Winton Wyoming Pastoral Region

It would be easy, knowing that I have taken an oath of fidelity to the teaching authority of the Church on three separate occasions, to say that obviously I have to oppose the legal protection for abortion because I’ve taken vows, and I’d get in trouble otherwise, and so on and so forth. It’s certainly true that I wouldn’t have any integrity if I insisted on picking and choosing what teachings I want to believe and which ones I’d rather ignore, seeing as I’ve taken all those oaths, and will soon take it again when I assume responsibility for another parish. But especially in this case, we find a place where my oaths and my strongest personal convictions dovetail into the deep-seated belief that if we cannot protect and promote the fundamental right to life for the most defenseless in our society, then our entire understanding of human dignity and civic responsibility is irrevocably broken. Click on title for full column.

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34). Our Lord shares these words with the Apostles at the Last Supper because in John’s Gospel our Lord gives a rather lengthy discourse. With that in mind, it is helpful to read His words through the lens that we are on the eve of His Passion and Death. “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” suddenly becomes a more poignant line. It is not a cute phrase to frame and hang on your wall. It is the summit of Christian discipleship. Love as Christ loves—laying down our life in union with Him, embracing our crosses for the salvation of souls, to know our Lord and love our Lord to the point that we can imitate Him and His love.   Click on title for full column.