In Brief

Holy Father's Intentions

Pope John Paul II has announced the following general and missionary intentions for July and August 2001:

July

That the Gospel may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ.

That catechists and lay missionaries may not lack the necessary means for solid pastoral training.

August

That the awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations.

That the Church in China may be animated by the profound evangelical spirituality of contemplative life, reaching out toward China's great tradition.

New Catholic Video on Homosexuality-the Untold Story!

COURAGE, a spiritual support group for Catholics who experience same-sex attractions, has produced a two-part video that presents a perspective on homosexuality that is seldom heard in the media. "Portraits of Courage: Into the Light and Cry of the Faithful," released in June, profile 10 men and women who have renounced the gay and lesbian identity and have chosen to live chaste lives. Their testimonies, together with insight from psychologists and priests, shed light on this complex issue that is often misunderstood by the secular culture and Catholics alike. "For nearly an entire generation, the culture has been saturated with a pro-gay message that has distorted the reality of homosexuality," says Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, director of COURAGE. "But with this video, there will finally be a voice crying out in the wilderness that gives credibility to the Church's teachings on homosexuality and offers hope to men, women, and youth who are seeking answers to some of their most troubling questions." (Fr. Harvey has written for Lay Witness on this topic, see March '01 issue).

The video will be an eye-opener to those who believe that one is born gay. Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, a psychologist who has counseled men and women with same-sex attractions for 25 years, exposes common misperceptions about homosexuality and argues that a homosexual orientation has its origins in early family conflicts. For women, he believes that past abuse from men is often the cause. Male homosexuality, he finds most often results from incomplete male bonding, particularly father-son bonding but also peer-to-peer bonding. (Fitzgibbons contributed an article on this topic in the June '01 issue of Lay Witness).

COURAGE is a pontifically approved spiritual support group for Catholic men and women who experience same-sex attractions and strive to live chaste lives in accordance with the Church's teachings on homosexuality. Today there are 90 chapters worldwide. EnCourage, a sister group, offers help to parents, family members, and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions.

To obtain the videotape or for more information about COURAGE and EnCourage, write: National Courage Office, Church of St. John the Baptist, 210 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001; or call (212) 268-1010; or email NYCourage@aol.com.

Vatican's New Instruction On the Liturgy

The Holy See has issued a sweeping document aimed at the proper translation, publication, and implementation of texts used for the liturgy. Features include making sure the Mass is translated correctly; prohibiting wrongful attempts to foster inclusive language; prohibiting the paraphrasing or substitution of hymns for sung liturgical texts; and requiring the Holy See's approval before a proposed text may be published and implemented.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS) issued Liturgiam Authenticam, which Pope John Paul II ordered to be published and take effect April 25. The complete title is lengthy, yet self-explanatory: Fifth Instruction for the Right Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. In a press release, the Holy See stipulated that Liturgiam Authenticam "supersedes all norms previously set forth on liturgical translation, with the exception of those in the fourth Instruction [Varietates Legitimae], and specifies that the two Instructions should be read in conjunction with each other."

Regarding translations in general, the document provides, "While it is permissible to arrange the wording, the syntax and the style in such a way as to prepare a flowing vernacular text suitable to the rhythm of popular prayer, the original text, insofar as possible, must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without omissions or additions in terms of their content, and without paraphrases or glosses" (no. 20).

Regarding inclusive language in particular, the CDWDS guidelines include referring to God and the individual Persons of the Trinity as "He," and words "which are clearly masculine or feminine by virtue of the context," e.g., "brother" or "sister," "are to be maintained as such in the translation" (no. 310).

Within five years, bishops conferences around the world must submit for Congregation approval "a directory or repertory of texts intended for liturgical singing" (no. 108). In addition, within five years, the presidents of bishops conferences, as well as the leaders of religious orders and institutes, must submit to the Congregation "an integral plan regarding the liturgical books translated into the vernacular in their respective territories or institutes" (no. 132).

The faithful will see concrete changes sooner, though, because the new Roman Missal, which includes the "Order of the Mass," is expected within a year.

To read Liturgiam Authenticam visit:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/index.htm.

University of Dallas' Loss is Ave Maria's Gain

Tim Drake, features correspondent with National Catholic Register, reported on the recent resignations of the entire full-time staff of the University of Dallas' Institute for Religious and Pastoral Studies (IRPS) program. Director Douglas Bushman and associate directors Timothy Herrman and David Twellman resigned on April 9, effective May 11. Drake quoted Bushman as saying that there is strong evidence that "the current administration [of the University of Dallas] is antagonistic to the IRPS in its present form and there is a desire to change direction." "It placed me in the awkward position of inviting hundreds of students and several bishops to make a significant commitment to a program that the university did not support."

Bushman worked hard to develop the program, which he said embodied "rigorous fidelity to the texts of the Catholic tradition" and emphasized "the universal call to holiness." Ave Maria College of Ann Arbor, Michigan, immediately contacted Bushman upon hearing of the news of his resignation. Ave Maria now has a program modeled after the University of Dallas program, directed by the resigning Dallas faculty!
Bushman directed the Dallas program since 1992, increasing its enrollment from 67 students to 200. He developed satellite sites in Irving, Texas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Drake reports that future sites were being planned for Omaha, Nebraska in the fall of 2001, and Atlanta and Syracuse, N.Y. in 2002.

The University of Dallas President Msgr. Milam Joseph told the Register that the resignations were nothing more than a matter of professors changing universities. Yet, Dr. Nicholas Healy, Ave Maria's president, didn't agree. "Why would three senior administrators of a prestigious program leave the University of Dallas for a start-up?" questioned Healy. "I did not initiate Doug Bushman's decision to leave Dallas. I never would have talked to him had I not heard that he was looking for a job. When I learned of Bushman's work and accomplishments, I was convinced of how important this is for the Church in America and how good these men were in executing a program. I spoke with students and other faculty, and they confirmed this too."

Congressman Takes Pro-life Petitions to Washington, D.C.

Congressman Mark Kennedy, a freshman representing Minnesota's Second Congressional District, accepted an invitation from the president of American Life League, Judie Brown, to participate in a pro-life conference on June 22. Congressman Kennedy attended the youth rally in Bloomington, MN, where he was presented with approximately 100,000 petitions from pro-life youth of America asking Congress to enact legislation defending all preborn persons from abortion. Kennedy accepted the petitions and gave a brief speech before returning to Washington, D.C.-with the petitions. What a contrast from our Catholic politicians who advocate abortion rights!

Health Care Right of Conscience Act

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that it's against federal law for employers to exclude contraceptives from their health insurance plans when they cover other preventive treatments. According to this interpretation of the federal law, Americans no longer have moral choices in health care. The Christus Medicus Foundation is educating Americans on the need to reverse this absurd interpretation of federal law. Bishop Lori, of Washington, D.C., referred to similar proposed legislation in D.C. as "totalitarianism."

To support the efforts of the Christus Medicus Foundation to enact a Health Care Right of Conscience Act, write: Christus Medicus Foundation, 3707 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48301; or call (248) 594-8664; or email MikeODea@ChristusMedicus.com; or visit www.ChristusMedicus.com.

Senator's Remarks Misleading and Inflammatory

Cathleen Cleaver, director of planning and information for the Pro-Life Secretariat of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, criticized "misleading, insulting and inflammatory" remarks about the pro-life community made by New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman. Cleaver wrote the senator:

"You urge supporters of abortion to participate in a protest rally against a ceremony, sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee, during which Fr. [Frank] Pavone [National Director of Priests for Life] will receive an award . . . However, I am concerned about remarks you make regarding not just Fr. Pavone but, by extension, others in the pro-life community that can only be described as misleading, insulting and inflammatory.

"The mainstream pro-life movement, representing millions of Americans-male and female, Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, religious members and those with no religious affiliation at all-have been outspoken in their rejection of violence and in condemning the actions of those who would resort to murder in the name of pro-life. We have repeatedly, publicly stated, and firmly hold, that to resort to violence makes a mockery of the core beliefs of the pro-life movement.

"To suggest that the 'real intentions' of the millions of Americans who oppose abortion are to endorse the murder of abortionists . . . is similar to saying the murderous actions of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, are representative of the real intentions of environmental activists.

"The pro-life movement, the Catholic Church, and certainly Fr. Pavone unambiguously reject all violence in opposition to abortion. Contrary to your suggestions, our real intention is that all turn away from violence as a means to address our nation's problems, and that includes violence against our unborn brothers and sisters."

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