Bishop's Schedule: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 11:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Sunday, March 2, 2008 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Stational Mass, St. Patrick Church, Madison Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Preside at Vespers service and speak on "end of life" issues, Barneveld Thursday, March 6, 2008 5:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Mass and speak to Legatus Chapter of Northeast Wisconsin, De Pere

Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino There is no column by Bishop Robert C. Morlino this week.

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Editor's note: The following is a letter sent to all Wisconsin State legislators from all of the ordinaries of Wisconsin.

25 February 2008

Dear Members of the Wisconsin Legislature,

The important issue of emergency contraception for rape victims is addressed by AB 377, which is pending in our state legislature at this moment. This topic came once again to our serious attention at the recent meeting of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, and our conversations yielded certain results with which we all strongly agree.

Since we initially took our position of neutrality, we have never wanted to yield on any of three commitments:

1) compassionate care for women who suffer the tragedy of rape,

2) compassion toward a child, a unique human being with unique DNA, who might have been conceived as a result of that rape and,

3) compassionate concern for all who might be involved in making decisions about emergency contraception, especially our physicians and healthcare workers - their consciences in this matter must be protected.

The laws of biology and reason, as well as the teaching of the Catholic Church, make clear that compassionate care of women who have suffered the tragedy of rape includes emergency contraception. But, should conception have already occurred, "emergency contraception" can become abortifacient and, in this instance, our compassionate care for a child possibly conceived stands alongside our compassionate care for the woman who was raped. Emergency contraception can, at times, amount to abortion, and both reason and our faith tell us that this is never acceptable. About this we must be very clear.

Unfortunately, our position of neutrality has created the impression, in the minds of some, that we are waffling on the pro-life stance that is so basic to human reason, to our American civil rights tradition, and to our faith. This misinterpretation of our stance and its intent has been furthered by the public support of our position of neutrality by Planned Parenthood and the so-called Catholics for a Free Choice, both of whom are pro-abortion and have argued against conscience protection in this particular instance. Construing our initial position of neutrality to be virtually one of support for the passage of this bill could not be farther from the truth.

Nor did our position of neutrality dispense any legislator from properly forming his or her conscience with regard to a vote on this bill, nor from following that well-formed conscience. We want to be completely clear: a well-formed conscience certainly can lead a legislator to oppose this bill and, if you choose to do so, you will enjoy our complete support.

At this important moment we also want to pledge our prayerful support to physicians and health care workers, with the promise that we will stand strongly beside them in the future should the effects of emergency contraception legislation ever threaten the freedom of conscience which belongs to every human person as foundational to his or her religious liberty.

During these last days of determining the disposition of emergency contraception legislation before the end of your current session, please know that you have our prayers for the burden you carry, in terms of protecting the common good, and our respect for your willingness to accept that serious responsibility which is yours. We remain very grateful for your consideration of these, our latest reflections, in this particular matter.

Sincerely yours,

The Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Green Bay

The Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki
Bishop of La Crosse

The Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison

The Most Rev. Peter F. Christensen
Bishop of Superior

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Three years ago, when the tsunami struck Asia, claiming more than 200,000 lives, I asked you, my generous brothers and sisters, to do what you could for these newly orphaned, newly homeless, newly destitute people. You responded with overwhelming generosity, as did Catholics across the country.

With pleasure, I am able to report to you that your donations to Catholic Relief Services did indeed provide for the immediate needs of food, water, and shelter. However, with your support, Catholic Relief Services did more. CRS is, in fact, still in the three countries hardest hit by the tsunami: India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Knowing that a disaster of such proportions would require a recovery of equal proportion, CRS has continued in its effort to help communities re-build, with houses, bridges, hospitals, and most of all, with heartfelt compassion.

I recall the victims of the recent tsunami as an example of what donations to Catholic Relief Services can achieve, but our annual collection for CRS does far more than provide relief to our brothers and sisters in Asia, great though that need is. This collection provides for men, women, and children both abroad and here at home - those who are hungry, thirsty, ill, without clothes, in prison, or strangers. And in our compassionate care for these, the "least of our brothers," we are helped to see Jesus in disguise.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. provides legal services to programs representing poor immigrants. It focuses on bringing families back together and protecting those fleeing from persecution or civil unrest. Those who speak another language might be Jesus in disguise.

The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops resettles refugees, reaches out to victims of human trafficking, and provides care to many newcomers. Several other major efforts are funded from this one collection including Justice, Peace, and Human Development, the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and The Holy Father's Relief Fund to assist victims of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Each of these efforts combines our strengths, our abilities to share and helps us reach out to each person who might be Jesus in disguise.

Be as generous as you can be during this Lenten season. We are called to deepen our prayer life, to fast, and to give alms. I pray that your journey during these 40 days helps you encounter Jesus in disguise in your own life.

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of the Diocese of Madison

Appointment

Msgr. Donald J. Heiar, Jr., Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, announces the following appointment, effective immediately: Fr. Herbert Schmidt has been assigned as Chaplain at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home, Janesville, WI. Reverend Monsignor Donald J. Heiar, Jr. Vicar General