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AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

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Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

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A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

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Daily Scripture

+ Ascension Thursday

There is no proof; there are only witnesses.

Readings: Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:14-23 Luke 24:46-53

You are witnesses of all these things. And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high. [Luke 24:50-51]

In an age of technology and scientific progress, we have an explanation for everything or at least the promise of the same. Yet, there are still truly human experiences – both positive and negative—that defy human explanation. Death is one such experience. Doctors know the medical reasons for death but an autopsy doesn’t tell the whole story. Conversely, who can explain the field of energy that binds lovers for life?

During his life on earth Jesus created a field of energy that changed the course of history and it did not cease at his death or even at his resurrection. It continues to this day – locally and globally. Or else how explain the heroism of the saints of yesterday and the saints of today? Women and men, energetic witnesses who have said ‘yes’ to unconditional love under any and all circumstances continue to change the course of history in the face of those who attempt to chain the Word of God. No, most of them are not formal preachers or even religious teachers per se, but people who live the message of the Gospel of Jesus day in and day out.

The gospel today is typical of the departure of a hero. We might even consider it the conclusion of a hero story. Jesus assures his disciples that he is not abandoning them. Not only that but he will send an advocate who will empower them to continue his mission. “You will be clothed with power from on high.” They will be clothed with the mantle of Christ just as the ancient Elijah was clothed in the mantle of Elias before Elias departed in his chariot to the heavens. It’s metaphor and allegory, of course but the underlying truth of Jesus mission will continue to be proclaimed as Good News for all.

But hang in there until Pentecost when the gifts of the Spirit will be renewed and we will be empowered once more to preach the Good News—using words only when necessary.

Data Based Plananing

Thursday October 7, 2004

‘Data based’ planning … works better than ‘power based’ planning though most folks opt for power based planning and decision making. In fact, power based planning rarely if ever works. A prime example is Bush’s war in Iraq. Bush’s Iraq is a distortion of reality and he makes it worse by insisting that his reality is truth.

I was astounded on the morning after the first debate as I listened to what folks said they heard. The feedback was incredibly skewed by hard and fast prejuidices, preconceived notions of truth. Right enough, ‘listerners’ on both sides of the aisle have not been listening. The response to Cheny and Edwards was no different. Don’t confuse me with facts!

Power based planning doesn’t work in family life either. An I know best attitude is debilitating to the other person be he/she spouse or child. Reasonable people sit at the round table and share their perceptions and test their assumptions. Power is in the data. Good people trust one another’s perceptions and listen not only with their ears of their head but with the ears of their heart.

Data based planning and decision-making takes longer but it works better!

The Gluten-Free Host Debacle – You have been reading about Haley Waldman’s dilemma and her ability to receive Holy Communion under the form of bread at Mass. Despite many voices to the contrary, the Waldman’s have been assured that it is not medically acceptable for her to consume bread which contains even the smallest particle of wheat. Celiac disease is a serious illness and can even be life-threatening. For serious reasons personal to the Waldman family, Haley is not comfortable to receive Holy Communion under the form of wine, even wine with the lowest alcohol content, e.g., ‘mustum,’ which is slightly fermented pure grape juice.

Although the Waldmans have many supporters, some have tagged Mrs. Waldman as ‘eccentric.’ As a priest and pastor, I am disappointed at the unwillingness of the bishops to address her concerns with compassion. The issue is not doctrinal but disciplinary. In m opinion, there is no reason why the definition of ‘bread’ cannot be broadened to include rice bread. Our orthodox Jewish brothers and sisters who are also very strict about ritual foods hold that whatever flour can be baked into unleavened bread can be used as sacred bread.

Beyond this, are not our faithful people in the pew entitled to a more compassionate response during this interim period, e.g., “Mrs. Waldman, we want you to know that we understand and appreciate your dilemma and we will indeed address this matter at an appropriate forum. Unfortunately, as you bishop, I am not free to remove the restriction against the use of any other bread other than unleavened breat made from wheat but I surely am in sympathy with you.” Is this too much to ask? For those who think Mrs. Waldman eccentric, then I ask you to seek and search out all the eccentric people in history who have made a difference.

Surely Jesus did not issue a recipe for bread or make wheat bread a condition for his presence in Eucharist.

Sexual Abuse

I was listening to Curtis and Cuby (Kouby?) this morning as I usually do but was astounded by Ron Cuby’s jocular remarks about the teacher from Pasaic who has carried on a “consensual sexual relationship wih one of her students since he was fourteen. Even Curtis from whom we might have expected a different response seemed to encourage Ron’s light-hearted approach. Their attitude seemed to be, “What a lucky kid!” Apparently it’s okay for adult women to engage minor boys in sex but not for older men to engage minor girls in sex—consensual, of course.

Do I have that right? Am I missing something here? Shall we now move the discussion to adult men having sex with minor boys as in Men-Boy sex? consenting, of course. Now lets move to the issue of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy or by any clergy. Ron and Curtis lost no time in taking to task, rightfully so, priest abusers and the bishops who covered up their exploits. But some of those young boys consented too because they were confused or otherwise unable to refuse. Priest perpetrators said hey were just trying the show the boys how to have sex. Yeah, right. So, Ron and Curtis, where do you stand on this one.

Ron and Curtis indicated that the teacher should of course lose her job but should not go to jail nor should her exploits be a mattter or record.

I’m not in favor of jail for all sexual crimes but anyone who uses a child for sexual gratification should receive some punishment for his/her crime and it should be a matter of record.

Father Lasch
Pastor-at-Large
www.fatherlasch.com
email: kel@fatherlasch.com