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22082 ANTONIO PARKWAY, RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA 92688-1993

Mission Statement: San Francisco Solano Parish continues the early California missionary spirit to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are committed to Word, Sacrament, and Service.

SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Multi-Parish School) 23652 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 Phone: (949) 888-1990 • www.serraschool.org Angeline Trudell, President

NEW PARISHIONERS Welcome to San Francisco Solano Catholic Church! To register please come into the Parish Office, take an information envelope from the information rack at the back of the Church, or download a registration form online at www. sfsolano.org.

December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

SA N FR A N C I S C O SO L A N O CA T H O L I C CH U R C H

Phone:(949) 589-7767 · Fax: (949) 589-7768· www.sfsolano.org

OFFICE HOURS: Weekdays: 9:00 AM to NOON; 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Reverend Theodore Olson, Pastor—Ext. 2111 FatherTed@sfsolano.org

Reverend Duy Le, Parochial Vicar—Ext. 2104 FrDuy@sfsolano.org

Reverend Gordon Moreland, SJ, Visiting Priest

Reverend James Smith, O.Praem., Visiting Priest

Deacon Carl Swanson—Ext. 2108 cswanson@sfsolano.org SATURDAY VIGIL MASS: 5:00 PM

SUNDAY MASSES: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:15 AM, 12:00 NOON, and 5:00 PM

WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 AM

HOLY DAY MASSES: 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM

SACRAMENT OF Saturdays, 3:30-4:30 PM RECONCILIATION: (or by appointment)

SACRAMENT OF Please contact the Parish Office at MARRIAGE: least six months prior to marriage.

SACRAMENT OF One Sunday each month at 2:00 PM BAPTISM: Please contact the Parish Office.

EUCHARISTIC The first Monday of each month ADORATION: beginning after the morning Liturgy.

Administration—949-589-7767

Parish Secretary/Office Manager—Alma Helms, Ext. 2112 secretary@sfsolano.org

Parish Receptionist/Sacramental Records—Alfie Mumaugh, Ext. 2100 information@sfsolano.org

Bulletin Editor—Lynne Pantano, Ext. 2101 bulletineditor@sfsolano.org

Parish Facilities Manager—Anna Podruski, Ext. 2109 facilities@sfsolano.org

Parish Controller—Leah Davis, CPA, Ext. 2105 accounting@sfsolano.org

Parish Ministry

Director, RCIA/Adult Faith Formation/ Adult Confirmation Deacon Carl Swanson, Ext. 2108 cswanson@sfsolano.org

Director of Music—Brenda von Gremp, Ext. 2115 brendavg@sfsolano.org

Coordinator of Liturgy—Dana Hardenburgh, Ext. 2106 liturgy@sfsolano.org

Youth Faith Formation—949-589-1709 Fax: 589-2840

Coordinator, Youth Faith Formation—Martie Williams, Ext. 2135 dre@sfsolano.org

Registrar/Receptionist—Teri Ferlisi, Ext. 2134 reregistrar@sfsolano.org

Elementary/Intermediate Coordinator (Grades 1-8)— Amy Franklin, Ext. 2139 elemre@sfsolano.org; jrhigh@sfsolano.org

Interim Youth Minister/Confirmation Coordinator (Grades 9-12)—Jeff Kosidowski, Ext. 2130 youthministry@sfsolano.org

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Scripture Readings for the Week

Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52

Monday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40

Thursday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18

Friday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Saturday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28

Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Readings can also be found online at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122015.cfm

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)

Today's feast makes clear that holy families are human families, with their own gifts and challenges.

On December 18th , 2013, Pope Francis said that, "The presence of God in the midst of humanity was not acted in an ideal, idyllic world, but in this real world."

Love contains joy and wonder and pain and fear. Families, however constituted, are our schools of love and of holiness.

On this third day of Christmas Time, where is God in your midst? How is your family holy?

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph December 27, 2015

Monday 28 December 8:30 AM † Catherine Bangor Maureen Lopez Moya Yuekey

Tuesday 29 December 8:30 AM Rodolfo Ubay-Ubay and Family † Genevieve Smith † Richard Hibbert

Wednesday 30 December 8:30 AM † Scott Stelmok

Thursday 31 December 8:30 AM † Tranquilino and Teodora Cordova † Krsto Kustera

Friday 1 January 8:30 AM 55 & BETTER † Felix Inga † Maxima Limtiaco Rodolfo Ubay-Ubay and Family

Saturday, 2 January 8:30 AM † Darwin Peebles 5:00 PM † Arthur and Bernice Williams

Sunday 3 January 7:00 AM † John and Viola Mumaugh 8:30 AM Pro Populo 10:15 AM † Glen Thomas 12:00 NOON † Anthony & Concetta Pantano 5:00 PM † Elizabeth Lowe

Mass Intentions for the Week

A Lifeline for Troubled Marriage – Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vī) helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. It is designed to provide tools to help get your marriage back on track. You will have the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way. This program has helped tens of thousands of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels including disillusionment and deep misery. For confidential information or to register for the January, 2016 program beginning with a weekend on January 22, 2016 call (714) 306-6469 or email: OrangeCoast@RetroCA.com or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com.

Attention Movie-Goers During this year of Mercy and in this Advent Season you are invited to see a beautiful story of a modern day saint in the making – Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The Letters: The Untold Story of Mother Teresa inspires, engages and transforms the hearts of all those who watch her story. It is a drama that explores the life of Mother Teresa through letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual advisor, Father Celeste Van Exem over a nearly 50-year period. Look for it in theaters. May you be moved by her witness.

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Parish Ministries

Offertory Collection

Offertory Summary Last Year

Current Year

Incr/(Decr) %

October $109,838 $99,109 -$10,729 -10%

November $126,139 $121,169 -$4,970 -4% National Needs Collection $3, 505 Parish Pay - Electronic Donors Nov 2015 11%

Schedule of Church Hours

Monday—Thursday 6:30 AM—8:30 PM Friday 6:30 AM—3:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM—6:30 PM Sunday 6:30 AM—6:30 PM

*Winter Schedule*

You can help us do our part in completing the Pastoral Services Appeal!

December 31 will close our annual effort to fund the many ministries that serve all the parishes. Our goal for 2015 for the Appeal is $165,000. Many of our families have pledged $137,432 and we trust they will complete those pledges. If you have not yet made your pledge this year, now is a wonderful time to do so. If our pledge payments fall short of our goal the parish will need to make up the difference from our normal operating funds. Thank you.

New Youth Minister I am pleased to announce that we have hired Jenna Mish as our new Minister for Youth, Young Adults, and Confirmation. She will begin full-time with us at the beginning of the New Year and assist part-time during the transition in December.

I am very grateful to Jeff Kosidowski, who has taken leadership of this ministry for the past several months. He and his wife, Tammy, have very generously helped our youth .

Thank You, Jeff and Tammy.

Fr. Ted Olson

The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ and He calls us to spend time with Him in prayer and adoration.

Each month, we have a 24-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We encourage you to consider spending some time with Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament. Morning,

afternoon, and evening time slots are available.

Our next 24-hour adoration is January 4-5 .

As Jesus said to his apostles who slept while he prayed in the Garden prior to his arrest and crucifixion, “Could you not spend one hour with me?”

Monthly Adoration

INVITATION TO

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Yes, I want to spend one hour with Christ,

present in the Blessed Sacrament, during our monthly Adoration.

Name: ____________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________

Let us know your availability (please check one): ______Morning (6 am to noon)

______Noon to Evening (Noon to 6 ) ______Evening/Overnight (6 to 6 )

You will be contacted to confirm a specific time. Thank you.

Please cut out this form and leave it in the box near the tabernacle

in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

The Advent Giving Tree project was a huge success again this year.

We wish to thank everyone for their generosity. The toys, books and gift cards were distributed to more than two hundred families in need at Saint Joseph, Taller San Jose, and our SFS Community Food Bank. Your outpouring of love and support has touched many hearts.

May the joy of giving stay with you not just during Advent but throughout the whole year! Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year! Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. —Proverbs 19:17

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Parish Ministries

Evening Bible Study

Scripture plays a central role in our Catholic faith: the entire first half of Mass is the liturgy of the Word, with a homily applying the weekly scriptures to our lives. Yet, how many of us have actually read and studied the Bible and know what’s in it?

San Francisco Solano’s Evening Bible Study is a multi-year course: The Bible Plain and Simple. Our mission is to

discover the Bible systematically, verse-by-verse, Gene-sis through Revelation, utilizing a combination of audio taught by renowned literary scholar, Dr. Bill Creasy who has been called “a Catholic Bible teacher extraordinaire!” Check Dr. Creasy out at logosbiblestudy.com.

We are currently reading the Gospel of Matthew. Come join us at any time for coffee and desert as we study the Bible.

Recommended Bible: The Catholic Study Bible (Oxford Edition)

Day: Your choice between Monday or Thursday evenings

Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

Location: Meeting Room F

Cost of Class: FREE ---bring a dessert to share with the class.

For more information contact: Rick or Jackie Majewski at (714)-713-6877 or jvpham101@aol.com

You're invited to join us Friday mornings from 9:15-11 AM for Bible Study. All you need is a Bible, a notebook, and a willing heart. We meet upstairs in the Parish Hall, Room F. Please contact Kathy Pham, 949-858-9293 or phamily02@cox.net

Friday Morning Bible Study

55 & Better is a parish social ministry for parishioners 55 & over. Social activities are held in th SFS Parish Center. Contact Don Leavey at 949 830-2729.

January 1, No First Friday Brunch

January 22, Friday, 6 PM Bring an appetizer, salad, side dish, main dish or dessert to share. It is Open “Mike” Night. Share your favorite amusing story or joke!

Tickets are available for “The Lion in Winter” at Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente for Sunday, March 6, at 2:00 PM. $23 pp. Call Don Duclos for more information at 949 305-6559.

Join the trip to the Reagan Library for the Vatican Spendors Exhibit on Saturday, April 9. $90 per person. Contact Maureen Romaine for information at 949-472-5473.

55 & Better

Music Ministry is in Need of your Voice Singing joyfully for the Lord is a gift. Come share that gift with your church.

Children’s choir Grades 1-8, Rehearsals are Thursday from 5:00-6:00 PM Sing at the 8:30 Mass (one a month), Christmas and Easter

Adult Choir Rehearsals are Thursday evenings 7:30-9:00 PM Sing at the 10:15 Mass, weekly, Christmas, and other Holy Days.

Please contact Brenda von Gremp, Director of Music if you are interested or have any questions

brendavg@sfsolano.org 949.589.7767 x 2115

Catholic Men's Fellowship meets on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month. Dinner is at 6:30 PM and the program begins at 7 PM in the Parish Center. It is an opportunity for men to open their hearts and strengthen their faith and friendships. Please consider visiting one of our upcoming meetings. For more info, please contact ChrisAOConnor84@gmail.com.

Catholic Men’s Fellowship

Serra Catholic School’s Season Tuition Assistance Luncheon

Our parish school, St. Serra Catholic, announces its 3rd annual Tuition Assistance Luncheon. The event sup-ports families in financial need at Serra as well as at The Marian Alliance of Schools: St. Anne Parish

School, St. Joseph School, and School of Our Lady, all located in Santa Ana.

Join us on Sunday, January 31, 2016, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM, as our community comes together in support of this ministry. Early Bird registration is now open on the Serra website. Tickets are $80 by November 30, 2015, and $95 after that.

For more information, reservations, or to host a table, call the Advancement Office at 888-1990 ext. 165. You can also register online by going to our homepage on our website (www.serraschool.org) under News and Announcements>Season Tuition Assistance Reservations.

NEW FAMILY 2016-2017 ADMISSIONS Preschool through 8th Grade

Serra Catholic School welcomes all interested families to attend our Meet and Greet on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 6:30 PM at Serra Catholic School in Rancho San-ta Margarita. Children are welcome to attend!

For additional information and to complete the online ap-p l i c a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e atwww.serraschool.org or contact Mrs. Shirley Merchant, Admissions Director at smerchant@serraschool.org.

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Youth Faith Formation Program Information

Youth Faith Formation

Special Needs Youth- YFF also serves youth (children and teens) with disabilities. Your child/teen must be registered with Youth Faith Formation. Questions? Contact Addie Traino at (949) 683-9009.

Middle School Ministry is open to all 6th-8th grade students (public and private schools). Middle School Ministry meets every Tuesday evening. 6th grade meets 6-7:30 PM; 7th & 8th grades meet 6:30-8 PM. Join us for faith, food, and fun!

Youth Faith Formation Office Hours- Monday and Wednesday: 9 AM- 5PM

Tuesday: 9 AM-7 PM Closed for lunch 12 NOON-1 PM

Closed Thursday and Friday

Youth Faith Formation Office will be closed from December 17, 2015-January 3, 2016. Faith Formation sessions will resume

January 4, 2016. Have a blessed Advent and Christmas!

Early Childhood- we are looking at offering a session for 3-5 year olds during the 10:15 AM Sunday Mass. If you are a parent with a 3-5 year old child and are interested in your child attending an early childhood faith session while you attend Mass, please email the Youth Faith Formation office the following information: • your name and contact information • your child’s name and age.

The email address is receptionist@sfsolano.org.

Confirmation There are no Enrichment session for either Year One or Two in December; our next sessions will be January 10 for Year One and January 24 for Year Two, both of which start at 3:30 PM in the Parish Hall. Contact youthministry@sfsolano.org for additional information.

Young Adult Ministry Vision – Young adults ages 18-35 are welcome to join us

for a twice-monthly fellowship every first and third Tuesday of each month from 7:30 PM to 9 PM in the Upper Room above the Parish Hall. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan 5. We look forward to seeing you there!Bring a friend in need of fellowship and faith and a little extra Christmas cheer!

Youth Group, Confirmation, and Young Adult Ministry

Youth Ministry Youth Group – Due to the Christmas Holiday there will be NO YOUTH GROUP this week, December 27. We look forward to picking up in the New Year on January 3. See you then!

Refuel – NO Refuel this week due to the Christmas holiday. We will see you all on January 5.

Open Room – This Monday, December 28, and Wednesday, December 30, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM there is Open Room in the YG room. This is a time for the youth to come and do homework, relax, and socialize in a safe setting. As always, there will be snacks and drinks available. Come be a part of the Room Crew!

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a ministry open to all 1st – 4th graders during the Sunday 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM Masses. This ministry is free, and no preparation or enrollment is needed. We encourage all children to participate (parents are welcome to join as well). Just follow us out during the dismissal and join us for discussion of the readings for that Sunday. Volunteers needed for both masses. Confirmation students welcomed. If you have any questions please call Trish 949-632-9800.

JSerra Catholic High School

Prospective Students and Their Parents Please Join the JSerra Lions’

Open House and Campus Tour

Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 6:30pm

(Coaches Available at 5:45pm) JSerra Pavilion-Athletic Side of Campus

Have your questions answered about JSerra’s:

College Preparatory Curriculum Magnet Programs (Arts/Business/Engineering/Law/Medical)

Online Classes Focus on Technology in Education

Exceptional Music and Fine Arts Program Trinity League Athletics

World-Class Academic and Athletic Campuses Outstanding Extracurricular Programs

Who you are begins here. We are Lion Nation.

26351 Junipero Serra Road • San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Phone: (949) 493-9307, extension 2 • Fax: (949) 493-9308

Website: www.jserra.org

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Letter from the Deacon

Adult Catholics Growing in Faith

Mormon Stumpers Apologetics from Catholic Answers:

In your discussions with Mormons, they will most often wish to direct the topics presented into those areas where they feel most informed and comfortable. Whether they are the young missionaries at your door or friends or colleagues, they have all been taught several lines of approach and have been drilled in making their points.

We suggest that you take charge of such conversations. Besides acquainting yourself with the basics of Mormon teaching (in addition, of course, to the fundamentals of the Catholic faith), consider presenting the Mormon apologist with a few "stumpers."

"We don’t bash your church, why bash ours?" Somehow, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have been persuaded by their leaders

that they have always been on the receiving end of uncharitable comments and unjust accusations. From the time Joseph Smith began his work in 1820, the Mormon church has gloried in the "fact" that it is a persecuted people. For them, this is a sure sign that it is the Lord’s true church; all opposition comes ultimately from Satan. So, if you do offer a question or a criticism, be prepared for this reaction.

Many Mormons, including their hierarchy, look upon any criticism—regardless of how honest and sincere—as perverseness inspired by the Evil One. But these same individuals ignore their own past (and present) attacks on Christian churches. You might like to point out a few of these to those Mormons who say their church "never attacks other churches."

1. "I was answered that I must join none of them (Christian churches), for they were all wrong…their creeds were an abomination in [God’s] sight; that those professors were all corrupt" (Joseph Smith—History 1:19).

2. "Orthodox Christian views of God are pagan rather than Christian" (Mormon Doctrine of Deity, B. H. Roberts [General Authority], 116).

3. "Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast" (Journal of Discourses, John Taylor [3rd Mormon President], 13:225).

4. "The Roman Catholic, Greek, and Protestant church, is the great corrupt, ecclesiastical power, represented by great Babylon" (Orson Pratt, Writings of an Apostle, Orson Pratt, n. 6, 84).

5. "All the priests who adhere to the sectarian [Christian] religions of the day with all their followers, without one exception, receive their portion with the devil and his angels" (The Elders Journal, Joseph Smith, ed. Vol. 1, n. 4, 60).

6. [Under the heading, "Church of the Devil," Apostle Bruce R. McConkie lists:] "The Roman Catholic Church specifically—singled out, set apart, described, and designated as being ‘most abominable above all other churches’ (I Ne. 13:5)" (Mormon Doctrine, 1958, 129).

7. "Believers in the doctrines of modern Christendom will reap damnation to their souls (Morm. 8; Moro. 8)" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, Bruce R. McConkie, 177).

Some contemporary Mormons, embarrassed—at least publicly—by McConkie’s ranting, will respond with, "That’s only his opinion." This is disingenuous at best. Keep in mind that McConkie, who died in 1985, was raised to the level of "apostle" in the Mormon church after he had written all these things. And still today, his Mormon Doctrine is published by a church-owned publishing company and remains one of the church’s bestsellers.

"We have no revelation on abortion" Didn’t you assume Mormons were pro-life? That’s certainly the image their church attempts to broadcast, and

most Mormons, in fact, mistakenly believe their church opposes abortion and regards it as an objective evil. But not so.

Indeed, the Mormon church accepts abortion for a number of reasons. The Church Handbook of Instructions, approved in September, 1998, states that abortion may be performed in the following circumstances: pregnancy resulting from rape or incest; a competent physician says the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy; or a competent physician says that the "fetus" has severe defects that will not allow the "baby" to survive beyond birth. In any case, the persons responsible must first consult with their church leader and receive God’s approval in prayer (156).

This same Handbook, the official policies of the Mormon church to be followed by all local church leaders throughout the world, also claims: "It is a fact that a child has life before birth. However, there is no direct revelation on when the spirit enters the body" (156). Previous teachings by former Mormon prophets referred to the unborn child as "a child," "a baby," a "human being," and decried abortion as "killing," "a grievous sin," "a damnable practice." Spencer W. Kimball, the prophet who died in 1985, taught, "We have repeatedly affirmed the position of the church in unalterably opposing all abortions" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 189).

It appears that this "unalterable" position, constantly "affirmed," is just another in a series of doctrinal and moral teachings that Mormons have reworded, reworked, rescinded, or reneged—though never officially renounced. Such is the quality of the Mormon belief in "continuing revelation." Don’t expect dogmatic or ethical consistency. Rather, look for expediency and conformity with "the times."

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Letter from the Deacon, continued

Adult Catholics Growing in Faith

A further statement in the Handbook says: "The church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion (156)." While the Mormon prophet claims to speak the mind and will of God, he can neither figure out when the unborn child becomes human nor if it is God’s desire that we protect the unborn unconditionally.

Your Mormon friend will offer the excuse that his church leaves many decisions to the free agency (free will) of its people, and that abortion is one such concern. You might point out the irony in the fact that the Mormon church has no hesitation or uncertainty in making the following declarations:

1. "The church opposes gambling in any form" (including lotteries). Members are also urged to oppose legislation and government sponsorship of any form of gambling (Handbook, 150).

2. The church also opposes [correctly, of course] pornography in any form (158). 3. Church members are to reject all efforts to legally authorize or support same-sex unions (158).

There is no need for a member to pray for divine guidance or seek church approval for such activities, for there will be no divine or ecclesiastical finessing of morality to permit even an occasional bingo game. A prayerful game of poker, unrepented, will bar the member from the temple and ultimate salvation; a prayerful, by-the-book abortion, unrepented, won’t.

A further statement in the Handbook says: "The church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion (156)." While the Mormon prophet claims to speak the mind and will of God, he can neither figure out when the unborn child becomes human or if it is God’s desire that we protect the unborn unconditionally.

Your Mormon friend will offer the excuse that his church leaves many decisions to the free agency (free will) of its people, and that abortion is one such concern. You might point out the irony in the fact that the Mormon church has no hesitation or uncertainty in making the following declarations:

1. "The church opposes gambling in any form" (including lotteries). Members are also urged to oppose legislation and government sponsorship of any form of gambling (Handbook, 150).

2. The church also opposes [correctly, of course] pornography in any form (158). 3. Church members are to reject all efforts to legally authorize or support same-sex unions (158).

There is no need for a member to pray for divine guidance or seek church approval for such activities, for there will be no di-vine or ecclesiastical finessing of morality to permit even an occasional bingo game. A prayerful game of poker, unrepented, will bar the member from the temple and ultimate salvation; a prayerful, by-the-book abortion, unrepented, won’t. Something’s wrong here "Only Mormons teach the true nature of God."

Because they believe the Church established by Christ 2,000 years ago fell completely away from his teachings within a century or so of his death, Mormons argue that only a thorough "restoration" (and not a simple "reformation") of the true Church and its holy doctrines would lead man to salvation. Joseph Smith organized this "restored church" in 1830. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints preaches a belief central to most religions: one must know the true nature of God. "It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God" (Teachings of Joseph Smith, 345ff).

No Christian disputes the absolute necessity of knowing the nature of God (to the extent our reason, aided by grace, can apprehend this great mystery). Indeed, the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations have been united in a constant belief in the supreme God as almighty, eternal, and unchanging. Mormons have not been favored by similar clarity from their self-described "prophets" who receive "direct revelation" from the gods.

You may wish to ask your Mormon acquaintance to consider the following authoritative statements by their earlier and present prophets.

1. In an early book of "Scripture" brought forth by Joseph Smith, the creation account consistently refers to the singular when speaking of God and creation: "I, God, caused . . . I, God, created . . . I, God, saw. . . . " The singular is used 50 times in the second and third chapters of the Book of Moses (1831).

2. In another of Smith’s earlier works, the Book of Mormon (1830), there are no references to a plurality of gods. At best, there is a confusion, at times, between the Father and the Son, leading at times to the extreme of modalism (one divine person who reveals himself sometimes as the Father, sometimes as the Son) or the other extreme of "binitarianism," belief in two persons in God. The Book of Mormon also makes a strong point for God’s spiritual and eternal unity (see Alma 11:44 and 22:10-11, which proclaims that God is the "Great Spirit").

3. Another early work of Smith is the Lectures on Faith (1834-35). There is continual evidence that the first Mormon leader taught a form of bitheism: the Father and the Son are separate gods. The Holy Spirit is merely the "mind" of the two.

4. At about the same time, we begin to see a doctrinal shift. Smith had acquired some mummies and Egyptian papyri. He proclaimed the writings to be those of the patriarch, Abraham, in his own hand, and set out to translate the text. His Book of Abraham records in chapters four and five that "the gods called . . . the gods ordered . . . the gods prepared" some 45 times. Smith thus introduces the notion of a plurality of gods.

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Adult Catholics Growing in Faith Letter from the Deacon, continued

5. The clearest exposition of this departure from traditional Christian doctrine is seen in Smith’s tale of a "vision" he had as a boy of 14. Both the Father and the Son appeared to him, he wrote; they were two separate "personages." This story of two gods was not authorized and distributed by the church until 1838, after his Book of Abraham had paved the way for polytheism.

6. Readers will notice that the Father is said to have appeared, along with his resurrected Son. In his final doctrinal message, Smith showed how this was possible.

In the King Follett Discourse (a funeral talk he gave in 1844), Joseph Smith left his church with the clearest statement to date on the nature of God:

"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens[.] That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man. The scriptures inform us that Jesus said, ‘As the Father hath power to himself, even so hath the Son power’—to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious—in a manner to lay down his body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again. Do you believe it? If you do not believe it, you do not believe the Bible. The scriptures say it and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it."

As the Mormon church has taught since that time, God the Father was once a man who was created by his God, was born and lived on another earth, learned and lived the "Mormon gospel," died, and was eventually resurrected and made God over this universe. As such, he retains forever his flesh-and-bones body.

7. Aside from some temporary detours (Orson Pratt said the Holy Ghost was a spiritual fluid that filled the universe; Brigham Young taught that Adam is the god of this world), the Mormon church has constantly taught that God the Father is a perfected man with a physical body and parts. Right-living Mormon men may also progress, as did the Father, and eventually become gods themselves. In fact, fifth president, Lorenzo Snow, summed up the Mormon teaching thus: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be." Snow frequently claimed this summary of the Mormon doctrine on God and man was revealed to him by inspiration. (See Stephen E. Robinson, Are Mormons Christian?, 60, note 1.)

8. "Thou shalt not have strange gods before me." What is stranger than a God who starts off as a single Spirit, eternal and all-powerful; who then becomes, perhaps, two gods in one, and then three; who never changes, yet was once born a man, lived, sinned, repented, and died; who was made God the Father of this world by his own God; and who will make his own children gods someday of their own worlds?

That all believing Christians are shocked and disturbed by this blasphemy may—just may—be nudging the Mormon leadership to soften their rhetoric (if not actually change their heresy). A case in point is an interview with current church prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, published in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 13, 1997. When asked: "[D]on’t Mormons believe that God was once a man?" Hinckley demurred. "I wouldn’t say that. There’s a little couplet coined, ‘As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become.’ Now, that’s more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don’t know very much about" (3/Z1).

A surprising admission, as Hinckley seems to disparage the constant teaching of all his prophetic predecessors. Choose, if you like, any one of these three attacks: on Christians; on the sanctity of life; on God. Ask your

Mormon listener to explain the contradictions of his church. Don’t be satisfied with a personal, subjective, emotional "testimony." Demand clarification of confused and contradictory teachings.

When they aren’t forthcoming, be prepared to offer the truth.

NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors. Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004 IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827 permission to publish this work is hereby granted. +Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004

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