After the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced its vote last month allowing boys who declare themselves to be gay to remain in Scouting, but not to allow adult homosexual leaders, Scouts across the country had to decide whether to go or to stay.

Many religious communions and fellowships have scout-like groups and other youth groups that serve only their members. Other groups modeled on the Boy Scouts have no religious components. Only the Boy Scouts remains an international organization that also promotes religion. From its original Christian roots, Scouting has embraced non-Christian religions such as Hinduism as it spread to different countries.

In the United States, religious groups make up the bulk of chartering organizations — most of them Mormon. As the leadership is also heavily Mormon and voted for the change, the Mormon chartering groups have not objected.

Catholic parishes, which charter the third-largest number of groups (10 percent — United Methodist churches sponsor the second largest number) are in a bind. The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is inherently wrong, but that those attracted to others of the same sex share equal human dignity with all people and should not be discriminated against. Where the new BSA policy fits in that understanding of the purposes and morality of sexuality is up for debate, especially as many people fear that what seems like a small change will pave the wave for other, systemic changes.

After the change was announced, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting® issued a cautious statement that said it was studying the possible impact on Catholic chartered Scout groups and activities, and reiterated the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding “homosexual inclination and same sex attraction.”

In a letter to Catholic Scout leaders, NCCS National Chairman Edward Martin said that although he had “grave concerns about where the change in the Boy Scouts of America youth membership standard may lead,” he thinks that BSA is the best program available for all American boys, and that by continuing to remain part of the BSA, Catholic troops and leadership can ensure that Scouting remains a welcoming and nurturing place for other Catholic boys.

“My hope is that we deal with the challenge in the spirit of Christian charity toward all and the knowledge that the Holy Spirit will guide us with clarity,” he wrote, a hope shared by many Catholic Scouts and their families. “If you are like me, you joined Scouting to make a difference in the lives of others. Our youth don’t want to leave Scouting. Scouting is still the best program around…. Let’s continue this important journey together!”

While this view has enjoyed the support of people such as Canon Lawyer and blogger Dr. Ed Peters, who wrote that nothing in canon law precludes a Catholic from participating in Scouting, others have expressed more skepticism. In a letter to the Diocese of Arlington, VA, Bishop Paul Loverde expressed the sentiments of many when he said it was “highly disappointing to see the Boy Scouts of America succumb to external pressures and political causes at the cost of its moral integrity,” and that the decision is certain to lead to more division and controversy.

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This graphic by the Human Rights Campaign, which promotes the equal sign stickers seen on many cars and promotes “gay marriage,” shows what many critics of the BSA’s decision fear — that it will not be acceptable to many activists and will lead to further changes in Scouting that would not be compatible with Catholicism.

Catholics must “prayerfully reconsider whether a continued partnership with BSA will be possible,” Bishop Loverde said, adding that he would consult with local and national Scouting leaders to see if the new policy is compatible with “preserving the integrity of the Church’s teaching on the authentic meaning of human sexuality.”

Around the country, efforts are beginning to create new Scouting groups (such one being planned on the model of American Heritage Girls by members at Faith Based Boys) or to strengthen existing ones. Catholic groups include the Blue Knights for younger boys; the mostly southern group Fraternus; and the Conquest program affiliated with Regnum Christi, Familia, Sports Leader, and other programs for the whole family.

One established Catholic group based on the work of Lord Baden-Powell, who began the Boy Scouts, is the Federation of North-American Explorers (FNE), which is affiliated with a European Scouting group called the International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe/Federation of European Scouting  and operates under the Pontifical Council of the Laity. It has separate programs for girls and boys ages seven to 26 and operates in both Canada and the United States. Currently active in southwest New Jersey/Philadelphia and forming groups in nine other US cities, the FNE organization plans to expand “slowly and deliberately,” says spokesperson Paul Ritchi, “to ensure… families are interested in our movement [and] what we offer rather than trying to fit what they are used to under another banner.”

So what’s a Catholic family or parish to do? Stay with the Boy Scouts, join an alternative group, or start a new one? There is no one “Catholic” answer. According to the bishops, the NCCS, and canon law, Catholics may in good conscience do any of the above — although with caution and discernment, and with close attention to social and institutional changes in the months and years ahead.

Below are essays by two men, both devoted to Scouting, who have very different views of how Catholics should respond to the BSA decision.

Frank Feldman: Why I’m Staying

Englewood (OH) Boy Scout Troop 246 Chaplain Frank Feldman

First of all, let me tell you what you won’t find in this article: my opinion on whether or not BSA should have adopted their new policy about sexual orientation. The policy is adopted; that ship has sailed. The only question now is how each of us responds.

Instead, I am going to give you the three reasons why my son and I will stay in Boy Scouts now that the policy is being adopted. Not everyone will agree, and some have even stated that anyone keeping their son in BSA is an “unfit parent”. These are my reasons, and no one else’s. Nonetheless, I hope to give people a reason to slow down and think before they just react.

For the rest of this piece, click here.

Taylor Marshall: Why I’m Leaving

Dr. Taylor Marshall.

I am an Eagle Scout and I loved being a Boy Scout – all the way from Cub Scouts to Eagle. I want my sons to become Scouts and share that tradition with them…but I can no longer support the Boy Scouts, because of this.

I’ve been thinking and worrying about the Boy Scouts for months. I knew this decision was coming and I knew that the Boy Scouts would go the wrong way.

I also knew in my heart that I would have to do something about it when it actually happened…

So here’s my manifesto on why we need Scouting, but why we now need an alternative Scouting organization for Catholics: The Scouts of Saint George.

For the rest of this piece, click here.

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Timber Wolf Dens from Ottowa and Toronto at a Federation of North-American Explorers camp. FNE is an established alternative group for Catholics that is also based on the works of Lord Baden-Powell.

Nothing else compares to what Boy Scouting has to offer, says troop chaplain Frank Feldman.

This guest post originally appeared as “Why We Will Stay in Boy Scouts” in the blog So, Frankly…  by long-time Boy Scout participant Frank Feldman. 

Englewood (OH) Boy Scout Troop 246 Chaplain Frank Feldman

First of all, let me tell you what you won’t find in this article: my opinion on whether or not BSA should have adopted their new policy about sexual orientation. The policy is adopted; that ship has sailed. The only question now is how each of us responds.

Instead, I am going to give you the three reasons why my son and I will stay in Boy Scouts now that the policy is being adopted. Not everyone will agree, and some have even stated that anyone keeping their son in BSA is an “unfit parent.” These are my reasons, and no one else’s. Nonetheless, I hope to give people a reason to slow down and think before they just react.

Things will be the same now as they were a year ago.  There were gay boys in Scouting a year ago, and they have been successful young men in their Scouting careers. They make Eagle. They earn merit badges. They go on campouts with other boys. This all happens without incident. That will not  change, because the keeping one’s self morally straight has to do with activity, not orientation. The only difference now is that a boy’s orientation may be known, rather than kept secret. At the same time, I believe that the boys already know who is gay and who isn’t. They just aren’t telling the adults.

Ideology is left at the door.  At least in our troop, scouts and leaders do not espouse political or religious ideology as part of the Scouting experience.  The focus is on citizenship and leadership: principles that are universally accepted in this county.  Sexual ideology will be no different.  (We do expect the boys to be reverent, but without a preference for any religion or denomination.  “Reverence” also includes respect for the religious beliefs of others.)

The Boy Scouts of America logo.

Boys Scouts has so much to offer that nothing else compares. Boy Scouts of America offers a program that teaches leadership through adventure that will be very hard to match anywhere else. There will be parallel organizations that come to be; there already are. Will they have organized summer camp programs? Will they have a camp in the middle of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area? Will they have a Philmont? Will there be a national jamboree, which allows a boy to see thousands of other Scouts all living the same Scout Law and Scout Oath? More importantly, will they have the training infrastructure that not only turns boys into leaders and outdoorsmen, but also establishes safety policies (including youth protection policies) for the process?

This new policy may be a national policy, but it will be implemented at the local level.  The only time I have ever seen national BSA representatives inspecting for compliance on policy was at a council camp. (As I understand it, the camp was going to be a common overnight stop on the way to the new national camp, and the inspectors were making sure it would suffice.) The only time I have seen council representatives visit a troop is for Eagle Boards of Review or fundraising. By and large, troops operate independently, and are more influenced by their chartering organization (church, school or civic group). BSA adopting this new policy at the national level will have little impact on any one troop’s acceptance of gay boys.  If you are looking for a troop that doesn’t accept gays, I am sure they will still be out there.  If you are looking for a “gay-friendly” troop, they will come to be.

I may be wrong.  It may come to pass that BSA becomes an ideologically charged organization.  If that comes to pass, we will leave.  Understand, however, this will be true for any ideology that is sponsored – “conservative” or “liberal.”  We are not in Scouting for morality lessons.  I have other means of accomplishing the moral teaching of my son, thank you.

In the end, the best way to make sure BSA is a good organization for your son is to get involved.  Get to know the boys and leaders who are going to be a part of your son’s Scouting experience.  Scouting isn’t for everyone.  You can leave if you or your son is uncomfortable.

We’re staying.

Frank Feldman is the chaplain for Troop 246 in Englewood (OH).  He is a member of Precious Blood parish, and regularly volunteers at Mother Maria Anna Brunner Catholic School in Dayton. He blogs on “family, casual board games, chess, and kids” at SoFrankly.com and lives near Dayton  with his wife and son.

For a different view, “Boy Scouts: Why I’m Leaving” by Dr. Taylor Marshall, click here.

 

Click here for “Boy Scouts: Two Views” for a look at both sides of the issue, alternative Scouting organizations, and more.

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Scouting has always had a religious component, and the BSA’s decision endangers it, says Eagle Scout Taylor Marshall.

This guest post by frequent Son Rise Morning Show guest Taylor Marshall originally ran as “Why I’m Starting a New Boy Scouts: My Catholic Scouting Manifesto” on his blog, canterbury tales.

Dr. Taylor Marshall.

I am an Eagle Scout and I loved being a Boy Scout – all the way from Cub Scouts to Eagle. I want my sons to become Scouts and share that tradition with them…but I can no longer support the Boy Scouts.

I’ve been thinking and worrying about the Boy Scouts for months. I knew this decision was coming and I knew that the Boy Scouts would go the wrong way.

I also knew in my heart that I would have to do something about it when it actually happened…

So here’s my manifesto on why we need Scouting, but why we now need an alternative Scouting organization for Catholics: The Scouts of Saint George.

In 1908 Robert Baden-Powell wrote a book for boys about reconnaissance or scouting titled Scouting for Boys. Baden-Powell was a lieutenant general in the British Army.

He developed an ideal for young men about being a “Scout,” an ideal that included mentorship, camping, woodworking, backpacking, sports, and most important of all: virtue and the art of being a man.

Baden-Powell was an Anglican and he chose the fleur-de-lis as the emblem of Scouting. The fleur-de-lis is an ancient symbol of virginity and the Blessed Virgin Mary – rather fitting in my opinion. (Regrettably the BSA has trademarked the fleur-de-lis.)

Scouting spread to America and across the globe and it always possessed a religious element. We are now at the moment when this integral feature has been denied.

So we need to create a new organization for the old tradition. Here’s what I’m going to do about it, and I need all the brave souls that I can get. This will be an “Eagle Project” of a lifetime!!!!

We are going to make Catholic Scouts happen: the Scouts of Saint George.

A proposed logo for the Catholic Scouts of St. George by designer Steven Nelson.

Here’s the mini-manifesto in 7 points:

1. The Scouts of Saint George must be Catholic and acknowledge every jot and tittle of the magisterium of the Church – and be in full communion with the Holy Father.
2. A personal relationship with Christ and the growth in manly virtue will be at the heart of the Scouts of Saint George.
3. The Scouts of Saint George will be like the Boy Scouts of America with hiking, fishing, camping, merit badges, and a highest rank (equivalent somehow to Eagle Scout). Same format and structure. The Scouts of Saint George won’t reinvent the wheel. Traditional scouting works. Why change it? We’re just going to preserve the tradition and import a Catholic identity.
4. The Scouts of Saint George must have protection from government interference, which means it must be  grassroots. Otherwise, we are under government regulation and pressure in the years to come. We must avoid influence from lobbyists and governmental powers to compromise (as has happened with the BSA).
5. The Scouts of Saint George will be free and open-source. Like the original Baden-Powell, all you’ll need is the book, uniform, and badges. That’s it. The rest is grassroots. Fathers and sons organize and simply register or seek recognition from the other Scouts of Saint George.
6. The Scouts of Saint George is global. My goal is to get Pope Francis to approve it and recognize it.

1. Why Saint George? I have a devotion to him and he’s the exemplar for young men in the categories of courage and virginity? We need young men to slay the dragons of our era. Wouldn’t you agree?

Okay, who’s in? I need thousands of collaborators on this one. This will be a great project to get in on the ground floor: Sign up now to get involved with the “Scouts of Saint George.”

Dr. Taylor Marshall is a former Episcopal priest who is now a Catholic layman. The author of several books on Catholicism and history, he is a “rock-ribbed Thomist” and appears often on Catholic radio and television. He lives in Irving, TX, with his wife and eight children. To join Dr. Marshal’s email list for information about the Scouts of St. George project, click here.

For a different view, “Boy Scouts: Why I’m Staying” by Frank Feldman, click here.

Click here for “Boy Scouts: Two Views” for a look at both sides of the issue, alternative Scouting organizations, and more.

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Fr. David Howard is pictured with parishioners Deacon Tom and Dee Lynd, John and Jennifer Beckstedt, Marge Carey, Al and Pam Eling, Bob and Sue Kettler, Ron and Cheri Lehrter, and Martha Stahl ad the Reading Pastoral Region’s float in Reading’s 104th Memorial Day Parade

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Sts. Peter and Paul parishes in Reading, OH, joined with their pastor for their annual appearance in the 104th Lockland/Reading Memorial Day Parade.

For both parishes, the holiday also symbolized their growing collaboration as part of the Reading Pastoral Region, which began almost a year ago.

Beginning in Arlington Heights and passing through Lockland to Reading, the parade stopped at the Lockland and Reading Veterans’ Memorials before ending at the Reading Lockland Cemetery for a prayer service.

SSPP parishioner Deanna Schalch, owner of La Normandee Beauty Salon, places a Memorial Day tribute in her windows each year.  This year she honored the late Charley Lohmueller, who passed away in December. He led the Charley Lohmueller Orchestra for more than 40 years, and led the Halker-Flege American Legion Post Marching Band, which he founded, for 67 years.

Sts. Peter and Paul parishioner Pete Bronner, a Specialist in the US Army Reserves who recently returned from Afghanistan, walked with the VFW and carried the American flag. “He wasn’t supposed to be home until July,” said his mom, Julie, “so I was so happy to have him home for Memorial Day. It made us so proud to have him represent the fallen heroes of our country.”

Fr. David Howard said the parade is a great way for both parishes to come together. In a sense, the togetherness symbolized greater things to come from our Collaborative Pastoral Region.”

Sts. Peter and Paul Worship Commission Chair Dee Lynd of Reading organized the float, which was decorated with banners identifying both parishes. SSPP Charlie Roemer carried the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish banner.

SSPP Deacon Tom Lynd said the parade “was a revitalizing and up-lifting experience to process in oneness with our Pastoral Region and with all the Christian Churches in Reading honoring the men and women who fought and died for our freedom to worship in this unity of Christ.”

The two parishes currently share a Parish School of Religion program, RCIA and youth ministry, penance services and Lenten dinners. Members said that community activities help cement these pastoral collaborations.

“We had such fun riding in the Lockland/Reading Memorial Parade this weekend,” said Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Pastoral Council Member Marge Carey. “The people of Our Lady of Sacred Heart are so thankful that we have Sts. Peter & Paul Parish as our Pastoral Regional Parish.

“Everyone is working hard toward the success of togetherness. We are not only doing the fun things, but we are also working together in such things as Network of Care and Awakening the Faith. We have already had a team attend a combined CRHP weekend and are meeting with plans of another weekend in the future. There are exciting things happening in Reading!”

Fellow parishioner John Beckstedt agreed.”As we approach our first anniversary as the Reading Pastoral Region I think our two parishes have made the transition very smooth,” he said. “We have had a long relationship of working together on other things such as RCIA and supporting festivals and dances. The pastoral region just seemed like the natural progression for us.

“Father Howard has done a tremendous job during the transition bringing us together in more ways, and having the float is one of them. I look forward to seeing us grow together in faith and community. I think the future is bright for OLSH and Sts. Peter & Paul as a Pastoral Region.”

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Children participating in the free Super Hero Sprint at the Pray – Hope – Believe 5K will receive free super hero capes to keep.

For the second year a 5K race run in memory of Tony Merk — one of numerous events in his honor — will be held at the Colerain Township Municipal Complex on the 4th of July.

The Pray – Hope – Believe 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Pray – Hope – Believe Foundation (PHBF) was established last year to honor Merk, who died of brain cancer at age six. The charities named for him raise money for pediatric brain tumor research and to help children and teens suffering from life-threatening conditions.

This year, participants can run or walk as teams. The race will be chip timed, and awards will be given for finishes in various ages groups, as well as for largest team and for the team that raises the most money.

 

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Bishop Joe Binzer blessing the flag before before the 2012 race.

The race, an existing Colerain Township community 4th of July event, was renamed in Merk’s honor last year and is a community effort. Numerous Catholic and community groups volunteer, including St. Ann (Groesbeck, OH) parish’s Boy Scout troop, which will coordinate parking; and the YMCA, which will provide children’s activities. Rumpke Consolidated Companies Inc., which is headquartered in Colerain Township, is the main race sponsor, and members of the Ohio National Guard will lead the opening flag ceremony.

The schedule:

• 8:15 am: flag ceremony
• 8:20 prayer by Fr. Tom Denneman and (schedule permitting) Bishop Joe Binzer
• 8:30 am: 5K Run/Walk
• 9:30 am: Super Hero Sprint for kids
• Cookout and music to follow

Register online for the race here. 

Tony Merk contracted brain cancer at age three. A student at Our Lady of Grace School and a fan of La Salle High School football, he and his family were embraced by the parish, school, and high school, all of which all continue charitable works in his name.

“St. Ann parish and eventually the entire OLG community were bound together as one family in support of Tony, and finally in grief,” says Ray Roessler, one of the event organizers, “We are still bound in the cause to end pediatric cancer, brain cancer in particular.”

Other events hosted by PHBF include concerts, a special collection for Tony’s birthday, and the two-day Tony Merk Pigskin Preview at La Salle High School.

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Walkers at the 2012 race sport their race t-shirts.

For our story on the 2012 Tony Merk Pigskin Preview, click here.

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Fenwick’s first-ever state champion boys’ volleyball team.

1000 Words is a feature highlighting a single photo. Here, the Bishop Fenwick High School Boys Volleyball team posed after defeating Walsh Jesuit 3-1 and winning the school’s first-ever Division 2 State Championships in the sport.

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Photo courtesy Bishop Fenwick High School.

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Occasion: Fr. Basil Cole, OP, celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart at St. Gertrude parish for parishioners and for the Sacred Heart Radio family. Don’t neglect Mass today! Photo by Leah Burns-Levitt; courtesy Sacred Heart Radio. Click to enlarge.

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A carnival at night has a magical glow.

1000 Words is a feature highlighting a single photo. Here, people enjoy a stroll around St. Ann (Groesbeck, OH) Carnival on Memorial Day Weekend. This is the first year the carnival has extended to three days.

You can see all our 1000 Words photos at once: Click on “1000 Words” in the menu at the top of the page, or click here. To submit a photo, send it to TheCatholicBeat@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy St. Ann parish.

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Kevin Heider will kick off St. Charles parish’s Fortnight for Freedom observance with a concert Friday. Photo by Steve Dalgetty, Endless Pursuit Photography.

Some upcoming Catholic events in the area: 

June 20, Farm Mass for St. Mary’s and Sidney Deaneries at the Schmitmeyer Farm in Versailles (OH), 7 pm. Archbishop Schnurr will celebrate. Century Farm Awards will be presented during Mass, which will be followed by a dessert reception. Sponsored by the Catholic Rural Life Conference of the two deaneries.

June 21, Bill Tonnis CD Release Concert at St. Monica – St. George (Clifton, OH), 7:30 pm. A full band will join singer/songwriter Bill Tonnis to celebrate the release of his third album, Give Praise and Thanks. Reception follows. No fee; freewill offering accepted.

Jun 21, Second Fortnight for Freedom begins. For information see www.usccb.org.

June 21, Kevin Heider Concert to kick off the Fortnight for Freedom at St. Charles parish (Kettering, OH). Holy Hour with Fr. Tim Ralston and Kevin Heider at 7 pm; concert follows.

June 22, Day of Reflection with the Sisters of the Precious Blood at their central house in Dayton (OH). For women 18-14. Discern and discuss vocations with other women exploring God’s call. Contact Sr. Yarger at vocations@cppsadmin.org. or  (937) 999-8456.

June 23, Eucharistic Holy Hour for the Fortnight for Freedom at Immaculate Heart of Mary (Anderson Township, OH), 7 pm. For information see www.ihom.org.

June 23, World Refugee Day Celebration at Dayton View Park (OH), 3 – 7 pm. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is a sponsor of this family event. Free music, food, and dance performances.

June 23, “Contraception: Why Not?” a talk by Dr. Janet Smith at Queen of Peace Church in Millville (OH). Potluck supper at 5:30, program to follow. Adults and high school students with parents only. Presented by Queen of Peace and St. Aloysius parishes as part of the Fortnight of Prayer called for by the US Conference of Catholic bishops.

June 24, High School Boys Dominican Vocation Event for Ohio and Kentucky at St. Gertrude Priory in Madiera (OH), 4:45 – 7:30 pm. Meet Dominican priests and novices currently in formation at the priory for the Province of St. Joseph. Rosary, Solemn Vespers of the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, dinner, talk on Dominican life with Fr. Ezra Sullivan, OP. For information call Vocations Director at (202) 642-3597.

June 24, Sung Mass of the Nativity of John the Baptist at Old St. Mary’s in Over-the-Rhine (OH), 7 pm. To celebrate the appointment of Fr. Jon-Paul Bevak as its new Parochial Administrator, the eclectic parish that hosts German, English, and both the Extraordinary and Ordinary forms of the Mass in Latin will have a sung Mass in English, German and Latin. Reception with fireworks follows. Bring a dish to share

For more upcoming Catholic events, see our Events Page. 

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UD professor Miguel Diaz, former US Ambassador to the Vatican, was recently awarded the Virgilio Elizondo Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theology by Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States.

Yesterday President Obama nominated Ken Hackett, who headed Catholic Relief Services for many years, as Ambassador to the Vatican.

Who was the last Ambassador to the Vatican? Theologian Miguel Díaz, who now lives right here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati — where he is the University Professor of Faith and Culture at the University of Dayton. Here’s what he has to say about his successor:

“I send my congratulations to Ken Hackett, nominated today by President Obama as the 10th U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. As the former head of Catholic Relief Services, with service throughout Africa and Asia and as a Peace Corps volunteer, Ken brings a wealth of experience and perspective on issues related to global health and humanitarian assistance, as well as service to the poor, an important focus for Pope Francis. I wish him much success as he builds bridges between the United States and the Holy See.”

For our Friday story about Díaz being honored with the Virgilio Elizondo Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theology this month by the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States, click here.

Photo courtesy the University of Dayton and the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States. 

 

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CJ English teacher Mary Bardine (in green) is the fourth Chaminade Julienne teacher to receive a Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Award in four years. Sr. Dorothy was a CJ alumna.

The 2013 Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Awards, named for a slain Sister of Notre Dame de Namur from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, have been announced by the Sisters and the Archdiocese’s Offices of Mission, Catholic Social Action, Evengelization and Catecheis, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

They are:

Molly Bardine: A Chaminade Julienne High School (Dayton) faculty member for 18 years, she is the co-chair of the Mission Integration Team and the creator of the annual Stang Symposium, which has addressed human trafficking, care of the environment, and similar topics.

Patrice Harty:  A 42-year member of the Bishop Fenwick High School (Franklin) community, she recently planned and carried out a community-wide Kids Against Hunger cross-cultural day of service. An associate with the Sisters of Charity, Patrice visits sites in Guatemala annually to better help the poor of that country.

Colleen Kammer: A member of Incarnation parish (Centerville), she works with the Marianist Environmental Center and is involved in tree planting with Five Rivers Metro Parks. This is the third year Colleen has planned and led a Sr. Dorothy Stang Tree Planting Day, which included prayer and education as well as planting of native tree species.

Sue Sack: A member of the Northwest Dayton Pastoral Region, she helped create God’s Garden, a cooperative effort of St. Paul Parish (Englewood)’s members to supplement the parish food pantry with fresh produce. She helps educate the garden volunteers, students and others in organic gardening. She was also a part of Creation Connections and the Marianist Environmental Education Center.

Staff at Su Casa Hispanic Center: Much like Sr. Dorothy, the staff at the center help those who come to them discover ways to live in dignity, showing non-judgmental and generous love. In addition to one-on-one support, they also often work on the bigger issues supported by the US Bishops on immigration reform.

Nell & Steve Wulff: Members of St. Monica – St. George Parish (Clifton), they have created many education programs to help parishioners realize their impact on the environment.

The Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Award was created in 2010 in memory of Sr. Dorothy, who was killed in 2005 in the Brazilian Amazon. A native of Dayton (OH), she was an outspoken advocate for the Amazon Basin’s environemnt and people and is considered a martyr by many.

Nominees are accepted every spring for Catholic school faculty members, parish lay ecclesial ministers, parishioners active in social justice, or high school seniors who have demonstrated solidarity with the poor, care for the earth, or application of Catholic Social Teaching in cross-cultural service or a teaching ministry.

All but one of the 2013 Awards have been presented at separate events. Colleen Kammer’s award will be presented in July.

Photo courtesy Chaminade Julienne High School.

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Miguel Diaz received the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States’s award for distinguished achievement in theology this month.

University of Dayton theology professor and former Ambassador to the Vatican Miguel Díaz received the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States’s award for outstanding achievement this month.

The Academy presented its Virgilio Elizondo Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theology to Díaz at its 25th anniversary colloquium in Miami, FL. He is a past president of the Academy, and a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to have received this award at the 25th anniversary colloquium and celebration of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States,” Díaz said. “For 25 years, members of this academy have been listening to and walking with ordinary men and women of faith, especially Latino/a Catholic communities in this country.

“I am grateful for the friendships, support, and intellectual nourishment that I have received throughout the years. I am delighted to be welcomed home by this impressive think tank of Catholic intellectuals, and look forward to making further contributions with them in service to the Church and society.”

Díaz, who served as Ambassador to the Vatican from 2009 – 2012, is UD’s University Professor of Faith and Culture. He was the first theologian and the first Hispanic person to hold the diplomatic post.

As Ambassador Díaz launched initiatives for ethical development, care for the environment, and conflict prevention, the University says. He also helped create the US State Department’s Working Group on Religion and Foreign Policy, the first systematic and comprehensive effort on the part of the State Department to seriously consider the role of religion in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy.

Photo courtesy the University of Dayton and the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States.

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Eagle Scouts Dan Luken, Joe Baldauf, Ben Schenck, Kevin Anneken, Ben Bruns and Alan Bossmann on their graduation from Roger Bacon.

1000 Words is a feature highlighting a single photo. Here, Roger Bacon High School (St. Bernard, OH) graduates who are also Eagle Scouts pose by the sign in the school’s front lawn.

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Photo courtesy Roger Bacon High School.

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For many people, summer heat and humidity are made bearable only by fans and air conditioners provided by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinatil’s summer Fan and Air Conditioner Drive is on through August 16th.

With help from 9 On Your Side, Huntington Bank, and other sponsors, the SVDP-Cincinnati is collecting fans, air conditioners, and money to buy both. This year’s goal is 800 fans and 500 air conditioners.

Coney Island is chipping in as well. On FRIDAY ONLY, all who bring a new fan or air conditioner or make a $15 donation at the Coney Island Sunlite Pool gate will receive a free pool and ride pass for the day. Between June 14 and August 16, anyone who brings a new fan to Coney Island will receive a free all-day ride wristband.

Other ways to donate:

1. Make a financial contribution of any amount at any Greater Cincinnati Huntington Bank location through August 16. Every $15 buys one fan; $100 buys an air conditioner. 
2. Make a financial gift online at www.SVDPcincinnati.org or by phone at (513) 421-HOPE.
3. Donate a new fan or air conditioner at any SVDP Outreach Center or Thrift Store, Tedia Company, or Stor-All Self Storage location. Go to www.SVDPcincinnati.org and click on the Fan Drive banner for a list of all locations. 

Sponsors of the Fan Drive also include Braun Heating & Air Conditioning.

“The intense heat and humidity of summer in our area is especially dangerous to the elderly, sick, and small children with respiratory issues,” says Liz Carter, executive director of SVDP-incinnati. “For those who suffer during the summer months who can’t afford relief, this program offers more than comfort and hope. It can save a life.”

Donated fans and air conditioners will be distributed through the Society’s neighborhood volunteer groups, West End and Winton Hills Outreach Centers, and other outlets throughout the summer. Recipients of air conditioners must provide documentation of medical need.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul — NKY is also accepting donations for its Summer Breeze Fan/Air Conditioner program. To donate online see www.svdpnky.org.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is one of the world’s largest charitable organizations. Based on the idea of neighbors helping neighbors SVdP-Cincinnati has been helping Greater Cincinnati and Hamilton County residents in need for more than 140 years, regardless of race or creed, to bridge the spiritual, emotional and material gaps in their lives. Home visits provided by neighborhood-based volunteer groups, groundbreaking initiatives such as the Charitable Pharmacy and other programs,, and a network of food pantries and thrift stores.

For more information about the Society in Cincinnati, see www.SVDPcincinnati.org. For information about the Society in Northern Kentucky, see www.svdpnky.org.

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Volunteers from a previous SVdP – NKY fan drive.

Champion Donut Handler John Cranley, part of “Team Glazed,” receives his medal.

Former City Councilman John Cranley was named Champion Donut Handler last Friday, after a lunchtime donut giveway and donut themed games on Fountain Square that earned the Salvation Army $6,000.

The annual celebration of National Donut Day, begin in 1938 by the Salvation Army as a program for WWI veterans, National Donut Day in Cincinnati was sponsored by the Cincinnati Retail Bakers Association, BakeMark, Dawn Food Products and Paper Products Company.

Four teams of area celebrities that included Cranley, WGRR’s Janeen Coyle, Judge Patrick Dinkelacker, Edgewood (KY) Mayor John Link, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil, and many more competed in “Cone Hole” (a corn hole game sponsored by ice cream maker Graeter’s) and other games for the honor of being Donut Champion.

Bakers from Bakery Hill at the Midwest Culinary Institute (Cincinnati State), Bonomini Bakery, Busken Bakery, Graeter’s Bakery, Harrison Home Bakery, Holtman’s Donut Shop, Little Dutch Bakery, North College Hill Bakery, Regina Bakery, Schmidt’s Bakery, Wyoming Pastry Shop, Beans Bakery and Servatii Pastry Shop gave away donuts to the lunchtime crowd.

This was the fourth year Cincinnati has participated in National Donut Day, says Salvation Army Spokesman Bill Schinkal, and plans are already underway for next year.

Dennis Smith, President of Paper Products Co., says sponsorship is a natural — Paper Products Co. makes boxes and other packaging for bakery goods packaging. And the charity is top-shelf.

“The Salvation Army is a great organization,” said Smith, a St. Antoninus (Delhi, OH) parishioner. “Whenever there are natural disasters, when you’ve got chaos everywhere, you see the Salvation Army bringing order.”

Cranley agreed. “I was honored to help the Salvation Army and humbled to be named Champion Doughnut Handler 2013!” Cranley, who attends Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University and is a candidate for Mayor of Cincinnati, told fans on his Facebook page. “I wonder if my doughnut skills are in any way related to my constant struggle to keep my weight down?”

National Donut Day will return on the first Friday of June, 2014.

Photos courtesy the Salvation Army of Southwest Ohio-Northeast Kentucky. For a gallery of photos click here.

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Paper Products Co. President Dennis Smith with Rosy Red, who holds the championship medal.

One of the Donut Day donations to the Salvation Army.

Guests can’t get enough of this layered dip flavored with cilantro.

Cilantro and Coriander

Cilantro is mentioned several places in the Old Testament:

Exodus 16:31 ….”And the food became known as manna – meaning  “What is it? It was white like coriander seed and flat and tasted like honey bread.”

Cilantro is such a popular herb and it comes from the Coriander seed. Are they used the same?

Cilantro is the one herb that I know of that is a spice, too. The leaves are called cilantro and the seed is called Coriander. They can’t be used interchangeably though. Cilantro has a different flavor profile and has a citrusy, green taste. And if you use too much, it tastes like soap! That’s why I think lots of folks don’t like cilantro. We use cilantro in Asian, Middle Eastern, Indian and Southwestern dishes. 

Coriander is the seed of the plant and has a lemony taste; I use it in marinades and with root vegetables. Coriander is so viable that seeds found in Egyptian tombs were still able to sprout.

Cilantro seems to go to seed fast in this hot weather. How should it be grown?

It really does best in cooler weather, and the funny thing about cilantro is that it can be pinched back a  little but not a lot. It bolts to seed pretty quick. I like to plant it in early spring and then make successive plantings every few weeks.  I just planted another batch yesterday. The leaves start out nice and large, like flat leaf parsley, but lacier, then they get smaller and smaller and wind up almost fern like as the plant begins to flower and then goes to seed.  By the way, save the seeds and you have, yes, coriander — and also seeds for next year!  You can also plant the seeds in the fall – just sprinkle them with soil and let them sleep all winter long. They’ll be among the first herbs to sprout in the spring.

What are the health benefits of Cilantro?

It cools a hot tummy and that’s why it’s used along lots of spicy foods.  It contains calcium and it helps to remove metals from the body. Cilantro also helps fight salmonella, and is capable of destroying viruses and germs that cause colds. It’s also anti inflammatory and can help control blood sugar. And this time of year, it’s good to know that if you eat cilantro daily, it can help in preventing skin cancer. But mainly it perks up many dishes, from seafood to salsas.

Southwestern Layered Spread with Cilantro

Guests can’t get enough of this! Layer this as indicated below or in any way you like. Sometimes I’ll put the sour cream layer on first, but it doesn’t matter. 

2 cups sour cream

1 pouch taco seasoning

32 oz refried beans

16 oz jar salsa

Several green onions, sliced

1 large tomato, chopped

2 avocados, diced or prepared guacamole

8 oz shredded Mexican cheese

2-4 oz sliced black olives

Shredded lettuce

Cilantro to taste, chopped coarsely

Mix sour cream and taco seasoning. Chill in fridge for 15 minutes.

In microwave, heat beans and salsa until hot and easy to mix. Let cool. Spread bean mixture on large platter or in 9×13 pan. Spread sour cream/taco mixture over beans. Layer cheese, olives, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados and onions on top. Garnish with cilantro.

Rita Heikenfeld.

Rita Nader Heikenfeld writes a weekly cooking column and blog for the Community Press, appears every Thursday on the Son Rise Morning Show, and is the author of several cookbooks. An adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, she is Macy’s Regional Culinary Professional  (CCP) and is a Certified Modern Herbalist. She lives “in the sticks” outside Batavia, Ohio with her family, where they heat with wood, raise chickens for eggs, and grow their own produce and herbs. You’ll find all her previous recipes featured on The Catholic Beat here.

 Rita’s Bible Foods segment airs on the Son Rise Morning Show every Thursday morning at 7:22 am (rebroadcast Friday at 6:02 am). Tune in to hear her discuss the history behind each recipe and the scripture verses that inspired it. And of course, for cooking tips!

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Photo by Anissa Thompson, courtesy stock.xchng.

The Ohio Council of Churches (OCC), which represents 18 Christian entities including the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, numerous Protestant denominations, and non-denominational communions and fellowships, has issued a statement expressing grave concerns about how the US Dept. of Health and Human Services mandate requiring nearly all employers to proved insurance coverage for temporary and permanent sterilization, and for “morning after pills” that may cause abortions will affect religious liberty in the United States.

Calling on legislators to broaden the religious exemption in the mandate and safeguard religious liberty and conscience rights, the statement pledges solidarity among member groups (called “judicatories”) to defend each other’s right to follow their teachings and beliefs.

“This is an exciting breakthrough,” says Tony Stieritz, director of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Office of Catholic Social Action, who worked with the OCC over about eight months to draft the statement. “To have mainline Protestant churches in solidarity with Catholics on religious freedom sends a clear and powerful message.”

When the statement was first proposed in 2012, Steiritz said, some judicatories did not realize the implications of the HHS mandate for their members because most media reporting focused on the requirement to provide birth control devices and drugs. While the Catholic Church teaches that all types of voluntary sterilization (including birth control drugs) are wrong, many Christians who don’t agree did not look past the requirement to the larger issue of whether the government is being just or constitutional in making it.

“Once we could take contraception off the table and see that the mandate defines which religious institutions are religious enough to follow their own teachings, the issue became clear,” Steiritz says. “That took a lot of face-to-face conversation, and I really credit the OCC for staying committed to the issue and putting a process in place to discuss it.”

The statement begins by acknowledging that while not all members of the OCC agree on particular teachings, they do agree on religious liberty.

“In our diversity of belief and practice, we nevertheless strive to make visible the unity of our faith in Christ as we discuss the various social issues of the public square,” the statement says, emphasizing that the signers are not opposed to the Affordable Care Act itself, but are disturbed at the HHS’s “attempts to define the actual nature of a religious institution.”

By defining “religious institutions” narrowly, the OCC says, the US government denies people the right to express and act on their religious beliefs once they leave their homes or do any sort of work. “This mandate sets a concerning precedent for any religious institution which may find itself in a position of having values that, within reason, challenge that of the state,” the statement reads.

“Although many judicatories of the OCC do not object to the specifics of the HHS mandate,” it continues, “we fear that, if the HHS mandate is allowed to be implemented in its current form, then, at a future point, any one of the members of the body of Christ could be faced with a similar crisis of conscience. Together, we raise our united concern about the need for government at all levels to respect the religious liberty of all communities of faith.” (To download the complete text of the statement, click here.)

Steiritz says that while various Christian denominations and groups have expressed solidarity with the Catholic Church on religious liberty, the OCC is the first ecumenical group of its kind to do so.

Established in 1919, the OCC is one of the oldest ecumenical councils in the country. It encompasses 6000 congregations with more than 3 million members.

OCC Member Groups (“Judicatories”):

• African Methodist Episcopal Church, Third Episcopal District, visit website
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Mid-Atlantic One Area, visit website
• Alliance of Baptists, Ohio Community, visit website
• Christian Church in Ohio (Disciples of Christ), visit website
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Second Episcopal District, visit website
• Christian Science,Committee on Publication for Ohio, visit website
• Community Churches (Ohio Fellowship), visit website
• Church of the Brethren, Northern Ohio District, visit website
• Church of the Brethren, Southern Ohio District visit website
• Episcopal Church in the USA, Diocese of Ohio visit, website
• Episcopal Church in the USA, Diocese of Southern Ohio, visit website
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Northeastern Ohio Synod, visit website
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Northwestern Ohio Synod, visit website
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Southern Ohio Synod,visit website
• Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolis of Detroit, visit website
• Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolis of Pittsburgh, visit website
• Moravian Church in America Northern Province, Eastern District Synod, visit website
• Ohio Baptist General Convention, visit website
• Presbyterian Church (USA), Synod of the Convenant, visit website
• Religious Society of Friends, Wilmington Yearly Meeting, visit website
• Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, visit website
• Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Columbus, visit website
• Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Steubenville, visit website
• Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Toledo, visit website
• Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Youngstown, visit website
• United Church of Christ, Ohio Conference, visit website
• United Methodist Church, East Ohio Conference, visit website
• United Methodist Church, West Ohio Conference, visit website

For more on religious freedom:

Click here for our Religious Liberty resources page. Click here to see all our previous stories and guest posts on religious liberty issues.

Click here for the USCCB’s resource page on the Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty — or click on the “Join the Movement” graphic on our site any time.

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The site plan shoes the existing De Paul Cristo Rey buidlings (left) and the additions (right) that will allow the school to eventually accommodate all four high school grades.

De Paul Cristo Rey High School will nearly double in size in the next two years, as it adds science labs, classrooms, and an office suite.

The school, which is enrolling its third freshman class, opened in 2011 in what was once a Lutheran school on a triangle of land in Cincinnati’s Clifton neighborhood.

““When we add a third class of students this August, we will have already outgrown the current classroom capacity of our two existing buildings,” says DCPR’s president, Sister Jeanne Bessette, OSF, Ed.D. “So to accommodate our growing student population and plan for when we will be a full four-year high school, we developed a campus expansion plan under the guidance of the Facilities Committee of our Board of Directors.”

The expansion, which will be carried out in three phases, is already underway. DPCR has purchases three modular buildings from Dater High School (Cincinnati Public Schools) that will be placed next to its two existing buildings, with a plaza connecting the new complex to the existing parking lot.

In phase one, over the summer, a building housing three science labs, a classroom, and the assistant principal’s office will be installed on land being graded now. It is expected to open by the first day of school. Building two, which will open later in the fall, will house four additional classrooms and the Admissions, Business, and Counseling departments.

The third building, which will hold more classrooms, will open in the 2014-2015 academic year, the first year DPCR will have all four classes in grades 9 – 12.

The expansion will include landscaping and an expanded parking lot as well as the plaza.

Photo and map courtesy De Paul Cristo Rey High School.

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The sloping land that will be the site of the school’s expansion is being graded and prepared for three modular buildings.

A view down the aisle to the nave of St. Ceclia Church on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Click to enlarge.

1000 Words is a feature highlighting a single photo. Here, St. Cecilia Parish (Oakley, OH) prepares to begin its annual Corpus Christi procession.

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Photo courtesy St. Cecilia.

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Melchizidek and Abraham window medallion at St. Gregory Chapel, Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West. Photo by Jackie Keiser, click to enlarge.

The Priests’ Personnel Office announces the summer appointments for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati:

Pastors

• Fr. Patrick A. Fairbanks, SJ, Saint Xavier, Cincinnati; effective July 1
• Fr. Alfons W. Minja, CPPS, Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Montezuma; effectivre June 1

Parochial Administrators

• Fr. Jon-Paul Bevak, Old St. Mary’s, Cincinnati; effective June 17, 2013.
• Fr. Martin Fox, Holy Cross-Immaculata, Cincinnati; effective June 17
• Fr. Ronald Haft, St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus, Covington; Immaculate Conception, Bradford; St. Denis, Versailles; andHoly Family, Frenchtown;  effective July 1
• Fr. Patrick McMullen, St. Peter in Chains, Hamilton and St. Joseph, Hamilton; effective July 1
• Fr. Edward Pratt, Holy Name, Trenton, while continuing as Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows, Monroe; effective July 1

Weekend/Holy Day Assistance

• Fr. Thomas A. Snodgrass, regular weekend and holy day assistance at Sacred Heart, Fairfield and St. Ann, Hamilton, while continuing in the Chancery Office; effective July 1

Parochial Vicars

• Fr. Jerome Bishop, St. Susanna, Mason; effective July 1
• Fr. Stephen Lattner, OSB, Our Lady of Sorrows, Monroe and Holy Name, Trenton;  effective  July 1
• Fr.  Matthew Lee, Champaign County Region which includes: St. Michael, Mechanicsburg, Immaculate Conception, North Lewisburg, St. Mary, Urbana, and Sacred Heart, St. Paris; effective July 1
• Fr. Steve Mondiek, St. Charles Borromeo, Kettering, effective July 1
• Fr. Robert Muhlenkamp, Parochial Vicar, St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. Jude, Cincinnati, effective July 1
• Fr. Tim Ralston, Coldwater Cluster, which includes:  Holy Trinity, Coldwater; St. Anthony, St. Anthony; St. Mary, Philothea; effective July 1
• Fr. James Romanello, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Liberty Township, effective July 1
• Fr. Marc Soellner, Our Lady of the Visitation, Cincinnati; effective July 1\

Renewals

The following Pastors were renewed for an additional six years, effective July 1:

• Fr. Anthony Dattilo, St. Catharine of Siena, Cincinnati
• Fr. Edwin Gearhart, St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, Springfield
• Fr. Paul Hurst, St. Bernard, Springfield
• Fr. James Manning, St. Mary, Franklin  
• Fr. Lawrence Mierenfeld, Incarnation, Centerville
• Fr. James Schutte, St. Leo, Cincinnati
• Fr. Jeffrey Silver, St. Mary Campus Ministry, Oxford
• Fr. William Wagner, St. Thomas More, Withamsville
• Fr. Robert Waller, St. Andrew, Milford
• Fr. Richard Walling, Coldwater Cluster, Coldwater 
• Fr. Jack Wehman, St. James of the Valley, Wyoming
• Fr. David Zink, St. Nicholas, Osgood and St. Louis, North Star 

Retirements

• Fr. Tom Dennemann, effective June 30
• Fr. Thomas Gaeke, effective April 1
• Fr. Gerald Haemmerle, effective June 30
• Fr. John Kroeger, Ph.D., effective June 30
• Fr. David Vincent, effective June 30

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