Pope attends screening of a film about St. Augustine

VATICAN CITY (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the "Sala degli Svizzeri" of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI attended the screening of an abbreviated version of the film "St. Augustine", an Italian, German, Polish co-production. The film was made by Lux Vide/Rai Fiction, Bayerischer Rundfunk/Tellux Film, Eos Entertainment Rai Trade and Grupa Filmova Baltmedia. It was directed by Christian Duguay.

At the end of the screening, the Holy Father expressed his thanks to everyone involved in the project and pronounced some brief remarks. "I feel this film to be a spiritual journey in a spiritual continent, far distant from us yet at the same time very near because the human drama remains the same", he said.

"We have seen how, in a context far removed from our own, the reality of human life is represented with all its problems, sadness and failures, just as we have seen how, in the end, Truth is stronger than any obstacle and seeks out man. This is the great hope that remains at the end: we alone cannot seek out Truth, but Truth, which is a Person, seeks out us. Seen from the outside, the life of St. Augustine seems to finish tragically as the world for which and in which he lived comes to an end. But as was made clear in this film, his message remains and, even as the world changes, it endures because it comes from Truth and guides us to Charity, which is our shared destination.

"Thank you to everyone", he added in conclusion. "Let us hope that many people, watching this human drama, may be sought out by Truth and so discover Charity".

MCC Statement on Constitutional Convention

LANSING – Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors today approved a statement that does not support the call for a constitutional convention in 2010. The statement in its entirety is as follows:

"Michigan’s current constitution is not a perfect document. Amendments are in order, especially in the area of state aid to non-public schools. The financial impact of a constitutional convention on the state budget, however, only presents additional threats to, and concerns for, the state’s social safety net. Michigan Catholic Conference does not support the call for a constitutional convention in 2010."

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state. The Conference’s Board of Directors is comprised of Michigan’s seven (arch) diocesan bishops, five laypersons, one priest and one religious sister.

Constitutional Convention Background: Michigan voters at the November 2010 general election ballot will decide whether or not the state will conduct a constitutional convention in 2011. Article 12, Section 3 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution calls for a vote of the people every 16 years to determine if delegates appointed from each House and Senate district should rewrite the state’s guiding document. Since the adoption of the 1963 state constitution, the question has twice been before voters and each time was defeated, in 1978 and in 1994.

MCC Board of Directors Statement Calls on State Officials to ‘Protect Essential Needs’ for the Poor in Budget Debate

LANSING – While legislative leaders seek to diminish further Michigan’s social safety net in an effort to balance the state’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors today approved a statement calling for solidarity with the state’s poorest citizens and urges legislators to enact a budget that protects essential needs.

According to the MCC Board’s statement: "As deliberations take place to resolve Michigan’s nearly $3 billion deficit, the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors calls upon state leaders to overcome divisiveness and to pursue a budget solution that guarantees preferential options for the most needy population." The statement further reads: "Michigan’s budget must have a moral foundation, one that manifests the priority the state places on providing basic human services through an equitable tax structure and a just distribution of resources."

"The MCC Board of Directors recognizes that Michigan is facing extraordinary challenges and difficult economic times," says Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., Michigan Catholic Conference President and C.E.O., "but the Board is also saying that the state has a moral obligation to craft a budget that recognizes and protects the programs and services on which thousands of poor and vulnerable citizens rely for health and safety."

The state is facing a combined $2.8 billion budget deficit in its general fund and school aid budgets for the 2009-10 fiscal year. That deficit must be balanced by October 1, according to the Michigan Constitution, otherwise the state will be forced, as it was in 2007, to discontinue temporarily services and programs until revenues are secured.

Michigan Catholic Conference has consistently spoken out against a prevailing "shared pain" approach to balancing the state budget deficit, and has called on legislators to craft a state budget that ensures Michigan’s poorest citizens are protected. Earlier this year the governor proposed, and the Legislature’s appropriations’ committees approved, an Executive Order that cut some $304 million out of the state budget that ends September 30. Over half of those cuts came from the Department of Community Health and the Department of Human Services, two state departments primarily responsible for ensuring adequate health and safety for the state’s destitute citizens.

Additional legislative proposals have called for a fifty-percent cut to the state clothing allowance program, which provides the poorest children in the state with limited funds to purchase clothes prior to the commencement of the new school year; a cut to the state Family Independence Grant program, which provides cash assistance to poor citizens who have no other income; making the 48-month time limit on cash assistance retroactive; cutting the Supplemental Security Income program, which, in part, provides assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities who live independently; and halting full implementation of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which provides a tax break for the working poor who pay a disproportionate amount in payroll taxes.

"We call on all those of good will, especially the Catholic community, to join us in working for the common good and economic justice for all," the Board statement concludes.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state. The Conference’s Board of Directors is comprised of Michigan’s seven (arch) diocesan bishops, five laypersons, one priest and one religious sister.

Full Text of Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors’ Statement on State of Michigan Budget:

"As deliberations take place to resolve Michigan’s nearly $3 billion deficit, the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors calls upon state leaders to overcome divisiveness and to pursue a budget solution that guarantees preferential options for the most needy population.
Speaking on behalf of society’s most vulnerable citizens is a Catholic tradition. We advocate for legislation that protects and defends the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. The homeless, those without health care, the unemployed, the sick and aged, and all vulnerable persons struggling to survive, are some of those who depend on state programs for their own personal health and safety. We call on Michigan’s elected officials to stand with them by enacting a budget that protects essential needs.

Michigan’s budget must have a moral foundation, one that manifests the priority the state places on providing basic human services through an equitable tax structure and a just distribution of resources. The MCC will continue to advocate this position on behalf of the vulnerable. We call on all those of good will, especially the Catholic community, to join us in working for the common good and economic justice for all."

U.S. Bishops launch Web page on Healthcare

WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a Web page promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The page, www.usccb.org/healthcare, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.

Letters to Congress include an August 11 letter by Cardinal Justin Rigali, the bishops’ Pro-Life chairman, criticizing abortion provisions in the House version of health care legislation and a July 17 letter from Bishop William Murphy, the bishops’ Domestic Social Justice chairman, outlining the bishops concerns and priorities for health care reform as a whole.

The site will feature Web videos of USCCB policy staff discussing the bishops’ position on health care. Kathy Saile, director of Domestic Social Development, outlines the general position and concerns. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of Pro-Life Activities, describes how abortion relates to the health care reform debate.

The page also contains facts and statistics about Catholic health care in the United States, which includes 624 Catholic hospitals, 164 home health agencies, and 41 hospice organizations.

Abortion Provisions in House Health Care Bill Unacceptbale, Say Cardinal in Letter to Congress

WASHINGTON -- Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia urged preservation of “longstanding federal policies that prevent government promotion of abortion and respect conscience rights,” and called current House health care legislation “seriously deficient” on the issue of mandated coverage and funding of abortion. He cited his concerns in an August 11 letter to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Cardinal Rigali, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, reaffirmed the bishops’ position that genuine health care reform that respects life and dignity is urgently needed. He also welcomed provisions in America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) that do not preempt state laws regulating abortion or current federal conscience laws on abortion.

But he criticized the bill for delegating to the Secretary of Health and Human Services “the power to make unlimited abortion a mandated benefit in the ‘public health insurance plan’ the government will manage nationwide.” He called this a “radical change” since federal law excludes most abortions from federal employees’ health benefits, and no federal health program mandates coverage of elective abortions.

Cardinal Rigali also criticized the bill for bypassing the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding provisions that prevent federal funding of abortion and health benefits packages that include abortion. He called the provisions to separate funding for abortion created by the House Energy and Commerce Committee a “legal fiction,” one that would force low-income Americans, who may only be able to afford the public plan, to subsidize abortions for others and abortion coverage for themselves “even if they find abortion morally abhorrent.”

“Much-needed reform must not become a vehicle for promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or reversing longstanding policies against federal funding and mandated coverage of abortion,” Cardinal Rigali said. He added that “no federal program mandates coverage for elective abortions, or subsidizes health plans that include such abortions. Most Americans do not want abortion in their health coverage, and most consider themselves ‘pro-life,’ with a stronger majority among low-income Americans.”

“By what right, then, and by what precedent, would Congress make abortion coverage into a nationwide norm, or force Americans to subsidize it as a condition for participating in a public health program?” he asked.

Cardinal Rigali reiterated the USCCB’s long-time support of genuine health care reform that respects human life and dignity from conception till natural death, provides access to quality care for all with special concern for the poor and immigrants, respects pluralism and conscience rights, and shares costs equitably.

He urged members of the House to support amendments to correct the “unacceptable features” currently in H.R. 3200 and to oppose any rule for considering the bill that would block such amendments.

The full text of the letter can be found online at: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/CardRigaliHealthCareReformLetter-08-11-09.pdf

Obituary for Fr. C. Henry Eickholt

SAGINAW – Father C. Henry Eickholt, 90, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died Monday morning, July 27, 2009 at St. Francis Home, Shields.

Father Eickholt was born on Oct. 7, 1918, son of Charles and Mary (Martin) Eickholt. He was baptized at St. Michael Parish in Maple Grove and received his elementary education at St. Michael School.

As a seminarian, Father Eickholt received his priestly formation at St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids, Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, and Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1944 by Bishop William F. Murphy at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw.

His first assignment was as an assistant pastor at Queen of the Holy Rosary, Saginaw, from June 1944 to Sept. 1944, when he found himself as administrator of the parish until April 1945. He also served as assistant pastor at St. Joseph, Saginaw (April 1945 to Oct. 1945); St. Brigid of Kildare, Midland (Oct. 1945 to Sept. 1951) and St. Joseph, East Tawas (Sept. 1951 to Sept. 1952).

In Sept. 1952, he became pastor at St. Edward the Confessor , Omer, where he remained until May 1959. He also served as pastor at St. Joseph, East Tawas, (May 1959 to June 1963); Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chesaning (June 1963 to March 1967); St. Michael, Pinconning (March 1967 to Feb. 1973); St. Mary - Our Lady of Sorrows, Port Sanilac (Feb. 1973 to July 1979) and Sacred Heart, Birch Run (July 1979 to July 1986).

He also had served as chaplain of the St. Christopher Council Knights of Columbus No. 2943. He was granted senior priest status (retired) in July 1986.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chesaning. Bishop Joseph R. Cistone and Father Richard Bokinskie will concelebrate.

Visitation will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. A vigil service will take place at 7 p.m. and the Knights of Columbus will pray the Rosary at 8 p.m. that evening. Visitation also will be available on Thursday morning at the church beginning at 9 a.m.

Father Eickholt is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Bob Lawton of Chesaning; his sister, Ann Gewirtz of Chesaning; his brother, Andrew Eickholt of Saginaw; sisters-in-law, Josephina Eickholt of California, Betty Eickholt of Saginaw and Patricia Eickholt of Owosso; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are entrusted to The Misiuk Funeral Home of Chesaning, http://www.misiukfuneralhome.com/.