Catholics From The United States

"If it's not in your heart, it's not going to work."

"We need to have more individual churches that aren't these mega-churches in order to maintain our identity as Catholic, and to ensure that everybody is known and has an identity in that community."

"As Christians, especially parents, we must encourage young people to go to church and must continue to share gifts, which is a special asset, faith."

"Who the poor are brings us the image of Christ. We have to encounter them and know them, not just as a name but as a real person."

"The last three decades have vindicated 20 centuries of Catholic teaching about marriage and the family like never before. It's great to belong to a Church that’s right when the world is wrong!"

"We're all pushing against tides. There isn't enough time in the day. We've got cultural things that make it hard sometimes for the presence of faith to take hold and want to support each other in that work and not just be little islands onto ourselves"

"The Holy See has always just sent me where they needed me, it's been a very beautiful experience. It hasn't always been easy, being so far from home and family, but I will miss it. At the same time, direct pastoral ministry has always been my first love. Human beings are very similar, but we're not all the same. Throughout my ministry, I've been able to see the beauty of all these different cultures, and the beauty of the Church in all these different places. It's been a very enriching experience."

"I’m at home in a parish. I always have been. I've heard it said before, that parishes are where you really touch the people, where you can really make a difference in their lives. I'll never, ever tire of that, although it has to take on a different form as a bishop."

"As Catholics, we believe there is an objective, moral Truth – given to us by Jesus Christ. This Truth is timeless, and it cannot be altered by the shifting tides of popular culture."

"I find that my life is a circle -- I keep coming back to a point where I was before, but in a different way. That's the way God has worked with me, I guess."

"God always provides. 125 years ago, there were people who came here to this parish new to the United States. Today is the same, people who are here, new to the United States. All of us created in God’s image and likeness, all of asked to follow Jesus' example of taking what we have, as little as it may seem, and using it in service to others."

"The most joy I have is when I see other people experience God in their lives and respond to that experience — they recognize it, and they respond to it, and it changes them. Because that's really what I most want to give people, is a deep connection with God himself. Wherever it is, when people have that encounter with Christ that sets them on fire, that changes their life and that initiates a radical conversion, that is the greatest joy that I experience."

"We defend the fundamental right to life, yes, but we also defend what people need to live in dignity. Productive work and fair wages. Food and shelter. Education and health care and protection from harm. And we defend the Earth, because where else will the people live whose right to life we fight for?"

"We must understand the religious nature of Islamic expansion and the methods used to achieve it. By trying to abstract these motivation from the soul of this particular religion, which is, on this score, unlike most others, only makes it impossible to describe what in fact is going on in the mind of the adversary that is Islam. Wars are first fought in minds—and this is a war."

"In the end, I suspect, the "subjective" Church is judged by the standards of the objective Church. Why else would the Lord have bothered to establish an institution whose principal purpose was to lead us to eternal life? It does this by telling us to keep the commandments, seek repentance when we violate them. We are given enough grace to see the difference between what is good and what is evil."

"Not all advice on helping the poor works, so there is a real question of morality, politics, and economics involved here. "Identifying" with the poor is not enough and may well be harmful if ineffective or bad advice is given. We will not help the poor or anyone else, unless we love them. But just because we love someone, it does not follow that how we show this love is a feasible way to help the poor."

"The fact is that, when he states, usually in some obscure venue, his adherence to orthodox positions, he is never reported in the world media. The media understand that they influence by image and repetition. Everything the Pope says that can be interpreted in terms of accepting these aberrations is broadcast around the world. Everything he says to deny this view goes largely unreported. Whether the Pope realizes that he is being manipulated here I would not venture to say."

"Expanding the space of your tent means drawing closer together so there’s more room for others to join us."

"In fact, conservatism is not a body of principles, but a tone, an attitude. That attitude does indeed tend to conduce towards a respect for the wisdom acquired by human beings through long ages and towards skepticism of social blueprints..."

"[His fusionism is all about] utilizing libertarian means in a conservative society for traditionalist ends."

"On the one hand many indigenous people have been baptized, but vast numbers were robbed of their cultural identity. Many indigenous people today remain ambivalent about Christianity and many others reject it completely. The indigenous peoples of America are in a crisis which demands authentic responses based upon our Gospel values."

"Those who have a service to their country have a high vocation."

"When any misunderstanding is possible, spontaneous prayer that leaves no doubt about the truth of the matter according to the Church's teachings on faith and morals and no doubt about the blessing’s goal of growth in salvific holiness is the only option. What we pray is what we believe!"

"Following in the footsteps of the great Protestant theologian H. Richard Niebuhr and his posthumously published book “The Responsible Self” (1963), one of the most well-known (if controversial) contemporary female Catholic theologians, the late Sister Anne E. Patrick, distinguished two ways of looking at conscience, one passive and one creative. The passive conscience, in the words of Sister Patrick, is the internalized habit of “fulfilling the commonly recognized duties on one’s state in life.” As sons, daughters, parents, spouses, citizens, workers, or devotees of a certain religion we have a certain number of duties our society recognizes, and we have internalized the need to fulfill them. Passive conscience is often bad-mouthed but is also necessary. No society or organization can survive without it. However, passive conscience, while necessary, is not sufficient. …Creative conscience alerts us when following the rules and the orders of the authorities, perhaps even following our long-established habits, would lead to injustice, and we should be brave enough to challenge the usual ways and look for something new."

"Everything I learned in sports – such as the sacrifice of training hard, solidarity, working as a team – are things I also have to do in the Christian life. What I experienced in soccer helped me a lot to have all the virtues to lead a good Christian life."

"Everyone is welcome in the church, but on Jesus' terms not on their own individual terms. If you're going to be Catholic, you have to accept the faith and the teachings of the church. You can't join a club and disobey all the rules."

"Let us never forget, especially as we find ourselves in this present environment of uncertainty: a nation, a people, who repent and embrace the grace and mercy of God will have hope and a future. But a nation, a people, who deny God and reject the gift of grace and mercy, and who remain immersed in their sin, unrepentant, will experience a hopeless future. We don’t know the future, but we do know life, and world conditions, can "turn on a dime.""

"With the concern of a father and brother for the priest and for the people of the diocese, the bishop who sees the bigger picture of the diocese makes a decision. I like to say that as the bishop, I see the planes coming in and the planes going out."

"I realized that God wanted to use me through sports. I know that I've been successful through God’s grace. I had to ask myself, "do you think you'll be able to impact other athletes?" and thought, I really think I can, and I want to."

"It was very clear the key office for an ambassador is the Department of State, the Office of Foreign Affairs. So you get right down to a small number of people. My own personal style was not too over do it but to keep in touch and to be available."

"I'd say the aspect of the communism of the Chinese or Russians which wasn't marketable was the atheism. The Africans were sort of a naturally spiritual people and it was hard to communicate that."

"Given the hyper-polarized atmosphere in the U.S., it may be impossible for anyone to look upon Gingrich without refracting perceptions through their opinions about the president she served, or the husband she supports. But seen from here in Rome, I suspect she'll be remembered fairly fondly – and, given the circumstances, that alone can't help but seem a fairly impressive résumé credit."

"The United States is funding NGOs and faith-based organizations that can effectively deliver critical assistance. It's important that American money be put to good use. Faith-based organizations are effective and trustworthy partners. They're inspired by a sense of purpose and dedication to help those most in need."

"For some, the implementation of cultural diplomacy is not done on a playing field when all participants are free of impediments, as minor as they may seem in comparison to the past. I do not mean to imply that in these relationships we should indicate any special concern or in any way indicate a desire to compensate for the past, but these are the facts that mature and well-balanced people should be aware of and take into consideration."

"The family of man must accept responsibility for the suffering of other members of the family. Over 150,000 bodies are buried in the foothills of Burundi. I write with a feeling of great sadness, for I see no end to the business. The work of reducing age-old hatreds and fears is long and difficult. Armenia, Ireland, Malaysia, Cyprus, Canada and Belgium comprise a sad and unended litany of horror. Perhaps there are lessons to be retrieved from the Burundi experience."

"It is a joy to serve the Lord here in the Diocese of Charlotte. Remember that everything – all that we have and all that we do – is a gift from a loving God."

"He was more than a diplomat who served as a U.S. ambassador, he was a person who was convinced that there was a way to make things better. He spent his time working to bring people together, and always with the goal for a more peaceful world. He felt that the protocols that exist in life are a way to show good manners and to be respectful of people, and it didn’t matter what political party you belonged to."

"I continue to steadfastly deny that I have ever abused anyone at any time. Therefore, I will ask the Vatican, which has ultimate jurisdiction over such cases, to review the matter, with the hope of ultimately proving my innocence"

"Our country is not perfect, but I love her because of the good that she accomplishes. I must work to make the country better, not by tearing her down but working to build her up."

"He made a significant contribution, not only teaching, but going out of his way to mentor both students and interns."

"I truly believe that one day we will find peace in our world, but only through prayer and sacrifice."

"The effectiveness of Tom Melady was enhanced by his prior experience as an ambassador in Central Africa and as a university president. He was able to move between the different interests of the Church internationally and he offered something special."

"We are called to serve the people in the parish. We are servants of the people. The more we serve them, and in serving them, we love them—the more they respond. That's when the Church grows."

"The task of providing moral direction to the highly complex socio-economic forces of our time must be addressed from within nations and across natural boundaries simultaneously. In its work of relief and development CRS wants to be an effective equal partner with local Churches in Central and South America and the Caribbean Region. Partnership here means attending scrupulously to the pastoral vision, practices and goals of the local church."

"I chose the army because my father was an American soldier in France during World War I. I wasn't sorry to go in, I wanted to serve my country."

"It should give special emphasis to the border where two worlds meet, two worlds that only the Church can make one by leading them both to experience a true encounter with the living Jesus Christ, the way to conversion, communion and solidarity in America."

"Relating to God and then doing what you reasonably can and say I have to let the rest go, and that's where you find peace."

"As bishop, it has not only been a great honor, but an enriching experience as I have come to know many people throughout this local Church. I have been impressed by their love for Jesus Christ, their willingness to share their Catholic faith, and their concern for the less fortunate. It would not have been possible to serve as their shepherd without their continued support, cooperation, and prayers."

"I will continue to work as long as I possibly can. I'm officially retired, but that does not mean I'm going to ride off into the sunset."

"I'd operated at full-throttle for thirty-four years to push the goals and objectives of the U.S. Army forward. So to wake up one morning and find my appointment calendar totally empty- no brushfires to extinguish or strategic plans to implement- was a truly jarring, discombobulating experience. Not to mention depressing."