Lex Cordis Caritas - The law of the heart is Love

One of the most vexing questions we must face is how to deal with a real, apparent or potential conflict between the moral law established by our Creator and the civil laws posited by governmental authorities. How are we to view laws and judicial opinions that we consider to be unjust or at least wrongly decided? What is the proper relation between the public laws that govern all people and the rich understanding of justice that comes to us as members of the church and heirs of the Catholic intellectual tradition?

A rather significant news item occurred earlier this month that did not get reported in the secular media, so I would like to call it to your attention. Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., announced on Dec. 8 that he officially approved the Marian apparitions known as “Our Lady of Good Help” at Champion, Wis., near Green Bay. This is significant because it makes Our Lady of Good Help at Champion the first and only site in the United States of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Greetings from Baltimore, where I am attending the annual meetings of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Prior to our general meetings of all the bishops of our country, I participated in a seminar on “The Liturgical and Pastoral Practice of Exorcism.”

Last Sunday, Oct. 17, I ran and completed the Denver Marathon in 4 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds. It was my 17th marathon! The mile-high altitude was a challenge, but it was fun running with some friends. As I’ve done in the past, I used my marathon effort to raise money for charitable causes. Over $17,000 and a vacant lot were donated in the Chicago area to support the Chicago Legal Clinic, which provides legal services for the poor. Here in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, over $30,000 was raised so far to help pay off the debt of our beautiful Cathedral renovation. I very much appreciate the generosity of all those who contributed. We still have a way to go to retire the outstanding debt of over $2 million, but I am confident that we will do so eventually.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of a very significant book, We Hold These Truths: Catholic Reflections on the American Proposition, by Father John Courtney Murray, S.J. It is significant not only for what he said but for when he said it. He wrote just before the Second Vatican Council took place. In fact, he was an expert who was called on at that council for his theological expertise, particularly in the area of the relationship between church and state.