Chris Lee

Over the last several weeks, the Office of Catholic Schools has been busy moving forward with Catholic Schools Planning.

Between May and July, over 300 people attended one of 12 task force meetings conducted at locations throughout the diocese. Each meeting began with prayer, a brief history of the process, and an explanation of our goal: to find ways to strengthen our Catholic schools throughout the diocese and ensure that they are “available, affordable, accessible,” and that they offer both an unparalleled faith formation and academic education to all students now and for generations to come.

Once the planning process was underway, participants considered the various challenges currently facing Catholic schools, shared opinions and experiences, brainstormed ideas, and discussed possible courses of action as we look for ways to strengthen our schools.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

Priest’s abuse case being sent to Vatican

MADISON — The members of the Diocese of Madison’s Sexual Abuse Review Board have, after a preliminary investigation into the testimonies and facts surrounding an allegation of child-sexual abuse made against Fr. Joseph Gibbs Clauder, found the allegation to be credible.

Considering the Review Board’s findings, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has agreed with their evaluation and has referred this case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), in Rome, for judgment.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

Economy drives demand for health care reform

In 1919, the U.S. bishops endorsed the idea that all Americans should have access to affordable health care. Ninety years later we are still waiting for that idea to be realized and our nation is engaged in a serious debate as to whether the vision of 1919 will finally come to pass.

In the short term, the outcome of the debate is in doubt. Thoughtful people have raised legitimate concerns about the cost of the program and the proper balance between the public and private sectors. And no plan can include abortion in any package of mandated benefits and issues.

But in the long term, the realities of the economic upheaval currently underway will make reform inevitable. For the trends in our society that make universal access to health care attractive are not going away.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

Assumption inspires us to follow Mary’s example

A priest asked a class of second graders, “How many of you want to go to Heaven?” Every little hand went up.

The priest responded, “How many of you want to be a saint?”

The children glanced at each other with puzzled looks. Most of them put their hands down.

“Well, boys and girls,” the priest said, “Since no one wants to be a saint, we have a problem. To get to Heaven, you must be saintly or Christ-like. So let me ask again, ‘How many of you want to be a saint?'”

Every hand quickly went up! The priest’s hand joined their hands.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

Archbishop right on nuclear weapons

To the editor:

As we commemorate the horrors of nuclear war and the deaths of thousands of civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, it is particularly hopeful to hear Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore (former Archbishop for the Military Services) speak on Catholic social teaching regarding nuclear weapons and their use as deterrents.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

Archbishop right on nuclear weapons

To the editor:

As we commemorate the horrors of nuclear war and the deaths of thousands of civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, it is particularly hopeful to hear Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore (former Archbishop for the Military Services) speak on Catholic social teaching regarding nuclear weapons and their use as deterrents.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

End-of-life options should be offered

To the editor:

I want to comment on the end-of-life options provision in the House bill H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

On August 13, 2009

Chris Lee

La Solemnidad de la Asunción de María

Queridos amigos,

Mientras les escribo esta columna nos vamos preparando para la Solemnidad de la Asunción de María nuestra Santa Madre, quien “habiendo completado el curso de su vida terrena, fue asunta en cuerpo y alma a la gloria celestial”, como escribiera el Papa Pío XII en la Constitución Apostólica Munificentissimus Deus.

La Solemnidad de la Asunción es un testamento no solo del tremendo amor que Dios le tiene a la Madre Bendita, sino también un poderoso recordatorio del amor que Jesucristo ha mostrado por todos nosotros, al conquistar la muerte mediante Su propia muerte.

On July 31, 2009

Chris Lee

Tener en cuenta la dignidad humana en la reforma sanitaria

Queridos amigos,

Gracias a Dios y gracias a ustedes, mis hermanos sacerdotes, diáconos, a nuestras hermanas religiosas y a toda nuestra familia diocesana por su apoyo y oraciones durante estos días. Mi periodo de descanso por la arritmia cardiaca casi llega a su término. Espero con ansias ordenar a nuestros tres nuevos sacerdotes de la Sociedad de Jesucristo Sacerdote, para nuestra diócesis, este viernes. Con las ordenaciones, este día será de gran alegría para mí y, Dios mediante, le hará bien a mi corazón. Sin embargo, debo decir, estoy especialmente contento por estar de vuelta con esta ocasional forma de comunicación.

On July 30, 2009

Chris Lee

Diocese to have four new priests serving its people

MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino joyfully announces the ordination of Deacons John Patrick Blewett, Osvaldo Briones Césped, and George Alexander Navarro Sáenz, all members of the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest, to the Sacred Order of Priests, this Friday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m., at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.

Through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration these three men will be ontologically transformed into priests, called to attend no longer to their own concerns, but to those of Christ and to those of the people of God.