ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* Pope: Indonesia Is Key for Interreligious Dialogue
* Catacomb Study Wins Pontifical-Academies Award
* Argentine Village Witnesses Beatification of Native
ANALYSIS
* Rewarding Failure
WORLD FEATURES
* Papal Trip to U.S. Confirmed for April '08
* U.S. Bishops' Fall Assembly Starts With Call to Leadership
* Venezuelan Prelates Plea for Peace
NEWS BRIEFS
* Church in India Urges Educating Children in Media
DOCUMENTS
* Papal Address to Indonesian Ambassador
* Bishop Skylstad's Address to U.S. Bishops' Fall Meeting
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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Pope: Indonesia Is Key for Interreligious Dialogue
Pontiff Receives in Audience New Envoy
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says Indonesia is a key nation for promoting interreligious dialogue, given that it has the largest Muslim population of any country.
The Pope affirmed this today when he received in audience Indonesia's new ambassador to the Holy See, Suprapto Martosetomo.
The Holy Father told the ambassador: "I deeply appreciate your reaffirmation of the government's position of condemning terrorist violence, under whatever pretext it occurs, as a criminal offense which, by its contempt for human life and freedom, undermines the very foundations of society.
"This is particularly the case when the holy name of God is invoked as a justification for such acts. The Church at every level, in fidelity to the teaching of her Master, unequivocally condemns the manipulation of religion for political ends, while urging the application of international humanitarian law in every aspect of the fight against terrorism."
The Pontiff noted Indonesia's role in promoting interreligious cooperation.
"Dialogue, respect for the convictions of others, and collaboration in the service of peace are the surest means of securing social concord," Benedict XVI said. "These are among the noblest goals which can bring together men and women of good will, and, in a particular way, all those who worship the one God who is the Creator and beneficent Lord of the whole human family.
"A promising development in this regard is represented by the growing instances of cooperation between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia, aimed particularly at the prevention of ethnic and religious conflicts in the most troubled areas."
"As Indonesia now sits as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," the Pope continued, "I take the present occasion to express my confidence that the principles which inspire your own national policies of pacification, dialogue and tolerance will enable Indonesia to make a fruitful contribution to the solution of global conflicts and the promotion of a peace based on international solidarity and concern for the integral development of individuals and peoples."
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Catacomb Study Wins Pontifical-Academies Award
Benedict XVI Congratulates Scholar
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI congratulated Antongiulio Granelli for his doctoral thesis that won the 2007 award of the Pontifical Academies.
Granelli's thesis "Il Cimitero di Panfilo sulla via Salaria vetus a Roma" (The Catacombs of Pamphilus on the Ancient Salarian Way of Rome) was recognized last Thursday. The Pope sent a message to the academy gathering through Archbishop Fernando Filoni, deputy at the Vatican Secretariat of State.
The Holy Father said the thesis "through deep study, guided by an interdisciplinary approach [] explains the little-studied Catacombs of Pamphilus [] situated within the meaningful intersection of Christian testimony."
In 1996, Pope John Paul II established this prize to encourage and sustain the research and commitment of studious young people and worthy institutions whose cultural or artistic activities contribute to the promotion of Christian humanism.
In Granelli's thanksgiving remarks, he said the research gave him the "fascinating experience of coming close to the atmosphere in which the Christian approached death and the transformation of his old life. With this sensation of sharing feelings and faith, one becomes more alive even in the catacombs of St. Phamphilus."
The secretary of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, Olof Brandt, explained to ZENIT these catacombs are unique due to the confirmed presence of the martyr's tomb.
Granelli told ZENIT that preparing the thesis implied "long hours and a dark and narrow environment." But his work covered the entire length of the catacombs, including a topographic study and the distinct levels of the cemetery galleries.
With his research, he said he tried "to bring to light this martyr -- about whom little is known -- who gave his name to these catacombs."
"For archaeological studies, it is rare, sadly, to receive material help in this country," said Granelli. "One continues above all with passion, in the hope of finding a break in this most beautiful area."
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Argentine Village Witnesses Beatification of Native
Cardinal Bertone Says Culture Was Elevated by the Gospel
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is hoping that the example of Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, the first of the Mapuche indigenous peoples to be beatified, will help youth to live the Christian life.
The Pope affirmed this Sunday after leading the midday Angelus in St. Peter's Square. The Holy Father greeted the pilgrims from Argentina and the Salesians present at the audience. The beatification ceremony was led in Argentina by the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a few hours afterward.
Blessed Ceferino (1886-1905) was a student of the Salesian Society in Argentina, and a Mapuche. The Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of southern and central Chile and southern Argentina.
Benedict XVI said: "We give thanks to the Lord for the extraordinary testimony of this young 19-year-old student, who, inspired by his devotion for the Eucharist and love for Christ, wanted to be a Salesian and a priest to show his fellow Mapuche the path to heaven.
"With his life, he lightens our path to sanctity, inviting us to love our brothers with the love with which God loves us."
The Pope expressed his confidence that "the example of the new blessed will produce abundant fruits of Christian life, especially among the young."
In Argentina
Cardinal Bertone celebrated the beatification ceremony in the place where Blessed Ceferino was born, announcing that Aug. 26, Ceferino's birthday, will be his liturgical feast day.
"It is the first time that a beatification is done, not in a great city, but in a small village, though it is great for this crowd of Ceferino's friends," Cardinal Bertone said in the homily.
The secretary of affirmed the beatification "means remembering and appreciating the deepest and oldest traditions of the Mapuche people, brave and indomitable."
"At the same time," he added, "let it help us to discover the fruitfulness of the Gospel that never destroys authentic values found in a culture, but rather assumes them, purifying and perfecting them."
Cardinal Bertone highlighted that "the very life of the new blessed is like a parable of this great debt; Ceferino never forgot that he was Mapuche. In fact, his supreme ideal was to be useful for his people."
Among those in attendance at the beatification ceremony was Valeria Herrera, a 33-year-old mother who was cured of uterine cancer with Blessed Ceferino's intercession, thereby allowing the beatification process to proceed.
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ANALYSIS
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Rewarding Failure
Executive Pay Settlements Raise Eyebrows
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Lavish wage and benefits packages for executives have been the target of increasing criticism in the last few years. Nevertheless, defenders of high rewards have argued that the impressive returns of many companies justify the money company leaders receive.
A recent example was Robert Reich's opinion article in the Sept. 14 edition of the Wall Street Journal. Chief executive officer (CEO) pay has risen astronomically, but so have investor returns, argued Reich, professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and former U.S. secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton.
Reich noted that recent data show that the typical CEO of a Fortune 500 company earns an average of $10.8 million. This is more than 364 times the pay of an average employee. Forty years ago, Reich added, top CEOs earned 20 to 30 times what average workers earned.
He contended, however, that the modern corporation depends a lot more nowadays on the abilities of its CEO, and that the high pay levels are generally worth it to investors. Reich opined that the chiefs of large companies these days are less like bureaucrats and more like Hollywood stars, who get a lucrative percentage of the profits.
The validity such arguments have come under severe strain, nevertheless, in the face of multimillion-dollar benefits, often termed golden parachutes, for failed executives.
Golden parachutes
Merrill Lynch, which along with other financial institutions has suffered heavily due to the current financial crisis in the mortgage market, announced that its chief executive, Stan O'Neal, will leave, with benefits totaling around $161.5 million, reported the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 30.
The retirement followed the announcement by the firm of a third-quarter net loss of $2.2 billion and a further $8.4 billion in write-offs due to risky mortgages and loans, reported the article.
Shortly afterward came the news of a write-down of up to $11 billion by Citigroup, followed by the announcement that its chairman and chief executive, Chuck Prince, would retire.
John Gapper, commenting on the news of the two retirements for the Financial Times on Nov. 8, noted that by retiring, instead of being fired, the two executives were allowed to receive multimillion-dollar parachutes. Gapper said that while there is no official news yet, Prince was expected to receive a retirement package of around $40 million.
By rewarding them in this way, in giving them shares they should not have been eligible to collect unless they had performed better, the firms damaged Wall Street, argued Gapper.
It also creates what he said is a "moral hazard," which occurs when it appears there are incentives for people to behave in ways that damage their own institutions or the financial system as a whole.
These two examples are far from being isolated, as the New York Times commented in an April 8 article looking at how failed corporate chiefs were rewarded.
In July last year, Hank McKinnell, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive, resigned with a package worth nearly $200 million. This came after the company lost more than $137 billion in market value during the six years he was in charge.
Then there was the case of Robert Nardelli, the former Home Depot chief executive who was officially dismissed on the first workday of 2007. He received a $210 million exit package for six years of work, during which time the company's stock price had sagged severely.
Give investors a say
An editorial published Oct. 16 by the Financial Times addressed the topic of CEO salaries. A new survey, the newspaper noted, found that a sizable majority of the U.S. CEOs and presidents surveyed think that chief executives get paid too much.
It is true, the editorial continued, that a good CEO can add billions to a company's value. At the same time, a more likely explanation of the over-inflated packages probably lies in the fact that executives of a company with dispersed shareholders have great power to set their own pay. More say over pay levels by investors would be a step forward, the Financial Times concluded.
Dissenting investors complained recently in Australia about high pay packages for the telecom company Telstra, reported the Australian newspaper on Nov. 7. Two-thirds of shareholders' votes at the company's annual general meeting just held in Sydney were against the pay arrangements for chief executive Sol Trujillo and other senior officials.
In spite of what the article termed "the biggest revolt in the three-year history of such votes in Australia," the resolution is not binding, and after the meeting, Telstra chairman Donald McGauchie declared the board would ignore its shareholders' wishes and would continue to pay executives as previously arranged.
Unrest was also reported in Switzerland, reported the Wall Street Journal on May 26. Thomas Minder, a 47-year-old chief executive of small cosmetics manufacturer Trybol AG, is protesting the lack of transparency about CEO pay packages.
Minder is collecting signatures to call a national vote to amend Swiss law in order to ensure companies are obliged to be more transparent and accountable regarding executive compensation.
Similar problems exist in Germany, according to an article published by the Financial Times on Aug. 17. Many companies still hide the costs of pensions and other entitlements, according to Ulrich Hocker, director of the DSW investors' association, at the presentation of the group's 2006 report on executive pay.
The report showed that average earnings for executive board members in the top 30 companies were €1.9 million ($2.7 million), compared with €1.7 million ($2.49 million) in 2005, a rise of 11.7%.
Rising executive salaries in Britain also came under the spotlight when news came out that last year the chief executives of the top 100 companies enjoyed a pay increase of 7.6%, taking them to an average of 3.2 million pounds ($6.5 million), reported the Times newspaper on Oct. 29.
The 7.6% rise is more than twice the average pay increase of 3.5% for working men and women last year, the article noted. Last year's boost means that average earnings of the top 100 chief executive have doubled over the past five years, according to data cited by the Times.
Choosing correctly
Finding a solution to excessive pay settlements for executives is not an easy matter. Easy formulas or laws don't exist, and much depends on the overall culture and values. Some useful advice came from Benedict XVI, who recently addressed the question of riches, during his homily while visiting the Diocese of Velletri-Segni last Sept. 23.
The Pope reflected on some of the lessons from the parable that speaks of a dishonest steward (cf. Luke 16: 1-13). The tale concludes with the admonition by Jesus: "You cannot serve God and mammon."
"Basically, it is a matter of choosing between selfishness and love, between justice and dishonesty and ultimately, between God and Satan," the Pontiff commented.
In the midday Angelus, back at Castel Gandolfo the same day, Benedict XVI added further reflections on the Gospel text. "Money is not 'dishonest' in itself, but more than anything else it can close man in a blind egocentrism."
Nevertheless, the Pope's words were not a condemnation of money or riches. "Naturally, profit is legitimate and, in just measure, necessary for economic development," he added.
What is needed, he continued, is that the benefits of economic growth be apportioned according to "the logic of sharing and solidarity." Thus, economic activity is not an end in itself and is to be placed for the benefit of all. An evangelical logic with useful lessons for today's business world.
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WORLD FEATURES
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Papal Trip to U.S. Confirmed for April '08
Pontiff to Stop in Washington and New York
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The dates for Benedict XVI's upcoming trip to the United States were confirmed today; the Pope's visit is scheduled for April 15-20.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, confirmed the dates for the six-day trip when he participated in the opening of the U.S. episcopal conference's fall meeting under way in Baltimore.
Ban Ki-moon, U.N. secretary-general, last April officially asked the Pope to visit the United Nations.
The Holy Father will arrive in Washington on April 15. The next day, his 81st birthday, he will receive an official welcome at the White House. Later that afternoon, he will address the U.S. bishops' conference.
On April 17, after celebrating Mass at the Washington Nationals' stadium, the Pope will give an address at the Catholic University of America.
Benedict XVI will be in New York on April 18, for a visit to the United Nations in the morning and an ecumenical meeting in the afternoon. His time in New York will also include Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 19, the anniversary of his papal election, and a meeting with youth. On April 20, the Holy Father will visit ground zero, where the twin towers stood. That afternoon, the trip will officially end with Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Anticipation
"This is a blessed moment for our nation," said Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, president of the U.S. episcopal conference. "Pope Benedict is not just the leader of Catholics, he is also a man of inspiration for all those who work for peace."
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York said that the response of the people of his archdiocese "was both rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord for the great grace of the presence of the successor of St. Peter in our midst. I have assured the Holy Father of a warm and prayerful welcome. We all look forward to his visit with pleasure and anticipation."
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington said, "Personally, and in the name of all of the clergy, religious and faithful of the archdiocese, I express our warmest welcome while renewing our sentiments of love and loyalty to our Holy Father. We all look forward to his visit as a time of renewal of our faith and pastoral ministry and an opportunity to confirm our solidarity with the Church universal made visible among us by the successor to Peter, Pope Benedict XVI."
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U.S. Bishops' Fall Assembly Starts With Call to Leadership
Outgoing President Urges Prelates to Confront Society's Challenges
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- As the president of the U.S. bishops' conference ends his term, he is calling for his brother bishops to imitate the leadership of Jesus.
Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane made this appeal today at the opening of the annual Fall General Assembly of the U.S. bishops' conference, under way through Thursday in Baltimore. The meeting began with a confirmation of the dates for Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to the United States, April 15-20.
"Over the last three years, together, we have continued to live through challenging times in the life of the Church," Bishop Skylstad said. "Our religious liberty is constantly challenged and needs vigilant defense. Our voice for the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the abused -- for peace and for justice -- is strong, but not always welcome.
"Our commitment to evangelization and catechesis [] confronts the material and spiritual challenges of our time. And our efforts to protect the young and defenseless entrusted to our pastoral care are needed now more than ever. Those challenges have been more than met by your support as a body of brother bishops."
Bishop Skylstad encouraged the prelates in their leadership.
"What is the nature of our leadership and authority, and how do we exercise it? To answer, we must look to the true model of leadership: that of Jesus of Nazareth," he said. "And we must ask: How did Jesus lead? How did he use his authority?
"For us as bishops, a deep and Christ-like vision of leadership must be at the heart of our service. Christ has called us, as successors of the apostles, to be his voice in our time. And our time needs to hear the voice of Christ."
During the assembly, the bishops will elect the next president, vice president and committee chairs. They are also set to vote on "Faithful Citizenship," a statement the episcopal conference issues every four years; and "Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship," a set of guidelines for liturgical music.
Today the bishops discussed a draft statement on the war in Iraq, noting that the current situation "remains unacceptable and unsustainable." The text, which will be signed by Bishop Skylstad, is set to be released Tuesday.
The bishops also heard today an update on research for the Causes and Context Study of the clergy sexual abuse of minors by John Jay School of Criminal Justice.In the coming days the bishops will vote on doctrinal elements for high school catechetical materials, weekday celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word when a priest is unavailable, and revision to conference bylaws. The agenda also includes a revision of the National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage, and reports on U.S. participation next July 15-20 in World Youth Day '08 in Sydney, Australia.
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Venezuelan Prelates Plea for Peace
Tensions High as Vote Nears on Constitutional Reform
CARACAS, Venezuela, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Venezuela's episcopal conference decried the violence that erupted from both sides in the divided South American nation ahead of a referendum on President Hugo Chávez's constitutional reforms.
At least seven people were killed last week amid protests against the 69 proposed constitutional amendments that would give more power to the president. The reform would eliminate presidential term limits and give Chávez control over the Central Bank. A Dec. 2 referendum is set to confirm or reject the changes.
The Venezuelan episcopal conference released a statement Thursday titled "Busca la Paz y Anda Tras Ella!" (Look for Peace and Go After It).
The bishops' statement says, "Faced with the proposed constitutional reform, supported by some, questioned by others, Venezuela is living moments of great political intensity, which has led to legitimate student protests, but also to acts of verbal and physical violence that disturb peace."
The bishops affirm they will "contribute to rescuing and promoting the necessary climate of social coexistence." And they appealed to "all Venezuelans, and particularly to national powers and social, political and student leaders, from any sector or political party, to make an effort to act with serenity, with a truly democratic spirit, within the boundaries of the constitution and the law, to maintain peace and avoid violence, which we reject no matter from where it comes."
However, the bishops defended peaceful protests as a legitimate demonstration of democracy and called on public officials to be fair in controlling public demonstrations.
"The state and the government are constitutionally obligated to guarantee to all Venezuelans the exercise of their human rights, particularly the right to peacefully and publicly demonstrate their agreement or disagreement with the proposed constitutional reform, without being object of attacks, discrediting or offenses," the bishops said.
"No one has the right to assault, discredit or offend those who dissent from their opinion," they added.
On Sunday Cardinal Jorge Urosa, archbishop of Caracas, said that the reform would endanger, among other things, "the religious aspect, which is fundamental for human beings," reported the Associated Press.
Chávez attracted international attention Saturday when he was publicly told to "shut up" by Spain's King Juan Carlos at the end of a meeting of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, held in Chile. Chávez repeatedly interrupted Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who was encouraging the Venezuelan leader to be respectful, despite political differences.
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Church in India Urges Educating Children in Media
NEW DELHI, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal-designate Oswald Gracias is encouraging the Church in India to implement Benedict XVI's suggestions for World Communications Day during that Church's own celebration this Sunday.
The Church in India will celebrate Communications Day with the same theme the Pope chose for his message: "Children and the Media: a Challenge for Education."
The Indian bishops' conference affirmed that many regional offices had translated the papal message into local languages.
Cardinal-designate Gracias asked parishes to mark the day with special liturgies, preferably involving media professionals and artists. He also suggested a study day on the theme for media personnel.
Benedict XVI's message emphasized the need to properly educate children in the use of the media.
Criteria based on principles such as beauty, goodness and truth can offer guidelines in selecting programming or even video games, the Indian bishops recalled, alluding to the Pope's message.
"True education helps children to avoid themes or situations which impoverish or deceive them under the guise of freedom, or where a relentless desire for novelty is created," a statement from the bishops' conference said. "The ideal is that children can learn how to choose what is best for themselves, helping them to grow in goodness and joy."
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DOCUMENTS
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Papal Address to Indonesian Ambassador
"The Church Condemns the Manipulation of Religion for Political Ends"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave when he received in audience today Indonesia's new ambassador to the Holy See, Suprapto Martosetomo.
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Your Excellency,
I am pleased to welcome you to the Vatican as you present the Letters by which you are accredited Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See. I thank you most heartily for the greetings which you have brought me from the Indonesian Government and people, and I ask you kindly to convey my own greetings to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, together with the assurance of my prayers for the peace and prosperity of the nation and its citizens.
Your Excellency has spoken of Indonesia's commitment to pursue policies aimed at advancing the noble goals of democracy and social harmony enshrined in the Constitution and eloquently expressed in the national philosophy of Pancasila. This determination, which calls for sacrifice, resolute efforts to discern and promote the common good, and the cooperation of all political and social groups, is indispensable for overcoming the forces of polarization and conflict, carrying forward the renewal of economic life and consolidating a just democratic order in full respect for the rights of every individual and community.
Certainly at present one of the gravest threats to Indonesia's cherished ideal of national unity is the phenomenon of international terrorism. I deeply appreciate your reaffirmation of the Government's position of condemning terrorist violence, under whatever pretext it occurs, as a criminal offence which, by its contempt for human life and freedom, undermines the very foundations of society. This is particularly the case when the holy name of God is invoked as a justification for such acts. The Church at every level, in fidelity to the teaching of her Master, unequivocally condemns the manipulation of religion for political ends, while urging the application of international humanitarian law in every aspect of the fight against terrorism (cf. Message for the 2007 World Day of Peace, 14).
Indonesia, as a multi-religious country with the largest Muslim population of any nation in the world, plays an important and positive role in promoting interreligious cooperation, both within its borders and in the international community. Dialogue, respect for the convictions of others, and collaboration in the service of peace are the surest means of securing social concord. These are among the noblest goals which can bring together men and women of good will, and, in a particular way, all those who worship the one God who is the Creator and beneficent Lord of the whole human family. A promising development in this regard is represented by the growing instances of cooperation between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia, aimed particularly at the prevention of ethnic and religious conflicts in the most troubled areas.
Although Indonesia's Catholics are a small minority, they desire to participate fully in the life of the nation, "to contribute to the material and spiritual progress of society, and to be sources of cohesion and harmony" (cf. Address to the Diplomatic Corps Attached to the Holy See, 8 January 2007). Through their network of educational and health care institutions, they seek to offer a significant service to their brothers and sisters, regardless of religion, and to instil the ethical values fundamental for authentic civic progress and peaceful coexistence. While their right to the free exercise of their religion in complete equality with their fellow citizens is guaranteed by the national Constitution, the protection of this fundamental human right calls for constant vigilance on the part of all. In this regard I note that Indonesia has recently acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and I am confident that this will help to further consolidate the
freedom and legitimate autonomy of individual Christians and their institutions.
As Indonesia now sits as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, I take the present occasion to express my confidence that the principles which inspire your own national policies of pacification, dialogue and tolerance will enable Indonesia to make a fruitful contribution to the solution of global conflicts and the promotion of a peace based on international solidarity and concern for the integral development of individuals and peoples.
Your Excellency, as you undertake the mission of representing the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See, please accept my personal good wishes for the success of your important work. Be assured that you may always count on the offices of the Holy See to assist and support you in the fulfilment of your high responsibilities. Upon you and your family, and upon all the beloved Indonesian people, I cordially invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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Bishop Skylstad's Address to U.S. Bishops' Fall Meeting
"We Cannot Shrink From Our Calling to Be Shepherds, to Be Leaders"
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address delivered today by Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, president of the U.S. episcopal conference, to the opening session of the fall meeting of the U.S. bishops, being held in Baltimore through Thursday.
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Your Eminences and Excellencies, esteemed friends gathered with us this morning, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus:
It was three years ago that I stood before you, my brother Bishops, humbled and with a bit less than fullness of undaunted courage. You had shortly before placed upon me your trust to serve as the President of our Conference of Bishops. Since then, each time I sat before you to chair our gatherings, I looked with admiration upon all the faces of you, the Bishops, the very force and life of this Episcopal Conference, keenly aware of the task of service I held in support of each of you and all of you. That has been a source of my daily prayers for our strength, prayers for patience for our weaknesses, but most of all prayers of thanksgiving for the grace and goodness that, from long experience, I know characterize this body.
Over the last three years, together, we have continued to live through challenging times in the life of the Church. Our religious liberty is constantly challenged and needs vigilant defense. Our voice for the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the abused -- for peace and for justice -- is strong, but not always welcome. Our commitment to evangelization and catechesis, so that our people lead lives faithful to all the moral teachings of the Church, confronts the material and spiritual challenges of our time. And our efforts to protect the young and defenseless entrusted to our pastoral care are needed now more than ever. Those challenges have been more than met by your support as a body of brother Bishops, by the experienced and prayerful advice of the various committees dealing with so many questions, and by the excellence of our wonderful staff.
For all of this, then, my desire this morning is to say, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President for the past three years. To serve you, especially in support of your ministry to God's people, has been an honor and a spiritual fulfillment.
As I complete my own service of leadership to this body, it seems to me that one of the great challenges to our society and culture is increasingly one of just that -- leadership. Or perhaps better said, it is a misunderstanding of the meaning of leadership: on the part of many who aspire to it, and also on the part of some who look for leadership. That is probably not a surprise. Leadership has taken a beating in recent years. Our collective history during the past few decades and years is one marked heavily by divisions. Our politics have been very closely contested, and the resulting bitterness has been palpable. In our age of exploding communications, the rhythm of discourse, of reflection, and of expression has heightened the scrutiny and sometimes the bitterness surrounding many issues and decisions. This, to be sure, is characteristic of both the left and right, believers and not. It has led to a conception of leadership in certain circles, not as a service to the common
good, but as a means to victory and dominance. At times, those looking for leadership then become frustrated because their cause or issue is not advanced fully or given clean and total victory.
But here is precisely the paradox we face in our time. Today, Americans often have an image of leadership that equates it to power. We often hear calls in society for strong and decisive leadership. At the same time, however, there is resentment toward those who seem to "lord it over" others -- who use power and influence in a manner that conflicts with the strong current of individualism that characterizes our time and place. Still, the power of leadership is both a reality and a necessity.
And so, the questions for us as Bishops are these: What is the nature of our leadership and authority, and how do we exercise it? To answer, we must look to the true model of leadership: that of Jesus of Nazareth. And we must ask: how did Jesus lead? How did he use his authority? For us as Bishops, a deep and Christ-like vision of leadership must be at the heart of our service. Christ has called us, as successors of the Apostles, to be his voice in our time. And our time needs to hear the voice of Christ. The Old Testament reminds us of a basic truth: without a vision the people will perish (see Proverbs 29:18). That vision is Christ's. It is carried by the Church; and we, like Jeremiah, must cry out and not hold back. Indeed at a time like this it should be all so clear to us: We cannot shrink from our calling to be shepherds, to be leaders.
Of course the source of Christ's power, and its goal as well, was simply this: Truth. The ultimate basis of all truth, of all understanding, rests in God himself. As Christ made it his mission to show us his Father, to teach us to seek the will of his Father, we cannot in fidelity to him renounce or weaken our proclamation of the truth. In our day, that truth is so often related to questions of the moral life. For that reason, we need to continue to speak out and teach our people joyfully to embrace life, to incorporate fully the Church's vision about chastity and the nature of marriage, and to understand the humanly and spiritually corrosive results of the contraceptive mentality and lifestyle. As shepherds, we will continue to be clear about the fundamental injustice of abortion and of sacrificing sacred human lives at their earliest moments for the sake of progress in medicine and science, or for convenience. We are in a position to speak to those issues not only because our
theology holds God's truth, but also because our contributions to health and to the relief of suffering, by means of our Catholic institutions, are second to none.
We can marvel at examples of the mission of those who established these institutions. In the Northwest for example, the early missionary efforts of so many, the network of Catholic health care institutions founded by women religious, the educational institutions founded by both men and women religious, and Catholic Charities organizations in various dioceses are wonderful examples of great, visionary leadership.
As shepherds, we must continue to move minds and hearts to care for those who are needy and disadvantaged. We will continue to speak that truth to all our elected leaders, and to those whose policies affect our society and our world, which so longs for justice and equity.
But even as the basis of our leadership is the moral and doctrinal truth for salvation given by Christ, our leadership is shaped by Christ in a further way. That is, he "did not regard equality with God [as] something to be grasped"; he took on the form of a slave (Philippians 2:6-7). He came among us and lived with us in a way that proclaimed the truth, but he did so first and foremost by example. Without compromise, Christ reached out with love and patience. But his leadership was not one that measured success moment to moment. It was a service, summarized by the magnificence of the washing of the feet, of the prayer for unity, and of submission of himself to the Cross for us, in accordance with the will of his Father. Few in our climate today would see that as a successful form of leadership. But with the eyes of faith, and not of the world, it is precisely that. And that is the model we are called to emulate.
That model can have a wide variety of practical circumstances. Just three weeks ago, Cardinal George and I spent twenty-five minutes with our Holy Father on behalf of our Conference. A week ago yesterday, I celebrated Mass with prisoners at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. In reflection, I marveled at how the Church calls us as servants to be present in so many and varied circumstances.
Living out such humility does seem paradoxical to many. Consider, for example, the stories that were reported recently, when Mother Teresa's autobiography was published. Here was a person who exercised leadership in a very real way in our Church and our world, even if that leadership is essentially different from what we have been called to. Her leadership was one based in a fundamental and visible humility that challenged, but also attracted, our world. Still, some people were shocked -- perhaps even scandalized -- by her memoirs. They revealed that, as with many of the greatest of saints, her humility was not only lived externally. It was a deep spiritual reality. God, it seems, gave her periods of dryness during which he hid his face from her.
The example of Mother Teresa should cause us to reflect as Bishops. What is the state of our souls? Our leadership must be rooted in the humility of a life of prayer, every day and before the Eucharist. It must embrace Christ in the humbleness of the Sacrament of Penance. Our leadership as shepherds will never be authentic if our souls are not one with Christ the shepherd. The words of Mother Teresa herself are fit for our own meditation as Bishops in service to the God's people: "It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal."
In a particular way, during the term of my predecessor, Archbishop Wilton Gregory, as well as during my own tenure, the sexual abuse crisis in our Church has given us a tremendous opportunity for a lesson in humility as well as in needed leadership action. We were humbled by the tears of those who had been hurt so profoundly by a small number from among our clergy. We are continually challenged to bring about reconciliation and healing, and to encourage and defend the thousands of exemplary priests and deacons who are faithful to their vows.
While much remains to be done, and we can never forget what has happened in the past, I am most sincerely grateful for all that has been accomplished in the past five years. The steps that the Church has taken have been remarkable. The light that we are shedding on this dark corner of humanity is making a difference. Things will never be the same for the next generation of children. They will be better; and for that, we as a Church can be very proud.
Leadership as called for by Jesus is, at times, painful and transforming. Such moments are never sought, yet they too are redemptive. But this should not be a surprise to us. In the year 411, St. Augustine of Hippo presided at the ordination of a young Bishop. The great saint took the occasion to offer one of his most striking and challenging homilies, this one on the ministry and life of Bishops. "The one who is to preside over the people," Augustine proclaimed, "must first understand that he is the servant of all." And how does the Bishop serve the faithful entrusted to him? Augustine answers in the clearest terms: "Christ said, Feed my sheep: suffer for the sake of my sheep. This must be the good bishop. If he will not do this, he will not be a bishop" (Sermon 340A). Jesus' reminder of the daily cross in our lives is exactly that. We must be faithful to it and accept it gladly, gratefully, and joyfully.
Our meeting this week will offer us other opportunities to practice Christ-like leadership. In the symbolism of the New Testament, a boat often represents the Church. Hopefully, our leadership places us on the prow of the boat looking forward, always mindful of where we have come from. Jesus, in the boat with the Apostles during the storm on the lake, reminds them of who they should be, asking them to trust humbly and be without fear. Our discussions on faithful citizenship, on liturgical reform, even on the efforts to reorganize ourselves, will give us the chance to practice humility during the coming days.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the great work that has been done in moving forward on our reorganization efforts. This truly is a watershed moment for our Conference of Bishops. While it is challenging, it is a time of great blessing as we build a new system of collaboration that should help us proclaim the Gospel of Jesus with a stronger voice, in a more unified and focused way. I look forward with great hope to the fruits of the work being done. I wish to acknowledge and encourage the work of the committees: those that continue as before, and especially those newly formed. Your efforts in the coming year will be a key to our success. But I also want to say a special word of gratitude to each and every member of the Conference staff. We know that this has not been an easy time for you. But your commitment to assisting us in our work, and the excellence with which you carry out that effort, are another key part of this reorganization. Thanks to you as well.
To Cardinal George, I express my gratitude for his support and wisdom these past three years. It has been an honor to serve with him. I must give special recognition and appreciation to two exceptional General Secretaries of our Conference: Monsignor William Fay in the first year of my term, and then Monsignor Dave Malloy the last two years. Monsignor Malloy: with all the preparation and implementation of the restructuring of our Conference, all of us and especially I owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude.
As we enter into this new style of collaboration, we may have yet more opportunities to practice charity and humility! Of course, we will not always agree on everything. A good leader, however, recognizes that he does not have all of the insights, all of the answers. As leaders, we are called to recognize the value that each person brings to the conversation, and to recognize that our primary role is to bring about unity in truth. That unity often comes at a price: it costs us our egos; it costs us our individualism. It is a pearl purchased at a great price, but it is a pearl that is priceless.
But more important still is our knowledge that what unites us in an unbreakable bond is the vision implanted in our hearts of the Divine Mission entrusted to each one of us: a vision by which we are strengthened, enlivened, and encouraged. We are servants to that Sacred Mission, which has always been and will forever remain as radically simple as this: proclamation of the salvation of humankind through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I myself, so long as I have served you in this position of President -- indeed, so long as I have been a priest and Bishop -- have been convinced, in the words of the Prophet Habbakuk, that "the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late" (Hab 2:3). That is the joy of the servant, and it is a joy I have known in serving you, an opportunity for which I will remain forever grateful.
God bless you all.
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