How can I defend traditional marriage? Why should I?

By: Caitlin Bootsma

“At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in our hearts.”

(Pope Francis, formerly Cardinal Bergoglio, on homosexual marriage in Argentina)

The debate over homosexual marriage is everywhere right now – in the Supreme Court, on Facebook, and over coffee at work. Yet, sometimes it seems like it is not even a debate anymore; the rhetoric has changed. I hear excitement over “marriage equality” and “the civil rights movement of our time,” but little reasoned defense or advocacy for traditional marriage, an institution that is thousands of years old and reflects the natural law.

Perhaps you, like me, are worried about being offensive. I don’t want to seem mean-spirited, or lacking in compassion for people with same-sex attraction. I feel uncomfortable with being labeled a ‘bigot’ by family and friends, knowing that I’m not.

I do not hate people who identify as homosexual nor think that they have less dignity than anyone else. I do accept that homosexual acts (like a myriad of other sexual sins) are against God’s plan for our marriage and our happiness, a plan that is inscribed into the very nature of our bodies. You may have seen slogans asking you to “fight for love” and support gay marriage. And yet, I know that a loving action is not to create something that a. is against natural law and b. will have harmful effects on society, our religious freedom, on children and, in fact, on the homosexual couples themselves.

This is a lot to articulate on social media or over a cup of coffee, and I often find myself at a loss for words. But now is the time to speak up. The Supreme Court is hearing two cases on homosexual marriage this week. We could be fighting for the true definition of marriage for the next 40 years, just as we’ve been fighting against Roe v. Wade.

Now is the time to defend the institution of marriage. If you find that you don’t have the words to enter into discussions, I encourage you to read the following interview with Archbishop Cordileone (Archbishop of San Francisco). He lays out the reasons we should maintain a traditional definition of marriage and the ways in which homosexual marriage would hurt society and individuals. Archbishop Cordileone says,

“To legalize marriage between two people of the same sex would enshrine in the law the principle that mothers and fathers are interchangeable or irrelevant, and that marriage is essentially an institution about adults, not children; marriage would mean nothing more t than giving adults recognition and benefits in their most significant relationship.”

Read the rest here

We have a responsibility as Catholics who have been given the gift of faith and as citizens who are part of a democracy to search for the truth and to fight for it. Complacency over this issue is not an option for those who take to heart Christ’s call to be salt of the earth and light to the world.

Find more resources at: Marriage, Unique for a Reason

Fr. Scalia on the the truth of human sexuality

With Peter in Holy Week

By: Fr. Paul Scalia

Given all the attention the successor of St. Peter has received recently, it is fitting to give particular attention to the first pope this Holy Week.  Peter plays a prominent role – both inglorious and also edifying – in the drama of our Lord’s Passion.  From him we learn about both sin and repentance.

First, Peter’s sin.  We know that Peter followed our Lord to His place of trial and imprisonment.  But St. Luke provides an important detail: “Peter was following at a distance” (Lk 22:54). We can hazard some guesses at the reason for this distance.  Most likely Peter feared that if he drew too close he would be arrested and subject to the same fate as Jesus.  Perhaps he feared the shame of being known as the companion of a criminal and, worse, a false messiah.  Whatever the case, the distance he allows is the first step to his fall.  The “plausible deniability” he hopes to create leads to denial plain and simple. Because the distance cannot remain.  It has to be eliminated – either by drawing close to Jesus…or by severing the connection all together.

Watching Peter in this way helps us identify more clearly our own steps toward sin.  We follow Jesus at a distance.  Yes, we know we ought to be close to Him, even with Him.  But we like to keep a distance between ourselves and Him.  Perhaps, like Peter, we sense – rightly – that if we get too close to Him we will be subject to the same ridicule and suffering that He was.  And, although we want His goodness and grace…we do not really want that sacrifice.

We want to follow Jesus, but not so close that people will think of or treat us differently.  We keep a distance so that not too much will be asked of us.  We can have both the satisfaction of knowing that we follow Jesus and also the pleasure of knowing we are safe from any real sacrifice.

Whatever the case, we like to maintain a little plausible deniability.  And that ultimately will lead to denial.  The distance becomes too great.  And the evil one makes it greater.  We sin, in short, because we do not want to follow Jesus closely.  We want to follow Him, sure…but at a distance. Unfortunately, that distance simply provides room for the devil to exploit…and increase…and disrupt.

Peter’s fall strikes us as all the more shameful, of course, because of his profession of fidelity at the Last Supper: “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you” (Lk 22:33). In fact, our part is far worse than Peter’s.  He at least desired to do great things for our Lord.  He at least professed undying loyalty, unyielding fidelity.  We cannot stir ourselves to such noble sentiments.  We are content with mediocre devotion and half measures.  We want piety, but not holiness.  Peter failed to clear the high bar he had set for himself.  We, however, set the bar low and fail to clear it.

Repentence of St. Peter. Jose de Ribera

Second, Peter’s repentance.  The Apostle does not provide an example only via negativa.  If his fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale for us, his repentance provides a pattern to imitate.  Again St. Luke gives some wonderful details: “the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly” (Lk 22:61-62).

Notice the personal character of repentance: “the Lord turned and looked at Peter.”  It is the encounter with Jesus Himself, and in particular the face-to-face encounter, that stirs up the proper sorrow for sin within Peter. This glance in effect activates Peter’s conscience: he “remembered the word of the Lord…” He sees Jesus and remembers the goodness and the truth of what He had spoken.  He sees Jesus and realizes at once the distance between them.  And this is the essential difference between Peter and Judas.  Both failed Jesus tragically.  Both rued what they had done.  But Peter repented to our Lord, while Judas repented to himself.

Peter also allowed the reality of his sin to hit him: “He went out and began to weep bitterly.”  No rationalization or excuses.  No trying to adjust reality to fit his sin.  He allowed himself to be convicted and moved – to be changed.

Peter’s repentance should set the pattern for ours as well.  Sin is no mere violation of a rule or policy.  It is the denial of our Lord, the rejection of His Lordship in our life.  It is the rebellion against His creation and His will for our good.  As C. S. Lewis puts it, “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.”

What we should seek is that encounter with Jesus that stirs the conscience and prompts repentance. We can use various tools to examine our conscience: the Ten Commandments, the twofold commandment of love, the virtues, the capital sins, etc.  But whatever instrument we may use, our examination should always be done before the face of Christ.  It is only in the light of His face, as Peter discovered, that we come to know both the gravity of our sin and the power of His forgiveness.

This Holy Week, then, let us learn from Peter.  Let us consider our sins in light of Peter’s failure: we are following too far behind.  Let us draw close to Jesus – indeed, be with Him.  Likewise, let us repent of our sins after Peter’s example – seeking the face of Jesus, so that we will know our sins more clearly and experience His mercy more deeply.

“I was in prison and you visited me.”

By: Caitln Bootsma

Preparing Christmas Dinner at Christ House

Pope Francis continues to capture the attention of the world with his actions. For Holy Thursday, rather than celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s, he will celebrate at a Roman prison for youth. There, within the Mass for Holy Thursday, he will wash the feet of some of the young inmates. The papal title “Servant of the Servant of God” aptly fits Pope Francis; already he leads by his example of service.

I’m reminded of the first time I learned that Bishop Loverde spends his Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners serving meals to the homeless at Christ House in Alexandria. Surely, there are other days when he could serve those in need. Would it be so wrong to actually enjoy a holiday meal at home?

No, it wouldn’t be wrong for our pope and our bishop to have made other plans for these days, but their gestures of humility and service speak volumes.

When those young men and women in the juvenile detention center in Rome see that the Pope chose to spend one of the holiest days of the year with them, how can they help but feel valued? When he washes their feet, will they be struck by his love for them, for the Lord’s love for them?  Each Thanksgiving, the smiling faces of those at Christ House remind us that acts of charity are motivated by the desire to show others God’s love for them.

As Lent draws to a close, we will be reading and contemplating the end of Christ’s life. An innocent man – God Who came down to earth – Who chose the ultimate act of service, to die so that we might live.

There are so many ways to serve others, whether in your family, your parish, or the wider community. Catholic Charities needs a multitude of volunteers; the Gabriel Project needs “angels” to help pregnant women in need; Christ House always accepts food donations.

If you have the opportunity, find a way to watch Pope Francis’s visit on Holy Thursday and consider asking the Lord how it is that He is calling you to serve those around you.

And the World Saw White

Meredith Smith is a parishioner who most recently worked at Holy Spirit parish in Annandale, but is now studying at the Angelicum, a Pontifical University in Rome. We asked Meredith to share with us her experience (and photos) of being in St. Peter’s Square when the new Holy Father, Pope Francis, was selected.

Last Wednesday evening, white is exactly what the world saw: white smoke, white lights on the white basilica, and a white cassock. Our new Papa, Francesco, had been elected and was being announced to the world! I was very blessed to have been in St. Peter’s Square when the smoke went up and when Papa Francesco first stepped out onto the balcony.

It was a very miserable evening in Rome; it was raining and had been raining for days. So it was wet, cold, and we were very tired. But I had not seen any smoke live; I did not go to the Square on Tuesday evening and I was in class on Wednesday afternoon, so I was going to stay in that Square until smoke went up! I was with a group of seminarians from the Venerable English College and we all thought that we were going to see black. No one was expecting to see a new Pope that evening, and to be honest I wanted to get back to dry clothes and a warm bed! We were there waiting to see if anything would happen at the 5:30 ballot. 5:30 came and went and by 6 we decided that the ballot must have been inconclusive. So we made a circle with our umbrellas and settled in to wait, as settled as you can get in the rain and cold! And then at about 7:05 smoke went up; at first it looked grey and there was confusion: “Black? White? No? Yes?” But it quickly became clear that it was most definitely white and all the bells began to ring, announcing to all in Rome that a new pope had been elected!

As soon as the smoke went white everyone in the Square began to push/ run toward the front of the Square, towards the Basilica, to try to get the best view of the balcony where the new pope would soon appear. I was lucky enough to end up, or rather to be pushed, directly in front of the balcony, half way between the Obelisk and the Basilica. I had an amazing view. And then it was time to wait some more! Excitement and anticipation built with every minute; the speculation began: “Who would it be? Where would he be from? What name would he take?” The waiting seemed like an eternity and a nanosecond at the same time. People were singing songs from their countries and waving their country’s flags and people were chanting “Viva il Papa”. Words cannot even describe the joy and excitement that could be felt as I stood there with hundreds of thousands of my closest friends. The Square filled, the surrounding streets filled, it seemed that all of Rome came to greet their new Shepherd. And then, just over an hour later, the curtain moved!

“Habemus Papam”. The announcement was hard to understand and again there was confusion, “Who did he say? Where is he from? What name did he take?” Slowly, through the crowd you could hear murmuring of “Argentina… Francesco… Buenos Aries.” And then he appeared, Papa Francesco!

 

Reflecting on the Pope Emeritus

As the Cardinals prepare for the serious duties of entering the Conclave and choosing the next Supreme Pontiff, the idea of having a new Holy Father any day now is exciting, but also has led us to reflect on the last papacy. We thank Pope Emeritus Benedict for his selfless service to the Church and pray for God’s will to be done in choosing our new Pope. Today, the Diocese of Arlington’s Communications team will reflect on the legacy of His Holiness Benedict VXI, Pope Emeritus, and relate how he personally touched our lives. Please feel free to discuss how Benedict influenced your faith in the comments below.

Seeing Benedict strolling the grounds of Castel Gandolfo makes me realize how influential he was to me as a young Catholic and how his particular style of communication compelled me to delve deeper into my faith. I had hesitations about his election; the media described him as “God’s Rottweiler,” after all. How could I connect on a personal level to someone I perceived as a staunch and rigid Cardinal; we disagreed on modern issues from rock and roll to Harry Potter! I didn’t really feel he was the right person to lead the Church during such uncertain times, especially not when the very principles of the Church were being ridiculed by society and media as bigoted and uncharitable. I thought that such a dogmatic and unyielding leader, in my opinion, couldn’t bring the Church together. Yet that was exactly what Benedict did.

Even so, I was happy to have a Pope from Germany, the country of my heritage, and it was particularly delightful to see him in Rome, where, for the first time, I began to read his writings and was amazed at his deep love and invitations to everyone from saint to sinner. Seeing him celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass after reading his encyclical Deus Caritas Est helped me to remove the beam from my own eye in order to see more clearly and without negative judgments. In his papacy, Benedict strove to connect to Catholics, especially young adults, and constantly surprised us by adopting new communications platforms like Twitter. He was one of the oldest elected Popes, but his messages weren’t outdated and his efforts were robust. Even to the end of his papacy, Benedict constantly reached out towards his Church and encouraged us through love. His papacy was, especially for me, inspiring and renewing as he guided the Church back to Christ. “Love is possible, and we are able to practise it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world—this is the invitation I would like to extend with the present Encyclical” (Deus Caritas Est, 39).

-Kathleen Cosgrove

My clearest memory of Pope Benedict XVI is burned into my memory – partly because I was literally getting burned in the sun while waiting for a Papal Audience to begin. While I had the blessing of being able to see and hear Pope Benedict a number of times while I was in graduate school at a Pontifical University in Rome for several years, on this day I was sitting up on a dais only 15 feet from the Holy Father.

Why did I get to sit up front with the dignitaries and VIPs? Because my well-connected friend knew that on that very day my grandmother was being buried in the United States and that I was the only family member unable to be at her funeral.  You see, he knew my affection for Benedict – a wise shepherd who was like a scholarly, loving grandfather. I was continually struck by our former pope’s clarity in teaching, his obvious humility and his simple love for God and for beauty. That day I couldn’t be with my earthly family, but I felt so intimately the connection with the Church as I sat at the feet of the Holy Father.

At the end of the audience, Pope Benedict gave the audience attendees and their families a blessing. My grandmother always said that she thought that Heaven would look like St. Peter’s. But on that day, with the always sincere Pope Benedict extending his blessing to my grieving parent, siblings and cousins, St. Peter’s looked like home and the Holy Father seemed like family.
-Caitlin Bootsma

Following the Conclave

By: Michael Donohue

The Conclave to elect the new pope has begun. At 4:30 p.m. Rome time (11:30 EDT) the cardinals, two by two, chanting the Litany of the Saints, entered the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. Now, we keenly feel the  anticipation of the white smoke coming from the Vatican that will indicate that a new pontiff has been selected

This is an exciting time for the universal Church. Many of us would jump at the chance to be in Rome, joining with others in St. Peter’s Square, wondering whether we’d have the opportunity to welcome the new Holy Father. While this isn’t a possibility for most of us, we’re fortunate to live in a digital age that enables the Vatican-philes among us to follow along with the Conclave (well, at least with the parts that aren’t behind closed doors).

While every major news outlet has pieces running daily on the Conclave, I’d recommend the list below for engaging and accurate sources to hear the latest Vatican news:

• Rome Reports (video)
• The Vatican Today
• The Vatican Information Services Blog
• National Catholic Register Coverage

Here at the Chancery, both in the Communications department and the Arlington Catholic Herald, we are waiting to hear the papal news. If you are looking for a quick update of the latest Conclave news, check out our News and Resources page.

In closing, to borrow a sentiment from Bishop Loverde’s latest column, “The next few weeks will be both historic and momentous for the Universal Church. Hopefully, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will be celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord at Easter with a new pontiff in the Chair of St. Peter”

March for Marriage, March for the Family

By: Therese Bermpohl

There is another March coming to Washington, D.C., and this one may be equally as important as the March for Life that occurs every January.  This is the march for traditional marriage:  one man, one woman.  As we know too well, so goes the family so goes the culture, and what can destabilize a society more than dismantling its foundational institution of marriage?

Couples celebrate at the Marriage Jubilee Mass

On March 26, the Supreme Court will begin hearing two days of oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of California’s voter-passed Proposition 8, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.  The outcome of the high court’s decision will have a significant impact on the future of marriage in our country.

Much is at stake here, and it would well be worth the effort to carve out time to flood the streets of D.C. to show our support for traditional marriage. As Bishop Kevin Rhodes, Chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Women, Family Life and Youth, said in a recent letter to the bishops, “The march will be a significant opportunity to promote and defend marriage and the good of our nation, to pray for our Supreme Court justices, and to stand in solidarity with people of good will.”

To learn more about the march visit http://www.marriagemarch.org/

Schedule Events for the March for Marriage:

Tuesday, March 26^th

8:30 a.m.:  Gather at National Mall between 10^th Street and 12^th Street NW

& between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW

9:30 a.m.:  March to Supreme Court and then return to the National Mall

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.:  Rally begins at the National Mall