CLEVELAND—The U.S. bishops’ quadrennial document on political responsibility is rooted in the Catholic Church’s long-standing moral tradition that upholds human dignity and the common good of all, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City said.

“The document is meant to give Catholic voters an opportunity to reflect upon how their faith intersects with their political and civic responsibilities,” said the archbishop, who chairs the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

Titled “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility From the Catholic Bishops of the United States,” the document has been offered as a guide to Catholic voters every presidential election year since 1976.

It has been updated and revised at four-year intervals to reflect changes in the issues confronting the country since it first appeared.

One thing “Faithful Citizenship” is not is a mandate on which candidate for public office to vote for, Archbishop Coakley said.

Voting, he added, is a responsibility to be taken seriously and that requires prudential judgment in determining who can best serve the common good.

“No candidate will likely reflect all of our values,” he told Catholic News Service August 18. “But I think we need to begin in prayer. We need to know our faith. We need to study our faith. We need to have recourse to the catechism and what it might teach about certain questions.

“This document is intended to be that, an official guide for the formation of consciences that Catholics can utilize as they weigh these questions,” the archbishop said.

Furthermore, he continued, “the Gospel cannot be parsed in political or partisan terms. The Gospel calls us to live by standards and our Catholic faith calls us to embrace standards that are not divisible into left or right, Republican or Democratic terminology.”

The document went through no major revisions for this year’s election, but it is being supplemented by an introductory letter, which underwent a long debate before its adoption by the full body of bishops during their fall general assembly in November.

This time around, the document also is accompanied by a series of five videos that highlight vital public policy issues.

The document has three parts.

The first part outlines the responsibility of Catholics to incorporate Catholic teaching as they consider their vote as well as their support for myriad public policy issues that confront society.

The text explores a series of questions related to why the church teaches about public policy issues; who in the church should participate in political life; how the church helps Catholics to speak about political and social questions; and what the church says about social teaching in the public square.

Part two outlines policy positions of the bishops on numerous issues. Topics addressed include human life and dignity, promoting peace, marriage and family religious freedom, economic justice, health care, migration, Catholic education, promoting justice and countering violence, combating unjust discrimination, care for the environment, communications, media and culture and global solidarity.

The bishops said they wanted to “call attention to issues with significant moral dimensions that should be carefully considered in each campaign and as policy decisions are made in the years to come.”

Part three lists goals for Catholics’ participation in political life, whether they are citizens, candidates or public officials. Notably, it invites Catholics to assess moral and ethical questions emanating from public policy issues. It also lists nine goals for Catholics to weigh in public life.

“Faithful Citizenship” also draws from the teaching of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII, the Second Vatican Council, and “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.”

The introductory letter reminds Catholics that “we bring the richness of our faith to the public square” and that “faith and reason inform our efforts to affirm both the dignity of the human person and the common good of all.”

The letter also says, “The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed. At the same time, we cannot dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity, such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty and the death penalty.”

It concludes by reminding Catholics to “bring their faith and our consistent moral framework to contribute to important work in our communities, nation, and world on an ongoing basis, not just during election season.”

The full document also is available in Spanish.

The text of “Faithful Citizenship” can be downloaded as a free PDF from USCCB.org, or it can be purchased by going to Store.USCCB.org.

In addition to English, the videos were produced in Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

The productions explore various aspects of Catholic social teaching while reflecting on the teaching of Pope Francis.

The videos are posted on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website at faithfulcitizenship.org and the USCCB’s YouTube channel at bit.ly/31DHDGN. They are part of the bishops’ effort to broaden their outreach through the document.

“People respond to different media,” Archbishop Coakley said. “This is a very technically savvy audience today, especially younger voters. The videos use powerful images and brief statements that illustrate some of the teaching embodied in the formal document.”

Four English-language videos of about two minutes in length examine participation in public life, protecting human life and dignity, promoting the common good and loving others. The fifth video is a six-minute compilation of the highlights of the four shorter pieces.

The foreign language videos are slightly longer.

Each video was produced with young people in mind, said Jill Rauh, director of education and outreach in the USCCB’s Department of Justice Peace and Human Development.

Along with the images and voices of young people, each piece features one bishop narrating an aspect of Catholic social teaching. Each production closes with a different prayer specifically written for the series.

Scenes showing people feeding the hungry, protecting God’s creation, comforting the elderly, caring for children, migrant people and families, and engaging in civil discussions are prominent in the productions.

“The videos are meant to reflect the teaching of the bishops in ‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,’” Rauh said. “The videos are really trying to make that teaching more accessible.”

Other wide-ranging resources are being made available to parishes, schools, prayer groups and other interested parties through the faithful citizenship web page.

As summer ends and Election Day, November 3, nears, dioceses and parishes have been gearing up their use of “Faithful Citizenship” resources, according to social ministry directors across the country.

Archbishop Coakley said the bishops expect the guidance offered in the “Faithful Citizenship” materials will gain wider attention this year.

“My hope and prayer is that Catholics who really want their faith to influence their decision making when it comes to going to the polls will give the reflections in this document consideration rather than just going to their favorite news source,” he said. “That’s going to be a very different kind of guidance than what they receive from their favorite cable news anchor or pundit.

“This is our chance to bring a different light to bear to a very important fundamental civic responsibility.”

By Dennis Sadowski   I   Catholic News Service

CNA—Evidence suggests that church services following public health guidelines do not present a greater risk of spreading the novel coronavirus than other similar activities, doctors said last week.

Washing hands, social distancing, and mask requirements have helped prevent the spread of COVID-19, even in cases when contagious, pre-symptomatic parishioners took part in church events, three members of the Thomistic Institute Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for Sacraments & Pastoral Care concluded.

Doctors Thomas McGovern, Deacon Timothy Flanigan, and Paul Cieslak authored an article for Real Clear Science on Mass attendance and COVID-19 August 19.

“For Catholic churches following [the] guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance, even though we have examples … of asymptomatic, unknowingly infected individuals attending mass and other parish functions,” they wrote. “Their attendance could have led to an outbreak if appropriate precautions were not followed, yet in each case, we found no evidence of viral transmission.”

“This encouraging news should inspire confidence that the guidelines in place—based on CDC recommendations—are working to decrease COVID-19 transmission,” the doctors continued. “While nothing during a pandemic is risk-free, these guidelines mean that Catholics (and public officials) may be confident that it’s reasonably safe to come to Church for Mass and the sacraments.”

Over the last 14 weeks, they said, approximately 17,000 parishes have held three or more Masses each weekend, as well as daily services, combining to equal more than 1 million public Masses celebrated across the United States since shelter-in-place orders were lifted.

By following public health guidelines, these Masses have largely avoided viral spread, the authors suggested.

Nick Schoen, an employee of the Archdiocese of Seattle, has initiated a contact-tracing protocol for Mass-goers in the area. Tracking individuals who have participated in church events shortly before testing positive for COVID-19, he found that none of these individuals launched outbreaks at churches.

The authors pointed to at least four examples of infected individuals attending Mass while pre-symptomatic, as well as three anointings of sick individuals by priests in poorly-ventilated rooms. In each case, they said, the sick individuals avoided infecting other people.

“During a July 3 funeral mass (45 attendees, capacity 885), two members of one household notified the parish that they had tested positive for COVID-19 and were infected and pre-symptomatic during the mass,” they said.

“During a July 11 wedding (200 attendees, capacity 908), fresh air circulated from multiple open windows with the aid of fans. The following day, an attendee developed symptoms of COVID and on July 13 tested positive. The attendee was almost certainly contagious with pre-symptomatic infection during the wedding.”

In April, the Thomistic Institute’s Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for Sacraments & Pastoral Care released guidelines for reopening churches for Mass and other sacraments. These guidelines were incorporated by numerous dioceses into their protocols for reopening.

The guidelines were built on a multi-phase proposal for resumption and expansion of public Masses while remaining in conformity with public health guidelines in force in different places.

In “Phase 1” of the proposal, the institute encouraged the “Sunday obligation” to be dispensed, the elderly and those at high risk of COVID-19 to stay home, and those with symptoms to stay home from Mass. The institute also promoted social distancing, masks requirements, and the regular use of hand sanitizer.

The few churches that have reported a COVID-19 outbreak did not follow these regulations and in some cases engaged in discouraged actions such as congregational singing.

In some cases, these isolated incidents have led local government officials to restrict church services more than activities in restaurants, movie theaters, and casinos. This has prompted lawsuits alleging religious discrimination, which have often been sucessful.

The doctors said in their article that there is no evidence that church services are higher risk than similar activities when guidelines are followed.

“To date, the evidence does not suggest that Church attendance—following the current guidelines—is any more risky than shopping for groceries. And the spiritual good for believers in coming to Church is immeasurably important for their well-being,” they said.

“Indeed, for Catholics, the Mass and above all the Eucharist are central to the Christian life. In a time like this, it is even more important that the faithful be able to come to Church and receive Holy Communion.”

CNA

NORWALK—Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 14360 was recently awarded the distinction of Star Council, the international organization’s top honor for local councils.

The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic faith formation programs and volunteering time through service-oriented activities.

The council donated thousands of hours and funds over the last fraternal year to assist St. Matthew Parish, Family & Children’s Agency, Malta House, Notre Dame Health and Rehab Center, Homes for the Brave, Al’s Angels, All Saints School, Regina Pacis Academy, Our Lady of Fatima School and St. Philip Church food pantry.

Council 14360 highlights include large food drives, donation of PPE supplies to Notre Dame Health and Rehab, sending food to those on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the council rolled up its sleeves and saved Regina Pacis Academy School thousands of dollars on painting the inside of the school, landscaping five acres of property at Notre Dame Health and Rehab Center and mulching of the playgrounds at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy.

“It is such an honor to hear this news but it is an even greater honor to be part of such a great organization. The men of this council are truly my brothers and I am so proud of them for their dedication to putting Faith in Action, earning this distinction, “said Grand Knight Anthony Armentano.

About the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is one of the world’s leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77 million service hours and $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. The organization also provides financial services to groups and individuals, resulting in more than $112 billion of life insurance in force, and through its money management firm, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, it invests in accord with Catholic social teachings. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to its members, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. For information on joining the Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 14360 contact Grand Knight Anthony Armentano at 203.246.6648 or aja71672@icloud.com or join on-line for free at kofc.org/joinus and input Council 14360 as the council to join.

BRIDGEPORT—St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound will be hosting its 23nd Annual Memorial Service on Sunday, August 30, in a new, virtual format.

Due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and current social distancing precautions in place, St. Vincent’s will be presenting this year’s memorial online, in a virtual event that will be available to anyone who would like to be part of this moving ceremony. The event is free of charge, open to all members of the community and will celebrate the lives of family members and friends lost to cancer, regardless of where they received treatment.

People can submit the names of their loved ones to be recognized in a video presentation by visiting stvincents.org/swimmemorial. Please submit your request by Friday, August 21. The memorial service will be streamed as a video at 9 am on Sunday, August 30 and will remain available for viewing after the event.

The annual Memorial Service seeks to remember and carry on the spirit of those who have died from cancer. The service provides an opportunity for families and friends to heal after the loss of loved ones, and reflects St. Vincent’s Mission as it acknowledges the importance and contribution of every life. It is another way that St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound supports area residents in the fight against cancer.

The virtual event will include prayers, musical tributes and inspirational readings. Performers will include bagpipers P. Thomas Landry and Dave Curtis, soloist Tyler Cervini of Trumbull, and members of the St. Vincent’s Choir led by Chief Medical Resident Pius A. Osei-Bagyina, MD.

The service will also remember the late Miriam Raubvogel of Shelton, who has sponsored the memorial for many years in memory of her sister Linda Waterman and the Waterman family.

For more information, please contact Edna Borchetta of St. Vincent’s Mission Services at 475.210.6393 or edna.borchetta@hhchealth.org.

VATICAN CITY—The central focus of a Christian’s life and all he or she does to help others must be Jesus Christ, Pope Francis said.

“Christian charity is not simple philanthropy but, on the one hand, it is looking at others through the eyes of Jesus himself and, on the other hand, seeing Jesus in the face of the poor,” the pope said Aug. 23 before reciting the Angelus prayer with visitors in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis focused on the day’s Gospel reading, Mt 16:13-20, in which Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and then asks them, “But who do you say that I am?”

The disciples seemed to have a ready answer to the first question, the pope said. “The apostles liked talking about people, as we all do. We like to gossip. Speaking of others is not so demanding, which is why we like it.”

But, he said, when asked who they thought he was, the disciples seemed to pause.

“If I were to ask you now, ‘Who is Jesus for you?’ there would be a little hesitation,” the pope told people in the square.

Simon Peter gets the disciples off the hook by responding, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

And, the pope said, Jesus points out that Peter did not come up with that answer all by himself, but that it was revealed to him by God.

“To confess Jesus is a grace from the Father,” the pope said. “To say that Jesus is the son of the living God, that he is the Redeemer, is a grace that we must ask for: ‘Father, give me the grace to confess Jesus.’”

After Peter makes his profession of faith, Jesus calls him the rock upon which he will build the church. The pope said, “The church goes forward always on the basis of Peter’s faith, that faith that Jesus recognizes (in Peter) and which makes him the head of the church.”

“Who is Jesus Christ for me? Who is Jesus Christ for you, for you, for you,” Pope Francis asked, pointing to people in different parts of the square. Each day, he said, Christians should think how they would reply.

With so “many forms of poverty and crises” everywhere, he said, Christians are right to see charity as “the high road of the journey of faith, of the perfection of faith,” the pope said. “But it is necessary that works of solidarity, the works of charity that we carry out, not divert us from contact with the Lord Jesus.”

By Cindy Wooden  I  Catholic News Service

WILTON—When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who’s making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we’ve launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

Father Reggie Norman is the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Wilton, and the subject of multiple nominations as a Local Hero. By all accounts he has gone “above and beyond,” particularly for the town’s elderly community.

Father Reggie routinely checks in upon those most vulnerable during the pandemic, and also goes shopping for them.

“His heart is huge,” one nominator wrote. “He sends them notes and cards. He listens when they need to be consoled.”

Another Father Reggie fan told us that he is “a caring and inspirational man who is always there for others especially during the pandemic. He opened his doors to the parish center for those who lost power during Isaias. Always looking out for our seniors and homebound.”

Although he “never takes credit where credit is due,” Father Reggie is a “true man of faith that puts faith into action and cares for his parishioners and community.”

Thank you for all you do, Father Reggie!

(Photo by George Ribellino, Jr)

By Rich Kirby, Patch Staff

WASHINGTON,D.C.—The 2020 Virtual March on Washington takes place August 27 and 28. Archbishop Wilton Gregory will celebrate a Mass of Peace and Justice on August 28 in honor of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. Click here to register.

Background on the march

At the 1963 March on Washington, Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle—who began integrating parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Washington shortly after becoming the archbishop of Washington in 1948—offered the invocation before Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Cardinal O’Boyle retired in 1973 and died in 1987.

Archbishop Gregory was installed as the current archbishop of Washington in 2019, becoming the first African American prelate to lead the Archdiocese of Washington. A leading voice in the U.S. Catholic Church for racial justice, Archbishop Gregory recently spoke on “Race in America: The Faith Perspective,” in an online forum sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.

He also recently spoke in a related panel discussion sponsored by Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.

Washington Auxiliary Bishops Mario Dorsonville, Roy E. Campbell, and Michael Fisher will concelebrate the August 28 Mass, which is being organized by the Archdiocese of Washington’s Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach.

More discussions available

Tolton’s Legacy: A Road Map to Unity 2020 Vision, will take place Saturday, August 29, 7-8:30 pm CST. Archbishop Gregory, Bishop Perry, Dr. Cecelia Moore, Father David Jones and Sr. Eva Marie Lumas, SSS, are the speakers.

The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) will host a virtual half-day event, Momentum: The Accompaniment Symposium, on September 1, 2020, 1-4:30 pm ET. The program is designed to provide insight on how to faithfully minister to and walk with youth and their families in the year ahead. To register visit www.nfcym.org.

FAIRFIELD—For the fourth consecutive year, Sacred Heart University has earned recognition for students’ community involvement. The Princeton Review ranked SHU 10th out of 20 universities and colleges on its “Students Most Engaged in Community Service” listing. That’s three spots higher than SHU earned last year.

The Princeton Review, an education services company, recently released the 2021 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 386 Colleges. The guide also named SHU as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduates to earn their college degree. Additionally, it placed SHU on its “Most Religious” ranking, and included the University among the “Best Northeastern Colleges.”

“Our students understand the importance of volunteering and giving to those in need,” said SHU President John J. Petillo regarding the community service accolade. “Many of our students spend time on mission trips locally and abroad, working with nonprofits to better the lives of families and children. Social justice is a key piece of SHU’s mission, and our strong tradition of community service is an expression of that.”

In SHU’s profile, The Princeton Review said, “Sacred Heart is a university that’s imbued with a tremendous amount of ‘school spirit’ and ‘an amazing sense of community.”

Under the “Academics” section in the profile, The Princeton Review wrote, “Students love that the campus is ‘very modern,’ with whiteboard-stacked classrooms that feature ‘many unique features other schools lack’ and ‘VR for classroom exercises, which enhanced the learning experience.’”

The section goes on, “Sacred Heart prioritizes ‘real work experience’ and provides ‘a lot of networking opportunities that are very valuable.’ Undergrads also suggest that small classes help ‘make the learning experience very personal.’ Students also seem to hold their professors in high regard as well.”

According to The Princeton Review and the student response survey it conducted, “When students arrive on campus, they are pleased to discover just how ‘selfless’ and ‘supportive’ their classmates truly are.”

One student quoted by The Princeton Review said, “Every day when I go to class, a fellow student is always holding open the door for me.”

Another undergraduate wrote, “There is an enthusiasm that you can’t fake that comes from the president all the way down to the students. People here genuinely care for others.”

“Receiving a glowing profile from The Princeton Review, as well as the other accolades, is a testament to the University’s commitment to providing students with top-tier experiences and facilities to learn and grow in,” said Pam Pillo, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “This ranking confirms that Sacred Heart meets students’ needs and allows them to thrive.”

Only about 14% of America’s 2,800 four-year colleges are profiled in The Best 386 Colleges guidebook, which is one of The Princeton Review’s most popular publications. The company chooses colleges based on data collected annually from administrators at hundreds of colleges about their institutions’ academic offerings. The Princeton Review also considers data from surveys of college students, who rate and report on various aspects of their campus and community experiences for this project.

“We salute Sacred Heart University for its outstanding academics, and we are truly pleased to recommend it to prospective applicants searching for their personal ‘best-fit’ college,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 386 Colleges.

Photo details: Sacred Heart University’s Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning, Student Government, Residential Life and many student athletes helped to distribute Thanksgiving food at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bridgeport as part of SHU’s annual food drives to benefit the needy. Photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek

About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 385 Colleges—2020 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 252 Business Schools—2019 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater.