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A Transitional Year
So what are we to make out of the year that was 2007?
It was the heaviest of news years. It seemed mostly to be a year of great transitions. Things that already had begun happening, continued to happen, and move on to a climax in the future.
The national debate over our immigration policy, the most significant topic of the year, fizzed and failed to bring any meaningful reform. But the issue has been engaged and more intelligent and informative discussion must be held. Nothing is expected to happen on this front until after the national elections in November. Sitting politicians are terrified of this topic because of the strong anti-immigrant bias raging in the country.
The U.S. Catholic bishops made clear the Church’s stand as they called for just treatment of immigrants and joined in protests against anti-immigrant sentiments.
At the local level, church charitable agencies were called to assist those caught up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at workplaces, which often left families separated and without income.
The war in Iraq dragged on through another calendar year, although there may have been some positive signs taking place. President George W. Bush has committed more troops to that Middle Eastern country and less chaos and more calm seems to be taking hold. This will be an engaging topic during the presidential campaign this coming year.
On the war in Iraq, the bishops called the present situation "unacceptable and unsustainable" and urged a "responsible transition" leading to the end of the fighting. The flight of hundreds of thousands of Christians from Iraq could lead to the end of a Christian presence there, they said.
A pair of breakthrough studies later in the year that showed success in creating stem cells without destroying human embryos brought praise from Catholic and pro-life officials around the world, along with hope that embryonic stem-cell research will soon be abandoned. Bush vetoed legislation that would have expanded federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, and New Jersey voters rejected a bond question that would have dedicated millions of state dollars for that purpose. All signs of hope for a greater respect for life.
The Catholic dialogue with Muslims and Jews hit some bumps in the road. Muslims objected to some comments that Pope Benedict XVI made in Regensberg, Germany. Church officials pointed out that the pontiff’s remarks were nuanced and part of a great scholarly talk which he was delivering in an academic setting. The Holy Father has invited Muslims to gather with the Church to continue the dialogue.
Pope Benedict's ruling allowing wider use of the Tridentine Mass caused a bit of a stir. Initial reactions were greater than the ensuing ones. The easing of restrictions on the Mass in Latin was seen as a pastoral outreach to those who still struggle with some of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
That decision – along with his landmark letter to Chinese Catholics, his travels and an upcoming trip to the United States, his naming of 23 new cardinals from 14 countries and a new encyclical and book – earned Pope Benedict the top spot as 2007's religious newsmaker in a poll of Catholic Press editors.
President Bush was second for his vetoes of the embryonic stem-cell bill and legislation expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, his first meeting with Pope Benedict and the continued criticism directed at him over the war in Iraq.
Pope Benedict also gave us a lot of reading material. In addition to his letter to the Chinese Church, he also penned his second encyclical Spe Salvi on the need for the theological virtue of hope in the modern world.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio also produced a major pastoral letter to the Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens. In it he outlined the principles which should guide the evangelization and revitalization programs in the diocese. It should be read and studied by individuals as well as parish groups.
As we look ahead to the next calendar year, Pope Benedict is sure to make a lot of headlines as he prepares to visit the United States with stops in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Then during the summer, he will travel to Australia to join with young people from all over the world at the annual celebration of World Youth Day.
The Diocese will offer a special pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop DiMarzio, in April as the Church observes the 150th anniversary of Mary’s appearance there. And there will be celebrations right here at home as The Tablet celebrates its 100th birthday.
On the local level, parish communities will continue to discuss new ways of being Church. Parish clusters and a greater sharing of resources are topics to watch as a renewed structure of the diocesan Church takes shape. Also evangelization will continue as we reach out to those Catholics who do not take an active role in the life of the Church.
For some, this new evangelization will mean putting behind the familiar and comfortable. For others, it will mean welcoming faces of strangers and different customs. For all, it will mean doing things in new ways.
The message of 2007 is that more work still has to be done. We have accomplished much and made great strides in the past year, but we should redouble our efforts and try even harder to build up the Body of Christ which is present among us. 2008 will present some unique opportunities to do so and we encourage everyone to be involved to the best of their abilities.
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