THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

The Good News

...“Our” Catholic Charities

The annual Catholic Charities appeal will take place next weekend, September 17th and 18th. Lest anyone mistakenly think that Catholic Charities is simply another “do good” organization, I have rightly inserted “Our” to the title of this article.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese is “Our” responsibility, “Our” commitment, “Our” work. Catholic Charities is the united effort of all Catholic people of this Archdiocese. Thus it is correctly labeled “Our” Catholic Charities!

Next Sunday, we will conduct the annual appeal for “Our” Catholic Charities. Through our combined efforts, “Our” Catholic Charities continues to be recognized as one of the strongest and most effective agencies in Oklahoma. The real strength and value of “Our” Catholic Charities arises from our belief in Jesus and our respect for the life and dignity of every human person.

In a world warped by materialism and loss of respect for human life, the Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred. The Church also presents a moral vision for society which is based on the dignity of the human person. We believe that the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of the principles necessary for a just and peaceful society.

Increasingly, human life is under direct attack from abortion and assisted suicide. Terrorism and violence escalate so that the value of human life is threatened. The increasing use of the death penalty overshadows the intrinsic value of human life. Embryonic stem cell research and human cloning proposals reduce human life to a product. We believe that people are more important than things, for people are created in the Image and Likeness of God. Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, by His life, death and resurrection, has redeemed human beings. He has made it possible for us to enter the eternal kingdom of God. Consequently, the Church teaches us that the measure of every institution or movement is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person. “Our” Catholic Charities is totally committed to God and therefore strives to uphold and enhance the life and dignity of the human person created in the Image and Likeness of God.

Today I write to invite you to actively support “Our” Catholic Charities. To fulfill the work of “Our” Catholic Charities over the next year, we must raise $1.8 million. This is the necessary goal we have for next weekend’s annual appeal. Therefore, I ask YOU, as a Catholic person of this Archdiocese to make a commitment of financial support.

Please sign a pledge card which will be made available at all Masses next weekend (September 17-18). Please commit to a specific amount each month over the next year. Please be generous and remember, this is “Our” Catholic Charities.