BEND — It seems like a long time since I have written about a recent travel experience within the Diocese. While there have been occasions of travel within the diocese other matters have been a bit more pre-occupying and have precluded any kind of detailed travel account.

BEND — True hope-filled courage stands between imprudent silence and indiscreet speech. In my case, if there is an imprudent silence, that silence bespeaks not only the fear of losing the favor of men but also a fear of indiscreet speech.

BEND — It might be a perception that my active rejection of safe environment programs for children as an unjustified intrusion on both the innocence of the child and the integrity of the family reflects a glimmer of courage. But there too, I simply am responding to the courageous resistance to these things already manifested by hundreds of concerned and faithful Catholic laity.

BEND — Note that Eleazar has no illusion about the practical value of his fidelity. It would not cause the king to change the law, it would not cause his friends to convert, it would not result in a miraculous intervention by God. In worldly terms, his death is useless, his resistance futile.

BEND — Forty years ago, a Pontifical Commission reported to Pope Paul VI that in their estimation the Church’s long-standing prohibition regarding the use of artificial contraception was no longer justifiable.

The sense of the Commission was that science and technology had changed and that the Church needed to change to keep pace with the progress of the culture.

BEND — “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” is the document of the United States Catholic Bishops which is intended to provide some moral guidelines for discerning difficult election choices.

BEND — Be holy, be faithful, be firm, be compassionate, be available, be generous. Last week I looked at the first two of these and this week I look at the rest.

BEND — Be holy, be faithful, be firm, be compassionate, be available, be generous. This is a list of the attitudes of being which I would consider important for anyone in ecclesial ministry and especially priests. It is not by any means an exhaustive list but it is a beginning. Today I will comment on just two of these.

BEND — Last week I indicated that perhaps it would be good to pursue further the question of why even the suggestion of a change in the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand would be the cause or source of outrage and rebellion in the Church.

BEND — There is a bit of building and growing going on in the Diocese of Baker and, with growth, there is always the possibility of growing pains.