Podcasts about senior priest

Few people embody the balance between business and faith as well as Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh. Father Nick is the Senior Priest of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church. He's known locally and nationally as a devoted pastor, motivational speaker, and passionate advocate for interfaith dialogue and social justice. He has a heart for providing practical means to help people bridge their faith into everyday life.  Father Nick travels the country leading retreats on understanding and living out God's purpose. He is the co-host of a live weekly call-in radio show with his wife, Dr. Roxanne Louh, called Live With The Louhs, and also shares daily inspirational radio messages on 92.5 FM. Marrying Your Faith with Your Business Goals Father Nick advises entrepreneurs to stay humble. Know that everything you have comes from God–your gifts, talents, and money. When you receive blessings in your business, view it as an opportunity to give back to your community. Be a helper, not a hoarder. Although it's important to be conscious of the bottom line, don't lose sight of what truly matters–the purpose behind your work and the people you're serving. Father Nick recommends that faith-based entrepreneurs have a mission statement. Write down your core values and how they show up in your business. Create a work culture that demonstrates those values, and model the behavior you want to see in your team. Remember that people pay more attention to how you act than what you say, so set an example by showing your employees what those values mean. How to Build a Brand as a Person of Faith Although Father Nick didn't set out to build a personal brand for himself, it's been a natural byproduct of his passion for the work. He and his wife Dr. Roxanne have helped many people apply what they call “practical Christianity”, combining their expertise in faith and psychology.  Father Nick's online presence has helped his church reach wider audiences. They receive inquiries from people across the country who have heard Father Nick speak on video or podcasts. All of this furthers their church's mission to share the teachings of Christ. Enjoy this episode with Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh… Quotes “The real brand for us is Christ.” “We never want to shine the light on us, it's always about Christ.” “We're simply using the gifts God has given us for his glory.” “I'm not looking for you to change the world but if you can simply change your little world…if everyone changes their little world, then ultimately we do change the world.” “The culture of the business is centered around using the gifts that we're given to make a difference.” “The American dream shouldn't be about consumption, it should be about compassion.” “What would God tell you to start doing that you're not doing? And what would he tell you to stop doing that you are doing?” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Louhs' website: https://thelouhs.com/  Connect with Father Nick through his church: https://stjohnthedivine.com/staff/rev-dr-nicholas-g-louh/  Connect with the Louhs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelouhs/ 

How does our archdiocese step in to meet the needs of our Senior Priests. Brenda talks with Angela Godfrey from the Archdiocese of Portland.More information can be found here.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Busshō Lahn is a Zen student and teacher, and the guiding teacher of Flying Cloud Zen Spiritual Practice Community. He's also a popular speaker, retreat leader, spiritual director, author, and a Senior Priest at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Busshō has just published his first Zen book, Singing and Dancing are the Voice of the Law, by Monkfish Publications. In this episode we discuss this book and its exploration of the Zen poem, The Song of Zazen, and other things such as how we first connected at SDI, persevering with ideas we feel called to create and make, paradoxes such as giving up safety in order to find Safety, the Nature of the Universe – you know, the things we commonly talk about here on this podcast. Bussho is a friend and a lively conversationalist and deeply contemplative - I hope you enjoy the conversation. Singing and Dancing Are the Voice of the Law introduces us to one of the great works of Zen literature, “The Song of Zazen.” Zen teacher Busshō Lahn illuminates Hakuin's enigmatic poem in plain language, unpacking it and applying it to contemporary life. His book offers a wealth of information on the context and content of this eighteenth-century work, clearly evoking its themes of abiding wisdom, meditation, compassionate self-regard, and our own everyday life's potential to express deep spiritual truth. Learn more about the book, and purchase links, here: Singing and Dancing Are the Voice of the Law - Monkfish (monkfishpublishing.com) Busshō first came to Soto Zen Buddhism in 1993, was ordained as a novice in 2009, and received Dharma Transmission (authorization to carry the lineage and teach independently) in 2015. Busshō remains rooted in his Zen tradition but cultivates an openness to the beauty and wisdom of other faiths. Through appreciatively understanding other paths, he feels that he becomes a better Buddhist.

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+networ

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network 

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network 

Ross Marrosso Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Steve Harper Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Steve Harper Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Steve Harper Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

Jill Nicolini Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary -- http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/  https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnage aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnidge aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnidge aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network

KC Armstrong Interviews George Turnidge aka Papa Yatande Senior Priest and Spiritual Coach at Le Peristyle Hatian Sanctuary --http://www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com/https://onlineradiobox.com/search?cs=us.pbnnetwork1&q=podcast%20business%20news%20network&c=ushttps://mytuner-radio.com/search/?q=business+news+networkhttps://streema.com/radios/search/?q=podcast+business+news+network 

Brenda interviews Angie Godfrey from the Archdiocese of Portland about how the Archdiocese supports Senior Priests The post Morning Blend Guest: Angie Godfrey, Senior Priest Navigator appeared first on Mater Dei Radio.

Through stories and conversations, difficult questions and struggles that surface as we care for our loved ones during their suffering and at the end of life are addressed. What does compassionate care look like? What are the ethical questions of assisted suicide? How do we preserve the dignity of the person as they die?Speakers: Fr. Bob Byrne, Senior Priest and Moral Theology Instructor, Diocese of SaginawDr. Cherie Sammis, Director of Ethics Integration for Ascension HealthcareThis podcast is part of a 9-day virtual retreat for all to gather in prayer as we stand to protect the Sanctity of Life!

The Rev. Sam Dessordi Leite is Senior Priest at Saint Stephens and the Incarnation.

You're a retired Senior Priest. Retired? Hardly! Morning prayer, a full plate of Mass schedules at several churches, weddings and funerals, confession, counseling and prepping for your homilies. The cycle never ends! How does a Catholic Priest recharge? 

It’s Holy Week and we’re coming up on my favorite day in the Christian calendar: Maundy Thursday. Although it’s not a popular day for evangelical services, it’s without a doubt the most transformational space - or liminal space - that I’ve encountered in a Church service. That particular service was held at the International Anglican Church in Colorado Springs. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve attended many incredible revival services over the years, but the IAC Maundy Thursday service is kind of the opposite of revival, but in the best sort of way. In this episode, Tara Owens and Jay Greener help me tell this Maundy Thursday story. We talk about the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the discomfort of footwashing and how the disorientation of betrayal (along with pastoral defrocking and abandonment) prepares our hearts for Easter. Rev. Canon Jay Greener serves as the Rector at Church of the Redeemer In Chicago. Before that he served in various ministry roles within churches and Christian organizations around the country. Jay is also a Canon, or Senior Priest, in the Shyira Diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. Formerly a broadcaster, Jay is particularly interested in the many ways that we hear God, and communicate about God. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, Yale Divinity School, and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Worship and the Arts. Tara Owens opens up our imagination for Maundy Thursday through her own story, which she writes about in her book Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone. Tara is a writer, Spiritual Director and Founder of Anam Cara Ministries. She holds a TM in Spiritual Formation from Tyndale Seminary. Links: Visit Church of the Redeemer https://redeemernorthshore.org/ Listen to Jay’s Sermons https://redeemernorthshore.org/category/podcast/ Connect with Tara Owens at https://anamcara.com/ Read her book Embracing the Body:Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=3593 Read More about Maundy Thursday from these Missio authors: Maundy Thursday: #TrulyHuman Love Comes Through The Cross by Seth Richardson https://www.missioalliance.org/maundy-thursday-trulyhuman-love-comes-through-the-cross/ Maundy Thursday, a New Commandment, & a Prayer by Mark Moore https://www.missioalliance.org/maundy-thursday-a-new-commandment-a-prayer/ Holy Saturday – The leadership of Christ into the Tomb by David Fitch https://www.missioalliance.org/holy-saturday-the-leadership-of-christ-into-the-tomb/ Music: Special Thanks to Kai Engle (www.kai-engel.com) for the generous use of these songs: Irsens Tale, July, Cendres, Run, Snowfall Intro, January, Morbid Imagination, Soli, Realness And thank you to these www.Freesound.org contributors: Sink Water Washing Splishing splashing open washbasin vanity basin by Ericssoundschmiede washing hands shake by lolux water pour by johnsonbrandediting washing hands by fabrizio84 squeezing sponde into bucket of water by Elliottmoo Doing the Dishes by Eelke Cloth flapping on a clothesline thickly by leonelmail Undress by Walter Odington Scrubbing Table by Bmcken Male Breathing by Falcons Shadow Runningstaircase by HerbertBoland Doorway by Dobroide Door Church Close by Instpectorj

Welcome To Weird Web Radio! I'm your host Lonnie Scott. This episode features the current ADF Archdruid Jon Drum. Jon and I cover his beginnings in Paganism, and take that chat all the way to the current day. Of course, we cover hauntings too. Jon and I share a common challenge as well. We are both in leadership positions in Paganism. His is the Archdruid role of ADF. Mine is being on the High Rede of The Troth. That led me to ask him some questions about how he navigates those unique challenges, and also how he feels about the Bonewits scandal.  Some of the topics we cover include: Earth Mother Finding the Gods Drawing Down The Moon New Reformed Druids of North America Early Days of ADF & Evolution What is a Druid? Becoming Archdruid The Challenges of Pagan Leadership Teamwork Dealing With The Isaac Bonewits Accusations Consent Culture Being A Solitary Pagan Training Pagans Building Community Mentors Scholarship in Paganism Abusers In Religion Working With House Spirits Daily Spiritual Routine Handling Hauntings Recognizing The Hemispheres Message to ADF You can find more information about the ADF and even join by visiting http://adf.org Jon Drum is the current ADF Archdruid as well as a Senior Priest in ADF. He is a frequent contributor to Oak Leaves (ADF Newsletter) and he honours the Earth Mother and Manannan mac Lir is his daily workings. He is a poet and a writer and the author of Arise from Vapours, Willow Flow, and A Tree for the Earth Mother, all available at amazon.com. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the show! SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE ON iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify! Also streaming on mobile apps for podcasts! Intro voice over by Lothar Tuppan. Outro voice over by Lonnie Scott Intro & Outro Music by Nine Inch Nails on the album ‘7’, song title ‘Ghost’, under Creative Commons License.

What's it like to go a bit deeper down the rabbit hole of priesthood, and find yourself in new territory as a priest, and elevated to heights you weren't really expecting? Here, Rev. Dangler talks about what it’s like to become a Senior Priest in ADF. For background, ADF has three levels of Priest: ADF Priest, ADF Consecrated Priest, and ADF Senior Priest. Rev. Dangler is a Senior Priest. The process of becoming a Priest we describe here might seem unique to ADF, but the lessons and observations are actually quite broad for anyone seeking or advancing through their study toward Priesthood, no matter the tradition. This episode was recorded as we arrived at the 2018 ADF Trillium Spring Gathering. Visit us at threecranes.org/podcast for info and transcripts, find us on Facebook, and learn more about Paganism and Druidry at adf.org

Join the Maiden, Mother, and Crone on January 28th at 7pm central time as the speak with Angela Wilson and Jon Drum. Angela Wilson Is the arch druid of the Irish wayist tradition . Reverend mother Angela Wilson is also the head of a group in Athens, Tennessee called the Congregation of the Cedars. Angela has been active in the greater pagan community for close to 20 years. Angela has a personal mission to make meso/ neo druidic practices relevant for today adding her mark on druidry as those who have gone on before. " Taking the complex and making it simple" is her mantra. Angela uses her mountain wisdom and science to create a unique window into druidry. She has been the guest speaker on several shows here in the states and in europe. Angela also teaches at festivals in and around her area. She is also working with other druids , arch druids and pagan leaders in the worldwide pagan community to effect positive changes in our global communities. Rev. Jean (Drum) Pagano is a Senior Priest and Initiate in Ar nDraiocht Féin. He is a Druid of the Third Order of RDNA and a Druid Grade member of OBOD. He is the current Archdruid of ADF. If you would like to call in with any questions, the call in number is 347-857-3605.

In this Points of View, Assistant Director Brad Long hosts a discussion with two special guests, The December Man (L'homme de décembre) Director Sarah Garton Stanley and Paul Donison, Senior Priest, St. Peter and St. Paul's Anglican Church and bereavement counsellor, about collective grieving for violence against women, and the creation of this production. In the aftermath of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, Benoît and Kathleen try to help their beloved son Jean deal with the guilt of surviving what so many women did not. Seething with self-loathing, rage and powerlessness, Jean's life has come unglued. With humour, empathy and the routine of everyday life, the narrative moves backwards in time to the fateful day when Jean survived. With devastating honesty and scalpel-like precision, this searing drama explores the nature of courage and the private shadows cast by public violence. “...no (one) should miss the chance to see this.” - VANCOUVER SUN

Guest: On this day before US "Tax day," Fr. Michael Tassos and Kevin discuss the role of money and finance (and financial planning) in the Orthodox Christian life. Fr. Michael is a Senior Priest and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

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 regular Thursday show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Antonio Enrique consider the news headlines of the week, including last weekend's performance of Kiko Arguello's symphonic homage “The Suffering of the Innocents” in Boston; CatholicTV's Gabriel Award; Massachusetts as the most Catholic state; a parish's mortgage burning to honor a former pastor; youth ministry awards; priest assignments; and safeguarding the Catholic identity of colleges. 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: Catholic symphony; CatholicTV; most Catholic state; mortgage-burning; youth ministry awards; Catholic identity 1st segment: Scot and Susan discussed the religious education office's Mass and graduation ceremony for the Spanish-language two-year leadership program for parish volunteers, which will occur tonight. Everyone involved volunteers in their parish and they meet every Saturday for two years from 1-5pm. They will go back to their parishes with solid foundation in theology and skills in catechetics, hospital ministry, youth ministry, and more. Scot said the Catholic Media secretariat is also working with the Hispanic Apostolate on helping them with more Spanish-language radio programming. Susan said Cardinal Seán will participate in the graduation tonight. Scot said Susan, Antonio and himself were present on Sunday for the symphony of the “Suffering of the Innocents” composed by Kiko Arguello. Antonio was one of the organizers and more than 2,000 people attended. The vast majority were Catholics, but there were also representatives of the Jewish community were present. Scot said he was moved by quotes from members of the Jewish community. “I had tears in my eyes when everyone sang the Shema,” said Robert Liekind, director of the American Jewish Committee. “It was immensely moving. The sense of our common heritage, our common roots, really came out.” “This couldn't have been possible 50 years ago,” added Rabbi Barry Starr from Temple Israel in Sharon. “We have made a lot of strides on the path of reconciliation, and I am truly grateful that I was here to witness to this.” “This has been moving and touching to my heart,” Rabbi Starr added. Marybeth Bisson, parishioner at Most Precious Blood Parish of Dover, also said she also was moved by the symphony. “We have been to a lot of symphonies,” Bisson said. “This was everything they said it was going to be and more. Absolutely phenomenal.” Scot heard that from many others who were present. Scot said he had high expectations and those expectations were surpassed. Antonio said the organizers were happy with how it went and Cardinal Seán was as well. He said some a Jewish rabbi told him they felt like part of the community and he felt loved. This contrasts with the old prejudices and animosities that existed at times and in some places between Christians and Jews. Antonio said these Jewish-Catholic relations are becoming more of a movement and not just theologians talking. The singing of the Shema Yisrael was a key part of that unity. They discussed how Mary is an icon of the suffering of Christ, helping us to enter into the suffering in our lives with our eye on Christ, seeing how she accepted the sword of suffering that would pierce her heart, as the prophet foretold. The wages of sin are death, as St. Paul says, and Christ takes the suffering upon himself to give us a new and different life. Mary is at the center of that renewal. Scot said a moving moment was when everyone in the audience chanted a prayer to Mary with the choir. Susan said just being in Symphony Hall was beautiful and then Cardinal Seán quoted Dostoevsky: “The prince says that the world will be saved by beauty!” She also said she was unsure what to expect from an artist who composes music, but it was so lovely. Fr. Roger Landry said Pope Benedict said the greatest evangelization force, the means by which to bring people to conversion, is the beauty of the art the Church has produced and the beauty of the saints. When God produces these great acts of beauty, it brings us to the Source of Beauty, which is God. Great symphonies, great cathedrals, great pieces of art help us to understand who we really are and become mirrors of the beauty of the Lord. When we look back to St. Thomas Aquinas, in addition to his 50 volumes of theology, he also produced some of our greatest Eucharistic hymsn we still sing today. He recognized that the beauty of God and our faith couldn't just be expressed in philosophical and theological prosaic sentences. They had to be expressed too in poetry and music. Antonio said CatholicTV was there and did many interviews and they also taped the whole catechetical experience. He expects them to have a special program. He said the plan is to put it online somewhere. There was also discussion of how it resonated with many how the very Brahmin Symphony Hall was the site of this Catholic and Jewish event. Also, regarding CatholicTV, they were awarded Television Station of the Year by the Gabriel Awards along with EWTN. This is the second time they were honored. It shows how the two national Catholic television networks are bringing people to God. Fr. Roger said in age when so many people watch TV and watch videos on the Internet that the Church take advantage of this new . He said both networks are doing high quality work with very good content. For many people who are homebound, this is their connection to the Church. Also, this week, a headline shows that the latest shows that Massachusetts has passed Rhode Island as the state with the highest percentage of Catholic population. Antonio said realistically it means that the Catholic population dropped a little slower than it did in Rhode Island. Antonio and Susan agreed that it might be due to the number of Catholic immigrants coming into MAssachusetts versus Rhode Island. In Massachusetts, the Catholic population is 44.9%, but what's really telling is that weekly Mass attendance is 1 out of 6 Catholics. We should not stop until we can raise that number much higher. Rhode Island's Catholic population has dropped by 14%. Fr. Roger said he agrees that the influx of immigrants is responsible and we have a greater responsibility because of our greater numbers. We have to help people who call themselves Catholics to respond to a renewal of their faith. To whom more is given, much is to be expected. Scot said Holy Family Parish in Duxbury honored their longtime former pastor with a mortgage burning ceremony. Msgr. William Glynn was pastor for more than 25 years before entering Senior Priest status a few yearsago. Susan said the article ends with a great quote: In the spirit of care for priests and the priesthood, he repeated a message he gave in his homily. He pointed to the need for young men to step up and serve in the priesthood, and called upon lay people to encourage vocations. “It has been a great life to have been a priest. I regret that there are not more vocations,” he said. Scot said most parishes have some sort of a debt, but many leaders in Holy Family wanted to retire this mortgage as a way to honor Msgr. Glynn who had seen this parish built and worked had to put this parish in a great financial position. It's a testament of a connection by a parish family to their spiritual father for many years. Antonio said Catholicism is about community. Community meets and gathers around their pastors. Even in canon law that pastors are to meet and care for everyone in their parish, not just the Catholics. Antonio said he'd never heard of mortgage burning before so he wanted to make sure to cover the event in the Pilot. Scot said he was struck by how much Msgr. Glynn wanted to retire this debt on behalf of the parish. It highlights the pastor's role as both a spiritual leader, but also as a leader in the more mundane needs of life. Fr. Roger said the great pastors are those who want to provide for those entrusted to them. Msgr. Glynn didn't want to pass on debt to his successors. Most priests leaving a parish want to leave their house in order. But it's not just a gift to his successor but to his spiritual children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. The people witness his commitment to them. Also in the Pilot this week was the annual awards banquet for Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults, recognizing the great work being done by many people in many parishes. They honored 120 youth, young adults, and their leaders in ministry in 46 parishes throughout the Archdiocese. Antonio said everyone recognized were models of Catholic life. Susan said she was impressed by the ONE office's organization of the event. She said one of the awards was to Marge Costa, a teacher at Ursuline Academy, who taught Susan's daughters. Fr. Mike Harrington won an award and had a fan club of about 100 people. Deacon Jim Greer and his wife Terri won the Norm Plante Awards in honor of their work in youth ministry. Scot said the Fall River diocese also recognizes young people and those who minister to them. Fr. Roger said everyone recognizes that peer pressure among kids is a reality. These kinds of award ceremonies give positive peer pressure to lift up young people living their faith with great joy and even heroism as examples for them to follow. Fr. Roger likes to embarrass the award winners at the end of Mass by recognizing them in front of the whole community. Also in the Pilot was an announcement of five priest assignments. Fr. Shawn Carey, one of the few deaf priests in the US, has been named director of the Office of the Deaf Apostolate. Fr. Alonso Macias is leaving his three parishes in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain and is assigned to a growing Spanish-speaking community in Marlborough. Replacing him is Fr. Carlos Flor, who is moving from Immaculate Conception in Revere. Fr. Patrick McLaughlin will be leaving as administrator of St. Joseph in Medford and entering senior priest status. Fr. Bob Carr, pastor of St. Benedict in Somerville, will be accepting a new assignment soon as well. Scot said the Pilot also profiles Fr. John Delaney who's the new pastor of Sacred Hearts in Haverhill. Antonio said he comes to the parish with a wealth of experience in that area of the Archdiocese. Fr. Delaney was quoted as saying, “1 try to live my priesthood always keeping in mind the philosophy, ‘How can I help you to get closer to God?' My goal is to be a holy prayerful priest who is available to people to journey with them in life.” Scot said he's extremely well-respected for his work at St. Michael's in Andover, one of the largest in the Archdiocese. Susan said she was surprised to learn that Fr. Delaney has two Master's degrees, one in chemistry and another in environmental engineering. 2nd segment: Scot said this week's editorial in the Anchor talks about genuine Catholic colleges and universities. It's been in the news lately with the decision of Anna Maria College outside of Worcester rescinding a commencement invitation to Victoria Kennedy. Pope BEnedict also spoke on this to US bishops on their ad limina visits. Fr. Roger said Pope Benedict recognizes that Catholic education is key to spreading the Gospel. In college, it's where many young people are beginning to choose the trajectory of their life. This means that there needs to be an authentic Catholic culture, not just a religion class and a chapel on campus. Unfortunately, many young people leave Catholic colleges having lost their faith. He noted that Vicki Kennedy has made public statements in support of abortion and same-sex marriage and so inviting her to get an honorary degree and give her a platform to speak to the students would be difficult. In the editorial, Fr. Roger writes: If Yeshiva University invited Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a debate and discussion, it might even be a sign of magnanimity, peacemaking and institutional self-confidence. But if Yeshiva were to ask him to speak to the graduates at commencement and give him an honorary degree, everyone would wonder whether it had lost its identity, not to mention marbles. … There's a reason why Howard University never invited — and never would have considered inviting — Strom Thurmond for an honorary doctorate. Even if in all other parts of his life he were a consummate gentleman, even if he had done many other things for many other people through public service, he would still not be invited because of the strident support of racism in his political ascent. Catholic institutions of higher learning should have as high standards with regard to potential honorees' positions on abortion and marriage and other fundamental issues of the Catholic faith as historically black institutions have had with regard to racism. Fr. Roger said God bless Bishop McManus for recognizing this action would call into question Anna Maria College's commitment to their Catholic identity. Bishop McManus was disinvited to the commencement by the students, which is an indication of the culture at the college. The Catholic identity needs to be reinforced there. As Catholics we can't support the killing of babies in the womb or undermining the meaning of marriage. Catholic universities and colleges ought to be distinguished by preparing students not just for life but eternal life, not just for work but for mission, not just for LSATs, MCATs, and GREs but for the eschatological final exam. The choices that a Catholic college or university makes — selecting administrators and faculty members, allocating resources, determining admissions standards, and even choosing commencement speakers — should always be in harmony with the faith and reflect these genuinely Catholic priorities. Scot said it's a controversial issue only because the Church hasn't embraced the ideal we all should support Church teachings on life issues. Susan said the two examples Fr. Roger gave are good illustrations. It's not we don't invite people who disagree with us ever, but the context of the address is important. She noted the Pope aid young people have a right to hear the teaching of the Church. Antonio was happy to see the Pope say the key problem here is we need to witness to the faith, but we are in a moment where there is no absolute truth, but whatever we think is true is what's important. Susan noted we have to have a well-formed conscience. Scot said bishops have a job to do to ensure that any institution that has Catholic as part of its identity live up to the ideals of the faith and don't send out mixed messages.

Summary of today's show: Easter week continues as Scot Landry is joined by Antonio Enrique and Domenico Bettinelli to discuss the headlines of the week, including Pope Benedict's Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi message; the US bishops' latest and forceful statement on religious liberty; Divine Mercy Sunday; 40 Days for Life; the rescinding of an invitation to Vicki Kennedy to a Catholic college commencement. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Antonio Enrique, editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Domenico Bettinelli, creative director of Pilot New Media 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: Pope Benedict's Urbi et Orbi; US bishops statement on religious liberty; Divine Mercy Sunday; 40 Days for Life; Kennedy commencement address 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Antonio Enrique and Dom Bettinelli to the show. Scot asked how their Easters are going, noting that we celebrate Easter over eight days. Dom said his kids are continuing to sing the Easter hymns and prayers they hard at the Easter vigil. Antonio said his own parish has an Easter Vigil that lasts all night and his whole family attends. Scot said on Easter Sunday the Holy Father gives an address called Urbi et Obri, meaning “To the City and the World.” Scot read most of the pope's message. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world! “Surrexit Christus, spes mea” – “Christ, my hope, has risen” (Easter Sequence). May the jubilant voice of the Church reach all of you with the words which the ancient hymn puts on the lips of Mary Magdalene, the first to encounter the risen Jesus on Easter morning. She ran to the other disciples and breathlessly announced: “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18). We too, who have journeyed through the desert of Lent and the sorrowful days of the Passion, today raise the cry of victory: “He has risen! He has truly risen!” Every Christian relives the experience of Mary Magdalene. It involves an encounter which changes our lives: the encounter with a unique Man who lets us experience all God's goodness and truth, who frees us from evil not in a superficial and fleeting way, but sets us free radically, heals us completely and restores our dignity. This is why Mary Magdalene calls Jesus “my hope”: he was the one who allowed her to be reborn, who gave her a new future, a life of goodness and freedom from evil. “Christ my hope” means that all my yearnings for goodness find in him a real possibility of fulfilment: with him I can hope for a life that is good, full and eternal, for God himself has drawn near to us, even sharing our humanity. But Mary Magdalene, like the other disciples, was to see Jesus rejected by the leaders of the people, arrested, scourged, condemned to death and crucified. It must have been unbearable to see Goodness in person subjected to human malice, truth derided by falsehood, mercy abused by vengeance. With Jesus' death, the hope of all those who had put their trust in him seemed doomed. But that faith never completely failed: especially in the heart of the Virgin Mary, Jesus' Mother, its flame burned even in the dark of night. In this world, hope can not avoid confronting the harshness of evil. It is not thwarted by the wall of death alone, but even more by the barbs of envy and pride, falsehood and violence. Jesus passed through this mortal mesh in order to open a path to the kingdom of life. For a moment Jesus seemed vanquished: darkness had invaded the land, the silence of God was complete, hope a seemingly empty word. And lo, on the dawn of the day after the Sabbath, the tomb is found empty. Jesus then shows himself to Mary Magdalene, to the other women, to his disciples. Faith is born anew, more alive and strong than ever, now invincible since it is based on a decisive experience: “Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own champion, slain, now lives to reign”. The signs of the resurrection testify to the victory of life over death, love over hatred, mercy over vengeance: “The tomb the living did enclose, I saw Christ's glory as he rose! The angels there attesting, shroud with grave-clothes resting”. Dear brothers and sisters! If Jesus is risen, then – and only then – has something truly new happened, something that changes the state of humanity and the world. Then he, Jesus, is someone in whom we can put absolute trust; we can put our trust not only in his message but in Jesus himself, for the Risen One does not belong to the past, but is present today, alive. Christ is hope and comfort in a particular way for those Christian communities suffering most for their faith on account of discrimination and persecution. And he is present as a force of hope through his Church, which is close to all human situations of suffering and injustice. May the risen Christ grant hope to the Middle East and enable all the ethnic, cultural and religious groups in that region to work together to advance the common good and respect for human rights. Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community. May the many refugees from that country who are in need of humanitarian assistance find the acceptance and solidarity capable of relieving their dreadful sufferings. May the paschal victory encourage the Iraqi people to spare no effort in pursuing the path of stability and development. In the Holy Land, may Israelis and Palestinians courageously take up anew the peace process. May the Lord, the victor over evil and death, sustain the Christian communities of the African continent; may he grant them hope in facing their difficulties, and make them peacemakers and agents of development in the societies to which they belong. May the risen Jesus comfort the suffering populations of the Horn of Africa and favour their reconciliation; may he help the Great Lakes Region, Sudan and South Sudan, and grant their inhabitants the power of forgiveness. In Mali, now experiencing delicate political developments, may the glorious Christ grant peace and stability. To Nigeria, which in recent times has experienced savage terrorist attacks, may the joy of Easter grant the strength needed to take up anew the building of a society which is peaceful and respectful of the religious freedom of all its citizens. Happy Easter to all! Scot said he notes how present the word ‘hope' is in the messages of Pope Benedict. Dom said this is a time when so many are lacking in hope. He recalled Eric Genuis said on Monday's show that he sees a lack of hope in the 100,000 youth per year he plays for and Pope Benedict is holding up Christ as the single point of hope. In a time of a lack of faith, we see a lack of hope. Pope Benedict is telling us that Christ is present to us today, He is alive today. Scot said the most important fact in the Christianity is that Christ is alive and rose from the dead. Antonio said as important is that he left us the Holy Spirit. The Resurrection is a fact that carries on in history and helps people to have change in their lives. Antonio recalled a Russian story during the Communist re-education of Orthodox Christians to convince them of atheism. The Risen Christ brought hope to them and it brings hope to us today. Antonio said Pope John Paul II said in Evangelium Vitae that no matter how hard things become, we know how the story ends: Christ is victorious. Scot said at Easter what stands out to him is the joy of Alleluia as part of the season and how quickly we can leave the spirit of Alleluia when we return to our normal daily lives. Easter is an octave to allow it to take root in our daily lives. Dom said the joy of Easter could be hard to sustain so what do we do to keep Easter alive in us. Easter is also a season of 50 days until Pentecost. We can pray the prayers of Easter, remembering to say Alleluia, to wish a happy Easter to others. Returning to hope, this hope is not a passive hope. “In this world, hope cannot avoid confronting evil.” Hope brings Christ to the world. It doesn't simply wait for something good to us. That's a way of keeping joy alive. Scot said the Octave concludes with Divine Mercy Sunday. always the second Sunday of Easter since 2000. Jesus died for reconciliation for all of us. There are several articles in the Pilot and Anchor on Divine Mercy, particularly on the may people who need to be reconciled to God and we need to reach out to them. Antonio said if your life is transformed in Christ, then you can have joy despite problems and bring that joy to others. Divine Mercy Sunday fits perfectly within Easter. Once we've experienced the joy of the Resurrection, then we can go out and share the joy of Easter with others and ask them to come back. Scot said a week ago last Monday, we had Fr. Kaz and Mary Kay Volpone from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge on the program, giving a background on the message and Divine Mercy Sunday. It's a message and devotion that most Catholics are still hearing about. It isn't totally ingrained in the Church. It often happens with new devotions in the Church. Pope John Paul II put this devotion forward, he took his last breath on the vigil of Divine Mercy, and was beatified last year on Divine Mercy Sunday. Dom noted the beauty of the diversity of devotions within the Church. There seems to be something for everyone and every temperament to find a way to God through the Church. Dom noted in the Anchor article a quotation from Robert Allard of the Apostles of Divine Mercy: “If we are truly Apostles of Divine Mercy, then we need to get really serious about helping Jesus to save sinners and to ease the Lord's sadness,” Allard said. “We need to stop focusing our energy on what can he viewed as ‘parties for devotees' at 3 p.m. in the afternoon and focus more on saving poor sinners.” The devotion shouldn't be just for the devotees, the same people in the parish showing up for the service and then going home. We're not saying that the prayer services are bad, but if they're not coupled with action, there won't be fruit from it. Not that there isn't a place for contemplative prayer life, but if you can we must couple prayer with bringing the message to people. God loves you, God forgives your sins, mercy is available. God isn't just a judge sitting on a throne waiting to throw the book at you. He wants to jump off the throne and run to embrace you like the prodigal son. Scot said a central message of Divine Mercy is that the Church is meant to be a refuge for sinners, not a museum for saints. What is being said is that members of the Divine Mercy apostolate must focus outward ,not inward. We must look for the one sheep that isn't part of the 99 or the 75 not joined to the 25. He suggested people learn more. 2nd segment: On page two of the Pilot this week, we see that Fr. Gerry Dorgan of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Danvers has been granted Senior Priest/retirement status by Cardinal Sean effective June 5, 2012. Fr. Dorgan was on our program a few months ago. Fr. Dorgan was Fr. Mark O'Connell's first pastor out of the seminary. Dom said he remembers from the show Fr. Dorgan's devotion to art history and how he incorporated it in pastoral ministry. It's impressive how he used his talents and interests in parish service. Scot said Fr. Dorgan's been a priest for about 50 years and noted that many legendary priests will be retiring in the coming year. Scot then noted another article in the Anchor about the 40 Days for Life campaign in the Diocese of Fall River. He noted that the Archdiocese hasn't embraced it officially because of the difficulty of the John Salvi murders an the complications it presents. Antonio said this campaign has been effective in changing hearts and minds since it started in 2004. That these warriors for life can bring attention to this issue is welcome. Antonio noted that the 40 Days for Life did take place in Lynn and Haverhill, even though officially sponsored by the Archdiocese. Scot said this apostolate started at a college campus ministry at College Station, Texas, at Texas A&M. Some young people wanted to take concert action. Dom said it's inspiring to see how many young people take part in the pro-life movement. He recalled at Franciscan University of Steubenville about 20 years ago that some of his classmates organized a walk across America , stopping along the way to witness to life and it's ongoing. It's an opportunity for young people to put their faith into action. Dom explained that 40 Days for Life is that during Lent there is someone standing outside a clinic every day from morning to evening, praying for everyone there, talking to to those who would work. And there is great fruit from it: conversions of clinic workers, clinics that close, and women who decide to keep their babies. Also in the Anchor is that Ana Maria College near Worcester, Mass., rescinded an invitation to Vickie Kennedy to be commencement speaker. In the article, Bishop McManus of Worcester said: ‘“My difficulty is not primarily with Mrs. Kennedy:' Bishop McManus told The Catholic Free Press, newspaper of the Worcester Diocese. “My difficulty is with the college choosing her to he honored by allowing her to be commencement speaker and giving her an honorary degree. “My concern basically was that to give this type of honor to Mrs. Kennedy would in fact undercut the Catholic identity and mission of the school.” he said. “And that in so far as that that happens, the ‘communio' (communion) or the unity that exists between the local Church and the local Catholic college is strained and hurt.” Scot said McManus was concerned that it would give the impression that someone could hold positions contrary to the Church's teachings and still be honored by a Catholic institution. Scot said McManus thought he was doing his job as bishop and wasn't trying to be harsh toward Vickie Kennedy. Dom said this is right in line with the US bishops' 2004 statement Faithful Citizenship, where they said people who hold views contrary to Catholic doctrine on impotent moral issues should not be given platforms or honors at Catholic institutions. The bishop doesn't want to give the impression that it's okay to oppose the Church's moral teachings as a Catholic. We don't want to tell these graduates that we don't take our own teachings seriously. Bishop McManus wasn't being strident. He only said he couldn't attend the graduation and it was the school's decision to rescind. Scot said as a Catholic college they said they value the bishops' role. Scot compared it to what happened at Notre Dame where then-Bishop D'Arcy said he couldn't attend a graduation where President Obama was going to receive an honorary doctorate. Notre Dame decided to go ahead anyway. Antonio said we're going to find this more and more in the Church as society moves away from critical values. The Church has a prophetic role and the bishop has to be able to star we can't condone an event like that. He describe a way of thought called proportionalism, in which people say they will believe differently in their personal lives. He said the Church needs to clarify that the Church teaches one thing and some issues are not negotiable. Scot said this issues can be controversial because not every bishop applies the standard in the same way in his own diocese, and interprets what positions go beyond the limits to say the person doesn't deserve the honors or platform. Another local story is that the seniors at Fontbonne Academy had their annual social justice fair. The students take on projects related to the topic of social justice. Antonio said he was struck by the part of the story about Chinese exchange students talking about being survivors of China's one-child policy, being given up by their mothers to relatives so they could live. Antonio was struck by the sadness in the girl who said her mother had to act like she hadn't been born. He also said sometimes there is distinction made between social justice and pro-life issues as if they were different. He's glad that wasn't the case here. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Therese Willette-Rudolph of Saugus, MA She wins by St. Faustina Kowalska. 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. 4th segment: The US Conference of Catholic Bishops today issued a major new statement on the topic of religious liberty. It begins: We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary. That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together. Freedom is not only for Americans, but we think of it as something of our special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be guarded now. We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for all nations and peoples who yearn to be free. Catholics in America have discharged this duty of guarding freedom admirably for many generations. In 1887, when the archbishop of Baltimore, James Gibbons, was made the second American cardinal, he defended the American heritage of religious liberty during his visit to Rome to receive the red hat. Speaking of the great progress the Catholic Church had made in the United States, he attributed it to the “civil liberty we enjoy in our enlightened republic.” Indeed, he made a bolder claim, namely that “in the genial atmosphere of liberty [the Church] blossoms like a rose.”1 From well before Cardinal Gibbons, Catholics in America have been advocates for religious liberty, and the landmark teaching of the Second Vatican Council on religious liberty was influenced by the American experience. It is among the proudest boasts of the Church on these shores. We have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn duty to discharge that duty today. We need, therefore, to speak frankly with each other when our freedoms are threatened. Now is such a time. As Catholic bishops and American citizens, we address an urgent summons to our fellow Catholics and fellow Americans to be on guard, for religious liberty is under attack, both at home and abroad. Scot said the statement goes on to provide lots of concrete examples of where religious liberty is under attack in this country, like the HHS mandate. It then describes how religious liberty is more than just freedom of worship in our churches and homes, but freedom to live faith in public. It describes how religious liberty is the most cherished freedom in the eyes of our founding fathers and should continue to be. It describes our Christian teaching on religious liberty and how it is in jeopardy across the world. It then desrcibes all the actions the Catholic community can muster: What we ask is nothing more than that our God-given right to religious liberty be respected. We ask nothing less than that the Constitution and laws of the United States, which recognize that right, be respected. They then announced a “fortnight for freedom” that recommends we “that we focus “all the energies the Catholic community can muster” in a special way this coming summer. As pastors of the flock, our privileged task is to lead the Christian faithful in prayer.” It would be 14 days from June 21 to July 4 and they ask everyone to pray this prayer: Almighty God, Father of all nations, For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1). We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties; By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Scot said this statement has been anticipated after the US bishops formed this committee last year for this purpose. This document creates the framework by which we will defend our rights. Dom said our liberties have been attack for many years. It should also concern those beyond our borders. The US has been a leader in the fight for freedom in the world, as a beacon of freedom and hope. If that freedom erodes here in this country, how will that light be extinguished elsewhere. And when we lose this freedom, what freedom will we lose next? What other rights will they decide we don't need? Scot said the document's objective seems to inform the broader community about what we stand for, what is the history of religious liberty in this country, and then the real call to action through prayer in the fortnight for freedom. Antonio said it's not just the bishops who must act, but all of us. Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and we are obligated to influence others and to speak up. We have an obligation to follow the government, but not when it contradicts the will of God. He also noted that contrary to the French revolution which said rights came from the state, in the United States our Declaration of Independence declares our rights as inalienable and descending from God. We are going through a fundamental change in this country. In Europe, the government can decide how people can use or lose their rights. This is a key moment in how we understand our rights within our society. Scot said the bishops are clear that religious heritage in our country appreciates religious freedom for all, whatever their faith and that we should be able to live our belief systems in the public square and not have those beliefs be seen as contradictory to our American citizenship. the bishops are saying it's un-american to say we can't live our faith in the public square. Dom said he hopes that other faiths join in this fortnight for freedom because this applies to all of them. Scot said the bishops make that very point. This year, we propose a special “fortnight for freedom,” in which bishops in their own dioceses might arrange special events to highlight the importance of defending our first freedom. Our Catholic institutions also could be encouraged to do the same, especially in cooperation with other Christians, Jews, people of other faiths, and indeed, all who wish to defend our most cherished freedom.