Archdiocese of St. Louis

Same Sex Marriage and the Church

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:38:44 +0000

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Legatus Prayer Breakfast

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:56:38 +0000

- Legatus-MAY 6 UPDATE.pdf

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Third Annual Archbishop's Prayer Breakfast

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:22:41 +0000

Archbishop's Prayer Breakfast

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Bishop Rice recaps travels with Archbishop Carlson to Rome to meet with Pope Benedict XVI

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:58:47 +0000

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson is in Rome March 5-14 to present Pope Benedict XVI with a state of the archdiocese report known as the Ad Limina report.

Bishop Edward M. Rice traveled with the archbishop and is going to be sharing their experiences below. These will be updated as new blogs are posted.

Wednesday March 7, 2012

2:01am

Just concelebrated Holy Mass with the Bishops at the Tomb of St. Peter. What a tremendous experience. Offered the intention for our seminarians back at Kennrick-Glennon Seminary. Back to North American College for a quick breakfast, then off to the Congregation for Bishops for our first meeting for the Ad Limina Visit.

Tuesday March 6, 2012

6:00pm
Celebrated Mass with the Bishops at the North American College. Offered the intention for my brother Vince, who turned 50! Happy Birthday Vince. Saw our three seminarians who live at the NAC. Extremely tired, going to bed as soon as possible.

8:33am
We arrived in Rome, just one hour behind schedule. Just woke up from a 3 hour nap and ran 16 laps around the track of the North American College, where our seminarians stay and where Archbishop Carlson, Bishop Hermann, Fr. Fischer and I are staying for the Ad Limina. Feeling drowsy!

Monday March 5, 2012

4:19pm
WE HAVE FUEL! We are boarding the plane and will soon be on our way!

2:48pm
The fun of travel. We just got delayed an hour!

2:09pm
In Atlanta, waiting to board. Taking all the intentions of the archdiocese with me. Oops, they just changed gates on us. SNEAKY!

10:10am
Excited, cleared security, next stop, Atlanta!

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Archbishop Carlson's Ad Limina visit with Holy Father

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:44:02 +0000

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Bishop Edward M. Rice, Bishop Robert J. Hermann, and Father Brian Fischer will be visiting the Vatican March 5-14 to deliver a report of the state of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to Pope Benedict XVI in the Ad Limina visit.

During the bishops' visit, we will have updates on this page, including photos, tweets from Archbishop Carlson's, stories from The St. Louis Review, and more.

To learn more about the Ad Limina report, please read our summary below and check back often for updates.

Tweets from Archbishop Carlson
Bishop Rice updates with his blog
Summary of Ad Limina Report
What is the Ad Limina report? Check out the story in the St. Louis Review to find out!
Watch videos from the USCCB

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Pope Benedict XVI Releases Lenten Letter

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:01:41 +0000

Below you will find Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten Letter. The predominant theme in his letter is charity and our responsibility towards otheres, so that together we might walk in holiness.

Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten Letter

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Komen reverses decision, will give funding to Planned Parenthood

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:22:33 +0000

By Jennifer Brinker & Joseph Kenny

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reversed its decision to halt grants to Planned Parenthood, leaving members of the local and national pro-life community dazed.

The organization apologized and has decided to revise its policy that led to its earlier decision to cut funding to the nation's largest abortion provider.

"We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities," according to a statement from Komen founder and CEO Nancy Brinker.

"Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair," the statement continued. " ... We sincerely hope that these changes will be welcomed by those who have expressed their concern."

Continue Reading this story from St. Louis Review

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Archbishop Carlson implores Catholics to stand up for religious freedom

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:00:53 +0000

February 1, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which was formed to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people – the Catholic population – and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And, as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop health coverage for our employees (and bring about the consequences for all in doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give nonprofit employers, like hospitals and universities, which do not currently provide such coverage, one year in which to comply.

We believe this new requirement signals a direct attack on our religious freedom. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God-given rights. In generations past, the Church has always counted on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And, therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith, we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting, that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

I call upon each of you to join me and the Bishops of the United States in speaking out on this violation of religious freedom and conscience by contacting your U.S. Representatives and our U.S. Senators. Every Catholic has the responsibility to promote the dignity of human life and religious freedom. If we do not make our voices heard, no one else will. Let us work together to preserve the freedoms our forefathers established in our Constitution!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson
Archbishop of St. Louis

SEIS COSAS QUE TODO EL MUNDO DEBERÍA SABER SOBRE LA REGULACIÓN DE HHS

La Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos ofrece las siguientes clarificaciones sobre la regulación impuesta por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS, Health and Human Services) sobre la cobertura obligatoria en planes de salud de anticonceptivos, esterilización y medicamentos que inducen abortos.

Caridades católicas, escuelas, universidades y hospitales no están exentas de cumplir con el mandato. Estas instituciones son vitales para la misión de la Iglesia, pero HHS no los considera “empleadores religiosos” que ameriten la protección de conciencia porque no “sirven principalmente a personas que comparten su mismas creencias religiosas”. HHS deniega a estas organizaciones el derecho a la libertad religiosa precisamente porque su propósito es servir al bien común de la sociedad—un propósito que el gobierno debería alentar, no castigar.
La regulación obliga a estas instituciones y a otras a pagar, en contra de su conciencia, por cosas que considera inmorales. Con este mandato el gobierno fuerza a las organizaciones religiosas que proveen seguro médico a sus empleados a escribir pólizas que violan sus creencias; obliga a empleadores religiosos y a escuelas a patrocinar y subsidiar cobertura médica que viola sus creencias; y obliga a empleadores religiosos y a estudiantes a comprar cobertura médica que va en contra de sus creencias.
El mandato legal obliga a incluir en la cobertura médica la esterilización, medicinas abortivas y otros dispositivos que inducen abortos así como anticonceptivos. Aunque comúnmente se conoce como el “mandato anticonceptivo”, la regulación impuesta por HHS fuerza a los empleadores a patrocinar y subsidiar la cobertura de procedimientos de esterilización. Y al incluir todos los medicamentos aprobados por la FDA (Federal Drug Administration) para su uso como anticonceptivos, entonces también se incluyen drogas que pueden producir abortos, tales como la píldora conocida como “Ella”, un medicamento con efectos similares a la píldora abortiva RU-486.
Católicos de todas las persuasiones políticas se han unido en su oposición a la regulación. Católicos que apoyaron por mucho tiempo a la Administración y sus políticas de salud han criticado públicamente la decisión del Departamento de Salud, incluyendo a renombrados columnistas como E.J. Dionne, Mark Shields y Michael Sean Winters; también los presidentes de colegios universitarios el padre John Jenkins (Notre Dame) y Arturo Chavez (Mexican American Catholic College); y la hermana Carol Keehan, de las Hijas de la Caridad, presidente y oficial en jefe de la Catholic Health Association de los Estados Unidos.
Muchas otras personas y grupos religiosos y seculares han alzado su voz contra este mandato legal. Muchos lo reconocen como un asalto al principio más alto de la libertad religiosa, incluso aunque no estén de acurdo con la Iglesia sobre la cuestión moral subyacente. Por ejemplo, grupos de cristianos protestantes, cristianos ortodoxos y ortodoxos judíos—ninguno de los cuales se opone a la anticoncepción—han emitido declaraciones formales en contra de la decisión de HHS. Periódicos prominentes de todo el país como el Washington Post, USA Today, New York Daily News, Detroit News y otros medios seculares, así como columnistas y blogueros han publicado editoriales en contra del mandato.
El mandato federal es mucho más estricto que los mandatos existentes en los estados. HHS escogió la exención religiosa al nivel estatal más estrecha posible como modelo para la suya propia. El borrador de esa exención fue elaborado por ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) y existe sólo en tres estados (Nueva York, California y Oregón). Incluso donde no hay una exención religiosa, los empleadores religiosos tienen la posibilidad de evitar mandatos anticonceptivos en 28 estados recurriendo a programas de auto-seguro de prescripciones médicas; a no ofrecer cobertura de medicamentos en su totalidad; o amparando su regulación bajo la protección de una ley federal (conocida como ERISA) que tiene preminencia, y por tanto anula, las disposiciones de la ley estatal. El nuevo mandato de HHS cierra todos estos recursos de amparo.

Más información sobre la posición de los obispos con respecto a la libertad religiosa, la protección de conciencia y la regulación de HHS sobre la cobertura obligatoria de anticonceptivos, esterilización y prescripciones o procedimientos que inducen abortos está disponible en at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm.

Archdiocese of St. Louis

We are called to serve one another

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:06:51 +0000

Jesus said, “this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn 15:12) As Christians we are called by these words of Christ to love and care for one another. The greatest way to outwardly express our love for one another is through charity- by donating our time, talent, and treasures to those in need.

The Advent and Christmas seasons are wonderful times to volunteer help for the less-fortunate in our community, but it’s important to keep in mind that there are many needs throughout the year that could benefit from your helping hands.

There are many ways to get involved in the Catholic ministries in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that help the poor, abused, neglected, elderly, disabled and lonely in our community. We invite you take a deeper look into to each of our ministries and help in whichever ways speak to you.

Father Dempsey’s Charities

Since 1906, Father Dempsey's Charities has provided transitional housing and a safe place to give a fresh start to men without a home. Today, Fr. Dempsey’s gives up to 60 residents a place to live and help with daily nourishment, getting a job, obtaining needed medical treatment, and accessing government benefits available due to military service, age, or disability. The average length of stay is one year.

As guests prepare to leave Father Dempsey's Charities to begin living independently, there is need for furniture and household items to help them get started. If you have useful items in good condition to share, please contact Maureen Quinn at 314.652.7275.

Contact Father Dempsey’s to volunteer or donate at 314.535.7221 or donate online.

Read more about Father Dempsey’s Charities.

Catholic Charities of St. Louis

Catholic Charities of St. Louis is one of the largest private providers of social services in the state of Missouri. Catholic Charities is comprised of 8 agencies offering more than 100 programs to assist, on average, more than 150,00 poor and impoverished people annually.

The Catholic Charities agencies and nearly 6,000 volunteers are dedicated to serving countless children, women, and men who do not have enough food to eat; who are deprived of adequate education, housing, or employment; who suffer the trauma of abuse or neglect.

Contact Catholic Charities year round for volunteer opportunities or to donate at 314.367.550 or donate online.

Read more about Catholic Charities of St. Louis.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

“Serving Christ’s needy is the first purpose of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides services in crisis intervention, housing, criminal justice ministry, transportation, and health.

Most parishes have a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, which are “chapters” of the Society. To find volunteer opportunities with your parish SVDP conference, you can call your parish office or look at the list of SVDP conferences.

To volunteer or donate to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul call 314.881.6000 or donate online.

Read more about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Before the Cross | Silence is essential to the evangelization of the young Church

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:18:13 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Silence is not simply the absence of noise. It is a necessary condition for discernment and reflection, for meditation and prayer, and for "welcoming the word" into our minds and hearts.

Silence is necessary for evangelization -- welcoming God's word and integrating it into our daily lives. Unless we are able to filter out the ever-increasing bombardment of messages of social communication and mass media, there is no way we can welcome God's word. Or reflect on it prayerfully. Or act on it in our daily lives.

Silence is essential to our ministry to the young Church. Young women and men are the targets of advertisements and the entertainment media. They are the constant recipients of seductive and alluring images that are meant to persuade them to think, dress, consume and behave in certain ways. They are told what to do and what to value. To counteract the barrage of secular or worldly communications directed at the young, we must preach the Gospel in word and action. But we must also make room for silence to allow members of the young Church to welcome the word and to discern what they are being called to be and do as followers of Jesus Christ.

The patron saint of silence is St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. In the Gospels he does not speak a word. He listens. He reflects. He acts. St. Joseph welcomed the word of God into his mind and heart. He welcomed Jesus, the Word made flesh, into his family and into his loving care. The silence of St. Joseph speaks louder than words. It gives bold witness to his unique vocation as redemptoris custos (the guardian of our redeemer).

If we want to reach out to members of the young Church and encourage them to welcome God's word in their lives, we need to help them discover what it means to be silent. If we want to foster vocations to ordained ministry, to consecrated life, to marriage and to the dedicated single life, we must help young men and women discover times and places where they can turn off the noise of modern life and tune in to the grand silence of God's holy peace.