Kevin Wondrash

Parish signing campaigns against the proposed Freedom of Choice Act are ongoing in our diocese. These campaigns also are allowing the people of the Diocese of Madison to voice their concerns related to second-trimester abortions performed at the Madison Surgery Center.

Finding the following comments from Mr. Joseph Collison, director of the pro-life office for the Diocese of Norwich, Conn., to be helpful, I want to share them with you by means of this column because the numbers are frightening.

Mr. Collison states that every fourth baby conceived in the United States is deliberately destroyed in our nation’s busy abortion businesses. Every day 3,500 developing babies are killed. Almost 1.5 million are killed every year. Our nation has the highest abortion rate in the Western world, and half of the American mothers seeking abortions have already aborted at least one child before.

On January 29, 2009May 20, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

‘A future pregnancy would be too risky’

Various medical conditions can affect a woman’s ability to carry a pregnancy and, at times, even threaten her and her child’s life.

Some of these conditions include pulmonary hypertension, Marfan’s syndrome, and certain congenital problems with the aorta. When a doctor informs a woman that she cannot become pregnant in the future without serious consequences to herself and her baby, having her tubes tied might seem to be the most appropriate response. Some would further argue that since the sterilization would be for “medical reasons,” it would be an “indirect sterilization” and therefore morally acceptable.

On January 29, 2009May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Reflections on inauguration and theme of hope

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I’m certain, I’ve watched, with interest, the events which occurred just over one week ago. Our country has witnessed a tremendously historic event with the inauguration of President Barack Obama — an event which speaks to the tremendous strides our country has made, even in my lifetime, in terms of racial equality. Though it has become cliché to say over recent weeks, there were times when no one in my generation could have dreamed that we would “see the day.”

On January 22, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Families must serve others

To know, love, and serve him in this life and to be happy with him forever in the next is why God made us. Family provides the environment in which knowing, loving, and serving God is made real.

As a matter of fact, the root meaning of the word family is servant. It is in the family where we are to learn how to be a servant. Our success has a direct relationship to finding meaning and purpose in life, to finding peace and happiness.

On January 22, 2009May 20, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Election reveals possibilities for great-grandson

Did you weep that night? November 4, 2008, was one of those times when every senior citizen in this country had to whisper, “Thank you, Lord, for letting me live to see this day when an African American has been elected president of the United States, the leader of the free world.”

Regardless of how one may have voted in this election, no one who had lived through witnessing President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 sign an order that would allow people of any color, race, or creed the right to vote, or who could recall the race riots and the separate drinking fountains and bus seats of the ’50s could possibly be unmoved by this drama.

On January 15, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Madison clinic considers performing midterm abortions

MADISON — Pro-life groups gathered outside the Madison Surgery Center on January 8 for a peaceful prayer rally organized by Madison Vigil for Life to protest newly revealed plans by University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (UWHC) to begin performing late-second trimester abortions at its jointly operated clinic in Madison

On January 15, 2009October 4, 2023

Kevin Wondrash

Fighting Freedom of Choice Act

Dear Friends,

By the time you are able to read this column, I will have begun my vacation in warmer climes. Bishop Bullock has taught me well how advisable it is to take vacation at this time of year, and, along with so many other good things, I am grateful to him for this particular important bit of wisdom. I beg your prayers that I will have health and safety during this time of vacation and, most importantly, grow in faith. This is the very same prayer that rises up from my heart for each one of you, each day.

You will find, below, a letter which I have sent to my brother priests with regard to a national effort which is being made in every diocese in the United States, spearheaded by Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chair of the Pro-Life Committee of our national bishops’ conference.

On January 8, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Placing our hands in God’s

Kings and presidents. We just celebrated one and soon will inaugurate another. Epiphany manifests the long awaited Messiah and King. January 20th points to a new political administration for our country. Time for a little history.

Years ago, a king’s servant would fold his hands and place them in the hands of the king. The king would pledge his protection of the servant if the servant would pledge to protect the king.

On December 25, 2008May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Joyful Christmas, new year’s blessings

Praised be Jesus Christ!

It’s my joy to wish you and your loved ones every blessing of Christmas and of this holiday season — blessings which will extend throughout the new year.

It’s a joyful time for all of us, even those of us who might be, for one or another reason, hurting. We are not dispensed from the call to be joyful at Christmas, because Christ our Savior is born, and He is the only true source of our hope and of light for our life.

On December 25, 2008May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Looking at the Code of Canon Law

Many of you know that my current priority focus is on our Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, of which I’ve now taken on personally the role of Director.

There has been little doubt for me, since even before I was ordained a priest, that we have, as a Catholic Church, been seriously lacking in our understanding of and teaching about the faith, for some time. With a string of recent events, it has been made even more clear than before that many of our truly faithful people are overdue for receiving a continually better catechesis than has been previously offered them. There is much work to be done in this area as a whole, and we priests and religious have a good many lay men and women ready and willing to collaborate in this area — though we need more!