Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Fast Faith or the Way of the Cross?

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In parsing the teachings of Pope Francis during his visit to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day, I was taken by his admonition to the young to not “liquidize” their faith. That faith in Jesus cannot be reduced for easy and fast consumption.

Speaking to a crowd of young Argentineans in Rio’s cathedral, the Holy Father reminded them, “It is a scandal that God made Himself one of us. It is a scandal that He died on a cross. It is a scandal:  the scandal of the Cross. But it is the only sure path: that of the Cross, the path of Jesus, that of the incarnation of Jesus. Please, do not ‘liquidise’ your faith in Jesus Christ.”

In addressing the Bishops of Brazil Pope Francis further developed the idea when he observed that “People today are attracted by things that are faster and faster: rapid Internet connections, speedy cars and planes, instant relationships. But at the same time we see a desperate need for calmness, I would even say slowness.”

Our culture is unwavering in its commitment to make everything quick and easy. Reduce the book of life to “Cliff Notes.” We may be able to survive physically on fast food, but we cannot survive spiritually on Fast Faith.

It is all about the cross. Jesus and the cross cannot be separated. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Most of us are frightened by these words of Jesus. We try to avoid crosses…no we try to run away from them. We prefer “Christianity Lite” We much prefer John 13:35 “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What we forget is that the cross is the supreme symbol of love. As the Pope said to the Brazilian bishops, “Nothing is loftier than the abasement of the cross since there we truly approach the height of love.”  There is only one sure path, that of the cross, the path of Jesus, the path of love and forgiveness…the path that leads not only to the Crucifixion but finally to the Resurrection.

Whether our cross is illness and pain or heartbreak and loneliness our cross is a path to Jesus.

Pope Francis’ remarks on homosexuality

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Our Holy Father Pope Francis spent the last week conveying the Gospel message of charity, forgiveness and compassion to the 3 million young Catholics who attended World Youth Day in Brazil. It is not surprising that his remarks about gay priests reiterate church teaching that homosexuals are welcome in the church but homosexual activity is forbidden. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states quite clearly that homosexual persons “must be accepted with compassion, respect and sensitivity.”

Pope Francis’ remarks regarding priests certainly do not signal any change in Catholic law or teaching. The church still has an expectation that priests must commit to a life of celibate chastity whether they are homosexual or heterosexual.

Youth are the window to the future

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Back on his home continent Pope Francis, who refers to himself as the Bishop of Rome, quickly defined the importance of his first international journey and the World Youth Day.

In his address at the presidential palace, the Pope explained that “Young people are the window through which the future enters the world, thus presenting us with great challenges. Our generation will show that it can realize the promise found in each young person when we know how to give them space; how to create the material and spiritual conditions for their full development; how to give them a solid basis on which to build their lives”.

Parents, educators and pastors are challenged to teach and witness the values of our Judeo-Christian tradition that are increasingly ignored and discounted by society at large. The pull of the siren song of secularism is strong indeed and is only countered by the values inculcated by family, school and parish. Parenting, the rearing of children, has never been more challenging than today.

The answer to changing the world, Pope Francis reminds us, is not to withdraw from it, but to engage it with Gospel values, “This first trip is precisely to meet the young, but to find them not isolated from their lives – I would like to find them as part of the social fabric, in society. Because, when we isolate the young, we do a great injustice: we remove their sense of belonging. The young belong – they belong to family, a homeland, a culture, a faith… they belong in this way, and we must not isolate them! But above all, we must not isolate them from the rest of society. They – it is true – are the future of the people.”

I am proud that our own young people are participating in World Youth Day. Some young adults are already taking on leadership roles and making a positive difference in our Church.  And, indeed, as a generation they are our future. They are the leaven that will shape the future of our world. The torch will pass. It is our responsibility to see that it is in good hands.

Dallas is represented at World Youth Day

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Sixty-five young pilgrims from the Diocese of Dallas have journeyed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to join Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2013. I am grateful that so many of our young adults are interested in and passionate enough about their Catholic faith to travel more than 5,200 miles to be with our Holy Father as he celebrates his first-ever WYD as pope.

These young adults join millions of other young Catholics from around the world at WYD to celebrate and deepen their faith in Jesus Christ. This wonderful pilgrimage includes great opportunities for community prayer and celebration of the Eucharist, evangelization and catechesis. [Read more…]

World Youth Day

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A million young people from throughout the world, including a group from our diocese, are gathered in Madrid for the 26th World Youth Day. Pope Benedict XVI flew to Madrid today (Thursday) to participate in the event established by Blessed John Paul II. A million young people from throughout the world, including a group from our diocese, are gathered in Madrid for the 26th World Youth Day. Pope Benedict XVI flew to Madrid today (Thursday) to participate in the event established by Blessed John Paul II. [Read more…]