Chris Lee

To the editor:

I can’t tell you how many times lately people have approached me expressing a desire to become more actively involved in defending life. Many are new to Pro-Life Wisconsin and even more have been supporters for years but now feel compelled to get out and do more hands-on work.

Our True to Life Media Campaign — combined with recent rallies, prayer vigils, and numerous reports of babies saved — has sparked renewed interest in public witness, prayer, and sidewalk counseling at local abortion mills. For this reason, Pro-Life Wisconsin will host the third of three sidewalk counseling workshops on October 10 in Oshkosh at A Place 2 B. This is a critical training opportunity for all sidewalk counselors and prayer warriors.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Focusing on rural life: Listening sessions planned


	St. Lawrence Church in Jefferson is the site of one of the rural life listening sessions. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner)

MADISON — Catholic Charities’ new Rural Life Office will be holding listening sessions throughout the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.

“It will be an opportunity to help address the needs with rural pastors and work shoulder-to-shoulder with the farm community,” said Brian Cain, executive director of Catholic Charities (CC).

Tom Nelson, coordinator of the CC Rural Life Office, said there is a great need “to listen across the 11 counties to the many concerns and challenges of farmers and farm families and all those who are impacted by the financial crisis across all segments of agriculture in our area.”

Need for food

With an ever-increasing worldwide need for food, Nelson said “it is alarming to watch the continuous eroding of our farming base across the bread/corn basket of our nation as farmers lose their family farms to financial failure, all the while being more productive than ever before.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Prayer and action urged on health care reform

MADISON — A group of concerned citizens in the Diocese of Madison is urging prayer and action to assure that national health care reform legislation respects the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.

“For the sake of babies, the chronically ill, the developmentally disabled, the frail elderly, and the American people if life-ending measures are included in governmental policies, we are urging people to pray for the Precious Blood of Jesus to pour over our nation and this effort,” said Deacon Jack Fernan of Madison, one of the organizers of the effort.

Take a retreat to plan for marriage

I remember when my wife and I became engaged what great fun it was to go to the department stores and put together our gift registry. In fact, the greatest gifts I received (I mean, we!) were three different grills! I ended up returning them all and getting the daddy of all grills – what a gift!

Now that we just passed our 16th wedding anniversary, and the gas grill rusts on the back porch, I realize that there were other gifts far more important than the grills. In fact, perhaps the most meaningful gift was attending a weekend retreat for engaged couples before our wedding.

My wife and I had talked about many, many things during our dating relationship — I didn’t think there could be much more to discuss. But the opportunity to focus only on us — for a full weekend led by married couples sharing their own experiences and the wisdom of the Church — would have a far greater impact on our marriage than I realized at the time. In fact, I credit that experience for the ongoing success of our marriage.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

We should pass meaningful health care reform

To the editor:

The recent debate about health care reform is very important for ALL Americans. The path we are now on is not sustainable in future years. Already we pay $700 BILLION a year on health care which does not cover all Americans, can bankrupt middle class families who face a serious illness, and is very expensive for many Americans.

I am concerned because many representatives and senators in the Congress are in the pockets of very powerful lobbies (AMA, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, and hospitals). These lobbies provide them with money to run their very expensive campaigns.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Plan should not include tax dollars for abortions

To the editor:

I understand that Mr. Obama’s “health care plan” includes the mandatory use of tax dollars for abortions-upon-demand. This is NOT an acceptable provision for many (perhaps a majority) of Americans, including this voting citizen and everyone I can contact.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Governor, legislature failed to pass responsible budget

To the editor:

I believe John Huebscher’s State Budget 2009 article was politically motivated and does not belong on the pages of the Catholic Herald. The positive attitude this article bestows on the Democrats who control the governor’s office and legislature I also believe is unwarranted.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Pro-life work needs backing of clergy of all faiths

To the editor:

As long as homilists in all religions avoid instructing the laity on the evils and horrors of abortion, the pro-abortion forces will dominate and control pro-life forces.

On August 27, 2009

Chris Lee

Buscando una reforma ética de salud

Queridos amigos,

El Obispo de Sioux City (Iowa), Monseñor Walker Nickless, ha expresado muy claramente la enseñanza de nuestra Iglesia en cuanto a la reforma de salud (sus observaciones están a continuación). Es urgente que lean esto, considerando que aún no existe una ley, como tal, en el Congreso de Estados Unidos.

On August 20, 2009

Chris Lee

New Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute

First in a series

MADISON — This fall, the Diocese of Madison’s Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) is starting the new Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute (SOWDI), a program of catechetical certification and adult faith formation in the diocese.

The first course in the institute will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Cathedral Parish of St. Raphael at St. Patrick Church in Madison.

To clarify and improve the effectiveness of diocesan catechetical efforts, the OEC hopes to unify the missions of what was previously referred to as the Diocesan Lay Institute and the current Formation of Religious Education Ministers by subsuming both into the “umbrella” of the SOWDI.