Christmas is a time of miracles and a time of gifts. As we celebrate the greatest of all miracles and gifts, that of God becoming a child to save us, it can also be a time to recognize modern miracles, especially the miracle of God’s love working in people’s hearts. In this lesson we will highlight two people who have contributed to some “modern miracles.” They have allowed God’s love to inspire and strengthen their efforts to defend the precious gift of human life.

Stephanie hoffmeier: adoleScent with an attitude … for life

Two-tone hair, black T-shirt with matching fingernails, adolescent attitude … this could describe any one of a million teenagers today. Who it describes in this instance is sixteen-year-old Stephanie Hoffmeier. The student from Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, is not just another rebellious teen, however. She wants to do something for God, by helping to overcome the injustice of abortion.

What makes Stephanie so different from other teens her age is her unstoppable conviction. Last academic year, the practicing Baptist filled out the necessary paperwork to begin the first pro-life student organization in the local public high schools. Asked why she would take on such a task, Stephanie responded,“God has laid this on my heart….[Abortion] is a really relevant issue to teenagers today.”

making Space for life, deSpite the obStacleS

The Stafford school system initially denied Stephanie’s application, noting that a pro-life club was not connected to any school “curriculum.” However, Stephanie knew that the Key Club, the Young Republicans, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other groups were already active in her school. She felt this denial by the school board was unfair, so she did what has often been done by people who think their rights have been ignored – she sought out a lawyer.

Her attorney, David Courtman, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund, determined that the best way to get the school system to take Stephanie seriously was to threaten it with a lawsuit.

The Alliance Defense Fund believed that Stephaniehad a precedent-setting case. As stated on her application, the goal of her club was “to educate people about the biggest holocaust that is going on right here in the United States. To come together and pray to end abortion. To be a voice for my generation and a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Stephanie explained that hers would be a “Christcentered club” whose meetings would begin with prayer and devotion. Any student would be welcome to attend.

miSunderStanding of Separation of church and State

Pro-life issues are more than just religious issues. They are human rights issues. Nevertheless, when religion enters into a decision about public schools or government institutions it often leads to a common misrepresentation of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution prohibits Congress from establishing a national religion or showing a preference for one religion over another, but it does not restrict the rights of citizens to express their faith and values in public. On the contrary, the Constitution upholds this right. In Stephanie’s instance, her lawsuit might protect the rights of others in the future. Catholics need to be prepared to work with leaders such as Stephanie to promote the common good of society, especially in regards to the rights of the unborn.

fruitS of faith and perSeverance

Stephanie’s persistence in this endeavor can be traced back to her faith.“I prayed for a really long time for God to use me in my school,” she said. The teen did not give up, even when facing opposition, because she knew she was not doing anything wrong. She stood her ground, knowing that the law was behind her. She worked against injustice in a mature way.

Faced with Stephanie’s legal challenge, the Stafford school system recently recognized her pro-life club. Her efforts are already paying off; fellow students are joining her club. Thus, Stephanie is helping to educate students around her. She is convincing others of the truth of human life. Through her club, Stephanie is making a difference. It is her small gift to Christ.

Dr. Markus Grompe: A scientist working for life

Recently another victory for life was won. The victory confirmed the efforts of a Catholic scientist who found himself almost alone among his peers in his insistence on respect for life.

Dr. Markus Grompe is in an elite class of about thirty of the most qualified experts in the world on stem cell research. He is director of the Oregon Stem Cell Center and a member of the board of the prestigiousInternational Society for Stem Cell Research. He has been consulted by such persons as President

Bush on stem cell research.

Dr. Grompe is also a fervent Catholic. His involvement in stem cell research comes from his love of children. He is a practicing pediatrician who decided to go into biochemical genetics and stem cell biology because he saw children who were suffering from genetic diseases.

tough going

As a Catholic and as a compassionate physician, Dr. Grompe has always been convinced that scientific research should never harm any human being, including tiny embryos. He wants to find cures for children’s diseases that can be done even at the initials stages of life. But he also knows that the ends do not justify the means; you cannot harm or kill an embryo so that other children can benefit. Unfortunately, few of his colleagues agreed with him.

Dr. Grompe admits that being a pro-life stem cell scientist has been“tough going.”He explains,“There aren’t many people [pro-life stem cell scientists] out there. The way to be heard is to be successful in science. That’s the only reason I have a voice. If I had my moral convictions but didn’t do prominent research in my area, I would have no impact.”

The doctor was often amazed that such intelligent people could show such moral blindness. While continuing to work with integrity and professionalism, Dr. Grompe published papers in prestigious scientific journals advocatingrespect for the human embryo.

a breakthrough reaffirmS life

Then, in November, it was announced that two of his colleagues, Professor Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University in Japan and Professor James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found an ethical way to “reprogram”adult skin cells into “pluripotent” stem cells. This meant that scientists would not have to use or kill human embryos to get pluripotent stem cells.

Pluripotent cells hold the promise of delivering cures for many diseases. Up to this point, most scientists thought that the only way to produce such cells would be by dissecting and killing human embryos. This latest development is abreakthrough for pro-life researchers and very good news.

a fruit of perSiStence

If it hadn’t been for persistent voices such as those of Dr. Grompe, this method of stem cell research would not have been so aggressively pursued as a viable alternative to cloning. In fact, it was known among the top stem cell scientists that Dr. Grompe was already pursuing “reprogramming” adult stem cells in his lab at the Oregon Stem Cell Center.

Dr. Grompe was very happy about the research breakthrough. In newspapers and scientific journals, he drew attention to the news.“I think this is really what we have been dreaming about,” he told the National Catholic Register.

Asked by Our Faith In Action if his efforts had helped other stem cell scientists think more deeply about the dignity of human life,Dr.Grompe replied,“Definitely. But I haven’t converted anyone to the Catholic faith yet. Just made themthink.”

One of the scientists who led this breakthrough, Dr. James Thomson, recently admitted he always had ethical qualms about the destruction of human embryos, even though he had been doing it in the past.“If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable,” Dr. Thomson told The New York Times after his breakthrough,“you have not thought about it enough.”

much Still to be done

There is still much to be done to build respect for the dignity of life, and Christmas can be a special time to gain strength and confidence for our efforts. Christmas reminds us that God sees each human being, no matter how weak and small, as a great gift. As we kneel to adore the Christ Child in the manger this Christmas, let us renew our promise to love him and to love all our brothers and sisters in him. He has sacrificed himself to save us and bring us love. We can do nothing less. He is here to help us.

catechism clips

2271: God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.

2294: Science and technology by their very nature require unconditional respect for fundamental moral criteria. They must be at the service of the human person, of his inalienable rights, of his true and integral good, in conformity with the plan and the will of God.

2044: In order that the message of salvation can show the power of its truth and radiance before men, it must be authenticated by the witness of the life of Christians.

Catholic Pioneer of Genetic Research

The Christmas Movie: For many families today, in addition to the Christmas tree and the Christmas carols, it’s become a tradition as well. During the holiday break, we go to a theater together or rent a movie and enjoy this free time as a family.
If we pick the right movie, this experience can do more than just entertain us: it can strengthen us as believers, deepen our sense of charity for others, and increase the love within our families.
Example: The Nativity Story, to be released December 1. Now wait: before you say, “just for little kids” or “everybody knows this story,” this version (from the producers of Lord of the Rings) is very different from the gentle manger scenes of our childhood. Here’s some reasons why the film is worth seeing.

What the Real Bethlehem Must Have Been Like
First, this movie is about real people—or, we might almost say, real teenagers. Mary is played by a 16-year old actress and the actor playing Joseph is not much older. We watch the village life going on around these people and we sense the shadow hanging over them: their domination by the power of the Roman Empire and its soldiers on horseback.
However you’ve imagined the Bible story all these years, this movie is a time machine taking you back to the first century AD. Remember “no room at the inn?” If you’re like me, you’ll be jolted to see Joseph, almost stumbling through the dark Bethlehem streets as he carries Mary, already in her labor pains, while crying out for someone to give them a place to stay.
This gritty realism is one part of making a good movie: it makes us believe what we see. But it also reminds us of something mysterious and wonderful about God’s plan of salvation. It’s amazing to watch and think about the Lord of the universe coming to us through this young couple in a small town not famous for anything. And consider the idea of God choosing to be born in human form, not in a palace or a beautiful home but in a stable among animals! We call this quality humility, because our God so humbled himself as to come to us, not as a Roman Caesar, but as a helpless baby.
Another way to talk about realism is to remember the word “incarnation”—God-made-flesh—which is what the birth of Jesus did. God got involved in the messiness of human history. He became one of us. He thought our life is worth sharing, and he came looking for our love as a real baby.
Our Catholic faith, we say, is incarnational. That means this world is not just a dingy train station in which we are killing time before going somewhere else. It is a place where we encounter the love of God. Incarnational faith also means that, like Mary and Joseph, we have a chance to do something great for God and others in the real circumstances of our life. Like Christ, Joseph, and Mary we too must learn to love and serve the world, even when it seems dirty, fallen, and hopeless. This is part of the true meaning of the word charity.
Real people and a real God: we worship someone who is not an abstraction, or just an idea. No other world religion talks about a divine person exhibiting such a personal love for us. Once we begin to appreciate this gift, we naturally wish to show our gratitude.

When Life Starts Getting Scary
A second reason for seeing the movie: it captures not only the personal drama of these two people but the literally cosmic background to the story. Joseph and Mary know about the prophecies of a great Messiah to come, as does everyone in the Jewish community.
In this small Judean town, a world-changing mystery is about to unfold. All the biblical elements are there: the prophecies from the Scriptures, King Herod’s paranoid fears of a Jewish Messiah newly-born somewhere in his kingdom, the three exotic Magi following the unusual alignment of stars that year that led to a king in a manger, the angel messengers to both Mary and Joseph. (Remember that our celebration of Advent is about the centuries of preparation and longing before this great event.)
The movie, following the Gospels, clearly shows this young couple as being obedient and strong in faith. Yet how could Joseph have such faith as to trust Mary’s explanation of her pregnancy? How could Mary have such faith herself? Why would God make them go on a dangerous night journey across the desert to Egypt, taking their newborn son with them, in order to make sure Herod’s men would not murder him? How could they undergo such hardships without renouncing God and their faith?
Yet they did not. They trusted in God’s promises. They were awestruck at what God was doing in their lives. They hung tightly onto God’s love and providence, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Contrast their behavior with King Herod’s deranged idea that his own rule and power was threatened by the birth of a baby! Although a king he evidently found the world to be a terrifying place. Here he was, a participant in the most important moment for good in human history but this unfortunate ruler did not believe in a loving God. Instead, he believed in hidden, evil forces, linked to the stars and soon to do him harm. He got the message but completely missed the meaning!
Seeing Joseph and Mary tested in these ways reminds us that we Christians trust in God’s love for the world and we gain confidence from that love. After all, our own family’s sufferings, in this sense, are no different from those we see undergone by the Holy Family in this movie.

What We Can Give the World
Finally, the movie is an excellent example of the power of artistic creation for good. Many artists and moviemakers offer a vision of the world with few spiritual horizons. Occasionally a movie appears that aims much higher: The Nativity Story is one of these.
Another example of a movie with power for good is that Christmas favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey goes through the first part of his life as a man for others until he is tested in a way that makes him want to jump off a bridge and end it all. At this point George doesn’t really understand the meaning of his life: he sees it simply as a succession of failures—no college career, no world travel, no career in the big city.
But, just as in The Nativity Story, angels (Hollywood’s angels in this case) take a hand and intervene. His guardian angel Clarence helps George realize why his love for serving others has made such an important difference in people’s lives. If George throws away his life, the world would be a darker and sadder place, he comes to learn.
It takes a few hours living in the world as it would have been without him (called “Pottersville” in this part of the movie) to make George realize that he had other, even great gifts he’s overlooked. Without his compassion, concern and charity, his younger brother would never have been rescued from drowning (and so was not there to rescue fellow sailors in a wartime crisis), his drunken druggist employer would not have been prevented from accidentally poisoning a customer, families in the community would never had found homes (George’s savings and loan would not have been in business), and so on.

George comes to realize—or rather, the gratitude of others in his community makes him realize—that he was using his gifts all along, even when life wasn’t going perfectly.
Both these movies depict times of suffering for the main characters before there can be a time of rejoicing. Like the candles of Advent, the darkness is gradually overcome by the light. As we sit in the darkness of a movie theater, the right movie can also help bring us into the light.

During the Christmas season, we as Christians hope to focus on the coming of Christ.   We can do this individually by preparing a place for Jesus Christ in our hearts, and we can do this within our communities by sharing the gift of Christ’s love with others in our lives.

At the same time, as Christians we need to be aware that during the Christmas season, and throughout the year, there are also groups that are attempting to remove references to Christ from our public culture: from our schools, from our town squares and from the celebrations carried on around the Christmas holiday.   Let’s look at these efforts to remove Christ from the public celebration of Christmas and discuss how we should respond--with a spirit of charity, and with the goal of being effective.

History of Religion and Government

To understand the current debates on the public role of Christ in Christmas it is important to look briefly at the history of the relationship between religion and government in our nation.   The framers of our Constitution wanted to both protect the freedom of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, and to prohibit the government from establishing a state religion.   The 1st Amendment to the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.

Since our nation’s founding, various groups and the courts have debated the meaning of government not establishing a religion, while also maintaining the free exercise of religion.   Our courts have come to an agreement that the “Establishment Clause” isn’t violated when government pays for sick patients to receive care in religious hospitals, and pays for students to receive an education in religious schools.   The courts’ rulings often focus on whether individuals are forced through government action to participate in a religious endeavor, reasoning that if individuals are not forced or compelled, then the Establishment Clause is not violated.

Christmas and   the Establishment Clause

Some believe the Establishment Clause is violated when Christ is mentioned or depicted in Christmas celebrations within public schools and on public property.   Over the years, groups have challenged the actions of cities and states in presenting Nativity scenes on public property, and having Christmas carols sung within public schools.   Since the 1980s, various Supreme Court rulings have in general outlined that religious symbols and songs within public schools and on government property do not violate the Establishment Clause if they are presented as part of our cultural heritage, where the religious display or reference is one of several religious choices and / or non-religious references, reflecting the diversity of our nation (see references for Supreme Court ruling in the Resources section).

A Nativity scene by itself, though, in a town square would likely be ruled by the courts as violating the Establishment Clause for promoting one religious belief and promoting religion in general.   However, exhibits containing a Nativity scene along with other faith communities’ symbols and non-religious holiday symbols have been ruled as acceptable and not violating the Establishment Clause.

Looking at a recent example in a school setting in Salt Lake City, Utah students at West High School began to prepare for their annual Christmas concert tour. The group sang both non-religious and religious songs. One student named Rachel then decided that it was unfair to her that she be forced to sing songs that celebrated the birth of Christ. So she decided to sue the teacher who led the choir, the school, and the state of Utah. Rachel and the organizations that supported her, argued that since she didn’t believe in Christmas, singing songs about it restricted her religious freedom.

An advocacy group and legal foundation, The Becket Fund , came to assist the teacher and the school in defending the right of the teacher and students to sing Christmas songs in their concert. The Becket Fund wanted to defend the principle “that religion is a valid part of our culture and our heritage, and that the Constitution does not require us to pretend that it isn’t.” The Becket Fund agreed with the majority of parents that it was a case of defending public school students from anti-religious censorship. It argued that such censorship was against true freedom of religion .

The Becket Fund and West High School also argued that Rachel was not forced to join the choir. Religious freedom meant that the students, who chose to sing, should be able to sing Christmas songs at Christmastime. Furthermore, the Becket Fund argued, there were a mixture of Christian Christmas songs and other secular, holiday melodies included in the concert. The 10th Circuit Court ruled that the school was allowed to have a Christmas concert and include Christmas songs that mentioned Christ.   The court pointed out that Rachel “had a choice whether or not to sing songs she believedinfringed upon her exercise of religious freedom.” In this way, the free expression of religion of the other students and the teacher at West High school was protected.

Rising to the Challenge of Secularism

It’s important for us as Christians to respect the rights of others to follow different faiths than ours, or not follow any religion at all.   But, it is also important that we defend our own rights to practice our faith and to not allow some groups to eliminate religion and Christianity from our public life.   This endeavor to remove religion from our public life is a form of secularism.   As we have seen, a certain amount of separation between the government and religion is right, such as the government not establishing one religion as our country’s “official religion”.   However, intolerantsecularism , which seeks to eliminate any references, celebration or acknowledgement of religion in public life carries great risks.

Our nation’s founding fathers often spoke and wrote about how religion, which did not impose itself on others, was a great advantage for our new nation in helping our citizens to develop the virtues necessary for democracy to succeed.   Virtues such as respect for others, tolerance for others’ views, willingness to sacrifice for a larger good, charity toward others, are all effectively taught through the Christian faith and other religions.   If we were to eliminate religion from public life, then we would send to our children and citizens the incorrect message that religion is more of a personal matter that has little impact on the public good.   Over time, this cultural demeaning of the value of religion would harm us as individuals and harm our nation.

Current Challenges

This Christmas season new challenges have arisen.   Initially, the Christmas tree in front of the U.S. Congress was renamed a “holiday tree”.   Fortunately, the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert, led a successful effort to change the name back to the Christmas tree.   This type of secularism that tries to publicly rename a faith community’s symbols shows a lack of respect for the culture and tradition of others.

In some communities and schools, officials are afraid of a legal challenge if they present anything religious in school activities, or present religious symbols on public property.   In these instances, we need to effectively state the truth that religion is a part of our heritage that should be celebrated, and to remind our communities of the great benefits that religion offers to us as individuals and to our nation.

Joyfully Live the Reason for the Season

In addition to raising others’ awareness of taking Christ out of Christmas, we can also look within ourselves to deepen our own observance of Christmas.   Simple things like making a point of earnestly wishing others a “Merry Christmas” instead of “happy holidays” can go a long way in moving us as individuals, and our culture at large back to Christ.   Focusing on the religious Christmas traditions such as prayers by the Nativity set or Advent wreath at home, instead of shopping for example, will also help us center our hearts and minds back on Christ. Finally, ramping up our acts of charity can help us to grow in love and generosity during Advent and the Christmas season.

The forces of secularism will likely always be with us tempting us to take God and religion out of our public life.   Our challenge is to maintain our vigilance, identify when these challenges arise, and be effective in countering them.   Sometimes we need to mobilize our talents and resources in defending our rights in the courts.   More often, we need to make our views known within our local communities and schools that it is important to keep God and religion in our public life, for our own good and the good of our nation.   And always, we need to strive to more completely and courageously live out the love of Christ, which will bring the most hearts and minds to Him and keep the focus on Christ in this Christmas season and throughout the year.

Bible Blurbs

“She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.“
(Luke 2:6-7)

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.“
(2 Timothy 1:6-7)

“So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.“
(Acts 4: 18-20)

Pope Quotes

“A just laicism allows religious freedom. The state does not impose religion but rather gives space to religions … and therefore it allows these religions to be factors in building up society.“
(Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Now Pope Benedict XVI) interview with La Reppublica 19 November 2004)
”…despite being steeped in a rich Christian heritage, (these countries) today face the pervasive advance of secularism. .… This loss of a sense of God … leaves many men and women… feeling disoriented and at times even without hope.“
(Pope John Paul II, Address to the bishops of England and Wales, October 23, 2003)
“In contemporary society, which shows such visible signs of secularism, we must not give in to despair or a lack of enthusiasm in pastoral projects. Remember that the Holy Spirit gives you the strength you need.“
(Pope Benedict XVI, Address to bishops of Mexico, September 23, 2003)
“People often invoke the principle of secularity, legitimate in itself if it is understood as the distinction between the political community and religions (cf. Gaudium et Spes, n. 76). But distinction does not mean ignorance! Secularity is not secularism! It is nothing other than respect for all beliefs on the part of the State that assures the free exercise of ritual, spiritual, cultural and charitable activities by communities of believers. In a pluralistic society, secularity is a place for communication between the different spiritual traditions and the nation.“
(Pope John Paul II Jan 12, 2004)
“In our times, secularism advances, threatening to lead societies of former evangelization to forms of agnosticism that constitute a real challenge for believers…In this context, the testimony of those who, out of fidelity to Christ and to the Gospel, have not hesitated to give their lives, acquires extraordinary eloquence… With their example, they encourage Christians to a courageous consistency” to the point of “heroism.
(Pope John Pual II December 11, 2004, Message sent to Bishop Salvatore Boccaccio)

Saints and Heroes

Defender of the Religious Freedom

ST. THOMAS BECKET
Thomas was born in 1118 in Normandy, France, which then was a part of England. Thomas grew up in a very well-to-do family and was educated at the finest institutions in Paris and London.
As an adult Thomas was given one of the highest posts in British government, that of Chancellor. He served King Henry II in a way that pleased the king, and was his close friend. When the Archbishop of Canterbury died, King Henry had Thomas appointed as Archbishop. King Henry hoped he could influence the Catholic Church in a greater way through Thomas.
His new responsibility brought a dramatic conversion of soul and attitude to Thomas. As soon as he became Archbishop, Thomas abruptly changed his relationship with Henry, showing his allegiance to the Church and the Pope instead of to his friend, the king of England.
Thomas sought to separate the Church in England from governmental control. After many disagreements with the king, Thomas fled England to live in France while continuing to shepherd his flock in England.
Thomas eventually came to an agreement with Henry II, and returned to England.
But just few days after his return, some knights, who were friends of King Henry, brutally murdered Thomas on the steps of the Cathedral in Canterbury. It was clear that he died because of his defense of the Church against control from Henry II. St. Thomas is remembered as a great defender of religious freedom.

Maker of First Live Nativity Scene

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
One of the Church’s most beloved saints, St. Francis was born into a wealthy family in Italy. He led a raucous life of partying, fought in two wars and was set to take over his father’s merchant business. But, shocking his parents and friends, Francis left all this to lead a life of prayer, penance and poverty. Francis began to attract followers who joined him in his life and they are now known as the Franciscans.
Francis’s spirituality of poverty and love for the poor stirred a great devotion to the birth of Christ. A few years before his death, St. Francis is credited with putting on the first live nativity scene and enriching our understanding of the mystery and beauty of Christ’s coming to earth in the poorest of environments. Several miracles happened in relation to this nativity scene (See instructor’s resources.)

Story of St. Francis and the Nativity Scene

One of Francis’ followers, St Benedict, describes the Nativity scene that Francis organized and the miracle that occurred in the small town of Grecio in Italy:
It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.
A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvelously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.
St. Bonaventure (d. 1274)

Vocabulary:

Advocacy group: Organization that promotes or defends certain values
Courage: Bravery to do the right thing
Defend: Protect with courage
Duty: Obligation, responsibility
Faith: Commitment to God, trust in him
Fear: Cowardice, lack of bravery
Freedom of religion: Right of people to practice their own faith and express it in public
Heroism: Bravery in action
Intolerant secularism: Aggressive effort to expel religious expression from public
Respect: Fully acknowledging the dignity and value of every person
Responsibility: To accept and meet our duties in life
Secular: Belonging to this world and this time
The Becket Fund: “A bi-partisan and ecumenical public-interest law firm that protects the free expression of all religious traditions” (from their website)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some other holidays that have religious roots?
2. What are some of the shortfalls of a system of public expression which refuse to allow religion?
3. What is the difference between the free expression of religion and separation of church and state? At what point should we draw the line between state-supported and state-allowed religion? Is it necessarily wrong to promote your own religion (proselytize)? How would the secularist argue against proselytism?
4. What is the difference between culture and religion? How are these things related?
5. Benedict XVI spoke out against secularism. Does society really need religion? What happens when we completely remove faith and religion from society?
6. Although we cannot promote Christianity through our government, religion is recognized as legitimate by our government, and certain Judeo-Christian values have inspired many principles in our government, such as the respect for the dignity of every person. Are these values helpful to our society? Do they hurt our government or help it? How do they do this? What would happen if they were not there?
7. Why are some groups lobbying for elimination of religious expression in public institutions and public culture? How can this affect our society?
8. Is putting a manger scene in a town square promoting Christianity or celebrating Christmas? Is there a difference? Who loses out when this symbol is removed from our public view?

WEB LINKS:

Review of Supreme Court rulings concerning religious displays on government property: 1984 Lynch v. Donnelly, 1989 Allegheny County v. Greater Pittsburgh ACLU
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