Comments on: Stem-cell research, violence in the city and celebrating Holy Week

By: Judith Sousa

Judith Sousa — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:46:05 +0000

En el nombre de Jesus y de Nuestra Santa Madre le doy las gracias por aceptar el llamado al sacerdocio. Dios lo bendiga siempre y estoy rezando todos los dias para que todos los sacerdotes sean santos.

By: Trevor Schroeder

Trevor Schroeder — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:54:13 +0000

�Feliz Pascua de Resurreci�n!

First I would I like comment on this fantastic blog. I think many Catholic young adults (like myself) turn to the internet for guidance, only to be led astray. Your blog is a shining example for all Catholic heirarchy, and hopefully more of the Church leaders use the internet as a means of reaching the faithful.

I do have one question regarding the Church’s stance on embryonic stem cell research. I recently heard about a technique that can isolate embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo, and such, the human life. If this technique is viable, and doesn’t have adverse effects, would the Church be opposed to it? In the meantime, I agree adult stem cell research is the best option, medically and ethically.

I also appreciated your comments on the priesthood. I am currently going to begin pre-med undergraduate work, with the hope of going to medical school. But I have also felt called to the priesthood, so maybe the Lord is calling me to both vocations. I think all those in discernment, seminary studies, and in their vocations need to reflect on their call: “not to be dignitaries, but servants.” I will take this message to heart.

Dios te bendiga,

Trevor Schroeder
Toledo, OH

By: Dino Pantoni

Dino Pantoni — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:29:54 +0000

Cardinal Sean:

Thank you for being a brave shepherd. Thank you for your clear apostolic teaching. Thank you for your holy example. Thank you for reminding the entire church about our holy and wonderful priests who serve us faithfully. Thank you for your inspiring talks, teachings, sermons and online postings.

You are Francis rebuilding the Church of Boston, one rock at a time, and like St. Francis, God will use you to change the hearts and minds of Catholics everywhere. The enemy seeks to destroy what he can not destroy because the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ and your holy example reminds us of that every day regardless if we live in Boston or we don’t.

You are truly an inspiration. Be assured of my prayers. Know that hearts are being changed as a direct result of your apostolic ministry. Continue to speak the truth.

Dino Pantoni
Waterbury, CT

By: Fr. Don Meehling

Fr. Don Meehling — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:39:09 +0000

In Springfield, Illinois, your encouraging words to your priests were read by this priest with great delight as well! Thank you! What a splendid addition to the sharing of the “good news” you blog has made. Kudos to the great Church of Boston for its many gifts even to those beyond it boundaries. Bona Pascha!

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:27:23 +0000

Happy Easter Cardinal Sean!

By: Mr. & Mrs. Donald Loiodice

Mr. & Mrs. Donald Loiodice — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:09:53 +0000

Dear Cardinal Sean,
Residing now in Maine, we were cleaning my elderly mother’s home in Boston, while she was getting her hair done for Easter and watched the beautiful Chrism Mass at the Cathedral. I was distracted with my task at hand, and am so grateful to have now read your moving homily about those selfless priests in the concentration camps on your blog.
Also we are very grateful for your shepherding on the evil of embryionic stem cell research and the destruction of the weakest of our brothers and sisters when adult stem cells are curing, readily available and “do no harm” to innocent preborn lives.
May I take the time to also thank you and all at Boston Catholic TV for carrying the Holy Week services which my elderly mother, newly widowed, was able to participate in , in the comfort of her home.
He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!!
Peace be with you, Patti and Don Loiodice

By: Maria Teresa Frias

Maria Teresa Frias — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:35:46 +0000

Querido Padre Sean: In this Easter, we thank God for you, and for the so many kind and holy priests that we have known throughout our lives. It is because of our priests that we receive God in the Eucharist, our nourishment for true life in us. Without a doubt, your priests in Massachusetts along with you, are exporting our Lord and His love to all of us in the Catholic faith and beyond. God is merciful and through each and every one of you, His caring and loving priests, He is healing us, especially to those who are still suffering so much pain from those who hurt them. Your priests in Massachusetts are overcoming their own pain with so much love for our Lord and for His people. We all are grateful to Christ for you Padre Sean because through your life and your blog you continue to nourish us with Him and leading us to Him to know the truth regarding the many issues we face every day. Your life along the way is showing us His prints and we thank Him for making you available to us in the many ways you serve us. In you, and in so many good priests and people from your archdiocese, Christ is being better known, loved and served around the world. We thank God also for those priests from your archdiocese and others dioceses, who serve us in the Society of Saint James as missionaries in Latin America and thank Him for those people and priests who are working in BCTV and the Pilot spreading the Gospel with all their means. You enrich us all in the same God, for us, Christ our Lord, who in His people and in His Church, He is truly risen! Alleluia!

By: edward f. leahy

edward f. leahy — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:00:14 +0000

Eddie Leahy from Port Orange Florida. I am 81 and have no idea what my website is. If you do not get this message, please believe that my wife and I are delighted with your leadership. We have gone through so many others, who had not grasped the “humility” which you have shown. I write this on the day that “This is the Day the Lord has MADE, Let us be glad and Rejoice”….Happy Easter, my dear Cardinal. ps…..just moved here from St. Clare, Braintree, Deo Gratias.

By: Lance

Lance — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:10:14 +0000

I believe that we can have embryonic stem cell research . If anyone writing here could benefit from this research you would have a different opinion. We should put all possible opportunities to work for bettering the lives of people suffering. Those who feel so strongly don’t have to use the benefits stem cells provide, but why penalize everyone that is suffering. I think God doesn’t want us to suffer when there could be a way for us to help ourselves.

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:49:18 +0000

It seems very wrong to be spending billions of dollars with the pipe dream of embryonic stem cell threrapy, when much of the world is still lacking 1940′s techology–antibiotics.

My uncle who is a Jesuit in India said that the greatest medical advance in medicine in the 20th century was rehydration drinks for infants with diarrhea–Gatorade. It allowed many to live to their first birthday.

Thank you for your stand on this issue, Cardinal Sean.

Anne

By: Eve

Eve — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 12:55:53 +0000

Dear Cardinal Se�n,
Blessed Good Friday through to Easter to you and all your sheeps. Well, the world is looking for a Superman. Chris Reeves might be one of the first to benefit from a successful stem cell treatment, that is if he is still around and the stem cell research and treatment is already a success. Though it is sad, yet he is one of those who remind us that we are mere mortals. But Jesus is not a mere mortal. In Him, we have our being. Thanks for the video clip. I was expecting more when everything turned dark. Will there be a serie number 2 coming up showing a lighted cathedral ?

By: Kelly Clark

Kelly Clark — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:05:29 +0000

Eminent Father!

Thanks for the Tenebrae video. I was literally trembling.

Alleluia! He has risen!

(Hey, Kenny…come on back for a visit at least!)

By: Phil Plageman

Phil Plageman — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:06:28 +0000

Thank you Cardinal O’Malley – I have been really enjoying your blog. It is so refreshing to hear good news about our church and reenergizing to hear about different parts of the diocese.

Please keep it up!! And have a great Easter!!!

Phil Plageman from St. Agatha’s in Milton

By: Kenny Howard

Kenny Howard — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:10:17 +0000

Cardinal Sean, what a joy it is to see your blog week after week. I live in Milwaukee and I use to assist at the Cathedral and work with Leo Abbott , Fathers John, Bob, and Brian at the many masses. I want to express to you once again my thanks for the many ways you reach out to the Archdiocese of Boston. You are truly a son of St. Francis as you are rebuilding the Church that is in such need. Yours in St. Francis

By: Julia Russell

Julia Russell — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:10:48 +0000

Hi Cardinal Sean….Happy Easter!
Just a commnet on the stem-cell topic….as a health care provider for the last 35 years I have been witness to the marvels and failures of modern medicine. When I started in 1972 there were no ICUs, no heart or liver transplant surgery,no implants that allow people to hear and see…..
there is now HIV/AIDS,Hepatitis C and a host of antibiotic resistant disease…..yet with all the advance and tragedy we should remember even the most gifted researcher is a finite person and we cannot hope to cure every disease.
Even Jesus when He ministered in His time did not cure everyone……maybe we should recall that this life is passing and be grateful for the gifts of science and research that always respect life. God bless you, Julia Russell

By: michael g.b.

michael g.b. — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:40:03 +0000

“science” unfetterd (or better still “unguided”) by moral lights becomes exactly what the Nazi medical experimenters were propagating and practicing — and what they were judged and condemned by world opinion for doing . . . the fact that one assumes “good intentions” we must NEVER FORGET that ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions” . . . and unless modern day science works hand-in-hand with true and real moral principles, it becomes something not just “less than science” but a “horror” . . . science doesn’t and cannot exist in a vacuum . . . and we know that “nature abhors a vacuum” . . . and science without moral rules will implode a pure hell-on-earth . . . anyone who THINKS that there is “pure science” is simply an idiot and a fool.

By: Mrs. M

Mrs. M — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Cardinal Sean,

Thank you for saying yes to Jesus. We need you.