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  • HHS birth control mandate is ‘attack on our religious freedom’

    MISHAWAKA — “We can’t violate our conscience and therefore, we will fight it.”

    Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades was adamant when asked if the Catholic Church will comply with a federal mandate forcing many church-affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for employees. That announcement, made by the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month, both surprised and upset religious groups, while fueling a national debate about the reach of government.

    “The decision by the Obama administration last Friday (Jan. 20) to go ahead with this mandate is a decision that is really unconscionable,” Bishop Rhoades said, seated next to the president and CEO of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Albert Gutierrez, during a Jan. 26 press conference. “It is an attack on our religious freedom, attempting to force us to violate our conscience.”

    In what she describes as a concession, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has said nonprofit institutions such as Church-affiliated hospitals, colleges and social service agencies will have one additional year to comply with the requirement, issued in regulations under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

    Gutierrez said Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, in concert with Catholic Health Association is “disappointed” the definition of religious employer was not broadened in the Jan. 20 decision by HHS.

    “This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Gutierrez said, adding, it is “important to have clarified by the president and the secretary of Health and Human Services that this decision will not undermine the current conscious protections in laws, which are so very necessary for all of our ministries.”

    Asked how the Church can ignore a federal mandate, Bishop Rhoades was unequivocal.

    “We will not comply with this. We will not violate our conscience,” he said. “The U.S. Bishops are united in this, and I think that this refusal to exempt religious institutions that serve the common good, which we are doing, is really an unprecedented decision.”

    Bishop Rhoades said despite the so-called exemption, all Catholic institutions are affected.

    “The religious exemption they have is so narrow; it’s ridiculous,” added Bishop Rhoades. “The only way we could be exempt from this is if we only hired Catholics, if we only served Catholics. Our calling, our Catholic hospitals like Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center here, our Catholic colleges and universities, our Catholic Charities that serves thousands of needy people in Indiana — South Bend, Fort Wayne and in between — we don’t ask people when they come to our hospitals or to our universities or to our Catholic Charities what their religion is. We serve everyone. That’s our calling, our mission. In a sense we’re being penalized, and we’re serving the common good, we’re serving all of society.”

    “This is really an unprecedented rule from the federal government,” continued Bishop Rhoades, “attempting to force religious institutions — and others, not just institutions but also individuals — to do things that we consider immoral; things that we consider sinful. In this case, that’s providing, through our healthcare for our employees, contraception, sterilization and even drugs that cause early abortion.”

    How will the Catholic Church handle such governmental intrusion?

    “We have one year,” replied Bishop Rhoades. “This is an order from one branch of government, the executive branch … actually, the Department of Health and Human Services. There are two other branches of government, the legislative and the judicial. We have recourse in both of those branches.”

    Asked what Catholics can do, Bishop Rhoades was direct.

    “I think we all need to pray hard,” he said. “Everyone needs to get involved. We’re in an election season. This is an issue I think our people — Catholics, and others who are concerned about religious liberty — need to ask candidates who are running about their positions on this, and their position on religious liberty in general and conscience protection.”

    Posted on February 1, 2012, to:

  • Diocesan participants at national march take a stand for life

    Diane Freeby Participants from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend rally with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades for the cause of life at the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23.

    Click here for more photos from Mike Kelly

    Click here for more photos from the photo gallery.

    WASHINGTON — In record-breaking numbers, young people from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend poured into the streets of the nation’s capital Monday, to mark the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s infamous Roe v. Wade decision, making abortion legal throughout the land.

    Over a dozen buses from Fort Wayne and South Bend traveled overnight so people could express their pro-life beliefs. The group of young people and their chaperones joined hundreds of thousands of others in a peaceful yet enthusiastic march up Constitution Avenue.

    Described as a pilgrimage due to the hardships of travel, lack of sleep and bad weather, the trip was sponsored by the Office of Family Life.

    Organizers say Saint Joseph’s High School in South Bend doubled the number attending this year’s March for Life, sending three buses and over 200 students to Washington, D.C.

    Joe Watkins, a senior, has attended the march all four of his high school years and said he has seen enthusiasm and involvement grow. He’s hopeful that will continue so politicians take more notice of whom is voting them into office.

    Watkins is also inspired by the dedication and direction of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, and is especially encouraged by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades’ exhortation at the previous afternoon’s Mass to stand courageously for his religious beliefs in the public square.

    “I will voice my opinion and support my religious beliefs,” Watkins told Today’s Catholic.

    “It’s hard for us to disobey the (civil) law and our own law with God,” he said, “but when I see something contradicting my faith, I’m going to have to do something about it and at least voice my opinion.”

    Lydnsey Cyr, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s High School, echoed that sentiment as she prepared to march through the mud and rain.

    “Simply walking and showing you’re not afraid to believe in something is very powerful in many ways,” she said.

    Although it was cold and rainy, spirits remained high throughout the march, which culminated with a gathering in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill.

    The Fort Wayne-South Bend diocesan banner was hoisted near the Notre Dame Right to Life banner. They were joined by students from Holy Cross and Saint Mary’s Colleges and the University of Saint Francis. Pro-life groups from Indiana University-South Bend Right to Life and Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne also made their presence known.

    Taking Bishop Rhoades’ words to heart, many young people expressed encouragement and agreed that “we have a right and a duty to make our voices heard.”

    “It takes more than one person,” said Jesse Gettinger, a senior and president of Marian High School’s Right to Life Club.

    Gettinger hopes Bishop Rhoades’ words, coupled with the experience of marching together in Washington D.C., will keep the momentum going strong.

    “I’m really interested in getting more freshmen involved in the club to continue the pro-life culture at Marian High School,” added Gettinger.

    Homeschool student Mary Johnston from Fort Wayne, making her second trip to the March for Life, summed it up as she made the last muddy leg of the journey.

    “It’s all the more encouraging that people are willing to stand in the freezing rain for hours, just for this cause, which is pretty awesome,” she told Today’s Catholic.

    Mark Hosbein stood on the corner of a busy Washington intersection under the steady rain Jan. 23 with a small duffle bag at his feet and a simple message for passers-by: “Please consider spiritually adopting an unborn baby who is in danger of abortion.”

    Handing a reporter one of his brochures, Hosbein said as president of Hearts For Life, he is following the lead of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who promoted the idea of spiritual adoptions for the unborn years ago.

    People who commit to such an adoption agree to pray once a day for a year for an unborn child, he explained. “Our belief is God will save the life of the baby. It’s a simple and powerful devotion.”

    Hosbein, a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis, said in the past five or six years, his organization has passed out 100,000 of his brochures.

    He was among several people hanging out signs and literature to pro-lifers as they walked toward the March for Life rally on the National Mall near the Smithsonian Castle. From the castle, the Washington Monument in one direction and the Capitol in the other were barely visible, as they were shrouded in fog.

    The weather in Washington was uncooperative, with intermittent rain and temperatures hovering in the high 30s.

    But as most years when the weather was bad, the tens of thousands of pro-lifers, a majority of them high school and college age, were undeterred, descending on the nation’s capital to mark the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

    As they streamed toward the rally site from various points, rallygoers carried signs that declared their pro-life views. Among the messages were: “Adoption is an option,” “Every time a baby is aborted, love is denied,” “Praying for a culture of life” and “If it’s not a baby, you’re not pregnant.”

    One woman wrote her message on the back of her yellow rain poncho: “God is pro-life: Thou shalt not kill.” One group carried yellow balloons that simply said “Life.”

    She told CNS, “I’m here to put my feet in the direction of what my heart believes.”

    Julie Asher from Catholic News Service contributed to this story.

    Posted on January 25, 2012, to:

  • Bishop Rhoades enjoys St. Jude School hospitality during recent visit

    By Bonnie Elberson

    See more photos in the photo gallery.

    FORT WAYNE — Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades continued his tour of diocesan elementary schools Wednesday with a visit to St. Jude School on Fort Wayne’s northeast side.

    The day began with an all-school Mass in the church celebrated by Bishop Rhoades and concelebrated by pastor Father Tom Shoemaker and retired priest Father Paul Bueter. “I’m so happy to be here this morning,” the bishop announced, and thanked third graders for their warm welcome and assistance as he approached. He noted a banner at the church entrance proclaiming St. Jude’s hospitality and said, “I felt immediately at home.”

    Principal Sister Kathleen Knueven, a Sister of Notre Dame, was surely pleased at that remark. She is quick to note that St. Jude’s is said to be a welcoming and caring community, and says, “We are family here!”

    She adds, “St. Jude Catholic School is much more than brick and mortar (although the Spanish architecture is beautiful). Our school is more of a dynamic set of relationships such as collaboration, teamwork and consistent effort that over time creates a lasting learning community that promotes student success.”

    Bishop Rhoades must have felt that dynamism first-hand as he toured the school after Mass, visiting classrooms and speaking with students and staff members. He asked each class to share with him what they had been learning about their religion and they were eager to do so.

    Fourth graders were studying about the saints, their “best friends in heaven,” prompting the bishop to explain the saints’ intercession for them and the steps necessary to attain sainthood. Third graders were learning about the Twelve Apostles so he told them that bishops are the apostles’ successors who spread the word of God as he does by preaching and teaching.

    Kindergartners spelled out their welcome to him with flash cards, revealing their mastery of the alphabet. He was amused by a poster they had made showing Our Lord as the Good Shepherd and looking for a few good sheep.

    The sixth-grade class was studying the Old Testament so Bishop Rhoades recounted his visit to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. First and second graders were learning about Jesus’ life, how he prayed and healed the sick. Fifth graders had been discussing the sacrament of Holy Orders so the bishop explained the steps to ordination and the duties of deacons, priests and bishops.

    Bishop Rhoades fielded questions from seventh and eighth graders who are preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. He revealed that he first began considering a vocation when he was confirmed at about their age. He loves conferring the sacrament, he says, and likes “to be able to be an instrument of God’s grace.”

    Nationally, St. Jude School is a Blue Ribbon Award winner, providing a strong religious and academic education. It is dedicated to the development of the total person in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

    “Christ is the reason for St. Jude Catholic School,” Sister Kathleen points out.

    Students have an opportunity to grow in their faith by planning and ministering at Mass and other liturgies. They participate in service projects by visiting residents at Saint Anne Retirement Home, long-term care patients at Parkview Hospital and by collecting items for needy families and the troops overseas. A strong fine arts program offers band, choir, handbells and art classes, and physical education includes fitness, good health and dance.

    St. Jude students are fortunate to have retired sisters, parents, grandparents and others available to help with activities during the school day, as well as dedicated teachers always willing to give extra tutoring. After school clubs like Math Counts, Destination Imagination and Lego League draw many students and athletic teams attract others. Parents lend welcome assistance with those as well.

    “St. Jude Catholic School with its strong religious, academic, cultural, social, athletic and service programs offers our students outstanding opportunities to live out the truths and values of the Catholic Faith and develop their God-given potential,” says Sister Kathleen with pride.

    Indeed, St. Jude School exhibits all of those fine qualities, along with the hospitality enjoyed by Bishop Rhoades.

    Posted on January 18, 2012, to:

  • Cultivate the attitude of the Magi says bishop at Epiphany Mass

    By Lisa Kochanowski

    SOUTH BEND — Three Wise Men from the east followed a star to the newborn King of the Jews long ago with the words, “we have come to worship Him,” as their reason for traveling such a long distance. These words are what Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades challenged the congregation of St. Matthew Cathedral to think about in their daily life at the Jan. 8 Epiphany Mass.

    Bishop Rhoades celebrated the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord with the parish community at 11 a.m. Mass. He entered the celebration with the three wise men, followed by a fanfare of trumpets, music and the scent of incense filling the air.

    “A blessed Epiphany to all,” proclaimed Bishop Rhoades to the congregation at the beginning of Mass. He told the crowd that his visit to St. Matthew Cathedral was extra special with a unique gift of a crosier presented to him by Msgr. Michael Heintz. One side of the crozier has an image of St. Matthew and the other side has an image of the diocesan coat of arms.

    “Thank you for this very special gift,” Bishop Rhoades said.

    Epiphany is a celebration of the Magi and their quest to pay homage to the newborn King. This quest is a great example of true faith and devotion to God and something Bishop Rhoades spoke of in great detail with the faithful.

    During the Mass, Father Jacob Runyon, parochial vicar at St. Matthew Church, sang a special liturgical-season proclamation.

    “The Magi represent all the people of the world and reveal that Jesus has come not only as the Messiah of the Jewish people, but as the Savior of the whole world. As St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: ‘the Gentiles are coheirs … and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel,’” Bishop Rhoades said in his homily.

    Bishop Rhoades spoke of how the Magi were confronted by Herod, who wanted to find out the reason for their journey. When told about their goal to pay homage to the King, Herod became inflamed with rage.

    “Herod’s pride created within him contempt for the Lord,” Bishop Rhoades said. “He not only refused to worship Him; he actively sought to destroy Him. Early in the life of Jesus we see the great struggle between good and evil.”

    In the end, “Herod could not thwart the saving plan of God,” Bishop Rhoades said.

    He discussed the great strides that the Catholics Come Home campaign is making in the diocese, bringing people back to the Church and God.

    Bishop Rhoades said he is overwhelmed with joy when he hears about Catholics returning to Mass after many years away from the Church. He pointed out to the crowd that people use excuses like they don’t like certain parts of the Mass or celebration as their reason for not coming to Church; but he told the people that a beautiful church, harmonious music and an amazing priest should not be the reason for coming to church — it should simply be about coming to worship God the Creator.

    “I invite everyone here to reflect on these words spoken by pagan astrologers … these are words that should be on our lips,” Bishop Rhoades said. “You come here to worship and give homage to Jesus Christ, don’t come for the beautiful choir, the pretty decorations or great priests.”

    Bishop Rhoades discussed how Blessed John Paul II, not long before
    he died, spoke of the secularized culture of today as characterized by a forgetfulness of God and a vain pursuit of human self-sufficiency. Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken of this quite often. It is good to remember the words of the Second Vatican Council: “Without God the Creator, the creature would disappear.”

    The congregation was invited by Bishop Rhoades to cultivate the attitude of the Magi. They were wise men because they recognized their need for God. They had a profound respect for their Creator and humbly prostrated themselves before Him. We imitate the Magi by our own fidelity
    to holy Mass, by our daily prayer and by adoration of the most Holy Eucharist.

    “We have come to worship Him. We don’t come to be entertained,” Bishop Rhoades said. “It’s our joy and our peace.”

    Posted on January 11, 2012, to:

  • Vocations are everybody’s business

    Seminarian numbers show an increase

    YODER — “Vocations are everybody’s business” is the slogan used by the Knights of Columbus, and Msgr. Bernard Galic, the director of the Vocation Office and pastor of St. Aloysius Church, Yoder, said that slogan “hits the nail on the head.”

    “If everybody was living the faith, and if everybody was teaching the faith, then everybody would be comfortable in recommending people who show the signs of one who would be a good priest that he consider it,” Msgr. Galic told Today’s Catholic. “If people would do that it may help plant the seeds of vocations.”

    In a sense, those seeds are sprouting. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is seeing an increase in the number of seminarians and an increase in the numbers of men inquiring about the priesthood. That follows a national trend as seminaries are seeing the largest numbers of men studying for the priesthood since the 1970s and 1980s.

    “That includes two of the (seminaries) where our men are studying,” Msgr. Galic said. “The Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and Mount Saint Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., both of them have the largest enrollments they have had in 20 years.”

    Currently there are men studying in five seminaries: Pontifical College Josephinum, Mount Saint Mary’s, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winona, Minn., Seminario Hispano de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico City and the North American College in Rome.

    The local numbers have grown. Msgr. Galic said, “Last year there were nine new men that began seminary studies. This year there are eight new men. Right now I have seven sets of application papers out and it’s still relatively early.”

    The newest applicants tend to be college-age or college graduates. Msgr. Galic noted that last year, the largest numbers were younger men coming out of high school or just beginning college.

    Although Msgr. Galic has some doubts that the Church will see the numbers of priests that it saw after World War II, “… I do think we are going to see seminarian numbers continue to grow,” he said.

    “And that’s partly because young parents today are taking a more serious interest in the Church and are raising their kids with spiritual values,” he said. “Those kids are more likely to hear and respond to a call in Church ministry.”

    Msgr. Galic also credits this increase in seminarians from the Blessed Pope John Paul II generation — young men who were profoundly influenced by the pope’s ministry.

    “I think a lot of young people’s (men of college age) love for the Church grew out of their experience of him,” he said. “They just had a great love for that man and his charism.”

    Msgr. Galic told Today’s Catholic that qualities that make a good priest include a welcoming personality, someone who deals easily with young and older people. Other qualities include someone who typifies a healthy young man — interest in sports and outdoor activities. Another quality would be an interest in the faith, someone who regularly attends Mass, is involved with parish activities — a reader, choir member, a leader of the youth group.

    Msgr. Galic said that when one of the faithful notices these qualities in a man, they may want to suggest to that person: “You know, did you ever think about being a priest?” or “You would make a good priest.”

    “Sometimes, that’s what gets people thinking,” Msgr. Galic said.

    However, many seminarians have stated that they first gave the priesthood serious thought when a priest asked, “Have you ever thought about being a priest?”

    Msgr. Galic noted, “God would not have given us a sacramental Church if He didn’t intend to provide us with priests to administer the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.”

    He said, “I don’t believe there is a shortage of call, a shortage of vocations. I think there is a critical failure of those who are being called to respond positively to the call.”

    Posted on January 4, 2012, to: