My Take on the News: Change, a Prayer, and New Neighbors

These "My Take on the News" posts generally focus on news that's no more than a few days old. This week, I found notes for articles from March 27 and 29, 2012: about a new blessing; and a practical sort of charity. Between articles from March, and another from the first week in April, this post's news - isn't very new.

For my take on this week's news, check out yesterday's post:

• "The New Evangelization: Clear Voices"
  (April 12, 2012)

Maybe I'm not all that far behind, though. That blessing isn't scheduled for publication until just before Mother's Day this year.

1. New Recruits in Religious Orders
2. "Impressed With the Beauty of this Blessing for Human Life in the Womb"
3. Immigration and Getting a Grip

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1. New Recruits in Religious Orders

"Study: New Members In Religious Orders Younger, More Educated"
USCCB press release (April 5, 2012)

"Religious brothers added to class survey
"Men, women considering vocation at younger age
"Many attended Catholic schools"

"Women and men entering religious orders today are younger and more educated than new members of the recent past. They also have participated in numerous church activities, including parish youth ministry and campus ministry, according to a national survey.

"The findings were made public in New Sisters and Brothers in Perpetual Vows, a study of men and women religious who professed perpetual vows in 2011. The study was conducted by the Georgetown University-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).

"Profession of perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience marks a final step of incorporation of new members into religious communities."

When Catholics in America talk about "vocations," this is the sort of thing we generally have in mind: religious orders, and the clergy. That's accurate, as far as it goes, but a "vocation" can be quite a few things:

• Career, calling
  • The particular occupation for which you are trained
• Occupational group
  • A body of people doing the same kind of work
  (Princeton's WordNet)
• Priesthood, diaconate, consecrated life
  • The calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary; and see
  "Clergy Consecrated Life and Vocations," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

For Catholics, there are several sorts of vocations. (Catechism, 871-873) Some are with the hierarchy, some with the lay faithful. We're not "equal" in the sense of being the same, and I've been over that sort of thing before. (April 12, 2012) Here's a short list of Catholic vocations:

• Hierarchy
  
  • Ordained
    • Pope
    • Bishops
    • Priests
    • Deacons
    (Catechism, 874-896)
    
  • Vowed
    • Folks in religious orders
    (Catechism, 925-927)
• The Lay Faithful
  (Catechism, 897-913)
  • Definition of laity:
    "all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church"
    (Catechism, 897)
    • Married
      (Catechism, 1603)
    • Single
      (Catechism, 1658)
  • Vocation of lay people
    (Catechism, 898-900)
    • To seek the kingdom of God by
      • Engaging in temporal affairs
        • Directing them
        • According to God's will
      (Catechism, 898)
  (from December 11, 2011)

Demographics: or, Change Happens

I'm not surprised that new recruits for religious orders are younger, with more education, than their counterparts a few years back.

My guess is that demographic shifts in America may have something to do with the change:

"...• Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those surveyed identify themselves as white while nearly one in five (19 percent) identify as Asian, and almost one in ten (nine percent) identify as Hispanic.Seventy percent were born in the United States. Of those born outside the United States, the most common countries of origin are Vietnam, the Philippines and India.

"• More than nine in ten (94 percent) respondents have been Catholic since birth.About eight in ten (79 percent) come from families in which both parents are Catholic...." (USCCB)

Full survey results are online at the USCCB website:

• "Profession Class of 2011"
  www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/consecrated-life/profession-class
• "New Sisters and Brothers in Perpetual Vows"
  Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
  Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D., C. Joseph O’Hara, Ph.D., Georgetown University, Washington, DC (December 2011)
  (from www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/upload/New-Sisters-and-Brothers-in-Perpetual-Vows.pdf (April 12, 2012))

America: It's Not the '50s Any More

America didn't really look like "Happy Days" in the '50s, not everywhere. This country is even less like the (fictional) Cunningham's neighborhood today.

I think that's great, and would be concerned if folks weren't deciding to make this country their new home. As I've said before:

"...It's not that I'm 'open minded' in the contemporary American sense of the word. I'm a practicing Catholic, and there are (what else?) rules about neighbors. Basically, I must love my neighbors - and everybody is my neighbor...." (June 18, 2011)

I think quite a bit of what the Catholic Church teaches is what happens when folks spell out why and how we should love God, and love our neighbor. And that everybody's our neighbor. (Matthew 5:43-44; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-30; Catechism, 1825) I'll get back to immigration and getting a grip, later in this post.

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2. "Impressed With the Beauty of this Blessing for Human Life in the Womb"

"Vatican Approves Blessing for Child in the Womb"
ZENIT (March 29, 2012)

"Vatican has approved the publication of the 'Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb,' which will be printed in English and Spanish, according to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"It will be published as a combined booklet and should be available for parishes by Mothers' Day.

"The approval came from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.

" 'I'm impressed with the beauty of this blessing for human life in the womb,' said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the USCCB...."

I'm looking forward to seeing that booklet. News of the new blessing has been filtering through American media. I put the full text of a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) press release at the end of this post.¹ They've got a pretty good online 'press room:'

• News Releases
  www.usccb.org/news
  Media, USCCB

Prayer

Prayer is very much a part of being Catholic. The nature, purpose, and procedures of prayer take up quite a few pages in the Catechism:

• Prayer is
  • Important
    (Catechism, 2558)
    • Really important
      (Catechism, 2744-2745)
  • God's gift
    (Catechism, -2561)
  • A covenant
    (2562-2564)
  • Communion
    
    • "...the living relationship of the children of God with their Father...."
    (Catechism, 2565)
  • A battle
    (Catechism, 2725-2745)
• Types of prayer
  • Vocal prayer
    (Catechism, 2700-2704)
  • Meditation
    (Catechism, 2705-2708)
  • Contemplative prayer
    (Catechism, 2709-2719)

That's nowhere near a complete listing of what the Catechism says about prayer. And the current Catechism is small part of what the Church has had to say about prayer over the last two millennia: which is another topic.

Why Stay?

The Catholic Church has a reputation for having lots of rules. There's something to that.

The Church's demanding that I pray regularly is an example. If I'm going to stay with the Church, that is. I can leave any time I like, but that doesn't seem prudent:

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?'

"Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

"We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.' " (John 6:67-69)

My Lord's "Do you also want to leave?" came after Jesus had told his followers, explicitly, just what they needed to do: and that's yet another topic. (John 6:51-58; and see Footnote 19)

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3. Immigration and Getting a Grip

"U.S. Bishops, Other Denominations File Amicus Curiae Brief In Supreme Court Case Of Arizona Vs. United States"
Press release, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (March 27, 2012)

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and several other Christian denominations filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Arizona vs. United States, supporting the principle that the federal government controls the enactment and implementation of the nation's immigration laws. The March 26 brief argued that the federal government is in the best position to protect the well-established goals of family unity and human dignity in the nation's immigration system...."

What the bishops are doing isn't as crazy as it may seem.

What's Right, What's Wrong, What's Legal

Part of a bishop's job description is tell folks how principles like 'love God, love your neighbor' apply to the local culture.

"The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, as authentic teachers, preach to the People of God the faith which is to be believed and applied in moral life. It is also incumbent on them to pronounce on moral questions that fall within the natural law and reason."
(Catechism, 2050)

For example, Catholic Bishops are trying to keep America's government from making us kill babies, or pay someone else to do the job.² That's because the Catholic Church teaches that:

• Human life is sacred
  (Catechism, 2258)
• Murder is wrong
  (Catechism, 2259-2262, 2268-2269)
  • Even if the victim is
    • Very young
      (Catechism, 2270-2275)
    • Sick or helpless
      (Catechism, 2276-2279)
    • Yourself
      (Catechism, 2280-2283)
  (from (March 8, 2012))

Acting as if "right" and "wrong" apply to laws may seem "political." I don't see it quite that way, and I've been over this before:

• "Morality, Wisdom, and Getting a Grip"
  (June 3, 2011)
• "Conservative? Liberal? Democrat? Republican? No, I'm Catholic"
  (November 3, 2008)

Immigrants and Religious Liberty

"...The brief also made the case that a patchwork of state laws could inhibit the Church's mission to serve immigrants, thus impinging upon religious liberty. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service joined the bishops in filing the brief.

"Citing numerous examples of federal immigration policies designed to further family unity and human dignity, the brief argued that Arizona's SB 1070 is not a solution to the problems in federal law and in fact creates more problems than it solves...."

I put the press release's full text at the end of this post.³

Serving immigrants may not seem to have much to do with religious liberty. As a practicing Catholic, I have to act as if what I believe matters. (February 5, 2012) Even if that means being counter cultural. (March 4, 2012)

Back to what the bishops have to say:

"Human Dignity," "Undocumented Immigrants," and the Bishops

"...'The Conference has a strong interest in ensuring that courts adhere to two important goals of federal immigration law-the promotion of family unity and the protection of human dignity,' the brief stated. 'The provisions of SB 1070 at issue in this case would hinder these critical federal objectives by replacing them with the single goal of reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in Arizona at all costs.'..."
(USCCB)

The brief is available online, and it's about as much fun to read as the title implies:

• BRIEF OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE, AND REV. GRADYE PARSONS AS STATED CLERK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENT
  (March 26, 2012)
  (from www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/state-of-arizona-v-united-states-of-america.pdf (March 30, 2012))

I think it's worth glancing over, though.

Foreigners, Sin, and Neighbors

Wouldn't you know it? The Catholic Church has rules about foreigners:

"The catechetical tradition also recalls that there are "sins that cry to heaven": the blood of Abel,¹³⁹ the sin of the Sodomites,¹⁴⁰ the cry of the people oppressed in Egypt,¹⁴¹ the cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan,¹⁴² injustice to the wage earner.¹⁴³"
(Catechism, 1867)

I've been over this before. Often:

• Love God, love your neighbor
  (Matthew 5:43-44; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-30; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1825)
  • Everybody is our neighbor
    (Matthew 5:43-44; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-30; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1825)

An Echo of Respect and Gratitude

"The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens."
(Catechism, 2241)

I'm glad that my ancestors were able to come to one of the "prosperous nations," a few generations back.

Other folks are making the same sort of hard decisions today: and some are coming to America. I think that's great. I'd be very concerned if folks didn't keep coming to this country. Maybe my attitude is an echo of that obligatory respect and gratitude.

Related posts:

• Vocations
  • "Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; And the Fish Tale of Towards and Away"
    (January 22, 2012)
  • "Vocations for Everyone"
    (December 11, 2011)
  • "Rich in Vocations: It Could Happen Here"
    (March 2, 2011)
  • "National Vocations Week: What's a Vocation?"
    (January 10, 2011)
  • "Year for Priests: 'Lord, Send Us Many Holy Priests' "
    (July 5, 2009)
  Prayer and blessing
  • "Prayer for Protection of Conscience Rights in Health Care"
    (March 18, 2012)
  • "Ash Wednesday, 2012: Another Lent, Another Chaplet"
    (February 22, 2012)
  • "Table Prayer, Catholic Style, and a Public Rosary"
    (October 16, 2011)
  • "What Kind of Christian Prays For His Enemies?!"
    (May 18, 2011)
  • "A Little Soap, A Little Prayer"
    (March 1, 2011)
  Immigration
  • "My Take on the News: Condoms; Incredible Shrinking Countries"
    (November 4, 2011)
    Particulary
    • Big Demographic Changes Ahead
  • "War, Genocide, Refugees, and a Somali-American Helping Rwandan Refugees"
    (June 18, 2011)
    • Rwandan Genocide: Bad Situation; Bad Response
    • Knowing When to Run
    • 'There Goes the Neighborhood?'
    • Footnote 4
  • "Well, That's Interesting: The DREAM Act and the USCCB"
    (December 8, 2010)
  • "Minnesota Bishops, Immigrants, Papers and Justice"
    (June 30, 2010)
  • " 'Those Immigrants,' Assumptions, and the Catholic Church"
    (May 18, 2010)

¹ USCCB press release (March 26, 2012):

"Vatican Approves English and Spanish Texts for 'Blessing of a Child in the Womb' "
Press release, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(March 26, 2012)

"The Vatican has approved the publication of the 'Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb,' which will be printed in English and Spanish in a combined booklet and should be available for parishes by Mothers' Day. The U.S. bishops who collaborated on the development of the blessing welcomed the announcement of the recognitio, or approval, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.

" 'I'm impressed with the beauty of this blessing for human life in the womb,' said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 'I can think of no better day to announce this news than on the feast of the Annunciation, when we remember Mary's "yes" to God and the incarnation of that child in her the womb that saved the world.'

" 'We wanted to make this announcement as soon as possible so that parishes might begin to look at how this blessing might be woven into the fabric of parish life,' said Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship. 'Eventually the new blessing will be included in the Book of Blessings when that text is revised.'

"The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society. It can be offered within the context of the Mass as well as outside of Mass.

"The blessing originated when then-Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville, Tennessee (now archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky) asked the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities to see if a blessing existed for a child in the womb. When none was found, the committee prepared a text and submitted it to the USCCB's Divine Worship committee in March of 2008. It was approved by the full body of bishops in November 2008, and then sent to Rome for editing and final approval."

More:

• "Rite for the blessing of a child in the womb"
  L’Osservatore Romano, via News.va (April 2, 2012)

² The Department of Health and Human Services mandate puts it more delicately, but the bottom line is that American businesses are being forced to provide "health care" that deliberately kills people. I think that's wrong, so do the bishops, and I've posted about this before:

• "Working Toward a Better World"
  Particularly
  • The Department of Health and Human Services vs. Conscience

³ USCCB press release (March 27, 2012)

"U.S. Bishops, Other Denominations File Amicus Curiae Brief In Supreme Court Case Of Arizona Vs. United States"
Press release, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (March 27, 2012)

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and several other Christian denominations filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Arizona vs. United States, supporting the principle that the federal government controls the enactment and implementation of the nation's immigration laws. The March 26 brief argued that the federal government is in the best position to protect the well-established goals of family unity and human dignity in the nation's immigration system.

"The brief also made the case that a patchwork of state laws could inhibit the Church's mission to serve immigrants, thus impinging upon religious liberty. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service joined the bishops in filing the brief.

"Citing numerous examples of federal immigration policies designed to further family unity and human dignity, the brief argued that Arizona's SB 1070 is not a solution to the problems in federal law and in fact creates more problems than it solves.

" 'The Conference has a strong interest in ensuring that courts adhere to two important goals of federal immigration law-the promotion of family unity and the protection of human dignity,' the brief stated. 'The provisions of SB 1070 at issue in this case would hinder these critical federal objectives by replacing them with the single goal of reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in Arizona at all costs.'

"The brief said that state laws such as SB 1070 threaten to restrict the Church's ability to provide pastoral and social service care to immigrants and their families, thus infringing upon the Church's religious liberty.

" 'The Catholic Church's religious faith, like that of many religious denominations, requires it to offer charity-ranging from soup kitchens to homeless shelters-to all in need, whether they are present in this country legally or not. Yet SB 1070 and related state immigration laws have provisions that could…. criminalize this charity… [or] exclude from that charity all those whose presence Arizona and other states would criminalize,' the brief argued.

"The brief asked the Supreme Court to affirm the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in striking down the Arizona law."