Speak and it shall appear

In yesterday's post, I presented some of the recent goings-on in the world of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who have recently applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences with regard to the conciences of health-care workers who are sometimes faced with decisions which can infringe on their sense of morality.

Call it fate, or even the hand of providence, but low and behold, I found an article in today's local paper which speaks to this very situation. The article is published by the Canadian Press and is entitled Keep religion out of practice, doctors warned. Here's a short exerpt:

The College of Physicians and Surgeons says doctors who bring their religious and moral beliefs into their medical practice will have to think twice about potential repercussions. The body that governs the province's doctors unanimously voted (yesterday) in favour of a policy that wil limit the right of doctors to refuse to provide medical treatment if it infringes on their
belief system.

Canada often refers to the United States of America as 'our neighbour to the south'. If this most recent development is any indication, at least in some aspects, these neighbours are gearing up for a difference of opinion.

When conscience matters

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a press release this week, commending the work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“We strongly commend the Secretary (of the HHS) for publishing these proposed regulations,” the USCCB wrote. “For over three decades…, Congress has sought to ensure that health care institutions and professionals will not have to choose between abandoning medicine and violating their conscience…. The proposed regulations would implement these longstanding federal statutory protections, and thus help guarantee that health care institutions and professionals are not pushed into this Hobson’s choice,” where one is forced to go against one’s conscience or leave the practice of medicine.

The HHS issued the regulations to protect the right of conscience for those involved in the health care field as of August 21 of this year, and the bishops of the United States were quick to publish their praise for the guidelines.

Prior to the August date, while the issue of rights of conscience for medical care workers was being debated in the U.S. Congress, Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Chair of the USCCB Committee for Pro-Life Activities addressed his concerns to the members of the Congress.

What of the situation in other countries?

Pensés about Paris ... and points beyond

The Holy Father returned from his apostolic visit to France just a few days ago. This morning, during the weekly General Audience, he reflected in a spirit of gratitude with the pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square about his voyage and about the faith he encountered while he was there.

Here's a snippet from the text of his speech from this morning:

Our encounter today gives me the opportunity to retrace the
steps of my recent Pastoral Visit to France. After a warm welcome in Paris, I
met with men and women from the world of culture, with whom I reflected on the
monastic ideal of seeking God—quaerere Deum—as the bedrock of European culture. I wished to emphasize that meditation on the Scriptures opens our minds and hearts to the Logos, God’s Creative Reason in the flesh. In the magnificent
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, I gathered with bishops, priests, religious and
seminarians, sharing with them the treasures of the Holy Spirit and the Cross.
My brief stop at the Institut de France was followed by the joyful Eucharistic
celebration on the Esplanade des Invalides. I then made my way to Lourdes to
join thousands of pilgrims in this Jubilee year commemorating the apparitions of
Our Lady to Saint Bernadette. The Holy Mass near the Grotto of Massabielle
providentially coincided with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the
perennial sign of the "mystery of death and of glory". The Cross demonstrates
that God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son. It teaches us that
there is no genuine love without suffering, and no gift of life without pain.
Lourdes is thus a school of faith and hope because it is a school of charity and
service. I am deeply grateful to God and to all who made this trip a blessed,
memorable success. Thank you!

In case you're interested, an entire list of the texts of the Holy Father's speeches and greetings during his voyage in France is also available. Happy reading!

Reading scripture online

Call this the week for me to catch up with what's going on around town, or in the internet society, around this part of the world.

A few weeks ago, the CCCB re-issued one of it's most popular resources entitled The Word of God in Scripture. The first issue of this resource was published in 1999, and stocks have now been depleated. This 20-page guide which helps Catholics to read and interpret the bible has been reissued but this time it's available on-line so the user can print his-her own copy right from the comfort of home.

The Word of God in Scripture begins by showing the importance and place of the written Word of God in the whole of Christian life. It presents the conditions for fruitful reading of the Bible, suggests a plan to follow, and offers a list of tools for deeper study. Finally, the guide offers some criteria for interpreting the Bible. 'The words of the Bible are indivisibly both the Word of God and human words that are directed toward faith, and are to be understood in the community of the living Church,' the guide indicates.

More information about this guide is available on the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Discernment at the heart

A little over a week ago, the Prime Minister of Canada visited the Governor General, asking her to disolve the sitting federal parliament, and effectively kicking off the campaign which will lead Canadians to the polls on October 14 of this year.

For many years now, the bishops of Canada have issued documents at times such as these which they hope will act as guides to make people aware of the issues at hand, and sharpen our awareness of how to ask the proper questions. The guidance given by the bishops is not aimed at persuading individual voters to elect particular individuals but rather at making Catholics aware of the questions that need to be asked and to encourage Catholics to voice their concerns with political candidates.

The Federal Election 2008 Guide lists some basic moral principles from Catholic moral teaching to help voters examine and evaluate public policy and programs.

More information can be found on the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Visiting anew

The Holy Father left Rome yesterday and travelled to France where he will be present for four days to mark the 150th Anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin at Lourdes. This apostolic journey is his first to France so he met with government dignitaries upon his arrival yesterday. In addition, he met with young people last night in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Today, his visits will include the Institut de France, Mass at the Esplanade des Invalides (Paris) and a torchlight procession in Rosary Square in Lourdes.

A full list of the various meetings and encounters during the Holy Father's visit to France is posted on the Vatican website.

Love and young couples

What can young committed couples do that will best enhance their love for one another? In a culture where many are turning away from the tradition of Marriage, the Theology Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has recently published a pastoral message entitled What Does Marriage Add to Your Love which encourages couples to re-examine the Sacrament of Marriage as a viable option.

'We wish to encourage and support you in your search to fulfill your deepest
desires and find happiness. We suggest some thoughts for your reflection,
and share some insights on Christian marriage that have been offered by other
couples engaged on the same journey'.

The bishops of Canada have thus continued to teach about this very important subject, especially considering that many in some parts of Canada have been steadily drawn away from the teachings of the Church over the past number of decades. The work of evangelization in such a culture is increasingly challenging, but there is still evidence of hope, especially among those who seek answers to the questions of life. They may not always look to the Church for guidance, but indirectly, they can be referred to the beauty of our tradition, a story that is still alive and available to us.