Pastor’s Corner — March 21st, 2024
Vatican Statement on Blessings of Same-Sex Unions
On Monday, Pope Francis approved a short statement from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that clarifies that the Catholic Church cannot give liturgical blessings for unions of persons of the same sex:
“It is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life), as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex.”
This statement is another welcome example of how the Church’s clear moral teaching on love is always rooted in divine truth. The statement is beautifully written and firmly rooted in Scriptural truth. If you want to read a brief article on this, go here.
Good News: Feedback From Parishioners Coming to Mass
A couple of weeks ago I noted how good it was to see people who are coming back to Mass for the first time since the pandemic began. Here are just a few of the emails/notes I’ve received recently from parishioners.
“Coming to Mass during the last year was my one ray of hope and light in the midst of a very dark and difficult year. If it wasn’t for our parish, I couldn’t have got through it.”
“[We] returned to Mass in person two weeks ago after receiving our first vaccine jab following a painfully long COVID mandated absence. While we did take full advantage of the YouTube option to attend Mass during our quarantine, the experience, while greatly appreciated, was less than ideal. I can honestly say we will not soon forget the chills the moment the procession began, the shedding of tears during the homily and the ultimate joy of receiving the Eucharist for the first time in nine months.”
“Hey Father! Just wanted to share a little dose of encouragement for your day. I was talking to a ‘newer’ parishioner last night on the phone and I asked her how her family is adjusting to our parish. She actually got emotional and shared that her and her family have never felt so loved and welcomed at church before. That we are the “warmest Church” she has ever encountered and that she is blown away by how hospitable we are.”
“Thank you for YouTube channel -- it helps more than you know during this pandemic. Your March 7th Homily especially resonated with me because I realized that .... MY FEAR OF THE PANDEMIC HAS UNWITTINGLY BECOME MY IDOL...”
I Often Need Reminders
I don’t think I’m alone. So here is a reminder: Have you given to the Diocesan Services Appeal yet?
No matter how big or small, I want us as a parish family to show the diocese how thankful we are for the incredible generosity we’ve received on our debt. It would also be a way to support the solid and hardworking diocesan staff who have been guiding the parishes through the challenges we’ve been facing this past year. I invite all families to be a part of a record-breaking number of gifts to this appeal. Please go here to make your donation or bring your white envelope back in soon.
USCCB and the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine
Some parishioners have called saying that they might not have a choice to avoid the morally problematic Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The Vatican and the USCCB answers this quite well:
“Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has judged that ‘when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available … it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.’[1] However, if one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s.
“While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good.”
We need to really insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion derived cell lines, not just in vaccine development, but also in developing other drugs we take so regularly in our society.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias