Everyone was saddened recently to hear the news that one of the priests, Miguel Luna, who served this Diocese has acknowledged that he abused a young adolescent girl in the 1980’s. One of my most heart-wrenching tasks as a bishop has been to speak to victims of such abuse, to hear their story and feel the terrible pain they have endured, often for many years.
It has taken the Church and society as a whole a long time to face this issue and to recognize the depth of the harm that is caused when a person who is supposed to represent God uses a child or any other person for their own perverted and lustful purposes. Many victims of abuse will struggle to recover throughout their lives. Victims of abuse by a priest often also understandably struggle with their relationship with God and the Church. I continue to be deeply sorry for the pain that members of the Church have caused. For many years I have regularly fasted and prayed for all the victims of abuse. As a Diocese we have been working with these victims when they come to us through the offices of our Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, Susan Martinez, LCSW. She is always willing to listen to victims who seek us out and to give whatever assistance we as a Diocese can offer for their healing. We have also put into place a process by which we can investigate allegations of abuse. Of course, we always recommend that a victim approach law enforcement if they have not done so. We have a long-standing Pastoral Response Committee, which is made up of counseling professionals and others who are independent from the Diocese and are experts in conducting investigations into these allegations. They present their findings to our Review Board, which draws conclusions and recommends actions regarding consequences for the perpetrator and assistance for the victim. As you are aware, this problem of sexual abuse is not only a problem within the Church, it is found in every institution of society including schools, youth organizations and within families. One of the proactive responses we have taken to this scourge of abuse is the institution of a new program for the training of clergy, staff and volunteers in parishes and catholic schools. We had a program in place for some time but under my direction we hired a full time Safe Environment Coordinator, Diana Bulko, MPS. She was given the charge to find the most effective program of safe environment formation that is currently available. We decided on the program known as VIRTUS. For two years now we have been using this program and in this brief time we have trained over 15,000 people, including clergy, diocesan and parish staff and parish/school volunteers throughout the Diocese. Every parish and catholic school in the Diocese has a school/parish-based safe environment coordinator and under their direction national back ground checks have been conducted and over 500 classes are offered in parishes and catholic schools every year. People are trained as to how to recognize signs of inappropriate behavior and to be aware of indications that a child is experiencing abuse. I invite you to pray and to work with me that we can root out this terrible evil from our midst—from the Church, from our institutions, from our families, from all of society! Everyone has a role in this fight. In combatting abuse ignorance is one of our greatest enemies. You can help up to make our communities places where all children and vulnerable adults are truly safe and loved, respected and served as Jesus has taught us. Bp. Mark
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Tenemos un estado en Los Estados Unidos que tiene el lema, "Show Me", "Muestrame", el Estado de Missouri. No significa que son gente que no creen nada, solo significa que son gente que no creen todo sin verificacion. Ellos, como todos humanos de sabiduria necesitan ver las indicaciones, las pruebas, que algo es verdaderamente la verdad.
Esta fue el caso con Abram, nuestra padre de fe en el antiguo testimento. El Senor, Dios, ha dicho varios veces que iba a ser padre de una nacion grande en la tierra que le dio, aunque ahora en su vijez y la de su esposa, Sara, no tenian ningun hijo. Como un humano, una creatura de espiritu y carne, necesita una indicacion, un signo material para afirmar su alianza con Dios. Dios entiende esta necesidad humana. Dios siempre dice la verdad pero nosotros no siempre podemos entender claramente lo que esta diciendo en nuestros corazones. Con Abram Dios participo en un rituo de alianza con los animales que Abram ofrecio como un sacrificio a El. Por eso su unico Hijo, JesuCristo, vino para compartir nuestra vida, aceptar nuestros sufrimientos como suyos, y morir en la cruz como una afirmacion en todo el tiempo de su amor y su salvacion. En el evangelio el Senor nos da este mensaje, cuando nos ensena que solo puede reconocer un arbol por sus frutos. En este sentido podemos entender porque Maria, para nosotros Catolicos, no es simplemente una mujer, como todas las otras. Cristo es el fruto mas buena que un arbol humano ha producido. Maria, como su Madre, es por eso un arbol incomparable. Como Madre de nuestro hermano, Jesus, ella continua produciendo buen fruto para sus hijos. Aqui estamos en la Basilica de nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. Aqui no solamente podemos recordar como ella ha mostrado a nosotros el amor de Dios, pero podemos ver con nuestros ojos un signo fuerte e incomparable de su amor, la tilma de San Juan Diego. Todavia en nuestro tiempo ella esta presente expresando su amor y ternura para sus hijos e hijas mas necesitados. Esta presente a los pobres, presente con los migrantes, presente con los enfermos, presente con todos los que viven en los perifericos de la vida humana, como fue presente para los indigenas del tiempo de Juan Diego. Si usted es como los de Missouri en las pruebas de su fe y dice, "Show me", "Muestrame", solo necesita mirar arriba aqui! Obispo Mark J. Seitz First Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-3a, 6a, 8b-9
Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-7, 11-13 Gospel: John 20: 19-23 What the Church needs today are more Martyrs! Any volunteers? I’m not just speaking on my own here. I am drawing from the homily of Pope Francis just a couple days ago. He said, “A Church without martyrs breeds distrust.” Why? Because, as he pointed out, the path of daily conversion should lead us to move from “a worldy, tranquil, safe, lukewarm Catholic, to the joy of Christ’s announcement.” Yes! We need Martyrs! Many of you gathered here this evening might be surprised to hear this. You might be thinking we just came to see a nice ceremony in which some young men are deputized for their new job; prepared to live in a nice house, drive nice cars, eat out whenever and wherever they want, take nice vacations and be cared for by the Church. But the young men whom we Ordain this evening are not surprised by the Pope’s statement. For one thing they have read and studied the Scriptures. They themselves had a hand in choosing the readings we just heard proclaimed representing the languages of the countries from which they have come. They know that when the Prophet Isaiah says he was anointed by the Spirit to bring glad tidings to the lowly, liberty to captives, release to prisoners, and so on, he accepted that those in power would not always be happy with his witness. Isaiah knew he would stir things up and make those who were doing evil uncomfortable. No matter how lovingly and mercifully this Word is proclaimed there will be some who will not like it, some who feel threatened by it. When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians he was already in prison as we heard at the beginning of the second reading. Who can read Paul without knowing that he was well aware of what his call implied: that he needed at every turn to be willing to give up his life for the sake of Christ? As he says in another place, “I wish…to know how to share in his sufferings by being formed into the pattern of his death.” (Phil. 3:11) Who can deny that we need more martyrs, like Paul? When Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples as we heard in the Gospel it was so that through the Spirit his life would be recapitulated in theirs. As the Father had sent him, so he was sending them. As he had forgiven sins, so they would forgive sins. As he had healed, so they would heal. As he had preached good news to the poor, so they would preach. As he had laid down his life, so they would lay down their lives. The Church needs more Martyrs! The easy kind of martyrdom, if I might dare say so, is the kind where in one brief glorious moment one professes his faith and is slain. The truth of course is that no one is ready for that moment unless by their daily prayer and service and acceptance of suffering they have habitually laid down their lives they will not be ready when the definitive moment comes. The word “martyr” means “witness”. All the Baptized are called to be witnesses by their lives, but by your Ordination you yourselves become radical signs, “witnesses” to the living, breathing presence of Christ in the world. By the promise of celibacy, which you reaffirm today, Cong, a promise which you, German and Victorino, will make in the presence of the Church for the first time, you reveal the Spirit’s power and the depth of your commitment to God’s people. You reveal the in-breaking of God’s kingdom into the here and now of our world, a kingdom in which, as Jesus taught us our love will be so non-exclusive, our love will be so without limits, that no one will be married or given in marriage. You will promise obedience to me and my successors, freely choosing to lay aside the fallen human quest for radical independence, even from God. You will promise to be persons of prayer, prayer rooted in the consecration of all the hours of the day by joining in the prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours. Implicit in your calling is the commitment to live according to the Gospel in simplicity of life and self-giving for the sake of God’s people. By living in this way you yourselves will be living witnesses of the Mysteries you celebrate. I have confidence that you, my brothers who are about to be ordained to the diaconate, and you Cong, who will be Ordained to the priesthood are ready to accept this challenge. Part of what makes me confident is when I consider your heritage, your bloodline, if you will. German, you are from Columbia, a country that has suffered through a protracted civil war. The people and the Church there have been caught between Marxist guerillas and right wing death squads for 50 years. According to the Colombian bishops’ conference, 85 priests, two bishops, eight religious men and women, and two seminarians have been killed for their faith in your country since 1984. Victorino, you come from the southern islands of the Philippines, namely Mindanao. Your home has also been torn by strife between Islamic extremists and an often corrupt and unjust government. Your country’s martyrs extend from Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod of the XVII Century to events that are targeting priests and bishops even today. Vietnam, as you well know, Cong, has always been a Church of Martyrs from its beginnings in the XVI Century when the Faith first arrived there until now. Pope John Paul II Canonized over 100 in 1988, but, of course there have been thousands more killed because of their faith, bishops, priests, religious and laity. We should particularly mention the saintly, François Xavier Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan who spent 13 years in prison and whose cause for canonization has begun. In addition there are those untold thousands of Vietnamese who live their faith today with great sacrifice such as your own parents have done. How grateful we are for the richness of the heritage of Faith you three bring to us! How appropriate that you will soon prostrate yourselves in the same place where 99 years ago, our own martyr-saint, San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado, first began his ministry as a witness to Christ, a witness that was capped 19 years later by the shedding of his blood. El Paso is also a Church of Martyrs, it is a community of people who even today give their lives with great commitment as witnesses of Christ. We pray that together through the power of the Holy Spirit we might strengthen one another to be faithful to our calling and by our generous self-giving be signs to all the world of the victory of Christ’s cross. Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz Over the years considering this Gospel I have come to have a special affection for this character of the Gospel, Zacchaeus. I just realized why: I am Zacchaeus!
I am the one who has been seeking, wanting to leave former ways behind, hearing of Jesus, wanting to rise above the crowd to see him. I am the one he approached and offered his mercy. Jacob of the first reading has always been a favorite of mine. He too is seeking God, reflecting upon his life and future, dreaming. No wonder he was dreaming, how could he possibly get any deep REM sleep if his pillow was a rock? I’m more the daydreaming type. I have dreamed about having a relationship with God, doing something good with my life for Him. In this sense I am Jacob too! St. Patrick has always been one of my favorite Saints. That is in part because of my Irish ancestry on my mother’s side. We were always raised to be proud of those roots. But I have also loved his story. A boy from Vth Century England who is kidnapped at the age of 16 and forcibly brought to Ireland where he was put to work as a shepherd and lived as an immigrant for six years. After he was Ordained a priest he chose to return to the place where he had been as a slave after seeing a vision of the people calling him to share his Faith with them. Patrick encountered God as he cared for the animals in long hours outdoors and in dreams. He came to know himself as well. In his writing he refers to himself in this way: “I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers.” If this is St. Patrick, it is certainly me. It is interesting to note that all of these figures had their significant experiences of God outdoors. Many of mine have been as well, out in this midst of God’s creation--places made holy by His presence. But I have encountered God here in this building as well as I am sure you have. When Jacob had his experience of God that night in a dream he realized that he lay on holy ground. His head rested upon a holy stone. The God, who is present throughout every corner of the universe chose to reveal Himself in a particular place. How true is this of the place we gather tonight. When this Cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Schuler in 1917 it became the house of God. How many times through these 100 years has God acted within these walls? Every church is holy, but how much more can that be said of a church that is also beautiful and in its beauty raises our minds to the divine. As if this were not enough, the holiness of this church is affirmed by an event that took place here on February 11th 1918, a year after the dedication: a man who would be recognized as a canonized Saint was Ordained within these walls, San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado. It may well have been here that he celebrated his first Mass. How many other saints have begun their life as a child of God here? How many have first met him in the Eucharist at the foot of this sanctuary? How many have received the Holy Spirit in Confirmation? How many have been nourished by the Word of God? How many have processed up this aisle to promise their mutual love and enter into the holy union of Matrimony? How many Bishops have been Ordained or Installed here? How many have encountered a loving consoling God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? How many have knelt here in a quiet solitary moment to pray? Yes, I too have encountered God here in moments private and very public, simple and sublime. Jesus told Zacchaeus that he would come to his house. He has come to ours as well. For generations the Faith of the holy People of God in El Paso has been nourished and strengthened here. We are part of this holy place and it is part of us. Tonight we rejoice in God’s work among us and His faithfulness and we pray that in this holy place generations to come will reflect and dream, be inspired and committed to God’s service, until the very day of Christ Jesus. Amen! Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz The Church, like Jesus, cares for people, and in a special way we care for the poor and the marginalized. We will continue to walk with migrants and refugees and raise our voices in their defense. As we know from our experience serving those who have been crossing in recent years those who are coming are not leaving their homes purely for economic reasons; they are fleeing deadly violence and threats against them and their families. Although some are fleeing from parts of Mexico, the majority are coming from the Northern Triangle of Central America: El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. As displaced refugees according to International law, which the United States helped to write, it is not illegal to enter another country when one is seeking asylum. It would not only be unChristian, it would be unAmerican to deny these refugees an opportunity to prove they qualify for protection. Regarding the wall the Church in the United States has long held that it would be a much more efficient use of our taxpayer dollars if we would: 1) put in place a comprehensive immigration reform which addresses this country's need for workers and 2) assist sending countries in their need for assistance to overcome the gang and drug violence that is forcing the departure of so many and creating such desperation. We would also like to remind our immigrant brothers and sisters that we live in a democratic republic. No one person will have free reign to enforce his decisions. We will support legislative and court actions if the fundamental human rights of anyone is threatened. To all these actions we will add our prayers that our new President will be open to these Gospel principles and that God will continue to provide for His beloved poor. Bp. Mark J. Seitz Declaración Sobre los Planes Anunciados por el Presidente Trump Sobre Asuntos Fronterizos La Iglesia, como Jesús, cuida a su gente, y de una manera especial cuidamos a los pobres y marginados. Continuaremos caminando con migrantes y refugiados, y elevaremos nuestras voces en su defensa. Como sabemos por nuestra propia experiencia al servicio de aquellos que han estado cruzando en los últimos años, los que están viniendo no están dejando sus hogares solamente por razones económicas; Huyen de la violencia mortal y amenazas contra ellos y sus familias. Aunque algunos están huyendo de algunas partes de México, la mayoría provienen del Triángulo Norte de América Central: El Salvador, Honduras y Guatemala. Como refugiados desplazados, de acuerdo con el derecho internacional que Estados Unidos ayudó a escribir, no es ilegal entrar a otro país cuando se solicita asilo. No sólo sería anti-Cristiano, sería anti-Estadounidense negar a estos refugiados la oportunidad de demostrar que califican para esa protección. Respecto al muro, la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos ha mantenido por mucho tiempo que sería un uso mucho más eficiente de los dólares de nuestros contribuyentes si queremos: 1) poner en marcha una reforma integral de la inmigración que aborde la necesidad de trabajadores de este país; y 2) ayudar a los países emisores en su necesidad de asistencia para superar la violencia de pandillas y drogas que está forzando la salida de tantos, y creando tal desesperación. También queremos recordar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes que vivimos en una república democrática. Ninguna persona tendrá manos libres para hacer cumplir sus decisiones. Apoyaremos acciones legislativas y judiciales si los derechos humanos fundamentales de cualquier persona son amenazados. A todas estas acciones añadiremos nuestras oraciones para que nuestro nuevo Presidente esté abierto a estos principios del Evangelio y que Dios continúe proveyendo a sus amados pobres. Obispo Mark J. Seitz Those who live along the Border have a very different understanding of the reality here. For many who view the border from a distance it is a static place, a no man’s land of separation between “us” and “them”. For those of us who live here the border is a living place, a point from which rich cultures encounter one another, families meet and commerce thrives.
I think we can all agree that a national border should provide for an orderly flow and that efforts should be made to limit the passage of contraband such as drugs or people with ill intent. We should also do what we can to limit the flow of illegal arms from our country to points south. This being said no border should be so impermiable that even those fleeing for their lives cannot pass. The truth is that most who cross today without documents are voluntarily turning themselves into authorities. No fence will prevent this from happening. As Pope Francis has often reminded us a border should also be a place of bridges. Our funds which presently are beings directed to building more and more elaborate walls would be much better spent assisting sending countries in Central America to begin to create effective democratic governments that provide justice and peace to their people so they borders will not feel forced to flee. Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz Bishop of El Paso Aquellos que viven a lo largo de la frontera tienen una comprensión muy diferente de la realidad aquí. Para muchos que ven la frontera desde lejos, es un lugar estático, tierra de nadie y de una separación entre "nosotros" y "ellos". Para aquellos de nosotros que vivimos aquí en la frontera, es un lugar vivo, un punto en el cual las ricas culturas se encuentran unas entre otras y las familias se reúnen y el comercio prospera. Yo creo que todos podemos estar de acuerdo en que una frontera nacional debe proporcionar un flujo ordenado y que se deben hacer esfuerzos para limitar el paso del contrabando, tales como las drogas o las personas con malas intenciones. También debemos hacer lo que podamos para limitar el flujo de armas ilegales desde nuestro país a los puntos del sur. Habiendo dicho esto, ninguna frontera debe ser tan impenetrable que ni siquiera los que huyen para salvar sus vidas no pueden pasar. La verdad es que la mayoría de los que cruzan hoy sin documentos, se convierten involuntariamente en autoridades. Ninguna valla impedirá que esto suceda. Así como el Papa Francisco nos recuerda a menudo; una frontera también debe ser un lugar de puentes. Nuestras finanzas, las cuales actualmente están siendo dirigidas hacia la construcción de muros cada vez más elaborados, estarían mucho mejor si se dedicaran a ayudar a los países emisores de Centroamérica, iniciando por crear gobiernos democráticos y efectivos los cuales proporcionarían justicia y paz a sus pueblos para que las fronteras no se sintieran forzadas a huir. Rev. Mark J. Seitz Obispo de El Paso On December 31st many of us will be gathered with family and friends counting down the seconds to a new year we will call “2017”. A few of us will have gone to bed hours well before the countdown calculating that the new year is quite capable of beginning without us. No matter the group to which we belong it is safe to say we will all take note that a new cycle of days has begun.
The beginning of a year is rightly understood not simply as an excuse to celebrate but an occasion for reflection. In order to truly celebrate we need to be able to point to a reason for our joy. What is it that brings us joy at the beginning of a new journey around the sun for planet earth? No one who pays any attention to events in this world of ours can fail to discern many concerning trends and reasons for feeling unsettled about what may unfold in 2017. The life and dignity of people throughout the world is being violated in horrifying ways. The Middle East continues to be a place of instability with the potential to draw the world's great powers into direct confrontations. Climate change and other environmental concerns are showing their effects. In the United States it is hard to imagine a time since the Civil War when we have been so polarized. No matter where you may find yourself on the political spectrum one thing we all have in common is that we are very concerned about the direction of our country and of our society. As we honestly reflect about our own personal lives and our families we can be confident that challenges will lie in store for us in the coming year. What will become of your ailing parent? What about your sibling with the troubled marriage? What will become of your adult child who is addicted to drugs? What are the prospects for your dead end job? So I return to my earlier question: What is it that brings us joy at the beginning of this new journey around the sun? What is the reason for hope in the face of so many ominous realities? It should be clear that humanity is not going to save itself. To put our trust in science, as impressive as its progress has been, is not prudent. Technology can be used for both good or ill and humanity has not shown itself capable of pursuing only the good in a world of nuclear proliferation. Must we simply close our eyes to these trends and suggest the only answer is to ‘eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die?’ I think not! Remember why it is that we call this year "2017". We begin our counting of the years based upon the event upon which all history turns: the entrance of the Son of God into the world. Without this unimaginably good news history would only be a meaningless cycle provided with only one escape, death. Because God has entered our life to save us; since he has revealed his mercy and unfolded his saving plan, we have every reason to celebrate as a new year begins. Hope has been born! Joy has a reason! Bp. Mark J. Seitz Bishop of El Paso El 31 de diciembre muchos de nosotros estuvimos reunidos con familiares y amigos contando los segundos para un año nuevo al que llamaremos "2017". Algunos de nosotros nos fuimos a la cama horas antes de la cuenta regresiva, calculando que el año nuevo sería bastante capaz de comenzar sin nosotros. No importa el grupo al que pertenecimos, pero con seguridad podemos decir que todos tomamos nota de que un nuevo ciclo de días ha comenzado. El comienzo de un año se entiende correctamente, no simplemente como una excusa para celebrar, sino una ocasión para la reflexión. Para celebrar realmente necesitamos ser capaces de señalar una razón para nuestra alegría. ¿Qué es lo que nos trae alegría al comienzo de un nuevo viaje alrededor del sol para el planeta tierra? Nadie que preste atención a los acontecimientos de este mundo nuestro, puede dejar de discernir muchas de las tendencias y las razones para sentirse inquieto acerca de lo que puede ocurrir en 2017. La vida y la dignidad de las personas en todo el mundo están siendo violadas de manera horripilante. El Oriente Medio sigue siendo un lugar de inestabilidad con el potencial de atraer a las grandes potencias del mundo para enfrentamientos directos. El cambio climático y otras preocupaciones ambientales están mostrando sus efectos. En los Estados Unidos es difícil imaginar un momento desde la Guerra Civil cuando hemos estado tan polarizados. No importa dónde se encuentre en el espectro político, una cosa que todos tenemos en común es que estamos muy preocupados por la dirección de nuestro país y de nuestra sociedad. Al reflexionar honestamente acerca de nuestras propias vidas personales y nuestras familias, podemos estar seguros de que los desafíos estarán en el almacén para nosotros, el próximo año. ¿Qué será de su padre enfermo? ¿Qué pasa con su hermano que tiene problemas matrimoniales? ¿Qué será de su hijo adulto, adicto a las drogas? ¿Cuáles son las perspectivas de su trabajo cuando lo siente como un callejón sin salida? Así que vuelvo a mi pregunta anterior: ¿Qué es lo que nos trae alegría al comienzo de este nuevo viaje alrededor del sol? ¿Cuál es la razón por lo que la esperanza se enfrenta a tantas realidades ominosas? Debe quedar bien claro que la humanidad no va a salvarse a sí misma. Poner nuestra confianza en la ciencia, tan impresionante como ha sido su progreso, no es prudente. La tecnología puede usarse para bien o para mal y la humanidad no se ha mostrado capaz de perseguir sólo lo bueno en un mundo de proliferación nuclear. ¿Acaso debemos simplemente cerrar los ojos a estas tendencias y sugerir que la única respuesta es "comer, beber y ser felices para mañana morimos?" ¡Creo que no! Recuerden el por qué es que llamamos a este año "2017". Comenzamos nuestro recuento de los años basado en el acontecimiento sobre el cual gira toda la historia: la entrada del Hijo de Dios en el mundo. Sin esta historia inimaginablemente buena, la historia sólo sería un ciclo sin sentido, provisto de un solo escape; la muerte. Porque Dios ha entrado en nuestra vida para salvarnos; ya que ha revelado su misericordia y desplegado su plan de salvación, tenemos todas las razones para celebrar cuando comienza un año nuevo. ¡La esperanza ha nacido! ¡La alegría tiene una razón! Obispo de El Paso Mark J. Seitz Respect for the Bodies of the Living and the Dead/Respeto por los Cuerpos de los Vivos y los Muertos12/7/2016 December 6, 2016
Respect for the Bodies of the Living and the Dead The El Paso Times recently published two articles which railed against a new Texas law. The law, which goes into effect Dec. 19, requires the interment of the unborn who are lost through abortion or miscarriage. This is not a new requirement. Texas Administrative Code §1.136 already included interment as one of three possible ways to dispose of the bodies of children lost through abortion or miscarriage. The revision only removes the other two options: “deposition in a sanitary landfill;” and “grinding and discharging to a sanitary sewer system.” That is, the revision repeals the two deposition options that do not recognize the dignity of an unborn child, while keeping one that does. With our present knowledge of biology no one could reasonably argue today that the human being in utero is simply an appendage of the mother. The developing child is a distinct human being that is dependent upon the mother for nourishment and oxygen but is internally directing its own growth. We human beings have always treated the body of a deceased person with respect. Our treatment of the deceased is a logical extension of the respect we are called to show to every living human person. I might add that this is not simply a religious conviction. It is an integral aspect of the mutual respect that is necessary within any healthy society. The Times claims this will drag women through an experience they didn’t have to go through before. This is not true. The law did not, and will not, require that patients participate in the interment. What the law will offer women is the consolation of knowing that the body of their unborn child will be given a proper burial. In addition, the law specifically applies only to healthcare facilities, and excludes women who lose a child outside of a healthcare facility, such as at their own home. Others have contended that the state has no legitimate ability to make this revision. This is not true, either. The state already has at least eight laws which recognize the dignity of the unborn, such as one which includes them in penalties for wrongful death. In addition, the US Supreme Court’s 1992 Planned Parenthood v Casey ruling and its 2007 Gonzales v Carhart ruling noted a central premise of its abortion jurisprudence is that “the government has a legitimate and substantial interest in preserving and promoting fetal life.” The Court continued in its 2016 Whole Women’s Health ruling, however, that a woman’s reproductive rights can supersede this interest. More clearly defining how the body of an unborn child should be treated in no way interferes with the ability of a woman to receive an abortion. An industry which makes millions of dollars annually performing abortions should not find the cost of proper interment prohibitive. The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity. I am confident that Texans of good will want our state to be defined by compassion and by our care for the bodies of those who have been lost at any stage of life. Bishop Mark J. Seitz, Bishop of El Paso 6 de Diciembre del 2016 Respeto por los Cuerpos de los Vivos y los Muertos El periódico “El Paso Times”, publicó recientemente dos artículos que critican a una nueva ley de Texas. La ley, la cual entra en vigor el 19 de diciembre, requiere que se entierren los no nacidos quienes se pierden a causa de un aborto o un embarazo malogrado. Este no es un requisito nuevo. El Código Administrativo de Texas §1.136, incluía ya el entierro como una de las tres maneras posibles de disponer de los cuerpos de niños perdidos a causa del aborto o de un embarazo malogrado. La revisión sólo elimina las otras dos opciones: "deposición en un relleno sanitario" y el de "moler y descargar a un sistema de alcantarillado sanitario". Es decir, la revisión deroga las dos opciones de deposición que no reconocen la dignidad de un niño por nacer, mientras que mantiene una que si lo hace. Con nuestro conocimiento actual de la biología, nadie podría razonablemente argumentar hoy en día, que el ser humano en el útero es simplemente un apéndice de la madre. El niño en desarrollo es un ser humano único, que depende de la madre para nutrirse y oxigenar, pero que está internamente dirigiendo su propio crecimiento. Nosotros, los seres humanos, siempre hemos tratado con respeto el cuerpo de una persona fallecida. Nuestro tratamiento para con el fallecido, es una extensión lógica del respeto que estamos llamados a mostrar a cada persona humana, viva. Puedo añadir que esto no es simplemente una convicción religiosa. Es un aspecto integral del respeto mutuo que es necesario dentro de cualquier sociedad sana. El “Times” afirma que esto arrastrará a las mujeres a través de una experiencia que no tuvieron que pasar antes. Esto no es verdad. La ley no requería y no requerirá, que los pacientes participen en el entierro. Lo que la ley ofrecerá a las mujeres, es el consuelo de saber que el cuerpo de su hijo aún no nacido recibirá un entierro apropiado. Además, la ley se aplica específicamente sólo a los centros de salud y excluye a las mujeres que pierden a un niño fuera de un centro de salud, como en su propia casa. Otros han sostenido que el Estado no tiene capacidad legítima para hacer esta revisión. Esto tampoco es cierto. El Estado tiene ya al menos ocho leyes que reconocen la dignidad de los no nacidos, como la que los incluye en penalización por muerte injusta. Además, el fallo de la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos en 1992, en cuanto a “Planned Parenthood v Casey”, ( Casey v. Planned Parenthood (1992), la Corte Suprema afirmó la decisión básica de Roe v. Wade de que se prohíbe al estado prohibir la mayoría de los abortos. Casey también falló, sin embargo, que los estados pueden regular los abortos para proteger la salud de la madre y la vida del feto y puede proscribir abortos de fetos "viables") y el fallo “Gonzales v Carhart” del 2007, (Gonzales v. Carhart (2007), la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos sostuvo en una decisión de cinco a cuatro que la Ley de Prohibición del Aborto por Nacimiento Parcial de 2003 aprobada por el Congreso de los Estados Unidos era constitucional. Aunque la Corte dictaminó previamente en Stenberg v. Carhart (2000) que una ley de Nebraska que prohibía abortos de nacimiento parcial era inconstitucional, Gonzales revirtió esta decisión. Gonzales creó el precedente de que cualquiera que entregue y mata a un feto vivo podría estar sujeto a consecuencias legales, a menos que él o ella realizara el procedimiento para salvar la vida de la madre), señaló que una premisa central de su jurisprudencia sobre el aborto es que, "el gobierno tiene un interés legítimo y sustancial en preservar y promover la vida fetal". La Corte continuó con su fallo decisivo del “2016 Whole Women’s Health”, (El 27 de junio, la Corte Suprema votó 5-3 a favor de “Whole Woman's Health”, poniendo fin a la regulación de Texas sobre las clínicas de aborto como médicamente innecesarias e inconstitucionales, limitando el derecho de una mujer a un aborto), sin embargo, señalo que los derechos reproductivos de una mujer pueden sustituir este interés. Más claramente definiendo cómo debe tratarse el cuerpo de un niño por nacer, no interfiere en absoluto con la capacidad de una mujer para recibir un aborto. Una industria que hace millones de dólares anuales realizando abortos, no debe encontrar el costo de un enterramiento adecuado, prohibitivo Los cuerpos de los muertos deben ser tratados con respeto y caridad. Estoy seguro de que los Tejanos de buena voluntad quieren que nuestro estado se defina por la compasión y por nuestro cuidado para con los cuerpos de los que se han perdido en cualquier etapa de la vida. Obispo de El Paso, Mark J. Seitz November 9, 2016
Statement of Bp. Mark J. Seitz on Outcome of Presidential Race The Election results are in and our country has elected Donald Trump as our next President. As I and many in the Church have repeatedly said over these last months both of the leading candidates took positions that were antithetical to basic Catholic principles and they presented serious concerns. As Catholics we hold to a Consistent Ethic of Life. We believe that every human person, no matter their stage in life, their sex, their national origin, their economic status, or their disabilities deserves love, respect and care. For this reason based upon the positions frequently stated by our President-elect we can find reasons for hope and for serious concern. We rejoice today that those at the first stages of their lives prior to their birth, who need protection on their migration from their mothers’ wombs, should be receiving more protection and support. We are hopeful that those at the end of their life’s journey will also be cared for and not killed in some twisted notion of mercy. At the same time we in the Church are very concerned about our brother and sister refugees and migrants who have escaped or are escaping unimaginable violence and suffering in their home countries to seek safety here. We are also concerned about our brothers and sisters who are Muslim who may be singled out simply based upon their religious confession. Today many immigrants are understandably fearful. Children and young people who know nothing but life in this country as the sons and daughters of immigrants wonder if their parents will be present when they return from school. Those fleeing direct death threats in their home countries or the murder of their family members have heard of the fate of hundreds who were forced back to their places of origin after running from murderous gangs and narco-traffickers. To you I would like to offer some assurances. This country has elected a President, not a dictator. We, in this democratic republic have a system of checks and balances so that the rights of individuals are safeguarded. Campaign rhetoric is just that. Now comes the challenge of governing. For that, a leader must work with others and seek places of compromise. I also want to assure those who are fearful today that I and all leaders of the Church will continue to stand by your side. We will do all in our power to assure that your voice is heard, that you are protected and that this nation remains true to its basic ideals. Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, DD Bishop of El Paso 9 de Noviembre del 2016 Los resultados electorales están listos y se ha elegido a Donald Trump como nuestro próximo presidente. Así como yo y muchos en la Iglesia hemos dicho repetidamente durante estos últimos meses, los dos principales candidatos tomaron posiciones que eran contrarias a los principios católicos básicos y presentaban serias preocupaciones. Como católicos sostenemos una Ética Consistente de Vida. Creemos que toda persona humana, no importa su etapa en la vida, su sexo, su origen nacional, su estatus económico o sus discapacidades, todos merecen amor, respeto y cuidado. Por esta razón, basándonos en las posturas expresadas con frecuencia por nuestro Presidente electo, podemos encontrar razones de esperanza y a la vez, de seria preocupación. Nos alegramos hoy de que los que están en las primeras etapas de su vida antes de nacer, que necesitan protección en su migración del vientre de sus madres, estén recibiendo más protección y apoyo. Tenemos la esperanza de que aquellos que están al final del viaje de su vida, también serán atendidos y no asesinados debido a una noción torcida de misericordia. Al mismo tiempo, en la Iglesia estamos muy preocupados por nuestros hermanos y hermanas refugiados y migrantes que han escapado o están escapando de la violencia inimaginable y el sufrimiento en sus países de origen para buscar la seguridad aquí. También estamos preocupados por nuestros hermanos y hermanas que son musulmanes y que pueden ser señalados basándose simplemente en su confesión religiosa. Hoy, muchos inmigrantes están comprensiblemente temerosos. Los niños y jóvenes que no conocen más que la vida en este país, como hijos e hijas de inmigrantes, se preguntan si sus padres estarán presentes cuando regresen de la escuela. Aquellos que huyen de las amenazas directas de muerte en sus países de origen o el asesinato de sus familiares y que han oído hablar del destino de cientos de personas que fueron obligadas a regresar a sus lugares de origen después de huir de bandas asesinas y narcotraficantes. A todos ustedes, hoy quiero ofrecerles algunas garantías. Este país ha elegido a un presidente, no a un dictador. En esta república democrática tenemos un sistema de controles y equilibrios para que los derechos de los individuos sean salvaguardados. La retórica de la campaña es sólo eso. Ahora viene el reto de gobernar. Para eso, un líder debe trabajar con otros y buscar lugares de compromiso. También quiero asegurarles hoy a todos los que hoy temen, que yo y todos los líderes de la Iglesia seguiremos estando a vuestro lado. Haremos todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para asegurar que su voz sea escuchada, que esté protegida y que esta nación siga siendo fiel a sus ideales básicos. Excmo. Mark J. Seitz, D.D Obispo de El Paso |
AuthorMost Rev. Mark J. Seitz Archives
May 2020
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