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July 17, 2005
Lenin in America 2005
During the meet of the Conference of Bishops in Chicago last month, a TV reporter asked me if I believed that the religious faith of a politician should be private and have no influence on the judgements that he or she makes as a public figure. I answered that the very nature of religious faith lies in its being a total response to God, influencing every dimension of a believer’s life. The reporter mentioned President John F. Kennedy, who once indicated that he embraced a total separation of faith and politics during his campaign for the presidency. I wasn’t quick enough in the press conference to point out that President Kennedy had also added that, should a conflict arise between his religious faith and his public responsibilities, he would resign from public office. That statement at least saved JFK’s personal integrity, although it didn’t solve the problem.
A Chicago journalist who was raised Catholic later wrote about my comment on faith and politics with some alarm; but I don’t understand why any American would want to live in a country where religious faith must remain entirely private and where public life and the decisions which shape it must be free of any religious influence. We have known such a state in our lifetime. It was called the Soviet Union. Lenin, the founder of the governmental organization of the Soviet Union, put freedom of religion into the Soviet Constitution. What it meant in practice, however, was that anyone could believe what he or she wanted, so long as they kept quiet about it and it never in any way influenced public life, which was entirely secular to the point of being atheistic. One could even go to Church in the Soviet Union, since the government saw to it that a few Churches remained open. But religion was entirely confined to one’s own mind and heart and to a Church building. Faith was private and was systematically excluded from influencing public life. It’s odd to hear Lenin’s solution in the minds and mouths of American journalists.
The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution stops the government from establishing an official religion or state church, such as they have in England, Scotland, Norway and Denmark. Evidently those countries manage to be free without the institutional separation of Church and State. There are, however, no state churches in Catholic countries, and I don’t know any Catholics in the United States who hanker after one here. The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution does protect the free exercise of religion, however, and says nothing about excluding religious faith, including Catholicism, from public life. To speak of every influence of religion in public matters as a “Church-State” problem is to misuse the English language. When a person of religious faith comes to decisions about public policy in the light of that faith, the Church is not institutionally involved with the State nor vice versa. The faith of citizens is, however, involved in their public life, as it should be. If a religious person abstracts from her personal convictions when it comes to politics, such a person violates her own conscience and is not to be trusted.
Our American solution presupposes, of course, that the State does not control all of public life. We are supposed to have limited government. That principle has also been weakened in recent decades as more and more dimensions of human experience come under government control, especially through the Courts and regulatory agencies at every level of government. The Supreme Court has taken on a role so disproportionate in our government and now has such an influence over daily life that the current argument over nominations to the Court has the importance of a life or death decision. As, in fact, it is. “There ought to be a law,” the old saying has it. Those who demand legal solutions to every human problem, however, have no right to complain that our lives are ruled by judges and lawyers.
It strikes me that our approach to pluralism in race and culture furnishes the paradigm for approaching religion in public life. If someone suggested that an African-American had to keep his race confined to his house and wear white face in public, the suggestion would be immediately condemned as racist and bigoted. A healthy public life welcomes diversity in public and then figures out ways to share differences among peoples so as to enrich everyone. The question of religion is more complicated, of course, because religion is a way of life with moral demands, and moral demands overlap with law and politics. But the solution is not to put religion in a private closet, because that imperils the freedom of everyone. American “separation” of Church and State is supposed to encourage the practice of religion as part of the common good, respecting every difference and oppressing none.
Sometimes I think that the fear of religion going public is really a fear that someone or some event will tell us to change, to convert. A call to change one’s ways is an insult to those wed to the status quo. A religious challenge can be more easily ignored by simply labeling it unconstitutional. Religious people and institutions, however, cannot quietly acquiesce in their own marginalization from public life. The nature of faith forbids that solution.
The Church, as we all should know, is celebrating a special Year of the Eucharist, declared by the late Pope John Paul II to extend from October, 2004, to October, 2005. Along with private devotion and family prayers and services in Churches, the Archdiocese is sponsoring a public procession with the Blessed Sacrament on August 5. The Knights of Columbus have chosen to celebrate their own Eucharistic Congress here in Chicago on August 4 and 5, and we have been graciously invited by this exemplary Order to help plan the conclusion of their Congress. After a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in the Hilton, the Knights will escort the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament from the hotel to Buckingham Fountain, where Catholics of the Archdiocese are invited to join the procession around 1 p.m. We will carry the Blessed Sacrament in procession through Grant Park to the Petrillo Music Shell for adoration and benediction until 3 p.m.
You can consult the posters and bulletins you will find in your parishes for more information and for ways to get downtown without hassle. Pray for good weather, since there is a Chicago tradition of raining on Eucharistic processions. Come and make Lenin, wherever he is, sad and the Lord, really present in the Blessed Sacrament, happy. God bless you.
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July 14-
August 13, 2005 |
Sunday, July 17
12 p.m., Mass, Discalced Carmelite Monastery, Munster, Indiana
Monday, July 18
6 p.m., World Youth Day Catechetical Session and Commissioning Mass, St. Michael, Orland Park
Wednesday, July 20
5:30 p.m., Presentation to the “President’s Circle,” Catholic Theological Union (CTU)
Thursday, July 21
6 p.m., Chicago Chapter of Legatus Annual Mass and Dinner, St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge
Friday, July 22
9 a.m., Management Meeting, Pastoral Center. 7:30 p.m., Hispanic Ministry “Noche de Gala,” Chicago Hilton and Towers
Saturday, July 23
2 p.m., National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference, Loyola University Chicago (Sheridan Road). 6:30 p.m., National Melkite Convention Dinner, Hyatt Regency O’Hare
Sunday, July 24
10:30 a.m., St. James Parish (S. Wabash) 150th Anniversary Mass
Monday, July 25
9 a.m., Symposium on Religion and the Press, Northwestern University, Evanston. 6:30 p.m., Conversation with Imam W. D. Mohammed, Holy Name Cathedral Auditorium
Tuesday, July 26: 7:30 a.m., the Partnership for New Communities Advisory Committee Meeting. 6:30 p.m., the Papal Foundation Stewards of St. Peter Dinner, Residence
Wednesday, July 27
12:30 p.m., International Conference of Christians and Jews Luncheon and Closing Address, Westin River North
Thursday, July 28
10:30 a.m., Catholic Extension Society Meeting, Residence. 4:30 p.m., Opening Liturgy/Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities Conference, Loyola University Chicago (Sheridan Road)
Friday, July 29
8:30 a.m., USCCB Priorities and Plans Committee Meeting, Washington D.C.
Saturday, July 30
4:30 p.m., Latin-American Young Adult Encuentro Mass, DePaul University
Sunday, July 31
10 a.m., Sunday Mass, St. Clare of Montefalco Parish. 3 p.m., Theology-on-Tap Mass, Holy Name Cathedral. 4:30 p.m., Theology-on-Tap Picnic, Residence
Monday, Aug. 1
7 a.m., Department Directors Mass and Meeting, Residence. 6 p.m., Dinner with Seminary Salutes Recipients, St. Joseph College Seminary
Tuesday, Aug. 2
9:30 a.m., Opening Mass/Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus Annual Meeting, Chicago Hilton and Towers. 7:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus States Dinner
Friday, Aug. 5
11:30 a.m., Knights of Columbus Eucharistic Congress Closing Mass, Chicago Hilton and Towers. 1 p.m., Procession with Blessed Sacrament to Grant Park
Sunday, Aug. 7-
Friday, Aug. 12
Meeting of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), Leeds, England
Following the ICEL conference in London, Cardinal George will be attending World Youth Day festivities in Cologne, Germany, with representatives of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George announces the following appointment:
Pastors
Rev. Kevin M. Birmingham, froJuly 7, 2005
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, announces the following appointments:
Pastors
Rev. Dennis Conway, MCCJ, to be pastor of St. Martin De Porres Parish, West Washington, effective immediately.
Rev. Daniel Brandt, from associate pastor of St. William Parish, North Sayre, to be pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, West 37th Street, while retaining his duties as part-time chaplain for the Chicago Police Department, effective immediately.
Rev. W. James Clavey, from resident of St. Bride Parish, South Coles, to be pastor of St. Mary of Celle Parish, Berwyn, effective immediately.
Rev. Raymond Devereux, from associate pastor of All Saints/St. Anthony Parish, West 28th Place, to pastor of St. Beatrice Parish, Schiller Park, effective immediately.
Rev. John E. Eck, CSV, from associate pastor of St. Viator Parish, West Addison, to be pastor of the same, effective immediately.
Rev. Radislaw Jaszczuk, C.Ss.R., from administrator of St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, Cicero, to pastor of the same, effective immediately.
Reverend Eric Meyer, C.P., from associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, West Talcott, to pastor of the same, effective immediately.
Rev. Richard Prendergast, from administrator of St. Bruno Parish, South Harding, to pastor of St. Josaphat Parish, North Southport, effective immediately.
Rev. Robert C. Rizzo, from sabbatical to pastor of St. Hubert Parish, Hoffman Estates, effective immediately.
Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, from sabbatical to pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish, Cicero, effective immediately.
Rev. Paul G. Seaman, from resident of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park, to pastor of St. Pascal Parish, North Melvina, effective July 10.
Rev. Richard Thibodeau, C.Ss.R. to pastor of St. Michael Parish, North Cleveland, effective Aug. 1.
Administrators
Rev. Richard Andrus, SVD, to administrator of St. Anselm Parish, South Michigan Avenue, while retaining duties as pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish, East 41st Street, effective immediately.
Rev. Harold A. Bonin, to administrator of St. Fabian Parish, Bridgeview, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Summit, effective immediately.
Rev. Antoni Bury, from associate pastor of St. Bruno Parish, South Harding, to administrator of the same, effective immediately.
Rev. Gerardo DeTomasi, MCCJ, from resident of St. Donatus Parish, to administrator of the same, effective immediately.
Rev. Donald J. Fenske, to administrator of St. Victor Parish, Calumet City, while residing at Our Lady of Knock Parish, Calumet City, effective immediately.
Rev. Robert Heidenreich, to administrator of Queen of Angels Parish, North Western, while retaining his duties as pastor of St. Benedict Parish, West Irving Park Road, and dean of Vicariate II-C, effective immediately.
Rev. George E. Koeune, from associate pastor of Queen of All Saints Basilica, North Sauganash, to administrator of the same, from July 1 to Dec. 30, while the pastor is on sabbatical.
Rev. Mark J. Krylowicz, returning from assignment in Drapper, Utah, to administrator of Holy Rosary Parish, East 113th Street, effective immediately.
Associate pastors
Rev. Roger Corrales-Diaz, from associate pastor of St. Francis De Sales, Lake Zurich, to associate pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, West 62nd Street, effective immediately.
Rev. Salvador Hallegado, from associate pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, Mundelein, to associate pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish, South Kostner, effective immediately.
Rev. Robert Marchwiany, newly ordained, to associate pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, Burbank, effective immediately.
Rev. Thomas J. Mescall, from associate pastor of St. Terence Parish, Alsip, to associate pastor of St. Denis Parish, South St. Louis, effective immediately.
Rev. John M. Murphy, from sabbatical to associate pastor of St. Cornelius Parish, North Lieb, effective immediately.
Rev. Leroy Wickowski, from associate pastor of St. Giles Parish, Oak Park, to associate pastor of St. Luke Parish, River Forest, effective immediately.
Co-vicar for priests
Rev. Vincent F. Costello, from pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, Arlington Heights, to be the co-vicar for priests, effective immediately.
Cardinal’s Liaison
Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, to be the Cardinal’s Liaison for Health and Hospital Affairs, while retaining his duties as Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate IV, effective immediately.
Rector
Rev. Richard J. Klajbor, to be rector of Bishop Abramowicz Seminary, West Superior, while retaining his duties as Pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, North Armour, effective Aug. 1.
Resident
Rev. Thomas P. Walsh, from pastor of Presentation Parish, South Springfield, to be resident of St. Agatha Parish, West Douglas Blvd., while retaining his duties as instructor of Holy Trinity High School, effective immediately.
Sabbatical
Rev. Eugene J. Nowak, from pastor of St. Hubert Parish, Hoffman Estates, to be on sabbatical July 1 to Oct. 9.
Rev. Wayne Prist, pastor of Queen of All Saints Basilica, North Sauganash, to be on sabbatical from July 1 to Dec. 31.
Pastor emeritus
Rev. Philip J. Dressler, from pastor of St. Juliana, North Osceola, to retire after 44 years of service to the Archdiocese of Chicago, with residence at St. Juliana, and be pastor emeritus of the same, effective immediately.
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