The Bishops And Lay Ecclesiastical Ministries

Pertinent to “Bishops of America Say They Share Evangelization Concerns” (June 26-July 2):

After several years of ecclesiastical confusion, my wife and I attended a Catholic family conference and, taking a speaker's advice, bought the 16 decrees of the Second Vatican Council. Prior to that, we (like so many) only knew what we had been told. While studying the documents and the Catechism, much confusion disappeared.

Then I watched EWTN's recap of the June bishops’ meeting in progress. Talk about déjà vu! The debate was about LEMs. This is an acronym for lay ecclesiastical ministers. Yes, Virginia, the Church (not to be left out) also uses acronyms. A lay ecclesiastical minister is not a typical extraordinary minister of holy Communion, lay catechist or lector, which we are so accustomed to in a typical parish. Rather, LEMs are usually people with degrees in theology, canon law, ministry, etc., who have positions in parishes, chancery offices or perhaps on committees of the national bishops’ conference. And, we were told, there are some 30,000 of them in the United States alone, almost all working for a salary.

The bishops were discussing their status and compensation issues, and have a committee studying the whole concept. Some of the bishops were somewhat critical of their [performance] in some areas, for example their roles in the deterioration of catechesis from the 1970s on. One metropolitan archbishop told about interviewing young priests about parish work and learned that they often didn't have much to do, because so much had been turned over to lay ministers. Most of the bishops seemed to take this state of affairs for granted, going on about these wonderful people giving their services to the Church in the “spirit of Vatican II.”

A bit of research will show that the sense of the council was that the laity should be renewed in their understanding of the Gospel so that they would be equipped to take the message from the Church to the world at large, which needs to be evangelized. The Gospels usually have Jesus taking the Good News to the streets. Unfortunately, most of this effort is involving laymen in Church jobs that have little or no impact on the spreading of the Gospel to the world at large.

It has been written often that strong Catholic opposition could have prevented the Roe v. Wade decision. But the focus was on involving the laity in internal Church jobs. Pope John Paul II wanted the Church to evangelize the culture. Some bishops have called for a plenary council to address the issue. Pope Benedict XVI, in his pre-election preaching, seemed to prefer, finally, implementing Vatican II instead.

We all should pray and work that his admonition and his call for a New Evangelization are carried out.

JOSEPH CALLAGHER

Shingle Springs, California

Pro-Life Organ Donation

I appreciated “To Give and Not Count the Cost” regarding organ donation (July 17-23).

Indeed, it is pro-life to consider donating our organs to improve and/or extend the life of another human being. But your article does not mention the dangers in organ donations: Many healthcare providers are not pro-life.

Unfortunately, today's medical ethics have become increasingly utilitarian and devoid of a “sanctity of life” ethic. Secular ethicists might be eager to improve the “quality of life” of a human being, but many have no problem hastening the death of a donor in order to obtain an organ for another human being. This is certainly not in the best interest of the donor.

Persons who want to be donors — or anyone concerned about their God-given right to life — should strongly consider filling out a pro-life healthcare advance directive, e.g., a “Will to Live,” offered by the National Right to Life Committee at nrlc.org. This document has a general presumption for life and specifically forbids hastening the death of a donor for organ procurement.

DEBORAH STURM, RN

Member, National Association

of Pro-Life Nurses

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Mass Teaching Opportunity

Regarding “Bishops Postpone Action on Mass Adaptations” (July 3-9):

One of the prayers from the Mass under discussion is the memorial acclamation “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”

The holy sacrifice of the Mass involves both God and his people. The other memorial acclamations include the people of God. Theologically, the memorial acclamation under discussion is deficient.

I believe that this could be cured, and provide a pastoral teaching opportunity, if the memorial acclamation was changed to “Christ has died for us, Christ is risen for us, Christ will come again for us.”

JOEL FAGO

Phoenix, Arizona

From the Front Line

Thank you for your support, prayers and prayer books [Guide to the Rosary]. The men of ADA 944 are very grateful.

The men and young soldiers and Marines are making tremendous sacrifices every day. Their conviction to duty humbles me. I pray for my men daily. I place all of my faith in Christ. I have a son at home, Luke, who is 1 year old. I pray the Lord will see fit I may return to him.

The month of May was tough on us forces. Eighty were killed in action, the second highest death toll since the onset of the war.

We are making a difference down here. The Iraqi soldiers and locals we interact with on a daily basis are very grateful toward us. The foreign fighters are the main problem.

Thank you again for your prayers. God Bless and peace be with you.

MASTER SERGEANT MIKE CUTONE

U.S. Army Special Forces

Iraq

Prayerful Gratitude

Thank you so much for the special John Paul II edition of the Register (April 10-16). We are so grateful, as we truly enjoy your publication and we just absolutely love and miss our dear beloved John Paul II the Great.

Please know that we are praying for all of you and your work and as we adore Jesus, our Eucharistic King!

THE NUNS OF OUR LADY OF

THE ANGELS MONASTERY

Hanceville, Alabama

A Call to Care

Pertinent to “Gospel Rock Stars” (Prolife Victories, June 19-25):

This is a reminder to your readers. Do you have a friend or a relative living in a nursing home? How long has it been since you visited them?

Two years ago, my sister died in a nursing home. She was 93 and had endured many health problems. The home was rated a good place, probably as good as it could be, considering the limitations of budget, frequent turnover and insufficiency of staff, etc. However, the caregivers I met were always kind and cheerful.

What impressed me the most on my visits was the collection of patients sitting in wheelchairs drawn close to the entrance. Every time I entered, I would see heads lift and eyes watch expectantly. Then, the gaze would drop and shift away with the realization that I was not the someone they had hoped to see. Their expressions dimmed into a sadness that I found very eloquent. I always smiled and greeted them, but they would just silently turn away. I was just another disappointment.

The director had told me how often mothers or fathers might be brought in and, thereafter, the escorts neither called nor came again. I believe “warehousing” or “abandonment” would describe it. Such patients must feel that hey have already died.

How much good and comfort is expressed by even a brief visit, holding a hand, sharing a kiss or a hug, a few murmured words of sympathy and love? Just the difference between despair and the courage to keep going.

I keep remembering that even Christ was deserted. Do you recall the biblical description of him in the garden when even his closest friends and followers slept while he suffered his agony alone? He later asked them: “Could you not watch one hour with me?”

Can't you spare on hour in a week, or even a month? To the lonely and forlorn, it could be the only reason to soldier on. So, be there!

ELENOR LOARIE SCHOEN

Shoreline, Washington

Benedict Bonanza

I don't write many letters to the editor, but I feel compelled to thank you for all the wonderful articles and terrific photographs of our new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. We will never see any of these photos in the secular press — they only want him to look unfriendly!

Also, I was glad to read the letter in the July 3-9 issue titled “Off Centering.” It did seem to me that this concept of centering prayer was a bit controversial. I had an experience with it many years ago at a diocesan retreat house. We were all told to lie flat on the floor in the dark and repeat a mantra. It all seemed a ridiculous approach to spirituality at the time and still does. Sort of like Zen.

Anyway, keep up the terrific job you are doing. You are much needed!

ISABEL KOTLINSKI

Columbus, Ohio

See You in August

The next issue of the Register will be dated Aug. 7-13.

The Register is published every week except during our midsummer skip and our Christmas break.