I am a prison ministry volunteer at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Maggie Valley. It was of great interest that I read the prison ministry article in the March 4 edition of Catholic News Herald.
However, I believe there was a serious omission in that article. It speaks about a number of deacons and men serving in N.C. prison ministry, but not one word about the many women volunteers who also serve inmates throughout the state.
In Haywood County, our ministry visits the Haywood County Detention Center once a week. There are always four of five women volunteers visiting 15 or 20 women inmates, but at present only two men visiting 30 or 40 male inmates In addition to these visits, our prison ministry corresponds with 18 men in state prisons.
Of these 18 correspondents, 14 are women and four are men.
Congratulations to the women. Where are the men?
— Frank Busteed lives in Maggie Valley.
"Creating the human race in His own image..., God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion" (Catechism of the Catholic Church). What is the meaning behind these beautiful words of the Catechism?
Every day we are confronted with questions on this subject, and we seek answers. While we have the teachings of the Church on such matters, we are confronted every day by worldly ideas that oppose the truths of our faith. A current example of this moral collision is that of Planned Parenthood with the Church. Planned Parenthood offers its own answers on matters of life and love – particularly on the issue of contraception.
However, what are the moral teachings of worldly institutions such as Planned Parenthood when compared to those of the Church? We must first and foremost look to the Church for guidance on matters of morality, especially today when views on life and love are often so distorted. Because of this confusion, many people do not appreciate the meaning behind the vocation of "love and communion."
True love and communion are generous, not selfish. All of us should be aware that the "capacity and responsibility" which the Church speaks of is the capacity to bear children and raise them to be saints. With joy a married couple accepts the "capacity and responsibility" which God inscribes because they know He will make all "light and sweet" through His grace.
Planned Parenthood encourages and aids people in thwarting the conception and birth of babies, contrary to this true love and communion. Not only is this expressly contrary to the teachings of the Church, it is contrary to the law of charity.
What makes married people shrink from this part of their vocation by using contraception? Since the vocation of "love and communion" is a vocation of generous love and great charity, anyone using contraceptive methods is sinning against the virtues of marriage. Thus, the marital union becomes purely selfish, and the couple rejects the natural gift of children which God offers them. This is grievous, indeed, since to refuse any gift from God is an act of ingratitude.
This mindset also demonstrates a lack of true respect for the dignity of each human being. Life is a gift no matter what the circumstances in which it is given. Was not Our Lord born into the deepest poverty and continually prey to the contempt of men? Yet that did not prevent the Father from giving His only beloved Son to humanity at that time and in those circumstances. As the Father used the sufferings of Christ to open Heaven's gates, so also He wills to use all of man's sufferings to open the soul's gates to spiritual life and ever greater sanctity. Thus, it shows true respect and mercy to be open to life because one gives a newly created soul the chance to reach heaven, perhaps even becoming one of the greatest saints. Moreover, by showing respect for the human person, we actually show respect for God. Planned Parenthood does not show this respect for the human person or for God.
Planned Parenthood's moral "doctrine" on contraception is irrevocably incorrect and utterly irreconcilable with the Church. Therefore, let us all reject the worldly views on contraception and instead fix our gaze on Christ Crucified and His Bride, the Church, the Fount of Life. Here is a perfect example of love, one worthy of imitation. Through meditation on the love demonstrated by the supreme couple, Christ and His Church, we can learn the true meaning of marriage and its virtues.
Thus, in the midst of this Lent we will find a Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent) of joyful discovery that will point us to the true life and love of Easter. Furthermore, by the brilliance of that Easter light, we will perceive with what perfect wisdom and beauty "God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion."
— Jyllian Carter is a member of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.