Editorial

Living with faith and hope:

Bishops have powerful message for all

The editorial cartoon on this page epitomizes the attitude we should NOT have as Christians in the aftermath of the terrible events of September 11. We should not be living in fear and trembling, hiding away from a terrifying world. Instead, we should be living with faith and hope each day.

That's what the U.S. Catholic bishops said last week in a powerful message issued at their meeting in Washington, D.C. They offered words of consolation, criteria for moral discernment, and a call to action and solidarity in these troubling and challenging times.

Take message to heart. Theirs is a message I hope the whole world will take to heart (found on the bishops' website at www.nccbuscc.org).

The bishops admit we are a wounded people. "We share loss and pain, anger and fear, shock and determination in the face of these attacks on our nation and all humanity."

Nation turns to God. In these difficult times, the bishops observe that our faith has lifted us up and sustained us. One of the positive outcomes of this terrible time has been that "our nation turned to God in prayer and in faith with a new intensity."

The bishops encourage people to continue to pray for the victims and their families; for our president and national leaders; for police and firefighters; for postal, health care, and relief workers; for military men and women. They urge us to pray for an end to terror and violence and to pray for the Afghan people and for our adversaries. They call on Catholics to join in a National Day of Prayer for Peace on Jan. 1, 2002.

Time for action. As long as the struggle continues, they urge Catholics to fast one day a week for justice, peace, and the protection of innocent human life. They ask us to study, discuss, and dialogue on the Church's teaching on war and peace (sessions will be held in the Diocese of Madison; see page 2 for details). They encourage us to learn more about other faiths, especially Islam, and to witness and help those in need.

"Hope assures us that, with God's grace, we will see our way through what now seems such a daunting challenge. For believers, hope is not a matter of optimism, but a source of strength and action in demanding times."

Let's put the bishops' words into action in the weeks and months ahead with faith, hope, and love.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	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

At the end of Denise Boychuk Gorman's letter to the editor Nov. 15, 2001, she ended it with, "The God who, as a mother, weeps upon seeing her children destroy each other."

All of us, male and female, were created in God's image. Therefore God has qualities found in both male and female persons. God, however, has made it known through His Son Jesus, and the Catholic Church, that He should be known as a Father. This should not be offensive.

The Trinity is truly a wonderful mystery that we acknowledge as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We do not have the right to manipulate and change what we want God to be or teach. We must conform to God and all His ways -- for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Conforming God to fit our ideals and lifestyles is called relativism, not Catholicism.

Anyway, God did give us a Mother: Mary.

I would ask you not to print articles that spread false teachings and ideals that will undermine what God has spent an eternity to share.

Travis Ganser, Madison