Bishops Weekly Column Blog

Put Out Into the Deep
Bishop DiMarzio's weekly column

THE TABLET
November 15, 2008

Our Great Nation

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This Presidential election now two weeks away, I have had an opportunity to reflect on its meaning for the Church and Catholics. I would like to give my own personal feelings on this issue. Peter Steinfels, a one-time religion writer for the New York Times, wrote an article in the Times entitled “Catholics in Choice in the Voting Booth.” The article began with this line, “Anyone constructing a list of the big losers on Tuesday would probably include the Nation’s Roman Catholic bishops.” Unfortunately, I believe Mr. Steinfels is wrong. I believe the true losers in this past election were the unborn. We bishops are not political operatives, but rather pastors who are charged with the obligation of defending life and our faith in the public forum. Later in this column, I will return to what I said to Mr. Steinfels.

As I reflect on the election further, I recognize that there was a tremendous victory, not so much in the seven million who participated in popular votes for Mr. Obama, but in the fact that our nation elected its first President of color. Perhaps it is a sign that we are overcoming the evil of racism. In the statement on Faithful Citizenship prepared to guide the conscience of Catholics on the election process, the Bishops of the United States declared that racism is an intrinsic evil, as well as the evil of abortion, embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia. This last election demonstrates that our nation has made some progress in eliminating the evil of racism. We have not made much progress, however, in recognizing the evil of abortion, and other intrinsic evils practiced in our society. Hopefully, our new President will recognize the substantial majority of Americans who do not believe that abortion is something good, but rather see it as evil in various ways.

Several reporters have asked me about the joining of racism and abortion in our statement. I responded in this manner, “Intrinsic evil is something that should never be tolerated or cooperated with.” To one reporter, I posed the example that over a century ago our country battled with the abolition of slavery, another intrinsic evil. If some would have proposed that some slaves could be freed and others would remain slaves, would that have been a solution to eliminate that intrinsic evil? And so it is with the abortion debate. Lessening the number of abortions is not the answer to eliminating this intrinsic evil. Neither, however, is criminalizing the act of abortion in order to have our country understand this intrinsic evil. We must find the means to eventually eliminate it as our goal.

Unfortunately, prospects for this do not look very good. There is a piece of legislation that was introduced in the Congress in the last session entitled The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which, far from eliminating abortion, rather takes away all protection for unborn life that has been won since the 1973 decision in Roe v Wade. FOCA goes well beyond Roe v Wade in allowing and clarifying that abortion is a fundamental right enshrined somehow in our Constitution. FOCA would invalidate laws meant to protect women from unsafe abortion clinics and insure that she is informed about abortion and its consequences. FOCA will require taxpayers to pay for abortions in all circumstances. This will in effect be abortion-on-demand at public expense. It will require states to allow partial-birth and other late-term abortions, FOCA will require states to allow abortions by non-physicians and will bar those exercising the right of a conscientious objection in the performance of an abortion and also deny parents an opportunity to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision.

In effect, FOCA will be, if passed, a terrible blow to the defense of life in our country. Unfortunately, President-elect Obama, in a pre-election speech to Planned Parenthood, said that as a sponsor of the bill he was ready to enact it into law if it were passed by Congress. In the coming months, we will learn more about FOCA and how we need to work against it. This clearly is one of the unfortunate consequences that may stem from the election which we have just concluded.

To continue with Mr. Steinfels’ argument that the U.S. Bishops are the losers, we must look at the Catholic vote in this election, most specifically Catholics who are regular churchgoers. There is a difference. And we must compare this election to the 2004 election between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. At that time, among all Catholics, 47% voted for Kerry and 53% for Bush. Whereas, in 2008, 58% voted for Obama and 45% voted for McCain. This, however, changes when we look to the statistics on Catholics who attend church weekly. In 2004, it was 43% for Kerry and 56% for Bush, as compared to 2008 when it as 49% for Obama 53% for McCain. We all seem to agree that the most pressing issue that voters dealt with in this election was the economic situation we currently find ourselves in our country. Although it should perhaps not have been the determining factor, it seems to have influenced many people to vote for President-elect Obama. It is clear that there are Catholic voters but no Catholic vote. As I have tried to say many times over, bishops and priests are directly responsible to help form consciences in many areas, especially in political responsibility. But, we do not tell people for whom to vote, although we can indicate the moral issues, and the candidate’s stands. Ultimately, the decision in a well-formed conscience of the individual Catholic and not of a voting block that some still which to categorize as Catholic. We do not endorse candidates. We do not invite candidates into our pulpits to speak to congregations. We truly believe in the separation of Church and State, but not in the separation of religion and public policy. Many times, I have been asked by reporters for my views. One which I thought was particularly telling was a reporter who asked, “Could there be some reconciliation between supporters of Obama and McCain?” I responded by saying to Catholic News Service, “It will be difficult for impassioned supporters of the two leading presidential candidates to reconcile. While all should cease looking for the worst in each other, there is no compromise and no easy way around the obligation to oppose intrinsic evils,” like abortion and death. “There are ways on how we can limit intrinsic evil and we should take these steps.” I continued by saying, “There is a culture of death and, if you are supporting it, it is not going to go away. We are going to have a hard time reconciling.”

Reconciliation does not mean compromise; it means being able to work together. Hopefully, in the future, Catholics, Bishops and those who support the right to life will work with the new administration in eliminating intrinsic evil from our society.

There is another issue that I wish to bring to your attention and that is the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) which takes place this Sunday, prior to Thanksgiving. In an effort to be transparent, the CCHD has funded in the past ACORN, which is a national network of local organizations that work in community development. The Campaign’s purpose is to assist grassroots organizations in effecting institutional change for the betterment of our nation’s people. This past June, CCHD cut off funding to ACORN groups for another reason, that is a case of embezzlement that goes back eight years ago. Although none of CCHD’s monies were involved in the embezzlement, questions regarding the organization’s national office were raised. More recently during this past presidential campaign, ACORN was accused of voter registration fraud. Please be assured that no CCHD funding for the past two years has gone to ACORN, nor will it into the future unless radical changes occur in the administration of ACORN.

Locally here in Brooklyn and Queens, we have worked very successfully with ACORN in a project meant to assist those defaulting on mortgages by obtaining some relief and extensions of their payment time. Unfortunately, one incident can color a whole organization which is unfair. At the same time, however, in order to bring about a solution, a moratorium on funding to ACORN has been declared.

As we come close to Thanksgiving, we must reflect upon the place our nation has in the world. The secular holiday of Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to be thankful for the graces and benefits we have received from our Creator. In effect, it is a secular holiday that celebrates faith going back to the time of Pilgrims. How important it is that we keep faith in our country and make sure that faith is not excluded from our public decisions. We are “One Nation under God.” There are those today who would wish to eliminate those words from our Pledge of Allegiance. We must continue working to make sure that the message of reason and faith reach the public forum and that we defend it all with to the best of our ability. Working in the public forum is like putting out into the deep because we do not know the perils and difficulties that can be faced. We must continue, however, working to assure that we will always have a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving in this great nation of ours.

Put Out Into the Deep
Bishop DiMarzio's weekly column

THE TABLET
November 15, 2008

Pray for Catholic Education

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As I explained in an earlier column, our Diocese has embarked on an historic series of initiatives that together are called “Preserving the Vision”. Their purpose is to identify the challenges faced by our Catholic elementary schools and through a collaborative and consultative process, create strategic plans that will ensure that our Catholics schools remain vital, vibrant and excellent for years to come.

The heart of “Preserving the Vision” is a reconfiguration process that seeks to re-imagine our schools by embracing a new paradigm which creates multiple partnerships that work together to strengthen the life of each individual school. Central to realizing this new paradigm is the need for lay leaders to offer their expertise by sharing in the governance of our schools in a new fashion.

We cannot forget that the mission of Catholic education is a divine one. It was the Lord Jesus who instructed his disciples to teach and preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Catholic schools play a privileged (but not an exclusive) role in this mission by instructing our children in the tenets of the faith, giving them the opportunity to fall in love with the person of Jesus, and to live their faith in charity, in service, and as active, worshiping members of their parishes.

For this mission to be successful, it must be rooted in a deep desire to fulfill the Lord’s command. This desire can only be nourished by a personal commitment to prayer. Each person must nurture a spirituality that makes our Catholic faith the centerpiece of everything our schools do. For this reason, our efforts to strengthen Catholic identity are an essential part of all that “Preserving the Vision” is meant to do.

Further, in times of challenge and change, prayer becomes an even more important personal resource available to us. Saint Augustine reminds us that prayer is not meant to tell God what he does not know. Rather, prayer is meant to prepare our hearts to receive what God wishes to give us in blessings.

Periods of change are often anxious times, however they are also times of opportunity and growth. As “Preserving the Vision” moves forward, it will give each school of the Diocese unparalleled opportunities for growth and new life. Will our hearts be ready to embrace these opportunities? Will we have the courage to cast out into the deep and trust that the Lord will take care of our children, teachers and parents in new and exciting ways? Will we have the courage to be bold, creative and innovative?

We will only be able to do these things if we dedicate ourselves in fervent prayer to meet the challenges before us. With the Lord, we can do anything. Without the Lord, whatever we do, will not last.

There is a second reason why prayer is essential for all who participate in “Preserving the Vision”. If the mission of Catholic education is given by the Lord, then the Lord is ready to guide us on the paths of his choosing, in order to ensure that the mission endures. For many in business and politics, planning means achieving a workable compromise; they begin their work by admitting the challenges before them, identifying strategies to meet those challenges. They discuss concessions that they can live with and eventually create a final “compromise”. For our planning purposes, such a methodology will not work. It forgets one basic fact: the mission of Catholic education is the Lord’s. Our planning is not about compromising among ourselves, but rather discerning what the Lord expects from us all. Such discernment is not possible without daily, fervent prayer on the part of all involved.

For this reason, I call upon everyone in our Diocese to pray fervently for the renewal of the mission of Catholic education, as it is lived especially in our Catholic schools and parish programs of faith formation. The first and most important initiative of “Preserving the Vision” is a prayer campaign that consists of three elements:

1. A series of prayers, each written in an age appropriate fashion, which can be used by adults, teenagers and children. They will be distributed in multiple languages to the pastors and principals of our Diocese. The English version of the prayers appears in today’s Tablet in a way that can be clipped and used.
2. A series of petitions that may be included in the Prayer of the Faithful both at daily and Sunday Mass will be provided to parishes.
3. Specially scheduled spiritual exercises for our teachers, principals and students in Catholic schools and programs of faith formation.

In our secular society, many doubt the power of prayer and the discipline needed to foster a personal spirituality. Whether people realize it or not, they hunger for a deeper relationship with God that can only grow through a daily commitment to prayer and reflection.

As Catholic Christians, our lives must be built upon such prayer. Our planning efforts cannot succeed without prayer. In this process of “Preserving the Vision,” we must put out into the deep so that from the further shore we can see the goal in greater perspective.

A Prayer for Young Students

Lord Jesus, be with me in my school today as we all work together to preserve the vision of
Catholic education and formation.

Help me to get to know you better
and put in my heart the need to be a good Christian.
Help us all to have open minds
and guide our teachers to be leaders in the faith.
Help me to serve you with great joy
and fill my mind with wisdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

A Prayer for Students

Holy Spirit, guide us and strengthen us.
Help us to be open to your power in our lives.
May our prayers and efforts bring renewal, hope and positive change
to all children and young people in our Diocese.
Fill us with hope, strength and joy.
Give us the courage of the saints
to accomplish Your Will and do great things for the Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

A Prayer for Adults

Heavenly Father, we come before you as your family united in faith and love.
Bless our efforts to renew the education and formation
of all our children and teenagers.
Open our minds and hearts to discern your will in all that we do,
so that together we may preserve the vision of Catholic education and formation in our Church.

May your Holy Spirit inspire and guide us on this hope-filled journey
toward the renewal of your Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Put Out Into the Deep
Bishop DiMarzio's weekly column


THE TABLET
November 8, 2008

Our Hope for Eternal Life

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The month of November is the opportunity we have to meditate on the reality of death. Death is not just a sad human reality. For we who are Christian, it is a time when we celebrate the passage from this life to the eternal life promised to us by Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ, Himself, who promises us the gift of eternal life. In John’s Gospel today, we hear the words of Jesus who tells us, “This is the will of My Father, that who ever sees the Son and believes in Him, will have eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day.” How important these words are to understand, as we observe this month dedicated to our deceased.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in his wonderful encyclical, In Hope We Are Saved, gives us a rather extensive treatment of eternal life. It begins with the question, “Eternal life - what is it?” It is, certainly, a question we all wonder about. We pray for our dead and to prepare ourselves for our own death. But exactly what are we preparing for?

Our Holy Father poses another question “…is the Christian faith also for us today a life-changing and life-sustaining hope?” “If we do not desire something,” the Holy Father also tells us, “…we will never hope for it.” Do we desire eternal life? Unfortunately, he goes on to say, “But to live always, without end -- this, all things considered, can only be monotonous and ultimately unbearable.”

Eternal life monotonous? Yes, if we do not understand it, if we think it is some kind of static means of being in a state of suspended animation, or even staying in God’s presence if we do not understand what the beatific vision is about. Saint Ambrose, quoted by our Holy Father, tells us, “Death was not part of nature; it became part of nature. God did not decree death from the beginning; He prescribed it as a remedy. Human life, because of sin…began to experience the burden of wretchedness in unremitting labour and unbearable sorrow.” Death is a remedy. How often we pray and say that we live in a veil of tears. How difficult are our lives when we experience constant anxiety, physical pain and mental anguish.

Two weeks ago, this was brought home to me in the tragic deaths of three young men from Bensonhurst parishes. I visited the wake for these three young men. I am friends with the family of one of the victims of the tragic accidental drowning. All accidents truly seem senseless. In a split second someone getting up in a boat can tip it over and put everyone’s life in peril. In this case, three good young men on a fishing trip died and another good young man, who survived the incident, will forever mourn the loss of his companions. Truly this is a tragedy for them and their families.

Two weeks ago, I installed the pastor of the parish where the funeral Mass for one of these young men was celebrated just the Friday before. At the Installation Mass, his mother and father, as well as several relatives, were in attendance. As his mother exited the Church, she showed me a picture of her son and said, “I brought him with me today. I know that he is in heaven and I am consoled by that knowledge.” Those words will forever remain in my mind as this is truly a woman of faith. Although still in shock, she could return to Church because she was a participating member and a catechist. Her faith truly saved her because she has hope in eternal life. This is the challenge for us. Do we truly believe that we want eternal life and that our deceased friends and relatives have already attained that eternal life?

Our Holy Father goes on to say, “The term ‘eternal life’ is intended to give us a name to this ‘unknown.’ Inevitably it is an inadequate term that creates confusion. ‘Eternal’, in fact, suggests to us the idea of something interminable, and this frightens us; ‘life’ makes us think of the life that we know and love and do not want to lose, even though very often it brings more toil than satisfaction, so that while on the one hand we desire it, on the other hand we do not want it.”

Yes, eternal life is difficult to hope for. How important it is for us to recognize what we hope for. In the Book of Wisdom we hear these words from the people who hope for life after death but do not understand it. The book of Wisdom tells us, “The souls of the Just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them. They seemed in the view of the foolish to be dead and their passing away was thought an affliction. But in their going forth from us they are at peace.”

It is the basic human desire expressed in the words of the Old Testament that remind us that hope springs eternal in the human heart.

In the letter to the Romans we hear these words, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our heart by the Holy Spirit and has been given to us.” Yes, we cannot be disappointed because we know that Jesus guarantees our eventual resurrection. And now it is our responsibility to place all our hope in the Resurrection, to desire it, to live lives worthy of it.

Although on All Souls Day we remember those who have gone before us, we must also look to our own lives to see if they are in need of reform and change, so that we too might be made worthy of the promise of eternal life.

Our Catholic faith tells us so much about death and life, but sometimes it seems not to have the effect that is so important in our own lives. This passage is certainly an exercise in putting out into the deep, since we do not know what to expect. But relying on the words of Jesus and His promises, we recognize that He was the first to be raised from the dead and that our hope for resurrection is assured by His victory over sin and death.

During this month of November, we pray for the souls of the faithfully departed. But also we make every attempt possible that we understand better what eternal life is and enter into a hoping and longing to what has been promised.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Put Out Into the Deep
Bishop DiMarzio's weekly column

THE TABLET
November 1, 2008

Your Candidate Represents You

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The United States is one of the greatest representative democracies in the history of humankind. But what makes participation in our Democracy possible? Certainly it is not ethnicity; Americans hail from such diverse places as Africa and Asia, Europe and South America. Nor does religion indicate that we are American. We are Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics and Christians. To be an American is unrelated to the color of our skin or the language we speak.

James Joyce once described Catholicism as “here comes everybody.” The same description can be applied to our great nation. Fundamentally, to be an American is to believe that all men and women are equal under the law and that all people are endowed by the creator with rights that can never be abridged by any government. Wealth offers some an advantage; however, in America all have opportunity.

Politics has, as its ends, justice. If we value these liberties and freedoms upon which a just society is built, it is incumbent upon each and every citizen to be engaged in the political process. In his first encyclical letter, Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI teaches “A just society must be the achievement of politics, not of the Church. Yet the promotion of justice through efforts to bring about openness of mind and will to the demands of the common good is something which concerns the Church deeply.”(28) Therefore, at a minimum, we should investigate the policies and positions our elected leaders advocate. Optimally, we would influence our representatives to help formulate and shape public policy.

In a few days we will go to the polls and vote for our candidate for President of the United States. As voters we also determine who is the best fit for Congress, the State House, the Bench and, in some years, City Hall. Those for whom we cast our ballot are an extension of ourselves.

Catholic voters are not monolithic. We are Republican, Democrats, Independents and Conservatives. Some voters are more concerned about immigration issues than education, while others place a priority on the environment over tax issues. Often, one’s priorities reflect their own experience or interests. Nevertheless, as the Bishops teach in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship “This exercise of conscience begins with outright opposition to laws and other policies that violate human life or weaken its protection. Those who knowingly, willingly, and directly support public policies or legislation that undermine fundamental moral principles cooperate with evil.”(31)

What is a particularly disturbing trend is how Catholic voters, sometimes even priests, religious or committed laymen, are not more vocal in their opposition to the destruction of human life. Sometimes I wonder if it is not a lack of faith or a lack of understanding. Our rhetoric on the issues sometimes does not seem to match our actions.

How can any Catholic support those that do not oppose partial birth abortion? The late Senator Daniel P. Monyhan characterized the procedure as near infanticide. To kill the child as it passes through the birth canal, or worse to leave a child that survives abortion on an operating table to die, is inhuman and indefensible. I find it hard to contemplate any circumstances where I could vote for a proponent of such a grave evil.

The late Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neil once remarked, “all politics is local.” Indeed, as the Bishops of New York State remind us in their statement, Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn Duty “Many of the most compelling moral issues of the day play out at the state level. Commonsense restrictions on abortion, whether or not to employ the death penalty, issues related to same-sex “marriage” and civil unions, parental rights in education, programs to serve the poor, access to health insurance – all of these debates occur in the halls of our state Capitol in Albany. Your vote for State Senator and Assembly Member may be as critical as your vote for President of the United States.”

We as Catholics sometimes also seem to vote against our own interests. How can those interested in Catholic schools not insist that those for whom they vote support parents of children in catholic schools? Would a parent of a child in public school vote for a candidate that wanted to drastically cut school spending?

In our Diocese here in Brooklyn and Queens, we have elected officials that are intent on passing discriminatory legislation known as a roll back in the statute of limitations that would bankrupt the Church and leave victims of sexual abuse in public schools without any recourse. The author of this legislation is Assemblywoman Marge Markey from Maspeth and Middle Village. There are also many co-sponsors of this legislation that represent constituents from our diocese. How is it that we do not stand up to these legislators and inform them of our opposition? If they fail to represent our interests, why do we not refuse them our support?

I do not know what motivates a person to select one candidate over the other. What I do know is that the candidate that I select should represent me, my beliefs and values.

There are many grave issues that our great nation and state are contemplating; war and peace, the dignity and sanctity of human life, the economy and environment, education and religious freedom. As we put out into the deep in this election process, I hope and pray that my choices and yours will continue to reflect those values that make our country great.

~~~~~~~ 

Put Out Into the Deep
Bishop DiMarzio's weekly column

THE TABLET
October 25, 2008

A Road Map to Catholic Schools

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Offering a Catholic Education to the children of Brooklyn and Queens is one of the most important ministries of our Diocese. By Catholic Education, I mean the ministry of teaching the Catholic faith to all of our children, whether they attend our Catholic schools or the programs of faith formation sponsored by each of our parishes. We, as a Diocese, have educated generation after generation of students founded in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the values of our Church. We are firmly committed to continuing this mission into the future for all of our children.

Since our Catholic schools play a unique role within the larger ministry of Catholic Education, and to preserve our commitment and insure that Catholic schools will always be available, we must take firm steps now to create a new road map for all of our schools. Developing this vision must involve all who play vital roles in educating our children -- parents, pastors and principals, clergy and religious, and our teachers.

This is why we have developed a process that we have called “Preserving the Vision.” The name means exactly what it says: preserving what has always been an integral part of Catholic life, the education of our children.

“Preserving the Vision” is our roadmap for strengthening and enhancing Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens, now and for the future. If we expect our schools to endure and flourish, it is necessary that we adapt to the challenges we presently face. We must take firm steps that will maintain Catholic schools that teach our Catholic faith without compromise, that reflect our tradition of academic excellence, and are responsive to the changes in our communities. Let me describe what “Preserving the Vision” is and how all members of the Diocese are vital to the process.

Parochial schools celebrate the tradition of faith, family and community. But today, the parish schools that were such an enduring symbol of Catholic Education are grappling with a number of significant challenges. Currently, approximately 16 percent of the seats in our parochial schools are unfilled. This puts a significant financial burden on the local parish. As Catholic families continue to cope with ever greater economic challenges, the Church must make sure that costs associated with Catholic education remain affordable and that the resources available to us are put to the best use.

Over the last several years, parents have sent their children to the parochial school that best meets the needs of their children as well as their own. Sometimes it was not their local parish school, but another school in the neighborhood or even a school close to the parent’s workplace. At the same time, schools have begun to develop stronger bonds within and across communities.

This new, emerging way of education tells us that the future lies in creating multiple relationships that extend beyond the parish.

Here is how the process will work:

First, as people of faith, we begin in prayer and reflection, asking the Lord’s grace to understand what is His will for us as a people. From this starting point, we begin the process of re-imagining our schools. Let me emphasize that every parochial school in the Diocese will be involved in this effort, with no exception.

We will gather data from every school in the Diocese and together reflect on what trends might be developing within each community. We will also solicit feedback in a number of ways. These include meetings with key constituencies; analyzing data provided to us by each and every school and - this is the key - providing an opportunity for feedback through your local school. Once these efforts are completed, we will go back to our constituencies again to solicit more opinion and gather more data.

Finally, using what we have learned, the Diocese will create a blueprint for the future of our schools. A “Blue Ribbon” panel has been established to make sure that the integrity of the process is maintained and the recommendations that are made, effectively address the challenges revealed by the data we have used.

Once this is complete, a plan for the re-alignment of our schools will emerge that will establish a bond between every parish and school throughout the Diocese.

Finally, over the next four years, the Diocese of Brooklyn will introduce a new model of governance in our schools in Brooklyn and Queens, based upon what was learned through the input of those most concerned.

What will be the benefit of this new blueprint? Our schools will have more resources to insure that children have greater access to Catholic education. Our schools will be better able to meet the diverse and changing needs of students and parents. And, we will provide thriving Catholic schools that are better able to offer teachers and staff competitive compensation and benefits, while remaining vibrant institutions for generations to come.

Let me assure you now that we are not entering into a process with forgone conclusions. Our decisions will be made to address the reality that is before us, after meaningful consultation. Again, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of all involved making their voices heard and participating in the process.

The Diocesan website (www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org) will provide updated information as we go forward and information on how our constituencies can continue to remain informed.

We are taking the most vital and important steps in our history in regard to our schools. We are putting out into the deep. In the next phase of the planning, we will tackle our religious education programs for children not in Catholic schools. I cannot emphasize enough how important preserving and strengthening Catholic education is to the future. The time is now for us to take the bold and innovative action that we need to preserve our finest and most enduring traditions.

~~~~~~~