!:i:
1998
The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
5
Rome- Monday, May 25, 1998
By BISHOP GERALD
A GETTELFINGER
from Region VII arrived in Rome
23, while others came on Sun-
in their home dioceses. All of us
for a meeting on Sunday afternoon to review
meetings for the week. We also received
the Holy Father.
the Chicago Province, including
of Illinois, were informed that they
g individually with the Holy Father
morning. (I am writing this on Monday
We also learned at that meeting that our
10 minutes instead of the
Some felt this was a signal that the Holy
Was not in good health.
Francis George of Chicago and the oth-
ers who saw him indicated that he seemed quite
healthy although he shows signs of aging. Recall that
he just celebrated his 78th birthday. As of Monday
afternoon, the rest Of us have not heard when we will
have our individual audiences.
Our group of about 30 will be divided into two
groups for dinner with the Holy Father. The main
meal in Rome is around I p.m. Neither the day select-
ed for that dinner nor the day when our full group
will have early morning Mass with the Holy Father
were known at the time of my writing.
These three opportunities to share the precious
time of the Holy Father are special for us bishops. I,
personally, cherish the moments very much. My vis-
its with the Holy Father, in the name of all of the peo-
ple of the Diocese of Evansville, are reminders of our
union with the Universal Church.
Also this morning we fulfilled one of three oblig-
ations bishops have in approaching the threshold (ad
limina) of St. Peter. We concelebrated Holy Mass at
the tomb of St. Peter. I remembered all of you as well
as your personal and familial intentions. It is a very
special privilege for bishops to pray at the tomb of
one of the first bishops, St. Peter, the one commis-
sioned by Christ to be the first Pope.
We will fulfill the second obligation when we
concelebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Paul's on Thurs-
day afternoon. St, Paul is the Apostle to all gentiles --
all Christians who are not of Jewish heritage.
The third obligation we share is to make our-
selves available to meet personally with the Holy
Father -- a happy obligation as are the other two.
Our Holy Father continues to be most generous
with his time for us. Other popes have not offered the
same multiple opporttmities for bishops to meet. We
are most appreciative.
Editor's note: The Bishop's Forum was transmitted by
e-mail by Bishop Gettelfinger to the Message for publica-
tion this week.
Catholic Men's Conference: A participant's view
men from Saint John
in Newburgh
the fourth annual
r The Call" Catholic
in Cincinnati,
25. Those attend-
Bob Smith, Jason
!:PAUL HALTER
Jerry Wheat-
Jim Wilsbacher,
Mike Siebert, Bill
Ken Schweiss, Mark
Don Wilky-
was spon-
Fel-
Cincinnati.
were in atten-
three bishops
and 105 priests. And what beau-
tiful music was provided giving
honor and praise to our God.
The Fellowship consists of a
group of men, principally
Catholic, who recognize the
need for God's help in their lives.
They gather in Christ's presence
in an atmosphere of trust, equal-
ity and anonymity to share pe r-
sonal feelings and experiences
with unconditional acceptance
of each other and prayerful sup-
port of one another.
Speakers at the conference
included the following:
• Bishop Carl K. Moeddel, a
native of Cincinnati and the
Vicar General of the Archdiocese
of Cincinnati.
• Bishop Robert W. Muench of
Covington, Ky., who along with
Bishop Moeddel concelebrated
the closing Mass.
• Dale Brown, former head
coach of the LSU basketball pro-
gram, who on the floor was one
of the most respected and color-
ful of all coaches. We experi-
enced his charisma as he shared
his deep commitment to the
Catholic faith in a way that
enriched and entertained. Some
of his deep interests include his
work with Boy' s Town, Boy's
Hope and his most recent
involvement of feeding hungry
children.
• Scott Hahn, professor at
Franciscan University and
director of the Institute of
Applied Biblical Studies, a for-
mer Presbyterian minister and
a convert to the Catholic faith.
Hahn visioned a unique
opportunity for Catholic men
to join together and accom-
plish great things. His evange-
listic fervor was contagious.
• Father Tom Forrest, Founder
of Evangilization 2000 who
spent 23 years working among
the poor in the Caribbean.
Father Forrest shared his enthu-
siasm for living our faith beyond
the church walls.
• Jim Berlucchi, executive
director for Legatus and direc-
tor of Pastoral Services for
Domino's Pizza. Berlucchi told
us what it is like to be in the
fellowship of good Christian
men who share their love for
Christ with others and with
one another.
• Admiral Jeremiah Denton,
who was awarded the Navy
cross, three Silver Stars, five
Bronze Stars, and two Purple
Hearts. He shared how his
prayers, faith and total surren-
der to God sustained him dur-
ing seven years as a POW. in the
notorious "Hanoi Hilton."
• Gerry Faust, Former Notre
Dame, Akron and Moeller Foot-
ball head coach. Gerry shared
ways his faith in Christ and his
church sustained him through
the highs and lows of his
remarkable life.
Answer the Call IV encour-
aged us to examine our priori-
ties, rejuvenated our commit-
ment to our Catholic faith and
family, gave us new insights on
our daily lives, showed us the
need to:me closer,to Christ,
and supported, challenged ahd
affu'med our call as sons of God.
All you men out there come
and join us next year for Arwer
The Call V. Contact one of those
who attended or "www.the-
call.org" for additional informa-
tion.
drinking: When will the madness end?
this letter to you
arn concerned about
more
in our soci-
id you know that
in the United
led to exces-
,RY
SEy REISING
School
I think that we
what statistics
us, and act accord-
don't fight for the
ty and its
will?
is characterized
phys-
alcohol. It is
serious than a mere-
or irresponsible
drinking problem; if not dealt
with, it can be life-threatening.
It usually develops over a peri-
od of years and the person
becomes obsessed with drink-
ing; when the next drink will be,
how soon, and how much.
As the problem becomes
worse, the person begins to drink
against his own best interests. A
drink becomes more important
than personal relationships,
work, reputation, or even physi-
cal health When ample amounts
of alcohol are in the body, the
person cannot think clearly or
make responsible decisions.
Often, his vision is blurry, speech
is slurred, and he cannot walk
straight. Also, there is always a
possibility that the person could
become unconscious. What hap-
pens when these people who
of Life
[in human cloning also] is immoral because it
use of the human body (by now decidedly
Lxt of parts) as a mere research ttx)l. The
integral part of every individual's dignity and per-
not permissible to use women as a )urce of ova
experiments.
Pontifical Academy for Life,
. • "Human Cloning is Immoral," July 9, 1997
cannot even stand up straight get
on the mad? People are bound to
get hurt, critically injured, or
killed; and they do!
Drunk driving is a major fac-
tor in the increasing number of
deaths related to car accidents.
Every day, families are torn
apart due to alcohol. Not only
do alcoholics hurt themselves,
they end up hurting their fami-
lies and innocent victims as
well. When and where will the
madness end?!
Statistics show that drinking
is rapidly increasing in the Unit-
ed States; the question is, what
are we going to do about it? In
fact, the number of people who
are consuming alcohol under
the age of 21 has risen dramati-
cally in the past eight to 10 years.
As a community, I think that
we need to encourage teenagers
to become involved in activities
where the pressure of drinking
alcohol is not there.
At our schools, we need to
have more clinics, workshops,
and counseling programs for
troubled young teens, so that
they do not turn to alcohol. Per-
haps more guest speakers,
telling about their experiences
with alcohol and how it can
change your life forever.
Also, for adults, and even
teenagers, who have a drinking
problem and want help but
think it's too late, there is
always Alcoholics Anonymous.
AA has grown to an estimated
87,000 groups in more than 130
countries. That right there tells
us that help is out there; we just
have to make the right decision.
As Catholics, we need to
inform others about the dangers
of drinking; let people know
that "one more drink" could be
the difference between life and
death. Also, we could organize
even more yputh group activi-
ties to show that it is possible to
have fun without alcohol.
I think that if we work togeth-
er, we can overcome alcoholism.
We have to realize that no mat-
ter how serious our problem
may be, it is never too late to get
help. Also, we must remember
that God will always love and
be with us, despite how difficult
our lives become.
W shmgton .......
Continued from page 4
exempted from the measures
taken in response to India's
actions."
It remains to be seen whether
the repercussions of India's
nuclear tests will include a
renewed commitment in the
Senate and internationally to
ratify the test ban treaty. But
clearly the religious communi-
ty will continue to speak out on
the ban that President Dwight
D. Eisenhower once hoped
would be his "final aM most
lasting gift" to his country.
Hh; successor, President John
E Kenned); echoed that hope in
a 1961 address to the United
Nations. with these chilling
words:
"Every man, woman and child
lives under a nuclear s"word of
Damocles, hanging by the slen-
derest of threads, capable of
being cut at any monK-nt by -ci-
dent or miscalculation or by
madness,*' Kemav id. "The
weaporLs of war must be alxl-
htx'l he,ere they abolh us."
