July, 1999
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Co-editors: |
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Gael Stahl (Ernest-1960 "Zeke") |
Jack Brennan (Ternan-1960) |
Dearly beloved, this is your 28th digest of letters to each other in the diaspora and the penultimate issue of the millennium and 1900s. There will be one in the fall and one mailed by 12/31/99 just in case the Postal Service isn't Y2K ready.
Lovely cool spring weather has been a sacramental grace. But summer excitements start to stir the epistolary juices. It's time to publish. Thanks for all the good mail. - Gael from Nashville and Jack from Spokane
Necrology: Minor Matters informs us that Jerome Baum, Innocent Gill, Patrick Curtis, Warren Peternel, Humbert Korgie, and Owen Blum have died. Tony Lutz reports that Diaspora's Frank Draude unexpectedly joined them. See Frank's Feb. 23 letter on Page 2.
Et cetera. Chaplain Chuck Gunti can be tracked at two websites: http://sill.army.mil and http://www.army.mil/chapel/fsokchap.htm
Jim Lause was ordained priest in December. Jim Lause of Washington, Mo., is on our mailing list. One and the same?
Dan and Sharon Tanna are still in Reston, Virginia, but moved to 2117 Colts Neck Ct., just "seven minutes from Dulles Airport, if you need accommodations."
We begin with a letter misplaced but found to lead us off this fresh and saucy 22nd Diaspora Digest.
Jan 99 Jack Brennan: Thought you might enjoy the following story about Rachel and me. A few weeks ago, she was telling me that I was a lousy parent and always have been. (I think the issue was the 1 a.m. curfew. You know the scene from your experience with Jim Sexton's daughter's visit.) I bit my tongue, knowing that there was some truth to what she was saying about my parenting. (Also, I realized that I was in some very good company.) When I got to work that day, there was a message from the Governor's office inviting me to give a talk at the Governor's Conference On Fatherhood in June. They had gotten my name from an agency here where I do some work with fathers and thought that my program was innovative. - I certainly will not be able to resist telling this story at the conference.
17 Jan 99 Vince Zimmerman: Thanks for your holiday greetings. Obviously, I don't read my mail very often.
So you're (Susan) into teaching. I don't know if I'd have the energy to do that. Barb goes daily to substitute, which I think would be acceptable. I didn't like having to make lesson plans every day. I like the work of having people come in and talk about their issues. Then I can just react.
But that's getting old too. Hospitals are in such a turmoil about the insurance companies cutting treatment that I don't know if it's still a viable way of teaching people. You barely get to know the students. Also, as I read from others, the big 60 is coming up and a more unstructured lifestyle looks inviting.
We're building a house out in the country with woods around. It's been a bad winter for building, but it's creeping ahead. We used the profits from selling the house in Alabama [on the Emerald Coast, no less].
Thanks for the time and energy you put into the Digest. I do like keeping up.
9 Feb 99 John Miller: I received the copy of the article, "God is more than two men and a bird." I immediately read it (don't be too impressed - I read cereal boxes during breakfast in novitiate) and had Sandy read it too. At first I feared it would be just some "feminist rantings," but I was wrong. The interpretations of scripture have mainly been made by men, so it is a very male thing, which Sandy has railed about for years. Operationally, in effect, it leaves women either "honored virgins," nonexistent or beholding to men for any identity or power they might have. In the Bible, Paul is probably the worst "offender." Sandy thinks his whole attitude borders on hating women. I'm not quite that free with such interpretations, but then I haven't felt left out by the institution.
I'm not so sure that "Christ the King" means what it once did, since there are really few kings left reigning. But I do catch the drift of what she means. Her comments about knowing God through metaphor is very much like what Joe Campbell was talking about. When we concretize the symbols, metaphors, and buy into the writer's limitations by knowledge, social norms of the time and history, we lose the real meaning. "We experience God according to our limited capacity under various personae." She uses the word "personae," i.e. actor's masks, which tells me she understands Campbell's The Masks of God, which I found to be his most fascinating work.
18 Feb 1999 Nick Baxter: Gael, I can download DD for the confreres in San Antonio. Hope you are well. Just back from three week language/cultural institute in Costa Rica. Great experience. Peace.
23 Feb 99 Dan Dolesh: I have a new e-mail address: Dolesh of earthlink.net No need to mail a separate document, I'll just download the DD from e-mail. Can't tell you how much I enjoy reading DD. I am amazed at the brainpower I see in everyone else. How the heck did Brennan even remember that there was an "irregular schedule" that Alban used to put up? [As Fr. Optatus used to say, "Does a fellow ever forget his mother tongue?" JB] But it made me think about Novitiate. I remember when I first came to Novitiate. A group of us came in to T-Town early and stopped in a bar at the end of the street. The bartender told us that someone sent him the word that he was not to serve any liquor to any seminarians - but it was a hot July day, what the heck. Can't remember clearly but I think at least Tanna, Langan, and Hermeling were with me. When the fateful hour of entrance came (why does the arch of Auschwitz flash into my mind with "Arbeit macht frei"?) I tottered up to the front gate pretty much three sheets to the wind. Tried to shake Alban's hand and make some witty conversation. With a disgusted "Sh, sh, sh" Alban waved me over to the side. The rest of the guys with me were desperately trying to keep from guffawing out loud. What better way to enter Novitiate? Somehow the stories of Novitiate are still vividly embedded in my mind.
I remember (shortly before your class left for Cleveland) you had a funeral for - was it Elvis the rabbit - with full procession, Gregorian chants, tombstone ("Potens erat in terra semen eius" was on the stone). I remember thinking that you guys were just plain nuts with a capital N. Then I remember at the end of the next year when my class was ready to leave and we were all in the ozone layer I said to one of the new novices coming in, "You think we are nuts. Just you wait and see how you are after a year."
I made it through that bizarre year, but only because I kept falling back on the words my brother, Rayner (who also went through Novitiate) said to me. Words I have often used since then. "This can be the worst year of your life, or the best. When things become really difficult think to yourself, ' What can I get from this?'" So that's what I asked myself (a lot) and as I look back on that year I have to say it turned out to be the best of years.
By the way, Dick Lohkamp's letter rang a bell. I fish out on Lake Erie but do a lot of sailing with some of my atheist friends. (They can't quite get over the fact that I believe in God, but they do join me in grace before meals ("anonymous" Christians?). Dick, if you or Jim Tye or Tom Leenerts (or anyone else who reads DD) ever stops by Cleveland and wants to go sailing please call me (216-252-2404). Give me a couple of days to set up the boat.
I feel the same way about work (counseling), Dick. I see about 30 clients a week and have just about reached my limit. Peace.
23 Feb 99 Frank Draude: Many thanks for DD. It is good to keep in touch with the brothers and sisters. This June 13, I will be celebrating my 50th year in Christ's priesthood. If anyone is in the neighborhood of Hot Springs, Ark., you are more than welcome to help me celebrate at the 10 a.m. Mass. [As you saw above, Frank didn't quite make it, RIP.)
May I make an observation re the Digest. I think it is a fine instrument for keeping in touch. However, I think the eternal wrangling about theology of Lutz vs. Smith is very inappropriate for this kind of medium. I thought the idea of the newsletter is to keep us informed about where we live and how in our area we are all promoting God's causes of justice, peace, and charity.
For example, I am definitely retired yet I help out in a priestly way at the hospital and parishes in this area. Also, I regularly visit the sick; give convert instruction; help to convalidate impossible marriage situations. I for one would like to hear more about those kind of good deeds rather than theological arguments. Often, who cares?
Lastly, kindly keep us informed about when and where the reunion will be in June of 2000. God willing, I will attend. [Ah, yes. That goes for us all, doesn't it.] Wishing you all of God's richest blessing I remain, Cordially yours in Christ.
23 Feb 99 Joe Smith: Another great issue to get through. Just a correction or two:
Meantime, I got a wonderful Xmas Program from Tony Lutz, featuring high-class RC music (of that another time). And Tony, I love you too. We agree on a lot of the music (music unites; words divide) better than words.
My "protracted silence" for the immediate future is an indication of self-control not disinterest. Keep up the good work, dearest Gael. Peace.
N.B. For Gael & Jack of DD: I certainly had no intention of putting down or 'devaluating' cordiality or male bonding in my prior remarks. Those are both great ideas. But issues and critical ideas ('getting real') are also part of any real relationship; and we can hardly just party or feel good and never struggle through critical issues, esp. where real people got hurt, sometimes badly, while we looked the other way or hoisted another brew. It takes both genuine cordiality and the ability to face real issues (that cannot be brewskied away) for a genuine bond to happen. Surely, marriage has taught us something along such lines. And I don't think J.C. was being very cordial on occasion(s) in statements or actions. If I read my Bible rightly. At least I've never called any group "a brood of vipers." Yes, cordiality feels and is great, and bonding is wonderful. I agree. But we also live in critical times with urgent issues to be discussed. Prost.
[Of course. But cordiality is not the issue. DD27's second paragraph was: "The diaspora digest was conceived as a way for loving, cordial brother (unloving, uncordial brothers are OK too) to reconnect."
Some of us just don't relish arguments about ideas outside ourselves compared to your/our personal story. This is a confessional (viz. Augustine) and uplifting medium, not a Scholastic disputational medium (viz. Occam, Scotus, Aquinas) about churches and religion as compared to Franciscanism and spirituality. There are Internet chat rooms and dialog groups for ideology interests.]
N.B.#2: On 'bonding:" my wife and I once hired a 'bonded' babysitter from a licensed agency. It turned out she was bonded all right: 90 proof. Luckily we returned in time to rescue the kids and get her a taxi after confiscating her [bonded] Jack Daniels. - Anyway, vale atque etiam vale. Cordially, Joe S.
[That's a brilliant punning story worthy of Celano. - Joe also inserted a photo of three stooges with bewildered, wary, impatient countenances. He wrote a caption: Unidentified radical theologians at a recent meeting of the American Theological Society.]
24 Feb 99 Herb Rempe OFM (executive director of Franciscan Outreach Association in Chicago): Thanks for the DD. I always enjoy reading it. I will enclose a couple of our last newsletters here at the Outreach. It will tell you a good deal of how I spend my time. Working with the street people has been a wonderful learning experience for me. There is a world of difference between reading the Gospel and living the gospel. It is a challenge to live it, and I'm not very sure that I'm doing a good job of it yet. Patience, Lord, patience. If you ever get to Chi-town give me a call, Gael.
Herb's card listed his eddress: Outreach of enteract.com - Patience, indeed. Francis was slow at first. But once you look in a street person's eyes and see Jesus, it hits you like a flash of Paul-smashing lightning. No turning back. And thanks for the portrait of our local boy, Andrew Jackson.
24 Feb 99 Lynn and Howard Classen: Well, it's 13 months later from the printed note (see their newsletter below). Here's a few updates:
1) No photo enclosed. 2) We spent Xmas in NYC with Sarah this year. We trade off East Coast/West Coast holidays. She is still with Vidal Sassoon, now a department head with the downtown salon. Where she got the artistic genes is a mystery to us.
3) The new building of the county hospital is open. I still believe public medicine (remember the slogan: Health Care for People, not profit?) will survive. Howard, as always, remains dubious, but continues his work. 4) My work with our Rural Services goes on. It suits me just fine. No Central American trips planned this year. Maybe next winter.
5) We do have e-mail: hc1 of ix.netcom.com - Howard uses it. I just collect messages. Have just about reached 10,000. If you really want to communicate please write or call. I do writeletters: 1075 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville CA 95076. Phone is 831-728- 4248 but isn't very reliable in our area. The mail always is. Thanks for the DD. - Abrazos, Lynn
The Classens' newsletter: With a very recent photo enclosed, this will be one of our most informative missives in quite a while. Sarah spent Christmas week with us this year, but remains a loyal Manhattanite with more than five years on that incredible island, enjoying her life in Greenwich Village, working in the Mid-town Vidal Sassoon salon along with some interesting travels.
Howard is still embroiled in the day to day survival of a public hospital, trying to get the replacement facility on board while there is still public medicine in this country. Although, at the rate of changes these days, public medicine may be what remains when the 'managed care' feeding frenzy plays itself out.
I am working part-time for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, providing primary care through a portable clinic system that sets up weekly in such locations as a library and the powder room of the girls' bathroom in a school auditorium. My partner and I drive this big ol' RV into tiny towns in South Monterey County and do our thing. It's great. We're always looking for volunteers, so if you get out this way, come on along.
Howard and I seem to have put down roots along with the coastal live oaks near the Elkhorn Slough (Watsonville, CA). This is a good place for us to be as we continue to grow older together. Super neighbors, foundling pets, and the usual laying hens. A place Sarah likes to come home to, a place for friends to gather.
[Thanks for the generous wallet-sized portraits of the two Southern presidents and a Yankee politician. The diaspora accountant will deduct that prize-winning contribution from your purgatorial debits. GS]
24 Feb 99 Jack Bartz: Greetings and salutations,
The weekend for the 2000 get-together has been set for Saturday, June 10th. I have this date booked with the County Forest Preserve, which owns the property. They have a lot of requests for weddings at the chapel and I have already been asked to give a more accurate time frame for our event. I believe I have asked for 10 AM to 4 PM to use the grounds around the Portiuncula Chapel.
There is still not a commitment from the Province to do anything. I had floated the idea about having a mass of thanksgiving at the chapel as a way to give appreciation for the many years of service the Friars have given to the people of this northeastern part of Illinois. I also asked if the Province could put together some publicity I could then send to the local media. I asked for information about the Friars who served in this area. There are probably many people who still remember the Friars from working in the parishes around here as supply, the retreat house, and at other institutions. There has been no commitment to do anything, not even to show up. So I don't know what the Province may or may not do. I'm just going ahead with the only commitment I have on the table at this time, namely, the place is booked for us to use, however we want to use it. I'm only expecting people to organize their own classmates to come for a picnic and share memories past and more recent about their lives. It is meant as a community building event and a way to reconnect with people who have been a part of our past.
People can make of the day or weekend whatever they want. What do you want to do? Can you get some ideas for your classmates and other folks?
Peace and everything good to all at Needmore Grace,
[OK, Fringers. It's set. I believe active friars will show up and let Jack Bartz know at: Jack & Cheryl Bartz, 708/655-1183, (Dominic-1963) 237 Middaugh Road, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514-1018 Fbartz of aol.com.
The set hours may seem a bit short so let's work around them. Contact your classmates. To that end I'm springing for a heavier mailing than usual again so those of you who have no access to our website can have the phones, addresses, eddresses, dates of simple profession, etc.
Will you contact each other?
Brother Bartz, could you get a list of nearby motels to put in the next Diaspora newsletters? I remember Brennan and I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Oak Brook that was in sight of St. Joe's Tower in 1991 for our class's 25 ordination celebration. Just a couple of phone numbers would be helpful. Especially the Hampton. I loved that place. They gave Susan and me the Honeymoon Suite because I knew Jack Brennan who knew Frank Burger.]
25 Feb 99 Initiatives: John Miller and Gael mentioned in DD27 Kathleen Norris' Dakota: A Spiritual Geography. The March issue of Initiatives: in support of the Christian in the world devotes a page to her. Her other books: The Cloister Walk, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith, The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work."
It's a good page but still doesn't catch all of her magic. They list her four bedrock traditions of being a staunch Presbyterian; an urban NY poet; with South Dakota roots and who moved back from NY; and intense interest in Benedictine abbeys and priories, who is now an Oblate, albeit a Presbyterian one.
She is balanced, rejecting fundamentalist and liberal interpretations of faith; critical of the individualistic jogger who worships for oneself rather than praise God; welcomes mystery, realizes language is metaphorical about God; underscores contemplation, silence, solitude and waiting for God who is the primary actor in the spiritual because God is more seen often in work than in the choir stall.
She's critical of New Age spirituality's "airy longing for bliss," self-help pop psychology, mega churches' ("be nice and war will disappear") without putting the cross at the center of ministry.
In all, a terrific issue. Worth writing to bdroel of aol.com or 10 E. Pearson St. #101., Chicago IL 60611. Editor Bill Droel and I exchange issues and I appreciate his every issue. Jonathan Foster OFM contributed to this March issue.
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I have just gone down my master list of all the Fringe friars and active friars. I was surprised that counting all whom I've known, known of very well, met in person or by their letters to the Diaspora Digest, that I can identify 232. There's a good 100 others, probably more, I assume, they don't know me either except through the digest. Many of you didn't ask to begin receiving DD. Some were added because a classmate sent me your address, or someone had a mail lists, and I may have overdone the spirit of inclusiveness. In the spirit of cutting down on waste paper, I'm inclined to suggest a measure. If you've never contacted the Diaspora Digest thus far, send me a notice that you do want to receive it. I'd intensely appreciate you noting what years if any you spent at Mayslake, what year you were simply professed, what year, if any you were ordained, what you e-mail address is. Even if every one of you sent a notice, the total would be a lot less than the cost of one mailing of the digest. Besides, more than 100 of you are covered by having contacted DD already. So I don't think I'm asking too much. I hope all answer, and hope you'll add a note. But silence also speaks, and I will respect it - and return it. |
26 Feb 99 Joe Smith: One final footnote, after which an extended disengagement from DD. - I just caught Jack B's little "tirade" at the end of this issue. [DD27] To quote my good friend, that young- of-heart Julian Woods, "What's he so sad about?" Sadness in him, not in us; we've been having a great time, while remaining the close (but disagreeing) friends we've been since we were teenagers. We're also exercising freedom of speech; and we hope Jack is not advocating self-censorship. He doesn't want to hear about much of anything apparently: no Jews (the Holocaust didn't happen?); no Clinton sexual escapades (despite the recent bimbo eruption, claiming sexual assault - which I guess we should just ignore?); no X, Y, Z, etc. So what should we write about except being smiley- faced and "nice"? Let's not ruffle any feathers, as the global economy collapses, behavior deteriorates - Right and Left seem to have a point to make - you name it. Just smile away.
Frankly, Jack sounds like Pius IX and his (don't-ever-mention) Syllabus of Errors - a list of what we should never think, write or speak about. (Who's the dogmatist here?)
I guess I have to be explicit: there are life-issues out there that just have to be discussed, whether we agree or disagree with the discussants. I'd personally rather know and speak, than to hush up and cover it all with a patina of politeness. What happened in the OFM is of vital concern to true brothers and it can't be papered over with "cordiality." Jack Bartz and I were "cordialed" to death on the OFM "Plan" about active and former friars working an effective ministry, with the implicit learning that might entail. We got the colossal run-around, all done with great cordiality. (We were told to wait 20 years.)
So, let's get real, guys. I live in a city that embraces kaleidoscopic realism. Maybe mountain retreats are not good for the soul. And from the Lake Superior "epiphany" I shared with you, I returned to this big, bad, beautiful city, to get in again with liberals, radicals, conservatives, gays, straights, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians: the whole circus of human existence. I don't need to apologize to anyone on that.
Tony Lutz and I (and we're doing pretty perky for a couple of geezers) love, respect and profoundly disagree - often enough - with one another. So, let us be who we are: brothers. What's the fuss? This is rough-and-tumble (and outspoken) America, not a hermetically-sealed religious or political enclave. Better to speak up and out than be repressed, especially under the aegis of "cordiality." Popcorn and cotton candy are great, but Tony and I are meat-and-potatoes guys. We do love the brethren, including timid and reticent souls. But we're us. We were formed, differently, within the same church and Order. It's not all fun; but, frankly, I love it. So, f*** off, if you can't take a dose of reality. - "Onionist."
27 Feb 99 John Schmitt (1967): His copy of DD27 returned with note from USPS "This delivery area not serviced by Birmingham" and his phone number didn't work. I looked up what I thought was the proper zip and it came back again. Anyone know him? Can anyone help? Readers who don't give me their forwarding addresses are pains.
27 Feb 99 Jack Bartz: Mayslake news: Officials Want Ideas In The Next 30 Days: By Lisa Black, Tribune Staff Writer, Chicago Tribune, Friday, February 26, 1999, Section 2, p. 5. [This article is reprinted in it's entirely elsewhere on the DD Homepage. Click on Mayslake News. -Br. Jack]
28 Feb 99 William K. Carroll (1947): May I impose on your patience to correct a reference to me appearing in the last exchange between Joe Smith and Tony Lutz (DD27 at JS Nov. 98)? Lest your readers conclude I have jumped ship, I would like to clarify that my effort to find a more persuasive biblical and empirical basis for our sexual ethic was commissioned by the Catholic Theological Society of America and not the Anglican Theological Society (not that there is anything wrong with that).
While the work did upset Rome and my co-author (Kosnik) was ousted as dean of theology in the Detroit Diocese, the effort was received well by the majority of Catholic theologians here and abroad (translated into five languages) and we did not seek refuge among our separated brethren. Best wishes. [Thanks for correcting that. Joe Smith also jumped on it. I also thought it weird, but didn't, obviously, go back to the holograph.]
28 Feb 99 Tony Lutz (1947): I have a hard time understanding DD when it interprets rebuttals, apologetics, bold statements of belief as being unloving and uncordial. Sometimes, even excommunication can be the most charitable action a bishop can take toward a wayward child of holy mother church. Some of DD readers might be bored by sex, religion, and politics (ideas) but those are about the only things worth talking about. Since some of us older guys don't know you youngsters, we can meet on common ground when we talk about St. Joe's, OLA, T-Town, or our studies and the Catholic faith. It is nice to love "beasts and flowers" but some of us like full meals where meat and wine are served. Where's the tolerance amongst the liberals and where is the persistent search and love of truth and of Jesus "The Way, the Truth, and the Life?" Please keep DD a forum in which we in the diaspora can speak freely. Remember that we all once received the Sacrament of confirmation when the bishop slapped us symbolically on the cheek. In Christ.
1 March 99 Tony Lutz: It is sad that Jack Brennan didn't know our group at St. Joe's during World War II. We studied hard and played hard. There is nothing different about me except I am a better Catholic than I have ever been. I am happier and more at peace with myself than ever. I still explode with belly laughs, frequently burst out in songs, and whistle the old tunes. I'm touched by great films and cry. Really, Jack, I'm a real person and not someone who parrots divine teachings.
You say I come to teach and not to share. I would like to know how they differ. You speak of my version of truth. I'm sorry, but I'm only standing up for my Catholic faith. It is so simple. Jesus Christ is divine. He died for our sins so we could go to heaven. He founded a church for all people for all times. He gave authority to that one church and that authority is identified with the magisterium. All of us friars learned the same divine truths. I presume all of you believe them unless you speak up and reveal otherwise. But that you and some others want me to go secular and not worry about eternal salvation is too much. That some like to throw stones at Christ's church and expect to get away with it is expecting too much. I hope I am human even though I'm a Catholic apologist. I love all of you, apologize to any whom I might have unwittingly offended. After this is said and done with it behooves none of us to withdraw from the battle for truth but to pray and have our knowledge and defense of truth in this critical juncture of human history. Sincerely.
3 March 99 Philip T. Windolph (1945): I find the DD quite interesting, especially letters from my own age (75) group. I spent an evening and morning reading. Incidentally, I think the "varnish bread" mentioned by Keith Leykam refers to the syrup-coated sandwiches we received as a snack. We could eat all we wanted if we engaged in, say, planting evergreens with Fr. Edward. I don't know about the hot dogs, but liked the bellywash and toe jams.
In the rest of this letter I wish to make a few comments on the Joe Smith and Tony Lutz debate. Of my four brother priests, two are on one side, and two on the other (along with me) of the theoretical "fence." I tried for a number of years to eliminate the fence but gave up the struggle with my latest letter in which I compared our disagreements to similar ones in the early church. St. Paul wrote to the Christians (1Cor 1:12ff) that their allegiance to one or the other teacher was not important; they all were followers of Christ's teaching as they understood them.
I pointed out that we in the 1999 Assembly of Christians are not much different. Each of us, when mature, follow our own conscience (as required by Vatican II) and agree with some teachers (bishops & theologians) while disagreeing with others. St. Paul also says (1Cor 2:15): "A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by other men." In other words, if friendship, cordiality and love are not shown in any discussion, drop it. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. We all suffer from the truth of the German phrase: "Too soon old, too late smart."
By the way, I am much in favor of discussion, debate, etc., as carried on by the medieval philosophers. Too bad it wasn't employed lovingly with Rev. Martin Luther who begged for it. In conclusion, I will say I find Joe Smith's (a classmate) position much more reasonable and closer to what I believe is Christ's viewpoint: we should follow his law of love rather than the love of the law as followed by the Vatican today. Pax et Bonum.
P.S. The check is to help pay postage - Phil. [Thanks.]
4 March 99 Jerry Hegarty: Greetings. What? You are mailing out "about 250" copies of the Diaspora Digest at your own expense? That being the case, enclosed is a donation for past issues mailed to me and, because my affiliation with the Franciscans was only a year and a half as a pre-theological student at (then ) Quincy College, it really is not necessary that I continue to receive the newsletter. Other than reading in the current issue that Fr. Owen died and occasional news in past issues about Julian Woods, for whom I worked part-time when he was Dean of Men at the college, not many of the names mentioned in the newsletter are know to me. Hence, save yourselves the expense of continuing to send the newsletter to me. God bless you and your epistolary apostolate. With best wishes. [Hurray for Jerry, for his donation, and for writing. I just wish he'd told what his story has been since Quincy. His address, 19 Pali Dr., Oxnard, Calif., sounds like an interesting place to be from.)
Jerry enclosed a copy of the email story that's been circulating about the religious debate between a Roman Jew and the pope. If the pope won, the Jews would have to leave Rome. Their theological debate was carried out in hand signals. The pope raised three fingers, Moishe one. The pope wave his fingers in a circle, Moishe pointed to the ground. The pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine, Moishe an apple. The pope stood and gave up: "This man is too good. The Jews can stay."
The cardinals asked what happened: "I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity, he held one to remind me there was still one God common to both religions. I waved my finger to show that God was all around us. He pointed to the ground showing God was right here with us. I pull out wine and wafer to show that God absolves our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything."
The Jewish community asked Moishe what happened. "He said to me that the Jews had three days to get out. I told him not one of us was leaving. He told me this whole city would be cleared of Jews. I let him know we'd be staying right here." - "And then?" - "I don't know, he took out his lunch, and I took out mine."
[Jerry's story, I think, gets to the bottom of most theological intransigency.]
4 March 99 GK: Hi. Am looking forward to next DD. Always enjoy what yo guys are doing. God bless you and yours., always, all ways. Note change of address. Just a mile from OLA where we all studied philosophy. (St. Patrick's, 4427 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland OH 44135). The Jan. 31 pastor's letter welcomes GK, 81, to the rectory. GK offers Mass for the Poor Clares north of St. Pat's. In 1973, GK replaced Bishop Jim Lyke as weekend helper at St. Pat's while teaching at Padua High. Katoski had originally been Kwiatowski, man of the flowers. The German nuns who taught at his school in Waterloo, Iowa, got it changed to Katoski, man of the axe. [That's a fioretti story to capture one's fancy. I remember hearing confessions a Saturday or two at St. Pat's in 1967 during a summer preparation for ministry. - GS]
9 Mar 1999 John Miller: Gael, glad you had an enjoyable time in Chicago. You will also be glad you left as we were supposed to have about 10 inches of snow last night. We only had about 5 inches.
I need to address what appears to be homophobic attitudes and statements in the last DD made by Tony Lutz. I really don't care if they are published. I have no doubt that he is sincere in his beliefs, but so was Hitler, and he killed them! To me, "killing the spirit of a person" is even worse. We all tend to read things that don't challenge our biases and deepest beliefs, yet I believe you must challenge yourself to grow. I would love to have a copy of Lutz's "reading list," which he seems to believe is the only thing one should read.
He cites Jeffrey Satinover's book (1996) as giving a "balanced" view, but just because he is a psychiatrist, does not make him the final word on the subject. In fact, his view, as elucidated by Mr. Lutz, is in the very small minority among respected mental health professionals who feel it regresses to the old notions that somehow this is a "mental disorder." My own observation of clients, in over 30 years of practice, as well as breeding horses, tells me that gender and identity is not just something that's determined by life experience. I used to be a strong believer in learning theory and tended to discount genetics. Observation has taught me otherwise.
While I have not read Satinover's book, "my reading" on those who think they can "convert" homosexuals into heterosexuals reveals that they are highly reactionary, fundamentalist, religious folks who reinforce the self-hatred of the person with that orientation (they have a very high suicide rate, particularly among adolescents), and feed the fear and hatred in society in general. I have no problem with putting the brakes on destructive sexual and social behaviors, but that goes for any sexual orientation. Inherently, this has nothing to do with homosexuality. Rather, it has to do with responsibility and doing what is developmental for that person. I cannot entirely put myself "in the shoes" of a homosexual nor have I all the intellectual/emotional understanding of it, but I do know how important having an intimate relationship is in my own development. Is this to be denied to another group, or does he purpose they all become "Castrati?"
As to my credentials, I've never believed in parading my degrees. I've also learned that just because one has "credentials" in a certain area, it doesn't mean you're competent or have any sense. I will leave it at that, make no claims to infallibility, and will always enjoy and be in the process of learning as long as I live.
My "Christian rectitude" and constant judgment of others is not relevant.
P.S. Added to my consternation is the fact he claims to be a friend of Jerome Wilson, a guy I had as a teacher and really liked. This makes me wonder about my own judgment and "taste" in friends. [Please, do not judge friends based on Tony or anyone else. Friendship is a more important sacrament than most. I trust YOUR friends. - GS]
11 Mar 99 Gregory Sadlek: Thanks for the latest copy of DD. Please change my e-mail address in your records to:gregorysadlek of unomaha.edu
11 Mar 99 Tom Shannon: Thanks for the plug for my article in "Commonweal." I've been fortunate to have some appear there. I have one coming out in "America" next week - I think - on the couple who offered $50,000 to a smart, tall, athletic and healthy female from an Ivy League college to sell one of her eggs to them. Had we not just made our very last college tuition payment, I might have thought about "volunteering" one of our daughters, though they are not Ivys.
Our older daughter is finishing her MA at ND in Irish studies and looking forward to doctoral work in the same area and has just edited her first book - "Irish Blessings," a St Patrick's coffee table special from Running Press.
Our younger daughter graduated from Fordham this May and is looking forward to doing a couple years of volunteer teaching in one of several programs. She just did two weeks in Calcutta with Mother Theresa's group over Christmas. They flew Royal Jordanian Airlines; three days after the cease fire and overnighted in Jordan on the return trip. We were relieved to have her back.
Life continues at a good pace for us. My wife, Cathy, is in a program called "Reading Recovery" which targets the bottom 20% of a first grade class and tries to get them reading at class average in a few months. Tutorial model and very, very labor intensive, but also quite rewarding. I'm still teaching at WPI and have been fortunate to have many publications. Have a "Notes in Moral Theology" coming out in March of this year. Three of us do a review of genetic engineering. Also have been doing some part time teaching in moral theology at the Jesuit seminary in Cambridge. Says something interesting about the Church, that I teach moral theology to Jesuits. But the classes are interesting. I have 3 MDs(two Jesuits) in class and a nurse, a pharmacist and assorted other individuals who all read and think about the material and discuss it intelligently. A real treat for me.
Always good to hear from you all. Pax et bonum.
15 March 99 Herb Rempe: Thanks for the message of Febr. 27th. I was in Rome for a week of meetings at the Curia, got back one day and was off to St. Louis for another week of meetings. [You need a break, boy.] It's good to be back home again. For the time being just send the DD surface mail to St. Gratians. I do receive most of my mail there. You are correct, I live at Countryside, and work here at the Outreach on LeMoyne, the near North side. Right now this E-mail is a common mail box and I do hope to get another address in the very near future.
We are getting ready for our spring dinner Fund Raiser here. We do two a year. Most of our support comes from direct mail and grants, but you have to do most everything to keep the income stream where we need it. Take care Gael and keep in touch. If you ever get to Chicago my home phone is 708-482-4546. Herb
16 March GK Katoski: Dear editor, Gael, I knew I would enjoy your DD, except those many pages of philosophical and theological arguing between Tony Lutz and Bob (sic) Smith. Wasted precious time typing all those WORDS. (But I'm on Tony Lutz's side.) I met Rodney Smith in the month of July 1938 - when he was a cute little boy that played "Mass" at home. I was on my way to the Novitiate in T- Town, and wanted to see my pastor who sent me to Mayslake - Fr. Theodosius Plassmeyer.
Perge quo coepisti. God bless you and yours always all ways.
[ GK, I'm shocked at the names I didn't know JFS has had. Thanks for another edition of Senior Friars Talk. You could market Joe Windolph's humor. GBS]
18 Mar 99 Jack Bartz: [I include this in the electronic version because I feel it meets the criterion of being a "heart singer." JB]
David Lemak's eulogy for his children From Daily Herald, Friday, March 12, 1999, pp. 1, 5. NOTE: This eulogy was given at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Ellsworth & Benton, Naperville, IL, Thursday, March 11, 1999, during the funeral service for the three children of David Lemak.
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"I thank you all for coming today. The courage to stand before you now comes from the support I've received and felt from all of you that I know, and also from those I do not know. The voice to speak now comes from my love for Nicholas, Emily and Thomas. My love for them sustains me, even if I can no longer see, hear or touch them. "The message I hope to deliver comes from the power of their love for life. That message to us who remain is this: Life is a gift. It is wondrous, beautiful, terrifying, joyful, painful and ultimately fragile. The length of our lives is truly irrelevant; it's what we do with our gift of life that describes who we are. The sum of all of our moments is our human legacy and defines our existence. "There are so many beautiful experiences I could share with you about my children, and I expect that many of you could share some remarkable things about them with me. I hope we have time to do so. I am certain that Thomas, Nicholas and Emily felt our love, and they certainly returned it freely during their lives. "As their father, I can claim a profound sense of pride in Emily, Thomas and Nicholas; and with each for reasons as unique as they were. I was honored to have been their father; I also understand that they were not mine to possess. I knew that I was granted a privilege to provide for, teach and love them; that my role was to prepare them for the rest of their lives. That they were growing up happy, curious and loving persons is a reward beyond compare. "Nicholas, Thomas and Emily each had unique abilities that they used to define themselves. "For me, Nicholas had most an ability to immerse himself in the learning of his favorite subjects, whichever ones he chose at the time. The intensity of his focus was also sometimes intensely exasperating. But what he did was to use his gift of life to learn, and I believe that he would ask us to use our gift of life to learn as intensely as he. "Emily's finest ability, to me, was her use of her formidable imagination to make what had not existed before. She amazed me with the richness and complexity of the products of that imagination, even if the creation eventually became yet another mess to clean up. Emily, I believe, would ask us to use our gift of life to create as imaginatively as she. "Thomas had, for me, mostly the ability to simply and completely enjoy life, something that children seem to be able to do so effortlessly. His ability to enjoy life meant never having a day that he did not smile. What he was smiling about sometimes eluded me, and I suspect that it was, occasionally, at my expense. I believe then, that Thomas would ask us to truly enjoy our gift of life. "Our purpose here now is to mourn our loss, and it can also be to affirm the preciousness of all of our lives. The joy and wonder I was fortunate to have seen in my children is proof enough for me of how exquisite is the gift we have: to experience life. "Does that mean we cannot now be angry, sad, frightened or just numb? No. "Does this mean we should not feel our pain, hatred or confusion? No. "We experience all of these emotions and many more in this, our greatest gift. But my children showed me that choosing to live with love makes the gift of life most precious." |
19 March 99 Bob (Art-1956) Feltman: Gael, that ending parable [about Rocks in the Jar in DD 27] finally did it for me. I have enjoyed the many issues of DD for these many years and have continually felt guilty for not participating in this venture. Forgive me. I think constantly of the wonderful years that I spent with many of your contributors and remember fondly the fun weekend we spent in Teutopolis a few summers ago [the reunion Paul Langan initiated in 1995]. I'm really looking forward to the millennium conveniat.
I just survived the second restructuring of my company, Pioneer Electronics. I've been with them nearly 13 years as a regional manager for the midwest. I have one year left and I must stay for insurance purposes. I've had both knees replaced and two hip replacement operations. (Ah, though fabulous years of diving over bushes and running into fences to catch fly balls and having teeth knocked out and bruised body from the hardwood endeavors. What fun....) [Your editor remembers Bob (four classes ahead) well. He played shortstop to Nick Baxter's second base. Not a lot of fences, but volleyball and basketball did have hard floors.]
My lovely wife, Barb, and I will hit the 64-year mark in May. She is taking early retirement after 43 years in the workforce as a teacher and nursing administrator. She is currently running an intercity daycare center called Chicago Reach for 105 senior citizens and is on the national board for the PACE foundation that was founded for the care of these intercity poor. Both of us are also working for the homeless in DuPage county, an organization called PADS. I was introduced to the program by Charlie Strack in the mid '80s and we've been active since.
The kids (28, 26, 24) if you can call them that, are graduated from Loyola University and hopefully on their way. Terry just got accepted into the FBI and Toni is going to New York in two weeks to interview with Bloomingdales for a buying job. The oldest, Tim, still resides with us and hasn't chosen his life's work as yet. (But, he is an excellent cook and we arrive home at night to a hot meal on the table.) Medard will remember those little redheads from the Sunday Masses we attended at St. Joe's before it was closed.
I can't thank you enough for all of the work you have put into this effort. It has really been a lifeline to the past for me. I relish reading the news of former classmates and friends from those wonderful years. Thanks again.
P.S. I was going to email this but wanted to send a little something to help defray your expenses. Hope this helps. [Ooohhhhh yes. Bob, you must be verrrry thankful to have escaped another restructuring to send enough for me to lick 300 stamps to go to your fellow fringe friars. - What's your e-ddress? Write: gaelbstahl of juno.com and Brennan35 of juno.com]
21 March 99 Martin Hegarty wrote in WEORC that Jack & Cheryl Bartz (1963) are coordinating the year's Day of Recollection at St. Benedict Monastery and Retreat Center at Benet Lake, Wisc.
30 Mar 99 Jerry Etzkorn: We'll be looking forward to the big 2000 reunion, although I'm afraid it will be all too short.
There's something that continues to bother me and sadden me more and more. It's the institutional hypocrisy of the Vatican and most of the hierarchy and clergy. What do I mean? Well, I'm sure all of you know that priest converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism and Episcopalianism are welcomed, together with their wives and families, with much fanfare and hoopla. The same for Lutheran pastors who convert and are ordained. These priests are allowed to function as ministers while we, the married priests, are treated like the publicans of the Gospels, like medieval lepers, like the untouchables and pariahs of India. This is pure and unadulterated institutional hypocrisy and I needn't remind you what Jesus had to say about hypocrisy. All the while, we have tried to be faithful Catholics while most of the hierarchy and clergy are ashamed to acknowledge our very presence. I offered to be a "back-up" in administering the "Last Sacraments" in case of emergency and occasionally to preach, but the answer was "Thanks but NO thanks." This is not only bad Canon Law, it is lousy theology. And I thought that marriage was a Sacrament and not a sin. That's not the worst of it: the people badly need what we have to offer, each of us in his own style and way, and hopefully some day, in HER own style and way.
On a happier note, I continue working on Walter Chatton's Reportatio which I inherited from Fr. Joseph Wey, a Brasilian from the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Toronto. Friar Chatton was Ockham's nemesis in virtually every distinction and question of his commentary on the Sentences. Also working on a treatise by Marcus of Orvieto, a friar writing around 1280-90, whose patron was the future Pope Boniface VIII. His Liber de Moralitatibus, surviving in 16 manuscripts, is a book written for preachers and a spin-off of Bartholomew of England's De proprietatibus rerum, from which he picked 7 treaties to "spiritualize": De corporibus caelestibus, De elementis, De avibus, De piscibus, De animalibus, De plantis et De lapidibus pretiosis.Have made three trips to Atlanta to make use of Emory University's excellent facilities in search of the sources cited by Marcus.
We're looking forward to a visit from Allan Wolter this Spring, in the hope that we can finish collating the manuscripts for Scotus's very important Parisian Lectures: Reportatio I-A.
Linda and I are planning a trip to the great Western National Parks in September, but most of all we're looking forward to the "Chapter of Mats" in 2000.
30 March Paul Kertz: I am sending this Easter card your way to say "Thank You" - long overdue - for all the many, many Digests you sent my way over the years, and already I am looking forward to the next one you send my way. I enjoy reading about those who I have lost contact with at St. Joes., T-Town, and Our Lady of the Angels. May you have a very blessed and peaceful Easter. Pax et bonum. PS: Please note the change of my home address: Kertz, Paul (Hilaire- 1959) 314/937-0282, 17 Blue Fountain Trailer Court, Festus, MO 63028. [I notice in the Catalogus you were between Liberatus Mayer and Flannan Smith in novitiate - heady weather.]
March issue of Sacred Heart Province's Minor Matters: The friars are back in China and Jeff Haller OFM wrote up a great account of his trip there. It rivals the account of Kurt Hartrich and the chronicler who visited China last year. I'm really excited for some reason about this China thing. I remember Alvin Schlubeck, at Corpus Christi in Chicago in 1968 saying he was at Shantung when Teilhard used to visit. The Jesuit was remote, not a jolly friar. But, boy, could he write.
In the same issue, Joe Zimmerman was reported to be the interim Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.
4 Apr 1999 Jack Brennan: We were at Hales High with Bob/Art Feltman. I remember when he came home all shook up one night because someone shot at him in his car in the neighborhood. I chided him for not having his roman collar on and he said, "I shouldn't have to have it on, no one should be shot at!"
Gael: Do you want to want to see some of the letters I've typed? There are many more that I haven't typed but hope to get to some of them tonight and tomorrow. If the sun shines, I will sit in it and read the new biography of Helen Keller - it's addictive. I still haven't found the letter about your being a model father for your governor but not to your Rachel.
4 April 99 Keith Eckrich: We are heading out the door in a little while to drive south for some 60 miles to attend two art exhibits. One, in Belen, New Mexico, is being run by my art teacher and the other is a hanging of some 66 pastels at the New Mexico Institute of Technology in Socorro. I have two pastels in the latter show, and since the show is being struck on Tuesday, today is the last opportunity I have to see it. I didn't win any ribbons on this one but I have begun striking out with original material now, so I am yearning for a ribbon or best of show or something. I find pastels fun to work with. We have a major exhibit running right now at the Fairgrounds with some just stunning work. There is much art activity here and in Santa Fe, of course. Thanx for sending the eddresses.
9 April 99 John Miller: Cowboy is looking for two people who were in the seminary with him, and I tried but failed to find them: Stephen Earle Robbins, born April 26, 1945 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; William J. Diehl, Jr., born April 7, 1945 in Long Beach, California. I've tried "four11.com", yahoo, and AOL, but none seem to narrow it enough. [I wasn't able to help but learned from John how to find people using the Internet address & phone locators. I even tried to fringer friar Dick Charpentier (Frater Perrin in philosophy) who was in Bernie Niewohner's class. I found 25 Charpentiers. Dick introduced me to Teilhard and Dr. Rhine's ESP experiments at Duke, and Carl Rogers, etc. He knew many Catholic Workers and their guest speakers in NYC.
10 April Ron Pfeifer - 1958: Reconnecting through the Diaspora Digest has helped my life. Enclosed is a little help with postage. [Thanks]
"Epiphanies along the lake, simple, sweet, and spiritual stuff that makes the sap rise" sounds good to me. I thought Jack's conversation with my letter that clarified the facts etc. was dignified and classy. Cordiality/kindness has primacy over opinion, theory, dogma. Respectfully.
12 April USA Today: An article on page 11A reports on a Georgetown U. survey that men are entering priesthood at the highest level in six years. Many are in their 30s, 40s, and older. One in four ordained in 1998 was born outside the USA. Total number of new seminarians still half of what it was 30 years ago. "Even if all the student priests were ordained, experts say, they would not offset the number of priests who die, retire or leave each year." GU said 3,386 Catholic men are enrolled in post-graduate theology, a 7% increase over the 1997-98 academic year, and the highest since 3,416 were enrolled in 1993-94.
The average age is true of Protestants and Jews too. "In 1997, about 50% of all students pursing divinity degrees were at least 35 years old." The average age of a newly ordained priest in 1998 was 35. 15% held advanced degrees. More than 60 percent listed previous work experience including medicine, banking, real estate, and law. The U.S. Catholic Conference project there will be 21,000 active priests in 2005, down 40% from the mid-1960s. Second-career priests "are a tremendous resource," said Michael Dolan, 67, a widower and grandfather ordained two years ago.
Along that line, on 25 March, Joe Smith had sent a press release about a married priest survey of CITI (Celibacy is the Issue) that also addressed the priest shortage saying the number of RC priest has declined by nearly 11,000 since 1965 when there were 58,135. The number declined to 50,000 in 1995 and 47,500 by 1997 - 762 have died. The number of seminarians declined 90% since 1960 when there were 41,129. Today there are 4,587. The numbers of active priests may be lower since 61% of priest no longer submit requests for dispensation from JPII (who has delayed granting them for years). 79% who left during Paul VI's papacy submitted applications for dispensation, and 85% were granted within a year.
The Official Catholic Directory records a net loss of 534 priests in 1997. CITI says that sociologists predict a further decline of 45% in the number of celibate priests by 2005 and a 65% increase in the RC population now at 61.2 million. CITI says 48 million (sic!?) no longer attend Catholic Church and more than 2,000 parishes no longer have a resident priest. Boston and Milwaukee announced 30-60 parish closings (Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, and other areas are said to have similar numbers). Some cities have more married than parish priests. 100 Protestant ministers have been ordained RC priests and are supported along with their families. More than 80% of US Catholics now want a married priesthood according to U.S. Catholic, February 1999.
CITI provides a free referral service called Rent a Priest to parishes wanting a married priest to serve them. Check www.rentapriest.com or call toll free in U.S. and Canada 1-800-774- 3789 and 1-888-774-3789 respectively.
[I read with interest the June 4 Commonweal article by resigned priest Ken Lovasik of Pittsburgh of why he's "Not For Hire" because that's being out of communion with one's bishop and the presbytery is just another way of "tearing apart of the Body of Christ, which is the church" just like other historical schisms.]
17 Apr 1999 Roberto J Flores: Sorry for the delay. Out of pocket for a while - too much to do. - Manuel Martinez, I'm told is in El Paso. If you call the fed. prison system, sorry I don't have the number, they will contact you with him. It has been about a year since he moved there, but have not been in contact with him since.
Hope you are doing well as we are. We have just started our FIESTA celebrations. You've got to get down here for Battle of the Flowers festivities sometime.
26 April 99 USA Today: Article said
"The reward of going to church might be a longer wait for heaven. Regular
worshippers live 10 percent longer than those who never attend services."
- Nonchurchgoers live on average to 75. Weekly churchgoers to 82. The bonus for
those who go more than once a week: you live to 83. Test sample was 22,000
Christian and nonChristian goers and occasional goers and nonworshippers.
of Lexington, Ky. (Burnsjames of hotmail.com) called to ask for the phone and address of a former classmate. I was able to accommodate and I just wish that I could remember more of what he said, but I can't find my notes. But, I hope he'll visit or write and fill us in on his life story.
Also sometime in May John Behl (Behl, John/Candy (Linus-1960) h- 314-965-3390, 319 East Adams, Kirkwood, MO 63122) called. He's moved but kept the same phone number. He, like Mooney, got a buy out for early retirement and recommends early retirement for anyone who can afford it. He's a great help to his children, friends, and fellow parishioners, if I know John - and I do. His kids, family, and contacts in the diaspora seem to be doing super.
Early May GK sent Senior Friars newsletter: Hi. Waiting for next DD. Greetings to you and fellow editors.
2 May 99 Thomas Was (Milwaukee): Thank you for keeping me on the Diaspora mailing list. I have come to learn taht I know only a few of hte people involved and sconsequently conclude it would be better fore me to be dropped from the mailing list. Enclosed is a donation to help and I wish you all God's blessings. Sincerely. (Thanks to Thomas for 45 stamps worth to the cause.)
5 May 99 Tony Lutz: Pax et Bonum, Alleluia. Long-time friend, former friar, and faithful priest, Fr. Frank C. Draude, died at age 76 at his home April 24 at Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. He was the administrator of Scared Heart of Jesus Catholic Church at the same location and chaplain to the Knights of Columbus.
Burial Mass was at his parish church April 27 and internment was next to his parents at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in his home city, Waterloo, Ia. I remember two things especially about Frank (Bonaventure OFM): a Protestant minister taught him how to use Sacred Scripture in his sermons and that every sermon should be completely written out for completeness, and second, he took great pride in the many people whom he led into the Catholic Church. Requiescat in pace.
Sue and I attended a symposium in honor of St. Edith Stein at Catholic University. We were surprised that an orthodox Jewish cousin of St. Edith criticized the Catholic Church and esp. Pope Pius XII for not doing more to help the Jews escape genocide. Lies have a very slow death. [Hello?]
I was surprised a mention was made in the last issue that three anonymous people no longer wished to receive the DD. Cui bono? O quam bonum et quam jucundum habitare fratres in unum. Lines of communication must be kept open. [Their song may not be about you. I've been encouraging readers to spare me unnecessary work and expense if our raptures don't appeal to them or any longer relate to them. I appreciate them so much that I seldom name them anymore. Often, they are considerate widows whose husbands have died. And a few have rewarded our past efforts with a widows mite. - GS]
In March, we went to Christendom College at Front Royal, Virginia, for an all-day conference on "Fides et ratio." Too many of the clergy and practically all of the laity will shy away form studiously reading this marvelous 131 pages in the Pauline Books & Media edition. If you love philosophy and theology, you'll never read anything better and more comprehensive on the relationship between natural reason and supernatural faith than this study produced by Pope John Paul II especially directed to the bishops of the Catholic Church.
Some of your readers felt that the truths of philosophy and theology must be determined on the basis of their appropriateness to a certain period and a certain historical purpose. The Pope in paragraph 87 refers to this as the error of historicism, which denies the enduring validity of truth. One of the philosopher- theologian speakers referred us to a book that devastates the falsehood of historicism. It is "The Poverty of Historicism," by Carl Popper. Great for all those who humbly and perseveringly seek after the Truth.
My three-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Joshua, was at Mass. The pastor invites all the children present to come and sit at the altar around him as he delivers the homily. The pastor likened our journey to eternity like preparing for a trip. He asked the congregation rhetorically what does one do first when going on a trip. Little Josh shouted out: "Fasten your seat belts." The congregation broke up at this child's wisdom. That is also pretty good advice to all of us. Attach yourself to Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen. - Love in Christ.
Gael, for you and wife's reflections I'm enclosing an article written by a Eastern Rite Catholic priest and monk. A retired daily communicant gave this to my wife at daily Mass. [Thanks. Really Byzantine, isn't he?]
24 May 1999 Dick Korn: Gael and Susun, Thank you for your road atlas, your listings of all National Public Radio stations, and great hospitality last week. I know you have many messages to read via this medium and I was going to send greetings snail mail for a change but E-mail is still best, especially I'm a week late.
I had a wild time playing golf and attending my niece's Tulane graduation at the superdome in Louisiana. A week ago yesterday I painted the front of the house that we rent in Jackson, Miss., and came through Nashville about 10 PM. At the interstate turn I decided to drive as far as I could and made Ohio by daybreak. See you next time through the South - unless you come through Columbus first. [Yes, email is best. I don't have to retype it. gs]
2 June 99 Senior Friars Talk by Gene Katoski: Hi, all. Province is having a big chapter in St. Louis this summer. Am looking forward to next DD. God bless you and yours. Keep the faith. No, spread it.
9 June Tony Lutz: Veni, Sancte Spiritus.
Last weekend I took my two boys to a Catholic Men's Conference at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. We had 800 men in attendance. It sure picked up the faith of my Mike and Matt. There will be 20 different conferences there this summer. Sue and I will return in July for "Defending the Faith" conference.
Fr. Frank Draude has a sister who is a medical doctor. She wrote me the following: "Weren't you shocked at Fr. Frank's death? We were. He had visited me earlier this year and was very disoriented when he came to town. I should have picked up on that. He seemed real hyper and I bet his blood pressure was up. He was hit in the head with a golf ball in September. I wonder about a slow bleed. Well, we'll never know. I am so sorry he didn't get to have that 50th celebration [in June]. He will - in a better place."
9 June Joe Smith sent a copy of his letter to editors of Chicago media. He notes that "Big M of Belgrade" has been indicted for war crimes and says so should NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia's infrastructure. He wants to give peace a chance.
9 Jun 1999 Jack Brennan: We have not yet begun our summer weather here [in Spokane]. As I write, it is about 55 degrees. I have tried to nudge the weather by setting up our 16-foot circular swimming pool in the back yard. But, alas...
On June 16, I will fly over to Seattle to give my one-hour presentation on fatherhood at the Governor's "Dad's Count" conference. I am one of three presenters from this side of the mountains. Rachel has informed me that I am "better than a good-enough-dad." So I have permission to go ahead. Michael and Sarah have also given me their blessings to present.
We are hosting a family reunion at our cabin during the first week of August. We are looking forward to that. So far, six of my siblings and some of their offspring are coming. I am looking forward to that. Of course, if you are in the neighborhood, you are welcome to attend. My brother Dan, who lives in Chicago, is attending a bible class at CTU and has met Zach and Gil. He is quite enamored with both of them. Dan attended Zach's installation as the chair of Scotistic Spirituality (or something like that) and was impressed with Zach's talk. Zach dropped me an email mentioning that he met Dan. Zach said that CTU is the largest theological institution in the US. Blessings and love, Jack
13 Jun 1999 Keith Eckrich: We have a busy summer. Three trips, one to Cape Cod, Boston and Philadelphia for the 50th anniversary of priesthood of Helene's uncle Vinny who was also a bishop in Tanzania; a local trip to Western New Mexico (Glenwood) at a B&B and a weekend of classical music at Durango, Colorado. Today we drive up to my old hunting grounds at the Paracletes in Jemez Springs to deliver Kristen to Hummingbird Music Camp for a week. She is tomorrow's Bennie Goodman on the clarinet. She doesn't have any friends going with her, so she is having the jitters this morning as we pack her gear.
Hope all is well with you and your bride. Peace.
18 June Tony Lutz: Veni, Sancte Spiritus. In reading the last issue of DD I was really shocked at the opening statement about "ideas bore me" and "the self-indulgence of mind games." A co-worker the other day said she never talks about "politics, religion, or sex." My answer was, "What else is more worthy to talk about? All the rest is mostly gossip.
God made us to "his image and likeness." We honor our creator when we argue a point in charity. No one should be able to argue more lucidly and intelligently than those who have studied philosophy and theology.
At a weekday Mass, a young brilliant and holy priest gave a homily on spiritual almsgiving. He explained that we all must involve ourselves in corporal and especially the spiritual works of mercy. St. Thomas Aquinas added that we are relieved from spiritual almsgiving when the would-be recipient would adamantly reject such proffered help. Our Savior made a stinging statement about "Don't cast your pearls..." and "He who has ears to hear let him hear."
Privately, I have heard from some of you who appreciate me bringing up subjects that are worthy of addressing. - Vale in Domino.
PS: Some of DD readers have protested against School of the Americas at Fr. Benning, Ga. I queried my senator and congressman about the school. Their response convinced me that I in conscience can support the school. Copies of their letters are yours for the asking.
[Since it was I who wrote that "mind game ideas in the digest bore me" I suppose I must respond, ugh, again as representing the resident swine. As a political editor, I read a dozen daily and weekly newspapers and magazines about politics and religion (one and the same for the radical right). When I turn to diaspora mail, I seek out little flowers to smell and steer away form argumentative secular or church politics. Share your life interests, spirituality, and love life, your literary, saintly, philosophical, scientific, life-engendering heroes and examples, and stories. That's what we are about here. Not Hegel and Heidegger, Kung or Angelica but Franciscans.
As for the School of the Americas (trainer of governmental assassins in Central America), I'll happily forward to any who want it the report in the province's Minor Matters, the Jan-Feb issue, about "the nine members of Sacred Heart Province who participated in a non-violent protest and vigil (on 21-22 Nov 98) at the entrance of Fort Benning, Georgia, calling for the immediate closure of the infamous School of the Americas located since 1984 on this military base." Those attending were not Congressman from Virginia but mostly former Definitors: "Frank Coens, Jim Hoffman, Duc Pham, Joe Zimmerman, Andy Buvala, and Ken Rosswog, the JPIC liaison to the Provincial Council (Mike Cusato), and organizers of the Peace Center (Al Merz and Steve Suding). They joined over 7,000 other men and women including large numbers of religious and priests, for the two-day event."
This note from Sandy Helper, an activist friend: "Padre and Susan: I met your old canoeing partner (Mike Mooney OFM) and went out with him and Charlie Fenton to beard the Fort Benning Assassins in their den." - Sandy is a Tennessee warrior from the days of Nicaragua, and still is.
20 June 99 Dalton Roberts: I saw a bumper strip, "Orthodoxy: It's worked since AD 33." It was over 300 years after Christ before the church leaders even got together, at the insistence of Emperor Constantine, to talk about the official doctrines of the church. It took many councils to hammer out "orthodoxy." The Trinity passed by one vote. Two bishops had a fist fight. Maybe the dear soul who put that bumper strip on the car needs to read a little church history before going into combat against the heathen unbelievers.
When I find someone who can live without me, I let them.
[With that advice from my spiritual director, we close, welcoming your epistolary contributions to DD29. I'm grateful to those who didn't send endlessly long contentious entries. I'm regret I respond to them as much as I do. (OK, spirit of Bill Stachura, I heard your airy guardian-angel comment: "Bullshit!") Well, I WANT to feel sorry.]
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Rules for being human 3. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period. 4. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called life. Each day in this school you will learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid. 5. There are no mistakes, only lessons - growth is a process of trial and error and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately "works." 6. A lesson is repeated until learned a lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. Once learned, you then go on the next lesson. 7. Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned. 8. "There" is no better than "here." When your "there" has become a "here" you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here." 9. Others are merely mirrors of "you." You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. 10. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours... 11. The answers to life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust. 12. You will forget all this... |