As we prepare for the important local, state and national elections that will be held later this year, we bishops of the United States have focused our attention on several current and fundamental problems that must be addressed by all of us as we form our consciences and vote as faithful citizens. Some of these problems involve opposition to intrinsic evils such as abortion and other threats to the lives and dignity of human beings. Other...
Archbishop's column
'Before The Cross' by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson. Archbishop Carlson is the ninth Archbishop of Saint Louis. Listed below are the most recent columns written by Archbishop Carlson; click on the title to read the column. The Archdiocesan website has more information about Archbishop Robert J. Carlson.
January 25, 2012
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January 23, 2012
Today we are facing grave and unprecedented threats to our religious freedom here in the United States. The Obama administration, through the Department of Health and Human Services, has decided to impose a nationwide mandate for coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs — including at least one abortion drug — sterilization procedures, and education and counseling to promote these to "all women with reproductive capacity."The HHS rule... |
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January 18, 2012
Days before final votes in Congress on the Affordable Care Act, Cardinal Francis George, then president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reaffirmed what we bishops had said many times over the previous year: "Any final bill, to be fair to all, must retain the accommodation of the full range of... |
January 13, 2012
The most fundamental value of human life is the dignity of every human person. Nothing is more important than our awareness that life is sacred, and that human life is inviolable, because all are made in the image and likeness of God. No one has the right to take a human life arbitrarily. A civilization experiences a severe moral crisis when it permits, or even encourages, the arbitrary taking of human life. Culture exists to build up... |
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January 4, 2012
The first words Christ spoke to his Apostles after He rose from the dead were: "Peace be with you" (John 20:19). What He gave as a gift after His Resurrection, He left as a task after His Ascension: the Apostles, with the help of the Holy Spirit, were to communicate Christ's peace to others. Therefore, as the Holy Father points out, "Peace is both gift and task." How can peace be both gift and task at the same time? A simple analogy... |
December 26, 2011
This Christmas we are making a special effort to urge all members of the Catholic community to "come home" for Christmas. Why? Because Christmas is a time for the entire family of God to recall the beauty and the wonder of the Christ Child's birth. Catholics Come Home is a collaborative effort of parish initiatives coupled with a regional media campaign of television commercials. The commercials have been specially developed to... |
December 14, 2011
Mary, because she has entered intimately into the history of salvation, in a certain sense gathers up in her own person the great truths of the faith and awakens their resonance when she is the object of preaching and veneration; she summons the faithful to her Son, to His sacrifice and to the Father's love (Lumen Gentium No. 63) Many... |
December 7, 2011
Our Catholic faith is the largest Christian family in the world. Our Church is a vibrant and growing family, but we miss our brothers and sisters who have not been to Mass lately. God loves you so much that He will not stop searching for you, reaching out to you, seeking you. St. Augustine, a convert to the faith at age 33, once said, "You have made us for yourself, O... |
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November 30, 2011
The Church always evangelizes, the Holy Father tells us, because it is the nature of the Church to give witness to the person of Jesus Christ and His saving message. When we celebrate the sacraments, especially the holy Eucharist; when we proclaim the good news that God's kingdom is in our midst, here and now; when we give generously to the poor and work to build communities of justice and peace in our world; we are evangelizing. Today... |
November 23, 2011
Are you angry, hurt or lonely? Are you unhappy because people or situations in your life make you uncomfortable or afraid? If so, you are not alone. Many people share your anxieties. As a result, the holiday season too often is a time of sorrow instead of a time of joy. There are those who suffer from serious disorders that require professional help. I urge anyone who needs medical attention or professional counseling to seek... |
