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DCR - June 5, 2013

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2 I CATHOLIC LIFE JUNE 5, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER ARCHBISHOP'S COLUMN MOST REV. SAMUEL J. AQUILA Archbishop, Catholic lawmakers speak out in support of life on death penalty BY CINDY BROVSKY Public school's sex ed curriculum undermines parents, dignity of sexuality "Parents are parents for eternal life," reflected Father John Hardon, S.J., "God gives them children in this world, but not for this world." Father Hardon was right. The vocation of parents is to prepare their children for their eternal destiny—a life in Jesus Christ, sharing in heaven itself. The job of a parent is to prepare children to become saints. To know their worth, their dignity, and their beauty as redeemed sons and daughters of the Father. It isn't easy to prepare children to become saints. It means taking the responsibilities of formation and education seriously. And it means protecting children from the lies of this world: from Satan's lies about sin and death, about dignity and about sexuality. A responsible state supports the vocation of parents. It recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children, and recognizes the sovereignty of parental authority. A responsible state collaborates and aids in the education of children, but it can never undermine the legitimate authority of parents, or disregard it. Last week, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a comprehensive sexual education bill into law. The law requires Colorado public schools to offer instruction to elementary and high school students on the use of contraception, the legitimacy of same-sex relationships and fornication, and the availability of abortion. The law also provides grants to schools that implement expanded sexual education curriculums, beginning in elementary school. Most troubling is not only the content of the curriculum but that it will be offered without parental permission. Parents who want their children exempted will have to contact the school to "opt-out." Parents who want to raise saints should be deeply concerned. The truth is that Satan lies to children about sexuality in order to draw them away from honest relationships with their parents, and with God. Children who understand God's plan for marriage and sexuality can live in relationship with their parents, even if they struggle. God calls parents, and not the state, to talk openly and honestly with their children about sexuality, in order to reveal the image of God's love imprinted on the family. Colorado's sex education bill undermines the vocation of parents. Furthermore, it exposes children to lies that will scar them for life—and which will disorder their relationships with God and with others. I urge parents to review the curriculums that are being offered to your children. Most parents will be shocked by the contents. A few weeks ago, the NY Times declined to run a full page ad that reprinted images from a sex-ed curriculum designed by Planned Parenthood. The cartoons, it decided, were "too graphic." The Times was right. The images were too graphic for adults, and definitely too graphic for our children. I pray that all parents will contact their children's schools, to "opt-out" of disordered sexual education. And I pray that parents will seriously consider Catholic schools. The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Denver partner with parents, to See Aquila, Page 8 Gov. John Hickenlooper's decision to spare convicted killer Nathan Dunlap's life last month fueled the efforts of the Denver Archdiocese, working through the Colorado Catholic Conference, and some lawmakers to repeal the death penalty in Colorado. "My support for the death penalty's repeal is rooted in my respect for the dignity of all human life," said Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila after Hickenlooper's decision on May 22. "Every human being has a fundamental right to life. It is wrong to take life needlessly, either through execution, or abortion, or criminal acts of violence." Rep. Angela Williams, a Catholic Democrat, said her faith was the foundation of why she supported a failed bid to repeal the death penalty in the Legislature's session this year. Some legislators said the bill stalled because of a threatened veto by Hickenlooper. The governor was forced to make a decision on Dunlap because he faced execution the week of Aug. 18 for killing three teenagers and a 50-yearold mother in 1993 at the Aurora Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. "I believe from a truly spiritual standpoint in the sanctity of life," Williams said. "It is only God that gives life and only God should take life away." While Williams saw the governor struggle with the issue, she wished he would have made a clear decision. The temporary reprieve guarantees Dunlap won't be executed during the remainder of Hickenlooper's current term through Jan. 13, 2015. A future governor could reinstate Dunlap's death sentence. J.D. Flynn, chancellor of the archdiocese, said Hickenlooper's decision was a "first step" toward repealing the death penalty. The Church teaches that the death penalty can be enforced if there is an immediate threat to public safety, but life in prison is the best option for heinous criminals already incarcerated. "If we are caviler about any life, including the lives of death penalty inmates, we treat life with less dignity and that undermines our commitment to the gospel of life," Flynn said. He called on Catholics to take the death penalty issue as seriously as abortion. "Some Catholics separate the death penalty and prolife," Flynn said. "Regardless of the circumstances, we must preserve and protect the divine gift of life." Rep. Kevin Priola, a Catholic Republican, initially co-sponsored the proposal to repeal the death penalty but later withdrew his support for the bill when pro-life language in the proposal was removed to pacify other legislators and get their support. "I want the discussion not to just be about the death penalty in the state of Colorado but we need to protect lives from conception, and all years in between, to death," he said. Colorado has executed 103 death row inmates since the first recorded public execution in 1859. The method of execution was hanging until 1934 when the gas chamber was used and later the state adopted lethal injection. Since 1967, two convicted killers have been executed, the last in 1997 when murderer and rapist Gary Davis died of lethal injection. Families of Dunlap's victims strongly criticized the governor for sparing Dunlap's life. Archbishop Aquila urged prayers for those families and other victims of crime. "I support the abolition of the death penalty because I want to respond to evil with love," Archbishop Aquila said. "It is my hope that every person on death row, indeed every person, will have the opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ, to repent, and to know the Father's mercy and love." The death penalty debate will continue to be personal for lawmakers, Williams said, whether because of their faith or being touched by violence. Rep. Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat, supports the death penalty while the two murderers of her son and his fiancée sit on death row. Williams' sister-in-law was injured in the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P Mur. rah federal building in 1995. She awoke early to watch the television coverage of convicted murderer Timothy McVeigh's execution. "McVeigh did not suffer," Williams said of the lethal injection that ended his life. "He went to sleep. And many of the families who lost loved ones said they still walk around with the pain of that loss. The death penalty did not take that pain away." DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-722-4687 OR CIRCULATION@ARCHDEN.ORG Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 General Manager Karna Swanson Denver Catholic Register (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the first week of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. The Register is printed by The Denver Post LLC in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. Editor Roxanne King Subscriptions: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic Register, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or e-mail circulation@archden.org. 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