been able to get through our Legislature the past few years. Thousands of people will see these plates as we drive around each day. He was one of the first to get the plate and he challenged many of his parishioners to get the plate as well and they have responded. Fr. Roger joked they might even be a get-out-of-a-ticket card with regard to being pulled over by state troopers. He said we should be grateful for the anonymous donor who put $100,000 of his own money for the bond and hopes he gets all of his money back. But even more important we can show we support life in a commonwealth that may not be as pro-life as we want it to be. Also in the Pilot this week is the announcement that Fr. John Delaney from St. Michael Parish in North Andover has been appointed as Pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish in Haverhill. Scot said St. Michael's has had a lot of upheaval in recent months with three priests leaving for one reason or another. It is the largest parish in the archdiocese with the most activities of any parish. Greg said it's a dynamic parish that is well-supported by the parishioners. Also in the Pilot is the obituary for Fr. John Fallon, who was 89 years old. He was ordained in 1946 and served in many parishes in southern and western parts of the Archdiocese, although he served in most parts of the Archdiocese, including Gloucester, Arlington, and Ayer. He served 9 parishes in the archdiocese. His funeral Mass was celebrated in the parish where he was baptized, St. Charles Borromeo in Woburn. Fr. Roger talked about the baptismal imagery invoked in the funeral Mass and the symbolism of being buried from the same parish where he ws baptized. Scot said in the Anchor was a story about Fr. Riley Williams who is serving in Rome where he wrote a book on the station churches of Rome. He also has a popular blog. Other articles include the Legion of Mary of the diocese of Fall River celebrating its 60th anniversary, a profile of the Faith Formation Office in Fall River, Catholic Girl Scouts celebrating 100 years of scouting, and a new parish that brings togethers two other parishes in Fall River. Scot also read prize-winning pro-life student essays that were published in this week's Anchor, including an essay by eighth-grader Althea Turley: I am lucky to walk, talk, and communicate normally with the people I love. I have spina bifida, and without spinal operations. my life would be dramatically different. My parents always loved me, regardless of my problems. Not all babies with birth defects are so lucky. Some never take their first breath. Six hundred ninety unborn babies with Down's Syndrome were aborted in 2002, and that rate rises every year. Aborted babies will never experience the simple joys of life because a person rejected a wonderful gift. Only God should have the power to give or take a life as every human life is a gift and a miracle. Jesus “came so that all might have life and have it to the full.” Victims of murder, capital punishment, assisted suicide, and abortion have a right to life. They are unable to have it because of the choices of others. God should be the only One to make these decisions, yet some people give up hope rather than trusting in God. They don't leave it up to the omniscient Father. Humans are fallible and make mistakes. Therefore, cancer patients who might live three more years may commit suicide because ofa doc-Il tor's estimate of a month left to live. The same goes for abortion and capital punishment. A baby in a complicated pregnancy might not kill a mother, and a convicted criminal may be innocent after all. Life's potential cannot be known. An aborted baby could discover cures for diseases or become a great world leader, but no one will ever know if he or she is deprived a chance at life. The disabled, poor, elderly, and sick are just as important as anyone else and should be treated with the same respect. This past Advent season. my classmates and I volunteered at a homeless shelter and served lunch to the less fortunate who were so appreciative of a single meal. As I was there. I realized the homeless people who seemed so different on the outside weren't so different from us. We all have the same needs and hopes, and we are all God's children. We are all important and all merit good lives. God is love, and He created us in His likeness, with the purpose of living a full, happy. and successful life. Humans need to realize this and let God choose when to terminate a life. We should put our faith in God and help others live lives God gives all His children. Susan said she was really impressed. She has the message and has made this her message. She's not just repeating what she's heard. There seems to be great commitment in this. Scot said this is a neat contest, in which the winners read their essays during a Mass with Bishop Coleman. Fr. Roger said they've been doing the contest for a decade and they change the theme each year. Fr. Roger said he loves seeing the perspective of the youth and the young have a great energy and hope and enthusiasm. Scot said the first place in the senior division was Eileen Corkery, a high school senior. 3rd segment: Scot said across the country tomorrow a lot of organizations are sponsoring local rallies at noon to stand up for religious freedom. A Boston rally will take place on the Boston Common on the corner of Park and Beacon Street. There will be five speakers from 12-1. Scot asked those who could take the time to join in so that our voices could be seen and heard. Also this week, the bishop who is overseeing the US bishops' religious freedom initiative, Bishop William Lori, has been appointed to become the next Archbishop of Baltimore. Fr. Roger said Baltimore was the first and only diocese in the United States soon after 1789. It's the closest thing the US has to be a primatial see. That fact that we're now in a very visible battle for religious freedom, most pundits thought Bishop Lori was most likely to be given the archdiocese. He is a native of the area. [“Former government officials join religious leaders in conscience fight”, CNS, 3/16/12](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20120315.htm] Scot said another article shows that two former ambassadors to theVatican have joined the fight for religious freedom, Ray Flynn and Jim Nicholson. They have joined other former government officials to create a group called Conscience Cause. Greg said they intend to travel around the country speaking out about this issue from a different perspective from the bishops. Scot said another late-breaking story is related to the lawsuit filed by EWTN against the HHS mandate. Today the state of Alabama has joined EWTN in that lawsuit, claiming that the federal mandate is hurting the rights of all Alabamans. It's a big development for a state government to join a lawsuit like this. Another story shows that President Obama's approval rating among women voters has dropped. Fr. Roger said he thinks the sense the Obama administration is projecting, that all women are lining up for their free contraception, is false. It's awakened the vast majority of women for whom the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood don't speak. Fr. Roger also thinks economic news is also important to women and that might be hurting the president as well. What Catholic women need to do is stand up and say what the President is trying to do doesn't speak for their values when forcing them to pay for other women's abortifacient pills. This is not the type of feminism they want to support. Scot said it seems like it could offend a lot of women when far-left groups claim they speak for all women. Susan said this is a hot topic among women she knows, who are saying that the administration isn't doing this for them. Susan suggested listeners re-listen to last Friday's show to hear an excellent argument. Scot suggested many women will want to sign on to the petition at WomenSpeakForThemselves.com. Greg said we can't draw direct conclusions art o why the president's approval rating dropped, but it must be related. It's a little degrading to think that their vote can be purchased by contraceptions. Scot said next week Greg will be visiting Cuba to cover Pope Benedict's trip. Greg said his group is traveling to Havana to participate in the Pope's Mass there. He is traveling with a group called Caritas Cubana. Over four days they will visit many of the projects they are doing there.