Archive for January, 2010

Published by admin on 27 Jan 2010

What did you think of President Obama’s State of the Union Address in terms of Catholic principles?

Published by admin on 27 Jan 2010

Saturday’s Radio Show: Andrew Marquardt to discuss Leadership at Work: Three Moral Truths

Tune in Saturday morning, January 30, 2010, from 11 a.m. to Noon EST (8 a.m. – 9 a.m. PST) to The Catholic Business Hour live, call-in radio show as host Dick Lyles interviews Andrew Marquardt, CEO of AdvantageTECH, a nationwide IT placement and sourcing firm and a lawyer well-versed in employment law, discusses Catholic Leadership: Three Moral Truths.

Show host Dick Lyles, a seasoned business entrepreneur, and author or co-author of eight books including the best seller, Winning Ways, is also a columnist for the Catholic Business Journal, and CEO of Leadership Legacies and of Origin Entertainment.

The Catholic Business Hour is sponsored in part by: Andrew at AdvantageTech, a national IT placement firm, at www.advantageTech.NET, and by the Population Research Institute, putting people first, at www.pop.org.

To find a radio station near you, go to www.EWTN.com/radio/amfm.htm.

To listen live online on Saturday, go to www.EWTN.com/radio.

To call-in to the show, the Toll Free call in number is: 1-877-573-7825.

The Catholic Business Hour airs weekly on Saturday mornings on the EWTN Global Catholic Network, which includes 130 AM/FM stations nationwide, Sirius 160 and online at www.ewtn.com/radio. The show is produced by the Catholic Business Journal, and is rebroadcast Saturday evenings 10-11PM EST (7-8PM PST).

Published by admin on 27 Jan 2010

More than 40,000 take a Walk for Life on the West coast, And I was there….

By Mark McElrath

Saturday January 23rd was the date of the sixth annual West Coast Walk for Life, officially known as “Walk for Life WC”.  This year’s event drew by far, the largest crowd in history of the event and estimates pegged the total number at just over 40,000 participants.  The City of St Francis was alive with Pro-Life spirit and it took the shape of every age, race, gender and socio-economic status imaginable—including a blind walker led along the 2-plus mile route by two companions, and several individuals walking with canes and a limp. As one participant with a cane told me, “Yes it’s painful, but worth it! We’re speaking for those who never got a chance to speak, let alone walk!”   But that’s not all…

College students bused in from Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern California and all parts in between.  Religious orders were represented in force and included diocesan priests and seminarians, more than six Bishops!, women religious from such recognizable habits as the Missionaries of Charity, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the Sisters of Life and the Carmelites.  The overwhelming witness to life, however, clearly belonged to the laity, whose not-so-silent witness was evident the sheer size of their collective presence.

I arrived with others late the night before the Saturday Walk for Life, and after a quick dinner in the North Beach (Italian) section of town,  made my way to the majestic Sts. Peter and Paul church on the edge of North Beach to join the Sisters of Life in a guided meditation on Life and Love before Our Lord in Eucharist Adoration.  And I was not alone.  This night, hundreds braved the cold and rain to pay a visit to Our Lord to beg Him for support on our walk the next day.

Pre-walk prayers continued during all-night Eucharistic adoration.  The beautiful ethnic parish could not have been more perfectly suited for the devotion.  Splendid artwork from early in the previous century adorns the  grand parish walls and The Presence was exposed in a stunning sunburst monstrance.  the darkened church nave, drew your gaze to the altar.  Lifting your heart in prayer for the millions who were not given the chance to pray,  One could not help but understand that all good works must begin with prayer

Saturday morning the Cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption was the location for the beginning of the day’s events.  Archbishop George Niederauer was the principal concelebrant in a Eucharistic celebration that included Bishop Salvatore Cordelione from Diocese of Oakland, Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Auxiliary Bishops  Ignatius Wong and William Justice from San Francisco and Dominic Luong from the Diocese of Orange.  Fr Frank Pavone of Priests for Life was spotted amidst the dozens of priests concelebrating this special mass.

A Powerful sermon underscored the day’s beginning

Archbishop Niederauer preached very effectively, drawing an obvious comparison for that day’s work with that day’s gospel which was Mark 3:20-21.  In this reading, Jesus’ relatives, when confronted with the reality of his overwhelming  popularity, so much so that the crowds pressed in from every side making it impossible for him even to eat, responded with disgust.  Their response to the unbelievable scene, “He is out of his mind.”

As a pro-lifer, I can testify first-hand that this same attitude comes from family and friends not yet convinced of either the morality or the critical importance of the Pro-Life movement. is not unique.  What was unique was the pressing throng, the crowd, surrounding Jesus.   And so it was as we headed to the rally preceding the walk; the pressing crowd alone gave wordless witness to the morality and the importance of our efforts.

The unexpected throng, pressing from every side

When we gathered at the Ferry Building, a famous San Francisco landmark located just off the Embarcadero, it was a sight to behold!  Wall-to-wall people, despite the heavy rain that had been falling over California for the better part of a week.  Thousands upon thousands stood side by side in the mud.  Uncomplaining, we braved the rain and listened attentively as we heard from Fr Joseph Fessio SJ of Ignatius Press, Abby Johnson the former Planned Parenthood Clinic  Director from Bryan, Texas, who was converted to the truth of abortion through the efforts of 40 Days for Life, Lila Rose the undercover investigator who has blown the doors off Planned Parenthood clinic’s duplicitous efforts to cover up perpetrators of statutory rape, Paul Genoux-Defermont the leader of the Paris Walk for Life that drew over 25,000 French and European pro-lifers to the City of Lights.

The walk and the metaphor

And then it was the walk itself.  2.6 miles along the beautiful San Francisco Bay under a most brilliant post-rain sunshine.  The Golden Gate Bridge shone like a beacon, a beautiful metaphor for what we must cross, a Threshold of Hope, to the day when abortion will be relegated to the same ash heap of history that American slavery has been deposited into.

Two and a half hours of trekking later, we arrived at the Marina Green where various apostolates had set up information booths, Immaculate Heart Radio sponsored a concert and speakers such as courageous Evangelical Rev. Walter Hoyes and Fr Frank Pavone encouraged the crowd with talks on the effectiveness of our 37-plus years of pro-life witness.

The Marina Green looked like a giant family reunion picnic where relatives had a chance to catch up on the various comings and goings since the last time the clan had gathered.  Meanwhile, the transportation busses began to roll, taking home the college students, the grandparents, the home school families, the young urban professionals, all of whom were clearly inspired and motivated by the large public gathering of like-minded individuals and who surely felt interiorly strengthened, realizing they are not alone in standing for the unborn.  We have each other and, most importantly, we have Jesus Christ.

For my part, I was reminded of another public throng, 31 years ago, when a Polish Bishop came and stood on a famous balcony in Rome and boldly admonished us, “Be Not Afraid!”

Related articles: 

Up to 400,000 participate in 37th Annual March for Life in D.C.

March for Life 2010 – Pro Life Blogs

Walk for Life WC blog photos

March for Life 2010 video

Published by admin on 27 Jan 2010

POPULATION CONTROL: A New Decade for an Aging World

World Population Going From Boom to Bust

by Father John Flynn, Jan. 24, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The United Nations has just published a report drawing attention to the problems being created due to a rapidly aging world population. Just after the start of the New Year the Department of Economic and Social Affairs published its “World Population Aging 2009″ report.

Among the main findings of the report were the following points.

  • The current aging is without any parallel in history. By 2045 the number of persons over 60 is expected to exceed those under the age of 15. In the more developed regions, where aging is advanced, this situation was already reached in 1998.
  •  Today the median age for the world is 28 years, with half the world’s population above that age and half above it. By mid-century the median age will likely reach 38 years.
  •  Aging is affecting nearly all the countries of the world, due to reductions in fertility that have become almost universal.
  •  Aging will have a major impact on economic growth, savings, investment, labor markets, and taxation.
  •  Because fertility levels are unlikely to rise again to the high levels of the past population aging is irreversible and the young populations that were common until recently are likely to become rare during the twenty-first century.
  • Worldwide there are currently about 9 persons of working age to support older persons. By 2050 this will drop to four, with serious implications for pension schemes. As well, the current economic crisis brought about sharp reductions in the value of pension funds.

 Further reports

Other recent U.N. reports have examined more in depth demographic problems in individual countries. A study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), titled “Russia Facing Demographic Challenges,” predicted the population will continue to shrink, the Associated Press reported Oct. 4.

According to the UNDP Russia’s population has fallen by 6.6 million since 1993, despite the influx of millions of immigrants. The report warned that by 2025 the country could lose a further 11 million people.

The consequences of such a reduction will be labor shortages, an aging population and slower economic growth, according to the UNDP. In 2007 Russia had the world’s ninth-largest population. By 2050, the U.N. estimates, Russia will be at no. 15 in the list, with a population smaller than that of Vietnam.

Russia needs to cut its high abortion rate to help reverse the population decline, warned the countries’ Health Minister Tatyana Golikova, reported Agence France Presse, Jan. 18.

Golikova said that in 2008 there were 1.714 million births in Russia and 1.234 million abortions.

In their Jan. 20 analysis of Golikova’s statement the think tank Stratfor noted that, while the minister announced that in 2009 there had been a slight increase, of between 15,000 to 25,000 in Russia’s population, this was due to one-off causes.

The increase was due in part to government incentives for Russians to return to their country from the former Soviet republics. After several years of such immigration the number of Russians willing to return home is rapidly diminishing.

Another cause of the slight increase in population is that the 20-29 year old age group accounts for around 17% of the population and has proved to be quite fertile. The generation born after this group is, however, much smaller.

Missing girls

While Vietnam may be set to surpass Russia, there too abortion is causing severe problems, according to a report dated August 2009, published by the United Nations Population Fund.

The Study, “Recent Change in the Sex Ratio at Birth in Vietnam: A Review of Evidence,” examined the problem of sex-selective abortions. Normally the sex ratio at birth (defined as the number of boys being born per one hundred girls), is between 104-106/100.

This ratio, the report explained is, under normal circumstances, quite stable over time, across geographical regions, continents, countries and races.

Studies on sex rations have revealed an unexpected change, starting in the 1980’s in some Asian countries, the U.N. agency commented. “Along with declining fertility, this trend tends to spread throughout countries with large populations in Asia, thus threatening global demographic stability,” the report continued.

In Vietnam the sex ratio at birth for 2006 stood at 110/100 male births. According to the report the change in the ratio started about a decade ago and is currently increasing at around one point a year. So at the current rate of change the ratio might cross the 115 mark in a few years from now, the report stated.

If this trend is not reversed UNFPA warned that by 2025 Vietnam will have a significant surplus male population which will have many implications for the country, and will particularly affect the young adult population at time of marriage.

The “missing girls” phenomenon is well-known in China and a recent report confirmed the continuing practice of sex-selective abortion. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that there could be more than 24 million men unable to find a bride by the end of this decade, the Times newspaper reported Jan. 12.

The report blamed the imbalance on China’s one-child policy. The use of ultrasound scans has enabled the abortion of female fetuses as parents try to ensure that the only child they are permitted will be able to carry on the family line.

“The problem is more serious in rural areas due to the lack of a social security system,” the report said. “Aging farmers have to rely on their offspring” it noted.

According to the Times article one Chinese expert says that by 2006 the sex ratio had risen to 120/100.

Shrinking

Meanwhile, in neighboring Japan the population continues to decline. An editorial published Jan. 15 in the Japan Times newspaper pointed out that estimates from the nation’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry calculate that in 2009 the population shrank by 75,000, which is 1.46 times the decrease marked in 2008.

According to the editorial the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research estimates that Japan’s population will dip below 100 million in 2046, below 90 million in 2055. The current population is estimated at just below 128 million.

As more and more concerns arise over the world’s aging population and falling fertility rates the U.S government is in the midst of dramatically increasing its support for contraception and abortion around the world.

On Jan. 8 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave an address marking the fifteenth anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, Egypt.

In her remarks she celebrated one of the first actions in office by President Barack Obama, which was to lift restrictions on federal government grants to aid groups that fund abortion in developing nations. She also noted that the United States has renewed its funding of the United Nations Population Fund and that Congress recently appropriated more than $648 million in foreign assistance to family planning and reproductive health programs worldwide.

She promised that even more aid would be forthcoming to enable contraceptives to be offered to all women in every nation. And she also highlighted the work that the U.S. government was carrying out in partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation, notorious for its role in carrying out millions of abortions each year.

The current enthusiasm for doing all that is possible to lower fertility is clearly driven by ideological compulsions that don’t even stop to consider the economic consequences of policies that have led to a rapid decrease in fertility in a too short period of time.

 Visit one of our sponsors for the latest information on population control:  POPULATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE at www.POP.org

Published by admin on 27 Jan 2010

On the courage to be a Christian

by Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

The Roman statesman Cicero once said that, “nothing can be useful if it is not at the same time morally good.” It’s another way of saying that the end never justifies the means. Our goals may be admirable, but if we use evil methods to achieve them, we undermine both our goals and our own moral judgment.

What this means for American public life should be obvious. Politics is the art of the possible. Catholics should be realistic and flexible in their political attitudes. But a hierarchy of truths about human behavior exists, and it needs to guide our decision-making. Some things have more moral weight than others. We all instinctively know this. Cheating on a test is bad. Embezzling from our employer is worse. Murdering our neighbor is worst.  

….FIND BOOKS BY ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT HERE….

Understanding the moral differences among social issues is crucial. Not all evil things can or should be illegal. A healthy culture can tolerate some forms of evil in the interests of social peace. Nonetheless, some acts are so evil that tolerating them itself becomes a poison that weakens the whole of society. Civil rights were the key moral issue of a previous generation. Historically, most black Americans trace their roots in this country to slavery, and slaves did not have the status of human persons under the law. The work for racial justice was vital. It remains vital today. But civil rights flow from an even more basic human right: the right to life.

In our day, sanctity of life issues are foundational—not because of anyone’s “religious” views about abortion, although these are important; but because the act of dehumanizing and killing the unborn child attacks human dignity in a uniquely grave way. Deliberately killing the innocent is always, inexcusably wrong. It sets a pattern of contempt for every other aspect of human dignity. In redefining when human life begins and what is and isn’t a human person, the logic behind permissive abortion makes all human rights politically contingent.

In offering his own thoughts on Catholic social teaching, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin warned against the misuse of his “seamless garment” imagery to falsely invest different social issues with the same moral gravity. Many social issues are important. Many require our attention. But some issues have more weight than others. Deliberately killing innocent human life, or standing by and allowing it, dwarfs all other social issues. Trying to avoid this fact by calling the unborn child a lump of pre-human cells is simply a corrupt and corrupting form of verbal gymnastics.

…FIND BOOKS BY ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT HERE…

Real Catholic citizenship requires much more than a tribal loyalty to any political party. It demands that we work (and make noise) within our political parties to change them; to force them to recognize and defend the sanctity of human life, beginning with the unborn child and extending to the poor, the immigrant, the disabled and the elderly.

The words of Ignatius of Antioch, the early bishop and martyr, are worth remembering. He said, “Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world.” He also said, “Just beg for me the courage and endurance not only to speak but also to will what is right, so that I may not only be called a Christian, but prove to be one.”

This column is condensed and adapted from Archbishop Chaput’s new book, “Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life” (Doubleday).  The book is available in the Catholic Business Journal Amazon Bookstore here.

Published by admin on 22 Jan 2010

Are you listed in the Catholic Business Journal yet ?

It seems that some Catholic Business Journal users didn’t know that there is a terrific Catholic business directory on this site! We were amazed! So we want to make sure no one makes that mistake again!  The “business directory” link is on the blue navigation bar above.   Click on it to see the national Catholic Business Journal business directory, searchable by city, state, industry, etc.  Find local Catholic Business Clubs nationwide (if your club is not listed, call us!).  You’ll also find Catholic accountants, financial experts, financial planners and investors, executive search firms, public relations and advertising firms, IT staffing firms, audio and video professionals, lawyers, even an Italian deli and a beauty salon! And that’s not all…  More listings are being entered and uploaded as I write — the only question is… WILL YOU BE THERE WHEN LIKE-MINDED CATHOLIC COLLEAGUES ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR GOODS OR SERVICES, OR EXPERTISE? …

To be included in the national Catholic Business Journal business directory, immediately call 888.508.1333 or admin@CatholicBusinessJjournal.biz.

Published by admin on 22 Jan 2010

Economic Outlook: Last Quarter 2009

by Fred Ruopp, Sr.

U.S. ECONOMY:

The course of the U.S. economy over 2009 has been one of slow recovery.  Stabilization of the banking and financial sectors in this country and abroad was the first and necessary step in rebuilding consumer and business confidence. Production, retail sales, inventories and employment have begun to show positive change. Production in the U.S. rose in December, for the sixth consecutive month, with output up 0.6%. The cost of living increased 0.1%, less than the median forecast by economists.  Consumer confidence measures continued slowly to the upside.  Intel – a bellwether for the economy – has reported very good earnings and outlook.

The net effect is that the economy is still slowly recovering but definitely moving upward.

INTERNATIONAL:

The U.S. dollar has largely stabilized for now against the yen and the Euro.  This partly reflects the stronger U.S. economy against a somewhat weaker performance for both Europe and Japan.  China continues to rush forward, showing more recently an 8% increase quarter over quarter. Observers predict it will accelerate to 16% in early 2010 if the government continues the present level of stimulus measures.

It is hard to believe the Chinese rate of increase in Gross National Product will be sustainable over any long period of time.

The Chinese banking system is stretched, having loaned on many capital and infrastructure projects. Some of these are redundant and may never be put to use.  Accordingly, China has begun to tighten capital constraints for its banks.  While their economy will almost certainly grow at above trend rates in the first quarter of 2010, inflation is responsive to market conditions and could begin to be a problem later this year.  Therefore, tightening by the banking system has begun.  An alternative would be to float the Yuan against the dollar, but this would not be China’s first resort.

ENERGY:

Crude oil has been trading in the $80 range, reflecting stabilization of world economic conditions and anticipation of growth in 2010.  Present inventories in the U.S. and abroad appear full and a bit on the high side, but looking forward a continued world wide economic recovery puts a floor under crude.  New oil supply discoveries, i.e., Canadian tar sands and deep-water off-shore areas of Brazil, Ghana, the Gulf of Mexico, and Sierra Leone all need $80 oil as a breakeven.  Accordingly, it is difficult to see how oil will sell much below $80 (except for brief periods of economic weakness and/or speculation).  It is more likely that economic recovery and a certain amount of attendant speculation will continue to slowly push the price of oil up.

Alternative energy sources, including solar and wind power, continue to become more competitive in price with fossil fuels.  The day will come when fossil fuels will be used primarily as chemical feedstock and not as fuel for transportation and electric generation.

FIXED INCOME:

The 10-year Treasury continues to offer a yield just under 4% as it has done since April of last year.  This is expected to prevail early into the New Year.  With the present level of government stimulus, as well as the global increase in the monetary base of the industrialized economies, containing inflation will be a challenge.  The Federal Reserve will favor growth and employment and will move slowly to increase rates.  U.S. bond yields continue to be supported worldwide by the perceived safety of U.S. credits, resulting in a very steep yield curve.  The spread between corporates and U.S. Government issues still favors corporates.  Municipal bonds (tax-free) continue to offer a good after-tax return.

EQUITY MARKET:

Stocks continued their strong 2009 performance through December.  While equity markets do not appear particularly cheap based on current earnings expectations, the pattern all year has been for reported earnings to outrun expectations.  We expect that to continue in early 2010.  Accordingly, well-selected stocks should continue to provide good long term profit possibilities.

Published by admin on 22 Jan 2010

New survey shows youth becoming more pro-life

.- Just one day before the March for Life in Washington D.C. and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a new survey shows that the number of Americans who say they are pro-life is continuing to grow. Members of the Millennial generation say abortion is “morally wrong” at a rate of 58 percent.

The survey, which was conducted between December 2009 and January 2010, was co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Marists. It asked, among other things, if abortion was “morally wrong.”

Fifty-six percent of Americans said they thought that abortion was indeed “morally wrong.”

The survey shows that Americans are becoming more pro-life, but more importantly, it showed that the upcoming generations are more pro-life than those nearing retirement.

The “Millennials,” as the generation of 18-29 year-olds is called, responded that abortion is morally wrong at a rate of 58 percent. Sixty percent of those belonging to “Generation X,” or people between 30 and 44, also fell in the pro-life camp.

“Americans of all ages – and younger people in even greater numbers than their parents – see abortion as something morally wrong,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

“America has turned a corner and is embracing life – and in doing so is embracing a future they – and all of us – can be proud of,” Anderson commented.

“Baby Boomers,” or people between the ages of 45 and 64, are less likely to call abortion morally reprehensible, with 51% saying abortion is wrong.

Those over age 65 said abortion is immoral at a rate of 60 percent.

“Advances in technology, show clearly – and ever more clearly – that an unborn child is completely a human being,” Anderson pointed out. “The majority of Americans now understand that abortion has consequences, and that those consequences are not good.”

Published by admin on 22 Jan 2010

January 22: March for Life, Walk for Life WC, and more…

January 22, 2010—Today marks the 37th Anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 that legalized abortion in the U.S. , and every single January 22 after that decision has marked a huge March for Life, drawing literally hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens who travel from all over the country to walk in prayer and solidarity with the innocent, voiceless unborn down Pennsylvania Avenue, passing the White House for hours upon hours. It is seldom seen on mainstream media channels, but every year the hundreds of thousands of people who participate, even the D.C. police stationed along the route, testify and capture the enormity of the peaceful throng on home-grown video cameras and phones.   EWTN has been covering the massive March for Life in our nation’s capital as well.  See their live coast-to-coast coverage here.

Six years ago the Walk for Life WC (West Coast) took place through San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf area, a daring launch its first year as pro-abortion activists screamed and spit at participants. San Francisco police now let the group of not more than 90 pro abortion activists walk first, leaving large room for the massive and peaceful pro-life participants to follow after their rally. Each year the number of participants has grown.  Last year, pro-life participants swelled to nearly 35,000 (as pro-abortion activists dwindled significantly).  This year, after a full week of pelting rain, even more than last year’s estimated 35,000 are expected.  Again, see or listen to full coverage on EWTN!

Published by admin on 22 Jan 2010

Haiti: Impact Beyond Imagining

by Deacon Patrick Moynihan

I left Haiti on Monday, January 11th and returned on Friday a hundred years later.

On Tuesday, January 12th, Haiti’s landscape changed forever. In moments, thousands of buildings became impenetrable tombs. Sidewalks became makeshift coroners’ slabs. With their history shaken out of them, crumbled national landmarks became monuments to fragility. Worse, friends became memories.

The quake took less than a minute to rack up its toll. Its huge destructive impact was quickly covered by the international media, making Haiti as household a word as tsunami or twin towers. Quickly, the world saw the damage on TV in images. The quake was given a magnitude, not a proper name as are the usual natural threats to the island.

But before I heard the report of the size of the quake, I heard its magnitude in my friend’s voice on the phone. “I do not know how I am holding it together,” he uttered as he ferried wounded to the hospitals which were overcrowded just half of an hour after the shock. I tried to imagine what could make my friend, with whom I had experienced the fall of Haiti’s government, almost lose it.

Prepared, I thought, for the worst, I worked around the logistical barriers to get back into Haiti.  Thanks to God and a push from the Chinese Embassy in the Dominican Republic—disaster makes odd bedfellows—I made it back on Friday night to where I felt terrible for ever having left.  The guilt and regret for leaving would soon be hugged out of me by my friend who had done far more than hold it together.

Before meeting my friend who had offered to pick me up, I had to guide a group of new friends I had gathered up at the airport in the Dominican Republic through the shuttered passage way out of Haiti’s international airport.  I was stopped at the last point by an armed gentleman from the U.S. Military. He asked, “Did you come through those doors?”  I realized by his question that the airport was less secure than it would soon be. I answered instinctively, “Maybe.”

My first night back at our school in Haiti was all about reunions. Keenly aware that I was with people who had experienced something that would make me a stranger to them for awhile, I attempted to learn by osmosis what they had experienced by surviving a 7.0 earthquake. It was dark and words failed, so I settled for touching shoulders and grasping hands. Speaking seemed oddly out of place. It was important to just feel through them what they felt.

In the morning, it was time to see first-hand the destruction in Port-au-Prince.  Haiti’s capital, even four days later, was still beyond imagining. Corpses remained in unnatural places. The air carried their presence, even of those hidden in the rubble. I decided I would not go there again unprepared. Though I have preached it, I never thought I would see concretely what it looks like when the living are forced to actually let the dead bury the dead.

Reassembled, our community of students, U.S. volunteers, Haitian staff and neighbors are moving slowly beyond what continues to be an incomprehensible event. The hardest step for many has been moving back inside. Even though we have a stack of expert opinions supporting the evaluation that our buildings are fine, our students preferred to sleep outside until rain made that impossible. Who could blame them; life had taught him that buildings can just fall down.

Days since the quake consumed largely with sourcing and preparing food have given way to teaching and cleaning up the campus. Hoping that our spirit will catch-up with our body, we are acting more normal than we are feeling. Hopefully, the ruse works. But, it is not easy to fool yourself with evidence literally piled all around.

There is no doubt that this is a singularly hard time in Haiti. For inspiration, I think about the fact that Haiti has survived all types of disasters, natural and man-made.  I pick out old faces in the crowds and say to myself, “Imagine what he or she has survived.” It is a hard time, but not the end of time.
——-

Deacon Patrick Moynihan graduated Culver Military Academy in 1983, from Brown University with BA in Sanskrit and Classics in 1987, and from Providence College with an MA in Religious Studies [Theology] in 1999.

He taught Latin and English in a Catholic High School from 1987 to 1990, traded commodities, futures and options for an international trading company from 1990 to 1995 and directed a free Catholic mission school in Haiti for academically gifted children from the poorest areas around Port au Prince from 1996 to 2006.

Deacon Moynihan was ordained in October of 2001 as a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Rockford [IL] where he was the director of formation and later the Office for the Permanent Diaconate from 2001 to 2006. He is now assigned to a “three parish community” in the upstate of South Carolina.

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