Joe vs. Larry

Well, this post marks the first time I have carried a theme from one day to the next.

While reading a version of Butler's Lives of the Saints this morning, I learned about Joseph of Arimathea. He is the man that approached Pilate to claim and bury the body of Jesus. Joseph was a politician at the time. In public, he kept his belief in Jesus as the Messiah under wraps for fear that it might harm his political career. However, he led a very moral private life. His claiming the body of Jesus was a big deal - it represented his public profession that he was a follower of Jesus.

Contrast that with Senator Larry Craig. He represents himself in public as a God-fearing and moral person. However, his recent actions indicate that his private life is somewhat lacking in morality to say the least. His arrest represents his forced public profession that he is not the moral person he claims to be in public. I do not fault Senator Craig for being a sinner. We are all sinners. I fault him for leading the double life of publicly crusading for morality in an effort to maintain political power, but privately leading a life that includes seeking anonymous sexual partners.

Why do we wonder why politicians have a bad name?

Hello Larry

U.S. Senator Larry Craig's biggest fan right now is Michael Vick. Senator Craig's hypocrisy has moved any news about Michael Vick off the front page.

The situation involving Sen. Craig represents the problems of politicians that wear morality on their sleeves. There is certainly a place for morality in politics. We can obviously use more morality in the political arena. However, there seems to be an increasing number of "God fearing, family value supporting" politicians on both sides of the political aisle that "talk the talk but don't walk the walk". A President commits adultery in the White House. A Speaker of the House has an affair with a staffer. In my own state, several legislative leaders from both parties have been convicted of felonies in recent years.

We no longer vote for the person that we want to serve in public office. We vote for the lesser of the evils represented by the candidates. We are often faced with having to vote reactively, rather than proactively.

Redeeming Qualities

It is difficult to turn on television or radio news without hearing about Michael Vick, the star quarterback that is guilty of running a despicable dog fighting enterprise. Running the enterprise included brutally killing dogs that were not good fighters.

Yesterday, Michael Vick gave a 5 minute statement in which he admitted to making serious mistakes and being immature. Many people, including me, find his crimes to be deplorable and his apology (likely written by a publicist) to be pretty hollow.

Having said that, I feel Michael Vick should be given the chance to redeem himself. That doesn't mean that he should not face the criminal and perhaps civil consequences of his actions. However, I have known many people that have made terrible mistakes in their lives - mistakes that have deeply harmed people. Some of the perpetrators have truly turned their lives around and have gone out of their way to help other people. Michael Vick deserves the opportunity to follow that path not because he is a famous athlete, but because he is a fellow human being.

Why Can't I Be Ordained?

So, did that title grab you?

First of all, I am not a female that desires to be a priest. I am a happily married Catholic male....with no desire to be a priest.

Confused? So am I. I want to serve as a permant deacon. There is an increasing number of permanent deacons in nearly every archdiocese and diocese in the United States. Unfortunately, the diocese in which I live is an exception. There is a very small number of permanent deacons serving in my diocese. Nearly all were ordained together a few years ago. They were the only permanent deacons to be ordained in my diocese. When they were ordained, the public message from the leadership of our diocese was that permanent deacons are in no way substitutes for priests. That message undoubtly gave the new deacons a warm feeling of acceptance. It does not help the current permanent deacons that there are no deacons following in their footsteps - there are no "junior" deacons to mentor.

There is hope. Several priests that work with permanent deacons are strongly encouraging the diocesan leadership to actively establish a formation program for additional permanent deacons. When I met a North American Cardinal on a recent visit to Rome, we discussed the status of the permanent diaconate in my diocese. His Eminence was very surprised to hear that there was no active formation program for the permanent diaconate. He said he would pray that I will one day be ordained a permanent deacon.

Please pray that all of us can heed the plea of Pope Benedict for more workers in the vineyard.

No Saintly Surprise

The most recent issue of TIME magazine features a story about St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her crises of faith. Several letters to confessors and spiritual directors were uncovered when investigating the cause for her sainthood. The TIME article, as well as others I have read in newspapers, express surpise that such a saintly person could have significant doubts about their faith.

People are saints because they carry on the faith in spite of the doubts that they have. Look at the biographies and writings of Sts. Peter and Paul. In spite of human weaknesses (many of which are described in Scripture), they worked to spread Christianity. Their efforts to do so resulted in their martyrdom.

Why should anyone be surprised that St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had struggles in faith? She witnessed horrendous poverty and sickness virutally every day of her life. She must have wondered how God could allow such misery to exist in the world. God also provides people like St. Teresa of Calcutta to work to reduce human pain and suffering - in spite of deep philosophical questions.

St. Teresa of Calcutta is a saint because of her God-given ability to work closely with the poorest and sickest people of the world in spite of her personal questions regarding the reasons for the suffering of the people to whom she and her Sisters of Charity continue to minister.

Image In This

As part of my professional work, I have the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with people that have cognitive disabilities. Contrary to what many people might believe, most people with cognitive disabilities are very spiritual.

One person recently asked me "When I go to Heaven, will I have my disability?". How should one answer that? Whew!

Here is the discussion that followed (paraphrased):

"God created all of us in His image. So, He created you and me, including all of our disabilities, in His image."

"But God is perfect. Since I have cerebral palsy and you need to wear eyeglasses, does that mean God has cerebral palsy and is near-sighted?"

"Not exactly. Remember, God created both man and woman. Does that mean God is a 'she-man'? God is everything. He took on human form in the Person of Jesus. So, He not only created us in His image, He joined us in our humanity. He knows and understands everything about us, including any physical disabilities."

"But some people are very bad people. If all of us are created in God's image, then God must be bad."

"No. Just like he did with Adam and Eve, He created us in His image. He also gave us free will. Adam and Eve were created pure. However, they decided to disobey God's command. That is the foundation of evil. It didn't come from God. It came from man."

"OK, I think I understand. But will I have my disability when I get to Heaven?"

"You will still be you - disabilities and all. However, your disabilities will not create any obstacles for you in Heaven like they do on earth. Disabilities are a natural part of the human existence. The problem is not with people with disabilities. The problem is with those of us on earth that refuse to help people with disabilities so that they can achieve what they want to achieve. When you get to Heaven, you will achieve the most precious goal. Since you will be joined with God, you will have no obstacles. You will have eternal happiness."

"I think I get it. I always thought that if I just had people around that could give me a bit of help, I could pretty accomplish most of what I want to accomplish. I always thought it would be Heaven on earth if such a situation existed for me and for other people with disabilities."

Striking a Balance

While listening to a radio news report this morning, I heard that August has been the wettest month on record for our area. July had been close to one of the driest months on record in the area. Two weeks ago, we were begging for rain. Now we are begging for a drought!

While we cannot control the balance of weather conditions, we can control the balance in our lives. How often have we heard someone say, "I'd love to do XYZ, but I just don't have the time"? That is an excuse that is similar to an elected official saying they cannot do what a constituent asks for because there isn't enough money. Just as there is enough money to do what the constituent asks for (politicians just choose to spend the money on other things), there is enough time for us to do the things we really want to do and should be doing. We can get done what we need to do at work, at home, in the gym, on the social scene and in our prayer lives if we strive for balance. We first need to get our priorities straight in our minds. Then we can plan and implement ways to accomplish the priorities we have established for ourselves.