Denver Catholic

INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 Nun of the Above quiz ....................4 World/Nation................................... 15 Bulletin Board ................................. 16 Service Directory ......................18-19 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE CATHOLIC LIFE PHOTO BY TODD WOLLAM/DCR Church knee-deep in flood relief PAGE 3 RESPECT LIFE Cases behind abortion's past and future to be presented at conference PAGE 12 113 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume LXXXIX - No. 32 OCTOBER 2, 2013 Pastoral letter: Colorado bishops urge principled immigration reform The Colorado bishops released a joint pastoral letter on immigration reform on Oct. 1. To read the full letter scan the QR code or visit: http://www.archden.org/index. cfm/ID/10284. BY NISSA LAPOINT Waves of immigrants piling across America's shores pose a challenge to government leaders and lawmakers seeking a solution to broken laws. The consequences span beyond financial and political realms. Spiritually, immigrants impact the foundation of society, the family and the future of the U.S. Church. United in one voice, Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila and Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, who is apostolic administrator of Pueblo, released a pastoral letter on Oct. 1, called "Immigration and Our Nation's Future." "America needs to reform its immigration laws across the board, but establishing the specifics of those new regulations is the job of lawmakers, not pastors," the bishops wrote. "Our job is to teach about the moral values that should shape those laws, and that is what this letter aims to accomplish." PHOTO BY TODD WOLLAM They wrote the letter to guide the consciences of Catholics, es- DENVER Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila greets children June pecially for those in public office. 22 at the State Capitol. The Colorado bishops jointly issued a Locally and nationally, pastoral letter on Oct. 1 on immigration reform. VOCATIONS immigration reform laws have been proposed and re-proposed. There's no simple solution, said Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, the state lobbying arm of the Colorado Church. "There's always going to be a tension, because there's no perfect solution that will solve all the problems to everyone's benefit. There's always going to be a give and take on this issue," Kraska said. Pressure is mounting to pass legislation that would bring comprehensive reform to immigration laws impacting millions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the size and ethnic diversity of the population will drastically change until 2050 when it's predicted whites will become a minority. It's feared that if legislation isn't passed before January, progress on reform may not occur for some time. "Historically during election years, politicians are very careful about what they run and what they support. They don't want to make too many waves because it could come back to haunt them if they're running for re-election," Kraska said. "There's pressure saying let's get it done before the next session starts because there's a general feeling that if it's not done sometime between now and January, it probably won't be taken up in the next Congress." See Reform, Page 6 YEAR OF FAITH: GUARDIAN ANGEL 25-year priests awed, humbled by ministry PAGE 8 Retreats, dinners offered to help discern God's call PAGE 9 An angel is a spiritual, personal, immortal and non-corporeal creature, with intelligence and free will, who glorifies God without ceasing and who serves God as a messenger of his saving plan. The word "angel" means "messenger." Scripture and Church tradition attest that every human being has been given a guardian angel to protect and intercede for them. The Church celebrates this fact on Oct. 2 with the feast of the Guardian Angels. A prayer neatly summarizes their role: "Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, rule and guide. Amen."—Denver Catholic Biblical and Catechetical schools

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