Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Saturday, October 12, 2002 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Spring Green Sunday, October 13, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. James Parish, Madison 4:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Rite of Conferring the Ministry of Reader for Diaconate Candidates, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, October 17, 2002 7:00 p.m. -- Preside at Evening Prayer, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Saturday, October 12, 2002 4:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Mary Help of Christians Parish, Briggsville Sunday, October 13, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Aloysius Parish, Sauk City 4:00 p.m. -- Concelebrate at Celebration of the Eucharist, Rite of Conferring the Ministry of Reader for Diaconate Candidates, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, October 17, 2002 7:00 p.m. -- Attend Evening Prayer and St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Respect Life Sunday

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

Following is the text of Bishop Bullock's address given on Respect Life Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.

My dear brothers and sisters, Respect Life Sunday always invites us to look forward to what is still ahead and yet to look back in review of all the good we have done.

"As a Church, we are to be 'consistent' in our defense of human life as Pope John Paul II calls us to be in his encyclical The Gospel of Life."

There is still work in the vineyard that needs to be done yet and we remember with appreciation the 30 Respect Life Sundays that have passed our way before today, Oct. 6, 2002. In a way, as a pilgrim Church, this is the constant message of the Church, to move forward, in faith, in life, in action; yet, remain connected with those who move us forward.

People of life

We are a people of life because we are the result of the creative power of a living God, and do not ever forget that we have been so for the long haul! Those persons who have kept the pro-life movement alive and active over many years past deserve our love, prayer, and appreciation. Their example spurs us to keep the value of human life alive and active today.

Seldom a day goes by that I do not reflect on the witness of Mother Teresa for a great example of what it means to be totally pro-life. It gives me new courage and moves me forward in action for life. Many of you among us today are beautiful witnesses to the value of human life. I love you for it.

Respect Life Sunday

The continuing clear purpose of Respect Life Sunday is to "restore respect and legal protection for every human life."

Our efforts to protect the weakest and most defenseless among us, those yet to be born, those who await the light of day, those who through illness or age are particularly vulnerable, those lives whom society judges to have no worth, are accomplished in such a way that respect for all human life increases. We are for life in all its stages and ages!

The Church's Respect Life Sunday invites us to reflect on a beautiful and abiding truth, that all persons have a value and dignity that come from God and are inalienable and can never be taken away. Among opponents to life, people of pro-choice and pro-abortion promote a culture of death in the name of freedom of choice. No one is free to take the life of another, especially a defenseless child in the womb.

Support culture of life

Life is beautiful in all its forms, and our realization of that means individually, in our families and friends, we support a culture of life. This truth is in turn life-giving and includes many, many Americans.

Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. All the lives killed by procured abortions, through assisted suicide, through terrorism, or by bombs or other weapons of mass destruction, are really and truly persons with rights and are truly loved by God. They possess dignity and value from God who created them in love.

The Church speaks clearly, consistently, and constantly, stating that direct attacks on innocent and defenseless civilians during war and terrorist acts targeting noncombatants must always be condemned. Our public stands in these areas - abortion, assisted suicide, war - are propelled by the truth of the value and dignity inherent in all human life.

Proclaiming that in a society where life positions are undervalued and often undermined is not easy. But "be not afraid." Jesus always goes before us, walks with us, and as the Footsteps in the Sand prayer says, "He carries us."

Promoting life

On this Respect Life Sunday, we can look to the image of the vineyard, to growth and good grapes. We can reflect it upon our own work for life as people of life, guarding, protecting, and promoting life. If, as we believe, God is the master of this vineyard, how does he read our stewardship? Are our roots and vines well tended? Do we give clear, bold witness without apology or harshness as people who believe in life?

Most of us gathered here today belong to some organization that works to protect life. Many such organizations work to stop threats to human life. We work against abortion, war, or capital punishment in an organized way, organized much like other interest groups that are called secular, that is, they are not part of the formal Catholic Church structure. Some endorse candidates and form political action committees (actions we do not take as a Church).

Such groups are invaluable in the work to end the threats to human life in our society. We need such groups to exist to carry out the vital work of changing public opinion, engaging in public advocacy, speaking out to legislators and media.

Such organizations can be focused, can mobilize people who feel strongly on specific issues. I am deeply thankful that the pro-life movement has been carried on by many such organizations in the decades since the Roe v. Wade decision of our U.S. Supreme Court.

Light of faith

In our Catholic efforts to protect life, we always keep before us the light of our faith. We keep looking to what is appropriate for us to do as Church and we keep looking on the broad threats to life that exist in our fast moving world of today.

As Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World of Vatican II teaches, the task of the Church "is at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human person" (76).

Being consistent

As a Church, we are to be "consistent" in our defense of human life as Pope John Paul II calls us to be in his encyclical The Gospel of Life. We stand on and act out of a consistent ethic of life. It is my prayer and hope that this consistency invites and propels many to get involved in being good stewards in the vineyard and invites and propels us together to be a people of life and a people for life.

As a Church, we can join in the teaching in today's reading, something that might sound wildly optimistic in our secular venues. As a Church, we can say "have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

As all of us look back on the years of work in the vineyard that have passed and the work to be done, I pray that all of us may be given "the peace of God that surpasses all understanding." This peace must guard your hearts and minds in the years yet to come.

God bless each of you.

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

Rev. Randy J. Timmerman, as Chaplain, Knights of Columbus University of Wisconsin Catholic Center Council #6568, effective October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2003.

Rev. Michael E. Klarer in addition to Pastor, St. Victor Parish, Monroe, as Administrator, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Brodhead, and St. Patrick Parish, Albany, effective October 7, 2002.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General