MISSION STATEMENT
We the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Scranton,
in union with our Holy Father, the Pope, are called
through baptism to share in the mission which Jesus
Christ has entrusted to the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church. Priests, deacons, religious and laity,
under the leadership of our Bishop, cooperate to
proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the teaching of
the Church, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the
Eucharist, for the salvation of all, and to witness by
grace to the Kingdom of God so as to promote a culture
of life, justice and peace.
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This Issue:
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Promote the Dignity of Christian Marriage |
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‘Flawed’ Study Calls for Global Promotion of
Abortion |
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Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Service |
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Request for Names and Addresses of non-Roman
Catholic Clergy |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Promote the Dignity of Christian Marriage |
Pope Benedict XVI, in remarks to
prelates from the Episcopal Conference of the
Congo at the completion of their ad limina
visit, warned that “the noticeable reduction in
the number of canonical marriages is a real
challenge facing the family. ... Civil
legislation, the weakening of the family
structure, and (other factors) are a real brake
on young people’s commitment to marriage.”
“What is needed,” the Holy Father
concluded, “is a profound pastoral reflection in
order to promote the dignity of Christian
marriage, the reflection and realization of
Christ’s love for His Church. It is important to
help couples to achieve the human and spiritual
maturity necessary to undertake ... their
mission as Christian spouses and parents,
reminding them that their love is unique,
indissoluble, and that marriage contributes to
the full realization of their human and
Christian vocation.”
In a letter on the designation of the
Archdiocese of Mexico as the location of the 6th
World Meeting of Families, which is due to take
place Jan. 16-18, 2009, the pontiff described
the family as the first school of life and of
faith, and as a “domestic church.”
“The family is called to educate new
generations in human and Christian values so as
to forge in them – guiding their lives according
to the model of Christ – a well-balanced
personality. In such a vital task ... it is
important to have the support of the school, of
the parish and of the various ecclesial groups
that favor the integral education of human
beings.” |
‘Flawed’ Study Calls for Global Promotion of
Abortion |
Deirdre A. McQuade, an official of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB),
criticized a study by researchers from the
Guttmacher Institute and the World Health
Organization calling for the global legalization
and promotion of abortion.
“Some say the new Guttmacher study shows
that legalizing abortions makes them 'safe;' but
the study's methodology is flawed. The authors
start out by simply defining 'safe' abortions as
‘those that meet legal requirements' in
countries with permissive laws,” said Ms.
McQuade. “But by this unusual definition, legal
abortions are 'safe' even if they kill women as
well as their unborn children. The authors then
say that illegal abortions are 'harmful' – even
when women experience no medical complications –
because women have to violate the law. This is a
closed semantic circle into which no fact about
real-life women can intrude.”
“Lost in the authors’ ideological fog is
the fact that abortion always kills; legal or
illegal, it sometimes also kills women,
especially when they are poor and have a
terrible health care system. Promoting more
abortions will not change this. Rather than
pitting women and their children against each
other, we need to stand in solidarity with both
and focus on improving the quality of global
health care,” Ms. McQuade said. |
Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Service |
| The Office of Ecumenism and Interfaith
Affairs and the Christian Communities Gathering
of NE PA have prepared an Interfaith
Thanksgiving Prayer Service for local use. To
access the Prayer Service: visit the diocesan
website: www.dioceseofscranton.org. From the
menu choices, on the left-hand side of the home
page, click on Ecumenism. On that page, click on
“Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service 2007.”
At the bottom of the introductory page (with the
group photo) click on: “Sample Interfaith
Thanksgiving Worship Service 2007.” |
Request for Names and Addresses of non-Roman
Catholic Clergy |
Current names and addresses of local
non-Roman Catholic clergy and laity involved in
local ecumenical and interfaith work are to be
sent to the Office of Ecumenism and Interfaith
Affairs by Thursday, Nov. 1. Updated directories
of local involved persons may be sent through
the regular mail or may be e-mailed to:
frfrosty@epix.net.
These directories assist in revising the
invitation list for the Ecumenical Celebration
of God’s Word and luncheon during the annual
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In 2008, the
100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer, the
Diocesan prayer service will be held on
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in St.
Peter’s Cathedral. |
Mark Your Calendar |
“Rachel’s Vineyard” Post-Abortion Healing
Retreat –– Nov. 2-4. Confidential weekend
retreat facilitates spiritual and emotional
healing for men and women struggling with the
pain of abortion. Exercises based on Scripture
are designed to help participants experience
God’s mercy and compassion, and to reconcile
with their church, themselves and their child.
The retreat concludes with a Memorial and Mass
of Resurrection. Participation is strictly
confidential. For more information, including
registration, contact Denise Rowinski at
822-7118 ext. 307 or drowinski@csswb.org.
Day of Reflection: “The Parables: Message and
Mystery,” Nov. 10 –– 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest
presenter: Father Charles P. Connor. Day
includes celebration of Mass and the Sacrament
of Reconciliation. Fee: $25, includes lunch. To
register, call 563-8500 or e-mail: Fatima@dioceseofscranton.org.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Nov. 11 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate Seminary, 1880 Highway 315,
Laflin. Religious information and Sacrament of
Reconciliation begin at 2 p.m., followed by Mass
signed and interpreted, celebrated at 3 p.m.
Refreshments follow. For more information,
contact Sister Mary Beth Makuch, SSCM, at
207-2213 ext. 1013 –– voice/tdd.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Nov. 16 –– 7 to 9 p.m. at
St. Ann Basilica Parish Center, 1200 St. Ann
St., Scranton. Sponsored by the Diocesan Office
for Parish Life, this “Beginning Experience”
monthly session held every third Friday offers
support to cope with sorrow, doubt, anxiety and
loneliness after losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 342-5166.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series of
classes begins on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at St.
Matthew Parish Center, East Stroudsburg. Course
instruction in the sympto-thermal method by an
NFP instructor approved by the Diocese of
Scranton. For more information/registration,
call 420-1319. Registration deadline: Nov. 17.
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