Bulletin Board with News and Events

Christians naturally are Pro-Life people. Christianity affirms life over death, that death can never be the final word in a Christian lifetime. The Resurrection is victory of life and the defeat of death. The term “Pro-Life”, however, has evolved into the rubric under which disciples of Christ argue the sanctity of life in the womb. Catholics always and everywhere have declared that a human being exists from the moment of her or his conception. At the Annunciation, the angel announced Jesus’ conception to Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist’s conception was revealed as holy. Mary herself is the Immaculate Conception, a dogma of the Catholic Church. Scriptural revelation presents other examples of God’s loving plan evolving from the moment of a key figure’s conception. However, hasn’t modern science changed the definition of life’s beginning? If science does have a harmonious, persuasive voice in proclaiming an alternative beginning of human life, I have not heard it. Still, let’s never accept simply a definition of life’s beginning by default. It seems that both Scripture and tradition have bowed to conception and the entirety of gestation as lifted by God, as blessed by God.

On Monday, January 22, we will mark the 34th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that led to legal abortions for any reason and throughout all nine months of pregnancy in every one of the United States. In 2004, more than 22,000 abortions took place. Where? Across America? No. Those 22,000 abortions of conceived children were legally performed during a single year just in Cook and Lake Counties in northeast Illinois – the territory of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. For 34 years, we have lived in a nation where human life unable to protect itself has been eliminated under the “protection” of law. For 34 years, the Catholic Church and other children of God who see the tragedy of abortion have been insulted by those who contend that our position is simply one opinion at best, old fashioned in a modern age, anti-feminine by the doctrinaire, and inconvenient at worst. Headlines commonly trumpet with dismay that “US Bishops Still Oppose Abortion” as if successors to Apostles could do otherwise. In our time, freedom of choice trumps the sacred declaration that life begins at conception and that vulnerable pre-born must be protected by a civilized people.

In 2001, the General Instructions of the Roman Missal, a liturgy book approved by Rome, stated that “in all dioceses of the [USA], January 22 shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.”

From Chicago, hundreds of Catholics, including Holy Name Cathedral Associate Pastor Father Paul Stein and Francis Cardinal George will participate in rallies to be held in Washington, D.C. A special Mass will be celebrated in our nation’s capital on Monday. At Holy Name Cathedral, I ask all celebrants to be aware of the significance of this historical anniversary and to pray that the United States of America realize the horror we promote in allowing abortion the legal status in our nation. We join all people of Christian life in prayer Monday, a day of penance. I myself promise to spend one hour in prayer, asking Christ to forgive my country for this great injustice. I am a very proud American. However, I am ashamed of our public position on the definition of human life. I will pray Monday for Christ to forgive the United States and to convert our public stance. Will you do something similar? It is Pope Benedict XVI who offered the truth, “Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.” Jesus said, “It was not you who loved me; it was I who loved you.” We pray for those loved even before birth, especially those whose place in our world is not acknowledged by a tragic American law.

Wednesday, January 24, will mark the second anniversary of the death of Father Bob McLaughlin, my predecessor, the 8th pastor of the Cathedral. Father McLaughlin proudly served here as a new priest, as a resident during his tenure at Quigley Seminary North, and as the successor as pastor to his mentor, Bishop Timothy Lyne, from 1990-2002. He was a priest of Chicago for nearly 39 years. Father McLaughlin was a joyful part of the Cathedral’s history. While pastor of Mary Seat of Wisdom Church in northwest suburban Park Ridge, he died suddenly on the first day of a wintertime vacation. Always positive, always singing, always looking you right in the eyes, always attempting to be true, always smiling, Father Bob “Red” McLaughlin re-established Holy Name Cathedral as a premier parish with a complete structure of strong lay leadership, the introduction of skilled lay pastoral associates, a pride in the Cathedral’s role as model, and a notion that the best for Holy Name was yet to come. For me, he was my high school professor and a hero. Although he certainly found it difficult to hand over the Cathedral’s reins, he took care to be sure I realized what I was getting into 5 years ago. On this anniversary, I pray for my friend. If you knew Bob, I do not have to invite you to remember him in prayer. If you did not know him or did not share his interpretation of the Cathedral’s voice, pray today that we can appreciate our historical place and pray that we be faithful to what is divinely true. Now and always, Robby, rest in peace.

If you have not received it already, and if you were a previous contributor to the Annual Catholic Appeal, expect a letter from the Cardinal asking your support for the annual collection for so many programs offered by the Archdiocese for the benefit of all the parishes. Holy Name parish certainly benefits from the annual Catholic Appeal. We will pass a 2nd basket on February 10/11 for the Appeal. However, the contributions of our regular parishioners should certainly be more than the $5 in a normal 2nd collection. Your dollars will support ministry to the deaf, to firefighters, to families, to the engaged, to education for developmentally disabled children, to formation of deacons, to liturgical resources, to catechesis, and to ministries that identify our Church as Christian. The Annual Catholic Appeal is important. Hundreds of our parishioners support the Annual Catholic Appeal that identifies them as members of the Lumen Cordium Society, a group that serves through very generous gifts as the backbone of the Christian work the Archdiocese performs in the name of us all. The Lumen Cordium folks make the rest of us look very good. Holy Name folks are prominent in the Lumen Cordium Society. If you are interested in becoming one of those select stewards, give me a call. Or call Joe Konen at 312-573-4406. We will be happy to introduce you to that generous possibility.

Fr. Dan Mayall