'Gospel of Life':
Pope calls us to build culture of life, says speaker

	Philosophical roots: Of culture of death MADISON -- In Evangelium Vitae Pope John Paul II also tries to find philosophical roots of the problem of the culture of death, Dr. Janet E. Smith said in her presentation at the O'Connor Center. First, we have a distorted view of freedom, thinking that freedom is being able to do whatever we want whenever we want. But if you talk to those addicted to drugs or alcohol, they do not feel free, she said. "They feel enslaved to their passions." Freedom really means "freedom to do what is good." Modern skepticism says all opinions are equal. But there is such a thing as truth, said Smith. "Christ is the splendor of truth: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.'" Further differences The pope illustrates further differences between the modern view and Christian truth. In the modern view, man is sovereign over all, suffering is useless, and there is no life after death. In the Christian view, God is sovereign over all, suffering has redemptive value, and man has an eternal destiny with God. "If we don't believe we're in God's world, we won't know how to behave," said Smith. Pope John Paul II says what were crimes in the 1960s now are considered rights. Not just highly developed animals People think that human beings are just highly developed animals, but each human has an immortal soul created by God, said Smith. "God creates every soul individually," she said. "God does something when he makes a soul: He makes something out of nothing. God says, 'Yes, I want you to exist.'" Contraception, then, is a barrier to God. "The culture of life, Pope John Paul II says, is the fact we're called to eternal life. We have to return to that life," she said.
	News Briefs: Catholic women deanery meetings Columbia Deanery PORTAGE -- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish's Women's Club will host the Columbia Deanery meeting Thursday, April 22, here. Theme is "Hands Across the Border." Registration is at 4:30 p.m. followed by concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. New officers will be installed. After dinner the program will be presented by Sr. Lois Bush, senior vice president for Ministry Health Care. Jenni Sevenich will speak about migrant farm workers in area communities. Business meeting will follow. Those attending are asked to bring personal items for the migrant clinic. Reservations are due April 17 to Catharine O'Brien, N8698 Dolgner Rd., Pardeeville, WI 53954. Cost is $9. East Dane Deanery EAST BRISTOL -- Thursday, April 29, is the East Dane Deanery meeting. St. Joseph Parish here will host. Theme is "Kindling our Faith Through Mission." Registration is at 5:15 p.m. followed by rosary and concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt as homilist. New officers will be installed. Following dinner and business meeting, Wendy Damm, who has made trips to Haiti on medical missionary work, will discuss her experiences. Money will be collected for medical supplies for her next trip. Reservations are due April 19 to Diane Maertz, 1900 Weber Dr., Sun Prairie, WI 53590. Cost is $7. West Dane Deanery MT. HOREB -- "Women Walking With Christ" is the theme of the West Dane Deanery meeting Friday, April 30. St. Ignatius Parish here along with Holy Redeemer Parish, Perry, will host the event. Registration is at 8:15 a.m. followed by business meeting and election of officers. Judy Bernard will direct the comedy-drama play, Unthank. Concelebrated Mass will be offered with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt as homilist. New officers will be installed. Lunch will be followed by living rosary. Reservations are due April 23 to Wendy Boelkes, 10160 Fertile Ridge Rd., Mt. Horeb, WI 53572. Cost is $8. Those attending are asked to bring gently used or new shoes for men, women, and children for the Catholic Multicultural Center. Offertory collection will be given to the building fund of the Sisters of the Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac. Presentation by Maryknoll priest WISCONSIN DELLS -- Maryknoll Father Leo B. Shea, director of mission promotion of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, will speak at a reception on Sunday, April 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chula Vista Resort here. He will discuss Maryknoll's 100 years of mission work around the world and new initiatives for the future. The complimentary reception is hosted by the Kaminski family. Those interested in attending should RSVP to Shirley and Fred Kaminski, phone 608-253-6554 or write to P.O. Box 30, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Adoption picnic May 1 MIDDLETON -- All adoptive families are invited to a free picnic and adoption celebration on Saturday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeview Park in Middleton. The celebration is sponsored by the Post Adoption Resource Center and Catholic Charities. Register by April 26. Call 608-833-4800 or 888-485-7385 or e-mail erinwilson@tds.net Latin American Mission Program MADISON -- The fourth Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) training class will be held Sunday, April 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St., Madison. Former volunteers will talk about their teaching experiences. For further information write LAMP, P.O. Box 85, Madison, WI 53701-0085, or call 608-845-7028, 608-543-3631, or 608-868-7816. Blood drive April 28 SINSINAWA -- Sinsinawa Mound will host a blood drive Wednesday, April 28, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. For information, call 608-748-4411, ext. 869, or go to www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter
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By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- We must replace the "culture of death" in our society today with a "culture of life."

Dr. Janet E. Smith, chair of Life Issues at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Mich., shared this message in her talk on Pope John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life) at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison on April 12. Smith's talk was part of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux lecture Series.

During vespers before the talk, Bishop Robert C. Morlino thanked Smith for her presence and called her a "first-class theologian."

Smith also spoke to 200 University of Wisconsin-Madison students and to diocesan priests during the Clergy Day of Sanctification the same day.

Culture of death

In Evangelium Vitae the pope said the problem we have in our society is the culture of death. "He means we choose to use death as a solution to problems," Smith explained.

In Evangelium Vitae Pope John Paul II examines the manifestations of the culture of death, including contraception and abortion.

"Contraception and abortion are fruit of the same tree," she said, because contraception leads to casual, recreational sex and emphasizes that the pleasure of sexuality is more important than the life resulting from it.

"Every country in the world has had laws against abortion and now every country (except two or three) changed its laws because of contraception," said Smith, pointing out that people think they need abortion because of failed contraception and contraceptive lifestyles.

In vitro fertilization is one cause of abortion because four eggs are fertilized at a time, but only one is carried to term.

"So we're creating life but killing children for the sake of one being born," noted Smith.

Overpopulation myths

Another aspect of the culture of death is the belief that the world is overpopulated.

What people don't realize is that the world's population could fit into Texas and everyone could have 1,300 square footage per person, Smith said.

You need to reassure children you're glad they're here on earth, said Smith.

The reason people think the world is overpopulated is because in 1750 there were a half billion people in the world; in 1950 there were two billion people: it took 200 years for the world population to quadruple; then in 2000 the population was six billion: in a 50-year period, the world population tripled.

"So the population controllers say the world population will triple every 50 years," said Smith, but the United Nations says by 2050, the population will be eight billion, by 2100 it will be 10 billion, and then by 2150, it will be 10.5 billion, going up by only .5 billion.

When Smith was in Africa, she apologized for First World countries because their answer to every need -- whether it's disease, hunger, homelessness, or joblessness -- is contraception.

Money goes toward contraception in these countries, but contraception does not change the fact that sick people need medicine, hungry people need food, homeless people need shelter, and jobless people need jobs, she said.

"The culture of death stems from selfishness," she said.

Euthanasia, death penalty

Another sign of the culture of death is euthanasia.

"All of a sudden we have to kill people who are dying," Smith said.

"Pope John Paul II says one of the saddest things is it's health care professionals who are doing these things," said Smith, noting that something has gone "topsy-turvy" when health care professionals advance the culture of death.

Capital punishment also illustrates the culture of death. Pope John Paul II said we can take care of criminals without killing them, she said.

"John Paul II wants us to build a civilization of life and love," said Smith, pointing out that man has always been killing one another since the days of Cain and Abel.

But now Pope John Paul II says it's relatives, doctors, mothers, and children who are doing the killing.

"We despair of life. We choose death as a way of coping," said Smith.

Look to Christ

To fight the culture of death and build up the culture of life, the pope says we must look at Christ, said Smith.

"Christ said, 'Keep the Commandments. Come follow me,'" she said. "Give your life toward supporting life."

Christ reveals man to himself as teacher, reconciler, obedient son, just judge/peacemaker, and self-giver.

Smith said in his Theology of the Body Pope John Paul II says our very natures reveal that we are meant to love one another.

In contrast, the modern view of man is that of a pleasure seeker, consumer, individual, relativist, and skeptic.

A prevalent view today is that "fun" is the most important thing in life. But, said Smith, the most important thing is to contribute meaning in reaching out to other human beings.

Catholic women: 'Sharing the Vision' at state conference

By Dorothy Lepeska
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin Council of Catholic Women (WCCW) and the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women are jointly sponsoring a spiritual experience for all Catholic women in the state Friday, April 30, to Saturday, May 1. It will be held at the Cousins Center, 3501 S. Lake Dr., here. The theme is "Sharing the Vision."

Registration on Saturday is at 8 a.m. The opening session will feature the keynote speaker, Fr. Thomas Brundage, associate publisher/executive editor of the Milwaukee Catholic Herald. His title is "Effects of Media on the Family."

The legislative session will follow with Assemblywoman Leah Vukmir, Waukesha, from the 14th District. A registered nurse as well as a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Vukmir has spent her career serving the needs of children and families while her professional activities focused on children's health issues as well as those involving K-12 educational policies.

Separate business meetings of each organization will follow.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan will preside at the concelebrated Mass at 11:15 a.m. A buffet lunch will be served at noon.

The afternoon program will include the humanities as well as an education session. Margaret Grabowski, a critical care registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital here, will address "Women's Health Issues." Steve, the Homer, True, host of The World's Greatest Sports Talk Show heard on WISN radio, Milwaukee, will talk on "Challenges and Changes in Today's Youth."

The spring board meeting of WCCW will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 30, at the Cousins Center. The combined conference banquet will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the center dining room preceded by a gathering at 5. Matt Wessel, a young composer, pianist, and vocalist, will present a program at 7.

Fees include: banquet, $20; Saturday conference, $25; overnight at the center - single, $35; double $60. Checks made out to WCCW should be sent to Catherine Jones, 3009 Glenhaven Pl., Eau Claire, WI 54703 by Saturday, April 17.

Those attending are asked to bring used religious articles for the missions as well as non-perishable food items for the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee.