SEPTEMBER 2006 T HE N EWSLETTER OF THE SAINT CAMILLUS CATHOLIC CENTER FOR PASTORAL CARE

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Unless otherwise noted, all events are at
WALKING WITH THE
St Camillus Catholic Center for Pastoral Care
1911 Zonal Ave, Los Angeles CA 90033
CHAPLAINS
HUGH MENTON
September 17, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

I
HIV/AIDS Specialization Training
had a very enriching
RSVP by Sep.10. 323-225-4461 x221
experience this summer at St.
September 17, 4:00 p.m.
Pax Christi Mass for Peace and Justice Camillus Pastoral Care Center. For a
Discussion on The Ground Truth day and a half I accompanied several of detail from A Visit
www.thegroundtruth.net by John August Swanson
the chaplains on their hospital rounds. It
September 25, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Protest and Civil Disobedience was a powerful testament to our Catholic
Hollywood Military Recruiting Office faith community that Catholic men and teenager from a nearby Catholic high
National Action: Declaration for Peace
213-489-1900, join Fr. Chris Ponnet
women have taken on the ministry to be school. She felt a bond with the chaplain
September 30, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
present to those dying and suffering and recalling the time she baptized a young
Dead Man Walking: The Journey their families at Los Angeles County/ person her age, a TB patient who died a
Continues, with Sr. Helen Prejean
University of Southern California Medical few weeks later. This 80 year old now
St. Joseph Center, Orange CA
714-744-3175, $50 with lunch Center and the surrounding hospitals. One expressed a desire to minister again on
Because we have been sent into the world September 30, 7:00 p.m.
ICUJP Concert Fundraiser
of the most powerful visible messages in Sundays to those in county hospital.
as a "people for life," our proclamation must also become a genuine celebration of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church
joining in the chaplains' visits was they Though the chaplains' styles were as
gospel of life... Los Angeles CA, 626-683-9004 acted as Christ's presence. Often their different as are their backgrounds, their
www.icujp.org words were few, but their presence was sense of being present and their ability to
For this to happen, we need first of all to foster, in ourselves and in others, a
October 7, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. powerful, as they smiled and listened to listen to patients was consistent. A
contemplative outlook. Such an outlook arises from faith in the God of life, who has Conference on Consistent Life Ethics
patients' and their family young mother, who delivered her baby
(Please see enclosed flier for details.)
created every individual as a "wonder" (cf. Ps 139:14). It is the outlook of those who 323-225 4461 x221 or email members' stories, sorrows in the middle of the night, had not
cponnet@stcamillus.ftml.net or
see life in its deeper meaning, who grasp its utter gratuitousness, its beauty and its www.circlesofhope.org
and joys. It was as if Christ yet seen him because there were
invitation to freedom and responsibility. was listening. complications. In the early
October 7, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bob Hurd and Friends in Concert Certainly the chaplains morning a young chaplain
It is the outlook of those who do not presume to take possession of reality but (Please see enclosed flier for details.) offered prayers and prayer heard the mother's anxiety as
instead accept it as a gift, discovering in all things the reflection of the Creator and Sacred Heart Chapel, Loyola Marymount
aids, but their presence she listened and comforted
University
seeing in every person his living image (cf. Gn 1:27; Ps 8:5). This outlook does not give October 15, 10:00 a.m. and listening was the most her. The chaplain made the lead
in to discouragement when confronted by those who are sick, suffering, outcast or at AIDS Walk Los Angeles powerful aspect of a visit. The nurse aware of the mother's stress
Join us or sponsor one of our walkers
death's door. Instead, in all these situations it feels challenged to find meaning, and www.aidswalkla.org (Team 0519)
depth of comfort patients visibly and the nurse was able to respond with
Catholic Archdiocese Gold Team experienced did not make these casual comforting information.
precisely in these circumstances it is open to perceiving in the face of every person a gathering at 9:00 a.m.
visits. The 80 year old, unexpectedly in the Another chaplain traveled to the nearby
call to encounter, dialogue and solidarity. October 15, 4:00 p.m.
hospital on her 80th birthday, found great county, locked mental health facility,
Pax Christi Mass for Peace and Justice
It is time for all of us to adopt this outlook, and with deep religious awe to The AIDS Pandemic—A Call for Universal joy in relating her story of visiting county accomplished an almost unbelievable
Health Care
rediscover the ability to revere and honor every person. hospital patients many years ago as a (Continued on page 3)

The artwork by John August Swanson appears

Pope John Paul II, on the value and inviolability of human life by gracious permission of the artist. Often their words were few, but their presence was powerful, as they smiled and listened to
St. Camillus Center is very grateful for John’s
The Gospel of Life, 1995 continuous generous support of our ministries.
patients' and their family members' stories, sorrows and joys. It was as if Christ was listening.
CONSISTENT LIFE ETHIC
KENNETH R. OVERBERG, S.J.
E T
veryone knows there is darkness in our
lives, in our world. Violence of all kinds
threatens life: in our homes, in our cities, in
nations near and far. "Violence has many
faces: oppression of the poor, deprivation of
basic human rights, economic exploitation,
sexual exploitation and pornography, neglect
or abuse of the aged and the helpless, and
innumerable other acts of inhumanity.
Abortion in particular blunts a sense of the
sacredness of human life."
We see this passage from the U.S. bishops'
1983 pastoral letter on peace exemplified
almost every day in the headlines. Many of us
have directly encountered some form of
violence in our own lives. Many more of us
suffer with families and friends who have.
How can we respond to this violence and
death?
A moral vision that holds together these
many different issues and offers not only
direction for action but also energy and hope
is the consistent ethic of life. The late Cardinal
Joseph Bernardin articulated this perspective
in the early 1980's, and it has become a
centerpiece of the U.S. Catholic bishops' moral
teaching. Pope John Paul II has affirmed
similar themes in his 1995 encyclical The
Gospel of Life.
A Moral Framework
What is the consistent ethic of life? It is a
comprehensive ethical system that links
together many different issues by focusing
attention on the basic value of life. In his
attempts to defend life, Cardinal Bernardin first punishment or to work against poverty but
joined the topics of abortion and nuclear war. support euthanasia.
He quickly expanded his understanding of a
consistent ethic of life to include many issues
from all of life. Already in the first of a series of This linking challenges us to pull together
talks, this one at Fordham University, Cardinal things that we might have kept apart in the
Bernardin stated: "The spectrum of life cuts
across the issues of genetics, abortion, capital around 'conservative' or 'liberal' viewpoints—as
punishment, modern warfare and the care of in the above examples. But the consistent
the terminally ill."
Cardinal Bernardin also acknowledged
that issues are distinct and different. Capital
punishment, for example, is not the same as
abortion. Nevertheless, the issues are linked.
The valuing and defense of life are at the
center of both issues. Cardinal Bernardin told
an audience in Portland, Oregon: "When
human life is considered 'cheap' or easily
expendable in one area, eventually nothing is
held as sacred and all lives are in jeopardy."
Along with his consistent linking of
distinct life issues, Cardinal Bernardin
acknowledged that no individual or group
can pursue all issues. Still, while concentrating
on one issue, he insisted in another address,
the individual or group must not be seen "as
insensitive to or even opposed to other moral
claims on the overall spectrum of life." The
consistent ethic of life rules out contradictory
moral positions about the unique value of
human life—and it would be contradictory, for
example, to be against abortion but for capital
This linkage of all life issues is, of course,
the very heart of the consistent ethic of life.
past. Often our convictions seem to cluster
ethic of life cuts across such divisions, calling
us to respect the life in the womb, the life of a
criminal, the life on welfare, the life of the
dying.
(Excerpt from: Catholic Update, A Consistent
Life Ethic, St. Anthony Publications.)
THE CHAPLAINS
OF ST. CAMILLUS:
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT:
SR. ESTELLE KROGER, CSJ,
MS. LETICIA DELGADO,
FR. TONY DIAZ, CFM,
SR. THERESA HAN, OSF,
FR. BOB JONES, CM,
SR. MARY JEAN FERRY, BVM
MR. RENE VALLE
SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT:
MR. MARK MCGANN,
FR. CHRIS PONNET
NOT SHOWN IN PHOTO:
SR. ANGELA PACHECO, CSJ,
SR. MARTHA VEGA, SSS
ICUJP Statement
on Universal Health Care
Released 16 August 2006
We consider adequate
health care to be a basic right of
every person. We also recognize
that this crisis disproportionately
affects those most vulnerable in
our society.
Senate Bill 840 would
establish a single-payer health
insurance system, saving millions
of dollars now spent on
paperwork. It is estimated that
roughly 30% of each health care
dollar goes for processing. This
would be cut substantially by a
single-payer system.
Senate Bill 840, now
awaiting passage in the
Assembly, would automatically
cover every California resident
with health services: preventive,
primary, hospital, emergency,
dental, vision, prescription drugs,
and durable medical equipment.
Senate Bill 840 would
provide fair reimbursement to all
providers, giving an incentive to
provide services by those covered.
Due to meager reimbursement
schedules, many providers
currently turn away patients
covered by public plans.
Therefore, ICUJP is urging
every Californian to contact their
Assembly representative to solicit
his or her vote for this legislation.
At the muezzin call to prayer
Kneeling faithful throng the square.
While in Peshawar’s lofty height
An old priest chants of Buddha’s might.
In a monastery's weeds
An old Franciscan tells his beads.
And to a synagogue there came
A Jew to praise Yahweh's name.
The one great God looked down and smiled
And counted each his loving child.
For Turk and Brahman, Christian and Jew
Had reached Him through the God they knew.
DEATH PENALTY NEWS
HENRY WEINSTEIN, LOS ANGELES TIMES STAFF WRITER
A blue ribbon commission studying reform of California's
criminal justice system recommended Tuesday that the state
adopt a law mandating electronic recording of all jailhouse
interrogations.
If an officer fails to make an audiotape, the law should
require that the jury be instructed to view the defendant's
statement with caution, the California Commission on the Fair
Administration of Justice said.
The commission also urged California law enforcement
agencies to videotape all custodial interrogations of felony
suspects, but did not recommend making it a requirement
only because the cost would be prohibitive, said Gerald F.
Uelmen, a Santa Clara University law professor who is the
commission's executive director.
....."The research suggests that false confessions are often
extracted from the most vulnerable suspects," including juve-
niles, the mentally disabled and the mentally ill, the report
stated. However, the commission cautioned that "even fully
competent and rational persons may be victimized by coer-
cive interrogation techniques."
The commission cited June testimony from two wrong-
fully convicted men: Christopher Ochoa, who was tried in
Austin, Texas, and Harold Hall, who was tried in Los Angeles.
Each man said he doubted he would have been convicted if
his interrogation had been recorded and a judge and jury had
been able to see the coercive techniques used against him.
(October 10, 2006 is the 4th Annual World Day Against the
Death Penalty, see http://www.worldcoalition.org/.)
JOIN US ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF
EVERY MONTH, 4:00 P.M., FOR A
MASS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
ARE WE ONE BODY?
RENEE STAMPOLIS
hat was the theme for the 19th National Catholic AIDS
Network’s annual conference held at Loyola University in
Chicago. Think about that, it's quite a challenge.
Once again this diverse community of all ages that
gathered at this conference was blessed with daily mass,
morning plenary sessions, many afternoon workshops from
'Coping with Grief' to 'Medical Updates', evening gatherings
and of course mealtimes to share stories, get acquainted with
new people or renew old acquaintances.
The setting at Lakeshore Loyola University was beautiful
and calming. Squirrels and rabbits were abundant scurrying
around the campus. It definitely was a time to take a deep
breath and focus on the theme, a time to refresh our soul as
we attended the prayer services and workshops, a time to
grow in our understanding of people living with HIV/AIDS, a
time to explore the courage, compassion and love that exudes
from all those gathered from the four corners of the earth, a
time to realize we truly are ONE BODY.
Fr. Chris Ponnet and Renee Stampolis attended this
conference on behalf of the Archdiocese. of Los Angeles’
Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry. The National Catholic AIDS
Network remains the only national organization devoted
exclusively to helping the Catholic Church respond in an
informed and compassionate manner to the challenges
presented by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Join us for AIDS Walk Los Angeles on October 15, 2006.
(Continued from page 1) Walking with the Chaplains
listening task. A young man was agitated and needed to talk.
He wanted to talk about a film he envisions making. The
chaplain successfully had him identify and discuss the life
experiences that were troubling him to the degree that
authorities had placed him in a locked facility for evaluation.
Lastly, a chaplain stood next to a dying man and his
estranged family members, encouraged them in prayer and
listened to the family story. Reconciliation occurred while the
chaplain stood with them. How powerful is God! Our
chaplains are God's arms, legs, ears and mouth. May the
chaplains with our help continue to serve in such miraculous
ways.