Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
July 4, 2001
Letters
Don't promote Medjugorje
In reading the article on pilgrimage sites in the Register's June 20 edition, I was disappointed, due to its promotion of Medjugorje as such a site.
On the decision of the Yugoslavian Bishop's Conference . . . the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has recognized said judgment that nothing of supernatural, divine origin is to be found occurring. Authority in such issues however lies with the local Ordinary (bishop), unless the Holy See's intervention is requested, which may refer the matter back to a bishop's conference.
Not only are diocesan pilgrimages discouraged, but the Yugoslavian Bishop's Conference initially asked clergy and laity not to organize public trips; the Congregation for the Faith also has favored only private excursions and warns against giving any publicity to the site.
It is therefore misleading and unjustified to sell or reference Medjugorje as a pilgrimage or sacred site, which thereby infers authenticity.
From the current bishop of Mostar's latest judgment that these "apparitions" are of human origin, the bishop's conference of Boznia-Herzegovina has now been given the task of formulating a more definitive statement about the matter. Let us heed the Church's wisdom lest we be shamed if a hoax is declared.
Christopher Brust
Denver
Church `truly' cares about children
A question for Ida M. Berger who is "appalled, disgusted and irked" by the canceling of Diana DeGette's invitation to speak at a recent archdiocesan gathering: Are you at all appalled, disgusted, irked, or perhaps a little saddened by the promotion and killing of innocent unborn children?
True, our Holy Father has traveled to places where he was not wanted, and he was treated with honor and respect. He has consistently defended the sacredness of life at all levels, and has spoken out against our prevailing culture of death. I wonder if this has merited for him the honor and respect with which he is received!
Thank you, God, for our Holy Father, our archbishop, and all shepherds in the faith who truly care about every one of your children — even the most vulnerable.
Elizabeth A. Powers
Denver
Metro paper's story about St. Joseph Hospital wrong
Many have read the interesting and challenging series of articles in the Rocky Mountain News regarding surrogate birthing. On Tuesday, June 26 the reporter referred to Saint Joseph Hospital as the place where the patient had a procedure to remove unfertilized eggs in preparation for in vitro fertilization.
The reporting was inaccurate. Saint Joseph Hospital is a Catholic Hospital abiding by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Healthcare. We have no documented record of having performed the procedure within the hospital and have neither the facilities nor equipment to perform such a procedure.
The Sisters of Charity (Leavenworth) have a century-old tradition of striving to provide the highest quality of care at Saint Joseph Hospital. Over the years they have developed a culture of quality within the hospital. We are proud to carry on that tradition in concert with the Ethical and Religious Directives, to provide safe, effective, patient-centered and equitable service to all our patients.
Martin Helldorfer, D.Min.
Vice President, Mission Exempla Healthcare
Prayers for all
Thank you for the prayers you placed in the DCR. Here are some prayers you may like to share with all.
17th Century Nun's Prayer
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details. Give me the wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips on my aches and pains. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, oh Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may have a clean mind, a pure heart and a chaste body. Amen.
Dolores A. Weber
Denver
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