Rumors seem to trump truth: That's no spin

		Notes from the  Vicar General  Msgr. Paul J. Swain

Perhaps it has always been so, but it seems that we have reached a point where rumors, conjecture, and speculation are treated equally with facts.

No sooner is a report released, an official statement made, or a decision rendered than it is immediately questioned, second-guessed, or attacked. The media often gives this immediate response equal or greater play than the original information.

'Spin' in political world

This is certainly true in the political world. While charges and counter charges have been part of political rough and tumble as far back as the mind can go, in recent years it has undertaken a new sophistication. It is even favorably described and justified as "spin."

Positions are less debated on substance, philosophy, or truthfulness. They are countered by attempts to change the subject or personalize the message to the frailties of the messenger. Politicians seem respected less on the wisdom of their views, and more on their ability to "spin" the news to their advantage.

Discovering the truth

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons why we should be skeptical readers and careful listeners. The recent disclosures concerning corporate reporting, and historical revelations of deception by government officials are only two reasons. There are examples in the Church as well.

However, it is important that we not become so jaded that we become part of the problem. It is easier to think the worst than to make the effort to discover the truth. We must not allow the cynicism of the secular world to influence how we relate to one another and how we relate to Christ's Church.

Being factual, honest

The Catechism tells us to "be careful to interpret insofar as possible (our) neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way" (2478). It charges the media with a special responsibility. "The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity" (2498).

This means that the content of communications, personal and public, are to be factual, communicated honestly, and respectful of the right of people to be reported fairly.

Manipulation of facts for personal gain may become a violation of the Eighth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Ignoring the truth is an indirect way of bearing false witness. Believing and passing on as true what, with a little effort, one might have discovered not to be true, may be so as well.

Meeting the challenge

Bombarded with so much information through television, print, Internet, and e-mail, maintaining a discerning mind is a challenge.

Yet that is what we must do if we are to assure that truth prevails. There is only so much that can be absorbed. We can develop a tendency to simply receive, and therefore accept, without appropriate reflection. We can become passive receivers of whatever is presented to us.

Thomas Aquinas wrote, "men could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another." That is a challenge in our day. As disciples of Christ, we can maintain this mutual confidence by assuring that what we accept is really true.

The worldwide link:
Mission priests, brothers, sisters, and you

		Propagation  of the Faith  Msgr. Delbert  Schmelzer

A young priest in India recalls the day of his ordination: "It was the happiest day of my life!"

Fr. Abraham has been ordained a year now and serves in a remote area of the Orissa Diocese of India. The central parish there has 41 villages attached to it. The only way to reach those waiting for him to celebrate Mass, or visit the sick and dying, or witness a marriage, is to travel on foot, often on unpaved roads.

The happiest day of his life continues in day-by-day joy. "I enjoy visiting the villagers and administering the sacraments for them," Abraham says. "They deepen my love for Jesus as I see him in their poverty and suffering."

The young priest, filled with enthusiasm and love of God, acknowledges that without the spiritual and financial help provided to him as a seminarian he could not be where he is today. Some 30,000 mission seminarians right now rely on and receive that same basic, bedrock help.

And it all began with a letter.

Letter evoking response

Two women in France, a mother and a daughter, opened that letter which had just arrived in their mail. It began with a question:

Might I interest you in my seminary? At the moment, the seminary has more than 50 students - and providing for them is a challenge to our very limited resources. At the beginning of last year, we had to announce that we could only admit 12 new students, two from each district. Well, from one district alone, 15 presented themselves! We had to send back to their families young men who would have made excellent priests!"

This plea from a missionary bishop in Japan touched the hearts of the mother and daughter who received it - in 1889.

Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard responded immediately, collecting funds to support the young men in Japan who had heard the call to follow Jesus as priests and to help the bishop admit even more students to the seminary.

In doing this, the Bigards established the Society of St. Peter Apostle - now a Pontifical Mission Society just like the Propagation of the Faith - to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the missions.

Instrumental support

Time and again, over more than a century, young mission priests could join with Abraham in saying, as he said, "I could not have done it without you and I remember you every day in my eucharistic celebration."

In recent years, such support has been instrumental in helping some 1,7000 mission seminarians a year to be ordained to the priesthood.

Christ is also calling men and women to follow him and to serve the poor as sisters or brothers. Each year, close to 10,000 religious novices, men and women, spend a special time of spiritual formation as they prepare for their lifetime of service in pastoral work or social work, in teaching or health care, as contemplatives.

Through the Propagation of the Faith/St. Peter Apostle, support must be provided every year for the benefit of all mission seminarians and novices. Typical help for a seminarian's education is $700 a year; for sister and brother novices' spiritual formation, $300.

'Link of love'

Might we interest you in helping? While you would not know by name the young person whose vocation you help support, you would be sure of many prayers offered for you, even as you pray for the seminarians and novices of the world.

And in your "link of love," you will make a world of difference: to a future priest . . . to a future sister or brother . . . to the worldwide mission of Jesus.

Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer is director of the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of Madison. Contributions to the Propagation of the Faith may be made at the parish or may be sent to: P.O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983.

Coaching lesson: Receive while giving

		Common-day  Spirituality  Mary Rose  Remington

Last spring, my husband Greg came home with an odd smirk on his face after signing up our 10-year-old son for summer tennis.

"How did registration go?" I asked suspiciously. "Fine," he responded. "I signed you up to coach."

"You did what? I screamed. "You're joking, right?"

No, he wasn't joking and yes, I was now official coach for The Nets, my son's tennis team.

Greg knew he was in the doghouse and tried to dig out with supportive words. "Relax, Mary. It'll be fun. You'll make a great coach. After all, you played tennis in college."

As a Catholic journalist committed to truth telling, I must provide a disclaimer: I attended the University of St. Thomas (previously an all-male college) the first year they accepted women. Any woman who owned a racket and could keep score made the women's tennis team.

Family support

My son boasted to everyone that his mom was coaching his team. For Mother's Day, my husband swung a deal on a new racket, my brother strung it and the program director eagerly loaded my car trunk with coaching paraphernalia: team roster, phone numbers, first aid kit, balls, metal ball hopper, coaching manual, and team T-shirts.

It seemed that everyone but me was excited. As I contemplated the time commitment (practice every Monday and Wednesday night, tournaments every Saturday) I anticipated major losses: loss of sleep, reduced income, fewer family dinners, and zero free time.

I didn't trust I had the time, talent, or energy to coach. Yet miraculously the tennis season evolved into a kind of loaves and fishes theme. The more I coached, the higher my energy level soared. Time appeared to expand, allowing me to cover home, career, and coaching responsibilities.

Although none of my players are quite ready for Wimbledon, everyone improved, had fun, and can keep score. Truthfully, I loved coaching! Just don't tell my husband: he still thinks he owes me.

While the kids learned backhands, forehands, and serves, I picked up a spiritual lesson of my own. It is in giving, that we receive.

Winners, not losers

The eight-week season has already ended and instead of counting losses, I'm adding up my winnings:

• More time with my son

• Legitimate excuse to work less

• Regular exercise and fresh air

• New friendships, plus a free T-shirt

• Chance to slurp ice-cold popsicles on hot summer nights

• Got reacquainted with a sport I enjoy

• Lots of laughs

• The joy of contributing to a child's self-esteem

• Appreciation from parents and kids

Mother Teresa was quoted in The Joy in Loving, "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money - money is not enough. I would like more people to give their hands to serve and their hearts to love."

In the weeks ahead, let your hands serve and your heart love all God's children. Your reward will come in heaven, on earth, maybe even on the tennis court!

Mary Rose Remington, a member of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Eagan, Minn., is a writer, career coach, and speaker.