Press Releases

STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP ROBERT J. CARLSON ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SUPPORT OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:36:41 +0000

May 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

St. Louis, MO — The Archdiocese of St. Louis is profoundly disappointed that President Barack Obama has given his support to same-sex marriage. The bodies of men and women are made for each other. The union of the two has the potential to produce life - this is a sign of God’s plan for marriage. The Catholic Church believes that marriage is a Sacrament, a sacred union between one man and one woman who imitate the way Christ offers His body completely to the Church so that we might have life.

Additional remarks from Timothy Cardinal Dolan, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), can be found on the USCCB's website.

Office of Communications and Planning

KENRICK-GLENNON “CHAIR OF CHURCH HISTORY” ESTABLISHED IN HONOR OF CARDINAL DOLAN

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Sun, 06 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000

May 6, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

Contributions may be mailed to address below

St. Louis, MO — In honor of the joyous homecoming of Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan to his beloved St. Louis following his elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson and the Board of Trustees of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, have established the “Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan Chair of Church History” at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

Archbishop Carlson made the announcement at the close of the Mass of Thanksgiving held today at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in Cardinal Dolan’s honor.

The Chair of Church History endowment will help equip Kenrick-Glennon Seminary with the financial support needed to ensure the highest quality of ongoing education and training of future priests. Specifically, it will provide financial support in acquiring the finest teachers and materials for the study of church history.

“When you consider the rich history and commitment Cardinal Dolan has with Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, it becomes clear that this is a very fitting and appropriate way to honor him,” Archbishop Carlson said.

Before receiving his M.A. and PhD. in Church History from Catholic University, Cardinal Dolan attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary where he received a B.A. in Philosophy in 1972. From 1992-1994, Cardinal Dolan served as Vice-Rector, Director of Spiritual Formation and Professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

Gifts in honor of Cardinal Dolan may be mailed to:

Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson
c/o Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Development Office
Chair of Church History Endowment
20 Archbishop May Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119

Office of Communications and Planning

SIX MEN TO BE ORDAINED AS TRANSITIONAL DEACONS

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:09:43 +0000

May 1, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 5

St. Louis — Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will ordain six men to the transitional diaconate at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End.

Michael Benz, Raymond Buehler, John Nickolai, Charles Samson and Christopher Seiler will be ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Brother Pio Enudu will be ordained for the Society of Our Mother of Peace. Samson and Seiler are students at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The other men attend Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Shrewsbury.

Transitional deacons are seminarians in their last year of preparation for ordination to the priesthood. A transitional deacon may baptize, distribute Communion, witness marriages and lead rites for Christian burial.

Samson and Seiler are expected to begin advanced study programs in Rome, after they complete undergraduate degrees in sacred theology from Pontifical Gregorian University this June. The Kenrick-Glennon seminarians are expected to complete their master of divinity degrees and master of theology degrees by spring 2013.

In addition, five other Kenrick-Glennon seminarians will be ordained this spring to the transitional diaconate for other dioceses. Nathan Haverland, Daniel Schmitz and Quentin Schmitz will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. Thomas Grafsgaard and Corey Nelson will be ordained for the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota.

Office of Communications and Planning

ARCHBISHOP TO DEDICATE NEW CHURCH FOR ST. GIANNA

bengovero — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:37:47 +0000

April 27, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

Mass and ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 29

St. Louis — Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will dedicate St. Gianna’s long-awaited church this Sunday, April 29th, after 10:30 a.m. mass. This is the first church building for the 6-year-old parish that was formed to cope with rapid growth within the boundaries of Immaculate Conception in Dardenne Prairie and St. Patrick in Wentzville. St. Gianna was the first new parish to be established in the St. Charles deanery in over 25 years.

There are currently 360 families registered with the parish and approximately 600 people attend mass on weekends. Until recently, the parish held mass in a rented space in Lake Saint Louis. By contrast, the beautiful new 24,000 square foot parish complex, located on Highway N in Wentzville, includes the church, rectory, parish offices and classroom space.

“It’s our dream come true, a beautiful place to worship God,” said Father Timothy Elliott, pastor of the parish. The new church, rectangular with an open feel, features restored stained-glass windows that once adorned St. Philip Neri Church in north St. Louis and four paintings in the sanctuary that depict the life of St. Gianna Molla, a contemporary Italian saint.

Gianna Beretta Molla was a wife, mother, and physician who died in 1962 after refusing to have an abortion in order to save her own life. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004 and her feast day is celebrated on April 28, which is also the official date of the founding of the new parish in 2006. It is thought to be the first parish in the United States to be named for Saint Gianna.

Office of Communications and Planning

CARDINAL DOLAN RETURNS TO ST. LOUIS FOR MASS OF THANKSGIVING

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:12:40 +0000

April 25, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

St. Louis — His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York and native St. Louisan, will return to the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a Mass of Thanksgiving for his elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals.

The Mass will be held Sunday, May 6, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, 4431 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis.

The Mass is open to the public, but seating may be limited. Reserved seating for guests of Cardinal Dolan will be accessible only with a ticket. Seating will begin at 1:45 p.m. with ushers checking tickets and guiding attendees to appropriate seats. The public is to enter the Cathedral Basilica through the main entrance facing Lindell Boulevard.

Beginning at 1:00 p.m., sections of Lindell Boulevard will be closed. Handicap parking will be available in the Cathedral Basilica parking lot for those with a handicap parking tag. Additional details can be accessed at archstl.org/dolan-live.

A public reception with Cardinal Dolan will follow Mass at Rosati-Kain High School, 4389 Lindell Boulevard.

To coordinate access, please contact Angie Shelton (see contact information at upper left corner) by May 3, if you plan to send a representative.

Office of Communications and Planning

RESPONSE TO COURT RULING ON ST. STANISLAUS

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:30:00 +0000

March 15, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

Archdiocese of St. Louis plans to appeal the decision

St. Louis, MO - The court’s decision today is a disappointment for Polish American Catholics who wished to see St. Stanislaus returned to communion with the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, it brings great sadness to all in the Archdiocese of St. Louis who had hoped for reconciliation and healing in this matter.

In this opinion, the judge has agreed that the corporate purpose of the parish corporation is to maintain a Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has determined that the corporation by revising its bylaws in 2001 and 2004 has transformed St. Stanislaus into an entity which has no resemblance to a Roman Catholic parish. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson has sup- ported the determination of the Vatican and has tried to work with the parish to bring it in communion with the Roman Catholic Church once again.

Judge Hettenbach, in the opinion issued today, has disregarded these ecclesiastical determinations and has substituted his own analysis of Church law, finding that the bylaws are not in conflict with the parish corporate purpose of maintaining a Roman Catholic Church. We plan to appeal this decision and will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

We are committed in prayer and pastoral outreach to reconcile the members of St. Stanislaus to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Office of Communications and Planning

MISSOURI CATHOLICS TEAM UP WITH PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:56:03 +0000

March 13, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

“Rally for Religious Liberty” to be held at State Capitol

(St. Louis, MO) — The President’s federal healthcare mandate is causing an extraordinary result. Later this month, the Missouri Catholic Conference will join forces with the Missouri Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Missouri Right to Life to show support for conscience rights.

A “Rally for Religious Liberty” will take place in the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda at Noon on March 27th, 2012. Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, will speak, along with Dr. John Yeats, Executive Director of Missouri Baptist Convention, and Ms. Maggie Karner with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

“We can’t afford to be passive when our federal government has taken a position that forces people of faith and religious entities to act in a way that is contrary to our morals and beliefs,” said Archbishop Carlson.

“We have seen decades of tragedy resulting from the overreach of government in the Roe v Wade decision. It is important for us to do something now to secure conscience rights for citizens and avoid further tragedy.” Carlson added.

Organizers are hoping at least 8,000 will join together, wearing red, to show support for conscience rights. Registration begins at 10 am for attendees interested in speaking with their legislators in advance.

Transportation is available. Visit the Respect Life sign-up page for more information. (http://archstl.org/respectlife/post/sign-bus-service-jefferson-city-mar)

Office of Communications and Planning

STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP ROBERT J. CARLSON ON OBAMA COMPROMISE TO HHS MANDATE

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:33:30 +0000

February 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Angie Shelton
Community Relations Specialist
Phone: 314-792-7101

St. Louis, MO--Today, the Obama Administration announced it will implement a policy which “accommodates religious liberty while protecting the health of women.” While it is positive that the administration continues to review the issue, it remains to be seen whether today’s announced action will form the basis of a resolution.

Unfortunately, what this accommodation really means is that religious groups will still be forced to purchase healthcare coverage that includes contraception and abortifacients. The fact that the responsibility is now on the insurance companies is simply a matter of semantics. It does not appear that there is any substantive change from the original regulation requiring health plans sponsored by religiously affiliated entities to provide contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion inducing drugs to which we have objected.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that the issue at hand is the protection of one of our most basic freedoms—the freedom of religious rights. What President Obama’s Administration presented today does not yet appear to be the best possible solution to this gravely important matter.

To echo the statement released today by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of USCCB, this dialogue must be kept open. We have not yet reached agreement on the matter. The Archdiocese of St. Louis is, at this point, unable to say whether the proposal of President Obama for the resolution of the problems created by the contraception, sterilization, and availability of abortion inducing drugs mandate of his administration will provide any relief for religiously affiliated employers.

Let us call to mind a statement from the Congressional documents of the United States, “The framers of the Constitution recognized the eternal principle that man’s relation with his God is above human legislation and his rights of conscience inalienable. . . It is an inborn principle which nothing can eradicate.”

Office of Communications and Planning

Youth in scouting recognized for Building of faith by WORK on faith formation programs

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:03:40 +0000

February 3, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Westhoff
Director of Marketing
Phone: 314-792-7635

WHO: Auxiliary Bishop, Edward M. Rice and Scouts from the Archdiocese of St. Louis

WHAT: Prayer service to celebrate Scouting Sunday and bestowing of awards to scouts

WHEN: Sunday, February 5, 2012

WHERE: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd.
WHY: The Catholic Youth Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Greater St. Louis Area Council - Boy Scouts of America Celebrate 102 years of youth ministry. The ministry of the Catholic Youth Apostolate is to bring the message of Jesus Christ to youth 5 years to 21 years of age, young adults and adults involved in scouting through faith formation programs and retreats.

Office of Communications and Planning

STATEMENT OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. LOUIS REGARDING FATHER ROBERT MANNING

amandatrimble@archstl.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:02:32 +0000

February 3, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Westhoff
Director of Marketing
Phone: 314-792-7635

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has been made aware of a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor involving Fr. Robert Manning, a priest of the Archdiocese who was, at the time of the alleged incident, serving as a priest in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. This is the only allegation of abuse involving Fr. Manning during his years of service as a priest, the last five of which have been in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. While the police are investigating this allegation, Fr. Manning has been placed on administrative leave. He is residing in a monitored environment and will not be permitted to exercise any form of public ministry.

The Archdiocese encourages anyone who has been harmed by a member of the clergy to contact Phil Hengen, the Director of the Office Child and Youth Protection of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, at 314- 792-7704 or the civil authorities.

Office of Communications and Planning