Wisdom Wednesday, Jan. 8, begins our new year, with a look back and a look ahead. Trump’s election was peacefully certified Jan. 6. A national Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, Jan. 9. The Trump hush money pay-off sentencing is scheduled Jan 10. National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is Jan. 11. A “signed” bible (not by the Author but by Trump) goes on sale. McElroy goes to Washington! Commentators seek wisdom among hopes and fears for the Trump administration. Read on!
McElroy to Washington
Cardinal Robert McElroy is appointed to lead Archdiocese of Washington. “Having led the San Diego diocese since 2015, McElroy, 70, has experience with immigration, both as a political issue and a reality in his diocesan churches.” (McElroy welcomed AUSCP for the 2023 Assembly in San Diego.) Items from Religion News Service, and from Catholic News Service.
Jimmy Carter
Six days of funeral observances for former President Jimmy Carter began Saturday in Georgia, where he died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Carter’s remains traveled to Washington, to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda until his funeral at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral. The schedule from the AP. What the leader of the U.S. bishops said – just one paragraph — from the USCCB office of Public Affairs.
USA Today reports on the National Day of Mourning, tomorrow Jan 9, as Donald Trump fumes over flag flying at half-staff to honor Jimmy Carter during his inauguration.
Jimmy Carter was remembered as a “Christian example of faithfulness, compassion and justice — and as a staunch advocate of a traditional view of religious liberty,” according to some Baptist leaders reported by Baptist News General. Not all leaders agreed: a prominent Southern Baptist theologian accused him of unspecified international crimes, and the president of the Southern Baptist Convention offered sparse praise of “A remarkable man and the first president I remember.”
Inauguration and a New Administration
The makers of the Trump-endorsed “God Bless the USA Bible” have issued a new edition just in time for Trump’s second inauguration, Jan. 20. Launched Jan. 6, it costs $69.99 and features Trump’s name on the cover. Inside is the King James translation along with the text of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and the lyrics to the chorus of “God Bless the USA.” The website also offers a signed Trump Bible for $1,000.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan will lead the opening prayer for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The archbishop of New York announced he would take part in the inaugural ceremonies during an interview with the local news channel WPIX on Dec. 24. Dolan also said the opening prayer during Trump’s 2017 inauguration following his 2016 presidential victory. From National Catholic Register.
How will the Catholic bishops deal with the new Trump administration? Jesuit Tom Reese, for Religion News Service, says a look back at the last one may give us a clue. (Reese was a keynoter at our 2024 Lexington Assembly.)
Faith on the Hill
The 119th Congress has marginally fewer Christians than the 118th, continuing a gradual, decade-long decline. Still, Christians account for 87% of voting members in the newly elected Senate and House of Representatives, far greater than the share of U.S. adults overall who are Christian (62%). Faith groups by parties, denominations and chamber, from Pew Research.
Hanukkah, and reaction to the U.S. bishops
In a Christmas Day message on X, Facebook and Instagram, the U.S. bishops’ conference posted an image of a menorah, with the caption reading: “The Catholic Bishops of the United States wish our Jewish brothers and sisters a Hanukkah filled with light and joy. May our enduring friendship shine, especially in times of darkness.” National Catholic Reporter calls the reaction “an anti-Semitic rage.” Commenters accused the bishops of being drunk, the Catholic Church evil and the post disgusting.
Trump nominates critic as Vatican ambassador
Following Pope Francis’ 2023 decision to allow priests to bless individuals in same-sex unions, Brian Burch blasted the pope for creating “confusion” within the Catholic Church. On other occasions, he has criticized Francis’ governance as a “pattern of vindictiveness.” On Dec. 20, Burch was named as Trump’s nominee for Vatican ambassador. National Catholic Reporter says Burch’s nomination will now require U.S. Senate confirmation and agreement from the Holy See before he can officially take up his post.
Analysis: Trump and H-1B visas and education
The Christian Science Monitor examines the new administration tension over H-1B visas (used for hi-tech jobs and Trump resort housekeeping staff), and the fate of the federal Department of Education.
Pope appoints first woman to lead a dicastery
Pope Francis has named Sister Simona Brambilla, to head the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life together with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who was named pro-prefect on Jan. 6. National Catholic Register reports Sister Brambilla was trained as a nurse before religious life, served as a missionary in Mozambique in the late 1990s. She is a former superior general of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, and has been secretary of the Vatican department for religious and consecrated life since October 2023.
Jan. 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
The problem has become so prevalent that in 2011, President Barack Obama designated January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed annually on Jan. 11. And in 2015, the Vatican named Feb. 8 the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. A Global Sisters Report finds that the growing awareness fosters hope.
New Year’s News
- A report from the Vatican on New Year’s Day. “Cancel the debt of poorer nations”
- The Holy Door of Saint Mary Major was opened Jan. 1, for the new Jubilee Year. Vatican News reports on the ceremony in Rome, and in dioceses around the world.
- Married priests and women deacons: NCR’s top 10 most read opinion of 2024.
- 2024 caps ‘a decade of deadly heat’. In his New Year message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last decade, including 2024.”We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose,” Guterres said. From DW (Deutsche Welle).
Words I never expected to type
“Tucker Carlson seeing demons in his bedroom is not a good sign.” OPINION from Baptist News General.
Good News: From the Teilhard documentary
AUSCP friend Bob Stewart passed along a thank you note and more broadcast plans for Teilhard: Visionary Scientist. Our 2024 AUSCP Lexington Assembly included a private viewing and discussion with producers Frank and Mary Frost.
Frost says “we have gotten strong encouragement from the periphery [in the US],” and the documentary has now been translated into Mandarin, Arabic, Turkish, Farsi, and Czech. It will be broadcast via satellite in the Middle East and Northern Africa to 28 million potential viewers. Teilhard’s message has wide appeal.” It is available, free to view and share at PBS.
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