Progress, Errors & Truth

Archdiocesan Wide Beacons of Light First Year Progress
Please see our website for the Beacons of Light year one Parish Vitality Report.  The report is a summary of so many dimensions of Beacons.  Recall, Crescent Parishes achieved all but a couple of those extensive goals.  The goals that we didn’t meet by July 1, such as having a Director of Stewardship and Love in Action were achieved over the summer.

Town Hall Meetings
Thanks to Crescent Parishes’ Pathways Planning Team and Pastoral Councils as they prepare for our Town Hall Meetings.  Thanks to all parishioners who strive to be present.  Those meetings will be a great opportunity to review our Beacons of Light accomplishments and to share feelings, thoughts, questions, concerns, dreams and visions!

Church of the Resurrection and Safe Parish
In the past, due to misinterpretation of Archdiocesan Safe Parish guidelines, all parish ministers/volunteers at the Church of the Resurrection were required to be Safe Parish Certified.  This is not a requirement of the Child Protection Decree. 

Only parishioners/volunteers who work with children in a dedicated ministry to children such as a school/PREP/youth ministry setting are required to be safe parish certified.  For example, a eucharistic minister who gives communion to a child is not required to be safe parish certified.   Other ministers/volunteers can be safe parish certified if they wish, but it is not required by the archdiocese. 
I am sorry for the misunderstanding which will likely free a number of ministers from an unnecessary burden.  Wonderfully, even as Safe Parish works very hard to protect children, COR went above and beyond requirements!

“State of the Parishes” Errata 
I commend Matt Jackson, Crescent Director of Administration, for helping us take one big, unifying step forward with the first edition of the Crescent State of the Parishes’ reports.  As with anything new…and human, there were a few imperfections, such as the spelling of “catechist.” 
 While Matt requested information from staff for the report, some information did not make it to him.  For example, some missing Nativity information includes:

• Nativity had 22 students enrolled in child religious education.  Those programs are called Atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) and Breaking Open the Word (BOW). (By the way, adult Safe-Parish Volunteers are still needed as helpers and door welcomers at this faith formation for children.  Please call the parish office to volunteer or suggest a name.)
• Nativity has had an active and vibrant Men’s Ministry for over thirty years!!  Most of those men and other Crescent Parishes’ men are actively participating in That Man Is You (TMIY), which now has regular attendance in the upper twenties each Saturday morning at 7:15.  We are always welcoming more men at any time!
• Parishioners are reminded that Sister Janet decided to transition to a half-time position with our new employees Becky Linser and Cari Craver assuming most of Sister's religious education ministry.  Sister continues to pass down knowledge as she lets go of some responsibilities.

Serve Truth, Vote “No” on Issue 1
With such compelling evidence behind the vote NO on Issue 1, recently, I looked at the arguments of the vote “Yes” proponents.  I was surprised at the weakness of their case.  I’ll say more about that case and the nebulous use of the words “the government” and exalted postmodern philosophy that stresses “freedom” at the expense of truth and goodness.  Please be sure to examine our website for the wisdom and strength of arguments to vote “No” on issue one.  The following are insights from a recent letter pastors received from Archbishop Schnurr.
Issue 1 is not primarily about the legality of abortion. Abortion is legal in Ohio today and will remain so after November 7 regardless of the outcome of the vote. Issue 1 is about:

• The elimination of existing health and safety standards for women seeking an abortion. In the words of Ohio Treasurer of State Robert Sprague, “The National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood believe the abortion industry should be allowed to set its own standards for safety, without oversight from the state. Someone could own a building with a pizza shop in front and an abortion clinic in back, and the pizza shop would have more regulations and supervision than the abortion clinic under Ohio law.”
• The elimination of parental notification and consent in the reproductive healthcare decisions of their minor children. “Reproductive healthcare” encompasses contraception, abortion and “gender reassignment” hormones and surgery. This undermining of parental authority would do irreparable damage to the family, the cornerstone of society. It would also open up minor children to a greater risk of abuse and even the possibility of human trafficking.
• Abortion up until full-term birth. Studies show that a significant majority of people, even those who are pro-choice, oppose abortion in the third trimester. While the enduring teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the sanctity of every human life from conception to natural death is clear, the wording of the proposed amendment is not. Even its title– “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety” – is deceptive.

Thanks for being informed and for prayerfully considering your “No” vote on Issue 1.
 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat