South Texas Catholic Monthly (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 11, Ed. 1 Sunday, November 1, 1998 Page: 1 of 32
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Encyclical warns of separation of modern
thought from truth
STC correspondent
FI ishop Roberto O.
D Gonzalez made a visit to
the Cardinal John Henry
Newman Catholic Student
Center on the campus of Texas
A&M University at Corpus
Christi on September 27 to
help open the school year and
to celebrate Mass with stu-
dents who attend the univer-
sity.
The Newman Catholic
Center offers many services,
activities and projects for the
students, including The
Newman Club, Sacramental
Preparation, Prayer Services,
Fund Raising, Socials, Bible
Study, Counseling, Peer Stu-
dent Outreach, Reconciliation,
and Sunday Mass Celebration.
When speaking to the
students Bishop Roberto
recalled his own college years
as unique years in his life and
in the world.
"In the Fall of 1968, it was
the Vietnam war and I was a
freshman. These years were
the most idealistic years in my
life and I hope and pray that
your college years will be
idealistic for you and over
time, you will have a more
sober outlook on life, espe-
cially as people of faith," the
bishop said.
See STUDENTS, page 26
STC photo/Christine M. Cashion
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — In a long-
awaiied encyclical titled “Fides
et Ratio" (“Faith and Reason”),
Pope John Paul II warned of a
growing separation between
modern thought and the “ulti-
mate truths” of religion, a
division which he said is leading
people to ethical confusion and
even despair.
In response, the pope ap-
pealed for a renewed harmony
between philosophy and theol-
ogy. He urged intellectual leaders
to rise above today's utilitarian
vision of life and
allow transcen-
dent truths to
guide them.
At the same
time, he asked
the church’s
theologians to
recover the
“metaphysical
dimension of
truth” in their
own work, and
help bring the
certainties of
faith back into the moral life of
believers.
The 35,000-word document,
released at the Vatican Oct. 15,
was the product of years of
reflection by the 78-year-old
pontiff, on a theme dear to his
heart. Addressed to the bishops
of the world and written in a
specialized vocabulary, its
message was aimed primarily at
experts in the fields of philoso-
phy and theology.
But the encyclical also struck
universal themes about the
meaning of life, the ability to
know the truth and the deep
questions posed by evil and
death. In a global culture that
‘At the end of
this century, one of
our greatest threats
is the temptation
to despair.’
mistrusts absolute truths and
relies loo much on pragmatism
and technology, it said, many
men and women are left to
“stumble through life” confused
and anxious.
“At the end of this century,
one of our greatest threats is the
temptation to despair," the pope
wrote.
The aim of the encyclical, he
said, was to offer people fresh
confidence in seeking the truth
and alert them to errors which
condition their attitudes and
behavior.
In particular, the pope
challenged a
“post-
modern" view
that would
judge all
values as
relative. Truth
cannot be
arrived at by
consensus,
and morality
cannot be
decided by
majority vote,
he said, yet
such ideas are taking hold — a
consequence of the notion that
reason can do without faith.
The encyclical emphasized
Christ’s salvation as the event
that enlightens both theology
and philosophy. It said Christian
revelation is a “lodestar for all”
who seek to know life's meaning,
and defended the “universal
value” of the church’s philo-
sophical heritage.
Divided into seven chapters
and heavily footnoted, the
encyclical begins with a simple
thematic statement: “Faith and
reason are like two wings on
which the human spirit rises to
See ENCYCLICAL, page 18
Red Mass speaker asked colleagues to turn to Cod’s justice
By Christine Cashion
STC Correspondent
Raul A. Gonzalez, Justice for the Supreme
Court of Texas, said he was honored to receive
an invitation to speak to his colleagues at the
seventh annual Red Mass celebration, held at
the Corpus Christi Cathedral on September 23.
1 wanted to come ask my friends, do you
believe in the Eucharist, the true presence of
Jesus in that little wafer, because it's done me a
world of difference," said Gonzalez, during his
presentation, titled, “Who Do You Say 1 Am?”
The relevance today of this question is as
relevant as it was 2000 years ago,” said the
judge, who spoke to a congregation of lawyers,
judges and other public officials following the
fiturgy, which was presided by Bishop Roberto
Gonzalez.
The origin of the Red Mass dates back to the
Tth century England and served as the official
opening of the Judicial Year The Mass promotes
the unity of the judiciary and the legal profession
and was first celebrated in the United Slates in
1928. The liturgy’s name is taken from the red
vestments, the color of the Holy Spirit, worn by
the attending clergy. The local observance of the
liturgy wras sponsored by the Diocesan Red Mass
Committee.
Bishop Roberto, in his homily, quoted St. Paul
in saying that the law of God is written in the
hearts of men and women.
“Pray that God’s justice may be the rule of
law," he said.
The bishop also said that he was pleased that
Justice Gonzalez agreed to address the legal
profession and community at this year’s event.
Gonzalez was chosen to speak for the many
contributions he has made to his profession and
See RED MASS, page 26
Raul A.
Gonzalez,
Justice for
the
Supreme
Court of
Texas,
spoke at
the seventh
annual Red
Mass Sept.
23 at the
Corpus
Christi
Cathedral.
STC photo/Christine M. Cashion
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Espitia, Paula. South Texas Catholic Monthly (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 11, Ed. 1 Sunday, November 1, 1998, newspaper, November 1, 1998; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855784/m1/1/: accessed July 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .