In Brief

Holy Father's Intentions

Pope John Paul II has announced the following general and missionary intentions for July and August 2002:

July

That artists may do all they can to help the men and women of today to rediscover the signs of God's providential love in creation.

That the Christians of India may not be prevented from publicly professing their faith and freely proclaiming the Gospel.

August

That respect for the environment, God's gift to all men and women, may increase both on a personal level and on the level of world public opinion.

That in the vast shanty towns of the world the efforts of missionaries may alleviate the suffering caused by injustice and foster the full development of those who live in them.

Whiteheads Honored

The Kenneth and Margaret Whitehead received the Brent Award for Distinguished Service from the Brent Society of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia on May 29, 2002. The award recognizes Catholics who "have served their fellowman without regard to social, political, or economic stress, while courageously promoting the fundamental dignity and rights of mankind in the name of the Lord."

In addition to his tenure as vice-president of Catholics United for the Faith during its early years, Ken Whitehead's professional career has included diplomatic service in Rome and the Middle East, chief of the Arabic Service of the Voice of America, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Postsecondary Education during the Reagan Administration. He has authored dozens of articles and 10 books on political, moral, social, and theological issues, including his most recent book, One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: The Early Church Was the Catholic Church (Ignatius Press, 2000). Ken Whitehead serves, or has served, on the boards of directors of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the Christus Magister Foundation, and The Review of Metaphysics. For nine years he was chairman of the board of the Notre Dame Institute before it became a graduate school of Christendom College.

Margaret Whitehead has been director of Religious Education at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale, Virginia since 1994. She has served as cofounder and president of the Educational Guidance Institute (EGI), which promotes and carries out abstinence-based education for teen-agers, emphasizing both family involvement and parent-teen communication. With support from the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she co-managed abstinence-based family life programs in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. She serves on the board of directors of Women for Faith and Family, has served as an elementary-school teacher and high-school religion teacher, and has been a stay-at-home wife and mother.

Thank you, Ken and Margaret Whitehead, for all that you've done to support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church!

Portuguese Schindler

As described in the critically acclaimed October 1998 Lay Witness article by Maria Julia Cirurgião and Michael D. Hull, Aristides de Sousa Mendes was truly one of the unsung heroes of World War II. As consul-general of Portugal in Bordeaux, France, Sousa Mendes defied his government's orders and granted visas to all who were leaving France to escape inevitable capture and deportation to Nazi concentration camps. This heroic Catholic man was responsible for rescuing over 30,000 lives, and for his labors he died a destitute outcast in his own country in 1954.

In recent years, the International Committee to Commemorate Aristides de Sousa Mendes has labored to restore the good name of this human rights champion and to acquire and restore the family's property. Lay Witness recently learned that the Fundação Aristides de Sousa Mendes has been established in Portugal and has purchased the Sousa Mendes family home. The foundation is engaged in several human rights initiatives and is also raising funds to rebuild the Sousa Mendes home, which is in ruins.

Contributions may be sent to Monte Pio Geral-Lisboa, Fundação Aristides de Sousa Mendes, No. 185-10.000522-1, Rua do Ouro 219-249, 1120-001 Lisboa, Portugal, or to obtain more information you may write Dra. Maria de Jesus Barroso Soares, President, Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation, Rua Augusto Rosa, 66-2 Dto., 1100-059, Lisboa, Portugal.

For a free copy of the 1998 article, call CUF toll-free at (800) MY-FAITH.

One Penitent at a Time

This past April, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter Misericordia Dei ("The Mercy of God"), on certain aspects of the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance.

The Pope noted that one fruit of the Jubilee Year was a marked return to the Sacrament of Penance, though it is still a sacrament in "crisis." In further calling for a "vigorous revitalization of the Sacrament of Reconciliation," the Holy Father encourages bishops and priests to "arm themselves with more confidence, creativity, and perseverance" in leading the faithful to the sacrament.

Misericordia Dei addresses several aspects of sacramental Confession with the goal of fostering a better administration of this sacrament. Most of the document, however, specifically addresses the widespread misuse of general absolution. The Pope clarifies that "the integral [and individual] confession of serious sins is by divine decree a constitutive part of the sacrament," and "is in no way subject to the discretion of pastors." He also clarifies the exceptional, objective circumstances in which general absolution would be appropriate.

Click here for the entire text of Misericordia Dei, or call CUF toll-free at (800) MY-FAITH for a free copy.



Pope's Message to Cardinals

The following is taken from Pope John Paul II's address to the United States cardinals, given at the Vatican on April 23, 2002.

The abuse of the young is a grave symptom of a crisis affecting not only the Church but society as a whole. It is a deep-seated crisis of sexual morality, even of human relationships, and its prime victims are the family and the young.

It must be absolutely clear to the Catholic faithful, and to the wider community, that bishops and superiors are concerned, above all else, with the spiritual good of souls. People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. They must know that bishops and priests are totally committed to the fullness of Catholic truth on matters of sexual morality, a truth as essential to the renewal of the priesthood and the episcopate as it is to the renewal of marriage and family life.

We must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community, a purification that is urgently needed if the Church is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its liberating force. Now you must ensure that where sin increased, grace will all the more abound (cf. Rom. 5:20). So much pain, so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate, and a holier Church.

God alone is the source of holiness, and it is to him above all that we must turn for forgiveness, for healing and for the grace to meet this challenge with uncompromising courage and harmony of purpose. Like the Good Shepherd of last Sunday's Gospel, Pastors must go among their priests and people as men who inspire deep trust and lead them to restful waters (cf. Ps 22:2).

I beg the Lord to give the bishops of the United States the strength to build their response to the present crisis upon the solid foundations of faith and upon genuine pastoral charity for the victims, as well as for the priests and the entire Catholic community in your country. And I ask Catholics to stay close to their priests and bishops, and to support them with their prayers at this difficult time.

The peace of the Risen Christ be with you!


Banner of Fidelity

One aspect of the current scandals that is too often overlooked is their cumulative effect on the vast majority of priests who are not responsible for the crisis. Many good priests are publicly mistreated and are afraid to be seen in their clerics. Others are demoralized and discouraged by the cloud that now hangs over the priesthood.

Gratefully, many of the laity are recognizing the need to support their priests in their hour of need. For example, many lay people made a point to remember their parish priests this past Father's Day. Still others promoted June as "Priest Appreciation Month" as a means of honoring our spiritual fathers.

CUF is grateful for the many faithful bishops and priests who support our apostolate, especially our spiritual advisor, Fr. Ray Ryland, our longtime spiritual advisor, Fr. Robert Bradley, S.J., members of our episcopal advisory council, and the many bishops and priests past and present who have been members of our apostolate and perhaps have served as spiritual advisors for our local chapters.

One uplifting story comes from Gaithersburg, Maryland, where parishioners of St. Martin's Church last April staged a surprise celebration for the parish's three faithful priests. Hundreds attended the event, and countless others sent letters and emails of encouragement and support.

One aspect of this magnificent celebration was the hanging of a "banner of fidelity" which bears the phrase "Let His Glory Arise Among Us." The host and chalice were in the center; grapevines were along the sides. This banner was a symbol of the people's faithfulness and hope. The priests and many of the laity who wanted to make it known that they are committed to being faithful to their vocation to serve Christ in and through His Church wrote their name on the banner. The priests' names are written in gold as a ray that shoots out from the hosts. The laity's names are written on the leaves.

CUF member Liz Carreon, one of the organizers of the event, hopes other parishes will create their own "Banner of Fidelity" as a sign of their resolve to remain faithful to the Church and to support, appreciate, and pray for the priests and religious that serve them. For more information, call Liz at (301) 972-4870 or email her at mcnliz@aol.com.

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