tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53201405893589844732024-03-05T14:46:31.029-08:00Cardinal Roger Mahony Blogs L.A.: The official blog of the Archbishop Emeritus of L.A.Cardinal Roger Mahony Blogs L.A. is the official blog of the Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles.
contact@olacathedral.orgCardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-15940423879696467312021-03-21T13:31:00.006-07:002021-03-21T13:31:34.922-07:00CALIFORNIA and ASIAN PEOPLES: SHAMEFUL RECORD<p><b>The Covid 19 pandemic has unleashed terrible discrimination and verbal/physical attacks upon our Asian American brothers and sisters. States, cities, and communities are examining their consciences on how our Asian community has been treated over the years.</b></p><p><b>Here in California, we deserve no better than an F. Here are three examples of how Asians came to our State, and how their success led to punitive legislative measures:</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> <span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I. CHINESE FARM WORKERS</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Chinese
workers had been imported to work on the Transcontinental Railroad in the
1860s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When it was completed in 1869,
many Chinese were drawn to the Sacramento area and the Gold Rush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike typical gold miners who squandered
their gold earnings on liquor, gambling, and women, the Chinese wisely saved
their money and soon moved into agricultural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They were successful farm workers and even bought small farms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their success brought the passage of the
<i>Chinese Exclusion Act</i> in 1882 to block their economic gains in
agriculture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Even 152 years ago we began to stereotype and punish Asians who became successful.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">II. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>JAPANESE FARM WORKERS</span></b></p><b>
</b><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Between
1898 and 1900 many Japanese were brought to California to work in the
fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not long before they gave
up working for farmers and ranchers and set out on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were extremely successful, saved their
money, and formed collectives to benefit from many families owning and
operating collective farms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This success
brought the passage of the <i>Alien Land Law</i> in 1913 which forbade Japanese from
owning and operating farms and ranches. Again, 108 years ago, the fury of California was unleashed on the hardworking success of our Japanese brothers and sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">III. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>FILIPINO FARM WORKERS</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Filipino farm workers came
in three waves:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> the </span>first wave of 100,000 "manongs"took place in the time between 1920 to
1930. They were permitted to come to California because at that time the Philippines was a Territory of the USA, not a foreign country. Most of them began working in the great Delta area in and around
Sacramento, working in the
agricultural crops of this region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p><b>The State and local jurisdictions passed misogyny laws forbidding Filipino workers from marrying anyone except a Filipino. The problem was that Filipino men outnumbered Filipino women 14 to 1. Few women came during these years. </b><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The
second wave came in 1946 right after the Second World War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many USA servicemen married Filipino women
while stationed in the Philippines and brought them back after the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immigration laws then permitted the soldiers
to petition and bring many other family members to the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Large numbers of these Filipinos centered
around the Delta region and became very industrious farm workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
third wave come in 1965 with the passage of the <i>Immigration and Nationality
Act</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many more Filipinos began arriving,
but this time many were trained in the medical field:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and the
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But also, many more came to work
in California’s fields and orchards.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Since most Filipinos spoke English they were not treated as badly as the earlier waves of Japanese and Chinese immigrants.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">IV. FURTHER INCIDENTS<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Between 1942 and 1945, some 120,000 Japanese across the country were rounded up and confined in ten different relocation camps in several States. Two of those camps were here in California: Manzanar Relocation Center along the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, and the Tule Lake Relocation Center in northern California. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">These Japanese, many USA citizens, were presumed to be "pro-Japan" during World War II. These camps were fortified with no opportunity to depart, a veritable prison setting. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Following the end of the war in 1945, those in internment camps were allowed to return to their homes. These Japanese were often met with suspicion and hostility for years to come.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After the fall of Vietnam in April of 1975 to the Viet Cong, thousands of Vietnamese refugees were housed in many countries across southeast Asia. Many were permitted to come to California under the auspices of the Catholic Church acting as partner with the government to help resettle so many refugees. The Catholic Church played a very important role in this resettlement process.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Since Cambodians and Hmong people had collaborated with our country in trying to repel communists in Vietnam, our government had to bring many to our State to avoid being imprisoned or killed. <br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There then followed a large influx of Koreans to southern California. Next, people from throughout Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific began arriving here. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Many people from all of these groups brought with them their Catholic faith, and many special Centers sprung up to serve them.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite our best efforts to inculturate our many Asian brothers and sisters into our society in California, the Asians continued to be subject to verbal and physical insults and attacks. The naming of Covid-19 as a Chinese or Asian flu created renewed hostility and attacks upon all Asians because most Caucasians cannot distinguish the various Asian peoples and their varying countries.<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Catholic Church had a strong presence in many of these countries, and many priests and Sisters came to assist them in spiritual and pastoral ministry.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">V. CONCLUSION</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sadly, so many aspects of hateful discrimination live on in our State--from the 1860s until today. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our road forward is rooted in our Catholic teaching of the equality of all peoples God has placed on our earth. There are none "better" or others "worse." We share our resemblance to God's spirit and share this journey forward.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now is the time for us to reach out to all our Asian brothers and sisters with a new sense of welcome and to diminish hateful speech and actions from our hearts, from our lives, and from our communities.<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-15321823110615992232020-09-27T20:21:00.000-07:002020-09-27T20:21:07.189-07:00REFUGEE PROGRAM IN GREAT PERIL<p><b>Friends,</b></p><p><b>The information below is quite startling and we are in danger of basically eliminating our USA refugee resettlement program.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This week, the Trump administration could
make the unprecedented decision to “zero out” the US refugee program. In other words, the president could close the
door to any refugees resettled through the US refugee program in the United
States in FY 2021. This decision could take place despite the presence of
nearly 25 million refugees worldwide in need of protection, of whom less than
one percent are resettled to third countries annually. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since the formal advent of the US refugee
program in the 1970s, the nation has resettled, on average, 95,000 refugees per
year. Since then, 3 million refugees
have been resettled through the program and have become contributing members of
our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Under current law, the president must
issue a presidential determination each year designating the number of refugees
the United States will resettle in the upcoming fiscal year, which starts
October 1<sup>st</sup>. Last year, the
administration set a refugee ceiling of 18,000, the lowest amount ever. Even so, only about half that total will be
resettled this year in the US, a trickle compared to earlier years. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If the president delays the issuance of a
determination until past the beginning of the fiscal year, refugee resettlement
halts. If the president issues a
determination with zero as the number—an unprecedented act—the program could
stop for the entire fiscal year. Many of
the refugees resettled in 2020 were fleeing religious persecution, including
Christian refugees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The US refugee resettlement program,
operated out of the US Department of State, has been a model public-private
partnership serving the most vulnerable persons in the world for decades. Nine non-profit resettlement agencies,
including the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in conjunction with
Catholic Charities programs around the country, receive refugees and help them
integrate into local communities across the nation. The refugees are expected to become
self-sufficient within a year, and many do.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The program is also safe, as refugees are
vetted thoroughly, undergoing multiple security reviews and interviews before
arriving in the United States. Despite
the claim by opponents that the program brings in security threats to our
nation, there has not been one refugee who came through the program involved in
a terrorist attack on US soil.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have traveled to Africa, the Middle
East, and other parts of the world to visit with refugees, and by and large I
have found them to be resilient and hard-working people who simply want a
chance to live their lives in safety.
They have been forced to leave their homelands because of persecution
and wars and have survived horrific situations.
They deserve the protection of our nation, which has been built on the
backs of immigrants and refugees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Trump administration has done
everything it can to weaken the US refugee program and now they want to kill
it, despite its success. This is contrary
to President Trump’s pledge to protect Christian refugees during his 2016
campaign. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s pray that President
Trump and his administration do not continue down this road and instead allows
this program to keep performing its live-saving work. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><br /></p>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-38447062177921136412020-03-02T20:48:00.000-08:002020-03-02T20:50:36.833-08:00ASH WEDNESDAY & HOLY SPIRIT MIRACLE OF GRACE!<b>Ash Wednesday is a really busy day for all of us priests because "God's magnet" draws them to Church for ashes. It's incredible year after year, and regardless of why they are there, the point is they are actually there. And God's grace, compassion, and mercy reaches all of them in different ways.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Ash Wednesday 2020 was an extraordinary day, and God's compassion and mercy were poured out in ways I have never experienced as a priest.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>As with every parish, we had Masses and Services for Ashes from early morning until late at night. I was at the early Mass helping, and I celebrated the 12:05 pm Mass. Afterwards, I went to my rooms at the parish and was going to catch up on some desk work before going back later in the afternoon for ashes and Mass.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I sat down at my desk, and quickly this message began coming into my mind: "Go hear confessions." I ignored it, and went on with the desk work. "Go hear confessions" kept coming back. After a while I went to get a Parish Bulletin to see if we had confessions on Ash Wednesday afternoon. We did not.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Back to my desk, but this message kept coming: "Go hear confessions."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Finally, since I couldn't get anything else done, I made up a small sign that said: "Confessions 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm." I picked up a spiritual book to read and went over to Church. Since Ash services were continuing all afternoon, I put on my alb and stole, and went to Our Lady's Chapel where we have a free standing confessional--for anonymous and face to face confessions.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I sat down and picked up my book since I thought no one would be coming. And that's when the Holy Spirit went to work.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Within five minutes a person came to confession who had been away almost 30 years. I was astounded at such a sincere and humble confession. I asked the person how they got here. The person responded that they had come "to get the ashes," and on the way out saw my small sign. The Holy Spirit took hold of this person and brought them to confession.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And then, one after another, for three hours the Holy Spirit brought so many people--all who had been away from confession for 10 years or longer. One after another. I was spellbound at the grace and action of the Holy Spirit who had obviously called all of these people to receive ashes, and then in a marvelous way, "hijacked" them to confession.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Grace upon grace flowed all three hours. I was so humbled by God's incredible compassion and mercy to these people, and humbled to be an instrument of Jesus' welcoming forgiveness.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>These graces were poured out for three full hours. I never picked up my book because they never stopped coming. Miracles of God's limitless love and mercy took place in one long continuum of grace. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Not a single person came who had been to confession recently. All had been away for at least a year or more. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And then at 4:35 pm, the long line of God's grace and mercy ended. No one else came.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I went back to my residence and directly to the chapel where I sat before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and lifted up prayers of praise and gratitude for the miracles of grace which I had witnessed over those hours. I sat there for a long time in disbelief, which is the human reaction. But then I realized this entire afternoon was in God's plan for all of those people, and this was his day to show his love through compassion, and his mercy through forgiveness.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I urge my brother priests to love the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You never know when at an unexpected moment, the Holy Spirit will prompt you: "Go and hear confessions."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>As Pope Francis has reminded us, "The Name of God is Mercy."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-76817043003283621892020-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:002020-01-27T08:31:06.024-08:00THREE HOURS WITH POPE FRANCIS<b>Monday, January 27, 2020</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>We have just concluded an extraordinary three hour private visit with Pope Francis as we begin our Ad Limina visit to Rome.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>All of the Bishops of California, Hawaii, and Nevada shared their own pastoral experiences, and had a wonderful of exchange with Pope Francis. We shared our hopes, our challenges, our joys, and our anxieties as we serve our various Arch/Dioceses in this era of history.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sitting with the Pope in this setting felt like being with a beloved grandfather, a beloved friend who himself had been through the same struggles and hopes as we had. He was so open, warm, welcoming, and invited us to share anything that we wished with him.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Pope Francis had the ability to listen carefully, ponder our views, and to respond in a kindly manner. His demeanor and thoughtfulness truly reflected the mode of discernment which St. Ignatius of Loyola taught his fellow Jesuit followers. The movement of the Holy Spirit needs to be discerned and recognized throughout our ministry. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>His insights about the world and the Church revealed his profound knowledge of the complexities of life across the broad spectrum of countries. He expressed sadness over the sufferings and pain so many peoples endure daily, while always lifting up the hope which Jesus proclaimed and called us to live out.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Successor of Peter truly carried out his role of "confirming his brothers in faith" and giving us courage to continue forward despite difficulties and even opposition from the culture.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> It was not the list of topics that was so impressive; rather, the openness of Pope Francis to listen to our faith journeys, our pastoral hopes, and to gently offer his own insights from his long ministry in Argentina. The topics included the best efforts to bring Jesus to people living in our culture which at times seems so hostile to commitments and to making sacrifices for others. The longing of young people, the challenges of family life in a cyber society, how to create unity among our people in their parishes, and similar topics were met with openness and collegial response.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Pope Francis is fond of the idea of "closeness" in our lives: first, our closeness with Jesus day by day, and our closeness with brothers and sisters to Jesus.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He urged us to foster deeply "four aspects of closeness": our closeness to Jesus through daily prayer and reflection, our closeness to our brother priests and all who minister with us, our closeness to each other as those called to shepherd God's people, and our closeness to brother Bishops around the world in a new and vital unity.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>An extraordinary and memorable day with Pope Francis!! Surely one of the finest Ad Limina visits I have ever experienced!!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Viva Pope Francis!!</b><br />
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Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-4831158596808517072019-11-12T08:47:00.003-08:002019-11-12T08:50:31.959-08:00 Nuncio to US Bishops: Reflect on gift of communion with Pope.The Fall General Assembly of the Bishops of the United States opens with speeches by the Apostolic Nuncio, and the outgoing President of the Episcopal Conference.<br />
<br />
<i> <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-11/nuncio-to-us-bishops-reflect-on-gift-of-communion-with-pope.html" target="_blank">Vatican News: </a></i><br />
<br />The Bishops of the United States are meeting in Baltimore this week for their regular Fall General Assembly, with the prelates expected to address numerous topics, including the formation of priests, the political responsibilities of Catholics, and the strategic priorities for the Church in the United States for the coming years. At the meeting, the Bishops will also be electing a new President and Vice-president, as well has chairmen for several committees of the USCCB.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXehxUp-2lqZPbyb1Omkpv3MTS1yBP-LTuZ3WcJwDIYDf8Y2cMXc-3L16uHWFM8ocCgHrtDLpuuXdra1VBjI4OvL8GGI6N1wDqYFLIfZNtHzpKAyVL90mcmhRLnI9-j-JZnKPK8ZUBXI/s1600/2019-112+blog+post.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXehxUp-2lqZPbyb1Omkpv3MTS1yBP-LTuZ3WcJwDIYDf8Y2cMXc-3L16uHWFM8ocCgHrtDLpuuXdra1VBjI4OvL8GGI6N1wDqYFLIfZNtHzpKAyVL90mcmhRLnI9-j-JZnKPK8ZUBXI/s320/2019-112+blog+post.jpeg" width="320" /><i></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bishops at prayer during the 2019 <br />Fall General Assembly of the US Bishops' Conference</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Nuncio addresses Bishops</h3>
After introductory business, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, took the floor to address the assembled Bishops. While recognizing the many challenges the Church faces, Archbishop Pierre also focused on the strengths of the American Church, including its defence of human life and religious liberty, as well as the rights of migrants and families, and its generosity in charitable works, especially for the most vulnerable.<br />
<br />
<br />
In the face of an increasingly secularized culture, the Nuncio encouraged the Bishops to reflect on the missionary nature of the Church; how all members of the Church partake in her mission; collegiality among the Bishops themselves; communion within the Church, and especially with priests; and on how to address the shortage of clergy.<br />
<h3>
The gift of communion with the Pope</h3>
In view of the Bishops’ ongoing “ad limina” visits (taking place over the next several months), Archbishop Pierre suggested to the Bishops that “it may be useful to prayerfully reflect on the gift of communion with the Bishop of Rome”. He encouraged them to bring the Magisterium of Pope Francis to their people, focusing on the teachings of the Apostolic Exhortations Evangelii gaudium and Amoris laetitia, and the Encyclical Laudato sí, as well as the Holy Father’s recent teachings on human fraternity. “Our communion with the Holy Father”, he said, “can be expressed in the concrete actions that we take to make his Magisterium better known among the people”.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Renewed fervor for evangelization</h3>
Archbishop Pierre also invited the Bishops, when they go to Rome, to share with the Holy Father “good news” from their Dioceses, and urged them to a renewed fervor for evangelization, in order to fulfill the “Holy Father’s dream for a ‘missionary option’ in the Church”.<br />
<br />
<br />
He concluded his address by acknowledging the “spiritual and cultural heritage” of the Church in the United States, as well as the “faith and devotion” of the American Bishops and their flocks. “I am confident”, he said, “that the Church in the United States will discover the right path for its spiritual renewal so that it can continue to be the Church that Christ calls it to be”. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-11/nuncio-to-us-bishops-reflect-on-gift-of-communion-with-pope.html" target="_blank">Reprinted from Vatican News</a></i> Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-41066699587454101552019-10-14T13:22:00.001-07:002019-10-14T13:35:36.155-07:00Cardinal Mahony: WHAT I SAW IN ETHIOPIA<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Featured on <a href="https://angelusnews.com/local/cardinal-mahony-what-i-saw-in-ethiopia/" target="_blank">Angelus News</a></span></span></span> </i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91fEdQk7ZyWFctCTBf-XSJdplcM5WmezF_RPOQmLfOn4w7HqBS8cy_zXY2Q0gvCtiOglaKwib1_78KnLzOdHWVIHoTMCcZAHr53B_JB8I4sdDADsx6wRIzI8uPPRJxABcP_WGyBR0lrA/s1600/mahony1-1024x683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91fEdQk7ZyWFctCTBf-XSJdplcM5WmezF_RPOQmLfOn4w7HqBS8cy_zXY2Q0gvCtiOglaKwib1_78KnLzOdHWVIHoTMCcZAHr53B_JB8I4sdDADsx6wRIzI8uPPRJxABcP_WGyBR0lrA/s400/mahony1-1024x683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children in a Meki school. Education is key to the future of any people,
<br />
but especially so in the more rural areas of any country.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I recently returned to Los Angeles
from a weeklong trip to Ethiopia, a place where the Catholic Church,
with only 1% of the population, has an incredible impact across the
entire country.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I went with a superb staff from
<a href="https://www.crs.org/" target="_blank">Catholic Relief Services (CRS)</a>. The purpose of the trip was to help its
local partners with their programs that help displaced and malnourished
people, and to aid its overall efforts in alleviating a variety of
problems within the community.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">On the first day of my trip, we drove
to a town called Meki, which is an apostolic vicariate (the last step
before becoming a diocese). We visited the beautiful Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Clinic. The clinic serves many children, and offers care
to pregnant mothers, from pre-birth to post-birth.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7d8e__uuWNbTaMJ9pXyurkOR6pLJu-IypmZu368IIYalv5Ry5wV89_mLt34A6n-kIxuV0FAuWGaE4hHc6gX0KZvcbqx4f45MuV4XJ4s5BoSPiSIr8BoqKJx_y5mwu0a-kmfM1BrFPBc/s1600/mahony3-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7d8e__uuWNbTaMJ9pXyurkOR6pLJu-IypmZu368IIYalv5Ry5wV89_mLt34A6n-kIxuV0FAuWGaE4hHc6gX0KZvcbqx4f45MuV4XJ4s5BoSPiSIr8BoqKJx_y5mwu0a-kmfM1BrFPBc/s400/mahony3-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small children are in the care of the clinic's day care center <br />
while their mothers are working.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The vicariate there is doing an amazing
job to promote and aid the local community. The bishop of Meki, Abraham
Desta, owns and operates a large farm outside of the city, where small
farmers are trained to be more efficient while raising funds for the
vicariate. A variety of food can be found on this farm, from crops to
dairy cows, to even vineyards for winemaking!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucUheYmmwr0SUotIA7jythsvJ3jmMDrq_1bkfG_satzQzI26ojCqWgsEjEF6oXCTzFI75AsosCbqzVqAIO1oRQS-N8IXPU6EKu3ODa5ITXF0hWmmhZXG95mhfmYEOqxE-R5cwWWoauJ4/s1600/mahony4-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucUheYmmwr0SUotIA7jythsvJ3jmMDrq_1bkfG_satzQzI26ojCqWgsEjEF6oXCTzFI75AsosCbqzVqAIO1oRQS-N8IXPU6EKu3ODa5ITXF0hWmmhZXG95mhfmYEOqxE-R5cwWWoauJ4/s400/mahony4-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Abraham proudly displaying a 2018 Syrah red wine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">This farm is a unique example of how
the Church in mission lands can be creative in serving the people by
bringing them new skills for their own livelihoods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Day two brought a trip to an area
where a Women’s Empowerment Project is underway. Centuries of cultural
tradition have empowered men to be the absolute authority in each
family, while the wives are often relegated to a diminished role.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The new initiative has been designed
to create a new paradigm of family life, one where husbands and wives
work together, sharing the authority of the family. There is a school in
this area as well, teaching both young women and young men the
mutuality of the role of husband and wife from an early age.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMnFNhxLb3HcDKGz3j2K2nSSTnBWSkKJVIKKrwm7gaM5PgaCrfqd2pxwhDsP9pOWYwFR4xjYozvGP4Jnz_UvfJTBFtQmoJU5wrLZUTcs60tmiBRg6sYtCDirLiYlC0nNQDhl56bEjzlQ/s1600/mahony5-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMnFNhxLb3HcDKGz3j2K2nSSTnBWSkKJVIKKrwm7gaM5PgaCrfqd2pxwhDsP9pOWYwFR4xjYozvGP4Jnz_UvfJTBFtQmoJU5wrLZUTcs60tmiBRg6sYtCDirLiYlC0nNQDhl56bEjzlQ/s400/mahony5-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Students at the school, where young women learn the usual subjects, <br />
but also a new formation in women empowerment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Day three led us to Dire Dawa, where
we met with the Catholic Secretariat of the Eparchy of Dire Dawa, who
operates all the educational, social, and health projects in this large
eparchy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">We then drove through more
mountainous lands. CRS has pioneered the terracing of the mountains so
that more land was available for food production, as well as to halt
erosion of the soil. This initiative has had an enormous impact on the
communities.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02uzbxe6mZPmK3dzEhDW-s-hLP0iGUSqleOyqvUdmF5kdPo7e9t4bV766nhR0hxE_CcL1EM_-gBV6yLqCY8ZrLkUk_qPjO6el5T8bqpPM7rtqZ8lzhm_Xql53jdME6VBlS3IS2S-YaIs/s1600/Mahony-cutting-bread-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02uzbxe6mZPmK3dzEhDW-s-hLP0iGUSqleOyqvUdmF5kdPo7e9t4bV766nhR0hxE_CcL1EM_-gBV6yLqCY8ZrLkUk_qPjO6el5T8bqpPM7rtqZ8lzhm_Xql53jdME6VBlS3IS2S-YaIs/s400/Mahony-cutting-bread-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Dire Dawa, our hosts prepared a special celebration bread which <br />
is broken up into pieces and shared by all who are gathered.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRS has developed a very creative
project to make life easier for people throughout Ethiopia, creating
wells and innovative water solutions to provide good, clean water to the
local villages. No other project has had such an enormous, multiplier
effect upon the local populations. Having clean water changes every
aspect of local life — saves time finding water, fewer illnesses,
sanitation, and more water for crops.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyorH46bN32WYqGZzHIFGo1_qQdSYF3P_mBlyRp7SrRcs194YgGD94pxDz51234SvISy9xdsOKPW8rRcCXa_8KDyO9OwWJC9VBVCOvpANKScRqh-TA1kfYnzcXiLhKg3RAt6xc5DGWkQ/s1600/mahony7-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyorH46bN32WYqGZzHIFGo1_qQdSYF3P_mBlyRp7SrRcs194YgGD94pxDz51234SvISy9xdsOKPW8rRcCXa_8KDyO9OwWJC9VBVCOvpANKScRqh-TA1kfYnzcXiLhKg3RAt6xc5DGWkQ/s400/mahony7-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water points are managed by local committees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Later, we arrived to an Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Deder. These people have been displaced
due to conflicts involving territory and various groups.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">After spending the night in Dire
Dawa, we visited several projects in and around the city itself. We saw
an orphanage that offers shelter to those children who otherwise would
be on the streets at night. It provides a shelter for youth to gather,
study, and play Ping-Pong.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5ZLf06J9wISRZnTg5fuonkOvIy1Ddtj0aLbUPi1GwzdPHqU7Q3rjfsAhsESbUaVqj3CsFQBkeMwtMbRpiQjOp_dOz34Rt6qkFhievddZwRAnDmTm4pZiPxfU2d2pxeHb8X8GIDaRl5s/s1600/mahony8-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5ZLf06J9wISRZnTg5fuonkOvIy1Ddtj0aLbUPi1GwzdPHqU7Q3rjfsAhsESbUaVqj3CsFQBkeMwtMbRpiQjOp_dOz34Rt6qkFhievddZwRAnDmTm4pZiPxfU2d2pxeHb8X8GIDaRl5s/s400/mahony8-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youth playing Ping-Pong at the shelter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We also visited one of the 15 Ethiopian
warehouses that CRS maintains, where there are fresh food items stored
in preparation for any sort of disaster. I was especially impressed with
CRS’ commitment to pre-staging items needed for various disasters, from
typhoons and earthquakes, to displaced persons fleeing their homes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CnzCaoNdLI3LVqnjuidCrkUKyfaqFtPDaXIKpQ97hwLh2afHDBWb77Rqm4Vrmhe3plcGueBbzEH0dIYvX7ynnQJZ5_Zp1iEA3gquPl_at2uXfzqolYgDhpM16oy-D0kCVEdkqCZNAXg/s1600/mahony9-768x512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CnzCaoNdLI3LVqnjuidCrkUKyfaqFtPDaXIKpQ97hwLh2afHDBWb77Rqm4Vrmhe3plcGueBbzEH0dIYvX7ynnQJZ5_Zp1iEA3gquPl_at2uXfzqolYgDhpM16oy-D0kCVEdkqCZNAXg/s400/mahony9-768x512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A CRS warehouse filled with supplies. This is one of 15 within Ethiopia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Our visit took us to Notre Dame School, one of the largest Catholic schools in Ethiopia, with more than 1,600 students.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">We were fortunate to be able to make a
brief visit to the Missionary of Charity Sisters community, where they
care for the most neglected and needy people in the area. They provide
medical and mental health attention to those in need. With the food
supply from CRS, the sisters are able to accommodate and serve so many
people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">As you know, immigrants and refugees
hold a special place in the heart, soul, and ministry of Pope Francis.
He always encourages us to bring “closeness” and “accompaniment” to
people on the periphery. This trip allowed me to do that, in his name!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">May God continue to inspire all of
us, disciples of Jesus, to be alert for the most needy in our midst, and
to reach out to them in his name!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>This article was featured in <a href="https://angelusnews.com/local/cardinal-mahony-what-i-saw-in-ethiopia/" target="_blank">Angelus News </a></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> </span>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-3605769007847098372019-10-05T01:54:00.000-07:002019-10-05T01:54:10.315-07:00PROJECTS IN DIRE DAWA<b>DAY 4</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>After overnight in Dire Dawa, we visited several projects in and around the city itself.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>ORPHANAGE</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDE0XdxE_nuJQvEzH4DfhdWdzAaunsxGJivCBXiEvkVZ4jQVd6hug_Zz6NKzFn4DnDDWetACPspuXKkIUkYRLktfBD8RIJLbjxXC3FvrFLgp686sym1SR07hsM0fi4jatMi3VZRvcACQ/s1600/DSC00304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>This is a non-residential facility which deals with two types of youth: those in homes with special needs, such as a single parent; and those on the streets with no place to stay at night.</b><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDE0XdxE_nuJQvEzH4DfhdWdzAaunsxGJivCBXiEvkVZ4jQVd6hug_Zz6NKzFn4DnDDWetACPspuXKkIUkYRLktfBD8RIJLbjxXC3FvrFLgp686sym1SR07hsM0fi4jatMi3VZRvcACQ/s1600/DSC00304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDE0XdxE_nuJQvEzH4DfhdWdzAaunsxGJivCBXiEvkVZ4jQVd6hug_Zz6NKzFn4DnDDWetACPspuXKkIUkYRLktfBD8RIJLbjxXC3FvrFLgp686sym1SR07hsM0fi4jatMi3VZRvcACQ/s200/DSC00304.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>The at-home youth are provided a place to gather, to play, and to study after school. Simple facilities provide various things for the youth to do, such as ping pong.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxyXoLQuOpJUqWotBtKX1rXkDZ_LaBN90_b0plf9yuU3FZ7wef6KytsTAqjElZqeOpLmIaFMxl6Nyh9ProBSywZlkfwAHEa9qbObEnALTdL0BxlTYpCI6VtAalU0MHC9J6Mh-kLJY89s/s1600/DSC00322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxyXoLQuOpJUqWotBtKX1rXkDZ_LaBN90_b0plf9yuU3FZ7wef6KytsTAqjElZqeOpLmIaFMxl6Nyh9ProBSywZlkfwAHEa9qbObEnALTdL0BxlTYpCI6VtAalU0MHC9J6Mh-kLJY89s/s200/DSC00322.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>Women in the community come together to learn how to create and operate small businesses. One woman bakes very fine cookies and is selling them to various stores and food outlets. She has received a loan from the Community Group, and repays it over a few months. This woman is saving to purchase larger baking equipment so she can expand her business. These many businesses give women a greater security for their families, and are able to provide more opportunities for their children. </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxyXoLQuOpJUqWotBtKX1rXkDZ_LaBN90_b0plf9yuU3FZ7wef6KytsTAqjElZqeOpLmIaFMxl6Nyh9ProBSywZlkfwAHEa9qbObEnALTdL0BxlTYpCI6VtAalU0MHC9J6Mh-kLJY89s/s1600/DSC00322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuc5Nvf0yMd8JBD_oZ7NoI_ssyJ5vl3YD405_2i00OgZ8H3JNg4pQmn2fDlYngjhyphenhyphenYxsdKAyBE79-8_qU2U4nJFS28X7fOPTKGn1ka8lCeHzdA9v2gZ42ESvmdCYd6SqmSTyJW0juIgk/s1600/DSC00319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuc5Nvf0yMd8JBD_oZ7NoI_ssyJ5vl3YD405_2i00OgZ8H3JNg4pQmn2fDlYngjhyphenhyphenYxsdKAyBE79-8_qU2U4nJFS28X7fOPTKGn1ka8lCeHzdA9v2gZ42ESvmdCYd6SqmSTyJW0juIgk/s200/DSC00319.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>It is a real joy to feel the enthusiasm, interest, and commitment of all these women. They support each other and learn different techniques from each other, as well as specialists who come in to work with them. Really impressive to see their initiatives!!</b><br />
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<b>CRS WAREHOUSES</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUUl9-qOttOMVzw2aCMxOyUE1Cixp23Y18gXUyMydcg_ZibGEla9vwA7cHOuEnwk_SsNk3ntZBso6ZDVNbLWpSHjqnaWwpEYwtPl91VGMm5qOs5yqBOdUD1ez0gbpb_U_QNEA2w3CQ4k/s1600/DSC00324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUUl9-qOttOMVzw2aCMxOyUE1Cixp23Y18gXUyMydcg_ZibGEla9vwA7cHOuEnwk_SsNk3ntZBso6ZDVNbLWpSHjqnaWwpEYwtPl91VGMm5qOs5yqBOdUD1ez0gbpb_U_QNEA2w3CQ4k/s320/DSC00324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>One of the most impressive aspects of CRS activities around the world is their long-held strategy to station relief supplies in large warehouses in so many countries. These are called Primary Distribution Points, and there are 15 of them in Ethiopia. CRS brings in commodities from the port of Djibouti and stores, as in this example.</b><br />
<b>In order to keep the items fresh, they are brought in and stored for no more than 3 months, then sent on to local centers.</b><br />
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<b>Over several years of seeing the CRS projects around the world, I have been so impressed with their commitment to pre-staging items needed for various disasters and needs: typhoons, droughts, earthquakes, groups fleeing all kinds of threats, and the like. In this way CRS can respond quickly when crises arise.</b><br />
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<b>NOTRE DAME SCHOOL</b><br />
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<b>We had the opportunity to visit Notre Dame School, one of the largest Catholic schools in Ethiopia with some 1,600 students--from kindergarten to seniors in high school. The quality education is provided for all these students who come from the surrounding areas. Three Ethiopian Sisters serve in the school, along with a layman as principal. A large and varied staff helps teach and form these young people.</b><br />
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<b>MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY SISTERS</b><br />
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<b>Since our time was limited before having to fly back to Addis Ababa, our visit was very short. Basically, these Sisters of St. Mother Teresa's Community care for the most neglected and needy persons in the community. Almost all need medical attention through various clinics, as well as living arrangements for many until they are able to live on their own.</b><br />
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<b>Medical and mental health issues are very prevalent here, as well as those in advanced age who are near death. The Sisters benefit from various doctors and nurses who help out, but they are also able to send patients to the local hospital for more specialized care.</b><br />
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<b>CRS is the primary food source for this enormous compound. Without this food, the Sisters would never be able to accommodate and serve so many people.</b><br />
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<b>PLEASE DONATE TO THE INCREDIBLE PROJECTS OF CRS: <a href="http://www.crs.org/" target="_blank">www.crs.org</a></b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-6305917811232584422019-10-05T01:15:00.001-07:002019-10-05T01:54:56.744-07:00SPECIALIZED PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA<div>
<b>DAY 3</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qh89xKABJNQXRpuW3AsJHh2bUYrYiKq4xn4T3PiAAfTe6WEoXzf18USsdSnCi0k8T176nlL3T-MTd8oVyIr7MaoxqV8HplAOtGLTjCnYTej-QDnvrs18PYbaHt5NULx-eM_sPdphF8k/s1600/DSC00287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qh89xKABJNQXRpuW3AsJHh2bUYrYiKq4xn4T3PiAAfTe6WEoXzf18USsdSnCi0k8T176nlL3T-MTd8oVyIr7MaoxqV8HplAOtGLTjCnYTej-QDnvrs18PYbaHt5NULx-eM_sPdphF8k/s200/DSC00287.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qh89xKABJNQXRpuW3AsJHh2bUYrYiKq4xn4T3PiAAfTe6WEoXzf18USsdSnCi0k8T176nlL3T-MTd8oVyIr7MaoxqV8HplAOtGLTjCnYTej-QDnvrs18PYbaHt5NULx-eM_sPdphF8k/s1600/DSC00287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a><b></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf8pggHh5XYA4FZfvtreklGmzOlnNKAaHCEL56M_KXYSJ4DkqzA7O-B2ieT8w_fqGIqRn2tr0RMLQ9zk4KkYZPBmRstjCTlqajEvnoRNiaOISic8Macb_pjmFAMxsLw9svM1OB58H42o/s1600/DSC00283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>Today we flew to Dire Dawa, about an hour southeast of Addis Ababa. We first met with the staff of the Secretariat of the Eparchy of Dire Dawa. The Catholic Secretariat operates all of the educational, social, and health projects across this very large Eparchy. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf8pggHh5XYA4FZfvtreklGmzOlnNKAaHCEL56M_KXYSJ4DkqzA7O-B2ieT8w_fqGIqRn2tr0RMLQ9zk4KkYZPBmRstjCTlqajEvnoRNiaOISic8Macb_pjmFAMxsLw9svM1OB58H42o/s1600/DSC00283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf8pggHh5XYA4FZfvtreklGmzOlnNKAaHCEL56M_KXYSJ4DkqzA7O-B2ieT8w_fqGIqRn2tr0RMLQ9zk4KkYZPBmRstjCTlqajEvnoRNiaOISic8Macb_pjmFAMxsLw9svM1OB58H42o/s200/DSC00283.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>We met the staff and enjoyed a traditional coffee ceremony with them. Ethiopian coffee is of very high quality and drank all acround the world. In addition, they prepare a special celebration bread which is broken up into pieces and shared by all who are gathered.</b><br />
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<b>We then drove through more mountainous lands with people living in villages at various elevations. The main highway is the one taken from Ethiopia to Djibouti. Since Ethiopia has no link to an ocean, all cargo coming by sea enters through the port of Djibouti. We saw many large Containers being hauled in both directions, as well as fuel and other products.</b><br />
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<b>TERRACED MOUNTAINSIDE</b><br />
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<b>CRS pioneered the terracing of the mountains so that far more land was available for food production, as well as the halting of the erosion of the soil. This one initiative has had an enormous increase in the amount of land available to farmers, as well as the production of food.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7l6SI3tjeWPGKDyB1eHmyUqJh1EO7JaL7zEqzG5C2ybZDf1XMT85_J4HvRy3_8EoTl24HWhdVcbUGbpAe3JrLQaw7Uo_DS3yWff5zcNiJLRxsEd1VPKP025koArelf1KD3klxR9unvs/s1600/DSC00297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7l6SI3tjeWPGKDyB1eHmyUqJh1EO7JaL7zEqzG5C2ybZDf1XMT85_J4HvRy3_8EoTl24HWhdVcbUGbpAe3JrLQaw7Uo_DS3yWff5zcNiJLRxsEd1VPKP025koArelf1KD3klxR9unvs/s200/DSC00297.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b>
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<b>We then drove to an Internally Displaced Persons [IDP] camp in Deder. These people have been displaced because of conflicts between different groups in various places of Ethiopia. One example is the class between local farms in an area with roving herdsmen who come into their area and allow their herds to eat crops. These conflicts result in people having to flee. </b><br />
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<b>Approximately 300 persons live in such tin shelters, with about 8,000 such displaced persons around the country.</b><br />
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<b>WATER PROJECT: Belina Area</b><br />
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<b>In this mountainous region, CRS has developed a very creative project to obtain good, clean water and make it available to people at local water stations. Before, they would spend hours per day going in search of water.</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNt7fYY7EnC_vSVmXxY94uz-OY0yUEW5FYt7UiX0hfdholtKHq77aOG_dp39ukWjdPVnOoVQZpgX3WLIecyFwVJBk-vk3_tlNmeovM7aLjlGXzlhvzCJmNIxNf5JMFmFkAFpD8xw52aY/s1600/DSC00299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNt7fYY7EnC_vSVmXxY94uz-OY0yUEW5FYt7UiX0hfdholtKHq77aOG_dp39ukWjdPVnOoVQZpgX3WLIecyFwVJBk-vk3_tlNmeovM7aLjlGXzlhvzCJmNIxNf5JMFmFkAFpD8xw52aY/s200/DSC00299.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b><br />
<b>One example of this project consists of a well down in the valley floor where there is abundant water below the surface. This water is then pumped uphill about 2.5 miles to various levels of the mountain into storage tanks. One large water tank holds 32,000 gallons. Then, water lines descend down to 12 water points, and 6 water points for displaced persons' camps.</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvonR3WYMdUFoGdffU-uTqO-STIz2mTwqJpAYksmI17hV2vRumXlJ4zILB4S_UVujNCKD5svFMV_6mzYjP-d6VQakezyGX39qwLN0qJhzkiK3opDPAcXcujpwTobbLmEwa8fw4svh3XY/s1600/DSC00300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvonR3WYMdUFoGdffU-uTqO-STIz2mTwqJpAYksmI17hV2vRumXlJ4zILB4S_UVujNCKD5svFMV_6mzYjP-d6VQakezyGX39qwLN0qJhzkiK3opDPAcXcujpwTobbLmEwa8fw4svh3XY/s200/DSC00300.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNt7fYY7EnC_vSVmXxY94uz-OY0yUEW5FYt7UiX0hfdholtKHq77aOG_dp39ukWjdPVnOoVQZpgX3WLIecyFwVJBk-vk3_tlNmeovM7aLjlGXzlhvzCJmNIxNf5JMFmFkAFpD8xw52aY/s1600/DSC00299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b>This means that some 45,000 people benefit from these water projects in and around this region. The water points are managed by local committees. So far, these pumps use diesel or electricity to pump the water. Possibly in the future solar panels will replace them.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb32-q4iFZq4Tpiz6-l4VM8AcAjgHoHwRwqubnwmNb_WHlGo6Uw3zcj6tIQoYUmokOdrfz41bGEQgTBg-4qtgV-8f1E1oT0d4G2kjZ0qSrvBTM0fRpJTNrJdvW3CW4j-E-m3ae1M0mdg/s1600/DSC00301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb32-q4iFZq4Tpiz6-l4VM8AcAjgHoHwRwqubnwmNb_WHlGo6Uw3zcj6tIQoYUmokOdrfz41bGEQgTBg-4qtgV-8f1E1oT0d4G2kjZ0qSrvBTM0fRpJTNrJdvW3CW4j-E-m3ae1M0mdg/s200/DSC00301.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>No other project has had such an enormous, multiplier effect upon the local populations. Available good and clean water changes every aspect of local life: little time spent in finding water, fewer illnesses because of the high quality of the water, better water for bathing and washing, and water for more crops.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifHr38aLeHaiKwYucubHnikxPs6FTBmkhG8_eFvXluNVFcg1zev2a747mgsshtEcbYyiDM7i8W4RyIo5S-mSr3Yjr4Hd4MlLmXGjpDDIOfOmyw0-lR2KHRgVdAvkuH-OVjq4Co5G7TiM/s1600/DSC00303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifHr38aLeHaiKwYucubHnikxPs6FTBmkhG8_eFvXluNVFcg1zev2a747mgsshtEcbYyiDM7i8W4RyIo5S-mSr3Yjr4Hd4MlLmXGjpDDIOfOmyw0-lR2KHRgVdAvkuH-OVjq4Co5G7TiM/s200/DSC00303.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b><br />
<b>On our return journey, stopped at one of the food distribution warehouses operated by CRS across the country. These warehouses contain basically food products such as grains, and they are distributed as needed to various communities near and around these storage facilities. Having the food near at hand is a great blessing for the people in need since little time is lost in transporting the food.</b><br />
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<b>We then flew back to Addis Ababa after a most fruitful visit to this section of Ethiopia.</b><br />
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<b>PLEASE DONATE TO HELP CRS WITH THESE PROJECTS: <a href="http://www.crs.org/" target="_blank">www.crs.org</a></b><br />
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Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-76476572440811004042019-10-04T23:05:00.000-07:002019-10-05T23:52:19.943-07:00ETHIOPIA: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, WATER PROJECTS<b>DAY 2: VISITING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS AND WATER PROJECTS.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtdZLGzQiVfkzr5UOJd_PRrDSFbRhw1__LNleDlB7VEOs-YqpLZqufcdLYiMD6edAiOX3PtDzBXMZkyqRaatid3DAnWTvj5rwFouB5BERa4qDzBgqoO0NEgVycdaOLemxW21yzuMnKpo/s1600/DSC00246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtdZLGzQiVfkzr5UOJd_PRrDSFbRhw1__LNleDlB7VEOs-YqpLZqufcdLYiMD6edAiOX3PtDzBXMZkyqRaatid3DAnWTvj5rwFouB5BERa4qDzBgqoO0NEgVycdaOLemxW21yzuMnKpo/s200/DSC00246.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4rjyeGNHcN_JnUbHHvx38IWUeQIR5UzaRj0IAh5e-HEs07QVRD1k1kAQkXlJOEyV-drDfkUaD8fBYUFI-9Ya9Yec_vgaQbEfHmqxqH5DlJCWmOgjfnJ5CVy8rx_Scp4RKLV0tb4zcdw/s1600/DSC00244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4rjyeGNHcN_JnUbHHvx38IWUeQIR5UzaRj0IAh5e-HEs07QVRD1k1kAQkXlJOEyV-drDfkUaD8fBYUFI-9Ya9Yec_vgaQbEfHmqxqH5DlJCWmOgjfnJ5CVy8rx_Scp4RKLV0tb4zcdw/s200/DSC00244.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoXgVNcV3fkd-r2baGoSihZRCNkEyFg8y4RD8KR6iApy1r8Vja6csiey-0KwSlQgSO9m2QDbm6jp0PcGAUfvio8bjAScg-QhqHQlLJmZGO8IGwd2SVqRLttrPAdE7jqbicawRpZ_rV30/s1600/DSC00248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<b>Before departing Meki, we visited one of the Catholic Schools. Catholic Education is a high priority for the Church and CRS across Ethiopia. This school is located near the compound where the Bishop and his staff carry out all their local projects.</b><br />
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<b>Education is key to the future of any people, but especially so in the more rural areas of any country.</b><br />
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<b>WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>We then drove to an area where a Women's Empowerment Project was underway. Centuries of cultural tradition have empowered men to be the absolute authority in each family. The wife has a very diminished role, relegated primarily to fetching water--often at several miles; caring for the children, preparing meals, washing clothes, and the like.</b><br />
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<b>This new initiative has been designed to create a new paradigm of family life where husbands and wives together share the authority of the family. Women are taught about their personal identity and dignity, and how to help their husbands understand that sharing mutually the authority of the family brings many blessings to the entire family.</b></div>
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<b>These women learn business skills whereby they are able to begin small enterprises such as raising chickens and selling eggs, raising goats, preparing food products for sale, and the like. They are then able to save their own money and eventually expand their businesses. They do this in harmony with their husbands, not in opposition, a new mutuality of roles.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FSmKiuZYZERDd9rDsSVxvnHfdp7-MJH0bzw92N5mKXBSTJt14EhjfHpG9KrhVuBxuiQABmjOxsbpVDO2gZSFOCukdA6hO49Li8gGW39dNcEHccCspSYH4HpmJzQcSImYXKaqCemzHtI/s1600/DSC00262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FSmKiuZYZERDd9rDsSVxvnHfdp7-MJH0bzw92N5mKXBSTJt14EhjfHpG9KrhVuBxuiQABmjOxsbpVDO2gZSFOCukdA6hO49Li8gGW39dNcEHccCspSYH4HpmJzQcSImYXKaqCemzHtI/s200/DSC00262.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>At the same location there is a school where young women learn the usual subjects, but also a new formation in women empowerment. They are given new skills.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3qgnr0JKcR2j3u0eg3nJr6SXviG2yUY1WaYPMj-vL7NGtJEW2entzBgmu6PfxOTg-cnVl1bHQM2w8Fg1VRFkJ41feneD9lyDUjwyRIacdIibyLuIBE236IgWUES61EeTbFzqxdKw7ts/s1600/DSC00267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3qgnr0JKcR2j3u0eg3nJr6SXviG2yUY1WaYPMj-vL7NGtJEW2entzBgmu6PfxOTg-cnVl1bHQM2w8Fg1VRFkJ41feneD9lyDUjwyRIacdIibyLuIBE236IgWUES61EeTbFzqxdKw7ts/s200/DSC00267.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>Also at the same location the boys are taught and formed as well. They begin to understand the concept of mutuality in the role of husband and wife, and the great benefits to the family and to the marriage when such equal sharing in duties and rights is observed.</b><br />
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<b>WATER PROJECTS</b><br />
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<b>The single element essential for all human life is water. Without water there is no life.</b><br />
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<b>However, the only water which really benefits the people is good, clean water. In rural areas throughout the world often the water supply is inadequate, or polluted, or not near to the people.</b><br />
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<b>CRS long ago saw the need to help small communities develop new water projects which would provide clean and safe water where the people actually lived. CRS purchased five very large drilling rigs for use across Ethiopia to help locate water, drill down to the water, and pump it up for the people.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6J5U3DaFYdWHUlurd-XSzJ3xVewhocR5cCL3VDhH11Nlw0FzpEAE33tq1gJ5Pc6TLFBSa7XIwQ07OvxcdawMjzIUmrO9lxmOciECn3eCNjPNGMcqWBJQhKuYxU6cqSpLrkVFXJZHFS4/s1600/DSC00272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6J5U3DaFYdWHUlurd-XSzJ3xVewhocR5cCL3VDhH11Nlw0FzpEAE33tq1gJ5Pc6TLFBSa7XIwQ07OvxcdawMjzIUmrO9lxmOciECn3eCNjPNGMcqWBJQhKuYxU6cqSpLrkVFXJZHFS4/s1600/DSC00272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><b>A well is drilled to a level where fresh, safe and good water is located. A pump is installed, and initially a diesel generator is used to pump the water to the surface. In this example, the water is delivered nearby to a water station. People bring 5 gallon jugs to obtain the water, about one or two cents the charge.</b><br />
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<b>A local committee receives the money and accounts for it, using it to repairs or improvements to their system. This committee is composed of both women and men.</b><br />
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<b>A new addition to this water well is that of solar panels. The panels are more expensive to install, but they have no moving parts, require no fuel, and have fewer performance problems. The use of solar panels across Africa will mean an entirely new and sustainable source of energy for all projects.</b><br />
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<b>The installation of water wells and the supply of local water that is good and clean is one of the great achievements of CRS over the years.</b><br />
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<b>PLEASE DONATE TO CRS AT: <a href="http://www.crs.org/" target="_blank">www.crs.org</a></b></div>
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</a>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-75557518376384070652019-10-01T08:50:00.002-07:002019-10-05T01:18:48.282-07:00ETHIOPIA: CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES' PROJECTS<b>DAY 1 WITH CRS IN ETHIOPIA</b><br />
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<b>This morning we left Addis Ababa, and drove with CRS Country Director John Shumlansky and staff in a southwestern direction to the town of Meki. Within the Church Meki is an Apostolic Vicariate--the last step before becoming a Diocese. The Bishop Abraham Desta heads up the Vicariate.</b><br />
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<b>The Vicariate is situated in a very large compound with a new Church at the center of it. The Bishop's residence, offices for the Vicariate, and other leadership activities are situated here.</b><br />
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<b>We first visited the wonderful Our Lady of Perpetual Help Clinic supported primarily by donors and entities in Spain. The Director is a young man from Madrid, and he has helped the Clinic to grow to a most effective medical center for the area. Spanish doctors, medical specialists, and dentists take turns coming from Spain to staff the Clinic. Many Spanish volunteers also come for a period of Christian volunteer work.</b><br />
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<b>The Clinic opens at 6:30 am, and people begin lining up early to be seen by Clinic staff. A triage person evaluates each person to determine where he/she should be sent for care. Emergencies receive priority over all others.</b><br />
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<b>A large number of patients are children. The Clinic serves pregnant women in pre-birth, birth itself, and after birth to make sure that there are no major issues with the mother or the </b><b>baby.</b></div>
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<b>A new large building is in the process of being completed, and new specialized equipment is coming from Spain. A new, large ultrasound machine is still in its shipping packaging, but soon it will be a powerful tool to assist the doctors for many illnesses.</b></div>
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<b>Bishop Abraham Desta is shown visiting</b></div>
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<b> some of the young children with their</b></div>
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<b>mothers in the clinic area.</b></div>
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Small children are in the care of the clinic while their mothers are working, a marvelous Day Care Center. The young people assist in caring for the young ones until their mothers pick them up.</div>
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The Clinic also operates an orphanage program, with a special emphasis on creating a sense of "family" among the youngsters. They attend a Catholic school nearby, and they consider each other as genuine brothers and sisters--just like the other children from regular families.</div>
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VICARIATE FARM</div>
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In order to help train small farmers how to be more efficient in their farming, and to raise funds for the Vicariate for all of its programs, the Bishop owns and operates a huge farm outside the city. The farm has several distinct operations:</div>
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Tree Fruit: mangoes, avocados, and other fruits </div>
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Row Crops: corn, alfalfa, potatoes, and many kinds of vegetables to be sold </div>
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Dairy Cows: to produce milk with the majority of it being used to make three kinds of cheeses</div>
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Vineyards and Wine Making: the farm grows three varieties of red wine grapes, and chenin blanc grapes for white wine</div>
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This is my first visit to a farm owned and operated by the Church that produced fine wines and cheeses!</div>
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<b>BISHOP DESTA TASTING A CAMEMBERT CHEESE</b></div>
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<b>WINE STORAGE AREA FOR 3 RED WINES, 1 WHITE WINE</b></div>
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Bishop Abraham proudly displaying a 2018 Syrah red wine. The license to sell its wines and cheeses is pending.</div>
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The major funding and wine-making expertise came from Italy and Spain with their own marvelous wines.</div>
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In addition Italy and Spain provided assistance with the cheese making process.</div>
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This Farm is a unique example of how the Church in mission lands can be creative in serving the people by bringing them new skills for their own livelihoods.</div>
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Another splendid example of CRS at work in assisting local Dioceses with so many initiatives to help lift the economic potential of their people.</div>
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PLEASE DONATE TO THE WORKS OF CRS AT: <a href="http://www.crs.org/" target="_blank">www.crs.org</a></div>
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</b><u></u>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-34323703903427762752019-09-30T09:44:00.000-07:002019-09-30T09:44:08.467-07:00MOTHER TERESA'S SISTERS IN ADDIS ABABA<b><i>[I regret that there are no photos to accompany this article, but my suitcase has been stranded for days somewhere between the Frankfurt airport and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.]</i></b><br />
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<b>You enter through a non-descript gate off a busy road, not knowing the vastness and the goodness of God which you will be about to witness.</b><br />
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<b>This Center was established years ago by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and it reflects the broad sweep of her charitable works. She visited often since this particular Center represents her charitable works from birth to death.</b><br />
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<b>The Center is divided into several large sectors, and some of the 18 Sisters who labor here are visible in each sector. The Sisters accept the poorest of the poor, from pregnant mothers to the very elderly waiting to exit this life.</b><br />
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<b>Early on, the Sisters would have to drive around Addis Ababa searching for people living in misery and hopelessness. Not any more. Families and friends now bring many to the Sisters. Even the local government which had been hesitant to allow this vast facility to exist now help in various ways with the Center and refer residents and patients here.</b><br />
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<b>The section set aside for pregnant women and new mothers is so inspiring. Here women about to give birth are cared for, and mutual support is offered to them by other mothers and nurses and doctors. </b><br />
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<b>Once a mother has been birth to her baby, there is a special residential care section for her and her baby. They are allowed to stay a few months, but in the meantime, they are given various skills in order to work after their stay. One of the small kitchens is used to teach these young mothers how to be cooks in hotels and other settings. A skilled woman chef guides them through all of the various kinds of food they will need to prepare. We were told that these women are usually hired quickly because of their skills.</b><br />
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<b>Another sector deals with handicapped men and women--young and old. Again, doctors work with them to enhance their lives and to make them ready to return to society.</b><br />
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<b>Every aspect of the care given here is to enhance individual talents and to prepare them to return to the world and be self-sufficient.</b><br />
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<b>While encountering younger children with orthopedic disabilities, we tended to feel sorry for them. But they themselves were engaged in joyous play, their sights set firmly on a life of normalcy even with some type of hindrance physically.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The section with the old and those terminally ill was particularly difficult. On any given day, one or two people die each day. A week ago there were eight who died in one day. The bodies are prepared according to Ethiopian custom, and set in a morgue until morning. Then a vehicle comes from the government to pick up those who had died, and they are transported to a place of burial.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A special trait of Mother Teresa and her Sisters is joy in the midst of much human suffering and hopelessness. Their eyes are raised well above the ills and downfalls of a particular life, and they see souls en route to the Kingdom of God.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Catholic Relief Services [CRS] provides most of the food for this Center, as well as several others all across the country of Ethiopia. CRS is heavily involved in obtaining medical equipment as well as medicines for the Centers. Early on, the government did not appreciate the tremendous contribution the Sisters were making, but officials now realize that if the Sisters were not here offering all of these services, these people would be out on the streets where lack of human dignity was so seldom regarded.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>All of the left over bread products from the Addis Ababa airport are brought each morning to this vast Center where it is cherished and valued by the residents.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>While most of the doctors and nurses are Ethiopian, often other volunteers from around the world come in order to work alongside he Missionaries of Charity. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>That original vision of St. Mother Teresa was to go out onto the streets, and to bring in the sick and the dying--with the primary vision being upon their dignity as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. That vision and reality are truly palpable at this incredible Center where Jesus is brother to all!</b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-43730336479686607042019-09-27T10:13:00.003-07:002019-09-27T10:13:49.586-07:00TRIP to ETHIOPIA REFUGEES<b>Today I depart for Ethiopia in order to visit the many refugees and refugee centers in several areas of the country.</b><br />
<br />
<b>I am going with the superb staff of Catholic Relief Services [CRS] and will be posting photos and commentary during these days in Ethiopia.</b><br />
<br />
<b>As you know, immigrants and refugees hold a special place in the heart, soul, and ministry of Pope Francis. He always encourages us to bring to people on the periphery "closeness" and "accompaniment." I hope to do that in his name.</b><br />
<br />
<b>May God continue to inspire all of us, disciples of Jesus, to be alert for the most needy in our midst, and to reach out to them in his name.</b><br />
<br />
<b>+rmm </b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-59476906358679262732019-09-27T10:10:00.002-07:002019-09-27T10:10:21.123-07:00DEATH of CARDINAL WILLIAM J. LEVADA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b> </b></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">R.I.P. Cardinal William J. Levada</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">September 26, 2019</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardinal Roger Mahony</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today we are all saddened as
we learned of the sudden death of His Eminence, Cardinal William J.
Levada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was well known to all of us
here in Los Angeles, as well in the various Archdioceses in which he served, as
well as his time as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cardinal
Levada was a dear friend and seminary classmate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He joined our class at St. John’s Seminary
following his graduation from St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, along
with two other classmates from that school:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Msgr. Anthony Leuer, and Archbishop George Niederauer, both deceased.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
finishing his seminary college courses, he was sent by Cardinal McIntyre to the
North American College in Rome where he finished his theology courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordained in December 1961, he subsequently
received his doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
served on the staff of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the
guidance of then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
served in various roles in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as the
Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cardinal
Levada was the essential Churchman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
entire life was focused upon his life with Jesus Christ, and the good of the
Church in every possible realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
was named Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in 1983, and served as the Regional
Bishop in Santa Barbara.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
Bishop Levada and the late Bishop John Ward headed a special Task Force for me
after my Installation in Los Angeles as Archbishop to develop our Regional
System for the Archdiocese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their plan
was adopted, and the five Pastoral Regions were created, along with four
Deaneries in each Pastoral Region.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
1986 then Bishop Levada was named the Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, where he
served for some nine years.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
1995 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco and succeeded to
the See that same year.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, he selected then
Archbishop Levada to serve as his successor as the Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also
served as the President of the International Theological Commission, and
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and later, as President of the
Pontifical Commission <i>Ecclesia Dei.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After being created a Cardinal in 2006, his Titular Church in Rome was
Santa Maria in Domnica. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon
reaching the age of 76 years, he retired from all of his Vatican responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then remained very active giving many
learned presentations in various places around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sought after for his knowledge and
vast experience in all matters theological.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cardinal
Bill was a dear and long-time friend, and I shall miss him greatly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Ordination Class of 1962 remained very
close over the years, gathering at least once a year formally, and at many
other times as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our class was
blessed to have four Bishops over the years:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cardinal William Levada, Archbishop George Niederauer, and Bishop Tod
Brown, and myself.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
always enjoyed each other’s company and priestly fraternity, and supported each
other in our priestly ministry constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our Class believed deeply in the value of priestly fraternity, and lived
it out fully.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cardinal
William Levada, the eminent Churchman, devoted his entire life to the life and
well being of the Church, nationally and internationally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no issue involving the Church that
eluded his care and concern—theological issues, ecclesiological issues, and any
issue which touched the Church across the globe in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May
God open wide his arms to embrace our beloved brother, Cardinal Bill, as he
enters the fullness of life in God’s Kingdom!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></div>
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-79472348483189034232018-10-04T10:01:00.001-07:002018-10-04T10:02:01.934-07:00ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI REFORMS the CHURCH<b>On today's Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the renowned French author, Georges Bernanos [RIP 1948], offers us a timely reflection on how St. Francis dealt with the terrible scandals in the Church during his time.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It is worth reflecting upon, and I reprint it from the October issue of <i>Magnificat</i>:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"Whoever pretends to reform the Church with...the same means used to reform temporal society--not only will he fail in his undertaking, but he will infallibly end by finding himself outside the Church before anyone has gone to the trouble of excluding him from her. I say that it is he himself who excludes himself from her by a kind of tragic fatalism....</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The only way of reforming the Church is to suffer for her. The only way of reforming the visible Church is to suffer for the invisible Church. The only way of reforming the vices of the Church is to lavish on her the example of one's own most heroic virtues.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It's quite possible that Saint Francis of Assisi was not any less thrown into revolt than Luther by the debauchery and simony of prelates. We can even be sure that his suffering on this account was fiercer, because his nature was very different from that of the monk of Wittenberg. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>But Francis did not challenge iniquity; he was not tempted to confront it; instead, he threw himself into poverty, immersing himself in it as deeply as possible along with his followers. He found in poverty the very source and wellspring of all absolution and all purity. Instead of attempting to snatch from the Church all her ill-gotten goods, he overwhelmed her with invisible treasures, and under the hand of this beggar the heaps of gold and lust began blossoming like an April hedge."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-29290163278356007042018-09-25T19:48:00.001-07:002018-09-25T19:48:40.171-07:00A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE RISE & FALL OF ABUSE IN THE CHURCH<b>America magazine has published a very helpful overview of those years when the sexual abuse by clergy was most rampant. Thanks be to God, the downturn began in the mid-1980s, and continues to hover near zero.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/cardinal/Documents/2018-09_AmericaMagazine.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to read (PDF)" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1269" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHDy9ss_UL8Kos59LpA3d9M6Q5uHWwWDoBVGgtnZbGwAsMd3PVijjh_ycOhDMI3NmZ7UuaLWdMvTGFSmJ1u5-0QFVR0UIFfuUuKJ0i4Ax7PsxoxM_JBBsCrIX0mNFHQUDGdNyGUzNHAs/s640/2018-09_AmericaMagazine.png" title="" width="507" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/cardinal/Documents/2018-09_AmericaMagazine.pdf" target="_blank">Click to read (PDF)</a></td></tr>
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<br />Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-48408214954205344822018-09-17T20:55:00.000-07:002018-09-17T20:55:30.668-07:00TODAY LOS ANGELES LOST TWO PRIEST GIANTS<b>Today, Monday, September 17, 2018, the Archdiocese sent home to the Kingdom of God two of the most incredible priests in the history of this Archdiocese.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>This morning, Monsignor Royale Vadakin, P.A. died. This evening, Monsignor James Loughnane, P.A. followed in death.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>In all my years of service to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I can say without hesitation that these two priests were giants in their love of Jesus Christ, their commitment to the Church, and their dedication to bring about a deep renewal of the Church in our times.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Both were fearless and faithful collaborators with me in every stage of the life of our Archdiocese, and without them, we would never be where we are today.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>On my way home this evening I thanked God for the gift of these two men, and prayed that now in the Kingdom of God they will intercede for each one of us.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>MSGR. ROYALE VADAKIN, P.A.</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Msgr. Vadakin were seminarians together at St. John's Seminary many years ago. His class was two years behind ours. But everyone knew and loved Royale. His great sense of purpose, his sense of humor, and his incredible organization skills endeared all of us to him. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>We remained close friends over the years, and from afar, I noted his great commitment to social justice, workers' rights, and the ecumenical movement. He was a genuine pioneer in so many fields for the Church following Vatican II.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>When I came to Los Angeles in 1985, he became one of my earliest advisers. I valued his judgment and advice over the years, and our relationship deepened month by month. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He served as a leader in so many activities of the Archdiocese that it is hard to enumerate them all. But at every level, he was a leader, one who brought people and ideas together, and who helped create a consensus among all of us.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>From 2003 until 2013 he was our Vicar General. He served during those most difficult years when our Archdiocese was faced with the dreadful clergy misconduct cases. Without him, we would never have charted a course forward which emphasized the plight of the victims, and the need to guarantee the protection of all children and young people in our care.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He was the architect of so much that we did those years, and the endless hours, weeks, and months of his tenure helped us reach a global settlement and a new path forward to protect the youngest among us.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I cannot imagine trying to lead this Archdiocese without Msgr. Royale Vadakin at my side day after day.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Enormous sacrifices had to be made, and he always gave such solid and wise advice. I was lost without him.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>May his incredible labors for Jesus and the Church now be given the reward of eternal light, peace, and joy in the Kingdom of God.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>MSGR. JAMES LOUGHNANE, P.A.</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Msgr. Jim Loughnane was another of those priest-leaders who was indefatigable in serving Jesus, the Church, and our Archdiocese. He was another one of those singular priests whose leadership abilities were easily recognized, and who gave of himself totally to the service of our Archdiocese.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He was asked often to give up a good assignment to take on one more challenging. He never refused. He was the epitome of the Good Shepherd every in the midst of his people, always leading them to the green pastures of the Kingdom of God.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I relied on him for so many purposes: pastor, dean, Episcopal Vicar, and close adviser. He was always ready and willing to accept new and challenging assignments, and carried them out with grace, wisdom, and generosity.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Even after the time for normal retirement, he continued on leading the people of St. Denis Parish in Diamond Bar, while assuming so many other duties for all of us across the San Gabriel Pastoral Region.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I often went to him for advice and counsel, and he was always so anxious to be of help.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Being always an active pastor himself, he was able to bring to the parishes of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region a genuine understanding of parish life and ministry, and he was always there for his priests and parish leaders.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I always marveled that the was so present at so many Masses, special occasions, and celebrations all across the Region.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>His marvelous Irish sense of humor sustained all of us during many difficult moments in the life of our Archdiocese.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It has been difficult to begin this Monday with the death of one great giant, and to end the day with the death of yet another.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Tonight, I end my day with silence in my chapel thanking God for the gift of these two incredible gifts from God.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>May their spirit and example sustain us all and encourage us to follow their footsteps for years to come!!!</b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-30582520918786810892018-09-06T09:28:00.002-07:002018-09-06T09:31:21.558-07:00ATTACKING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE HEAD ON<b><br /></b>
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<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #411616; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Archdiocese of Los Angeles</span><span style="color: #52543b; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Office of</span><span style="color: #52543b; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Archbishop</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #52543b;">3424</span><span style="color: #52543b; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;">Wilshire <span style="mso-font-width: 95%;">Boulevard </span></span><span style="color: #52543b; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 102%;">Los Angeles <span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">California </span></span><span style="color: #52543b; line-height: 102%;">90010-2241</span></span></h2>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Commitment to the Protection </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 16.0pt;">of
Young People</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 8.2pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.55pt;">
<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt;">August 31, 2018</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .25pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 8.4pt;">
<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt;">My brothers and
sisters in Christ,</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .3pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 8.6pt; margin-right: 14.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 105%;">In
the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are
committed to keeping our children<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>safe
and providing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a compassionate
environment in which victim-survivors of abuse by priests and other Church
personnel can come forward to seek justice and find<span style="letter-spacing: 2.75pt;"> </span>healing.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 8.6pt; margin-right: 14.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 105%;">In
the attachment to this letter, we offer background<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on what we have done and what we
continue<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to do to ensure the safety of
young people in our parishes, schools and other ministries. For a number of
years now, we have had in place a system for reporting and investigating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>suspected abuse by priests and for removing
offenders from ministry. In addition, we have an extensive program of education
and background checks to make sure our children are safe and aware of the signs
of<span style="letter-spacing: -1.3pt;"> </span>abuse.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 102%;">Our work is ongoing. I ask your prayers as we continue to
be vigilant in the protection of our children,<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -.75pt;"> </span>we<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;"> </span>continue<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.75pt;"> </span>pray<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>seek<span style="letter-spacing: -1.2pt;"> </span>healing<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -1.55pt;"> </span>justice<span style="letter-spacing: .35pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: -.85pt;"> </span>those<span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;"> </span>who<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span>have<span style="letter-spacing: -.7pt;"> </span>been<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>hurt.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 102%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt;">May Jesus, through the intercession of
Mary, grant you peace.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .25pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .25pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .25pt;">
<span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .25pt;">
<b><span style="color: #161616; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Archbishop of Los Angeles</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="20180830_ActionsTimeline_FINAL"></a>Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
Communications<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 | phone: (213)
637-7215 | fax: (213) 637-6215 | <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="mailto:Communications@la-archdiocese.org"><span style="color: blue;">Communications@la-archdiocese.org</span></a></span></u></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<h1 style="margin: 4.5pt 91.25pt 0in 116.55pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -22.45pt;">
<span style="color: #191919;">A
Brief Overview of Archdiocesan Programs and Actions for the Protection of
Children and Young People</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 7.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b;">The
Archdiocese of Los Angeles is committed to providing a safe environment for
young people in our schools, parishes and other ministries.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 6.4pt; margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b;">Since
the early 2000s and even before that, the Archdiocese has had in place </span>a
system for reporting and investigating suspected abuse by priests and for
removing offenders from ministry. We have also established an extensive program
of education and background checks to make sure our children are safe and cared
for.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .55pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 27.75pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b;">Many
of our programs and policies were initiated under the leadership of Cardinal
Roger M. Mahony, who served as Archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011 and
is now retired.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 7.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #434343;">During
his time as Archbishop, Cardinal Mahony was confronted with the allegations of
abuse by clergy that spanned a time frame of over seventy years. The majority of
these cases involved abuses that allegedly occurred before he became Archbishop
of Los Angeles in 1985. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #434343;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #434343;">However, he took responsibility for failures and
mistakes in the way abuse cases were handled in the past and issued apologies
to victims and to the people of the Archdiocese. He also instituted a strict
“zero tolerance” policy to ensure that future allegations would be reported to
authorities and that anyone found to have committed abuse — whether a priest,
deacon, religious or lay person — would be held accountable and permanently
removed from ministry in the Archdiocese.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 11.1pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">In
2004, he directed the publication of the “Report to the People of God,” the
first time a U.S. diocese had issued a comprehensive listing of all clergy to
have been publicly or credibly accused of abuse from 1930–2003. Files of clergy
with credible abuse claims against them were made public in 2013, as part of a
global settlement the Archdiocese reached with victim- survivors of abuse in
2007.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 10.1pt; margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">Over
the years, Cardinal Mahony met with many victims personally and apologized to
them. He established the </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Office of Victim’s Assistance Ministry</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u><span style="color: #434343;">so that victim-survivors would have an advocate in the
Archdiocese. This vital ministry continues to provide support for victim-
survivors and their families and is also reports abuse to the authorities.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .55pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 7.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">In
addition, he established the </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-9/section-9-13"><span style="color: blue;">Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u><span style="color: #434343;">(CMOB)
that is comprised primarily of lay people, including a victim-survivor of abuse
by clergy. CMOB reviews the investigations of reported misconduct by clergy
that is carried out by retired FBI agents retained by the Archdiocese and
recommends an appropriate course of action.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</b><br />
<div class="WordSection5">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">The
Archdiocese follows </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/Handbook%20Resources/archdiocesan_policy_and_procedures_for_reporting_allegations_of_sexual_abuse_of_minors_to_public_authorities.pdf#search%3DPolicy%2520on%2520Sexual%2520Abuse%2520by%2520Clergy"><span style="color: blue;">a strict process when reports of abuse are made</span></a></span></u><span style="color: #434343;">:</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .55pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 12.4pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The allegation is reported to law enforcement; the Archdiocese
cooperates fully with<span style="letter-spacing: -1.05pt;"> </span>the
investigation.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5320140589358984473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5320140589358984473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The accused priest or layperson is immediately removed from ministry
pending the result of the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>investigation.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 14.6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><br /></span></span></b>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Parishes or schools where the accused is serving are<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span>notified.</span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 17.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><br /></span></span></b>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In cases where the statute of limitations does not allow for criminal
prosecution,<span style="letter-spacing: -1.05pt;"> </span>retired FBI
investigators retained by the Archdiocese investigate the matter and report to
the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board which makes final<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>recommendations.</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 21.15pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">The
Archdiocese has also instituted </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/safeguard/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">abuse prevention and reporting programs</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u><span style="color: #434343;">for adults and minors; </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/hr/Pages/fingerprinting.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">fingerprinting and background checks</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u><span style="color: #434343;">for employees and volunteers at parishes and schools; and
clergy formation programs to prevent abuse. </span><span style="color: #191919;">A
toll-free number (800) 355-2545 was also established for reporting allegations
of sexual abuse by Church personnel. </span><span style="color: #434343;">These
programs continue to serve as the backbone of abuse prevention and child safety
efforts in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles today.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 6.8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">Since
these programs were established 15 years ago, more than 329,000 adults have
been trained in abuse prevention and reporting; 1.4 million Catholic school
students have received age appropriate training that teaches them </span>to
understand appropriate and inappropriate boundaries and gives them the tools
that empower them to take action and report if they feel uncomfortable, scared
or confused<span style="color: #434343;">; and more than 168,000 adults have been
fingerprinted and undergone background checks.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .45pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 5.25pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">These
programs and policies do not take away from the very real harm that was done
and the trust that has been broken in the Church. However, they are a testament
to the commitment of the people of the Archdiocese, the majority of whom are
lay Catholics who have worked for almost three decades to implement and carry
out these programs to<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>ensure:</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 61.4pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12.0pt;">that </span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-size: 12.0pt;">abuse is reported to the police and investigated
regardless of the statute<span style="letter-spacing: -.85pt;"> </span>of
limitations;</span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 14.65pt; margin-top: .05pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-size: 12.0pt;">that victim-survivors and their families receive healing
support;<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>and</span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 10.4pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.95pt 43.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-size: 12.0pt;">that anyone found to have abused a minor at anytime in
their lives, regardless of<span style="letter-spacing: -.9pt;"> </span>whether a
member of the clergy or a lay person, is not allowed to serve in any capacity
in the Archdiocese under zero<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>tolerance.</span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .5pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 27.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #434343;">In the
face of recent scandals involving child sexual abuse and the Catholic Church,
the </span>Archdiocese of Los Angeles reaffirms our unwavering commitment to
the healing of victim- survivors of abuse and protection against abuse and
misconduct.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 7.0pt;">
<b>In order to address questions on
what we have done and continue to do regarding the issue of abuse, the
Archdiocese has compiled a timeline of efforts and actions taken since the
issue began to be addressed nationally in 1985.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 14.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
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<w:wrap anchorx="page"/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="height: 1px; left: 0px; margin-left: 516px; margin-top: 35px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 4px; z-index: 1168;"><b><img height="1" src="file:///C:/Users/ROGERM~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.gif" v:shapes="Rectangle_x0020_3" width="4" /></b></span><!--[endif]--><b>For more information on the
Archdiocese’s policies and protocols concerning abuse prevention and support
for victim-survivors, visit <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.archla.org/protecting"><span style="color: blue;">www.archla.org/protecting</span></a></span></u>.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</b><br />
<div class="WordSection6">
<h1>
TIMELINE OF ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CLERGY ABUSE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE
OF LOS ANGELES, 1985-2018<o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 6.95pt; margin-right: 7.8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b>The following timeline details
the actions taken by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since 1985 when the issue
of clergy sexual abuse was first addressed nationally by the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops and locally by the newly-appointed Archbishop of
Los Angeles, Roger Mahony. The chronology includes steps taken in response to
the abuse crisis faced in the Catholic Church and in the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles that began in 2002 that resulted in the adoption by the U.S. Bishops of
the <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">.</span></u></a></span></u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 4.15pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b>The Charter implemented Essential
Norms nationally for addressing sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and
deacons and includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability,
prevention of future acts of abuse and an annual audit process. <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/Pages/audit.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Each year, the Archdiocese of Los</span></a></span></u><span style="color: blue;"> <u style="text-underline: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/Pages/audit.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Angeles has been found to be in full compliance with the
Charter</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">.</span></u></a></u></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .1pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 7.8pt; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">June 1985 – </span>U.S. Bishops, including then Bishop Roger Mahony who
was serving in the Diocese of Stockton, attended presentations at their annual
meeting on the dangers and issues of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 6.95pt; margin-right: 7.45pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">September 1985 – </span>Bishop Mahony was installed as Archbishop of Los
Angeles. In view of the discussion at the Bishops’ annual meeting, he initiated
policies on sexual abuse of minors for the Archdiocese.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 7.0pt;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">January 1986 – </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/clergy/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">The Office of the Vicar for Clergy</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>was
created in the Archdiocese to oversee all issues of Clergy life more
systematically.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 11.1pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">June 1986 – </span>During the Archdiocesan retreat for priests, Thomas J.
Shephard, Sr., an attorney from Stockton, was invited to speak about the facts
and dangers of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. Priests who felt they had any
problems or issues with the sexual abuse of minors were invited to meet with
the Archbishop. One priest, Michael Baker, met with Archbishop Mahony. The
tragic lessons of reliance on the unverified word of a priest which were
learned from the case of Michael Baker are reported as a case study in the <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/reports/Documents/2004-0217_ADLA_CSA_Report.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Report to the People of God</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">,</span></u></a></span></u> a comprehensive report of
all clergy publicly or credibly accused of abuse from 1930-2003 which would be
voluntarily published by the Archdiocese in February 2004.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 6.4pt; margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">June 1989 </span>– A policy on any misconduct involving a priest was
formally adopted for the first time as a result of dialogue with all priests of
the Archdiocese initiated in 1987. These were the first norms on sexual abuse
of minors issued in the Archdiocese. These norms were in place, enforced, and
revised and strengthened over the years. The current policies are found in the <u style="text-underline: #0563C1;"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-9"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Administrative
Handbook</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>of
the Archdiocese. The policy as originally adopted and continuing today requires
immediate investigation of any complaint, removal from ministry during any
investigation and pastoral outreach to the victims and their families. As
appropriate, priests were and continue to be required to undergo psychological
evaluation and treatment before any consideration of a return to ministry. In
the 1990s, parents of victims were encouraged to make a report to law enforcement
and the Archdiocese cooperated with any ensuing investigation. In 2002, the
policy was modified, and since then the Archdiocese initiates direct reports to
law enforcement and as mandated reporters if a report has not already been
made.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</b><br />
<div class="WordSection7">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 20.1pt; margin-top: 3.75pt;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">May 1994 </span>– Cardinal Mahony announced the formation of the Sexual
Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB) comprised of laity and clergy, including parents of
a child victim and a therapist with expertise in sexual abuse and chaired by a
retired Judge of the Superior Court. SAAB was tasked with the responsibility of
reviewing all cases of clergy abuse pending in the Vicar for Clergy’s office
and providing feedback and recommendations to the Vicar and the Cardinal.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">From 1994 to 2002 </span>– The Archdiocese
continued to revise, expand and update policies and procedures, including a
policy that, going forward, no priest credibly accused of sexual abuse of a
minor would be returned to ministry.<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 98%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: 4.5pt; position: relative; top: -4.5pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Roger%20Mahony/Documents/GOMEZ%20FINAL%20ALL%20DOCUMENTS%20SEPT%204%202018%20.docx#_bookmark0"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1</span></a> </span>Other policies included reinforcing
the practice of offering therapy for victims of sexual abuse, procedures to
advise staff members and locations when a priest was no longer ministering,
training for priests as mandated and non-mandated reporters on matters of
potential child abuse, and background checks, including fingerprinting, for
current and future priests.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">April 2002 – </span>The <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/vam/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Office of Victim’s Assistance Ministry</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>was
established <span style="color: #424242;">to deal with allegations of past or
current sexual abuse by clergy, religious or any lay person working or
volunteering for the Archdiocese. The Office is charged with creating a safe
and compassionate environment for victims to come forward while ensuring that
civil authorities are notified, and victims are provided with counseling and
other assistance in the healing process. As the Office became more visible and
established, it has also provided assistance and referrals to services for
other victims of </span>abuse and has become an active participant in other
local and national social service outreach efforts and advisory groups<span style="color: red;">.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">June 2002 – </span>As the U.S. Bishops
approved <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">The Charter for the Protection of Children and</span></a></span></u><span style="color: blue;"> <u style="text-underline: blue;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">Young People</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">,</span></u></a></u></span> Cardinal Mahony announced a <u style="text-underline: #0563C1;"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-9/section-9-10"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Zero Tolerance Policy</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>for the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles, which was later reaffirmed by Archbishop José H. Gomez. The Policy
states that no person whether clergy, paid personnel or volunteer, who has been
found to have abused a minor, at any time in their lives, may be in ministry in
any capacity in the Archdiocese.<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 98%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: 4.5pt; position: relative; top: -4.5pt;">1 </span>The
Archdiocesan policy on Zero Tolerance is more expansive than the standards in
the Charter and Norms.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.0pt; margin-right: 7.1pt; margin-top: .05pt;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">June 2002 – </span>The Archdiocese transitioned SAAB to the formal <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-9/section-9-13"><span style="color: blue;">Clergy Misconduct Oversight</span></a></span></u><span style="color: blue;"> <u style="text-underline: blue;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-9/section-9-13"><span style="color: blue;">Board (CMOB)</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">,</span></u></a></u></span> which included an expansion of the number of
lay people and a formal operating agreement consistent with the requirements of
the Charter and Essential Norms. Going beyond the requirements of the Charter
and Essential Norms, CMOB continued to address matters of abuse of both minor
and adult victims. All reports of suspected child or adult sexual misconduct
were and continue to be handled and reviewed by CMOB with the Board making
direct disciplinary recommendations to the Archbishop, including
recommendations, when appropriate, that priests be removed from ministry or returned
to the lay state.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 6.95pt; margin-right: 10.25pt; margin-top: 2.9pt;">
<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_bookmark0"></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-text-raise: 4.5pt; position: relative; top: -4.5pt;">1 </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This more
cautious approach went forward even though the USCCB in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Restoring Trust </i>in 1994 continued to offer suggestions for partial
ministry assignments and the Archdiocese also did not adopt the policy for
prior matters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 6.95pt; margin-right: 8.1pt; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 85.65pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>With<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>benefit<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;"> </span>hindsight<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>was<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>a mistake<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>by<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>the Archdiocese;<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>seven<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>priests<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>were<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>allowed<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>remain<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>limited
ministry<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>1995.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From
1995-2000, no reports of misconduct or violations by any of these seven were
received so the presumption, found to be erroneous in 2000, was that they were
not harming anyone, and could continue ministry without being a danger to
others.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summer 2002 – </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/safeguard/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">The Office of Safeguard the Children</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>was
established to carry out mandates of the U.S. Bishops’ Charter and Norms
through Children and Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs. It established a
Safeguard the Children Committee in each parish, offers abuse prevention and
reporting programs for both adults and minors, is proactive in distributing
educational information, and oversees activities and programs to commemorate
the annual Abuse Prevention Month in April.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">July 2002 – </span>The State of California enacted legislation that provided
a “window” to allow victims of abuse by clergy as minors to file civil claims
during 2003 without limits on when the abuse occurred. More than 500 claims
were brought naming the Archdiocese and various diocesan priests, religious
order men and women, religious orders and other entities.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spring 2003 </span>– Cardinal Mahony began meeting personally with
victim-survivors of abuse. Since 2003, Cardinal Mahony met with 92
victim-survivors, often together with Judge Charles “Tim” McCoy, Jr., to listen
to their stories and to offer them a personal apology and counseling for the
harm that had been done to them.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">August 2003 </span>– The Archdiocese engaged retired FBI special agents to
serve as independent canonical investigators to investigate all matters
involving clergy misconduct, regardless of when the incident occurred. Their
investigations became part of the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board Review
process.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">September 2003 – </span><u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/Handbook%20Resources/archdiocesan_policy_for_addressing_allegations_of_sexual_abuse_or_misconduct.pdf#search%3DPolicy%2520on%2520Sexual%2520Abuse%2520by%2520Clergy"><span style="color: blue;">The Archdiocesan Policy on Sexual Abuse by Clergy</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>was
updated to incorporate The Charter and Es<span style="color: #090909;">s</span>ential
Norms adopted by the Congregation of Bishops for dealing with allegations of
sexual abuse of minors. The Archdiocesan policy required that boundary
violations, whether or not recognized as reportable in civil law, would be
considered as misconduct and a violation of the policy. The Archdiocese Policy
also addresses allegations of misconduct with adults as well as<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>children.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">February 2004 – </span><u style="text-underline: #0563C1;"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/reports/Documents/2004-0217_ADLA_CSA_Report.pdf"><span style="color: #0563c1;">The Report to People of God</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>was published by the
Archdiocese as a public acknowledgement of the scope of the abuse crisis in the
Archdiocese and to express regret for shortcomings in the response to abuse
that contributed to the scandal. The Report included a letter of apology from
Cardinal Mahony on his behalf and for all Archdiocesan leaders as well<span style="letter-spacing: -1.05pt;"> </span>as case studies of known abusers and the
lessons learned from those cases. It reaffirmed the Archdiocese’s commitment to
develop and maintain best practices to deal with incidents of abuse and provide
support to victims of<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>abuse.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">July 2007 – </span>The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced a global
settlement of the more than 500 civil cases that had been filed against the
Archdiocese and various diocesan priests, religious order men and women,
religious orders and other entities as a result of the opening of the Statute
of Limitations.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">March 2011 – </span>Cardinal Mahony retired as Archbishop of Los Angeles.
Archbishop José H. Gomez was installed as Archbishop.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">January 2013 – </span>The Archdiocese released 128 <u style="text-underline: #1155CC;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://clergyfiles.la-archdiocese.org/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">clergy
files</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>associated
with the global settlement, including 88 files for diocesan priests and 40
files for religious orders and extern priests.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</b><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Present - </span>Since 2004, the <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Office of Safeguard the Children</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a></span></u>of the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles has trained more than 329,000 adults, including school parents, staff
and volunteers, in the <u style="text-underline: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/protecting/safeguard/Pages/education.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">VIRTUS® child abuse prevention adult awareness programs</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">.</span></u></a></span></u>
More than 168,000 adults have been fingerprinted as part of a program of
background checks for Church and school personnel and volunteers. Also, during
this time period, more than 1.4 million students have attended programs on
abuse prevention and reporting. Every year, students at Catholic elementary and
high schools, religious education, confirmation and youth ministry programs in
the Archdiocese of Los Angeles receive age-appropriate child abuse prevention
training. The “Empowering God’s Children” program is designed for Kindergarten
through 12th grade students. This program teaches children and young people to
understand appropriate and inappropriate boundaries and gives them the tools
that empower them to take action and report if they feel uncomfortable, scared
or confused.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #191919;">The
Archdiocese also has a toll-free number (800) 355-2545 to facilitate the
confidential reporting of allegations of sexual abuse by Church personnel.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The Archdiocese continues its
commitment outlined in the Report to the People of God to be forthcoming and
enforce zero-tolerance by reporting abuse; cooperating actively with law
enforcement concerning any abuse and misconduct with minors or adults; removing
anyone who is found to have abused from ministry; making public announcements
to all impacted by any removals from ministry; expanding education and training
of seminarians; continuing and expanding protection and prevention programs;
assuring that all matters are reviewed and addressed by CMOB; and, most
importantly, supporting victims and their families.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>For more information regarding the
programs and policies of the Archdiocese, visit the Protecting Children page of
the Archdiocesan website at <u style="text-underline: #1155CC;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.archla.org/protecting"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.archla.org/protecting</span><u style="text-underline: #000000;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #000000; text-underline: none;">.</span></u></a></span></u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-63110184618384830392018-04-11T13:26:00.002-07:002018-04-11T14:32:17.314-07:00TRUMP IMMIGRATION INITIATIVES DEVASTATING<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Statement
of Roger Cardinal Mahony<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Archbishop
Emeritus of Los Angeles</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">on</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">RECENT ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">April
12, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As
archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with the largest
immigrant population of any metropolitan area, I strongly oppose recent actions
announced by the Trump administration to target our immigrant brothers and
sisters with new enforcement initiatives that undermine the due process of law
and sow fear within immigrant families and immigrant communities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
fear was illustrated on Easter Sunday when two teachers told me after Mass that
increasingly young boys and girls just start crying during class. The reason?
They are terrified that when they return home either their mother or
father will be gone. How can we do this
to innocent children?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
the FY 2018 omnibus budget bill recently passed, the administration failed to
win funding for additional border patrol and ICE agents, detention beds, and
for the construction of a new border wall.
These funding decisions represented the will of Congress and the
majority of the American public, as a majority of US citizens oppose mass
deportation schemes and a 2,000-mile wall along our southern border.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Regardless,
the administration has announced new steps to militarize the border and to
remove due process protections from asylum-seekers searching for protection in
our nation, including the use of National Guard troops at the border, the
detention of all asylum-seekers until their court hearing, and annual quotas
for cases for immigration judges. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moreover,
the administration is intending to introduce legislation to remove protections
from unaccompanied alien children arriving at our border and otherwise restrict
asylum-seekers in their ability to win asylum protection. And, of course, the administration continues
to pursue an ill-advised border wall, which will drive desperate migrants into
remote portions of the desert and possibly to their deaths. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Taken
together, these steps could severely weaken our standing as a safe haven for
the world’s persecuted and a nation based upon fairness and the due process of
law.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
is in addition to the administration’s ending of the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrival (DACA) program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for numerous
at-risk populations, and weakening of the US refugee programs, among other
initiatives. It is clear that this
administration is pursuing a war on immigrants, both the undocumented and legal
immigrants.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enough
is enough. Catholics and all Americans
of good will should stand up against these policies as contrary to America’s
values and interests. We should not be
transformed from a welcoming society, which has benefited our nation for
centuries, to one which is intolerant and hostile to those seeking protection
and a better life in our nation. This is
not the American way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
his recent Apostolic Exhortation, <i>Gaudete et
Exsultate </i>(Rejoice and Be Glad), Pope Francis teaches us that being open to
and welcoming migrants is a path toward holiness. He also states that migration is not a
secondary issue but should be a primary concern for Catholics and others who
seek holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Along
with many of my fellow brother bishops, I call upon Catholics and all who
cherish our nation’s immigrant heritage to oppose these draconian immigration
policies and to stand against rhetoric which dehumanizes our immigrant brothers
and sisters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
the Gospel of Matthew, Christ teaches us to “welcome the stranger,” as in the
face of the migrant we see the face of Christ.
We are at a pivotal point in our country’s history, where we can follow
the call of Christ or remain silent and complicit in policies which cause
suffering among our fellow human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let
us work together with all religious groups to proclaim the truth that
immigrants and refugees who arrive in our nation are not criminals, but are
contributors to our great country, and, like all Americans, are drawn to the
values we all share: liberty, justice,
and the pursuit of happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-4319674500983121532018-04-05T06:45:00.000-07:002018-04-05T06:45:39.113-07:00BISHOP-ELECT MARC TRUDEAU<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>It is a joy to thank
God for the appointment of Monsignor Marc Trudeau to serve as an Auxiliary
Bishop of Los Angeles!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>It was my privilege
to ordain our Bishop-Elect to the Sacred Priesthood in 1991, and to have worked
closely with him over the years.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>His pastoral heart
has always been in serving as a parish priest, and he has done that so well
over the years. His two pastorates, St.
Pius X in Santa Fe Springs, and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Lomita, is where
he wanted to spend all of his priestly years.
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>In between those two
pastorates, I was privileged to have him as my priest secretary in service to
the entire Archdiocese. His pastoral
experience and his great love for people endeared him to everyone who had
contact with the Archbishop’s office. He
was a great support during those tumultuous years when the clergy scandal was
in its settlement phases.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>While serving with
me, the doctor’s discovered cancer.
Fortunately, he had a form which was curable. However, those many weeks of chemotherapy
were very difficult. We were blessed to
have him with us at the Cathedral residence during his treatment protocol. He showed great humility, patience, and
lessons in how to suffer after the manner of Jesus. His witness touched all of us in the
residence.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>It was not long
before Archbishop Jose Gomez recognized Bishop-Elect Trudeau’s gifts and
talents, and he was assigned to St. John’s Seminary to prepare to take over as
the Rector. His priestly and pastoral
gifts were a great grace in the ensuing years in the formation of young men for
the priesthood.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>When I spoke with the
Bishop-Elect about his appointment, he stated “I would prefer to be going back
to serve in a parish.” I responded—you are,
except there are many more parishes in your Pastoral Region than in just one parish!! <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br />
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<b>May Jesus Christ, our
Good Shepherd, continue to shape the heart and ministry of Bishop-Elect Marc
Trudeau!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-45631523223220089822018-04-03T16:20:00.003-07:002018-04-03T16:22:31.451-07:00OLDER PERSONS TO SUFFER FROM ANTI-IMMIGRATION POLICIESSadly, there are enormous anti-immigrant rhetoric and threats coming forth from President Trump and other government leaders every week. But the rhetoric and threats rarely mention the unintended consequences: those people who rely upon immigrants for assistance.<br />
<br />
In this blog I will focus on the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who provide special care for our older members of society--those in special care homes, or those receiving special care in their own homes. These senior citizens are already learning that their beloved caregivers may be deported, and there are no Americans willing to take their places.<br />
<br />
These caregivers work long hours and very difficult work caring for people with many physical disabilities, incontinence, illnesses, and other challenges. Working 60 to 70 hours a week is normal. They receive minimum wage salaries: the median wage for personal care attendants and home health aides is only $10.66 an hour. Those persons certified as nursing assistants may earn $12.78 an hour. No overtime, no health care for them, and no paid leave or vacation.<br />
<br />
Our older Americans depend totally upon these caregivers, but since the vast majority are immigrants, threats are looming. Many are here without proper documents. Others came in under the TPS [Temporary Protected Status] provision for immigrants facing a disaster at home, such as earthquakes and tornadoes. But the Trump Administration wants to halt the TPS program and deport all of these people.<br />
<br />
Another immigrant group under dire threat are relatives of people who are legal citizens of our country. The Trump Administration calls these people beneficiaries of what they disdain as "chain migration." In our Gospel perspective, we call it family reunification. The Administration wants to halt family reunification, and focus entirely upon a "merit based" policy--a policy which basically excludes all people of color, and everyone without an advanced degree or skill.<br />
<br />
Professor Paul Osterman from Massachusetts Institute of Technology predicts a shortfall of 151,000 direct care workers by 2030 (12 years from now), and a shortfall of 355,000 by the year 2040. And those are conservative estimates. Many populous states, such as California, will face far more disastrous losses because of the large population of immigrants involved in senior care.<br />
<br />
Some groups who believe that Americans would take these jobs if the pay were doubled or tripled, and with all the usual employee benefits, don't understand that our seniors live with very tight fixed incomes--and they could never afford such care at those costs. And with Social Security and Medicare on the brink of become insolvent, there are no increases coming.<br />
<br />
It is sad that when people--especially ones who are supposed to be leaders--continue to propagate venom towards our immigrants, invite us all to fear them, and to work hard to drive them out of the country. It is a phenomenon we have witnessed since the early 1800s, and it goes in cycles. Political leaders and others can be counted on to drag forward our brother and sister immigrants to blame for whatever ails our country.<br />
<br />
As Catholics, our approach is rather simple: "For I was a stranger, and you welcomed me!" That approach brings with it all the blessings that we will ever need to care for each other!Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-9363185612414413002018-03-31T07:53:00.003-07:002018-03-31T07:56:52.158-07:00POPE FRANCIS PRAYER: WAY of the CROSS, GOOD FRIDAY<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<o:p><b> </b></o:p><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">O Christ crucified and
victorious,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Your Way of the Cross is the summary of your
life,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">the icon of Your obedience to the will of the
Father,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and the realization of your infinite love for
us sinners.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It is the proof of Your mission.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It is the final fulfillment of the revelation
and the history of salvation.</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The weight of Your cross frees us from all of
our burdens.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your obedience to the will of the Father,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we become aware of our rebellion and
disobedience.</span></b></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In You, sold, betrayed, crucified by Your own
people and those dear to you,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we see our own betrayals and our own usual
infidelity.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your innocence, Immaculate Lamb, we see our
guilt.</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your face, slapped, spat on and disfigured,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we see the brutality of our sins.</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the cruelty of Your
passion,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we see the cruelty of our heart and of our
actions.</span></b></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your own feeling of abandonment,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we see those abandoned by their families,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">by society, by attention and by solidarity.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your body, sacrificed, ripped and torn,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we see the body of our brothers who have been
abandoned along the way,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">disfigured by our negligence and our
indifference.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Your thirst Lord, we see the thirst of Your
merciful Father,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">who desired to embrace, forgive and save all of
humanity.</span></b></h3>
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<span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In You, Divine Love, we see even today, before
our very eyes,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and often with our silence and complicity, our
persecuted brothers and sisters,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">decapitated, crucified for their faith in You.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Imprint in our heart, Lord, sentiments of
faith, hope and charity,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">of sorrow for our sins, and lead us to repent
for our sins that have crucified You.</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Lead us to transform our conversion with words </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">into a conversion of life and works.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Help us to preserve within us a living memory
of Your disfigured face,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">so that we may never forget the terrible price
You paid to free us.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Crucified Jesus, strengthen in us a faith that
does not collapse </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">in the face of temptations; awaken in us the
hope that does get lost F</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">ollowing the temptations of the world.</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Preserve in us the charity
that is not fooled by the corruption of worldliness.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Teach us that the cross is the way to the
resurrection.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Teach us that Good Friday is the way to the
Easter of light.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Teach us that God never forgets any of his
children,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and never tires of forgiving us and embracing
us with His infinite mercy.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But also teach us to never tire of asking Him
for forgiveness </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and believing in the boundless mercy of the
Father.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Soul of Christ, sanctify us!</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Body of Christ, save us! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Blood of Christ, inebriate us! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Water from the side of Christ, wash us! </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Passion of Christ, comfort us! </b></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">O Good Jesus, hear us! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Hide us in your wounds! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Do not allow us to separate from You! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">From the evil enemy defend us!</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the hour of our death, call us! </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">And command us to come to You,</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">so that we may praise You with Your Saints
forever and ever.</span></b></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>AMEN.</b></span></h3>
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-4976382948829312552018-02-18T19:39:00.001-08:002018-02-18T19:42:45.067-08:00STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP JOSE H. GOMEZ REGARDING PRIESTLY STATUS OF CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY AND BISHOP THOMAS CURRY<h2>
STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP JOSE H. GOMEZ REGARDING PRIESTLY STATUS OF CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY AND BISHOP THOMAS CURRY</h2>
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<b>February 1, 2013</b><br />
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<b>Questions from the faithful and some members of the news media indicate that it would be helpful for me to clarify the status of Cardinal Roger Mahony and Bishop Thomas Curry.</b></h3>
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Cardinal Mahony, as Archbishop Emeritus, and Bishop Curry, as Auxiliary Bishop, remain bishops in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with full rights to celebrate the Holy Sacraments of the Church and to minister to the faithful without restriction.</h3>
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<a href="http://media.la-archdiocese.org/statement-of-archbishop-jose-h-gomez-regarding-priestly-status-of-cardinal-roger-mahony-and-bishop-thomas-curry/%E2%80%8B" target="_blank">http://media.la-archdiocese.org/statement-of-archbishop-jose-h-gomez-regarding-priestly-status-of-cardinal-roger-mahony-and-bishop-thomas-curry/</a></div>
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-14346706680456873412018-01-09T13:50:00.001-08:002018-01-09T13:50:30.606-08:00White House Immigration LEADERSHIP Desperately Needed!!!<b>I'm writing these thoughts at LAX as I prepare to depart for Rome to assist in the celebration of the World Day for Migrants and Refugees on Sunday, January 14, 2018.</b><br />
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<b>It is with a very heavy heart that I make this journey with the desperate situation facing two groups of immigrants living in our midst. Both groups have been here for years, and are settled into our society, working, paying taxes, and contributing to our economy. They are:</b><br />
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<b>A. DACA Students. These young people were brought here to our country as minors. They did not choose to come here; they were brought by family or others. They have grown up here, and they know no other country. They have been educated here, they speak primarily English, and they serve in our armed forces They have jobs and they help build up our economy. They remember little of their country of origin, they do not know the language or culture, and they would be bewildered if forcibly return to their home countries.</b><br />
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<b>Our DACA residents are a positive addition to our communities and country; they are part of us. They are Americans in every sense. </b><br />
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<b>But they are at great risk of being deported because President Trump has decided to terminate their legal status effective in two months--March of 2018.</b><br />
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<b>Sadly, the President has tossed this issue to Congress to resolve. Congress is involved in so many political posturing schemes now that they are incapable of giving leadership to resolve national problems. It's all about the 2018 November elections, and which party will have a majority in the House and the Senate.</b><br />
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<b>Nothing else is of any importance or value, regardless of the incalculable human suffering that could result because of their inaction and gravely misplaced priorities.</b><br />
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<b>The President needs to step forward and explain to the American people the value of these 800,000 young adults, and demand a path forward to give them full legal status, and the opportunity to become American citizens. Only a small piece of paper is keeping them from massive deportation. Many of them have children who are USA citizens. </b><br />
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<b>President Trump and Congress: you have a moral obligation to recognize the presence and value of these young adults, and you have the authority to end this uncertainty and give them a safe and secure path forward as fellow citizens.</b><br />
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<b>B. TPS Residents. This group of 200,000 Salvadoran people came here because of the horrific and demonizing forces present across El Salvador, as well as others from Honduras and Guatemala. Some of those forces were natural, such as earthquakes, drought. Others, as always, man-made: ruthless gangs, lawlessness, atrocious murder rates, no employment opportunities, depressing economy, and similar.</b><br />
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<b>President Trump is ending this TPS program, and threatens to deport at least 200,000 people who have come here under duress and have established their lives and families here. Most of their children are USA citizens, as with the DACA young adults.</b><br />
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<b>Their forced deportation results in a horrific choice: return home with their children who know nothing of El Salvador, or leave them here and go back home--total breakup of these families.</b><br />
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<b>We as Catholics have a moral obligation to stand up for these two groups of immigrants and to proclaim their enormous positive contribution to our society and economy, and to demand that the President and Congress confirm through legislation what all national polls have confirmed: these people deserve to remain in our midst and to have a path forward to full legal status.</b><br />
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<b>Leadership means exactly that: the person holding the highest position in the land needs to step forward and to proclaim a positive path forward, rather than slink into inaction worried about "supporters." In our country, that person is President Trump.</b><br />
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<b>It is irresponsible for President Trump to toss this situation to Congress and to wait for them to find a solution. </b><br />
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<b>Pope Francis has shown dramatic leadership on behalf of migrants, immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons. That leadership is based on God's plan for all created peoples across the globe, on the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, and the moral imperatives proclaimed by the Church over the centuries.</b><br />
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<b>Let us pray that Jesus, the Light for all Peoples, will bring about an enlightenment of our President and Congressional leaders!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-44146308145547819862017-10-23T07:38:00.000-07:002017-10-23T07:38:03.837-07:00GOOD DESCRIPTION OF OUR NATION'S REALITYRecently, there was an insightful paragraph in the daily <i>Magnificat</i> which summed up well the reality which our nation is experiencing at this time:<br />
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<b><i>"History attests that when those in power concentrate on their own survival out of personal ambition, turning away from the common good, it is the time of decline. Marginalizing Christianity from the public sphere is a sign, not of intelligence, but of fear. It is failing to see, through the dark clouds of prejudice, that society cannot help but benefit from Christianity. Yes, society can benefit from Christianity.... The more one seriously studies the origins of humanism, and the more he recognizes the existence of something that is not only spiritual, but distinctly Christian."</i></b><br />
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That was written by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the Archbishop of Genoa, and while he was focusing on the issues plaguing Europe, his insights speak loudly to our own reality here in our country.<br />
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The loss of a sense of the common good, and an exaggerated focus on me--individualism--runs totally counter to the message and witness of Jesus in the Gospels. The two great pillars which Jesus taught us remain crucial to discovering a new path forward in our nation: God's love for us must be lived out through compassion for one another, and God's mercy for us must be lived out through generous forgiveness among all of us.<br />
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Those strong pillars are taught through the person of Jesus Christ, the Gospels, and lived out in a bold proclamation of our Christian identity and commitment to all peoples. Unfortunately, humility, personal ambition at all costs, and the neglect of the common good of all peoples, converge to stifle God's plan for all of us.<br />
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<br />Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5320140589358984473.post-92152530729771472702017-09-04T14:50:00.002-07:002017-09-04T14:50:44.538-07:00ENDING DACA PROGRAM A SERIOUS LOSS FOR ALL<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Statement of His
Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Archbishop Emeritus of
Los Angeles, CA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Elimination of the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) Program</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The announcement on September 5, 2017 by President
Donald Trump that he will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
program is deeply troubling. Not only
has the president revoked a promise to 800,000 young persons who wish to live
the American dream, he has also harmed our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These young persons are hard-working
and talented, who through no fault of their own were brought to our nation at a
young age. For many, this is the only
country they have ever known. They are
industrious, intelligent, and highly-skilled and want nothing more than to
contribute </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">their immense energy and ideas to our great nation. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead, the Trump administration has
placed them in jeopardy, betraying their promise as human beings and our values
as Americans. The president has rejected
our future leaders, to our nation’s detriment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now they will be faced with possible
deportation to nations they do not know and possible statelessness. Many have brothers and sisters who were born
here, and those bonds will now be broken with their separation. Their vast potential and their hard work and
sacrifice in our country will be wasted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This issue is not about economics,
the rule of law, the separation of powers, or fairness to US citizens. It is a moral issue, and the ending of this
program is an incredible blow to the ethical underpinnings of our country, a
blow to our values given us by Jesus Christ, and a blow to basic human
sensibilities. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I urge Congress to swiftly pass the
bi-partisan DREAM Act, recently introduced in the US Senate and the US House of
Representatives, which would give Dreamers permanent residency and a path to
citizenship. For the sake of our
nation, which was founded and built by immigrants, and for these amazing young
persons, we cannot let this decision stand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a special moment for
Democrats and Republicans to demonstrate that they can be our country’s
leaders. Come together, hammer out an
agreement favorable for our Dreamer young people!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Cardinal Roger M. Mahony:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01532256296562925418noreply@blogger.com