Practical advice for young adults on tithing

The following is an email exchange I’ve had with a recent GW graduate who asked about tithing as a young professional in DC.  We have a few recent grads who give very generously to the Newman Center for which we are grateful.   Even in an expensive area like Washington, paying off huge student loans, and saving for the future, they still give as much as they can to the Lord through the Church. As this alumna is finding, it is tough to tithe as a young adult!.  Those who do or are trying to do amaze us!

Grad: “I wanted to ask a question to you personally (or for the blog).  A month or so ago when I was reflecting on a guide to making a good confession I was thinking about whether or not I do enough to care for the poor.  Now that I've had a job and an apartment in DC for 6 months, my finances have stabilized and I'm trying to figure out what an appropriate amount would be to give to the Church and charities.  I wanted to ask for some practical advice for young adults on tithing- I know a lot of people throw around the number 10% of your earnings but in a place like DC where housing, food, transportation, etc. costs more, is that still the number to go with?  Or is there a better way of making a realistic commitment?

FG: My advice would be to start your budget out with 10% going to God / the Church/ the poor.  It makes the point that He comes first, and He has given the model in Scripture of giving 10% (Abraham gave 10% to the priest, Melchisedek).  So, first and foremost, 10% to God...non-negotiable.

Of course, the biggest expense you have is housing.  If you're already in a place and rent is set, then that's set.  But, if not, that's the biggest area for what I'll talk about now which is sacrifice.  In order to tithe (give 10% of your income), you will have to make a sacrifice or two.  Mother Teresa's rule of thumb was "give until it hurts".  Sounds like that would happen for you to give 10%.  It would hurt to find modest housing that's a bit further from town or from where all the excitement is.  It would hurt to purchase a car you need instead of a car you want.  It would hurt to take the subway or bus rather than a cab.  It would hurt to sacrifice some shopping days or nights out in order to save money. 

But, you will be honoring and glorifying God throughout. And, of course, you would be a woman of love because love means sacrifice.  In addition, you would be building habits that will come in very handy when you are married and raising children, God willing.  But, you would be living a HUGE example to your kids that some things are more important (e.g., their education) than others (e.g., fancy house or cars).  You would be providing the best form of teaching: example.

…If you give as much as you can, He will give you far more in return.  Pay attention to this Sunday's readings...God takes our five loaves and two fish (your 10%) and will provide an abundance in return.  "God will provide" is the mantra for those of us who give to God until it hurts.

Finally, you probably know the breakdown for the 10%: 5% to your parish and 5% to charities.  Hopefully, Newman can be in there somewhere...we would be grateful! :)

Grad: “I have a few follow-up questions if you don't mind me asking. I'm assuming that the 10% comes from your post-tax earnings since that's how people budget?  Also, how do you factor in paying off loans and saving for major life events like a wedding and a future family or grad school?  Would you suggest prioritizing all of your expenses and then going from there?  I'm trying to set some good habits now before they're difficult to change later”.

FG: Very wise.  I know it's very hard with major expenses like loans and such, but whatever the % of income, God knows if you're giving til it hurts.  He knows if you're doing your best to give all that you can to Him and are sacrificing some comforts in the process.  Btw, I put a relevant video on the blog today (Friday) about giving.  It's a lecture from a GW prof you might have had, Prof Sides.  It's really good...check it out.

I have always done 10% of gross income because I've never been fully sure and want to err on the side of caution, but also because at least some of the money taken out for taxes comes back in April.  But, you're right, most people give 10% of their net income.  Go with that. 

Yes, prioritize your budget. I would suggest writing all of your fixed monthly expenses down first - rent, utilities, loans, car/insurance (if applicable).  These are the non-negotiables. You might even have the money you're saving for the future in there if you're really disciplined.  Ideally, tithing is in there, but for now, leave it out.  If you see that you're paying way too much in rent because you chose to live beyond your means, then that's a lesson for your next place.  Just ride out the lease.  If your loans are too high, can you refinance?  Otherwise, these are all fixed monthly expenses for the foreseeable future.

Then, look at all other monthly expenses - food, transportation, clothes, entertainment, etc.  Be as frugal as you can while still being practical.  Do your best to eliminate waste when you can - if only our government would do this, right!  Every little bit here and there helps.  But, the idea is to save any dollars you can on yourself and give to God/ the poor.  You will feel it, and God will know that you feel it.  Still go out with your friends and be generous as you can with family,et al, but just try to sacrifice your own comforts in order to give to others.

So, if it's only a few dollars every month, that will be enough for God.  Remember the woman with the two copper coins?  She gave all that she had and was commended by Christ.  If you do this, it might not be 10%, but it will be tithing in God's eyes.  And, my guess is that if you make a habit of prioritizing for the next several years, you will be able to give a larger % in time.  It's not about a number, and God probably won't have a calculator for us at Judgment.   It's about an attitude, as Professor Sides, of "giving uncomfortably".

17th Sunday - homily

The multiplication of the loaves and fish.  At my first parish assignment, I addressed a big problem we were having when preaching on this Gospel story.  Like many parishes, we had the problem of being coming late to Mass.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that when I processed in to start Mass, the Church was about a third full; when I faced the congregation for the Gospel or homily, the Church was full! The multiplication of the Catholics! Poof! They were all of a sudden there.

A couple of things about that, folks: first, it's a venial sin to come to Mass late without a good reason.  Second, if we are not here in time for the Gospel, then we need to find another Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation. In order for us to have attended Mass, we need to be present for the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  If we miss the Gospel, we have missed Sunday Mass.

Both the first reading and the Gospel have the theme of taking a small amount of food and feeding a big group of people, although the Gospel's crowd dwarfs the first reading's. The human reaction to the coming miracle in each appears the same: how is this going to happen? How in the world are we going to feed thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish? The answer, of course, is the power of God.  And, it happens when people put their small amounts of five loaves and two fish into God's hands.

We've seen this miraculous scenario play out throughout the history of the Church in different ways.  Look at the Church herself: her five loaves and two fish were the twelve Apostles. How in the world did the Church grow from 12 Catholics to now over a billion? The power of God.  He took what the Church put in His hands and has multiplied it. In general terms, Mary tells us in her Magnificat that this is the way it has been with God.  He “has lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things”.

St. Peter is another example.  Knowledge of the mysteries of God was his five loaves and two fish.  In the Gospel, he appears to have very little knowledge of God. He was a simple fisherman. But, he put his knowledge into God's hands and God multiplied Peter’s  knowledge. In his letter in the New Testament, we see how much knowledge that St. Peter has… it's incredible!

Along the lines of knowledge, another example is St. John Vianney, a priest in France a couple hundred years ago.  He did not have a lot of intelligence when he first entered seminary.  Because he struggled so much with Latin and moral theology, he was asked to leave the seminary twice.  His formators didn’t think he would ever be able to hear confessions or teach because of his lack of intelligence.  But, he stayed with it, put his five loaves and two fish (his intelligence) into God’s hands, and God multiplied his intelligence.  He was ordained a priest and was sent to a parish smaller than St. Stephen’s.  He became an excellent teacher and confessor.  Towards the end of his priesthood, over one hundred thousand people a year came to him for Confession!

A town in France, Lourdes, has seen the power of God in ways similar to the multiplication of the loaves and fish.  With St. Bernadette leading the charge in 1858, Lourdes put its faith in God through Mary in the Lord’s hands.  The Lord has multiplied the faith of this small town and worked many miracles through the healing water of Lourdes.  Thousands of people visit Lourdes every day and participate in a nightly procession to Our Lady.  If you’ve never been to Lourdes, please go!  A group of GW students and I went to Europe last year; Lourdes was their favorite place by far!

St. Augustine’s five loaves and two fish was his virtue, particularly chastity.  When he first met the Lord, he was a pagan and a playboy.  His famous line reveals how little chastity he had: “Lord, give me chastity, but not right now”.  The Lord grew his chastity and his virtue and he became one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. 

One final example in an area I’m sure would interest all of you: money.  Friends of mine have been married fifty years.  When they were first married, they were poor, but still gave 20% to God / the Church / the poor.  They knew they were called to only give 10%, but they wanted to give all they had.  The 20% was their loaves and fish.  Once they put it into God’s hands, as they put it, “the money started pouring in”.  They are very capable professionals, but God multiplied their money.  Fifty years later, they are very, very wealthy (and still give 20%).

Whatever your five loaves and two fish are, put them into God’s hands.  Believe in His power.  Believe that He will multiply it – no matter how small it is.  Whether it’s knowledge, faith, trust, virtue, or even money, God will take it and give back to you in abundance.  When God gives, He gives abundantly!

Finally, we will experience something similar to (and even greater than) this Gospel story  in a few minutes.  We will give God a small gift of bread and wine and literally put it in His hands on the altar.  He will multiply our gift and feed us with His Body and Blood…with Himself!  He fills us with his grace and life.  May the grace of the Eucharist help each of us to give our five loaves and two fish to the Lord.  May it help us to trust that He will multiply them and provide abundantly for us as He always has.

"Living Uncomfortably"

One of our student leaders sent the following video to our student leader board.  He describes: "The beginning is mostly about learning, but second half is all about love, relationships, and forgiveness. He talks about a lot of Catholic themes, although he doesn't mention Christianity or Catholicism outright."  Excellent Christian critique! 

The last part of the lecture on "loving uncomfortably" is really good, especially when Professor Sides makes the distinction between love as a feeling and love as an act of the will.  Spot-on!  Also, his treatment of "giving uncomfortably" is timely because a GW grad just emailed me about how much to give to the Church and poor right after college with the high cost of living in DC, student loans, etc. I might post our exchange here soon, but my answer was from Mother Teresa: "give until it hurts".  This is what the professor is talking about...give uncomfortably. 

"This is a consecrated Host that started bleeding"

Must-read list for GW Catholics

To supplement the reading list I posted earlier in the summer, here is a list of great books from a GW Catholic junior.  He not only suggests solid literary works, he also provides a helpful, concise synopsis of each.  The following books are for reading for the end of the summer, during the school year (a little each day), or for the rest of your life!
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As Catholics experience a secular campus at GWU, many of them face a culture that conflicts with our values and curriculums that challenges the very heart of our faith. As a result, GW Catholics are often interested in deepening their personal faith and learning more about God and Catholicism. Whether you are looking to intellectualize your faith, feel closer to God through your reading, or are simply looking for some wholesome books to read, this is the must-read list for GW Catholics!

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Years ago, an Evangelical Minister’s small child almost died of appendicitis. Months after his recovery, the child began sharing stories about what happened during his surgery. These stories included encounters with Jesus and 100% Biblically accurate accounts of Heaven. Written in a light-hearted tone that captures the innocence of a child’s view of his faith, this is a powerful testimony for those wondering what lays beyond this life.  

Life After Death: The Evidence by Dinesh D’Souza

Deceased atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens once said that D’Souza is one of the most effective spokespeople for Christianity, and readers around the world seem to agree. D’Souza has written multiple #1 New York Times Bestsellers on American politics and religion. While Heaven is for Real takes a fairly simplistic view toward heaven, D’Souza relies completely on science, philosophy, and other academic realms to explain the existence of Heaven.

What’s So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D’Souza

This #1 NY Times Bestselling book is the most powerful weapon for Catholics as they engage in debates about Catholicism. D’Souza debunks common myths about the history of Christianity, goes through all of Christianity’s contributions to humanity, and outlines philosophical and scientific arguments for the existence of God. Every Catholic who wants to grow deeper in the intellectual side of their faith should read this book.


Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn

This book is the story of the conversion of Scott and Kimberly Hahn, two former Presbyterians, who chose to switch to Catholicism. This book makes the spiritual argument for Catholicism and is written by a brilliant scriptural scholar and his wife. This book is perfect for Catholics who want to know why their faith is special, and what the differences are between Catholics and other faiths.

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

CS Lewis is one of Catholicism’s greatest contemporary minds. Once an Atheist, he discovered through personal experience that our universe and our personal lives are dependent on a supernatural – our Catholic God. Before his death, Lewis wrote multiple masterpieces about Christianity, Catholicism, and the human spirit. This book is full of philosophical explanations for God and is a guide to knowing what all Christians believe.

How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Crystalina Evert

This book is referred to as,“The Book” by many GW Catholic women. It is a must-read book about how to live out your faith and find a partner who can help you to become the person you truly are. Rather than settle, you can find a soulmate, and this book tells you how.

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

This devotional book is the most widely-read devotional book apart from the Bible. It is focused on taking an inner look at oneself and developing an outlook that mimics Christ and can bring you closer to Him.

Unplanned by Abby Johnson

This is a favorite of Pro-Lifers. Abby Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who quit from America’s largest abortion provider after her heart and mind realized the atrocity that is abortion. She talks about the deception that goes on at Planned Parenthood and how destructive the abortion business is for women. Her firsthand analysis is a valuable tool for the pro-life movement.


Come, Be My Light by Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was one of the most powerful voices for Christ during the 20^th Century. Come, Be My Light is a collection of her personal spiritual writings. As we all strive to imitate her faith, this book is a treasure that can teach us how to imitate her miraculous life and share her thirst for Christ.

John Paul II and the New Evangelization by Ralph Martin and Peter Williamson

Catholic writers comment on Pope John Paul’s message to spread the Gospel throughout the world. This book is a compelling guide to spreading Christ’s message on campus and throughout our community.

16th Sunday - homily

One of our GW Catholics lives in Colorado about 10 minutes from where the tragic shootings took place the other night.  She and her Mom and a friend were actually supposed to go to that movie theater to see "Batman". One of them got sick, so they decided not to go.  We're just grateful that they are all okay and still with us.  It's unspeakable what happened...and the evil involved.  Pray for the people of Colorado.  It's become a cliche to say, "they are in our thoughts and prayers".  So, let's not just say it, let's pray...for the victims, their families, for justice, and for the shooter - for his conversion of heart before he goes in front of the God of Justice.

I would like to address another issue that is serious and sad based on the first reading: the sins of shepherds… the sins of priests.  And, I do it imploring God's mercy and your forgiveness.  Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord condemns shepherds who "mislead" or "drive away" the sheep or cause them to "fear or tremble".  How can a shepherd mislead his sheep? How can he drive them away? This runs completely counter to the purpose and nature of being a shepherd.  It's the complete opposite of the purpose and office of the priesthood.

Many people have told me in different ways they have been misled: "I have never heard that teaching of the Church" or "I didn't know this was a sin" or "I heard from the pulpit there was nothing wrong with that".  Many others have been driven away from the Church because of the anger, judgment, or selfishness of a priest.  And, let's be clear: sin is selfishness. What happened in Colorado the other night was selfishness.  Whatever the final determination is of the shooter, these were selfish acts.  It was all about him and what he wanted, at the expense of many people. The same is true of the sins of priests in ministry: we care more about themselves than the ones for whom we are to be caring.  Again, I ask for God to have mercy on us and for you to forgive us...or at least be open to forgiveness. Pray for us priests.  Pray that we will be faithful shepherds.

The discouraging image of the priesthood of the first reading is contrasted by the hopeful image in the Gospel.  Where the shepherds of the Old Testament are driving the sheep away, the Apostles are bringing people back.  What is the difference? The Apostles, the first priests of Jesus Christ, are true shepherds. They are caring for the people and not for themselves.  They are authentic representations of Christ. They re-present Christ to people; they are presenting His love, peace, joy, truth, and mercy.

When we find authentic and holy priests who present Christ to us, we find something special. That's what the people found with the Apostles and they wouldn't give them a moment's rest.  They didn't even have a chance to eat! Many faithful priests today - and the overwhelming majority of priests of the past 2000 years have been faithful - have their appointment books full day and night.  People come to them in droves for spiritual direction, guidance, advice, instruction, prayer, healing, and Confession.  They come to them as they come to Christ. Every priest is alter Christus (another Christ). Authentic, holy, and faithful priests of Jesus Christ give people a true encounter with Christ.


Finally, to be Catholic means to believe in the priesthood.  Just as we believe that a change takes place during Mass in the bread and wine (they become the Body and Blood of Christ), so too do we believe that a change takes place in the priest (he becomes the person of Christ…in persona Christi).  This is why we hear the words, “this is my body”, and not ‘this is his body’.  It is really Christ saying the Mass; it is really Christ saying “I absolve you of your sins” in Confession.  This is radical! This is the true nature of the priesthood.  It is awesome!  This is what I and every faithful priest wants to offer you: a real experience and true encounter with Jesus Christ.

15th Sunday - homily

I have been doing some traveling this past month: to the Midwest for a conference, to Georgia for a wedding, and to Florida for vacation with friends.  This week, I'll go to the beach with my family.  So, it's good to be a university chaplain during the summer! I have flown the past three trips and have had good experiences; they have been uneventful which,when flying, is good. I know that some people don't like going through all of the security measures, but they don't bother me. But, I haven't experienced a full pat-down yet.  Although, on the trip home from Florida , the security agent asked to pat down my front side.  I guess he thought I had extra padding or something.  I told him that I had eaten very well and had put on a few extra pounds.  He didn't laugh.  Tough crowd, that TSA!

I thought I had packed pretty well for the three trips.  On one of them, I actually didn't have to check any bags! It was so nice to just have a carry-on bag.  Of course, that means using the small, ziplock bag and getting small containers of shampoo and shaving cream.  But, once I was through the security check-point, it was a breeze! I am amazed at people who travel with carry-ons only; they put me to shame.

I was really put to shame when I read today's Gospel in which the Lord says, "take nothing for the journey".  The Apostles took only a walking stick and a pair of sandals.  I took a whole bag of sticks - my golf clubs! And, extra pairs of shoes, a bunch of clothes, books, etc.  But, they literally took nothing with them for the journey...except the power of God. A modern-day example of this was years ago when I was in Calcutta with the Missionaries of Charity.  One day, two sisters were sent out to foreign countries on mission.  They took only a small box! One little box of their belongings for the rest of their lives.  They literally took nothing for the journey...except the power of God.

The Lord's admonition of taking nothing for the journey applies to the journey of life.  We are called to live simply and not get caught up in materialism and consumerism.  We are to only take what we need and be filled with the things and power of God. But, I would like us to focus on taking nothing for the journey to Heaven.  We won't be able to take a suitcase with us.  We won't take our possessions, our toys, all our stuff.  I think you know this.  So, it's not about what's in our suitcase; it's about what's in our soul-case.  What's in our souls will be what matters to God when we arrive at the Judgment Seat...our final "check-point", if you will.

What should our soul-cases be filled with in order for us to be admitted to Heaven? Not the riches of the world, but as St. Paul writes in our second reading, "the riches of (Christ's) grace".  We first received the riches of Christ's grace at Baptism.  What a rich gift our parents gave us at Baptism! We add to that grace whenever we receive the Eucharist.  Eucharistic grace should be the biggest compartment in our soul-case...receiving the Eucharist every Sunday and weekdays, too, if possible.  It's the best way to get rich with Christ!

If you know your soul-case has some stuff in it that shouldn't be there or need to empty it out all together, come dump it out after Mass with me in Confession.  Confession helps us to remove from our soul-cases what won't pass security at the final check-point.  Better to do it now than when it's too late at the Gates! Also, our soul-cases should be filled with the grace of Confession...probably the second biggest compartment after the grace if the Eucharist. The grace of the sacraments is the best way for us to be lavished by God with the riches of the grace of Christ, with the final one, the Anointing of the Sick, literally sending us on the journey to Heaven.

Other ways to build up grace in our soul-cases is prayer and Adoration, meditating on Scripture, getting to know the saints, especially the Blessed  Mother.  The saints are the richest people on earth! Mary's soul-case was "full of grace".  When we pray the rosary, we reflect on and learn from her example.  Doing charitable works for others, serving the poor, performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are all ways to grow in grace.  Living the virtues, especially chastity - living holiness through our bodies- builds up actual graces within us.

If you're hearing all of this and thinking, 'I'm hardly doing any of this', my advice would be to look at one of these and focus on doing it for the next month.  It's like when people come to me and say they have no prayer life.  I tell them to start small - 5 minutes a day or whatever they will be committed to-  and go from there.

The summary of all of this again comes from St. Paul's exquisite letter to the Ephesians in our second reading: "be holy".  God doesn't say, "be rich" or "be successful".  Those things are good unless they become our gods.  But, He says, "be holy".  All of us are called to be holy. We are all called to be saints.  This doesn't mean we will be canonized one day, but it means we are called to be in Heaven. May you be holy.  May you become rich with the grace of Christ.  May your soul-case be filled with the riches of Christ's grace so that you live out God's plan for your life: admittance into the splendor and majesty of His kingdom forever.

14th Sunday - homily

I get a kick out of the description of St. Mark in today's Gospel about Jesus' ministry in his native place, presumably Nazareth.  He makes it seem that the Lord had an off-day, writing that "he was not able to perform any mighty deed there"...oh, well, that is "apart from curing a few sick people"...! Sound like mighty deeds to me! On the few days that the Lord has cured sick people through my hands as a priest, I called home! Big news! What happened on an off-day for the Lord would be one of the biggest days for me and most priests!

It's not that Jesus was off that day at Nazareth; he never has an off-day.  It's that the people of his hometown were off.  They didn't believe in him.  They saw him as human only. They didn't "know that a prophet has been among them" as God prophesied through Ezekiel in the first reading.  They saw him as one of them, "a carpenter, the son of Mary". Anyone who has ever tried to preach or teach the Gospel to their own family understands this reaction; they see us as sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and cousins, not as prophets who carry a divine message.

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is a prophet.  He is the ultimate prophet.  All of the Old Testament prophets lead to him with John the Baptist being the greatest, pointing to Jesus as the Christ. Like the Nazarenes, we are astonished at his teachings.  But, unlike them, we believe that his teaching authority is divine.  He speaks for God.  He is God! We believe that he is fully human and fully divine.

The challenge for us is to believe that Christ continues to teach through the Church.  The challenge for Catholics is to believe that prophets are among us in the persons of the bishops.  They have the same teaching authority as Christ! In fact, he gave it to them.  He receives his authority from the Father and he hands it over to them, specifically in Matthew 16, Matthew 18, and John 20.  In Luke 10, the Lord says to the first bishops (Apostles), "whenever they hear you, they hear me".

Do we believe that when we hear the Pope and the bishops teach on faith and morals that we are hearing Jesus? To be Catholic means to believe that.  To be Catholic means to believe that the bishops have a divine authority to teach doctrine...they teach for Heaven (Mt 18:18)! And yet, many Catholics hear them as the people of Nazareth heard Jesus: on a human level only.

Specifically regarding the HHS mandate, many Catholics view the bishops' authority on a human level only, saying that the bishops are being partisan and have ginned up the "religious liberty" charge. If these were true, then why be Catholic? If our bishops just present their own opinions on faith and morals or are just political figures at heart, then we shouldn't follow their teachings as following the teachings of Christ. But, if their teaching authority is from Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit - which it is- then we follow them on matters of faith and morals as we would follow Christ.  We believe that when we hear them on doctrine, we hear Him.

Finally, brothers and sisters, Christ will be in our midst in a few moments as he was to the people of Nazareth. He looks a little different to us in the Eucharist as he did to them, but it's the same Christ.  Let us receive Him with faith so that He can perform mighty deeds within us.  This can happen tonight! May the Lord be amazed at our faith -not our lack of faith - and may He perform mighty deeds for us at this Mass.

"The Creed"

"Our First, Most Cherished Liberty"

Happy 4th of July!!  As we celebrate the freedom on which our country was founded, we also pray that the foundation of our land will remain strong and intact. 

Click here to see a video from catholictv.com which reminds us that religious freedom for Catholics is our most cherished liberty.

Bishops' response to Supreme Court decision

June 28, 2012

Supreme Court decision does not address fundamental flaws in the law 
Legislation still needed to fix conscience, abortion funding, immigration problems

WASHINGTON—usccb.org Today the United States Supreme Court issued a decision upholding as a tax the provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires individuals to purchase a health plan—the so-called "individual mandate." For nearly a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been and continue to be consistent advocates for comprehensive health care reform to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.Although the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) did not participate in these cases and took no position on the specific questions presented to the Court, USCCB's position on health care reform generally and on ACA particularly is a matter of public record.The bishops ultimately opposed final passage of ACA for several reasons.

First, ACA allows use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions, contradicting longstanding federal policy.The risk we identified in this area has already materialized, particularly in the initial approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of "high risk" insurance pools that would have covered abortion.

Second, the Act fails to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context.We have provided extensive analyses of ACA's defects with respect to both abortion and conscience.The lack of statutory conscience protections applicable to ACA's new mandates has been illustrated in dramatic fashion by HHS's "preventive services" mandate, which forces religious and other employers to cover sterilization and contraception, including abortifacient drugs.

Third, ACA fails to treat immigrant workers and their families fairly.ACA leaves them worse off by not allowing them to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges created under the law, even if they use their own money.This undermines the Act's stated goal of promoting access to basic life-affirming health care for everyone, especially for those most in need.

Following enactment of ACA, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has not joined in efforts to repeal the law in its entirety, and we do not do so today. The decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct the fundamental flaws described above.We therefore continue to urge Congress to pass, and the Administration to sign, legislation to fix those flaws.

 --- Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Affordable Care Act, ACA, bishops, Supreme Court, conscience # # # # #

MEDIA CONTACT ONLY: Sr. Mary Ann Walsh O: 202-541-3200 M: 301-325-7935 Email

"Fortnight for Freedom"

"Fortnight for Freedom" is being celebrated through July 4.  To learn more about it and see more videos like the one below, click here to go into the Archdiocese of Washington's Fortnight for Freedom site.

"Bishops Greet Supreme Court Decision on Immigration with Hope, Caution"

June 25, 2012


See decision as step toward humane immigration reform
Seek federal government’s strong role in immigration
Wary that part of decision might lead toward racial profiling

WASHINGTON— usccb.org  The U.S. bishops greeted with hope and caution the June 25 Supreme Court decision to strike down provisions of an Arizona immigration law that would have allowed warrantless arrests of people suspected of an offense that is deportable, that would have made it a crime to seek work in the state and that would have made undocumented presence a state crime.

The bishops found hope in the decision in Arizona vs. United States and said it reflects the bishops' call for humane and just immigration laws and concern for laws that could tear families apart. Their caution lay in the lifting of an injunction against immigrants having to show papers in some circumstances.

The bishops had filed a friend of the court brief in the case.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, expressed concern regarding the one part of the 5-3 decision that narrowly upheld a provision that permits state law enforcement personnel to determine the immigration status of any person stopped, detained, or arrested if there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is not lawfully in the United States, and to verify the immigration status of any person arrested before releasing that person.

In the opinion, the justices left the door open that the provision that was upheld — known as 2(B) of SB 1070 — could later be found unconstitutional.

"While we are concerned with the Court's decision to lift the injunction on section 2 (B) of the law, we are encouraged that the Court did not rule it constitutional," Archbishop Gomez said. "As we articulated in our amicus brief, the implementation of this provision could lead to the separation of families and undermine the Church's ability to minister to the immigrant population."

A copy of the brief can be found at http://www.usccb.org/ogc/amicus-briefs/upload/state-of-arizona-v-united-states-of-america.pdf

"We stand in solidarity with our brother bishops in Arizona, as they prepare to respond to the implementation of this provision and its potential human consequences," Archbishop Gomez said.

Opponents of the law have expressed concern that the decision would lead to the racial profiling of immigrants and the violation of civil rights laws.

Archbishop Gomez highlighted the Court's other provisions.

"The Court's decision to strike down the other provisions of the Arizona law reaffirms the strong role of the federal government in regulating immigration," said Archbishop Gomez.

Archbishop Gomez urged state governments not to rush to pass laws similar to SB 1070 and called upon Congress to assume its responsibility and enact comprehensive immigration reform.He vowed that the Catholic Church in the United States would continue to fight for humane and just reform of the nation's immigration system.

"The U.S. Catholic bishops across the nation will urge their state governments to not pursue laws such as in Arizona, but rather to pursue humane reform on the federal level," Archbishop Gomez said."Humane enforcement of our nation's laws are part of any solution, but enforcement by itself, unjustly administered, only leads to abuses and family breakdown."

"The Church will continue to stand by immigrants and their families and seek justice on their behalf," stated Archbishop Gomez.

Birth of St. John the Baptist - homily

Last year at our Opening BBQ, we had almost 1000 GW students attend our kick-off event in University Yard. Free Chipotle will do that! We had tons of free food and drink, live music, and lots of cool give-aways. One of the students who came was a junior who was hungry and couldn’t find food anywhere else on campus. He stumbled upon our event and saw that it was sponsored by “GW Catholics”. He ran into a teammate from one of the GW sports’ teams and was pleasantly surprised that she, too, was Catholic. She is one of our most passionate Catholic students here, so after a little small talk, she talked up all of our programs and encouraged him to get involved. He got involved…way involved. He had one of the biggest years of any GW Catholic last year in terms of conversion of heart. Like his teammate, he is now fired up for Christ and leading others to Him!


As we celebrate the birthday of St. John the Baptist today, she was his John the Baptist. She was the prophet who announced Christ to him in simple ways at the BBQ and then in more complex and substantial ways throughout the year. She led him to salvation and now that is the focus of his life. She has been living out the calling to be God’s servant. It’s a calling we all have, as we hear in today’s first reading, from our mother’s womb. A good friend of mine texted me this morning that his wife gave birth to a son whom they have named John. What a birthday to share! I think of John the Baptist in the womb…little John Walsh in the womb…each one of us in the womb…it was then we were given the calling to be God’s servant for life. And, then, in Baptism, the call goes higher. God says that it is “too little for you to be my servant” when it comes to salvation…when it comes to Christ. We are called in Baptism to be a “light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”.

Book end that with what will happen when we die and go before the judgment seat of Christ. He will most likely ask us “how many people did you bring to me? To how many people did you announce me?” For St. John the Baptist, that number is huge and still growing. His prophesies continue! St. Paul repeats his prophetic words in the second reading. The Gospel writers repeated John’s prophecies. So many people have come to Christ through the preaching and teaching of St. John the Baptist! The same is true with our students at GW. The young woman announced Christ to the junior and he is now announcing Christ to his friends, family, and fraternity brothers. All the people he brings to Christ have come about through her prophecies!

It might intimidate us to be a prophet like John the Baptist. We do need to know the teachings of Christ and His Church so that we can speak the Truth to others. So, know the teachings and proclaim them! But, in the meantime, announce Christ through your actions. Specifically, be a “light to the nations” through your joy. Bring the light of Christ to the ends of the earth…the ends of your family…your friends…your co-workers…your teammates. I am convinced that the joy of Christians is the best way to show Christ to others. Our joy is our light. I just spent a week with a family in the Midwest; they showed their light all week…they showed their joy all week. The week culminated in a huge family party celebrating a graduation the last night I was there; boy, were they indulging in joy (maybe over-indulging, for some)!

Finally, St. John the Baptist’s greatest prophecy, in my opinion, is “Behold the Lamb of God”. This prophecy continues at every Mass! The most fruitful way for us to announce Christ is in the Eucharist. As so many of our students are doing, if we simply invite people to Mass, then we are living out our calling to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Invite people to Sunday Mass, to daily Mass, and to Adoration. Tell people that is the source of our joy. May the joy that the Eucharist brings help us to be like St. John the Baptist in bringing salvation to the ends of the earth.

"Why go to Mass?"

Anonymous wrote, "I've been considering studying abroad in Japan and O don't know how accessible mass will be for me there. I want to stay close to God and celebrate mass with him. But what if I can't find a catholic church? Or simply it's too far to commute? If I read the missal and try to pretend I'm there is that better?.."

Great question, Anon!   Thanks for your commitment to Sunday Mass; God is very pleased with you.  Do as much research as you can before you go.  I just googled "Catholic Church in Japan" and found a great site for you - thecatholicdirectory.com.  It lists all the cities in Japan with Churches.  Clicking on each city then takes you to a listing of the Churches with their addresses.  You can also try masstimes.org which locates Masses for Catholics around the world.  You should be able to find Sunday Mass!  If you do all that you can and find that there is no Church anywhere near you, you can ask your priest for a dispensation from the Sunday obligation  (which can be granted for a just reason).  He might give you suggestions on how you can be with the Church liturgically if you are physically uunable to attend Mass- reading the missal, praying over the Sunday readings (via the Magnificat, e.g.), and maybe even watching Mass on TV/internet (via EWTN). But, I believe that God will provide a place for you to attend Mass, receive the Bread of Life, and have a deep experience of the universality of the Church.

Contraceptives and the Environment

Contraceptives and the Environment


What the Pill Is Doing to Our Water Supply

By Rebecca Oas, PhD

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 16, 2012 (Zenit.org).- In 1960, the combined oral contraceptive pill was first approved for use in the United States. Seven years later, “the Pill” was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, illustrating its enormous societal impact[1]. Roughly two generations later, statistics from the United Nations show that, within more developed nations worldwide, just under 16% of “partnered” women use contraceptive pills, a number which does not include usage among single women[2].

However, even as the popularity of oral contraceptives remains high, the drugs themselves have been evolving in response to further discoveries about the human reproductive system, as well as efforts to reduce the Pill’s negative side effects. As with any major technological or medical development, particularly one embraced very quickly by a large sector of the population, it can take years, and even decades, for the full range of effects to become evident. And as demonstrated by several recent studies, many questions remain unanswered regarding the long-term and environmental effects of the hormones used in oral contraceptives, as well as other medical treatments.

When a new synthetic substance is created, or a naturally occurring substance is generated at greatly increased levels, the effects can be far longer-lasting and wider-reaching than its manufacturers predict or intend. Some well-known examples of this include asbestos, a popular insulation and flame retardant in the late 19th century, which was later discovered to be carcinogenic; and polystyrene foams like Styrofoam, which is frequently used in disposable packaging, yet takes hundreds of years to break down once discarded. In the case of oral contraceptives, the key ingredients are synthetic hormones known as progestins, which mimic progesterone, either alone or combined with estrogen. When used therapeutically in contraceptive pills or in hormone replacement treatments for menopause, these synthetic hormones make their way into the water supply after being excreted in the patients’ urine. As environmental contaminants, these are referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), due to the fact that they interfere with the endocrine systems of humans and animals alike following exposure.

While its impact is still being widely studied, there is no doubt that the exposure is occurring: multiple international studies have documented elevated levels of natural and synthetic hormones in drinking water, and one such study conducted in France noted that progestins in particular were more resistant to removal by water treatment methods, compared with other types of pharmaceuticals (3).

Due to the accumulation of synthetic steroids in water, much of the research conducted on its impact has been done using water-dwelling vertebrates such as fish and frogs. An ever-increasing collection of studies report harmful effects of these hormones on aquatic vertebrates, particularly with regard to their reproduction, as would be predicted given the nature of the contaminants (4). One study focused on the effects of exposure to the progestin Levonorgestrel (LNG) on the frog Xenopus tropicalis. While the male reproductive system did not appear to be impaired, female tadpoles exhibited severe defects in the development of their ovaries and oviducts, rendering them sterile (5).

While studies such as these cannot be taken as a direct assessment of the impact of environmental EDCs on humans, they do have certain advantages: the capability of controlling for the duration and concentration of exposure, and the fact that these animals’ life cycles are much shorter than those of humans, thus enabling multigenerational studies in far less time. Like the proverbial “canary in the coal mine,” animal studies can serve as early indicators of environmental conditions that may prove harmful to humans and direct our attention toward seemingly innocuous substances we encounter in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and, as in this case, our water supply. However, the effects of EDCs are not limited to water-dwelling frogs: female sterility resulting from early exposure to progestins has been reported in studies involving rats and mice, whose mammalian reproductive systems more closely resemble those of humans (6). The female reproductive system undergoes many key developmental changes in the early stages of life, and these changes are dependent on endocrine signaling events that are sensitive to contaminating environmental hormone exposure. A series of studies by a group at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have demonstrated that mice exposed to phytoestrogens – plant estrogens such as those found in soy products – at key developmental time points exhibited impaired fertility (7). In contrast to mice, in which the critical period of time is during the neonatal period, the human female reproductive tract is undergoing development from prior to birth through adolescence. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of exposure to EDCs across a broader window of time, beginning in the womb.

The use of hormonal contraceptives by pregnant women is discouraged for the obvious reason that they are not ovulating, in addition to the potential for harm to the unborn child. However, postpartum contraception guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control in 2011 state that the use of progestin-only contraceptives “can be initiated immediately postpartum,” and discourage the use of estrogen-containing combined contraceptives in breastfeeding women primarily because the estrogen can reduce the mother’s milk supply (8). The presence of progestins in the breast milk of women taking oral contraceptives has not been demonstrated to adversely affect their babies’ health, although such assessments tend to focus on the short-term outcomes rather than those that might not manifest until adulthood. Nevertheless, the most recent report from the NIH group studying the effects of phytoestrogens highlights the notion that limiting early exposure to plant estrogens, such as those found in soy-based infant formulas, may prove to be beneficial to female reproductive health in the long term. Furthermore, the potential harms of prevalent EDC pollution in the environment are not restricted to women: in November of last year, the British Medical Journal published a report indicating that levels of prostate cancer in men are highest in geographic areas with the greatest use of oral contraceptives (9). While the authors stress that their findings are correlative rather than causative, their work provides a sobering hypothesis for further important research.

Ultimately, the Catholic opposition to contraception is grounded in a fundamental understanding of the meaning of human life and the purpose of procreation as a part of God’s plan, not a pragmatic conclusion reached by painstaking scientific research. While it makes intuitive sense that humans both individually and as societies benefit by living in accordance with the wishes of their Creator, in a fallen world there are practical things that can be done to alleviate some of our suffering, including the use of medical technology and pharmacology. It should be noted that synthetic hormones are not exclusively used in contraceptives, nor are the chemical compounds marketed as contraceptives intrinsically immoral – for instance, an unmarried and abstinent woman using hormonal treatments to treat endometriosis in the hopes of safeguarding her future fertility is doing nothing sinful, regardless of the efficacy or side effects of her decision. However, in a world in which influential groups and individuals are increasingly advocating for population control, often in a manner that recalls the eugenics movement of decades past, it is necessary to insist that research be done to uncover truths regarding the long-term and unintended side effects of widespread contraceptive pill usage.

* * *

Rebecca Oas, Ph.D., is a Fellow of HLI America, an educational initiative of Human Life International. Dr. Oas is a postdoctoral fellow in genetics and molecular biology at Emory University. She writes for HLI America's Truth and Charity Forum.

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Solemn Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ - homily

Last month I went to the doctor for a long-overdue physical. One of the first things they asked me when I arrived was if I had been fasting (in order for them to take my blood). I said no because I didn't know I was supposed to (and it had been so long since my last physical that I had forgotten to) fast. So, a week later I went back to get my blood work done. It's kind of an amazing experience. I made a special trip for one little prick of a needle in my arm and they filled one small vial of my blood. That was it...I could go home. Then, the doctor called me last week with the results. He left a long message going into great detail about everything from my kidneys to liver to cholesterol levels. All of this from a small amount of blood! It was from my blood that he could tell me so much about my life...my physical life. Oh, and the results were good, thanks be to God!


Life is in the blood! Life is blood. Blood is life. This was the Jewish approach to blood; life and blood were synonymous terms. The principle of life resided in blood. Without blood there is no life. This is played out in our first reading as Moses leads the Jewish people into life with God...into covenant with God. The covenant was centered on blood, the symbol of life. Moses sprinkled half of the blood on the altar which symbolized God; he sprinkled the other half on the people. Can you imagine if we did this at Mass - the priest sprinkling you with blood?

We might be repulsed by that thought but it's not far off from what happens at Mass. In fact, the Jewish ritual has led to the Mass and is fulfilled by it. Both rituals are centered on blood...on the sacrificial offering of blood that was necessary for purification...necessary for life with God. In the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was sacrificed. In the New Covenant, the blood of Christ is sacrificed. In the Old Covenant, purification was external only; the sprinkling of blood purified bodies only. In the New Covenant, the purification is internal; the sprinkling of Christ's Body and Blood in Holy Communion purifies our souls. As the second reading explains, the blood of Christ cleanses our consciences! How sweet is it to live with a clean conscience.

Today we celebrate the awesome feast of Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a celebration at the heart of the Church...at the heart of what it means to be Catholic. The Eucharist is the center of the Church's life! When Christ taught about the Eucharist, he based it on the Jewish principle that life resides in blood. In fact, he says in John 6:53, "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life within you". This has always struck me as an incredibly strong and important statement. "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life within you".

The life to which the Lord is referring is eternal life. He promises in verse 54 that "whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life". So, if we want to have eternal life - if we want to go to Heaven - we need to receive the Eucharist. I have said this many times as a priest to many people of all ages. Most Catholics don't know John 6, so when they hear it, they get it. I have seen 10 year old kids get it! When they have asked me why they need to go to Mass every Sunday, I respond by asking them if they want to go to Heaven. They say yes! I then quote John 6:53 and tell them they need to be at Mass to receive the Eucharist. They get it. And, then they tell their parents to take them to Mass because they need to receive the Eucharist...and then the parents come to Mass!

Brothers and sisters, the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist are as real as the blood of the animals from the Old Covenant. A priest once told me that the Eucharist is as real as the nose on your face. We believe that it is really Christ because of the four words that Christ says about it: “This is my body”. The Eucharist is really Christ's Body and Blood and it is really necessary for us to have life. The Eucharist is not just our ticket to Heaven; it is our ticket to happiness in this life. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive a taste of Heaven. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life".

National rallies for religious freedom today

There are many more rallies for religious freedom today at noon all around the country as the following article from catholicnewsagency.com describes.  The one in DC is on Capitol Hill is at 12 noon by the Russell Senate Office Building.  Even if you aren't able to go, please say a prayer for the cause!

Chicago, Ill., Jun 5, 2012 / 02:26 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On June 8, Stand Up For Religious Freedom will hold its second round of national protests against the contraception mandate, continuing the movement that drew tens of thousands of protesters in March.


“We're up to 154 rallies across the country now, which is about 10 more than we had last time on the rally day,” said Stand Up For Religious Freedom's communications director Matt Yonke. The group is “expecting a few more (cities) to trickle in before Friday,” when the events begin at noon local time.

Organized in response to the Obama administration's denial of conscience rights to religious institutions, the first set of rallies included 28 Catholic bishops as well as other Christian and Jewish leaders. This time around, Yonke said, publicity and group endorsements have “only been bigger.”

“We had 64,000 (people) last time,” he recalled, noting the attendance tally from the first round of coast-to-coast demonstrations that took place March 23. “I definitely think we're going to top that.”

Under the leadership of national co-directors Eric Scheidler and Monica Miller, Stand Up For Religious Freedom has built a coalition that includes 96 Catholic and non-Catholic religious and civil rights organizations.

Stand Up For Religions Freedom's first nationwide rally took place on the anniversary of Patrick Henry's “Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death” speech. Its upcoming event coincides with the 223rd anniversary of James Madison's introduction of the Bill of Rights to the first U.S. Congress.

The new wave of protests comes as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the 2010 health care law, under which the contraception mandate was drafted and finalized. The mandate requires employers to purchase plans that include coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so goes against their beliefs.

Soon after the June 8 protests, U.S. Catholics will join with their bishops in a “Fortnight for Freedom” dedicated to religious liberty.

The forthcoming Supreme Court decision, Yonke explained, is “one of the reasons we wanted to do the rally when we're doing it.”

That way, he said, “(whichever) way the ruling goes, we've got people who are engaged, and active, and ready to move on to the next step of the fight” for the free exercise of religion.

No matter what the future of U.S. health care brings, Yonke said Catholics and other religious believers “need to have a significant place at the table.”

The Church has “been doing health care for thousands of years now. And we have something to say about it.”

Yonke said the dispute over conscience rights had intensified in recent months, as the Obama administration “dug in its heels” and refused to reach a mutually-acceptable agreement with critics of the contraception mandate.

Meanwhile, Stand Up For Religious Freedom's message has “spread farther and wider,” building popular momentum against the federal rule.

“There are new people getting informed all the time. And the more they get informed about it, the more they're getting upset about it,” Yonke noted. “So the opposition is only growing.”

Some activist groups have accused opponents of the mandate of fighting a “war on women,” or using the cover of religious freedom to advance a partisan agenda. But Yonke disagreed, citing well-known allies of the president who have broken ranks over their disagreement with the contraception rule.

Prominent commentators and thinkers, including National Catholic Reporter columnist Michael Sean Winters and former U.S. ambassador to Malta Doug Kmiec, have found the mandate to be “a bridge too far,” he pointed out.

“This is far from a partisan effort,” said Yonke. Rather, it is simply an attempt to stop “the government imposing itself on our faith.”

Pope's advice when "God is far off" in prayer

Benedict XVI Gives Advice for Those Struggling to Pray


Emphasizes Role of Holy Spirit

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Taking up the theme of prayer in the letters of St. Paul, Benedict XVI today reflected on the essential role of the Holy Spirit for those who wish to communicate with God.

The Pope spoke of prayer not primarily as a fruit of human effort, but as a gift, "the fruit of the living, vivifying presence of the Father of Jesus Christ in us."

Speaking extemporaneously, the Holy Father reflected on the human desire for prayer: "We want to pray, but God is far off, we do not have the words, the language, to speak with God, nor even the thought to do so. We can only open ourselves, place our time at God’s disposition, wait for Him to help us to enter into true dialogue. The Apostle says: this very lack of words, this absence of words, yet this desire to enter into contact with God, is prayer that the Holy Spirit not only understands, but brings and interprets before God. This very weakness of ours becomes -- through the Holy Spirit -- true prayer, true contact with God. The Holy Spirit is, as it were, the interpreter who makes us, and God, understand what it is we wish to say."

The Pontiff suggested that prayer brings us to understand more than in other aspects of life that we are weak, poor creatures. "And the more we advance in listening and in dialogue with God, so that prayer becomes the daily breath of our souls, the more we also perceive the measure of our limitations, not only in the face of the concrete situations of everyday life, but also in our relationship with the Lord," he said.

But again, "it is the Holy Spirit who helps our inability, who enlightens our minds and warms our hearts, guiding us as we turn to God. For St. Paul, prayer is above all the work of the Holy Spirit in our humanity, to take our weakness and to transform us from men bound to material realities into spiritual men."

3 consequences

Benedict XVI drew from Paul's teaching three consequences for our Christian lives "when we allow the Spirit of Christ, and not the spirit of the world, to work in us as the interior principle of all our actions."

First, he said, prayer animated by the Spirit "enables us to abandon and to overcome every form of fear and slavery, and so to experience the true freedom of the children of God."

"A second consequence that comes about in our lives when we allow the Spirit of Christ to work in us is that our relationship with God becomes so deep that it cannot be affected by any circumstance or situation," the Holy Father continued. "We then come to understand that, through prayer, we are not delivered from trials or sufferings, but we are able to live them in union with Christ, with His sufferings, with a view to participating also in His glory."

Finally, the Pontiff reflected, "the prayer of the believer opens out to the dimensions of humanity and of the whole creation. [...] This means that prayer, sustained by the Spirit of Christ who speaks in our interior depths, never remains closed in upon itself, it is never only prayer for me; rather, it opens out to a sharing in the suffering of our time, of others. It becomes intercession for others, and thus freedom for me; a channel of hope for all creation and the expression of that love of God, which has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit who has been given to us. And this is a sign of true prayer, that it does not end in ourselves, but opens out to others and so liberates me, and so helps in the redemption of the world."

Survey to "get them thinking" about the Eucharist

A friend sent me the following email from a priest whose parish is conducting a survey on people’s attitudes toward the Eucharist. The introduction explains that it is not like the typical survey which does the thinking for people; this one gets people thinking. While it doesn’t ask directly if people believe in the doctrine of the Real Presence, it probes into some of the foundational elements for belief. It’s a good exercise!


I appreciate it because it helps us to get ready for our big feast this Sunday: Corpus Christi. Also, it mentions another survey (’95 Gallop) that I have been alluding to in homilies, posts, and discussions for over six years.

The link for the survey is below, but you can click here to go right to it.  As the priest says, share this with your friends and hopefully this will help to get folks thinking!



Dear Friend,

A 1995 Gallup poll on Catholic attitudes toward Communion was reported to show that only 30% believed that Communion is the actual Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. Our parish survey is designed to get people thinking, to discern what people really believe. The results will be given at the Corpus Christi homily, June 10, 2012, and will be posted on the parish web site: www.sma-Church.org.

All are welcome to go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FQNYRBC

and take the survey. Then share it with your friends: perhaps it can get them thinking!