Congratulations one and all. A happy occasion I am certain. I would be interested to learn how the current tension between the bishops and the President over the question of health insurance in Catholic institutions and the provision of the “full spectrum” of reproductive services manifested itself during the visit to the White House. I imagine the Society would like to keep all doors open for dialogue with the administration. It cannot be ignored that there exist profound variances between the teachings of the Church and the current administration’s policies towards conscience, moral questions of sexuality, and the right to life from conception to natural death. With the Presidential election approaching, these issues, which were less persuasive to some Catholics in the last election, may carry more weight in the coming campaigns, especially given that we now have a four year track record of policy-making on these issues to examine and consider.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
William Blazek, SJ, MD, FACP

I’m director of Madre Nuestra, a US faith-based non-profit organization inserted and working in Ciudad Juárez for the past two years. We are involved with neighborhoods and communities in the toughest parts of this troubled city, and we feel invited to help them change the environment of violence through education and the ignatian spirituality. As a start we’ve implemented Jesuit Camps (with the Mexican Province) for the past year, but we feel we need and can do more…in our web site you’ll see about Centro Richard Thomas SJ, that could take advantage of your experience with innovative educational programs.

Please advise.

Salvador Arturo González-Ayala
(Charthur)