In Brief...

The Holy Father’s Intentions

Pope John Paul II has announced the following general and missionary intentions for January and February 2000:

January

Communion and reciprocal respect among Christians. Growing communion and reciprocal respect among Christians worldwide.

The spread of the peace of Christmas to the hearts of all. Discovering in Christmas the true source of peace during this International Year of the Culture of Peace.

February

A welcome by Christians to every kind of consecrated vocation. A healthy openness and welcome among Christian communities for every variety of consecrated vocation.

Witness to Gospel hope by pilgrims to Rome and Jerusalem. Inspiration for pilgrims to Rome, Jerusalem, and other shrines to radiate Gospel Good News and hope to contemporaries.

New Faces

Catholics United for the Faith (CUF) is pleased to announce that Philip C.L. Gray has recently been named CUF’s new vice president. Phil has been the director of our Information Services department for the past two years, and is a frequent contributor to Lay Witness. Phil is a canon lawyer with a background also in theology and counseling, and he teaches a popular undergraduate course in ecclesiology at nearby Franciscan University of Steubenville.

In addition, Shannon Minch-Hughes has been named CUF’s secretary-treasurer. Shannon has been our office manager and bookkeeper the past three years. As our apostolate has grown and added new outreaches, her strong organizational and business skills have been a major asset.

We are also honored to welcome Bishop Raymond L. Burke of LaCrosse, Wisconsin to CUF’s episcopal advisory council. Bishop Burke was ordained a priest 25 years ago at St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Paul VI. After receiving extensive training and experience in canon law, he was named Defender of the Bond for the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura by Pope John Paul II in 1989. He was ordained a bishop in 1995 and shortly thereafter was installed as Bishop of LaCrosse. Lay Witness readers will recall that his article "The Bishop as Shepherd" appeared in the October ’99 issue.

CUF is grateful to Bishop Burke and all the members of our episcopal advisory council for their public support and assistance.

Truth Exposed

Pope John Paul II has been asking all Catholics to start evangelizing. It is truly an important mission to which all of us are called.

The newly released documentary Truth Exposed is an inspiring video that is destined to change hearts—especially those of fallen-away Catholics and our Protestant brothers and sisters.

When Jesus came, He said that His mission was first to call back the lost sheep of Israel. In like manner, 2,000 years later our first mission in evangelizing should be to call back the millions of fallen-away Catholics who have left the Catholic Church over the past century.

This documentary is meant to do just that The "fullness of truth" is what makes the Catholic Church so attractive and irresistible to those who take a look inside with an open heart. The gifts of grace that God has given to His Catholic Church are truly overwhelming. We need to share this fact with those who have walked away, and gently but firmly call them back.

Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Marcus Grodi, and Larry and Joetta Lewis do a great job of exposing the truth in this film! All dollars made from this video are tax-deductible and will be used for the spreading of Eucharistic adoration throughout this country.

To order this video, visit Ignatius Press online at www.ignatius.com. 

Partial-Birth Abortion and Catholics

One of the many issues facing voters, legislators, and judges this year is that of "partial-birth abortion." Despite the barbaric nature of the procedure, the fact that it’s never "medically necessary" to protect the mother’s health, and the clear teaching of the Church and other Christian leaders concerning its immorality, our government officials—including some Catholic politicians—have opposed laws banning this procedure.

Lay Witness readers are encouraged to read an excellent article on the subject by CUF advisor William E. May, a professor of moral theology, which originally appeared in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. For a copy of this article, write Catholics United for the Faith, 827 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, OH 43952, call toll-free (800) MY-FAITH (693-2484), or click here to read the full text.

Christian Unity, 2000

In his apostolic letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente, Pope John Paul II has emphasized that "[a]mong the most fervent petitions which the Church makes to the Lord during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches, is that unity among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach full communion."

The traditional Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is January 18-25. This year’s theme is "Blessed be God . . . who has blessed us in Christ" (Eph. 1:3-14).

But the search for Christian unity is not limited to one week each year. CUF members and indeed all Christians are encouraged to find opportunities throughout the year to express the degree of communion that we already have, and to pray together for that full unity which is the will of Christ (cf. Jn. 17:21).

For a free copy of Pope John Paul II"s apostolic letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente, call CUF toll-free at (800) MY-FAITH (693-2484).

Greet the New Millennium with Joy and Laughter

The "Holy Humor" series is proof positive that Christians aren’t a dour, joyless group, In fact, there’s enough humor in the hallways of churches and the homes of Christians to fill eight books. And for 15 years, Cal and Rose Samra, editors of the series, have had the inside track on the laughs.

As founders of the interdenominational Fellowship of Merry Christians, and publishers of the organization’s award-winning newsletter, The Joyful Noiseletter, the Samras have been dedicated to bringing smiles and joy to Christians across the United States.

"In these turbulent, depressive times we’ve found that people are really hungry for laughter, for humor, for something to encourage them and lift their spirits," declare the Samras. With much of today’s humor filled with irreverence, profanity, and poor taste, the Samras are showing that it’s possible to be respectful, moral, and still have fun.

Within the pages of each book in the series readers will find enough entertaining cartoons, jokes, uplifting anecdotes, clever one-liners, joyful Scripture references, inspiring stories, clean limericks, and real-life humor to make them laugh from start to finish. In addition, Holy Humor and More Holy Humor feature cartoons by 16 gifted cartoonists, including Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus, and Johnny Hart, creator of B.C.

For more information, on these materials, call (800) 603-7051.

Abortion Clinic Deception

State attorney generals may soon be prosecuting abortion clinics for deceptive business practices, if the Elliot Institute has its’ way. Working with individuals and organizations around the country, this post-abortion research and education group is spearheading this effort to collect complaints against abortion clinics from women who were not given complete and accurate information about abortion’s risks. The project is called EDAP, an acronym for Expose Deceptive Abortion Practices.

Information on EDAP and a free, reproducible copy of the brochure is available on the Elliot Institute website at www.afterabortion.org, or write: Elliot Institute, P.O. Box 7348, Springfield, IL 62791.

RCIA Resources

The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) is a newly formed organization dedicated to providing communications, resources, and an education network for diocesan and parish leaders involved in the preparation of adults, adolescents, and children for initiation into the Catholic Church. The association is preparing a number of publications, including an RCIA participant’s book, a leader’s manual, and a liturgy resource manual, as well as catechumenal materials for adolescents and children.

For more information on this much-needed outreach, contact the Association for Catechumenal Ministry, P.O. Box 2616, Wintersville, OH 42953. Telephone: (740) 283-5464; fax: (740) 284-5476; website: www.amcrcia.org. 

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