Denver Catholic

2 I CATHOLIC LIFE FEBRUARY 12, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER ARCHBISHOP'S COLUMN MOST REV. SAMUEL J. AQUILA "Physically I suffer a lot, but my soul sings," 18-year-old Chiara Badano told her mom as she battled one of the most aggressive and painful forms of bone cancer. I recall the story of this saintly teenager because her life offers deep insights in- to suffering and because the Church observed the World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11. You may not have heard about this saintly Italian girl, who died in 1990 at the age of 19, but she is truly a model of Chris- tian suffering. How many of us can repeat her words when we are suffer- ing from far less serious things? The truth is that many of us, including Christians, avoid suffering. Blessed Chiara did not seek it out, but her attitude was, "If you want it, Jesus, so do I." Visitors to Chiara's hospital room arrived expecting to cheer her up, but when they walked in they saw that she was filled with peace and confidence, so much so that the founder of the Italian Church movement Focolare gave her the name Chiara, meaning "Luce" or "Light." This kind of transformation of suffering is impossible without God and a profound relationship of love with him. In his message for the 2014 World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis points out that Jesus "did not remove illness and suffering from human experience but by taking them upon himself he transformed them and gave them new meaning." Because of his passion, death and resurrection, our suf- fering and even death can serve as a vehicle and gateway to everlasting happiness. Blessed Chiara knew this reality and expressed it to her mother, saying, "When you're getting me ready, Mom, you must not cry, you have to keep on saying to yourself: 'Chiara Luce is now seeing Jesus.'" Thank God most of the pain we experience on a daily basis is not caused by a terminal illness. But regardless of the kind of suffering we are going through, allowing Christ to purify and convert us, to increase our trust in him, is an opportunity that we should not miss. Moments or periods of trial are also an opportunity for those of us who are not experiencing suffering. These are oc- casions for what Pope Francis calls drawing "near with tender love to those in need of care." He explains that "when gener- ous devotion to others becomes the hallmark of our actions, we give way to the heart of Christ and bask in its warmth, and thus contribute to the coming of God's kingdom." Pope Benedict XVI also described this mission of mercy in his 2012 message for the Day of the Sick, "More than mere words, what sick people need is human warmth and sincere closeness." This is a chance to love Christ in the sick and suf- fering that we should not miss. We have the perfect model of being Christians who bring this tender love to the sick and the poor in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis' description of why Mary is the "mother of all the sick and suffering" is so beautiful and compelling that I must quote it for you here. "Mary, impelled by God's mercy which took flesh within her, selflessly hastened from Galilee to Judea to find and help her kinswoman Elizabeth. She interceded with her Son at the wedding feast of Cana when she saw that there was a shortage of wine. She bore in her heart, throughout the pilgrimage of her life, the words of the elderly Simeon who foretold that a sword would pierce her soul, and with persevering strength she stood at the foot of the cross of Jesus. She knows the way, and for this reason she is the mother of all of the sick and suffering." As you encounter suffering in your life or in the lives of others, I urge you to turn to Mary for inspiration and inter- cession. She is able to stand with us beside our crosses and accompany us on the journey toward the resurrection. Mary can help us turn to Christ, who "destroyed the solitude of suf- fering and illuminated its darkness." Mary, mother of the sick and suffering, pray for us! Jesus did not take away suffering, he transformed it 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 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 Signature Offset in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. 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. Editorial: 303-715-3215 or editor@archden.org Advertising: 303-715-3253 or dcrads@archden.org Circulation: 303-715-3211 or circulation@archden.org Online: www.DenverCatholicRegister.org General Manager Karna Swanson Editor Roxanne King Business Manager Michael O'Neill BY NISSA LAPOINT A state legislative hearing last week over the removal of mar- riage language in the state tax code emerged as a debate about equality for same-sex couples. Senate Bill 19 has found ve- hement support and approval— and some votes from disinter- ested legislators—as it has trav- eled through the Senate and the House for its proposal to change the terms "husband," "wife" and "spouse" into "two taxpayers." The bill was voted on in the House early this week. Opponents decry the bill's ef- fort to insert marriage-neutral terms into Colorado law, argu- ing that the state's constitution explicitly defines marriage be- tween a man and woman. Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Arapahoe, voted against the bill and said, "I'm really distressed by the strik- ing of 'spouse,' 'husband' and 'wife.'" Proponents fought back and said federal law changed requir- ing same-sex couples, who file joint federal returns, to also file joint state returns. The state De- partment of Revenue made an emergency ruling in November to accommodate the new federal law since Colorado law contra- dicts it. The emergency ruling is val- id for 120 days and will permit same-sex couples only married out-of-state to file joint state returns. Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Larimer, said homosexual couples want marriage equality. "It clarifies how same-sex cou- ples will comply to the income tax law and codes, and allows equal treatment to gays and les- bians as it does to heterosexual couples," she said. "All we want is equality." Other committee members ar- gued it's simply tax policy. "I don't think filing joint tax returns is integral to marriage or directly related to marriage," said Rep. Dan Kagan. "It's a tax policy and that's all it is. Let's not make more of it." During testimony, Mark Thrun, a Denver Public Health physician, said the emergency ruling was more than tax poli- cy. It gave him and his partner, Geoffrey Bateman an assistant professor in the Peace and Jus- tice Studies Program at Regis University, the recognition they deserve. "Frankly, we couldn't be more thrilled as we can finally report who we are as a family," Thrun told the committee about filing joint taxes. Although they pay more in- come taxes by filing jointly, he said the bill "would eliminate confusion and reduce the bur- den on Colorado for those like us who want to be recognized for who are." Rep. Lori Saine, R-Weld, said the bill is unconstitutional. "Our voters said this is the definition of marriage," she said referring to the constitutional amendment defining marriage. "(This bill) honors a contract out-of-state that is expressly pro- hibited in our state." In another testimony, Gary Hooper, an accounting manager at St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial, said the bill will impact state coffers and yields no monetary benefit for couples filing individually or jointly. From an attorney perspective, Catholic lawyer Rebecca Messall argued the bill contravenes the state constitution. "Marriage is not the product of legislators in the government," she said. "SB-19 defies the will of voters." Jenny Kraska, director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, said the bill doesn't respect the constitutional definition of mar- riage. While a solution is needed for couples filing jointly, this bill is not a solution that respects the constitution, Kraska said. Rather, it's back-door way to erode at the definition of mar- riage, she said. If passed, the bill would codify and reinforce the state Depart- ment of Revenue's ruling. House votes on tax-code benefits for same-sex couples Find your representative at www.votervoice.net/ COCC/Address. Know Your Legislator The Colorado Catholic Conference encourages citizens to know their representative's voting record. Listed below is the contact information of two Catholic members of the House. Voice your opinion about their vote on Senate Bill 19. DANIEL PABON, D-DENVER Phone: 303-866-2954 Email: dan.pabon.house@state.co.us TIMOTHY DORE, R-ELBERT Phone: 303-866- 2398 Email: tim.dore.house@state.co.us

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