THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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The Good News ...Our Civic Responsibility October 4, 2004 My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I have often concluded my homilies with the encouragement that we are to live “the fullness of our Catholic faith.” This statement rests upon the solid teaching of the Catholic Church that the Church is indeed established by Jesus Christ on the foundation of the Apostles and possesses the fullness of the means of salvation. As Catholic people we are obliged to seek the mind of Christ and to discover the plan He has in creating us, redeeming us and leading us to eternal life. It is during this pilgrimage on earth that we can respond to God through choices to accept His plan and decisions to follow that plan. The various facets of human life are not foreign to God. We came from Him and to be fulfilled we must return to Him. In the ordinary course of our lives, we often tend to separate certain aspects as if they had no bearing on the eternal plan of God. Unfortunately then, those decisions lead us away from God’s plan. An example of this can be seen during this election year. Because of the conflicting views being expressed, there are people who will not bother to vote. Others will dismiss religious values as irrelevant. Some will claim privacy thus relegating the Church to silence. Rightly, therefore, many of you have requested direction in these present circumstances. As I pondered your questions and prepared to respond, I discovered a pastoral letter on this timely subject written by Archbishop Raymond Burke of Saint Louis. I read his article thoroughly and found it to be clear and insightful. I concur with Archbishop Burke’s response and called to thank him for his helpful explanation. With his permission then, I wish to share his pastoral letter by reprinting it in our Sooner Catholic the artical can be found on pages 9-13. I urge you to take the time necessary not only to read Archbishop Burke’s article but also to reflect on it and pray about it. Through this teaching and the guidance of the Church, may Almighty God help us, the people of this Archdiocese, to live “the fullness of our Catholic faith.” Sincerely yours in Christ, |
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