Denver Catholic

4 I OPINION JULY 31, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER New A. holy orders In his June 13 testimony before the National Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform, Dr. Thomas Farr of Georgetown's Berkley Center described the failures of U.S. international religious freedom policy over the past decade and a half and suggested some of the structural reasons for that failure: lack of strategic integration, such that religious freedom doesn't "fit" with other U.S. foreign policy objectives; resistance in the Department of State against the very idea of an international religious freedom policy and a special ambassador for promoting religious freedom; little or no leadership from presidents and secretaries of state. And the dismal result? According to Dr. Farr, "it would be difficult to name a single country in the world over the past 15 years where American religious freedom policy has helped reduce religious persecution or to increase religious freedom in any substantial or sustained way." The problems, Farr continued, are not just structural. They're conceptual. Some ill-informed Foreign Service professionals imagine that U.S. policies that promote religious freedom violate the First Amendment. Still others fantasize that international religious freedom policy is an evangelical ploy to use American power to clear the way for Christian missionaries. Others are afraid of scaring Islamists into further violent reactions. These reasons are dumb, or unworthy, or both. But the real issue here is a deeper and more disturbing one. In Farr's direct, unambiguous language, "a significant proportion of our foreign policy officials no longer believe that religious freedom is the 'first freedom'—of American history, of the U.S. Constitution, and of all people everywhere." That is, too many members of the U.S. foreign policy establishment, in and out of public service, no longer believe that religious freedom is a foundational right, in that its acknowledgment in both culture and law protects something essential to democracy. Too many members of the foreign policy establishment disagree with George Washington that religious conviction is essential to "the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity." Too few members of that foreign policy elite understand James Madison's conviction that religious citizens and their communities are essential parts of civil society, and thus important checks on the tendency of all governments to expand their power. My own three decades of experience with the foreign policy establishment confirm Tom Farr's judgment, although, like Farr, I know senior people in and out of government who share Farr's conviction and mine that the defense and promotion of religious freedom, strategically conceived and intelligently executed, is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. But they are a minority. And they are a minority that rarely dares raise its head in the present administration, whose approach to these issues was defined by Hillary Rodham Clinton in December 2009, when the secretary of state declared that "to fulfill their potential, people … must be free to worship … and to love in the way that they choose." As I pointed out at the time, this was a degradation of religious freedom in two respects. First, it reduced religious freedom to "freedom of worship": which is to say, religious freedom is a privacy right to certain lifestyle choices having to do with recreational activities aimed at personal satisfactions. Some people go to church or synagogue or mosque; some people go to Camden Yards or Fenway Park; some people keep parakeets; it's all the same. Second, this dumbed-down concept of religious freedom was equated to the LGBT agenda (which, as the discerning will have noted, has already morphed in subsequent years See Weigel, Page 4 BY PETER WESTHOFF Symbols of the Holy Spirit A quiz on Catholic things under the patronage of the "Doctor of Prayer," St. Teresa of Avila. For each question there is one right answer, but the answer for one question is "None of the Above." The following quiz covers Catechism of the Catholic Church Nos. 694-701. 1. Anointing is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. What sacrament in the East involving an anointing is known as chrismation? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Prayers for our nation 5. Jesus said that if he drives out the devil with this symbol of the On Ju Holy Spirit, then the kingdom of olic Ch God is among you. new bis BY DOM op-elec M.L.M., A. Jeremiah Bishop C. with his breath Pope B. Ezekiel 6. Some tabernacles op-elec YEAR C. Amos known as columnative, OF FAITH bariums are in 3. A cloud is a anon E SCRIPTURE the shape of this quarter manifestation of symbol of the the Holy Spirit. eparchy "…our hope is that as your At the dedication one of faith increases, our influence Holy Spirit: of the Temple, territori among you will be greatly A. dove who said, "The Maroni enlarged…so that you may B. fire Lord intends to Denver preach the Gospel."— 2 dwell in the dark C. hand Corinthians 10: in Lakew cloud. I have truly 15-16 Bisho 7. Which symbol of built a princely house, the Holy Spirit is St. Paulmembe a dwelling where you may abide forever"? A. Solomon B. David C. Samuel 4. The symbol of the seal indicates the indelible effect of the Holy Spirit in three sacraments. Which of these sacraments imprints an indelible mark? nation's inhabitants will turn to you in purity, trust, selflessness, love and faith. With this intention in mind, we offer this prayer: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. The Archbishop's Column in the June 19 Register is exactly what's needed—prayer and sacrifice—to stop the forces of evil and death, and reverse the moral degradation of our country. Below are two short prayers. I've given them to family and friends and asked that they include them in their daily prayers. Also, I've sent a copy to Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in the U.S. Protection Prayer House of Representatives. O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, America desperately needs Mother of Mercy, at this most our prayers. Del Rajewski critical time, we entrust the Arvada United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this Prayer for the Moral land for the glory of your Son. Renewal of Our Country Overwhelmed with the burden Lord, we ask you to send St. of the sins of our nation, we Michael and the hosts of heav- cry to you from the depths of en to battle against the forces of our hearts and seek refuge in evil and death in our nation. We your motherly protection. Look ask specifically that the moral down with mercy upon us and degradation of our country be touch the hearts of our people. reversed and that we will enter a Open our minds to the great time of moral renewal and holi- worth of human life and to the ness. We ask that all human be- responsibilities that accompany ings be respected and their lives human freedom. Free us from protected by law, and that our the falsehoods that lead to the A. his own word B. the finger of God alluding to when he says, "Do not quench the Spirit"? A. water B. the seal C. fire WYD From Pag The that th will be Next quiz covers catechism Nos. in 201 702-720. Paul II kow be evil of abortion and threaten thepapacy sanctity of family life. Grant our Denv people the wisdom to proclaimAquila that God's law is the foundationfrom th on which this nation was found-more th ed and that he alone is the truewide, sources of our cherished rightschism s to life, liberty and the pursuit of "In y happiness. O Merciful Mother,your th give us the courage to reject theage you culture of death and the strengthDay and to build a new culture of life.turn to Trusting in your most powerfulla told sion on intercession, we pray… (Three Hail Marys, or theset you show yo Memorare, or both) Our Lady of Guadalupe, pa- The troness of the unborn and ofthat as Univers the Americas, pray for us. he stru lifestyle school f LETTERS connec Euchar TO THE EDITOR ditiona Letters should be no more than 250 around words and should include the writer's "It is name, address and telephone number. We rely on our readers to recognize that and sist the opinions expressed in letters to the that lov editor are those of the author and are 1. B, 2. None of the Above – Elijah, 3. A, 4. C, 5. B, 6. A, 7. C Why U.S. international religious freedom policy fails C. holy orders 2. Whose prayer arose like fire and whose word burned like a torch in bringing down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, and in so doing prefigured the fire of the Holy Spirit? GEORGE WEIGEL B. anointing of the sick C. anointing of the sick THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE A. matrimony B. confirmation not necessarily those of the Archdiocese of Denver. Letters containing plainly misstated facts, misinformation or libelous statements will not be printed. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Letters may be edited. Send letters to: Editor, Denver Catholic Register, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or fax to 303-7152045. E-mail us at: editor@archden.org. ARCHBISHOP AQUILA'S SCHEDULE Aug. 6: Mass of Profession for Sisters of Life, Stamford, Conn. Aug. 9: Deacon Day Mass, Spirit of Christ Parish, Arvada (6 p.m.) OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS Very Rev. James Goggins, V.F., appointed dean of the Greeley Deanery, effective July 1, 2013, until Dec. 31, 2016. Very Rev. Terrence Kissell, V.F., appointed dean of the Aurora Deanery, effective July 1, 2013, until Dec. 31, 2016. Very Rev. Joseph Toledo, V.F., appointed dean of the Eastern Plains Deanery, effective July 1, 2013, until Dec. 31, 2016. Very Rev. Henri Tshibambe, V.F., appointed dean of the West Denver Deanery, effective July 1, 2013, until Dec. 31, 2016.

• Cover