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A conversation with Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, which aired on St. Valentine Catholic Radio and can be found in the Feb. 17 issue of The West Texas Catholic. Photo by Enedelia Obregon, freelancer for the Catholic Spirit, Diocese of Austin.

Bishop Patrick J. Zurek with a Letter to the Church of Amarillo--SPANISH VERSION

Bishop Patrick J. Zurek shares this letter with the Church of Amarillo.

Here is the homily presented by Bishop Patrick J. Zurek on June 3 during the Ordinations Mass for Father Grant Spinhirne and Deacon Shane Wieck.

A serious mistake was made in bringing John Salazar to the Diocese of Amarillo for ministry. He was removed from ministry in May 2002 and a petition for laicization was granted in December 2004. After the petition of laicization was granted, it was published in The West Texas Catholic that he had been laicized for sexual misconduct with youth.

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S. will be the guest speaker at the second annual Bishop’s Gala, set for Friday, May 3 at the newly remodeled Amarillo Country Club, 4800 Bushland Blvd. The gala is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of the Texas Panhandle, with all proceeds from the evening restricted for the Diocesan Pastoral Center and Diocesan Archives and Museum building fund.

Bishop Zurek, we have a new pope! What did you know about the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Borgoglio and what are your first impressions of the now Pope Francis? Bishop Zurek: “My answer to your first part is simply ‘nothing.’ I knew very little of him, I knew he was the Archbishop from Buenos Aires.

The Church has always been concerned with being Pro-Life. In most dioceses in this country the Catholic Church is the largest provider of social services. This is often done through Catholic Charities and includes providing assistance to whoever needs it, regardless of religion, race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation.

A few decades ago Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his now famous “I have a dream!” speech. In those dark days, obscured by the lack of respect, dignity and equality for people of color, this speech spoke of a dream that he had for a society based on equality and justice.

When John the Baptist spoke out against the moral of life of Herod, Venerable Bede wrote, “Herod did not ask John to deny Christ, he only wanted John to be silent about the truth.” Too many faithful Catholics have also remained “silent” about the truth of human life.

Watch and listen to Bishop Zurek's message from the Inter-Faith prayer service at Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo. The first prayer service was held on June 28th at St. Mary's Cathedral. Additional Inter-Faith Prayer Services will be scheduled throughout the summer and early fall in the Texas Panhandle, according to Father Neusch.

In its decree of May 18, 2012, the Congregation for the Clergy has sustained Father Frank A. Pavone’s appeal of his suspension from ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo and his appointment from me on October 4, 2011 as Chaplain of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in Channing, Texas.

I would like to call attention to a very important aspect of our Catholic Christian faith: we are called to be not only good Catholics in faithfully following the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also to be the very best citizens of the particular country in which we reside. It does not matter if we were born here or if we came as a migrant to the United States—

It was a marvelous experience. Everything went like clockwork. There was an incredible exchange of information and pastoral experience, not only between the Vatican departments, the congregations and the Holy Father and ourselves, but also especially among my brother bishops.

Twice in recent weeks, I have written you to express my gratitude for our unity in faith and action as we move forward to protect our religious freedom from unprecedented intrusion from a government bureau, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

My answer is very simple: The mandate of Christ is to “go out and teach all nations everything that I have commanded you.” Therefore, we have a teaching ministry, we have a charitable ministry, we have a health care ministry.

As I begin this article, I must remind myself and all the readers that from our earliest days, Christians always prided themselves on the fact that they were good citizens of the countries in which they lived.

This is the continuation of a conversation with Bishop Patrick J. Zurek that began in the Feb. 5 issue of The West Texas Catholic, dealing with the Jan. 20 decree from Health and Human Services that nonprofit groups that do not provide contraceptive coverage because of their religious beliefs will get an additional year ‘to adapt to this new rule.

First of all, it’s much broader than just contraceptives, the Order also includes pills that can act as abortifacients. So it is a very serious threat to our Catholic moral tradition and belief.

Have you ever met a saint? Most of us would probably respond very quickly…NO! The obvious reason for this response is that most saints are not beautified or canonized until decades or perhaps even a century after their deaths. Yet most of us could also respond “Yes” to the question. We all hope to be with the Lord in heaven some day;