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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
HOLLY SPRINGS Hands–ON + Hearts–IN is a program is to assist women who are discerning a call to consecrated life through hands-on service to the needy throughout north Mississippi. Monday – Thursday, Oct. 21–24. This program, coordinated by the Sisters of the Living Word, is a collaborative effort between the Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association (CAVA) members and Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM). The hospitality team will be the Sisters of the Living Word. They previously will be offering the meals and a comfortable home base for the prayer and discernment aspects of the experience. Details: contact Sister Sharon Glumb, SLW at handsonheartsin@gmail.com or (847) 577-5972 Ext# 233.
METAIRIE, La. Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans (CCRNO), Torrent of Grace, An Evening of Worship, Sunday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Benilde cafeteria, 1901 Division Street. The evening features “Overshadow Me” with Sean Tobin, composer and worship leader from Los Angeles. The sole purpose of this gathering is to seek God, to worship and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. Everyone is invited who desires to spend an evening with prophetic, spirit–filled music and praise. There is no charge, but a love offering will be received. Details: www.ccrno.org; info@ccrno.org or (504) 828-1368.
MIAMI, Fl. Journeying with Pope Francis Conference Roots and Challenges, Pedro Arrupe Jesuit Institute, Nov. 8-10. Bilingual confernce touching on a variety of subjects and challenges. Cost: $160-$180 – Limited to 150 attendees. Details: https://ijpa.us or email Ramon Machado at rmachado@yahoo.com.
NATCHEZ Join Father Mark Shoffner on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Feb. 12-21, 2020. Details: call Father Mark at the church office (601) 445-5616.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. National Catholic Singles Conference, Oct. 25–27. Join hundreds of single Catholics from across the country at the Diocese of Nashville Catholic Pastoral Center. The weekend includes talks by dynamic speakers (Sr. Helena Burns, Dr. Kerry Cronin, Damon Owens and David Clayton) as well as music, social events, prayer, food, fellowship and more. Space is limited. Enter promo code NASH19 for a $20 discount. Details: For more information and to register visit www.NationalCatholicSingles.com. or call Mirjana Northrop at (512) 766–5798 or email natcatsingles@gmail.com.
STANTON, Tenn, Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, Oct. 25–27 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center. Details: Norman and Barbara Sobota at (901) 373-7030 or email sobota@bellsouth.net.
PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
ABERDEEN St. Francis, Adult Bible Study, Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Studying the Gospel of John. Details: church office (662) 813-2295.
BATESVILLE St. John, Knights of Columbus are holding a Rummage Sale, Friday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please donate any clean, unbroken, gently used items that you no longer need. Details: church office (662) 563-2273.
OLIVE BRANCH, Queen of Peace, Prayer and Worship Course taught by Sister Emily, Thursdays, Oct. 3 until Nov. 21 at 6:45 pm. The focus of the classes will be a better understanding of the liturgy and of various prayer forms. The texts that will be used are Introduction to Christian Worship, third edition and We Worship: A Guide to the Catholic Mass. Details: ctksemily@aol.com or the church office (601) 895–5007.
JACKSON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CAPITAL AREA CATHOLIC BUILD – The build for the next 5 years will be renovating existing houses in the Broadmoor Neighborhood in north Jackson. Sign-up sheets for Saturdays, Oct. 19, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9, Nov. 16 and Nov. 23 are available at participating parishes. Please consider helping with this very worthwhile ministry. No experience is necessary, just a desire to help someone less fortunate than yourself. In addition, they still need assistance in reaching their financial goal. Any size gift will be greatly appreciated. To donate, visit www.habitmca.org/support/donate; call (601) 353-6060 or mail to Humanity MS Capital Area, P.O. Box 55634, Jackson, MS 39296.
JACKSON Walk for Life to benefit Pro-Life Mississippi. Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. Details: www.prolifemississippi.org.
YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Bake Sale, Lunch, & Bingo, Tuesday, Nov. 26. Community will be invited to participate in the Bake Sale, as well as purchase a lunch and then play Bingo. If you have any items you would like to donate for Bingo prizes, please contact yazoocitystm@jacksondiocese.org
YOUTH BRIEFS
JACKSON Sister Thea Bowman School, registration is underway for the 2019–20 school year. If you are looking for a solid academic education rooted in Gospel values serving grades Pre K3 – 6th grades. Details: Shae Goodman-Robinson, principal at (601) 506-8998 for more information.
JACKSON St. Richard would like to ask you to continue to vote for in the Bank On Their Future contest. The school must be in at least third place to receive some sort of prize. You can vote daily until Oct. 15th. Details: www.bankontheirfuture.com.
MADISON St. Anthony, Open House and Fall Festival, Saturday, Nov. 2 from 2-5 p.m. There will be games, carnival food and hayrides. Details: school office (601) 607-7054.
RIDGELAND St. Francis of Assisi, Senior Bible Break, Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. at M7 Coffee House, 111 North Wheatley Street in Ridgeland, for all 12th graders for scripture sharing and fellowship. Bring a Bible and friends are welcome. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.
IN MEMORIAM
Miss Sturbaum served as the Lay Ecclesial Minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Louisville and St. Therese Catholic Church in Kosciusko for nearly twenty years. She was very involved in prison ministry, as well as her daily duties of ministering to the two parishes.
Looking at Elizabeth Warren’s child care plan through a pro-life lens
By Mark Pattison
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In February, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a leading Democratic presidential aspirant, made a splash when she unveiled one of her many plans, this one on universal child care.
It may have gotten lost in the pileup of plans laid out subsequently by Warren and a raft of other presidential hopefuls. But the question is whether Warren’s child care proposal has the secondary effect of being a pro-life plan.
Not that Warren herself would call it pro-life; in May, she revealed another plan, about three-fourths as long as the child care plan, titled “Congressional Action to Protect Choice.”
Still, the child care plan deserves scrutiny under a pro-life lens, especially given the reasons why women say they get abortions.
In a Guttmacher Institute survey conducted in 2004 – the last time such a poll on this topic was conducted – economic reasons are cited most often and are in the highest percentage of responses. Women were asked to name up to four reasons.
“Can’t afford a baby now” was cited by 73 percent of the women. “Would interfere with job/employment/career,” was mentioned by 38 percent. “Can’t afford a baby and child care” – a reason that wasn’t even on Guttmacher’s radar when it conducted the same kind of survey in 1987 – was mentioned by 28 percent.
It’s not as if Congress has been paralyzed by inaction on child care like it has on so many other issues. Last year, it passed a $2.4 billion funding increase for the Child Care and Development Fund, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump, The total kitty got raised to $8.1 billion distributed to states to fund child care for low-income families. Even a decade of funding at that level represents a slender fraction of the estimated $687.5 billion federal outlay Warren envisions for her plan over 10 years.
What the federal government cannot or will not do, at least for now, states are interested in picking up some of the slack. Fifteen governors were elected last November on platforms that included improvements in early childhood development. Many of the successful governors pledged funding for universal or optional public pre-kindergarten programs for 4-year-olds as part of their campaign platforms. The issue resonates among voters. A 2018 poll conducted by GBA Strategies, a public opinion and strategic consulting firm, found 54 percent of parents called finding quality, affordable child care in their area either a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem, with the numbers spiking for parents of minor children of any age – including 83 percent of parents of kids under age 5.
Moreover, 64 percent agreed with the statement that “we nee to raise the bar on quality, safety and reliability at all child care centers” and “government has a critical role to play” on the issue, while 68 percent agreed that “our public policies should be designed to help families afford the costs of child care and early learning.”
Which brings us back to the Warren plan, under which “the federal government will pick up a huge chunk of the cost of operating these new high-quality options,” she says. “That allows local providers to provide access for free to any family that makes less than 200% of the federal poverty line. That means free coverage for millions of children.”
For those with more income than that, child care costs would be “capped at no more than 7% of that family’s income,” Warren said. “That’s a heck of a lot less than what most families are paying for high-quality child care now.” She cited percentages of 9% to 36% of a family’s total income as typical child care costs today for just one child, with the numbers going up for multiple children – and the costs exacting a huge toll on single mothers.
“Nobody would be required to enroll in this new program,” Warren said. “But right now, millions of families can’t take advantage of child care because of its cost – and millions more are draining their paychecks to cover high costs.”
She touts it as “a win-win-win.” “Parents get the security of knowing there are affordable and instructional child care options for their children. That gives them the freedom to choose the best work and child care situation for themselves,” Warren said. “Kids get high-quality early learning opportunities that put them on track to fulfill their potential.”
Meanwhile, “the economy gets a huge boost. More than a million child care workers will get higher wages and more money to spend. More parents can work more hours if they choose to, producing stronger economic growth,” she added. “And a generation of kids will get the early instruction they need to be healthier and more productive members of society after high school and beyond.”
The plan would be paid for what Warren calls an “ultra-millionaire tax” on those with a net worth of at least $50 million that would generate an estimated $2.75 trillion over 10 years.
Michael New, a visiting assistant professor of political science and social research in the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America in Washington, disputes the notion that Warren’s plan would have a secondary pro-life effect.
New said he has not seen evidence that “any kind of provision of government benefits – welfare, child care – has any impact on the abortion rate,” he told Catholic News Service Sept. 26, adding there’s “no substantive body of research providing universal child care of any kind” makes a difference. He said a study soon to be published indicates that stronger enforcement of child support laws brings down the abortion rate, but “it’s only one study. It’s not wise to invest a lot of credence in one study.”
While “I don’t deny there’s an economic component” to Warren’s plan, New added, “we just don’t see the body of evidence.” “Sen. Elizabeth Warren is correct that there are too many barriers facing mothers and fathers pursuing work-life balance and the possibility of both a fulfilling career and a happy family life. Access to child care is a critical way to strengthen American communities, especially to give mothers’ options when it comes to making life-affirming choices,” said a Sept. 26 statement from Tom Shakely, chief engagement officer of Americans United for Life.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, did not mention Warren by name, although her own statement, issued Sept. 25, addressed Warren’s plan.
“We need a national conversation on how to help young families prosper, after children are born and before. As an advocate for pregnant and parenting students, I invite politicians from every party to talk about how to help families prosper, and that includes families whose children are in the womb. Some ideas are going to be better than others, but it’s striking how so many who argue for government programs for young children don’t offer the same support to preborn children,” Hawkins said.
“There’s a cognitive dissonance among politicians who can’t see the humanity of a child before birth. I would ask politicians who call themselves pro-child and pro-choice at what point do you offer an infant your support and protection?” she added. “Our policy needs to support and embrace children, born and preborn, and their parents at every stage of life.”
Pro-life supporters challenged by ordinance
By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Pro-life supporters will now have barriers to their First Amendment rights to support women considering abortion at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s only abortion clinic. The Jackson City Council passed an ordinance on Tuesday, Oct. 1 preventing people from congregating, picketing or demonstrating within 15 feet of any entrance of a health care facility.
The ordinance also created a “buffer zone” prohibiting persons from approaching women with any sort of leaflet or speaking to her about saving the life of the unborn within a radius of 100 feet from the abortion clinic’s entrance.
On both Sept. 26 and Oct. 1, to a packed chamber, with standing room only in the hallway outside, Jackson city council members listened to those in favor and those against the ordinance. The ordinance passed with a vote of 3 to 1. The sole voting for the life of the unborn was Councilman Ashby Foote of Ward 1.
The ordinance states that the city council “recognizes that the exercise of a person’s right to protest or counsel against certain medical procedures is a First Amendment activity that must be balanced against another person’s right to obtain medical counseling and treatment in an unobstructed manner and that is free from increased health risks such as those associated with shouting or other amplified sound. The Jackson Police Department has been consistently called upon to mediate the disputes between medical providers, those seeking medical counseling and treatment, and those who would counsel against their actions. …”
The ordinance continued that, “It is the intent of this article to establish guidelines that will ensure that patients have unimpeded access to medical services that may be conducted in a calm environment while ensuring that the First Amendment rights of those seeking to communicate their message are not impaired.”
At the council meetings, business owners in the Fondren neighborhood in Jackson where the clinic is located reported that the atmosphere around the abortion clinic is “bad for business.” The position that resonated with council members when they voted for the “buffer zone” ordinance.
Lisa Duran, president of Pro-Life Mississippi, is concerned about the limitation “to exercise free speech [and] the right to share the Gospel on the streets of Jackson around ‘healthcare facilities.’”
Duran says that “all citizens should be concerned because now a Pandora’s Box has been opened.”
“The city council used the term ‘health care facility’ in the ordinance but the only facility mentioned in the city council meeting was the abortion facility … When did the killing of pre-born boys [and] girls become ‘healthcare’?”
Pro-Life Mississippi pledged to continue to be on the sidewalk near the facility to pray and share other options with expectant mothers. The organization invites all to respect life and join the group for their annual Walk for Life event on Oct. 19, where supporters march from St. Richard Jackson to the abortion facility and back. For more information visit www.prolifemississippi.org.
Martínez joins chancery staff
JACKSON – Daisey Martínez joined the chancery staff as the Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the new Office of Intercultural Ministry on Monday, Sept. 30. She is a member of St. Jude Pearl, but also serves as a catechist at St. Martin Hazlehurst and as a co-leader for the young adults group at St. Richard Jackson. Martínez is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and has worked as an admissions counselor for the university.
Over the summer two events helped lead Martínez to apply for the position at the diocese. She had a beautiful, intimate experience with the Eucharist at the Southeast Pastoral Institute’s (SEPI) Young Latino Summer Leadership Institute at the end of July and then the occurrence of the ICE raids in Mississippi on Aug. 7.
As the child of immigrants, her madre from El Salvador and her padre from Mexico, Martinez’s “heart ached” after the raids.
“Members of the Body of Christ were hurting. I realized that God needed me here in Mississippi,” said Martínez, who had been considering moving out of state. “Then one Sunday after Mass, Angéle Bartholomew approached me and told me that the diocese was creating a new Office of Intercultural Ministry. She … believed I could make a difference in our community if I accepted the role.”
While the Office of Intercultural Ministry is new to the diocese, it is a connection to the past. In 1978, Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA was appointed by Bishop Joseph Brunini to direct the Office of Intercultural Affairs for the diocese. In this position Sister Thea was integral in renouncing racial prejudice and promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity. In that role, she balanced the challenge of encouraging Catholics to embrace our common faith while celebrating our diverse cultural heritages.
With Sister Thea’s example in mind the Department of Faith Formation saw a growing need to re-envision the offices of separate ministries to serve the needs of long standing and emerging cultural communities in the diocese. The Office of Intercultural Ministry is tasked with the primary goal of cultivating empowerment of Black Catholic, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Native American and other culture communities throughout the diocese.
The office will be staffed by two full-time employees, a coordinator for the office and an associate for youth and young adults.
Director of Faith Formation, Fran Lavelle is thrilled to have Martínez on board in the associate role.
“Daisey brings so many gifts to this ministry. She is a servant leader and is a natural at making people feel at ease and part of the group,” said Lavelle.
“She is deeply committed to her faith and deeply committed to serving God’s people. I am so excited to see how God uses her gifts serving the young people of our diocese.”
Martínez credits her mother for the deep faith she has today. “She introduced me to God, His love and so much more,” said Martínez.
The Department of Faith Formation hopes to have an announcement soon on the position of Coordinator for the Office of Intercultural Ministry.
St. Catherine’s paints it purple
MADISON – In observance of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the staff and residents of Campbell Cove at St. Catherine’s Village celebrated a “Paint it Purple” party on Friday, Sept. 27.
Much of the day centered on fun carnival-themed games and food, including cotton candy, popcorn, pizza and nachos. Employees honored all of those who are living with dementia, as well as those who have transitioned with a prayer service at which workers read the names of patients who have died. A bell is run for each person.
Residents helped with an eco-friendly balloon release after a prayer service.
St. Therese parishioners honor their patroness of great faith
By Berta Mexidor, Elsa Baughman and Linda Reeves
JACKSON – Parishioners of St. Therese in Jackson celebrated their patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux, Oct. 6 during a special bilingual Mass away from parish grounds at Camp Garaywa in Clinton.
This year marks the four-year anniversary of the celebration at the camp facilities to accommodate the large number of faithful wanting to participate in the parish celebration and to honor the saint. Padre Juan Chavajay, pastor of St. Therese, was main celebrant for the Mass held in the auditorium.
Padre Juan’s homily was mainly focused on the short life of St. Therese of the Child Jesus also known as the Little Flower, who continues to make a big impact on people from around the world. Therese, a role model of faith and love for Jesus, heard the call of God at age 15. It was only with the approval of her father and after special permission by Pope Leo XIII that the teen was allowed to enter the Carmelite congregation leaving her family, friends and possessions behind.
As a cloistered nun, she lived a simple life of prayer hidden inside the convent never going out on mission or ministry. After a short time, Therese became sick and tests revealed that she had tuberculosis. After a 10-year battle with the illness, Therese died at the young age of 24, but her life has lived on after the world came to know and love her through her autobiography.
At the center of padre Juan’s message was St. Therese’s great love for and faith in God. The young girl gave up everything to live a life of religious vocations and also turned to God during her most difficult times trusting in him as she suffered from her illness.
“Today we ask for her intercession so we can have the faith she had,” said padre Juan. “It’s easy to trust in God when things are going well but when problems arrive, we question our faith,” he said encouraging parishioners to continue to have faith in the Lord even during hard times.
At one point during the Mass, the children of St. Therese Parish processed to the altar with red roses in hand. They placed roses near the parish’s St. Therese image showcased at the front of the church. Padre Juan explained that the flowers were in memory of the great saint, who loved flowers and saw herself as a little flower of Jesus.
After the Mass, parishioners gathered for a pot-luck lunch in the dining hall made possible through the generous donors, who contributed dishes. Parishioners Eva Sanchez and Veronica Womack headed up the food committee and took care of all the details.
There were indoor and outdoor activities for the children arranged by Joel Montoya heading up the activity committee. At one point, the children hit piñatas with a large number four printed on them representing the fourth anniversary of the St. Therese celebration at Camp Garaywa.
Parishes everywhere celebrate St. Therese around Oct. 1 each year, the official feast day marked on the Church calendar. Bishop Joseph Kopacz recognized and paid tribute to the Little Flower during Mass celebration at St. Therese in Kosciusko on Sept. 29. Bishop Kopacz concelebrated Mass with Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity Father Odel Medina, pastor.
As part of celebrations, yellow and white roses adorned the Kosciusko parish’s St. Therese image, altar and church. Parishioners celebrated their patroness praying especially for the youth and family of the parish.
Bishop Kopacz explained that St. Therese was a model of faith and love in Christ and known for her spirituality of doing the ordinary with extraordinary love. Today, she is venerated around the world and takes on the title of co-patroness of missions, “because of her prayers and her way to reach others,” Bishop Kopacz said.
Christ our Hope
WASHINGTON D.C. (CNS) – Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, of Kansas City, Kan. and Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, celebrated the launch of Respect Life Month with a statement. Archbishop Naumann encouraged Catholics discouraged by attacks on human life to “hold fast to Christ, our Hope.”
Archbishop Naumann’s full statement follows:
“Although we must cherish, protect, and defend human life year-round, the Catholic Church in the United States sets aside each October as Respect Life Month.
This year’s theme, “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life,” is particularly suited for our times. While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death. Through our Christian hope in the Resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith.
Jesus asks us to be as leaven in the world, to bring His light to the darkness. Our daily activities take each of us to places only we can go, to people only we will meet. May we allow Christ to renew and strengthen us, that He may work through us in each moment of every day.
Be assured of my prayers for you and for our common efforts to bring about a world in which every life is cherished. And so, together, may we hold fast to Christ, our hope.”
New parish resources have been developed around the theme of “Christ our Hope” and are available at www.usccb.org.
Catholics call to “Faith in Action”
By Monsignor Elvin Sunds
JACKSON – One day a pastor was giving his fourth-grade religion class a tour of the church. As they went through the church, he pointed out the altar, tabernacle, pulpit, crucifix, baptismal font, book of Gospels, etc. He explained the significance and importance of each. Finally, at the end of the tour he said there was one more very important item.
He pointed to the exit sign at the main door of the church. He explained that if what we celebrate for one hour on Sunday morning does not make a difference in how we live the rest of the week, we have missed the purpose of our Sunday worship. As we exit the church, we cannot leave at the door what we celebrate in the Mass and read in the Scriptures. Our faith is not meant to be confined to the four walls of the church building. It is meant to be lived every day outside the walls of the church.
We find the same message in the Gospels. After giving us the Beatitudes Jesus says we are the light of the world. We must let our light shine before all “so that they may see the goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father” (Mt. 14-16). Likewise, in the Epistle of James (2:14-24), we read that faith without action is lifeless and worthless.
The Faith in Action Team of the Diocese of Jackson seeks to help Catholics and Catholic parishes put their faith into action. It supports the efforts of Catholic Charities to encourage and assist parishes in putting faith into action through service to the community especially to the marginalized and vulnerable. The Faith in Action Team also identifies and prioritizes issues that have an impact on human life and dignity in the diocese. It seeks to educate Catholics on those issues and solicit their support in addressing the issues.
A major activity of the Faith in Action Team of the Diocese of Jackson is organizing the annual Catholic Day at the Capitol. At the Catholic Day at the Capitol, Catholics gather to witness to our Catholic values concerning issues impacting the population of our state, especially the vulnerable and marginalized of the state. One to three priority issues are identified and addressed each year. Materials are developed to inform Catholics of these issues and how our Catholic values speak to the issues. This year’s Catholic Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2020. More information will be provided in the months ahead.
The Faith and Action Team is composed of volunteer laypersons, religious and clergy from around the diocese. Membership is open to all that desire to actively live their Baptismal call to be a “Visible sign of Christ’s love” to all, especially to the vulnerable and marginalized in our midst. The team meets monthly at the Jackson office of Catholic Charities. For more information on how you or your parish can be part of the Team or work with the Team, contact elvin.sunds@jacksondiocese.org.
Beware of those who want God to live up to their standards
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Too many Christians today are “as long as” Christians, obeying God “as long as” God and the church meet their conditions and criteria for what is acceptable, just and righteous, Pope Francis said.
The “conditions Christian,” Pope Francis said, says things like: “‘I am a Christian as long as things are done this way.’ ‘No, no, these changes aren’t Christian.’ ‘This is heresy.’ ‘This won’t do.’ Christians who place conditions on God, who place conditions on the faith and the action of God.”
Celebrating an early morning Mass Oct. 8 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the pope focused on the day’s first reading from Jonah, noting how the prophet first refused to do God’s bidding, was swallowed by a whale, obeyed God when given a second chance and ended up angry with God because God did not destroy the city of Ninevah.
Jonah was “stubborn” about what he thought faith was, the pope said. But “the Lord was stubborn in his mercy. He never leaves us. He knocks at the door of our hearts until the end.”
Jonah, the pope said, “is the model of those ‘as long as’ Christians, those Christians with conditions.”
Placing conditions on God and on the church, he said, encloses Christians “in their own ideas and ends up in ideology. It’s the awful journey from faith to ideology. And today there are many people like this.”
Such Christians, he said, are afraid “of growth, of the challenges of life, the challenges of the Lord, the challenges of history” and instead stick to “their first convictions.”
“They prefer the ideology to faith,” he said, and they move away from the community because “they are afraid to put themselves in God’s hands and prefer to judge everything from the smallness of their hearts.”
The Vatican News report on the pope’s homily included no mention of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon or the controversy surrounding it, including accusations that some of the statements in the synod working document are heretical.
Pope Francis said God’s decision not to carry out his threatened punishment of Ninevah reveals “the Lord who draws near to all realities, who is not disgusted. Things don’t disgust the Lord. Our sins don’t disgust him. He draws near just as he drew near to the lepers and the sick because he came to heal and to save, not to condemn.”