Editorial

Imagine a future where diseased human organs are replaced with fresh organs cloned from our own cells. In this era, it's common for people to live for over 200 years.

Imagine animals with human brains transplanted into their bodies. Sheep, pigs, horses, and cows are just as smart as humans.

Imagine "giving birth" to a baby who has been grown in a laboratory. Genetic traits were selected for the baby by mom and dad.

Sounds like science fiction, doesn't it? But these scenarios are closer to fact than fiction. Research is now being conducted in laboratories around the world to make these fantasies come true.

All the changes in biotechnology also bring with them new ethical and moral challenges. Our current controversy over use of human embryos in stem-cell research is just the tip of the iceberg. Every advancement in science and technology will lead to even more ethical and moral conflicts.

I learned more about some of these issues last week at a conference on "Stem Cell Research: New Frontiers in Science & Ethics." The conference, held in Milwaukee, was sponsored by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Marquette University, and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

What a wonderful conference! It brought together scientists, ethicists, and bishops to dialogue about many of the cutting-edge issues facing society today and in the future. I hope to write about some of these issues in upcoming editions of The Catholic Herald.

Importance of Catholic newspaper. Reporting and commenting on current issues from a Catholic perspective -- that's what gives The Catholic Herald special importance to readers of the 21st Century. Our diocesan newspaper helps today's Catholics wrestle with medical/technological advances, the just war theory, responses to terrorism, understanding people of other faiths, to name a few.

This weekend, Oct. 27 and 28, people in parishes throughout the Diocese of Madison will be receiving free copies of The Catholic Herald. It's part of an effort to promote both the print publication and our new Catholic Herald on-line version.

We know many loyal subscribers read The Catholic Herald cover to cover each week. We would like every Catholic home in our diocese to enjoy the benefits of our award-winning newspaper. See the special section in this week's paper for more information.

If you're not a subscriber, call your parish office and ask to be put on the list. Or check our website for information on how to receive The Catholic Herald in your home.

Go to www.madisoncatholicherald.org and welcome to The Catholic Herald. We hope to give you guidance in dealing with many new frontiers in the days ahead.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To Monsignor Delbert Schmelzer
(diocesan director, Society for the Propagation of the Faith):

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples acknowledges most gratefully the generous contribution of $357,589 for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and $397,718 for the Society of St. Peter Apostle, offered by the people of the Diocese of Madison in the Jubilee Year 2000.

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Their generosity is initiated certainly by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is enhanced by your daily work to animate the missionary spirit of prayer and sacrifice.

We know that the assistance so gathered is crucial to the service and, in some cases, to the physical survival of some 1,059 mission dioceses. It is often in the midst of violence, unimaginable poverty, and epidemic disease that the Church proclaims Christ the one Savior of the world, in word and witness and care for those in most need.

The ever-renewed and deepening missionary spirit of the Catholic people, the goal of your own role in the missionary task, is vital not only to the development of their vocation as disciples of Christ, but also to the ability of the Church to guarantee needed annual support to the world's young dioceses and missions.

Most helpful to this end is the fullest celebration of World Mission Sunday, which unites the Catholics of the United States with those around the world in the offering of prayer and support, at the Eucharist, for the mission ad gentes.

May God bless you as you serve the universal mission in cooperation with Bishop Bullock and with your National Director, Father John Kozar. With gratitude to you, I remain

Sincerely in the Lord,

Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, Prefect,
Congregatio Pro Gentium Evangelizatione