Going for the real gold

It is always exciting to watch athletes from around the world competing in the Olympics. The 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, have gotten off to a rousing start (the U.S. win in the men's 4x100 meter freestyle swimming relay was especially fun to watch).

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

But as I've been watching the Olympics, I've been thinking about another recent youth event: World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney, Australia. That international gathering of almost 400,000 young Catholics did not garner as much media coverage as the Olympics.

But the young people at WYD were in training, too. However, instead of a gold medal, these Catholic youth are going after the ultimate prize: eternal life in heaven.

Committed to their faith

Like elite athletes, Catholic youth have to be committed to their quest. They must be educated in their faith and keep in training through prayer, attendance at Mass, and participation in the sacraments. They should live out their faith in love and service to others.

While athletes often have to be disciplined in diet and exercise, faithful young people must also be disciplined spiritually to resist temptations such as alcohol, drugs, or violent or immoral behavior.

Finishing the spiritual race

Being in solidarity with other Catholic youth is important to their spiritual development. World Youth Day offered the opportunity for Catholic youth to join together with others like them from around the world. And above all, they were energized to be in the presence of the Holy Father, the ultimate "coach" on their spiritual journey to heaven.

While we admire the Olympic athletes, we know medals won on earth will be of no use after we die. In this year of St. Paul, we recall his words in his second letter to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Let's encourage all young people - especially at the start of a new school year - to train to keep the faith and go for the ultimate gold. It's something all of us can strive for, no matter what our age.

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald 702 S. High Point Rd. Madison, WI 53719-3522 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Bishops, priests must stand strong for truths of faith

To the editor:

For 40 years we have walked through the desert of sin of not following the guidance of our popes in the teaching of Humanae Vitae.

Most decided to do as they felt right and not follow the special guidance our Lord gave the Church through the pope. Even bishops and priests followed this route to keep from losing church members.

Yet we lost church membership because we took this approach to everything in our faith. Do as we think is best. Sin blinds us and soon things seem right that go against the true faith.

Bishop Morlino and some priests have been put through a lot because they have seen and taught the truth of the faith. May they continue to stand strong no matter what others write about them as being wrong and continue to stand up for the true teachings of our faith that is guided through the pope and not what the majority in the Church may think.

Dale Lawinger, Mineral Point

Scriptures offers insights on reaction to teachings

To the publisher and editor:

Thank you for your coverage of the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae and the sanctity of marriage and human life. And congratulations to you, Bishop Morlino, on your fifth anniversary as bishop of Madison.

The reactions to the teachings made known through Pope Paul VI and Bishop Morlino and other successors of the Apostles remind me of the following teachings of Jesus and other passages in the Gospels.

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you" (John 15:12).

"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).

And of His Mother, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it" (Luke 11:28).

After Jesus began baptizing, people questioned John the Baptist, who said, "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom" (John 3:29).

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

I am encouraged to share the following thoughts.

As citizens of the United States of America, we believe there are inalienable rights, and we sustain a Constitution established for ourselves and our posterity.

Let us declare it a self-evident truth that people have a right to believe that artificial contraception and homosexuality reflect child-making disorientations.

Let us frequently pray that all people will receive and work with God's grace and forgiveness, especially the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation, for healing and for help with all forms of child-making disorientations.

May God pour out His Holy Spirit upon the whole Church and the whole world and guide us in His Love, Truth, Justice, and Mercy.

Sincerely yours in Christ, with Our Lady and all the saints,

John Francis Scott, Madison

Conscience must be obeyed in moral decisions

To the editor:

In a recent Catholic Herald article that explored the topic of Conscience Formation, our bishop was quoted as having said, "God is the source of truth and Pope Paul teaches the truth (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.) To follow my conscience is to follow the truth."

These statements imply 1) that the pope is always "locked-on" to the truth, and 2) that a Catholic must therefore always make moral decisions based on papal teachings. I would like to offer another lens through which to view Conscience Formation.

1) The hierarchy of our Church does its best to inform us on matters of morality, but stumbles at times. The classic example is Galileo, arrested by Church authorities for teaching "heresy," when, in fact, he was correct in stating that the earth revolves around the sun. We must keep in mind that even the pope may not always be "locked-on" to the truth.

2) When he was still known as Fr. Joseph Ratzinger, our pope wrote the following in a commentary on the encyclical Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World): "Above the pope, as an expression of the binding claim of Church authority, stands one's own conscience, which has to be obeyed first of all, if need be against the demands of Church authority." Father Ratzinger was saying that a well-formed conscience may not be in agreement with current papal teaching, but even so, conscience must be obeyed. #1790 of the Catholic Catechism also states that "A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If one were deliberately to act against it, one would condemn oneself."

Surely each of us must study the teachings that come from Rome with great respect. We must also prayerfully study Scripture for guidance. We must take into consideration the many years of tradition in our Church. We must even look to the wisdom that the secular and scientific worlds have to offer.

In the end, however, we must weigh all of these things as we look to the very depths of our souls to make moral decisions. This, I believe, reflects current Catholic thought on Conscience Formation.

Christine Thomas, Madison

Bishop, others are hanging on crosses with Jesus

To the editor:

Bishop Morlino came to Madison five years ago and said we are to "badger them lovingly with the Truth."

I was at that press conference. Not many other people were there.

Today the big news is who said what against him, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. How many people are attacking, opposing, dissenting, etc?

When we badger them lovingly with the Truth, we know we will be hanging on our cross with Jesus. Bishop Morlino and others are hanging on their crosses with Jesus.

Are you?

Thank you. God bless you.

Jeanne Breunig, Middleton

Coverage in secular media and debate healthy

To the editor:

Kudos to you on the editorial regarding Bill Wineke. Congratulations to Bishop Morlino on his fifth anniversary as the Bishop of Madison.

I feel fortunate to count Bill Wineke as a friend of 30 years. I find his columns to be both thought provoking and entertaining. As Catholics we should be happy that the Wisconsin State Journal thinks enough of the Catholic Church to devote as much ink as it does to it. Obviously we are a spiritual and social voice to be recognized and reckoned with.

As for the bishops and larger Church, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." I doubt very much if Bishop Morlino and the Church of Madison are going to shy away from the heat. To be criticized and reported on by the secular media speaks volumes as to our importance. Stop complaining about media bias and do as you are doing, respond. The debate is good and healthy.

Fr. Bill Connell, pastor
Holy Mother of Consolation, Oregon

Editorial on Bill Wineke was right on target

To the editor:

Your column "Who's our bishop? Not Bill Wineke" in the July 31 Herald was exhilarating! Wonderfully stated!

For some years now it's been my great pleasure for some time to exchange private e-mails with Mr. Wineke regarding his anti-Catholic columns in the Wisconsin State Journal.

I think one cause of his latest attack on our bishop may be due to his flawed understanding of the formation of a personal conscience and the duty of our Magisterium.

But your response was just beautiful . . . and hopefully only the first of many!

Let's pray for Bill Wineke . . . and continue to response in a teaching manner to him.

Best wishes to Bishop Morlino on his fifth anniversary!

Peggy Rakow, Madison

Give money saved on paper to help destitute children

To the editor:

We would like to commend Mary C. Uhler on her fine article in the July 31, 2008, issue of the Catholic Herald entitled "Who's our bishop? Not Bill Wineke!" We could never understand why Mr. Wineke was always so intent on harassing the Catholic Church nor why the Wisconsin State Journal, which claims to be a family newspaper, would condone such a policy.

Our solution to our frustration was to cancel our subscription to the State Journal. However, if people choose to do that, we would encourage them to do one more thing. As Christians we should all try to turn something that is harmful or evil into something that is good.

At the present time, a yearly subscription to the State Journal costs $247 per year. There are many outreach foster child care organizations that can provide housing and an education for destitute children in other countries for as little as $20 per month or $240 per year.

Think of all the good that could be accomplished if people that cancelled their yearly subscriptions to the State Journal would use that money to sponsor a child in one of these organizations. Think how much better our world could be!

Bob and Barb Pawelski, McFarland