Archbishop Vlazny of Portland, OR, former Bishop of Winona, to Retire

Archbishop Vlazny turns 75 today and will be sending his mandatory resignation letter to the Pope Archbishop John G. Vlazny

Born in Chicago February 22, 1937, Archbishop Vlazny attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL., where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. He attended the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome earning Sacred Theology Bachelor degree in 1960 and a Sacred Theology Licentiate degree in 1962. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in the Classics from the University of Michigan in 1967, and a Master of Education degree in School Administration from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1972. Archbishop Vlazny was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary's University, Winona, in 1998, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Portland, Portland, OR, 1999, and an Honorary Doctor of Theology degree from Mount Angel Seminary in 2010. He was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, on December 20, 1961. As a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Vlazny served as Associate Pastor in five parishes between 1962 and 1979. At the same time he served on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory North in Chicago from 1963 to 1979. He was Dean of Studies at Quigley Preparatory North from 1969 - 1979. Father Vlazny was President of the Presbyteral Senate for the Archdiocese of Chicago 1976 to 1977. He was appointed Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Chicago, where he served from 1979 - 1981. He was appointed Rector of Niles College Seminary in 1981, and served in that position until 1983. He was named a Bishop by Pope John Paul II, and was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, on December 13, 1983. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Lake County and Northwestern Suburban Cook County. He was appointed Bishop of Winona, MN., by Pope John Paul II on May 19, 1987, and was installed as the sixth Bishop of Winona on July 29, 1987. On October 28, 1997 he was appointed the tenth Archbishop of Portland in Oregon. Archbishop Vlazny previously served on United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (previously National Conference of Catholic Bishops) committees: Chairman of the NCCB Vocations Committee, Chairman of the NCCB Committee on Evangelization, Chairman of USCCB Committee on University Presidents and Bishops, Chairman of USCCB Committee on Women in Society and in the Church, Chairman of USCCB Committee on the Economic Concerns of the Holy See, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on National Collections Member of the USCCB Administrative Committee Member of the Committee on Migration and Refugee Services, Member of the NCCB Priestly Formation Committee, Member of the NCCB Subcommittee on the Millennium, Member of the NCCB Committee on Consecrated Life, Member of the USCCB Committee for the North American College in Rome, Member of the USCCB Committee for Hispanic Affairs, Member of the USCCB Committee on the Relationship between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches, Member of the USCCB Committee on Catechesis, Member of the USCCB Committee on Diocesan Audits, Member of the USCCB Committee on Conciliation and Arbitration Member of the USCCB Committee on Shrines Member of the USCCB Task Force on Faith Formation & Sacramental Practice Consultant, USCCB Committee on African-American Catholics Consultant to the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship Chairman, Region XII Catholic Bishops Other Episcopal Services: Member of the board of Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corner, WI (1985 - 1994), Member of the board of the Catholic Communications foundation (1989 - 2007), Chairman of the Board of Oregon Catholic Press (1997 - Present), Chairman of the Board, Oregon Catholic Conference (1997 - Present), Member of the Board of Directors, Mt. Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, OR (2000 - Present), Episcopal Moderator, Catholic Cemetery Conference (2000 - 2009), Episcopal Liaison, National Council of Catholic Women (2001 - 2006), Trustee of the Catholic United Investment Trust, Christian Brothers Investment Service (2000 - 2007), Member of the Board of Advisors, Erasmus Institute, Notre Dame University (2001 - 2006).

Coat of Arms Explained

Archbishop Vlazny's column in the
Catholic Sentinel

Archbishop Vlazny's Catholic Sentinel Columns on the Child Sexual Abuse Situation

Archdiocese of Portland, OR

Lent's coming this Wednesday; Fr. Z has some Confession Tips for You

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Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession

We should…

1) …examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
2) …wait our turn in line patiently;
3) …come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
4) …speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
5) …state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
6) …confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
7) …listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
8) …confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
9) …carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10) …use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11) …never be afraid to say something “embarrassing”… just say it;
12) …never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13) …never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14) …never confess “tendencies” or “struggles”… just sins;
15) …never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16) …memorize an Act of Contrition;
17) …answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18) …ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19) …keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20) …remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.

Duluth woman wants to restore forgotten grotto's glory

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When Robin Mainella looks at the fenced-in, rocky patch of land just west of the Observation Hill Children’s Center, she sees a piece of history, and more.

“This is definitely a sacred place,” the Duluth woman says as she looks up at an overgrown mound of rock once the site of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The rocky rise, snug up against city land that once was home of the Darling Observatory, belongs to Bill and Trish Irving, who own the day care center on West Third Street off Mesaba Avenue. East of the center is a privately owned home that used to be the St. Peter’s Church rectory, and east of that is the church itself, which was closed in late 2010.

In 1945, all of the land belonged to the church, which served Duluth’s “Little Italy,” but there was no rectory and no school building. And the church’s priest, Father John Zarrilli, had a vision for the rocky hill above the church. He wanted an appropriate welcome home for men from Duluth’s Italian community who had served the country in World War II. The shape of the mound inspired his vision of what that tribute would be. The stone masons who were part of the St. Peter’s parish gave him the means.

“The same stone masons who built the church … and Enger Tower built this,” said Mainella, 54. “The stone masons … took a picture of the grotto that’s in Lourdes, France, and they replicated it. And they did a darn good job.”

Soon, St. Peter’s Church had its own version of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It imitated the grotto at the site where 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous saw her first vision of the Virgin Mary on Feb. 11, 1858. The St. Peter’s grotto included a statue of Saint Bernadette kneeling and looking up at a statue of the Virgin Mary.

A time capsule in the cornerstone contained the names of the Italian-

Americans from Duluth who served in World War II. Seven of them didn’t come back, Mainella said. A bronze plaque had the words: “Dedicated to St. Peter’s Church boys and all Italian-American boys of Duluth who served in the Second World War 1941-1945. Erected in honor of Mary, the Queen of Peace, praying that she may implore a lasting peace for America and the world.”

A simple stone altar was built in front of the grotto. Before the school was built in 1959, St. Peter’s had outdoor Masses in front of the grotto, Mainella said.

The altar was visible earlier this week amid the overgrowth, mostly covered in snow. The statues, the bronze plaque and the time capsule all are gone. Mainella said she’s determined to find the time capsule, but she has no idea where it is.

The Irvings, who bought the property from other private owners in 1996, have seen it.

“Unfortunately, that disappeared with a group of people who came by a few years back,” Bill Irving said.

The Irvings don’t know the names of the people who came for the time capsule about a decade ago, but they understood them to be members of the Italian-American Club. Some of them may have been named in the time capsule, Bill Irving said. The plaque had been stored in their building’s basement since before they bought it, and the group took that as well, he added.

Mainella, whose links to the church go back three generations, said the time capsule never should have been removed. She also thinks the grotto should be restored. “It might not be able to be restored to the extent that some people might consider restoration,” she said. “It certainly could be cleaned up.”

Mainella said she’s willing to do much of the work herself. She also has peppered people involved in historic preservation and veterans issues with e-mails advocating the grotto’s restoration. The response has been tepid.

Dan Hartman, a Duluth city councilor who is program curator for Duluth Veterans Memorial Hall, said the city has numerous neglected or forgotten memorials. Veterans Memorial Hall would be happy to preserve archives of the grotto, he said, but that probably would be it.

“It’s kind of hard to tell how large a significance it had to the veterans community when it was there,” Hartman said. “It probably had more significance to the church. Most veterans today don’t even know it existed.”

Kyle Eller, spokesman for the Diocese of Duluth, said the diocese is favorable in general toward anything that enhances devotional life. But the diocese would be unlikely to take a position on restoring the grotto, he said.

The Irvings have allowed Mainella and others access to the property, but they’re wary of restoration talk.

“If we have to give up the rights to the property, I’m not in favor of that at all,” Bill Irving said. “If she’s going to make it into a historical site which precludes us from selling it, that ain’t going to happen.”

Mainella said she wouldn’t even know how to get the grotto designated as a historic site, although she is part of an effort to have the nearby church named a historic landmark.

“Maybe it just needs to be restored, cleaned up and enjoyed,” Mainella said. “It was beautiful, and it could be beautiful again.” Duluth News Tribune

*153* Bishops Speak Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate

Updated: 153 Bishops Speak Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate; still nothing heard from Crookston, St. Cloud and Duluth
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Updated: *116* Bishops Speak Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate

by Thomas Peters
1 day ago

RSS

In the past I’ve compiled a list of all the bishops speaking out on a particular controversial issue (for instance, over Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama) — here are the bishops who have spoken out against the Obama/HHS mandate.

If I have missed anyone please let me know in the comments! And please double-check that your bishop really is not there before posting. The list is not in any particular order at this point.

Items in bold mean the statement was read at all diocesan Masses or included in all parish bulletins on Sunday:

• 1. Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles, CA (Emeritus)
• 2. Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York City, NY
• 3. Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin, TX
• 4. Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis, MO, former Auxiliary of St.P-Mpls, and Sioux Falls
  
• 5. Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, AZ
• 6. Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit, MI
• 7. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul & Minneapolis, MN
• 8. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, WI
• 9. Bishop Paul Etienne of Cheyenne, WY
• 10. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, CT
• 11. Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford, IL
• 12. Cardinal-designate Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore, MD
• 13. Bishop Felipe Estevez of Saint Augustine, FL
• 14. Bishop James Conley of Denver, CO
• 15. Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, IL
• 16. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh, PA, formerly of Green Bay
  
• 17. Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, IA
• 18. Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, VA
• 19. Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee, WI, formerly of La Crosse
  
• 20. Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, TX
• 21. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, TX
• 22. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, OH, formerly of Duluth
  
• 23. Bishop William Medley of Owensboro, KY
• 24. Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, GA
• 25. Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester, NH
• 26. Bishop Frederick Campbell of Columbus, OH
• 27. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, ME
• 28. Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, AR
• 29. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, OK
• 30. Bishop Patrick McGrath of San Jose, CA
• 31. Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, PA
• 32. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, FL
• 33. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angelas, CA
• 34. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, TX, formerly of Sioux City
  
• 35. Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, OH
• 36. Donald Cardinal Wuerl of Washington, DC
• 37. Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, TX
• 38. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
• 39. Bishop William Callahan of La Crosse, WI
• 40. Archbishop John Myers of Newark, NJ
• 41. Bishop Bernard Hebda of Gaylord, MI (better link needed)
• 42. Bishop David O’Connell of Trenton, NJ
• 43. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, NE
• 44. Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi, TX
• 45. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of Military Services, USA
• 46. Sean Cardinal O’Malley of Boston, MA
• 47. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, WI
• 48. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH
• 49. Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, LA
• 50. Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette, MI
• 51. Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, NC
• 52. Bishop Walter Hurley of Grand Rapids, MI
• 53. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, IL
• 54. Bishop Francis Malooly of Wilmington, DE
• 55. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte, NC
• 56. Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of Richmond, VA
• 57. Archbishop Roger Schwietz of Anchorage, AK, formerly of Duluth
  
• 58. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, ND
• 59. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon, AZ
• 60. Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge, LA
• 61. Bishop Sam Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux, LA
• 62. Bishop Michael Jarrell of Lafayette, LA
• 63. Bishop Ronald Herzog of Alexandria, LA
• 64. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA
• 65. Bishop Michael Duca of Shreveport, LA
• 66. Bishop Dale Melczek of Gary, IN
• 67. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita, KS
• 68. Bishop Peter Christensen of Superior, WI
• 69. Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, FL
• 70. Bishop Gregory Hartmayer of Savannah, GA
• 71. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, CA
• 72. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, PA
• 73. Bishop Michael Driscoll of Boise, ID
• 74. Bishop Robert Cunningham of Syracuse, NY
• 75. Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, ND
• 76. Bishop Paul Bradley of Kalamazoo, MI
• 77. Bishop Placido Rodriguez of Lubbock, TX
• 78. Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland, OR, formerly of Winona
  
• 79. Bishop Joseph McFadden of Harrisburg, PA
• 80. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center, NY
• 81. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, CO
• 82. Bishop Timothy McDonnell of Springfield, MA
• 83. Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, FL
• 84. Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford, CT
• 85. Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, NM
• 86. Bishop Robert Gruss of Rapid City, SD
• 87. Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach, FL
• 88. Bishop Michael Cote of Norwich, CT
• 89. Bishop Edward Kmiec of Buffalo, NY
• 90. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS
• 91. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, KY
• 92. Bishop Roger Foys of Covington, KY (better link needed)
• 93. Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm, MN
• 94. Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernadino, CA (better link needed)
• 95. Bishop Terry LaValley of Ogdensburg, NY
• 96. Bishop Salvatore Matano of Burlington, VT
• 97. Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, WA
• 98. Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport, IA (better link needed)
• 99. Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha, NE
• 100. Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau, AK (better link needed)
• 101. Bishop John Quinn on Winona, MN
• 102. Bishop Joseph Cistone of Saginaw, MI
• 103. Bishop Raymond Gaydos of Jefferson City, MO
• 104. Bishop Daniel Conlon of Joliet, IL
• 105. Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, SC
• 106. Bishop Frank DeWane of Venice, FL
• 107. Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, IA, former Auxiliary of St. Paul-Mpls
  
• 108. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, MA
• 109. Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, TX
• 110. Bishop John Kudrick, Eparchy of Parma, OH
• 111. Bishop John Barres of Allentown, PA (better link needed)
• 112. Bishop Ronald Gainer of Lexington, KY (better link needed)
• 113. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg, PA
• 114. Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, WA
• 115. Bishop Gerald Dino, Eparchy of Phoenix, AZ
• 116. Bishop George Murry of Youngstown, OH
  
• 117. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, MI
• 118. Bishop Tod Brown of Orange, CA
• 119. Bishop James Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO
• 120. Bishop James Wall of Gallup, NM (better link needed)
• 121. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, NJ
• 122. Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester, NY
• 123. Bishop Fernando Isern of Pueblo, CO
• 124. Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, TN
• 125. Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, WV
• 126. Archbishop Jerome Hanus of Dubuque, IA
• 127. Bishop Robert Brom of San Diego, CA (forthcoming, I am told); formerly of Duluth
  
• 128. Bishop David Choby of Nashville, TN (forthcoming, I am told)
• 129. Bishop Armando Ochoa of Fresno, CA (also apostolic administrator of El Paso, TX)
• 130. Archbishop-elect William Skurla, Eparchy of Pittsburgh (better link needed)
• 131. Bishop Paul Swain of Sioux Falls, SD
• 132. Bishop Joseph Galante of Camden, NJ
• 133. Bishop George Coleman of Fall River, MA
• 134. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio, TX
• Monsignor Kurt Kemo (apostolic administrator) of Steubenville, OH
• Father Barry Brinkman (apostolic administrator) of Salina, KS
• 135. Bishop Terry Steib of Memphis, TN
• Bishop William Skystad (apostolic administrator) of Baker, OR
• 136. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, MO
• 137. Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, CA
• 138. Bishop George Thomas of Helena, MT (forthcoming)
• 139. Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, IL (forthcoming)
• 140. Bishop Timothy Doherty of Lafayette, IN
• 141. Bishop Michael Warfel of Great Falls-Billings, MT
• 142. Bishop Michael Pfeifer of San Angelo, TX
• Edward Cardinal Egan of New York City, NY (Emeritus)
• 143. Bishop William Dendinger of Grand Island, NE (forthcoming)
• 144. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, RI
• 145. Bishop Curtis Guillory of Beaumont, TX (forthcoming)
• 146. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, TX
• 147. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa, OK
• 148. Bishop Mark Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown, PA
• 149. Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, ID
• 150. Bishop Joseph Pepe of Los Vegas, NV
• 151. Bishop Randolph Cavo of Reno, NV
• Bishop Alvaro Corrada (apostolic administrator) of Tyler, TX
• 152. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, NY
• 153. Bishop Charles Thompson of Evansville, IN
• 
  

Duluth's Bishop Sirba describes grief, acceptance of church closings

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In the end, Catholics came around to the realities facing the Duluth Diocese, Bishop Paul Sirba announced in a news conference Thursday at the Pastoral Center in Duluth.

In the end, Catholics came around to the realities facing the Duluth Diocese, Bishop Paul Sirba announced in a news conference Thursday at the Pastoral Center in Duluth.

The five-year strategic plan offered by Sirba has some harsh realities in it: the imminent closing and merging of up to 19 churches in the 10-county diocese, should the entire plan be implemented.

“People were very passionate,” Sirba said of a year of discussion on congregation sizes, the availability of priests, and the condition of churches physically and financially.

The downsizing is obviously a difficult turn for the diocese, Sirba said, “but some beautiful things happened as well.” He said the 45 families served by St. Phillip in Saginaw came to a realization that closing the church and melding into St. Rose in Proctor would serve them best.

“They said, ‘You know, there’s a bigger need,’” Sirba said, “and that awakened others in the deanery.”

While presiding over a Mass in Bruno, another church set to close, Sirba said he heard from 15 people in the congregation who came to the same conclusion — at one time it made sense to have a church, when the town was bustling.

“It’s different now,” Sirba said of Bruno residents’ sentiments. It was another example of a congregation that knew it was ready for a change, he said.

The long-range plan is also a reaction to a possible loss of 11 retiring clergy, a drop to 34 from 45. The good news, Sirba said, is that Duluth will have its largest-ever class of new priests when six men are entered through the diocese this spring.

The changes announced Thursday will be slowly implemented, Sirba said, but changes could come as soon as this summer. And the diocese will continue to review parishes across the five years, he said, meaning things could change. Another intensive long-range plan will be tackled in five years.

Some churches scheduled to close in earlier plans were spared: St. Joseph in Ball Club and St. Michael in Northome.

Major changes for the five regions within the diocese include:

Duluth: Our Lady of Mercy on Park Point closes and merges with St. Mary Star of the Sea; Star of the Sea shares priests with the Cathedral; in West Duluth, St. Elizabeth and St. Margaret Mary merge with St. James, with two worship sites retained; St. Joseph closes, with parishioners going to St. Lawrence; priests would serve St. Lawrence and Holy Family; west of Duluth, St. Phillip in Saginaw closes and merges with St. Raphael; priests would serve St. Raphael and St. Rose in Proctor.

Cloquet: St. Joseph in Finlayson and Sacred Heart in Bruno close and merge into St. Patrick in Hinckley; St. Isidore in Sturgeon Lake merges with St. Mary in Willow River with rotated services.

Brainerd: St. Joseph in Deerwood merges with St. Joseph in Crosby and a new church is built; churches in Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Pine River move toward a merger; Our Lady of Fatima in McGrath closes and merges with Holy Family in McGregor; Holy Family in Hillman closes and merges with Our Lady Fatima in Garrison.

Hibbing: Sacred Heart in Federal Dam and St. Ann in Bena close and merge into St. Mary in Deer River; St. Joseph in Ball Club shares services with St. Mary in Deer River; St. Kevin in Pengilly and St. Mary in Keewatin close and merge into St. Cecilia in Nashwauk; St. Joseph in Taconite and St. Mary in Marble close and merge into Mary Immaculate in Coleraine; St. John in Hill City and St. Paul in Warba merge with St. Joseph in Grand Rapids.

Virginia: Holy Spirit and Sacred Heart in Virginia, and Sacred Heart in Mountain Iron merge; Queen of Peace in Hoyt Lakes, St. John in Biwabik and Holy Rosary in Aurora share services.

As part of the five-year plan, and following the vision of the Vatican, the diocese will concentrate on making sure people stay with the church, Sirba said. By pooling congregants, priests can serve them more efficiently with a stress on keeping youth programs strong, he said.

Pope Benedict has declared 2012 a “Year of Faith” for Catholics across the world, calling members to take a more active role in the church and its teachings.

Sirba believes the plan revealed Thursday puts the Duluth Diocese in a better position to work on that mission: “This process of pruning the vine allows for more evangelism.” Duluth News Tribune

Top 20 Catholic Bloggers of 2011

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From the Aggie Catholic, the Newman Club of Texas A&M University

Top 20 Catholic Bloggers of 2011

(in no particular order)
[Three with Minnesota connections!!! Congratulations to them]

• Jennifer Fulwiler - Conversion Diary and National Catholic Register.
  One of the best bloggers on the scene today. Always thinking deeply.
• Deacon Greg Kandra - The Deacon's Bench.
  How he finds all the stuff he does, I will never know. I think he must have dozens of websites open at once 24 hours a day.
• Ed Peters - In the Light of the Law.
  Dr. Peters was my canon law prof and made canon law interesting. He does it on the blog as well. Former canon lawyer for the Diocese of Duluth, now in that position for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
  
• Carl Olson - Ignatius Insight Scoop.
  Books, music, culture, and more. I have no idea how Carl reads as much as he does or listens to as much music as he does. Must help to work where he does.
• Patrick Madrid - PatrickMadrid.com
  Patrick has been writing for a long time, but he only started blogging recently. He has found his blogging voice quickly. His dry wit is always entertaining.
• Fr. Z - What Does the Prayer Really Say?
  Doesn't put up with fluff, hype or messing with the liturgy. He has the most rabid followers. Former SPS seminarian; good friend to many in Minnesota
  
• Fr. Dwight Longenecker - Standing on My Head.
  Fr. Dwight shines most brightly when he takes on difficult subjects head on. He isn't shy about them either.
• Rocco Palmo - Whispers in the Loggia
  The #1 Catholic insider blog.
• Elizabeth Scalia - The Anchoress.
  Politics, religion, faith, and how it applies to life - wrapped up in one place.
• Mark Shea - Catholic and Enjoying It and National Catholic Register.
  Mark is probably the most prolific Catholic blogger. He posts on just about every topic there is all over the place.
• Patrick and Matthew Archbold - Creative Minority Report and National Catholic Register.
  Funny, irreverent, interesting, and I think I am the lost Archbold brother.
• Thomas Peters - American Papist / CatholicVote.org
  A very influential blogger who is widely read. Son of Ed Peters, above; born in Duluth.
  
• Brandon Vogt - The Thin Veil.
  New media, young Catholics and more.
• Jimmy Akin - National Catholic Register and Jimmy Akin.org.
  Jimmy likes details and being thorough and complete. I appreciate that.
• Danielle Bean - DanielleBean.com and Faith and Family Live.
  Danielle does it all. Mom. Wife. Editor. Writer. Blogger. All of that stuffed with wisdom and practical advice.
• Taylor Marshall - Canterbury Tales.
  Posts items you won't see anywhere else.
• Jeff Miller - The Curt Jester.
  Still making us laugh after many years. Yet, his best stuff is when he gets serious.
• Matt Warner - Fallible Blogma and National Catholic Register.
  Matt has great stuff, he justs needs to post more frequently. Your readers want more Matt!
• Simcha Fisher - National Catholic Register and I Have to Sit Down.
  One of the best all-around Catholic writers blogging today. I love her stuff.
• The Ironic Catholic.
  Just read her. Theology Professor at St. Mary's U in Winona, Mom, and Catholic Worker volunteer.
  

8 Heroic U.S. Military Chaplains, most of whom you haven't heard of

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by Miss Cellania - Mental Floss Blog

While researching the post 10 Heroic Battlefield Medics, I came across a couple of fascinating stories about military chaplains and their wartime exploits. Those stories were filed away for later, and they grew into a list of stories that deserve to be told and remembered. They are presented here in more or less chronological order.

1. Anthony Rey

Some contemporaries wrote of the Mexican-American War as one of U.S. Protestants against Mexican Catholics. President Polk responded to such allegations by appointing two Catholic priests to serve as military chaplains. Father Anthony Rey, a Jesuit from Georgetown University with no military background or training, participated in the battle of Monterrey in September of 1846. He tended to the wounded on the battlefield and gave last rites to the dying. Afterward, serving in north Mexico, he ventured out of the U.S. garrison to minister to the locals, despite warnings of the danger. In 1847 he said a mass at the village of Ceralvo, and never made it back. His body was found a few days later, stabbed through by lances. He was mourned by both the U.S. troops and the Mexicans he served.

2. Horatio Stockton Howell

Presbyterian minister Horatio Howell was chaplain of the 90th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. Most military chaplains at the time wore clerical black, but Howell preferred a regulation captain’s uniform. On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, Howell was serving at the infirmary set up at a church in Gettysburg when he went to the door and was confronted by a Confederate soldier demanding his surrender. The minister began to argue that he was a non-combatant and not subject to capture, but was shot and killed, probably due to the uniform.

3. John P. Chidwick

Father John P. Chidwick was the chaplain serving on the battleship USS Maine when it exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898. Tensions were already high, and this incident was the spark that began the Spanish-American War. Father Chadwick worked tirelessly through the night to rescue injured sailors and tend to their wounds. He was the last man to leave the ship. Two days later, Chadwick conducted the funeral rites in Havana for those who died.

4. John B. DeValles

Father John B. DeValles earned the nickname the “Angel of the Trenches” during World War I. He ventured into No Man’s Land in France to search for wounded and dying soldiers, and ministered to both the Allies and the Germans. During one foray, he did not return and was found unconscious and wounded, next to a dead soldier he had tried to help. DeValles’ wounds caused his health to suffer, but he continued to serve in France until 1919. He died a year later, never having completely recovered from his wartime attack. France awarded DeValles the Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor. Only a half-hour before he died, DeValles was notified that he would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It was pinned on him at his funeral in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The funeral carried full military honors, and all town flags were flown at half-staff. A school in the town was named in his honor.

5. Colman O’Flaherty

Father Colman O’Flaherty was an Irish immigrant who was educated in Canada and then worked to establish several schools in South Dakota in the early 20th century. When World War I began, he joined up and was sent to France as a chaplain with the the 28th Infantry. O’Flaherty was shot and killed while helping the wounded on the front lines on October 1, 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism in action.

6. Francis P. Duffy

Canadian-born Father Francis Duffy served in the Spanish-American War, and returned to service in 1916 to accompany troops in Mexico. Then during World War I he ministered to soldiers on the front lines in France. During battle, Duffy administered first aid and last rites as well, often under heavy fire. For his service and bravery, the priest was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal. After the war, Duffy served as pastor of Holy Cross Church near Times Square in New York until his death in 1932. Duffy Square in the city’s theater district is named after Father Duffy. He was portrayed by Pat O’Brien in the 1940 film The Fighting 69th. Father Duffy is pictured on the right.

7. John G. Burkhalter

Rev. John G. Burkhalter was a professional boxer who became a Southern Baptist minister in Florida in 1932. He then earned a degree in history and immediately joined the military when he graduated in 1942. Burkhalter was assigned as a chaplain with the First Infantry and landed in Normandy with Allied forces during the D-Day invasion on August June 6, 1944. In October, Burkhalter worked to recover the wounded and dead during the Battle of the Bulge. He went missing for several weeks and was discovered in a French hospital, having sustained several head wounds during the battle. Burkhalter was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star as well as a Purple Heart for his activities under fire. After the war, he stayed with the army, eventually serving in the Korean War. Burkhalter retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. In 1992, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

8. Francis L. Sampson

If you’ve seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, you might be surprised to learn that the real hero who reunited the soldier Private Ryan was based on with his remaining family was a chaplain. Father Francis L. Sampson was “The Paratrooper Padre” with the 101st Airborne Division who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, landing behind enemy lines in a river. He dove to the bottom to retrieve his equipment because he couldn’t lose his Mass kit. Sampson was once captured but was saved from being shot by an enemy unit leader who was Catholic. He ministered to friend and enemy alike, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his activities in France. Sampson then went into action in Holland, where his parachute jump landed him again in water -a castle moat. He was captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and imprisoned near Berlin for four months. That camp was liberated by the Russians in 1945. But that wasn’t the end of Sampson’s heroics -he went on to serve in Korea, then stayed with the army to train other chaplains and eventually became Chief of Chaplains. He retired with the rank of Major General and a slew of medals in 1971. But that’s not all! Father Sampson was then appointed to head the USO, and he spent the rest of the Vietnam War visiting troops with entertainment tours. He died in 1996 at the age of 83.

We’ve only made it to World War II, and there are other heroic stories from the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and more recent conflicts. Those will be posted next week.

Minnesota's Laboure Society Helps Vocation Discerners With Payment of Education Loans

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Young people who wish to pursue a religious vocations have assistance in paying off their debt thanks to a nonprofit society.

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by JOSEPH PRONECHEN 01/05/2012 Comment

St. Catherine Laboure

– Wikipedia

When Allen Alexander wanted to pursue his calling to the priesthood, which he had since he was a child, he was faced with a major obstacle: Even though he received some scholarship assistance and worked while at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he still had thousands of dollars of school debt to pay off before the congregation he applied to would let him enter.

When Amy Turner went on an Ignatian retreat while working at a Boston hospital and had plans to study to be a nurse, she realized “God gave me the desire for a vocation, and that was what I had to respond to.” But she still was paying off debt from the University of Dallas.

Augustine DeArmond felt the call to religious life and the priesthood, but he too was still whittling down college debt, even though he had started teaching. Accepted by the Dominicans, he said, “As with most religious communities today, our province asked me to handle most of the debt before coming into formation.”

Faced with the same dilemma, each turned for help to the Labouré Society (LaboureSociety.org). Since 2001, the Labouré Society has blossomed into a lay apostolate that has already helped more than 220 individuals resolve their financial debt to enter religious life and who are now ordained, professed or in formation.

Brother Alexander was able to take his first vows in 2010 and begin studies for the priesthood with the Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Brother DeArmond professed simple vows in 2008 with the Dominicans, who sent him to study this year with their Blackfriars in England. Today, Turner is Sister Louise Marie, a novice with the Sisters of Saint Benedict Center, Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Still River, Mass.

In the past few years Cy Laurent, founder and director of the Labouré Society — although he considers himself only the humble servant of the real founder (the Holy Spirit) — is busier than ever.

Having started this project from his home as a hobby, a year and a half ago Laurent moved into an office in Eagan, Minn., and now has two assistants. Praying about the move, he bumped into a man whose name kept coming to him in prayer. When Laurent explained the situation, the gentleman gave him an office with a free five-year lease.

“This is why you listen to the Holy Spirit,” Laurent said.

“There’s a real urgency here,” he added. He pointed out there are up to 10,000 discerners in the United States courageous enough to consider priesthood and religious life. “We must deliver these vocations to the Church.”

But the problem is: 99% of them who have gone through interviews and been tested and are qualified by vocation directors, bishops and religious communities have educational debt that averages $40,000 just for an undergraduate degree.

“The only thing that prevents them entering formation is this debt,” Laurent emphasized. In comes the society, which helps raise money to pay off this debt. “It’s a monumental task the Church can’t answer. They don’t have the money. Laypersons must respond to this.”

Over the years, Laurent, formerly a Minnesota businessman, has tweaked the process to benefit both aspirants and donors. He works with small groups, around 10 of them, at once. They develop a campaign, and Laurent motivates and counsels them. They pray together. The board decides how and when the funds are distributed to the members. Because the society is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, donors receive tax benefits. That applies to family and friends who donate, too.

Brother DeArmond reminds people they don’t have to know anyone personally to help someone enter religious life. By donating to the Labouré Society, they help anyone called to religious life but without means to enter because of debt. There are anonymous donors.

The board of directors makes grants against the debts of aspirants in a staged way in case someone leaves during discernment. For instance, payment on debt comes in steps, like entering as a candidate, first profession to postulant, then novice. Any remaining debt is eliminated at final vows or ordination.

Sister Catherine Marie of the Holy Trinity looks fondly upon the Labouré Society. In February 2011 she took her final vows with the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Laurent was present.

“It was incredible to have him there and witness all that had happened since the beginning when I was first thinking about religious life,” said Sister Catherine Marie, one of the first aspirants who was helped by the society.

She had been working jobs during her school years and summers to pay her school debt, then happened to meet Laurent.

“It was really clear to me it was totally sound and a good thing he was doing,” she explained. “The people would know what they’re giving their money to.”

It was difficult to ask for money, but Laurent made the process blessed and easy, she said. Along with help from her friends, the Labouré Society paid off her final debt.

Laurent credits her with helping to confirm the name for the society. He well remembers first meeting her: “She was walking toward me, and the sun was shining on her Miraculous Medal pin.”

Before that, the first woman he helped was also wearing a Miraculous Medal pendant. Because both of these women were wearing the Miraculous Medal that our Blessed Mother gave to St. Catherine Labouré, Laurent chose the saint as the society’s patron.

Patrons of another sort now come from across the country in the form of vocation directors and bishops’ endorsements.

“We are so grateful to the Labouré Society for assisting some of the women in application with us,” said Sister Antoniana Maria, vocation director for The Sisters of Life. “They provide a great service to the Church to allow the opportunity to follow God’s call.” In September, a new postulant entered thanks to help from the society.

Those helped see added advantages.

Sister Louise Marie said the society was a “third party” endorsement: giving her greater credibility to people she was asking for help. And the prayers and encouragement she received from the society remain priceless.

“Mr. Laurent had such joy in my vocation that it increased my own understanding of what a wondrous thing it is to be called to be the bride of Christ,” she said. “I’m glad to know he’s going to be praying for me forever.”

Brother Alexander can’t help but see “the love Cy Laurent and others who work for him have and their commitment to help young men and women struggling (to pursue their vocation).”

“Cy Laurent is one of the most enthusiastic people I’ve met,” Sister Catherine Marie said, “and so in line with the mission of the Church and the message of our Holy Father Pope Benedict and John Paul II before him about vocations to the priesthood and religious life.”

What is one of Laurent’s biggest motivating factors that should inspire donors?

“To think about the importance of one vocation,” he emphasized. “Priests and religious today are making an unbelievably important impact on members of society.”
National Catholic Register

Little Falls nun, advocate for orphans, to celebrate 100 years

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Sister Justina Bieganek

LITTLE FALLS — A Franciscan nun known for her leadership in orphan train reunions will celebrate her 100th birthday this month.

Sister Justina Bieganek, OSF, will celebrate with an 11 a.m. Mass and an open house from 2-4 p.m. Jan. 15 at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls.

Bieganek came to Avon on an orphan train when she was 22 months old. She was among more than 250,000 children from New York City who traveled west by train to adoptive families between 1854 and 1929.

Bieganek’s original name was Edith Peterson, and she learned that she was born to a widowed mother who was unable to care for her. John and Mary Bieganek adopted her when she came to Avon; she also helped the Bieganeks’ son and his wife raise their 13 children.

Justina Bieganek went to St. Francis High School in Little Falls and entered St. Francis convent in 1929. In her 82 years as a Franciscan sister, she has served as an advocate at the St. Cloud Orphanage, office worker, parish visitor, CCD instructor, sacristan and organist. She continues to work daily at St. Francis Music Center, where she has been a clerk for 31 years.

One of her greatest passions has been her effort to tell the story of the orphan trains and organize reunions for the orphans and their descendants. The 51st reunion was Oct. 1 in Little Falls. St. Cloud Times

My great-grandparents adopted a brother and sister off of an Orphan Train in the 1890s In Negaunee, Michigan. Sadly we have lost contact with them over the years.

Please Join Me In Prayer and Fasting for the Protection of Marriage In My State

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from B-Bach's Beat by Michael Blissenbach

In Minnesota, where I was born, raised, and still live, we will be voting next November on whether or not to amend our state constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. The Most Reverend John Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is calling on all Catholics to pray, as well as fast on all Fridays, for the protection of marriage in Minnesota. I join my Archbishop in calling on my brother and sister Catholics, whether in Minnesota or not, to join me in prayer and fasting for this effort. Archbishop Nienstedt recently released a prayer he wishes to be prayed regularly by Catholics for this intention, and I have included it below. The prayer can also be found on the website for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis here:

Heavenly Father,

Through the powerful intercession of the Holy Family, grant to this local Church the many graces we need to foster, strengthen, and support faith-filled, holy marriages and holy families.

May the vocation of married life, a true calling to share in your own divine and creative life, be recognized by all believers as a source of blessing and joy, and a revelation of your own divine goodness.

Grant to us all the gift of courage to proclaim and defend your plan for marriage, which is the union of one man and one woman in a lifelong, exclusive relationship of loving trust, compassion, and generosity, open to the conception of children.

We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

10th Annual Apologetics Conference - Featuring Peter Kreeft PhD - Saturday, January 7th at 1:00 p.m.

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Register - Now - Bring Your Kids!

Cost is only $15 per person - $10 ages 18 and under - Clergy/religious free!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D is the featured speaker at the Holy Name Society's 10th Annual Apologetics Conference. First talk begins at 1:00 p.m.

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Boston College and at the King's College (Empire State Building), in New York City. He is a regular contributor to several Christian publications, is in wide demand as a speaker at conferences, and is the author of over 55 books including Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Christianity for Modern Pagans, and Fundamentals of the Faith.

Dr. Keeft is one of today's most knowledgeable Apologists! His "Handbook of Catholic Apologetics" is the only book that categorizes and summarizes all the major arguments in support of the main Christian beliefs, including key distinctively Catholic doctrines. Also included is a Protestant-friendly treatment of Catholic-Protestant issues. The Catholic answers to Protestant questions show how Catholicism is the fullness of the Christian faith.

Time		Conference Schedule
12:30 p.m.		Registration Begins (Refreshments - Books for Sale in lower level)
12:40 p.m.		Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary
1:00 p.m.		"7 Very Good Reasons to Be Catholic"
		Break - Refreshments - Books for Sale - Lower Level
2:20 p.m.		"Ecumenism Without Compromise"
		Followed by Special Q & A Session
4:15 p.m.		Book Signing - Lower Level
5:00 p.m.		Vigil Mass - Main Church

Conference Flyer

All Saints Catholic Church
19795 Holyoke Avenue
Lakeville, MN 55044

Come; be inspired by these powerful presentations plus a Q & A session.

• Learn more about the Catholic Faith and how best to share it with your non-Catholic friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers.

• Learn the best defense of the faith and how to deliver the message with conviction.

• Question & Answer Session - have your questions answered by Peter Kreeft Ph.D. Send your questions via e-mail to Info@nomensanctum.org and Peter will answer it the day of the conference!

Register - Now

Cost is only $15 per person - $10 ages 18 and under - Clergy/religious free!

MSNBC Poll: Bishops say rules on gay parents limit freedom of religion

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Go to the MSNBC article and vote in the poll!!!

Bishops say rules on gay parents limit freedom of religion

'In the name of tolerance, we’re not being tolerated,' says canon lawyer

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

updated 12/28/2011 5:42:01 PM ET 2011-12-28T22:42:01

WASHINGTON — Catholic Charities in Illinois has served for more than 40 years as a major link in the state’s social service network for poor and neglected children. But now most of the Catholic Charities affiliates in Illinois are closing down rather than comply with a new requirement that says they can no longer receive state money if they turn away same-sex couples as potential foster care and adoptive parents.

For the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops, the outcome is a prime example of what they see as an escalating campaign by the government to trample on their religious freedom while expanding the rights of gay people. The idea that religious Americans are now the victims of government-backed persecution is now a frequent theme not just for Catholic bishops, but also for Republican presidential candidates and conservative evangelicals.

“In the name of tolerance, we’re not being tolerated,” said Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., a civil and canon lawyer who helped drive the church’s losing battle to retain its state contracts for foster care and adoption services.

Formidable opponents
The Illinois experience indicates that the bishops face formidable opponents who also claim to have justice and the Constitution on their side. They include not only gay rights advocates, but also many religious believers and churches that support gay equality (some Catholic legislators among them). They frame the issue as a matter of civil rights, saying that Catholic Charities was using taxpayer money to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Tim Kee, a teacher in Marion, Ill., who was turned away by Catholic Charities three years ago when he and his longtime partner, Rick Wade, tried to adopt a child, said: “We’re both Catholic, we love our church, but Catholic Charities closed the door to us. To add insult to injury, my tax dollars went to provide discrimination against me.”

The bishops are engaged in the religious liberty battle on several fronts. They have asked the Obama administration to lift a new requirement that Catholic and other religiously affiliated hospitals, universities and charity groups cover contraception in their employees’ health plans. A decision has been expected for weeks now.

At the same time, the bishops are protesting the recent denial of a federal contract to provide care for victims of sex-trafficking, saying the decision was anti-Catholic. An official with the Department of Health and Human Services recently told a hearing on Capitol Hill that the bishops’ program was rejected because it did not provide the survivors of sex-trafficking, some of whom are rape victims, with referrals for abortions or contraceptives.

Critics of the church argue that no group has a constitutional right to a government contract, especially if it refuses to provide required services.

But Anthony R. Picarello Jr., general counsel and associate general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, disagreed. “It’s true that the church doesn’t have a First Amendment right to have a government contract,” he said, “but it does have a First Amendment right not to be excluded from a contract based on its religious beliefs.”

The controversy in Illinois began when the state legislature voted in November 2010 to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples, which the state’s Catholic bishops lobbied against. The legislation was titled “The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act,” and Bishop Paprocki said he was given the impression that it would not affect state contracts for Catholic Charities and other religious social services.

Adoption services jettisoned
Bishops in Washington and Massachusetts had already decided to jettison their Catholic Charities’ adoption services rather than comply with nondiscrimination laws.

In New York State, religious groups lobbied for specific exemption language in the same-sex marriage bill. But bishops in Illinois did not negotiate, Bishop Paprocki said.

“It would have been seen as, We’re going to compromise on the principle as long as we get our exception. We didn’t want it to be seen as buying our support,” he said.

Catholic Charities is one of the nation’s most extensive social service networks, serving more than 10 million poor adults and children of many faiths across the country. It is made up of local affiliates that answer to local bishops and dioceses, but much of its revenue comes from the government. Catholic Charities affiliates received a total of nearly $2.9 billion a year from the government in 2010, about 62 percent of its annual revenue of $4.67 billion. Only 3 percent came from churches in the diocese (the rest came from in-kind contributions, investments, program fees and community donations).

In Illinois, Catholic Charities in five of the six state dioceses had grown dependent on foster care contracts, receiving 60 percent to 92 percent of their revenues from the state, according to affidavits by the charities’ directors. (Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Chicago pulled out of foster care services in 2007 because of problems with its insurance provider).

When the contracts came up for renewal in June, the state attorney general along with the legal staff in the governor’s office and the Department of Children and Family Services decided that the religious providers on state contracts would no longer be able to reject same-sex couples, said Kendall Marlowe, a spokesman for the department.

The Catholic providers offered to refer same-sex couples to other agencies (as they had been doing for same-sex and unmarried couples), but that was not acceptable to the state, Mr. Marlowe said. “Separate but equal was not a sufficient solution on other civil rights issues in the past either,” he said.

Some decide to fight
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Rockford decided at that point to get out of the foster care business. But the bishops in Springfield, Peoria, Joliet and Belleville decided to fight, filing a lawsuit against the state.

Taking a completely different tack was the agency affiliated with the conservative Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, which like the Catholic Church does not sanction same-sex relationships. Gene Svebakken, president and chief executive of the agency, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, visited all seven pastoral conferences in his state and explained that the best option was to compromise and continue caring for the children.

“We’ve been around 140 years, and if we didn’t follow the law we’d go out of business,” Mr. Svebakken said. “We believe its God- pleasing to serve these kids, and we know we do a good job.”

In August, Judge John Schmidt, a circuit judge in Sangamon County, ruled against Catholic Charities, saying, “No citizen has a recognized legal right to a contract with the government.” He did not address the religious liberty claims, ruling only that the state did not violate the church’s property rights.

Three of the dioceses filed an appeal, but in November filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit. The Dioceses of Peoria and Belleville are spinning off their state-financed social services, with the caseworkers, top executives and foster children all moving to new nonprofits that will no longer be affiliated with either diocese.

Gary Huelsmann, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, in the Belleville Diocese, said the decision was excruciating for everyone.

“We have 600 children abused and neglected in an area where there are hardly any providers,” he said. “Us going out of business would have been detrimental to these children, and that’s a sin, too.”

The work will be carried on, but the Catholic Church’s seminal, historic connection with it has been severed, noted Mr. Marlowe, the spokesman for the state’s child welfare agency. “The child welfare system that Catholic Charities helped build,” he said, “is now strong enough to survive their departure.”

This article, "Bishops Say Rules on Gay Parents Limit Freedom of Religion," originally appeared in The New York Times.