2002 Catholic Foundation Annual Dinner

Featuring...

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick
Archbishop of Washington D.C.

Cardinal McCarrick encourages and challenges Catholics at the 5th Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Foundation Annual Dinner. 

Among jokes and personal anecdotes, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick sprinkled wise words encouraging and challenging Catholics in the Diocese of Pueblo to adopt social responsibility, take Christian action to make a difference and trust in God.

The theme of the evening was Lord Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace.  "The Church has to deal with what Jesus tells us to deal with, and He tells us to deal with the poor and take care of others."  Cardinal McCarrick said in his keynote address at the 5th Annual Catholic Foundation dinner.  The dinner was held May 17th at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, the even drew 400 people.

"You can't go fore more than two chapters in the New Testament without hearing the Lord talk about the poor, so if you're a Christian, you know the Bible is the foremost place we are called to human rights," said the internationally known Cardinal McCarrick of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.

It's up to Christians to ensure that the edicts of the Bible are carried forth, said Cardinal McCarrick, a recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights. 

"Pope John Paul II took the New Testament and the doctrine of the Church, and said Jesus' parable in Matthew (25:31-46) is not a simple story but a teaching of how to care for the poor.  Together with the positive foundation of the Church, this is the cornerstone of Christian Life, how to be Christ in the world today," Cardinal McCarrick said.

Yet, he said, he is disheartened by the world's economic disparity.

"You can't have a world that is 10 percent wealthy and 90 percent poor.  You can't have that chasm where billions don't have enough to eat or live on.  The chasm divides us, and somehow the Church has to proclaim some way in which the poor can live and have a decent life," he said.

Cardinal McCarrick said people often wonder what they personally can do to further social development and world peace.  He offers three suggestions gleaned from a document called "Global Responsibility," which he and other members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Policy created.

The basic principle underlying all action - the dignity of the human person - is based on Pope John Paul II's first encyclical, "Redeemer of the Human Race" (March 4, 1979).

"Everyone has inalienable rights.  Everybody should have a right to life, to live, the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, happiness, the right to be educated and grow in understanding of who we are, get married and raise a family.  All of these things are part of social development, human rights and world peace," Cardinal McCarrick said.

"We'll never have peace in the Middle East or Afghanistan or India unless we begin to treat people with dignity.  If we teach that, we'll have development in the world  each nation will be able to override the violence that comes from the chasm between the rich and the poor."

Using examples from humanitarian trips he made to Sarajevo, Rwanda and China, Cardinal McCarrick said one step is to realize "your neighbor isn't just the family who lives across the street; your neighbor is also the people who live across the world."

Cardinal McCarrick quoted Cardinal Terence Cooke, who said, "We're all brothers and sisters in God's family."  "That's what global responsibility is all about," Cardinal McCarrick said.  "Find a way in your own neighborhood, in your own life, to do something for people who need your help."

Another lesson comes from Cardinal McCarrick's 1998 visit to China to discuss religious freedoms in that country.  He was the first Catholic bishop to visit Tibet since 1216.  While visiting religious prisoners he said he learned this lesson:  "Don't give up.  Keep trying and doing what you have to do."

That means, he said, expressing yourself at every level of government, letting officials know that you're in favor of "freedom of the poor and freedom of those who can't stand up for themselves.

During a trip to Rwanda, Cardinal McCarrick talked with priests and nuns who wondered whether they had done all they could to call their people to holiness before the country's revolution broke out.

"You and I have to become holy people if we're going to do anything for world peace.  We have to find within us that spark of divinity that God gives us and keeps us aware of the possibility of doing great things," Cardinal McCarrick said.

During his keynote speech, the Cardinal also addressed internal problems of the Catholic Church.

"I want you to know that we're all suffering together," he said, referring to the cases of sexual abuse by United States' priests.  "I pray in confidence that at the June meeting we'll be able to satisfy the important demands of justice and honor for our children in a way that will satisfy our people.  I want you to have confidence."

Cardinal McCarrick said he was asked a few weeks ago how he was preparing for the June 13-15 General Meeting of the bishops in Dallas, which will have as its main agenda item recommendations to achieve the goal of protecting children.

"First, you pray that God will give you the insight and courage to do what we have to do.  Secondly that we listen to the voice of our people, and thirdly, we go to the meeting prepared to settle the terrible state of the Church in the United States once and for all.

"This is a terrible shadow, but you can't have doubts unless there's some light.  If you have no light, you have no shadows.  I think this is why the Church is suffering - because there's so much light there.  Don't go into these days of terrible problems and ills without knowing that there's goodness and light in so many people in the Church, and that comes from the Lord."

Bishop Arthur Tafoya presented Cardinal Mc Carrick with a bronze statue of St. Francis of Assisi, Colorado's patron Saint.  The statue was made by San Luis Valley Sculptor Huberto Maestas.  Cardinal McCarrick kissed the statue in expressing his gratitude.

Cardinal McCarrick also praised Bishop Tafoya's efforts in the Diocese of Pueblo, saying that he is "one of the most respected men" in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"His voice is always one we listen to.  His voice speaks of goodness and wisdom.  You are very blessed to have him as your shepherd," the Cardinal told attendees.

Cardinal McCarrick also said he is impressed by the work of the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Foundation and its efforts to help the poor.  (He acknowledged Cindy Medina, the Foundation Chairperson and Bruce Brandt, it's Executive Director, for the leadership they provide and the work they do along with all the Board members.)

"It's one thing to be able to take care of the ordinary  needs of the diocese, but there are always other needs.  If there's anything that makes the Church Catholic, it's Foundation work," he said.