Cd. McCarrick urges Detroit gathering to preach the faith
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 16, 2007
Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C., in Detroit to speak at the Gospel of Life conference, cited Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical, saying, "the Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the sacraments and the Word." | Detroit — War.
Poverty.
Destruction of the unborn, sick and elderly.
Racism.
Degradation of the environment.
Radical Islam.
Corrupt governments.
Which of these is the world's greatest problem?
The question was posed by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, D.C., to a gathering in Detroit last week. Going through the litany during his speech, he asked those before him to raise their hands. Then, he laid down the punch line.
"You're all wrong," said the short-statured cardinal with the New York accent. "With deep respect and love, I want to say I think the greatest problem is faith."
Thus began Cardinal McCarrick's challenge of attendees to the Gospel of Life Conference at Sacred Heart Major Seminary Feb. 8. The conference, themed "In God's Image," featured various workshops and speeches to highlight Catholic social teachings.
Those who serve the Church in lay ministry comprised most of the audience — and it was to them that Cardinal McCarrick addressed his words.
"You are conscious of the fact that God has called you, that God loves you, that God wants you, that God does something in your life and does something in the lives of all who are here — and that God is challenging you," he said. "That's why you are here."
The cardinal — known for being a prominent leader in the Church in the United States for many years — spoke to the gathering of about 190 about the importance of faith and how it, by its nature, leads to action.
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In his words
During his keynote address at the Gospel of Life Conference Feb. 8, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick spoke…
…on societal problems: "We have today so much with us. The unfortunate examples of abortion, of euthanasia, of same-sex marriage, of promiscuity — all these have been instruments by which elements of society have tried to overwhelm the Church of God which is among us, and create a false and artificial society which can never be an authentic way of happiness, but which unfortunately holds within itself the seeds of destruction. We must love everyone. Even the abortionists. Even the one who's plotting to destroy the family. We must love everyone, but we must follow Jesus Christ. That, of course, is the ultimate way."
…on the public square: "If we withdraw from the public square, we leave the field to others — and we can't do that. We have to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord; and proclaim that we are all brothers and sisters; and proclaim that we are made not for this world but for the world to come. But we have to change this world where we are here."
…on life issues: "It's the basis of all our communication. Catholic identity does not end with all of the major issues of life, but it cannot exist without them. As we deal with others, as we challenge ourselves to ascertain whether we're truly on the same page with each other and in communion with our brothers and sisters in faith, this must be our understanding: Catholic identity cannot exist without our constant and courageous adhesion to the major issues of life — but they can never end there." | As a foundation for his talk, he cited Pope Benedict XVI's "Deus Caritas Est" ("God is Love"), in which the pontiff stated that "the Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the sacraments and the Word."
"It is on this," Cardinal McCarrick said, "that I want you to build your devotion to, your challenge of, and your work in social ministry of the Church."
He addressed the litany of evils stated in his "quiz" of the audience — stating that the right to life, though it's not the only concern, is the primary concern of the Church.
"It is the primordial right of all," he said. "All the other rights — the right to freedom of religion, the right to a good education, the right to a family, the right to get married and to raise your children, the right to eat — all of that is depending on whether you're alive or not."
He made clear, too, that it's not only the life issues that Catholics should be concerned about, as Catholic social teaching requires Christians to love all their sisters and brothers — the poor and underprivileged, as well as those who harm one another and society — as God Himself loves them.
Stressing that it's important for Catholics to be heard in the public square, he instructed those present on the way to stand up for the Church in the face of those who disagree or are indifferent with her teachings. His method:
1. "We must always teach clearly and with courage. Everybody must know where we stand."
2. "We have to be courageous enough to dialogue. You've got to talk to the people who don't agree with you."
3. "Your conversation has to be simple and respectful."
4. "Don't give up."
Throughout his lesson, Cardinal McCarrick made clear the reason why Catholics know it's right to spread God's love through faith, worship and charity. It's the same reason, he said, that adults would tell children that God is always "watching them."
"It's because He's so crazy about us, He can't take His eyes off us," the cardinal said.
To close, the cardinal warned those gathered of the growing anti-religious sentiment in society, which must be fought by people of faith.
Those at the conference appeared to appreciate the breadth of the cardinal's keynote, and his willingness to relate faith to the wide array of issues he addressed.
"Everything he spoke about … it's continually trying to spread open the blinders, where some folks are kind of narrowly focused, into being focused wider on the human condition," said Joe Soncrant, Christian service coordinator at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester. "That's what we're called to."
Neda Naum, who works with the youth group at St. Gerald Parish in Farmington, said the cardinal's keying on faith was significant.
"I think his focus on faith was a very, very important thing," she said. "If we are rooted in our faith, if we are rooted in God, then we understand what it is to be human, the work of life, and we learn how to defend life, how to work for justice and peace. We learn how to carry out God's mission to every aspect of the human life, because that's what it all is about."
Catholic ministers weren't the only attendees inspired by the cardinal's message, either. Floyd Davis, pastor of Twelfth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, was at the conference to foster fellowship with other Christians.
"What a Holy Ghost-inspired speech on the spiritual qualities of Jesus Christ and how you can take it and put it into the context with practical applications," said Davis. "He just shows you how theology can be so profound yet so simple."
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