From the Pastor – The Ascension of the Lord

May 14, 2018

From the Pastor – The Ascension of the Lord

We often cite Jesus’ quote from today’s Gospel of Mark: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” This was not a suggestion from the Lord. It was quite frankly a command, and it is one which still holds for each of us. Being an evangelist, being a disciple, being a steward is not a matter of choice for those of us who are Catholic and Christian. It is something the Lord expects of us.

Often we may like to spend time debating how to do that, but that does not lessen the fact that it is something we are supposed to do. We need to acknowledge that even the original Apostles and followers of Jesus did not do that immediately. We learn that they stayed in Jerusalem for some time, and it seemed to be only when the Church and its followers were persecuted that they began to reach out and truly share the “Good News.”

Once Christians accepted that charge from the Lord, they did indeed take the Word of God to all corners of the earth. Look at the Church today. It is incredible how this Church has grown from one Man/God and a small group into what it is today. That does not, however, get us “off the hook.”

As much as we may argue about how to carry out this command from Jesus, the fact remains that our very lives need to stand as a representation of what it means to be a Christian, what it means to “love one another,” what it means to live and to work as a disciple of Christ.

Pastoral Pondering

In continuing our consideration of the 50 th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, I would like to point out the “prophetic” elements that Pope Paul foresaw. The encyclical warned of four resulting trends: a general lowering of moral standards throughout society; a rise in infidelity; a lessening of respect for women by men; and the coercive use of reproductive technologies by governments. It takes very little effort to find evidence that each of these trends have been realized.

I would now like to return to Dr. Mary Eberstadt’s recent article from First Things (April 2018). The second reality that she notes is the trend among some Protestants towards accepting the teaching of Humanae Vitae. I touched on this briefly last week but believe it merits a greater consideration since the shift in the early 20 th century in support of artificial contraception provided the backdrop of its wholesale exportation to the third world.

It is important to remember that Church teaching on contraception, including Protestant teaching, was the same across the board until 1930. In fact, much of Protestant teaching was far harsher than anything that Humanae Vitae had to say. For example, the Lambeth Conference of 1908 affirmed its opposition to artificial contraception by describing it as “demoralizing to character and hostile to national welfare.” Martin Luther in a commentary on Genesis declared contraception to be worse than incest or adultery, and John Calvin called it an “unforgivable crime.”

Nevertheless, the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion of 1930 made the first exception to the prohibition thus leading to a divide on this moral teaching. Other mainline Protestant groups followed suit in the ensuing years. This has led to widespread disintegration of mainline Protestantism, especially the Anglican Communion. Moreover, the “Protestant cave-in” led to the wholesale exporting of contraception by much of western society to the third world.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, donated $14.6 billion to support contraception programs in Africa. Obianuju Ekeocha, a Nigerian-born author, wrote an open letter to Melinda Gates in response to this donation. “I see this $14.6 billion buying us misery. I see it buying us unfaithful husbands. I see it buying us streets devoid of the innocent chatter of children.... I see it buying us a retirement without the tender loving care of our children” (see Obianuju Ekeocha, Target Africa: Ideological Neo-Colonialism of the Twenty-first Century ). Africa, India, and much of the third world has been targeted with such donations. More often than not, support from the first world comes with the requirement that “family planning” be included as a requirement in order for funding to be offered.

Dr. Eberstadt also notes that there is also justification for some fear that in some places contraceptive technology might be imposed by governmental authority. This has certainly been the long-standing practice in China and has also been practiced in India and Indonesia. Even in the United States, there were efforts at one-time in which some U.S. judges backed state initiatives requiring implantation of long term contraceptives on women convicted of crimes. All of this, of course, would have been unthinkable 100 years ago.

Again, Pope Paul VI was prophetic in recognizing that the widespread use of contraception would result in the erosion of a basic respect for human life, a basic respect for marriage and family, and a basic respect for human dignity. The reality in which we live today certainly bears this out, and the proof often comes from secular rather than religious sources.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 31, 2026
Today’s readings should inspire the Christian steward with deepened gratitude for our God, who loves us with both fierce and tender love. We must make an intentional response each day, returning love for Love. In our Second Reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that nothing and no one can separate us from the love of Christ. No anguish, distress, persecution, famine — and we might add illness, financial hardship, family struggles, or uncertainty about the future — nothing can keep our God from loving us. God holds us securely in the palm of His hand. And yet, this reassurance is only the beginning of God’s gifts to us. Our Gospel from Matthew recounts the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. This miracle foreshadows the gift of the Eucharist, where Christ feeds us not simply with bread, but with His own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Notice how the Gospel begins. "His heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick." What generous and compassionate love our Lord shows. But even that is not enough for Him. He remains with the people, teaching and ministering to them until evening. When the disciples suggest sending the crowds away to find food, Jesus instead invites them to become part of His plan. He tells them to feed the people, then miraculously multiplies the few loaves and fish they offer. What a privilege it was for the disciples to participate in Christ's work. That same privilege is ours as Christian stewards. Let us respond with grateful hearts to such amazing love. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants,

From the Pastor - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 31, 2026
The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. In today’s Gospel from Matthew, Jesus uses a series of parables to help us understand the incomparable value of that Kingdom. First, He reminds us that living for Him and for His Kingdom will require sacrifice. Yet the joy that comes from following Christ makes any sacrifice worthwhile. Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” He then compares the Kingdom to “a merchant searching for fine pearls." When the merchant finds a pearl of great price, he gladly sells everything he has to obtain it. In both parables, the Kingdom is something precious that must be sought and recognized. We must intentionally look for it amid the distractions and noise of the world. Yet Jesus also reminds us that the Kingdom is meant for everyone. He compares it to a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. At the same time, He reminds us that each of us will one day be judged. The angels “will separate the wicked from the righteous.” It is a powerful reminder that our choices matter. Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst and to pursue it above all else. There is no greater treasure, and no greater source of joy, than a life lived as a faithful disciple of Jesus. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026. Pastoral Pondering I enjoy books generally. I like to hold them, look at them and, of course, read them. I also enjoy audiobooks because they are a good way to pass the time with all the driving that I do. I like a wide variety of books, but I generally try to avoid things that are strictly political. Hence, I was a little hesitant when the book Communion by J.D. Vance was recommended to me. However, what I discovered is that it is an excellent read and has nothing to do with politics. Rather, it is the story of the Vice President’s return to the Christian faith that eventually resulted in his becoming Catholic. I suppose “conversion” stories attract me because of my own background. And while I did not grow up in Ohio coal country as he did, there are many similarities to his family, described in Hillbilly Elegy, and my dad’s family from the mountains of North Carolina. This particular book, in some ways, is a sequel to Hillbilly . It discusses his chaotic childhood and exposure to Baptist and Pentecostal churches, his drift into atheism as a young adult, following the death of his grandmother, and his gradual return to faith which culminated in his conversion to Catholicism in 2019. The title refers to the Eucharist, and the author explores what it means to be Christian across life stages – as a child, young man, husband, father and public figure – while reflecting on the role of religion in public life and American society.  This memoir mixes spiritual autobiography with broader commentary on faith, politics, family values, and societal problems. While some have criticized it as more of a cultural manifesto, I appreciated the honest assessment of one man’s journey from his childhood faith to an adult faith which led to full communion with the Catholic Church. Granted, it may not be to everyone’s liking, but it shouldn’t be dismissed simply because the author is the current Vice President. I enjoyed it, and if you want something to pass a lazy summer afternoon, I’d recommend it.