Earthquake in Haiti requires our prayers, resources
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 1/23/10 – English; 1/30/10 – Spanish)
So much has happened this week with the devastating earthquake in Haiti. What will the Catholic Church’s response be?
Churches throughout the United States will be taking up second collections. In the archdiocese, we have asked churches to take up a second collection either last weekend or this weekend. All the funds we collect will be donated to Catholic Relief Services, which is our international humanitarian aid and relief organization.
People in this area understand the extent to which the world came to our aid after Katrina.
Certainly, the people of the Archdiocese of New Orleans can empathize with the people of Haiti because we faced the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Still very much etched in our minds is the prayerful support we received, as well as the rebuilding assistance and financial support that came to us. It’s because of that spiritual and material support that we were able to re-establish ourselves in the last 4 1/2 years. This is a privileged opportunity for us to reciprocate that love to our sisters and brothers in Haiti. Thousands have died. Many died in the cathedral in Port au Prince as they were finding a place of refuge. Seminarians who were inside the cathedral were killed. The archbishop was killed. Schools collapsed, so all of the children in those buildings were killed. It’s important for us to pray for those whose lives have been lost. For those who survived, this will be an incredible time of grief. We need to pray for those who will be given the task to rebuild their own personal lives. We want to hold close in our hearts the Haitians living here in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and their families. I want to thank those who have already given financially and those who will give financially as a sign of our faith-filled solidarity with our suffering sisters and brothers. This would be a tragedy anywhere, but it is even more devastating in a country with so few resources.
Have you ever been to Haiti?
I have. I was there when I was director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Pontifical Mission Societies. It’s the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The poverty is just incredible. During my stay there I commented to people that I had never seen poverty like that before. I had never seen such a broken educational system and so few educational opportunities for kids. On that trip we brought supplies and gifts from the Catholic schools in the archdiocese to the people of Haiti.
At times of natural disasters, some people ask whether or not this was some form of punishment from God.
People ask, where was God or why did God send this kind of tragedy? God does not send these kinds of disasters. God does allow nature to take its course. Unfortunately, as the earth shifts and as layers of rock move, that causes earthquakes. God does not send earthquakes or suffering to his people. At the same time, he promises to be with us in times of tragedy. An evangelist said this was happening in Haiti because they had made a pact with the devil a long time ago. That kind of misunderstanding of theology and spirituality is not a very compassionate or faith-filled response to give to people who are trying to survive.
Will the archdiocese send people to help with the relief efforts?
I’ve been in touch with Catholic Relief Services. We will support their work financially, and if there is a need for people to help with the relief work, I certainly would want the archdiocese to be included in those efforts and offer that opportunity to people throughout the archdiocese.
On another matter, the U.S. Senate and House are in conference committee on the health care bill. What are your concerns?
The USCCB staff, along with several bishops, continue to be in dialogue with members of Congress. I am asking Catholics in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to pray for the enlightenment of our legislators and to contact their senators and representatives to reiterate our concerns. We do not believe that public funds should be used for abortions. Also, at this point we don’t believe there is a sufficient conscience clause in the bill, and we want to make sure health care is accessible and affordable for all, including immigrants. Please join me in prayer for “just” health care reform.
Send questions to Archbishop Aymond at clarionherald@clarionherald.org.
New Orleans Saints are more than a football team
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
What impact do you think the Saints have had on the community, especially since Katrina?
I think it’s significant. I applaud Tom Benson for being a man of perseverance. Many other people in his position would not have gone the extra mile. He believed in the Saints and in their potential. Secondly, I think it’s significant because New Orleans certainly has been through a lot since Katrina. There’s been a lot of painful, challenging news about the city that has gotten national and international notoriety. And here are the Saints – who have become a great national story.
Are you much of a football fan or more of a casual observer?
I only follow teams that I really have an investment in. Though I do find it entertaining, I’m not a person who just follows football and can tell you who’s playing whom and who won. But, obviously, because of my love for New Orleans and my respect for the Saints, it’s a pleasure to be able to follow them and to truly root for them.
What is it like celebrating Mass for Mr. Benson and Saints’ officials before a game?
We usually celebrate Mass in a meeting room attached to his office at the Superdome. There are usually between 50 to 75 people – certainly family, friends and others invited by Mr. and Mrs. Benson and their staff.
God never really takes sides in a sporting event, right?
I do my homily on the readings of the day, but I always mention at the beginning of Mass that we are there to remember the saints who are in heaven but also the Saints who will be on the field. We do pray for their safety and that they’ll be able to utilize the gifts that God has given to them to the very best of their ability. I don’t believe God takes sides, but he does give people the ability to use their gifts well. Gayle Benson and I joke about it, because I told her most recently that I was getting a little bit bolder in telling God what I wanted for the Saints.
Saints fans can be very superstitious about sitting only in a certain chair or wearing the “right” jersey to help their team win. What about superstitions?
Well, the joke we had the night the Saints beat the Patriots on national TV was that there were three archbishops in Mr. Benson’s box. I’m sure we were all praying for the Saints, and they were fortunate enough to play a very good game.
When the Saints came into existence in 1967, Gov. McKeithen called Archbishop Hannan to ask him if he thought the “Saints” nickname would be sacrilegious. He told him, “Not at all, but I must remind you that most of the saints were martyrs.”
I did hear that story. Archbishop Hannan is amazing. He still goes to every game. He starts out watching the game, then takes a nap in his seat. Then he’ll get something to eat at halftime, and he’s very much alive for the second half.
On a serious note, the Saints raise a lot of money for their operations but also have been very conscious about giving back to the community.
The Saints have been very, very generous. I think that comes from a basic principle that they want to share the gifts that God has given to them with others, especially with the needy. They’ve been extremely generous to the community in general, particularly special projects of the Catholic Church and Catholic Charities. We’re very grateful for their generous spirit of stewardship.
Rita Benson LeBlanc has been the chairperson of the Archbishop’s Community Appeal this year.
She’s done a great job. She not only has taken that role very seriously, but she also has personally made contact with people to ask them to come to a better understanding of the needs of Catholic Charities and to be our partners in caring for the needy. I can’t thank her enough for her leadership.
Are you hopeful that this is “the year”?
I am. I keep the “Who Dat” spirit going, and I have faith in them. I believe they’ll do well, and I look forward to watching them in Miami.
A Shepherd Returns Home
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 1/9/10 – English; 1/16/10 - Spanish)
You were installed as Archbishop of New Orleans in August 2009. What have your four months been like?
I have been very much touched, both emotionally and spiritually, by the warm welcome from everyone. It has been overwhelming. I am grateful to God and to the people of the archdiocese – clergy, religious and laity – for their warm welcome. It’s been a busy time, but I’m not in any way complaining. That schedule has been of my own making, and I want to get around and visit as many parishes and people as I can to really get a sense of what’s happening in the archdiocese. Here are my initial observations: We have very active and faith-filled parishes, and I’ve also been impressed by the dedication and eagerness to grow in the faith on the part of teenagers and those in youth ministry. I’ve also been very impressed by our commitment to Catholic schools and to parish religious education programs.
You’ve said from the outset that you want to take at least 10 months to get a good understanding of the various ministries of the archdiocese.
I want to use these 10 months primarily to get around and see what is happening. I readily admit that as I get around, I have made assumptions about a certain situation – which I don’t share with anybody – but then I realize that so much has changed in nine years that I’ve made the wrong assumptions. So, I’m having to learn a lot. I’m grateful for this time and for the patience of people as I get around to learn about what is happening and what has happened.
But you have had to make some decisions, such as releasing the report in December on how the archdiocese will use its FEMA reimbursements to build schools and community centers.
It’s very important for me as archbishop and for our people in ministry that we are straightforward and transparent and see ourselves as good stewards of the gifts that God’s people have given to us. That also applies to any sexual abuse cases – we have to be straightforward about that. I’m also grateful that healing is taking place at some of the parishes that have been closed, and I want to continue those dialogues in the new year and begin conversations with those from other parishes that have asked for my conversation and attention.
Is figuring out what to do with vacant properties high on your list for 2010?
It is a concern. We have vacant properties, and ultimately we need to make decisions on what we will do with them. That’s at the top of my radar in 2010. We hope to find good uses for these properties either within the Catholic Church or with other service-oriented institutions. This is a priority because, otherwise, the vacant properties will cost us money and become a liability. It’s very important that we make good use of them because they are gifts given from the people of God.
Do you think at some point the archdiocese will need to launch a capital campaign?
Yes, but not yet! We do know that we need additional resources for our two seminaries, St. Joseph Seminary College and Notre Dame Seminary. We also need to make the pension fund for our priests more stable. As more of our priests are retiring, the priests’ pension fund needs stability and further funding. The third area of financial need involves helping needy students attend Catholic schools. Those are three important projects, but it’s much too early to talk about any kind of capital campaign.
How will you get around the archdiocese in 2010?
I will be doing a number of confirmations. My schedule probably will include celebrating Mass at St. Louis Cathedral about once a month, and on the other Sundays of the month my goal is to celebrate Mass in a different parish. I’m not looking for a reception or anything. I just want to celebrate Mass, greet the people and learn more about the parish.
You were also given two major roles in 2009 with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that should occupy a lot of your time.
I will be working with the bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship in preparation for taking over as chairman in 2010. I’ve also been appointed the USCCB representative for the Greek Orthodox-Roman Catholic dialogue. Those responsibilities do take time. There are moments when I think to myself, “Why did I say yes to these things?” At the same time, I believe that we bishops are called to be active and committed not only to the work of our diocese, which is always the priority, but also to the larger church, which is not only in the United States but worldwide. I find that being involved in these kinds of efforts helps me to become more creative and to bring back to the archdiocese the experience, counsel and creativity of others. Every time I have to leave for one of these meetings, I think to myself, “Why did I do this?” At the same time, I know it’s enriching me. It’s something I can bring back to the archdiocese.
May the Christ Child’s Gift of Peace Be Yours
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 12/26/09)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
On this Christmas feast, I extend to you my prayers and personal best wishes for a blessed Christmas season. May the Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate in this Eucharistic celebration, bring you his gift of peace and the reassurance of his love.
It is a privilege for me to return home as your shepherd and celebrate Christmas 2009 in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Thank you again for your warm welcome and for the vibrant “family of faith” that is present in our archdiocese.
Please be assured that you and those you hold in your heart have a place in my prayers and Christmas Masses.
Join me in prayer for those who will work today to enable others to celebrate with family and friends, also those who are discouraged and without family today. May they come to experience God’s loving care and compassion.
Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and God’s abundant blessings in the holy season, I am
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend
Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans
Gratitude and Stewardship
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 12/19/09)
As you reflect on the expectation of receiving approximately $170 million in FEMA reimbursements to rebuild schools and community centers across the archdiocese, what are your thoughts?
We’re still experiencing the extreme destruction of Katrina, but I’m grateful to so many people who have come to our aid. I’m grateful to them and to God. FEMA has helped us tremendously. Two words come to mind: gratitude and stewardship. We are grateful for the monies, and we want to be good stewards. We owe a special debt of gratitude to Sen. Landrieu and the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation for successfully pushing through legislation eliminating a provision that would have reduced by 25 percent the amount of FEMA funds that were available for alternate projects. Their efforts allowed us to do even more for our Catholic school system. Rep. Cao also has been most helpful in follow through and with many other aspects of FEMA.
How extensive was the process of evaluating the damages from Katrina and deciding which schools to reopen?
We consulted with individual pastors and principals, and on the archdiocesan level, the Office of Catholic Schools surveyed the needs of all the schools after Katrina in conjunction with the Building Office. We also discussed the plan with the Finance Council, the Administrative Council, the Council of Deans and the Property Management Office. We did a detailed study to establish priorities for the Catholic school system. As with almost any plan, there were more needs and priorities than there were available FEMA funds. Then came the moral dilemma of how to utilize the FEMA funds as best as is humanly possible. Through prayer, consultation and reflection, we believe we’ve done that. We are keenly aware that there is no such thing as a perfect plan or pure justice, but we believe we can stand before God and say our proposal represents good stewardship. We wish we had more resources with which to work. Any plan has strengths and weaknesses, and we believe this plan has far more strengths than weaknesses.
Some people might have a difficult time understanding how money allocated by FEMA for a closed school in Orleans Parish might be used to build the new Academy of Our Lady in Marrero.
FEMA regulations are very specific: If a school, for example, is more than 50 percent damaged, FEMA either will pay to replace the school on its same footprint or the money for that project could be reallocated for an eligible “alternate” project. Once we decided after Katrina not to reopen certain schools because of the shift in population, we then had two choices – use the FEMA funds on eligible “alternate” projects or forego the money. We would not be responsible stewards if we did not do everything we could to strengthen the overall Catholic educational system, and therefore we decided to use some of the FEMA funds on alternate projects. Also, Archbishop Hughes made the commitment after much consultation to build a new campus for the Academy of Our Lady in Marrero; I want to faithfully carry out that promise. The new campus in Marrero will strengthen Catholic education on the West Bank.
What are your thoughts about those who still feel upset over the loss of their parish or school?
In presenting our FEMA proposal publicly we haven’t forgotten about those whose parishes, schools and other Catholic institutions have been closed either because of Katrina or as a result of the pastoral plan. I’m sensitive to their feelings of loss, which sometimes understandably can turn into anger. I’m willing to meet with them and walk with them on the journey.
Where does the archdiocese stand from a bricks-and-mortar standpoint 4 1/2 years after Katrina?
We stand in a humble and grateful position that some of our underinsured properties have been rebuilt and updated. As for the future of our vacant properties – and there are a lot of them – that’s a decision I haven’t prayed about yet. We have begun preliminary discussions on some of the properties, but I can very honestly and straightforwardly say there is no comprehensive plan as yet. We have said since the storm that we are looking to find uses for the properties, first within the ministries of the church and secondly within related ministries. If we can’t do that, then we would look to the secular market.
Even though FEMA extended its deadline into next year for entities to declare their intention to use reimbursements for “alternate” projects, you decided to get this information out early. Why?
We preferred to keep to the original deadline (of Dec. 31, 2009) for those projects because the sooner we can make our proposals, the sooner we should be able to have access to the money and move on with our plans. We didn’t want to cause an undue delay for our children.
Children need a Catholic school’s moral guidance
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – English 12/12/09; Spanish – 12/19/09)
The following are excerpts from Archbishop Aymond’s talk Dec. 3 at the 66th annual luncheon of the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs.
I thank all of you for what you have done in rebuilding the system of Catholic schools and Catholic education after Katrina. You made national news by reopening Catholic schools so quickly after the storm. In a very difficult, devastating and seemingly hopeless time, you rallied together and exhibited by your actions that Catholic education for our children is very important.
I consider myself very blessed. I went to Catholic schools all my life – St. James Major Elementary School, Cor Jesu (which is now Brother Martin High School) and then St. Joseph Seminary College. In the baptismal rite, we remind parents that they are to be the first and the best teachers of faith for their children. Very often we hear the word “vocation” and we think of priests, deacons and religious sisters and brothers. But Christian parenthood is a vocation. It is a call from God for parents to use their gifts not only to give birth and life to their children but to form them in ways of the faith. You do that through your actions, attitudes and words.
A very powerful image in the Scriptures is when Jesus says to the apostles who are trying to discourage the children from coming to him, “Let the children come to me.” And that is what you do as parents and in your leadership in our Catholic schools.
The Catholic school system in the archdiocese is alive and vibrant. We are not 85 Catholic schools – we are a system of Catholic education. We all strive to do the same thing, and we cannot do it separately. Our mission is to provide the very best: excellence in education and excellence in Christian formation. Catholic identity is at the heart of who we are and what we do. We will never apologize for that, and we should never want to water it down. We are Catholic schools, and that is why we exist.
I suggest that our ministry is even more challenging and important today. We beg for attention from our young people. Our world is run by the Internet and by prime-time television. Our young people are very much influenced by examples of sexuality, violence, exploitation and infidelity on the Internet and on TV. Our young people learn too much too soon. We are a different, countercultural voice – the voice of the Lord Jesus that calls for peace and respect of the human body. We say, “Follow the way of the Gospel.”
Please continue to give great emphasis to vocations to the priesthood and to religious life as brothers and as sisters. It is important to me that every Catholic school and all parishes find many ways – not just “a” way – to encourage vocations. It’s also very important that every Catholic family is open to that possibility. Often I will ask a seminarian or a young lady who is thinking about entering religious life, “Well, what have your parents, peers and people in school said to you?” The answers I get sometime give me great peers were OK, even though they don’t quite understand it. But, one of my parents said, ‘Why would you want to waste your life?’” That revelation is so tragic! If we in the archdiocese are to continue the ministry that has been given to us by God, we will need priests, brothers and sisters to act in the name of the church.
Vocations are coming from among us, but I suggest there are more that have not been tapped. Where does planting the seed of vocations begin? It begins in elementary school. We are not forcing or brainwashing people to think that they have a vocation. What we are trying to do – and what I ask you to assist in doing – is to awaken in those young people, if God is calling them, that hidden vocation. Pray that they will have the courage to think about it.
I believe some people have a vocation that has never been awakened. Jesus has promised that he would never leave the flock untended. And so I am asking all parishes, schools and cooperative clubs over the next year to do something very specific to help us awaken the vocation to priesthood and religious life among those who are being called.
National Catholic Youth Conference was stunning
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 12/5/09 – English; 12/12/09 - Spanish)
You attended the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City Nov. 19-20. What impressed you about the gathering?
There were 21,000 young people and another 3,000 adult representatives from around the country, including nearly 150 high school students from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This was the largest youth conference I have ever attended. Major conventions around the country are experiencing a decline in participants because of travel costs and the economy. This great turnout in the face of budgetary concerns showed that the young church in the United States is alive and well. It speaks very strongly that there is a very strong faith among young people and a real hunger for a relationship with Jesus.
Were you able to meet with the New Orleans contingent?
I spent time primarily with our group from New Orleans. There were about 30 bishops attending, and we volunteered to do roundtable discussions with the young people. I participated in a gathering of about 50 young people. What they told me is that their relationship with Jesus is strong and they have a great love for the church. Sometimes they find themselves in a minority situation among their peers. They spoke very openly about some of their peers not coming back to church after confirmation and some of their friends in Catholic schools not going to Mass on Sunday. Some of them said their parents don’t go to Mass, and they find themselves in a challenging position. They want to live their faith, but they also want to invite and challenge their peers to do the same. Some talked about living in a community unlike New Orleans, which has a Catholic culture. They’re constantly having to explain and defend the teachings of the church. One of the exciting things for them was coming to a national conference with people their age who are faith-filled, and also getting the support of adults.
What else impressed you?
We held a eucharistic procession from the Sprint Center to the Convention Hall. To see 20,000 people in the streets of Kansas City giving reverence to the Eucharist was a powerful experience. As we passed people along the route, they were genuflecting and kneeling before the Eucharist. People were literally in tears because it was such a powerful experience.
What were some of the talks the youths heard?
There were talks on being a being a person of integrity and how to share and stand up for your faith. There was a very challenging talk on chastity. It was extremely heart-warming to hear the cheers of the young people as they were being invited to be people of morality and to live a healthy moral life as Catholic Christians.
What do you hope the young people can bring back to the archdiocese and what can adults do to help foster a strengthening of youth programs?
One of the adults told me the reason she was there and was willing to be a chaperon was that her daughter went the last time and came back and told her she had to go and experience the conference. One thing young people can do is invite others to have that experience. These conferences, in a very genuine and healthy way, put people on a high. One of the challenges is to return home and return to school and still live that faith in daily life. I think this gives them energy and encouragement to do that.
Are kids the same all over?
I find our young people are good-hearted and talented, but they face incredible challenges in terms of being people of integrity. When you look at what they’re bombarded with on the Internet, day after day, from games to pornography to dating to all kinds of things on Facebook. And then, when you look at what they’re confronted with in the media, especially the lack of Christian morality, they have so much that they have to face. Adults need to do everything they can to encourage them. I don’t think young people differ from their peers around the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our youth from New Orleans. They reassured me that the young church is alive, and they strongly witness to their faith. They are the young church of today and our Catholic leaders of tomorrow. Our young church teaches me a lot about discipleship and being a witness of faith. I am grateful to them.
Abp. Aymond lends prayerful support to Rep. Cao
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – 11/21/09)
You spoke with Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-La.) before and after he voted in favor of the health care reform bill that passed the House of Representatives by a 220-215 vote on Nov. 7. Rep. Cao was the lone Republican to vote for the bill. Why did you feel it was important to speak with him?
Rep. Cao spoke to me the week before the vote, and I called him on the Monday after the vote. I wanted to be of support to him because, as he said, he felt both “courageous” and “lonely,” and he is feeling the fallout from some of this.
What did you discuss?
First of all, he is a lifetime Catholic and takes very seriously his faith and his personal relationship with Christ and the church. He also feels in a very burdensome way his commitment to represent his constituents and to be a fair and honest politician. And those two things by their very nature, as we know living in the world today, can cause tension. We have met before and we have both expressed to one another our desire to work together, without blurring the lines of church and state. We discussed working together for the good of the community and improving the welfare of the people of God in the New Orleans area.
What did you discuss before the vote?
As we were getting closer to the vote, I called him to ask if there was any way in which I could help, and he expressed gratitude for that. He also thanked me for my prayers, which I offered to him, and he said that he would vote as he did. He said he would vote against the bill if it were pro-choice, but he said that if the Stupak amendment was included, this would give him an opportunity to vote for it because it would not be allowing federal funds – or the funds of the people – to be used for abortion. Furthermore, the bill would have a conscience clause, so it would eliminate our concern over other unethical practices that are not allowed by the ethical and religious practice of the Catholic Church. It also would protect us in terms of end-of-life issues.
Was he wrestling with his decision?
The health care reform bill – and these are my words and not his – is not perfect, as no piece of legislation is. But it does provide health care for all people, especially the needy. Many of his constituents, the people he represents, do not have health care and are really struggling financially. He was able to vote for it because it helped the people he represents, and secondly, it was pro-life. It would not give funding for abortion. It would protect our conscience in terms of other ethical issues. I know that he brought this to prayer, and he felt that he had to do both what was right for the people in his area and protect human life.
Did he express to you that he was getting heat from fellow Republicans?
He has said publicly that he felt both courageous and lonely. I’m sure there has been some fallout from this. I’m sure, at least at some point, he will have some real struggles with the other Republicans, but I admire a man who can vote for his conscience and go beyond the political name and the political maneuverings and vote for what he thinks is right. Even if a person disagrees with him, I cannot imagine someone not respecting him.
You said he expressed being lonely? Did you offer him any help?
I mentioned to him my prayerful support and I also mentioned to him that if there was anything that we could do spiritually for him, we certainly wanted to do that. To take a stance that is unpopular with one’s own party is indeed noble and faith-filled.
What impact do you think the bishops had on the House of Representatives by declaring they would aggressively oppose any health care plan as long as it did not explicitly prohibit funds being used for abortion?
From what I have read and heard from the U.S. bishops’ conference, some of the Democratic leadership said they needed the bishops’ help to pass a bill, and they turned to us for support. Obviously, we cannot give any support to a reform bill that would foster the culture of death, and so I do believe that our strong stance in favor of the protection of human life had some influence. I say that truthfully but also humbly. We hope that our stance would in some way not dictate but influence our legislators to rethink their positions on important questions, especially beginning-of-life and end-of-life issues.
The U.S. bishops have been criticized by some groups for doing nothing more than preserving the “status quo.”
Very rarely, if ever, do we ever get in the political arena what we would consider the ideal or what purely would be the teaching of Christ and the church. So if we wait for that day when there is “perfect” legislation about any issue, we may be waiting forever. But as John Paul II made clear in “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”), when it is not possible to overturn a pro-abortion law, an elected official whose personal opposition to abortion is well-known can support proposals aimed at limiting the harm of abortion. I understand the disappointment of those who are saying this proposal is still not exactly what we want, but in the political arena, we can move toward the ideal. I would say giving us a conscience clause and eliminating abortion funding is a step forward. That’s not to say we don’t have more work to do, but it at least keeps us on the track of life and not the track of death. If we wait for legislation that everyone will agree on, that simply won’t happen in this world.
I hope We are coworkers in common mission of Christ
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
Clarion Herald – November 14, 2009
Much of your time since coming to the archdiocese has been spent meeting with various groups of people engaged in various ministries. Last week you met with those who work in the archdiocesan administrative offices. What did you tell them?
First of all, it’s important to know that I do not consider them employees or staff members but coworkers and collaborators in our shared ministry. They have worked under enormous pressure in the last four years since Katrina, and I thanked them for giving of themselves in selfless service.
What is your approach to ministry?
Any leader – and an archbishop is a leader – must be collaborative. I tend to be very consultative. As I said at my installation Mass, I promise to stay close to the Lord. I pray daily that I will have the heart and mind of Jesus. I recognize that I am a sinner and that I fail. I asked them to be honest with me. In the rush of life I can overlook things that need to be done and perhaps even hurt another person without knowing it. In ministry, we don’t really have to agree all the time, but we have to share the same mission. That’s when the spirit of God works and brings us to consensus.
What is that common mission?
Our only purpose – the only reason we exist – is to continue the mission of Jesus. Just as he taught, prayed, healed, consoled and blessed, so must we. We need to treat people with the respect of Christ. We should do exactly what he would do physically, because we are his hands, his mouth and his feet. The grassroots of ministry is at the parish level, in schools and other Catholic institutions, and we who work in the administrative offices of the archdiocese must be of service to them. I expect whenever a pastor or a principal calls our offices for us to have a return call to them within 24 hours. We may not have the answer, but we need to let people know we are working on getting an answer. We are working for them. We must never lose that patient demeanor. As archbishop, I don’t think of us as a corporation. We have to use the very best business practices, but we’re not a corporation. We are pastoral.
You’ve used the image St. Paul gave that we are many parts but one body.
We must all work together in ministry. We all have different functions, but all functions are equally important. We are ministry-driven, not business-driven. There may be times when a decision doesn’t makes sense in terms of “business,” but it does if it serves the mission of Christ.
What are you learning as you meet with people each day?
We have challenges, but it’s important to know we also have many gifts. My episcopal motto is “God is faithful,” and I believe that no challenge placed before us – Katrina, the pastoral plan, changing population in different areas – is too great. We’ve had a rich 216-year history, and the Catholic Church is alive and well in this archdiocese. We’ve accomplished many things, and I’m glad to be a part of this team.
You’ve talked about asking questions for 10 months before making any major decisions.
I think that’s the right approach. If after that there are some things that need to change, there will be a process of consultation with the Presbyteral Council, the Council of Deans and the Administrative Council. I’m thinking of ways to give those involved in ministry a voice in that process as well. Through experience, I’ve learned there have been times in the past where I have moved too quickly and didn’t ask the right questions. We make mistakes when we don’t listen long enough or pray with an open heart.
You asked people to let you know if a loved one has a health problem or if they are going through a difficult personal situation.
We need to remember one another in prayer, particularly the people who work in our own office. None of us knows everything. If someone is hurting or struggling, I would want to reach out to them in a pastoral way. The role of the bishop is to teach and preach, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and ordain priests and deacons, and to shepherd the people. In a place where there are about 400,000 Catholics, no one can do that alone. We are coworkers in the vineyard of the Lord.
How can people help you in the challenges you face?
To me, education and formation at every level – whether it involves schools, religious education, youth ministry or adult ministry – are paramount. We are all called to be reconcilers. There are so many divisions out there. We need to bring people into a closer relationship with Christ and the Church.
Things can produce reconciliation, God’s peace
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
Clarion Herald – November 7, 2009
Archbishop Aymond issued the following statement after meeting with representatives of St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel parishes.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the parishes of St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel. We prayed together and discussed their feelings about the pastoral plan and the closure of their parishes.
It was a very cordial meeting and I found it helpful to hear personally their concerns and pain.
We agreed that we would continue to meet and to work toward reconciliation. We unanimously agreed that our discussions are to bring healing to those who were hurt, to invite those who have left the Church to return, and to build up the Body of Christ in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
I look forward to our continued collaboration and I publicly thank them, my sisters and brothers in Christ, for their willingness to meet with me and to enter into prayer and dialog
You’ve said on several occasions you are not going to change the pastoral plan. Is that still the case?
That’s correct. It’s important to realize that the issue of closing parishes has several dimensions. It is always a painful experience, and in our archdiocese it has a long history. Catholic Life: 2000 was long-range planning process, which established general guidelines for the ongoing viability of parishes. Another dimension was the closure of parishes because of damage from Hurricane Katrina. Still another dimension would be recent changes in a parish’s demographics or finances. Whatever the specific case involves, I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me to second-guess the people who worked on the archdiocesan pastoral plan. When any pastoral plan is completed, I assume that there has been both prayer and planning. I don’t believe it would be appropriate for me, in returning to the archdiocese, to take actions that would reverse the plan. Rather, it’s appropriate for me to implement the plan and to be in discussion with people who have disagreed with and been hurt by the plan.
Obviously, you knew in returning to New Orleans that the pastoral plan would be a very sensitive issue. How did you imagine yourself dealing with it? You made it very clear you were going to be open to talking to people about it.
I still remain open to talking to people, and I have met with the people from St. Henry’s and Our Lady of Good Counsel. It was a very cordial meeting, but I would go a step further and say it was also a very spiritual meeting. I was grateful for their honesty, their straightforwardness and their expression of concern. We agreed that we would continue to dialogue, and I have another meeting set up with them in the next two weeks. The agreed-upon goal from everybody in the room was one of healing, reconciliation and reaching out to those who had left the Church or who feel estranged from the Church because of this. It’s all about inviting people back to the Church and being able to reach out with our hands and hearts to them. There was open dialogue and honest expression of feelings, and it helped me understand more clearly some of their concerns and also some of the pain that they had experienced.
What role has Msgr. Christopher Nalty, the pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, played in this?
He is a man who is very conciliatory, and he participated in the meeting with about 12 other people. He has been very helpful in finding agreeable times for all of us to meet. He is very much committed to seeing this through, both representing his parishioners and their concerns and pains, and also working with me. I’ve appreciated his collaboration. What we hope to do in the not-too-distant future is to have a ritual and Eucharist that will invite people to Good Shepherd Parish and to ask those who have not done so yet to consider finding a home there.
What about other parishes that have been closed under the pastoral plan?
I’m well aware that there are some other parishes that are eager to meet with me. I will be in touch with their pastors in the near future in an effort to reach out to them, and I hope this communication in the Clarion Herald is a start. However, in the meantime, if they want to contact me, I would be more than willing to meet with them. I had hoped to be able to do this sooner, but my schedule for the past two months has been very full, but they have not been forgotten. Not only are they in prayer, but also I am eager to meet with other parish communities. And, if they feel that I’m taking too long to take the initiative, I would certainly ask them to give me a call so that we could do it as soon as possible.
Is there a possibility that some currently closed church buildings might be used for special occasions, such as weddings or funerals?
We are looking into utilizing the buildings that are closed in a way that will benefit the community at large. But, when parishes are closed, one of the stipulations under canon law is that regular liturgical services are not to be held there.
Right now, do you know what might become of some of the closed properties?
It’s a very good question. I wish I could answer the question more directly, but I’ll answer it to the extent that I can. Some of the places have made proposals for us to use them for community centers, and in other cases, there are some schools and religious organizations that are interested in using them. I have a meeting with several members of our archdiocesan staff to talk about that in the next week. We are aware that by these buildings remaining vacant, deterioration will happen more quickly. Secondly, we as an archdiocese continue to need to insure them and to cut the grass and pay utilities, etc. We want to be a good steward of the gifts that have been given to us. We want to make sure that we act responsibly.
Could some churches be converted for use in a health-care ministry?
Certainly, there’s a precedent for that. We did that with the former St. Cecilia Church, which is now home to the PACE Adult Day Care Center. We are in conversation with Catholic Charities and other ministries of the archdiocese to see if some of these facilities could house other archdiocesan projects.
Are there some church buildings that are too far gone that they might have to be torn down?
There have been some that have been torn down already, and it’s possible that once we have a clearer idea of what is salvageable and what’s not, we would certainly make that known. At any parish building that is not salvageable and has to be torn down, there will be a ritual of prayer before that takes place. Also, we intend to place on those pieces of property some remembrance of the parish and of the people of the parish who built the church and who called it home for so many years.
Have any other parishes asked to meet with you?
I have received a couple of letters from people in different parishes expressing their pain from the pastoral plan and their desire to be in conversation. I have said to them I would be more than willing to enter into conversation. I certainly want their pastor to be the lead person, not only to be present for the meeting but also to gather representatives of the parish in order to enter into conversation.
Why is this issue of such vital importance to you?
One of the major roles and responsibilities of the shepherd – or the bishop – is to keep the flock unified, to proclaim the Gospel, the good news of Christ, and to reach out to those who have been hurt by the church or those who feel that their voice has not been heard. As we see in Scriptures, when there is a sheep that is away from the flock, for whatever reason, the shepherd is the one who goes looking for that sheep. In this case, I want to do that, but I will also need the help of others. Help me!
Caring for creation is every Christian’s duty
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
Clarion Herald – October 31, 2009
Last week Pope Benedict XVI asked you to personally represent him in welcoming to New Orleans the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. He is the spiritual leader of 300 million Greek Orthodox. Can you tell us a little bit about Bartholomew?
He is called His All Holiness Bartholomew, and he is the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Constantinople. He is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world. As a citizen of Turkey, Patriarch Bartholomew has a great experience and perspective in fostering dialogue among the Christian, Islamic and Jewish worlds. He has worked tirelessly to advance reconciliation among Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox communities. He also has been in dialogue with Pope Benedict and is known as a peace builder. He wants to defuse global conflict in the region. Since he was named patriarch in 1991, he has traveled extensively to promote a message of restoration and peace. He’s also been very outspoken about protecting the environment.
Is that the reason he has sponsored environmental symposia for the last eight years? The most recent session was held last week in New Orleans on the challenges facing the Mississippi River region.
Yes. A short time after I was appointed Archbishop of New Orleans, I received a telephone call from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio to the United States, asking if I would personally welcome Patriarch Bartholomew to New Orleans in the name of Pope Benedict, and, of course, I was privileged to do so. I read a brief letter of welcome from Pope Benedict, and I was struck by the clear message of our Holy Father that he was very much in solidarity with the patriarch in his efforts to preserve and be respectful of the environment. Pope Benedict said we must do everything we can, together as Christians, to make sure that we are good stewards of the resources God has given to us. The pope used a very interesting term in his remarks – “intergenerational justice” for the men and women of the future. That means what we do today to the environment can have serious consequences for our children and our children’s children. Our descendants are also entitled to enjoy the goods that creation, as willed by God, is meant to bestow in abundance upon everyone.
Was holding the environmental summit in New Orleans an indication of the importance the patriarch placed on Hurricane Katrina?
I believe so. Both Pope Benedict and His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew made reference to the devastation of Katrina and how this has left us with a “wounded city.” The patriarch himself was among the first of the world’s spiritual leaders to visit New Orleans shortly after the devastation of Katrina. Bartholomew also spoke about the difficulties of pollution and other environmental problems that are plaguing the Mississippi River. He made it clear that we as Christians have a responsibility to care for and respect the environment, not just for today but also for many, many generations to come.
What part does religion have to play in protecting the environment? The pope himself said these questions are “essentially of an ethical nature.”
This is very much rooted in the Genesis story, that God is the Creator and he has given us these gifts to use for humanity. We need to protect them and offer them as continuous gifts for many generations to come. God created the waters and the earth and the mountains and said, “It is good.” So, if it is good in his sight, therefore it is for our use, not for our abuse.
While we’re talking about the Orthodox Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has given you another role. You are now the new co-chairman of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation.
I am privileged to have been asked to co-chair the panel with Metropolitan Maximos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh. Last week’s meeting at St. Paul’s College in Washington, D.C., was my first, but the dialogue has had 77 meetings in all. I’ve been told that it is the longest continuously active Orthodox-Roman Catholic dialogue in the world. I look forward to fulfilling my duties in our twice-yearly meetings. I’ve taken over for Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk as co-chair of the committee.
Youth ministry offers inspiration, both now and later
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
Clarion Herald – October 24, 2009
You will be participating in your first “World Youth Day New Orleans” on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Loyola University. How important is youth ministry?
It’s very important that we don’t overlook or neglect the young church. Young people are the young church of today and the future leaders of the Catholic Church. It’s important that we not only educate and form them in the faith and help them grow in a deeper relationship to Christ, but also that we look to them right now and invite them to use their gifts and to make a difference in the church today. We depend on their ideas and their concerns, and they have a place at the table when we talk about faith, faith formation and the needs and challenges of the church today.
It’s often said that parents are the first and best teachers of their children in the faith, but with so much family turmoil these days, how difficult is it for children young adults to get the nurturing that they need?
The church has said with great strength that parents are the primary and best teachers of their children in the ways of the faith. At the same time, our youth ministry programs, our Catholic schools and our religious education programs are there to support what the parents are doing and to encourage them. One of the greatest challenges we have today is that our young people are forced to make so many adult decisions while they are still very young. When I was their age, I dare say the gravity of decisions that I was making could not be compared to what our young people are faced with today. They are invited to make many good decisions about friendships, relationships and values, but there is also the other side. There are negative forces such as drugs, violence, weapons, issues regarding sexuality, pornography and addiction to so many things on the Internet. It’s unfortunate that our young people are bombarded with those kinds of images and decisions every day. If Catholic formation was important in the past, may I suggest that it’s even more important today. My heart really goes out to our young people because they are inundated – too much is given to them at too early of an age – and I don’t think it’s fair to them.
When you sit around the table with young people, what are they telling you is most important on their minds?
For many adolescents, what is important is self-discovery. Very often, that is done through and with peers. There is an incredible amount of peer pressure on these kids about fitting in, having the right brand of shoes and clothes, and keeping up with their peers. Also, there’s the pressure of being physically “attractive,” being “ successful,” being accepted by the “in” crowd. That’s why I’m looking forward to our archdiocesan youth day on Sunday and to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City in November. That’s when I have the chance to meet with our young people one-on-one and in small group discussions to literally hear what’s on their hearts and what some of their challenges are. Despite all their challenges, I continue to be very hopeful and optimistic about our young people. So many of them have handled the challenges and decisions they face with great maturity. They certainly need and deserve our help, but there is a real renewal of spirituality among our young people. There certainly is a very strong pro-life stance that we would not have found a couple of generations ago.
In the 1950s most people’s idea of CYO was an athletic organization with a little “church” mixed in. Is there a value in getting kids together based on common interests that perhaps don’t directly involve the church but then get them interested in spirituality and prayer on the back end?
The very best of youth ministry in our parishes or schools today will definitely include social activities, fellowship, catechetics, spirituality and prayer. All of those ingredients are very important. Obviously, with young people you have to balance those out. One of the concerns I have is that very often our youth may not be encouraged by their parents or other adults to continue their faith formation and religious education after confirmation. Even though confirmation is in the 11th grade, it’s not supposed to be a graduation from religious education or from a relationship with God. It’s really a deeper investment in intimacy – in that relationship with God and living out their faith.
Have you seen examples of kids actually catechizing their parents?
I’ve seen when young people accept the seriousness of their faith and get “on fire” with their faith, they can ignite a fire in their parents. I also know of several young people and young adults who go back and become leaders in youth ministry or teach in a religious education program in the parish. Those are great ways to pass on and witness to their faith.
What if adults want to get involved in youth ministry? What should they do?
I’m very impressed with our youth ministry office in the archdiocese. It offers many great opportunities for adults to learn the skills and to be trained to do youth ministry. In ministry, it’s not good enough just to be well-intentioned and say, “I’d like to do ministry.” Every ministry requires a certain level of training, and it’s important that people are effectively trained in order to do that work. Otherwise, if they’re not properly trained, a person actually could mislead some of our young people. Our young people deserve the best.
Red Mass celebrates religious basis for justice
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
Clarion Herald – October 17, 2009
You were the principal celebrant of the Red Mass on Oct. 5 at St. Louis Cathedral, which marks the start of the judicial year. What is the importance of bringing together so many members of the legal profession?
When I was stationed in New Orleans as a priest, I remember going to the Red Mass and being very impressed with the number of judges, attorneys, elected officials, members of the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association and our archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal, and those who assist in the legal profession coming together to pray. Archbishop Schulte gave me the great privilege of preaching at the Red Mass when I was the auxiliary bishop of New Orleans. I talked to many of the people after the Mass. There were many Catholics, but there also were people from other Christian denominations and some from other world religions, particularly the Jewish tradition. I was impressed with how all of these people came together with the common interest of promoting justice in our society. At this year’s Red Mass, Shreveport Bishop Michael Duca preached and I was privileged to preside and to welcome people of many faiths to our historic cathedral for worship. Though we come from different religions and vocations, we can come together to pray for the state of Louisiana and for the cause of justice.
Was this also an opportunity for you to meet with judges and attorneys that you may not have known?
I met all of the members of the Louisiana Supreme Court and had lunch with them. I also was invited to the chambers of the Supreme Court as they prayed for and remembered all of those in the legal profession who had died within the last year. It was a sacred moment. They announced each name, and then we prayed that the deceased would have God’s eternal blessing.
Some may ask what a Red Mass is all about. Why invite members of the Supreme Court?
This dates back in our archdiocese to 1953 and has roots that are centuries old in Europe. The tradition of the Red Mass in this country dates to 1929 in New York. It has been a long tradition of the Catholic Church to invite all of those engaged in the pursuit of justice to come together to ask God’s blessing upon their work and for their wisdom and enlightenment in enacting justice. Some would say religion and politics don’t mix. I think if we look at the Gospel, we see that Jesus was very much engaged in talking with those in politics, not only affirming them but also challenging them that the ways of God would influence their various deliberations and decisions. It’s great when religious leaders, especially in our Catholic tradition, can sit at a desk, in a meeting room or at a luncheon table and talk about the values of God, the values of the Catholic Church and how these can be influential in the public forum in bringing about a world that is more committed to justice, reconciliation and peace.
Is there a tension that exists in society between what people would call the natural law and the positive law? What is the source of law?
We would certainly believe that God is the ultimate lawmaker, and he has given us the commandments. Jesus, in the New Testament, gives us the Beatitudes and the two great commandments – to love God with all our heart, soul and strength – and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus also shows us by his example and his words a great respect for human life. As Catholics we believe that all those who are entrusted with the important work of creating and interpreting the law for our society should be influenced by the spirit of the Mosaic law and the laws that Jesus gave to us as the new commandments.
Do you sometimes scratch your head and wonder why there is such a tension between religion and the law? After all, outside the U.S. Supreme Court building is a sculpture of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
It’s a sign of our society today. I mentioned at my installation Mass that every day it seems to be a little more politically correct not to mention God and for God to be excluded from our conversations and from the deliberations of our society. Obviously, we as Christians and as Catholics would not agree with that. We could just throw up our hands and say it will never change, or we can take action. First, we could pray that there will be a greater openness to religion and politics in conversations. Second, we must be willing to sit at the table with political leaders and with those who would prefer not to have God mentioned and enter into a discussion so that we could come to a better understanding of their position. Then we would also have earned the right to give our position on these issues and to continue to write and be in dialogue with those in political office, asking them to be respectful toward religion. If any of this is going to change, it’s going to change because of God and because of the
relationships that we form with other people.
What were your impressions of the justices?
I was very impressed by my conversations with several members of the Supreme Court and their spouses at lunch. I believe there is a very firm foundation for our continued conversation and collaboration. I was impressed by Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, who is a person of great integrity and truly believes in the good of the church and the state.
Did you celebrate the Red Mass in Austin?
Yes. It did not have the history that the Red Mass has here, so we did not get the number of judges, attorneys or public officials that New Orleans has attracted. It’s always nice to see the New Orleans cathedral filled with so many people whose mission is to promote justice and to see them coming together acknowledging their reliance on God. It’s certainly a much bigger celebration here than I experienced in Austin as well as in other dioceses where I have been asked to preach the Red Mass.
Respect for life encompasses many issues
By Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
(Clarion Herald – October 10, 2009)
This month the church celebrates respect for life. Can you explain the church’s teaching on respect for life?
Our stance on respect for life is deeply rooted in the Scriptures in the tradition of our church. In creation, God creates many things and many creatures and the water and the wind and the earth, but it is when he created humanity – man and woman – that he said that man and woman are made in his image. He breathes his own spirit into us, so that gives humanity a real dignity. Secondly, our teaching is rooted in the conception and the birth of Jesus. God becoming a human being gives even more blessing and dignity to humanity. Human life is indeed sacred.
What are the life issues?
We will always have a special concern and take unequivocal steps toward creating a culture of life and eradicating a culture of death, which our society has formed. Because of that, a major issue is and will always be abortion. As we know, the Catholic Church has taught over the centuries that our respect for life is from the moment of conception until natural death. To justify the taking of the human life of an innocent, unborn child is a major issue because it becomes much easier to justify the lack of respect given to the human life of other people. But beyond that, respect for life certainly includes a whole range of issues: embryonic stem cell research, which is destroying embryos for research; euthanasia, because it’s taking the life of a person who is near death, putting that life in our hands instead of in the hands of God; assisted suicide, which is helping someone take his or her life. Then there are those on death row. Pope John Paul II was very clear that capital punishment could be justified only in very extraordinary circumstances. I can’t imagine that the circumstances he was referring to would exist anywhere in the United States. Respect for life also extends to those who are poor, hungry, homeless, victims of sexual abuse and victims of Internet pornography. The church holds up and respects the human person as a reflection of God.
What do you think the New Orleans area and perhaps the country learned about respect for life during Katrina and its aftermath?
Very often in the minds of most people and sometimes in the minds of most Catholics, respect for life is easily identified with abortion, euthanasia, maybe some of the other issues. Quite often, I’m afraid, we don’t attach the pro-life label to the poor, the homeless, those who are not given human dignity and those who don’t have health insurance. My impression is that the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the other dioceses of Louisiana reached out in an incredible way to the poor and the homeless after Katrina. We’ve seen some of the fruits of that care. Catholic Charities and other nonprofit organizations have been major players in extending the charity of Christ to those in severe need. Much progress has been made. But as Catholics, we don’t simply look at the progress we’ve made and congratulate ourselves. If there is one person who is homeless or one person who is hungry and starving, our task of extending the love and the compassion of Christ must still be there. As Jesus said, when you extend care, when you feed the hungry, clothe the naked and give water to the thirsty, when you do it to one of these, you have done it to me. This is an opportunity for us to see Christ in those whom we don’t know. We can see Christ in those our society would consider the most undesirable or who live on the fringes of society.
The Senate Finance Committee rejected an amendment to pending health care legislation that would have specifically banned any federal funds being used for direct access to abortion. What are your thoughts?
In the next couple of weeks, the bishops of Louisiana will have a statement on health care reform. We believe that every person, because of his or her human dignity, has the right to health care. However, we cannot and will not ever support any legislation that would allow or encourage abortions to take place in our hospitals, and certainly not in our Catholic hospitals. We will consistently send that message to the president and to our Congressional representatives that whatever happens, health care reform must not force Catholics or anyone else to do anything against their conscience or religious beliefs.
Hear the Homily Biography Weekly Article Blog Entry Pastoral Letters
