Response from Bishop Kopacz to a recent bill passed by the legislature in the state of Mississippi - HB 1523

Our mission to serve and educate: Bishop Kopacz addresses bill concerns

(from the Diocese of Jackson website, posted on April 11, 2016).  

“The Diocese of Jackson supported and would continue to support a religious exemption on behalf of the mission of the Catholic Church with regard to education and social services. We would like to continue to provide these services while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The diocese had no involvement in the other portions of the bill that addressed business and government operations. The church will continue to work to protect its First Amendment right to worship, to educate and to serve in the public domain while respecting the dignity of all citizens.”

I responded to the recent inquires and feedback with the above statement regarding diocesan support for religious freedom that was signed into law in Mississippi with HB 1523. This law is wide ranging and it affects not only First Amendment Rights for recognized religious denominations, but also supports individual citizens with respect to freedom of conscience. The controversy, as we know, surrounds the conflict between religious freedom and freedom of conscience vs. discrimination. Most notably, although not exclusively, this has focused upon same sex civil unions and the redefinition of marriage in the law of the United States. For me as the Bishop of Jackson it is important to address this matter of vital importance as follows.

Parish Life and Worship The unchanging teaching of the Catholic Church regarding marriage for nearly two thousand years has been the indissoluble and faithful union of one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage between two baptized Christians. This is one of our seven Sacraments. I first wrote about it last summer after the Supreme Court ruling. This unchangeable teaching has been restated by Pope Francis in his just released Post Synod Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, (The Joy of Love). “Marriage is between a man and a woman, and homosexual unions cannot be placed on the same level as Christian marriage.” (AL250) That said, it is important that we all learn to imitate God’s unconditional love for everyone.

Pope Francis wholeheartedly continues: “The Church makes her own the attitude of the Lord Jesus, who offers his boundless love to each person without exception.” (AL250) Furthermore, everyone is a son or daughter; everyone has a family history; everyone has bonds of love with family members; and everyone has friends in difficult and painful situations. “It is a matter of reaching out to everyone, or needing to help each person find his or her proper way of participating in the ecclesial community, and thus to experience being touched by an unmerited, unconditional, and gratuitous mercy.” AL297

Pope Francis is beloved by many because he is able to reaffirm the teachings of the Church with fidelity, compassion, and hope, a standard for the entire Church. Some want to frame the debate surrounding the Church’s teaching as discrimination and hostility toward homosexual persons. On the contrary, we are being faithful to our mission to “speak the truth in love” and to live with the heart and mind of our risen Lord who came that all might be reconciled to God.

The Mission to Educate At the end of Saint Matthew’s Gospel, in the great mandatum directed to his apostles, Jesus said: “Go and baptize all the nations, teaching them everything I have commanded you, and know that I am with you until the end of the age.” The Church has been faithful to this mission for nearly two thousand years in a myriad of ways: most notably in the family, in parish communities, and in formal education. The Catholic Diocese of Jackson has been part of this mission to educate since its inception in 1837 in all manners of teaching, including in our Catholic School system begun in 1847. I provided a broader overview of our proud legacy of education in the State in my letter to the State Legislature. The letter is available below.

All teachers who formally represent the Catholic Church in our schools or parishes must teach what the Church believes, and must live in a manner that is in harmony with Church teaching. With respect to marriage in our mission to teach a Catholic must be married in the Church. If a Catholic is living with another – even if the couple is a man and woman – without benefit of marriage, or married civilly without benefit of a Church marriage, then they would not be hired, or their employment would be terminated. Same sex civil unions are seen in this light and the standards that underlie our Catholic ethos would apply. This is not a matter of discrimination but of being faithful to the mission and Gospel teachings entrusted to the Church by the Lord Jesus. My letter to the Legislature (available below) concerns the right of the Church to hire and commission educators without animus or prejudice to our tradition of faith.

Lastly, it is essential to point out that the Catholic Church in Mississippi has educated all who have come through our doors, beginning with the children of slaves in the 1840s. Non Catholics comprise a significant percentage of those who occupy the seats in our school system, both as students and teachers, and diversity has been our hallmark since desegregation.

The Mission to Serve In the same letter to the State Legislators I made an appeal to the First Amendment Right to serve with regard to Catholic Charities which has been at the forefront of outreach to vulnerable populations in Mississippi since the mid 1960s. Currently there are 23 programs or ministries that serve homeless veterans, victims of domestic violence and rape, legal immigrants, unaccompanied refugee minors and children in the state foster care system, to name a few. We serve all who are in need or in crisis situations with expertise, compassion, confidentiality and respect. The dignity of each person is upheld, and no one is turned away.

The two areas of concern of which I wrote surrounded adoption and foster care, asking the legislators to uphold our desire to serve while remaining faithful to our tradition of marriage in the placement of children. Throughout the country these programs have been addressed differently by state. At this time an accommodation for religious organizations is not needed in Mississippi with HB1523. Should this law be repealed, we would again request these specific exemptions. Although we are receiving public funds to carry out these programs, I still believe that it would be beneficial to our state for all sectarian and non-sectarian organizations to work together to serve vulnerable children. If a sectarian organization, like the Catholic Church, can only go so far because of their beliefs, other organizations can then address this gap in service. I believe that legislators can apply First Amendment common sense to support the service of the Church in society when by far and away it is a legacy of service for the common good.

In conclusion, I hope that it is clear that the Catholic Church in Mississippi is committed to building up the quality of life for all Mississippians, treating all with dignity and respect while remaining faithful to our tradition of faith, education, and service. Our role in supporting this bill was limited to the specific issues outlined above. This is invoked with malice toward none. Likewise, there is certainly a place for freedom of conscience in the public domain, an inviolable attribute of human dignity, but it should never be employed to discriminate against any person, a direct assault against human dignity.

Yours in Christ,
+ Bishop Joseph Kopacz
Bishop of Diocese of Jackson

10 de abril de 2016 – el tercer domingo de pascua – Juan 21, 1-19

      Alberto Einstein fue uno de los científicos  del siglo 20. Einstein enseñaba la física en la Universidad de Princeton en los Estados Unidos.  Viajaba en tren un día.  En el tren, el conductor salió por el pasillo para perforar los boletos de los pasajeros. Einstein, aunque era un físico brillante, podía ser  muy distraído. Cuando el conductor se acercó a Einstein, se dio cuenta de que no podía encontrar su boleto. Revisó los bolsillos del abrigo, y la camisa, los bolsillos y los pantalones – no podía encontrarlo.  El conductor, muy amable y comprensivo, explicó: "Dr. Einstein, no se preocupe, yo te conozco, y confío en que compraba el billete ".  Cuando el conductor terminaba con los otros pasajeros, miraba que Einstein estaba de rodilla, debajo de los asientos, buscando el boleto.  El conductor volvió a él, asegurándole, "Dr. Einstein, le dije que no se preocupe. No es necesario que me muestre su boleto. Estoy seguro de que usted compró uno ".  Einstein respondió: "Mi hijo, usted me conoce, confía en mí, y me dijo que yo no necesito mostrar mi boleto. Entiendo muy bien, y, por eso, estoy muy agradecido. Pero, tengo que encontrar ese boleto, porque no tengo ningún idea de dónde voy ".  Podemos preguntar: Como discípulos de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, ¿sabemos dónde viajamos? ¿Tenemos nuestro destino a la vista?  ¿O no estamos seguros de dónde tenemos que ir?

      Los cuentos en los Evangelios durante la temporada de Pascua nos ayudan a comprender la realidad de Jesucristo resucitado en nuestras vidas.  La semana pasada, escuchamos el cuento de Tomás Apóstol, de cómo Jesús se acercó a Tomás en medio de sus dudas y su incredulidad, ayudando a Tomás a creer y crecer en su fe.  Al igual que Jesús buscó a Tomás y nunca renunció su punto de visto, en el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús buscó a los discípulos en medio de su decepciones y sus penas y su incertidumbre.  En la primera semana de Pascua, en las lecturas del Evangelio en las misas diarias, el Evangelio de Lucas contó que después de conocer a Jesús en el camino de Emaús, los discípulos se preguntaban si habían visto un fantasma o una alucinación.  En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos ayuda a comprender la realidad de su resurrección, que él no es una alucinación o un fantasma.  Jesús realiza un milagro para los discípulos en el Mar de Tiberio en medio de su viaje de pesca, que en este milagro, ellos atraparon más peces que las redes podrían soportar. Luego se les muestra una gran hospitalidad, preparándolos desayuno. Un fantasma o una aparición ciertamente no podían preparar el desayuno y luego compartir una comida con ellos.  Nos recuerda que en la pasión de Cristo que escuchamos durante la semana santa, Pedro negó a Jesús tres veces. En la actualidad, como Jesús le pregunta a Pedro si lo ama tres veces en el Evangelio de hoy, afirma a Pedro, animándole a pastorear a sus ovejas, y para atender a los discípulos de Cristo.

      Al igual que Einstein no sabía el destino de su viaje en tren, a veces nuestras palabras y nuestras acciones muestran que no estamos seguros de nuestro destino final en nuestra vida.  Como los discípulos en el Evangelio de hoy, podemos buscar por el significado y la presencia de Dios en nuestro camino, pero podemos tener mucho desafíos y sufrimientos en este búsqueda.   Jesús nos asegura que él es nuestro Señor y nuestro Salvador.  Como Jesucristo está levantado de los muertos a la vida nueva, la vida nueva que tenemos en él nos da una responsabilidad.  La misión de Jesucristo, la misión de la Iglesia, la misión de los primeros apóstoles - es nuestra misión también.  Debemos mantener nuestros ojos en nuestro destino espiritual. No debemos perder la llamada que tenemos como discípulos de Cristo.

4/10/2016 – 3rd Sunday in the season of Easter – John 21:1-19

     Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientific minds of the 20^th century. He was teaching physics at Princeton University here in the United States when he was traveling by train one day.  The conductor came down the aisle to punch the passengers’ tickets.  Einstein, though he was a brilliant physicist, was famous for being very absent-minded.  When he saw the conductor approach him, he realized that he could not find his ticket.  He checked his coat pockets, his vest pockets, his shirt pockets, and pants pockets – no ticket anywhere.  The conductor, very kind and understanding, spoke to him when he saw him frantically searching for the ticket: “Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know you, and I trust that you bought your ticket.” After the conductor punched the rest of the tickets in the railroad car, he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees, looking under the seats, still searching for the ticket.  The conductor returned to him, reassuring him, “Dr. Einstein, I told you not to worry.  You don’t need to show me your ticket.  I am sure that you bought one.”  On his hands and knees, Einstein looked up to him, saying, “Young man, you know me, you trust me, and you told me that I don’t need to show you my ticket.  I understand, and, for that, I am very grateful.  But young man, I have to find that ticket, because I have no idea where I am going.”  I wonder: As disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, do we know where we are going?  Do we have our destination in sight?  Or are we unsure of where we need to go?

      Our Gospel stories during this joyful Easter season help us to understand the reality of the resurrected Jesus in our lives.  Last week, we heard the wonderful story of Thomas the Apostle, of how Jesus approached Thomas in the midst of his doubts and unbelief, helping Thomas to believe and to grow in his faith.  Just as Jesus searched out Thomas and never gave up on him, in today’s Gospel, Jesus goes in search of the disciples in the midst of their disappointment and their sorrows and their uncertainty.  In the first week of Easter, during one of the daily Gospel readings, Luke’s Gospel recounted how after meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the disciples wondered if they had seen a ghost.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus helps them understand the reality of his resurrection, that they are not hallucinating or seeing a ghost.  Jesus performs a miracle for them at the Sea of Tiberius in the midst of their fishing trip, having them catch more fish than their nets could bear.  Then he shows them great hospitality by preparing them breakfast.  A ghost or an apparition certainly wouldn’t cook them breakfast and then share a meal with them.  We remember how in Christ’s passion, Peter denied Jesus three times.  Today, as Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times, he affirms Peter, encouraging him to shepherd his flock and to tend his sheep. 

      Like Einstein not knowing the destination on his train trip, sometime our words and our actions show that we, too, are not sure of our final destination.  Like the disciples in the Gospel today, we can be searching for purpose and meaning on our journey, seemingly not sure of where to look.  Jesus reassures us as our Lord and our Savior.  Just as he is rose from the dead to new life, the new life that we have in him gives us a purpose and a responsibility in our lives of faith.  Jesus’ mission, the Church’s mission, the mission of those first apostles – that is our mission as well.   May we keep our eyes on our spiritual destiny.  May we not lose sight of who we are as disciples of Christ. 

4/8/2016 – Friday of the 2nd week of Easter – John 6:1-12

       As we hear the well-know account of Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and the fish in the 6^th chapter of the Gospel of John, right before Jesus explained to the disciples that he was the bread of life, one detail that might catch our attention is the young boy who gives up his lunch in order for the rest of the crowd to eat.  Yes, he is just a small boy, but he plays a crucial role in this miracle story.   This boy’s small contribution makes this miracle possible.   Jesus often takes sometime who is unlikely or seemingly unimportant according the values of society and he calls them to play a key role in the proclamation of God’s kingdom.  How does God call us to be an instrument of his ministry in our daily lives?  Do we fail to recognize someone we come across in the way he has been called to do God’s work in the world?  Jesus comes to us in his body and blood in the Eucharist.  He comes to us in many ways in our daily lives. And we ourselves are called to be Jesus to others. May we never fail to recognize the presence of Jesus that is with us in its different manifestations.  

4/7/2016 – Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter –Acts 5:27-33

         This Sunday marks the 61^st anniversary of the death of the Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.   Just by his name we can tell that he is going to be a fascinating person.  Teilhard de Chardin has not been canonized a saint yet.  He hasn’t been beatified either.  Yet, his journey of faith and his profound writings have attracted a loyal following among many Christians, especially those who are scientifically oriented.  The fact that he can be described as both “a mystic and a scientist” shows that his is quite an interesting individual.  He was an accomplished geologist and paleontologist, having had a key role in the discovery and interpretation of “Peking man” in China in 1929-1930.  He was quite an accomplished theologian as well.  Yet, his theological writings were way before his time; the Church forbade him from publishing any of his theological writings during his lifetime. In his obedience as a priest, he complied with that order.  Since his death, his writings have been published.  His view of God in all of creation and the scientific mindset in which he approaches theology appeals to those in the modern world who approach God with the mind of a mathematician or scientist.  So many in the world today think that God can not be reconciled to science and technology, but the writings of Teilhard de Chardin beg to differ.  He was ordained a priest in 1911 and wrote the following in 1916 while serving as a stretcher bearer in WWI for his native country of France:  “There is a communion with God, and a communion with the earth, and a communion with God through the earth.” He also wrote this about how we can reconcile our spiritual experience of God with our humanity: “You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience.”

       The law of God vs the law of man.  The values of the Gospel vs the values of the secular world.  The call of earthly whims and desires vs the call we have from God. The apostles battled these seemingly different realities as they came up for trial before the Jewish authorities.  The apostles saw their calling to preach the Gospel as intrinsic to the lives that they lived here on earth. Teilhard de Chardin, both a mystic and a scientist, both a priest and an earthy human being, reconciled his faith with his daily lived experiences.  His writings still are fresh and profound and relevant today in the midst of so many books and writings.   May we also continue to find our spiritual way in the midst of our earthly journey.

4/6/2016 – Acts 5:17-26 – Wednesday of the 2nd week of Easter –

     We know from history and from the accounts of the Early Church that Paul and Peter and the rest of the apostles were imprisoned many times for the way that they publicly preached the Gospel to the world in the years right after Christ’s death and resurrection. This time, as recounted in today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, when Peter and a group of apostles are imprisoned, they are miraculously set free and they go out into the Temple area where they once again preach publicly about Jesus and his proclamation of God's kingdom.  
      We can imprison God’s word in the world just as the chief priest and the Jewish authorities did when they put Peter and the other apostles in prison. The Gospel message needs to be more than just words to us.  Christ's message needs to be more than words that fascinate us and touch our imagination.  We need to put those words into action.  We need to practice our faith each day.  We need to have God’s word in our lives to inspire us and to motivate us and to lead us along our journey.  It is difficult to live out our faith sometimes, that is for sure.  Sometimes our lives seem so busy that we do not make time for God or for Church in our hectic, chaotic lives.  But God always meets us in our reality and helps us with the ups and downs of life.

If God’s words do infuse our words and our actions, if God’s word does not have a place in our reality, then his word will be imprisoned just as at was when the first apostles were put into jail. 

4/5/2016 - Acts 4:32-37 – Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter

       Back in the summer of 2002, I visited the countries of Argentina and Chile on a fellowship I had that summer.  It was an amazing summer visiting two countries with such a rich history and with so much to learn from them. While in northern Argentina visiting Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil, I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting some of the ruins of the Jesuit reductions, settlements that the Jesuit missionaries established in the 17^th and 18^th centuries with the indigenous people of that region.  In these settlements, the missionaries and the people lived together and shared their lives together as a Christian community.  In these reductions, the people worked the land, they raised animals and crops, produced items for sale, and lived in common similar to what is described in today’s description from the Early Church in the Acts of the Apostles.  Even the Enlightenment philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, generally not a fan of the Catholic Church, admired the work of Jesuits and the utopian communities they formed in the South American reductions. The countries of Portugal and Spain were jealous of the Jesuits and their success.  The Jesuit missions were forcibly disbanded in 1767, ending this very interesting chapter in the history of South American and in the history of the Catholic Church.  Soon after, the Jesuits were disbanded by the Pope in all of Europe except for Russia, where many of the Jesuits lived in exile until they were allowed back in the early 19^th century. The example of the Early Church as described in the Acts of the Apostles can teach us many lessons in the values of the Gospel.  How are we in modern America living out those values?