Bishop Robert C. Morlino announced December 26 the appointment of Msgr. James R. Bartylla to the role of vicar general for the Diocese of Madison.
Day: January 14, 2010
Church role in policy debates protected by Constitution
Catholics are deeply involved in the debate over health care reform. Led by the bishops, acting through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholics have pressed three major points: 1) health care should be accessible to all; 2) abortion is not health care and government funds should not pay for it; and 3) immigrants should have access to health care.
These positions should surprise no one. The bishops have embraced the idea that all Americans should have access to affordable health care since 1919. And the bishops have consistently opposed funding abortion and supported humane policies for immigrants.
I thank God for calling me to be a priest
We celebrate Vocation Awareness week from January 10 to 16, 2010. I believe that priests, deacons, and religious can help Catholics to become more aware of vocations when they share their story. With this hope, I share these reflections on my journey to priesthood.
In this Year of the Priest, I thank God for calling me to serve as a priest for nearly 40 years. I believe that I am the luckiest person on the face of God’s good earth.
Medicine and the true cost of being in denial
Back in the early 1800s, most practicing physicians refused to believe that the simple gesture of washing their hands between patients could help prevent the spread of childbed fever among the pregnant women they examined.
Even in the face of compelling scientific evidence, they remained stubbornly opposed to the practice. As a result of this intransigence on the part of the medical establishment over a period of many years, childbed fever (also known as puerpural infection) ended up unnecessarily claiming the lives of thousands of young women.
Discovering God’s call
One of the major tasks of young adults is to discover God’s call. It is a process we all go through in one way or another.
Each of us has a unique call — one only we can answer. Discovering our call isn’t as easy as picking up the phone or texting a message to God or our pastor. It takes hard work to find out how God wants us to live our lives. We must take time for prayer and reflection that includes serious discernment.
Appointment (Jan. 14, 2010 edition)
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced the following appointment, effective immediately:
Health care reform
There is no question that our country is in need of health care reform. The bishops of the United States stand together and for years have been clear in encouraging the passage of a truly universal health policy — one which maintains a respect for human life and dignity, which provides access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of immigrants, and one which pursues the common good and preserves pluralism, including freedom of conscience and variety of options.
What are you doing to help ‘high risk’ babies killed by abortion?
To the editor:
Did you know that in this 21st century, with the latest modern medical technology, the majority of pre-born human babies are at “high risk?” At “high risk?” Yes, at “high risk.” It’s not from heart disease, diabetes, or any other treatable medical condition.
Many babies are at the “high risk” of never being born. I know this is hard to believe. Especially to each person who has held a newborn baby. Or who has seen the light in the eyes of the mother and father looking at their child/children.
From baptism to vocations
Several years ago, the United States Catholic Bishops changed the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week from October to the week beginning with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This usually occurs during the second week in January.
I remember wondering why the bishops made this change. Having this week soon after Christmas and close to Catholic Schools Week didn’t seem to make sense to me. (It is also a challenge to prepare special articles and coverage of vocations for the Catholic Herald right after the holidays, but we’ve learned to adjust!)