Columns

Pastoral letter on conscience rights

teakphillips — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:47:20 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

File Attachment:

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson's letter to the faithful regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' mandate.

Before the Cross | A just global economy begins at home

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:14:58 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Catholic social teaching has articulated a simple but very important moral principal: The economy should exist for the good of human persons, not the other way around.

Before the Cross | Marriage is sacred, the foundation of human society

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:31:01 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

Pastoral message | Archbishop Carlson calls on Catholics to fight for conscience rights protections

teakphillips — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:00:28 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Today we are facing grave and unprecedented threats to our religious freedom here in the United States.

Before the Cross | Catholics must work to protect the conscience rights of health care providers

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:40:36 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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 religious and moral objections in the provision of health insurance and services that are contained in current law, for both individuals and institutions."

The Good Steward | Pope Benedict weighs in on the new evangelization in the new year

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:27:01 +0000

By Dan Conway

In a recent speech to bishops from the state of New York who were making the visit to Rome required of each bishop every five years, Pope Benedict XVI returned to two of the themes that dominated his visit to the United States in 2008: the sexual abuse crisis and the new evangelization. The pope's speech was the first of five major addresses that he will give as the U.S. bishops journey in 15 regional groups to Rome ad limina apostolorum (to the threshold of the apostles).

Man of the House | Background noise distracts us from hearing from God

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:26:16 +0000

by Mike Eisenbath

I have tinnitus.

The more common term for it is "ringing in the ears." It's not a disease but rather a symptom of many, many things.

There's no easy way for me to trace what it is that is causing the persistent, high-pitched sound inside my head. It could be my depression and anxiety; it could be the anti-depressant drugs I take to fight those things. It could be because of my caffeine intake, though an absence of caffeine is on the list of possible causes.

Before the Cross | Life is sacred; human life, inviolable

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:27:36 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

Before the Cross | Peace is both a gift and task

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:59:48 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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 can help us understand.

Catholics come home for Christmas

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:09:30 +0000

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

Mary invites us to come home to Jesus, her Son

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:25:06 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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)

10 reasons Catholics should come home

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:18:08 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

Evangelization begins with our love

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:37:21 +0000

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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.

Imagining Mary: Christmas painting opens eyes

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:38:28 +0000

I've been shopping for the perfect Christmas card, sifting through Nativity scenes framed in holly berries and bows.

None of the Marys feel right. The lips are taut. The face, unblemished. We see none of the bliss and bewilderment that must have surged after birthing the son of God. We see no emotion at all -- serenity as vacancy, sainthood as sedation.

Before the Cross | Every day should be Thanksgiving Day

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:01:16 +0000

By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

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 help. But for those whose suffering is not clinical but the result of day-to-day emotional or spiritual problems, I believe I have a solution.

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

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:00:14 +0000

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.

Man of the House | Is baseball really just a game? Let's reconsider

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:51:46 +0000

By Mike Eisenbath

During the baseball playoffs last month, one of my co-workers greeted another by asking, "Did you see the Cardinals' game last night?

She replied: "Why would I watch other people play a game?"

I guess it shouldn't surprise me that some people aren't baseball fans. I must confess, though, that I don't understand. I mean, really, it's baseball -- especially Cardinals baseball! What's not to love?

Before the Cross | Practical suggestions arise from Mission Advancement Initiative

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:30:20 +0000

On Oct. 29 we held the second annual archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly. Representatives from every parish and school in our archdiocese were invited to participate. The focus of the assembly this year was evangelization.

Several new initiatives were discussed including Catholics Come Home, the media campaign that will be conducted in the archdiocese during the Advent and Christmas seasons and Catholic St. Louis, a new magazine that will be published by the archdiocese -- with distribution to every Catholic household -- beginning in January.