ST. ANTHONY’S DIRECTORY PASTOR

Father Brian Hurley……….734-854-1143 fatherbrianhurley@stanthonytemperance.org

Rectory……...…………………734-854-1143 4605 St. Anthony Road, Temperance, MI 48182

Fax……………………………..734-854-4622 Parish E-mail……...….…....stanthony@bex.net

Web site: stanthonytemperance.org

OFFICE STAFF: Michelle Lindsey, Parish Secretary: 734-854-1143 Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 4pm

Linda Moeltner, Business Office: 734-854-8445 Office Hours: Monday & Tuesday: 9am - 3pm

busadmin@stanthonytemperance.org *************************

DIRECTOR OF LITURGY & MUSIC Eric Hite……419-266-0571…..titulaire@msn.com

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) Ginny Stout, RE Coordinator……...734-854-1160 Office Hours: Monday - 10am - 6pm

dredu@stanthonytemperance.org *************************

Padua Hall: 734-854-9120 4611 St. Anthony Road

Kenna Hall: 734-854-9162 4635 St. Anthony Road

*******************

Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday (Sunday Vigil) (OF-MC): 5:00pm

Sunday (OF-MC): 9:00am & 11:00am

Holy Days: Check Bulletin & Website

Sacrament of Penance Saturday: 3:30-4:30pm;

First Wednesday: 6:30-7:30pm (September - May)

Second Tuesday: 6:00-6:30pm (September - May)

Devotions First Friday: 7:00pm Mass (OF-LM) First Saturday: 9:00am Mass (EF-MC)

O. L. of Perpetual Help & Prayer - Wednesday @ 6:15pm

Prayer Blankets Prayer Chain

Sandy Maenle……734-847-7813 Miriam Dressel….…734-888-1192

Our Sacramental Policy Six-month Parish registration and participation are required for Baptism, Confirmation

and Marriage.

Baptisms: Arrangements must be made in advance and parents must attend a baptism

class. The Church requires that at least one of the parents be a practicing Catholic, and

the Godparents must be active, practicing, fully initiated Catholics at least 16 years of age.

If two Godparents: must be 1 male & 1 female; if one Godparent: may be male or female.

Marriage: Arrangements must be made at least nine months in advance. Please call the

rectory office. Officiate at the ceremony must be St. Anthony Parish Pastor or a family

member.

Funerals: Officiate must be St. Anthony Parish Pastor or a family member.

Please note: The services of the Parish Organist are used for all sacramental liturgies.

For more details regarding our Sacramental policies and procedures, please refer to the

Sacrament link on our Parish web-site.

Traveling Vocation Chalice

November 27 Joe Dollison December 4 Mike, Natalie & Stephen

Holup December 11 Patrick Cousino December 18 *Host Family Needed

Ladies Christmas Luncheon

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 12-3pm - Kenna Hall

Cost of the Luncheon is $11.00 per person

This year, our gathering will include a couple of voluntary events:

A “White Elephant Gift Exchange”. Anyone interested in participating should bring a wrapped gift.

A Christmas Cookie exchange. Bring 4 dozen cookies to swap with other bakers. Reservations for the meal are

required; the deadline is Sunday, December 4

Please call: Marie Burtscher 734-856-5242 Bonnie Knaggs - 734-856-2653

Faye Knaggs - 734-856-4471

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

Temperance, Michigan

First Sunday of

Advent

November 27, 2016

Let us go Rejoicing to the House of the Lord.

Psalm 122

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

The Offertory Story November 13, 2016

# Env. assigned: 306; # Env. used: 126

Envelope total $ 5,374.00 Loose: $ 464.00 Children’s Envelopes: $ 7.25 Total $ 5,845.25 Weekly Budget amount..$ 5,250.00 +Over/-Under Budget $ +1,244.10 Year To Date +- $ - 421.31

Other: All Saints 60.00 Candles 90.46 Catholic Charities 35.00 CD’s 4.00 Flowers 40.00 Food Closet/Thanksg. Baskets 375.00 Funeral Donation 100.00 Hall Rental 50.00 Helping Hands 10.00 Mass Intentions 220.00 Military Archd. 105.00 Rosary Makers 5.00 Total for Other: 1,159.46

Page two St. Anthony Catholic Church, Temperance

This Week’s Calendar Monday, November 28, 2016 8:30am - Mass 4:45-6pm - RE Classes - School (Confessions)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 8:30am - Mass Wednesday, November 30 , 2016 8:30am - Mass 6:15-7pm- Perpet. Help & Prayers - Church 7:30-9pm - Catholic Convers. - Padua Hall Thursday, December 1, 2016 9:00am - Mass First Friday, December 2, 2016

9:00am - Mass 10am - 2pm - HFS - Kenna Hall 7:00pm - Mass with Exposition

and Benediction First Saturday, December 3, 2016 9:00am - Mass 3:30-4:30pm - Confessions 5:00pm - Mass Prayer Blankets - Narthex 6:30pm - Paint Class - Kenna Hall Sunday, December 4, 2016 9:00am & 11:00am - Mass Prayer Blankets - Narthex

MASS SCHEDULE Key to Abbreviations:

EF - Extra-ordinary Form (Trad. Latin Mass)

OF - Ordinary Form (New Rite; Novus Ordo)

LM - Low Mass; MC - Missa Cantata (Sung)

Monday, November 28, 2016 8:30am Patrecia Lemble and

(OF-LM) James Lemble, Jr. by Steve & Lisa Fschetti St. Catherine Laboure (1876), V., R., received

Mirac. Medal (Trad./some places)

St. James of the Marches (1476), Pr. (Hist.)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

8:30am Those with Addictions (OF-LM) by Deb Augustyniak

St. Saturninus (303), Pr., M. (Trad.)

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 8:30am Mary Smead (OF-LM) by JoAnn Kolinski & Ann Rice St. Andrew (63), Ap., M., Pt. of fishermen, Russia and Scotland (New, Trad.) St. Maura (4th C.,), V., M. (Hist.)

Thursday, December 1, 2016 9:00am Harry King (OF-LM) by Natalie King Holup

St. Edmund Campion (1581), Pr., M., Pt. of the

press (Hist.)

St. Elegius (660), B., Ap. Of Flanders, Pt. of metal

workers and jewelers (Hist.)

First Friday, December 2, 2016 9:00am Arlene Ostachnowicz (OF-LM) by Erv Ostachnowicz

7:00pm Jim O’Connor (OF-LM) by Alex, Grace, Cyril & John Hajdu St. Bibiana (Viviana) (4th C.), V., M., Pt. of single

women (Trad.)

First Saturday, December 3, 2016 9:00am Fr. Brian’s Intentions (EF-MC) St. Francis Xavier (1552), Pr., Pt. of foreign

missions (New, Trad.)

*************************************** (Sunday Vigil)

5:00pm The People of St. Anthony (OF-MC)

Sunday, December 4, 2016 2nd Sunday of Advent (New, Trad.)

9:00am The Living & Deceased (OF-MC) Members of the George

and Carrie Komorowski Family by George & RoseMarie Komorowski

on Behalf of the Reunion

11:00am Dorothy Grycza (OF-MC) by Ken & Theresa Grycza

St. John Damascene (749), Pr., D. (New)

St. Peter Chrysologus (450), B., D. (Trad.)

St. Barbara (4th C.), V., M., invoked against lightning

(Trad.)

Readings for the Week

Monday, November 28: Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11

Tuesday, November 29: Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10: 21-24

Wednesday, November 30: Romans 10:;9-18; Matthew 4:18-22

Thursday, December 1: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21,24-27

First Friday, December 2: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31

First Saturday, December 3: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; Matthew 9:35-1-:1,5a,6-8

Sunday, December 4: Isaiah11:1-10

Romans015:4-9

Matthew 3:1-12

Pray without ceasing

Pray without ceasing

Please keep in your prayers all our service men and women,

especially those currently serving in

Iraq or Afghanistan

Kenneth Lee Ziegler, Jr, Army

Help

Heartbeat

This Holiday Season At this time of year, Heartbeat of Toledo, a life-affirming organization that provides help to families, is in need of baby items. Specifically, Heartbeat needs sizes 1-6 diapers; Gerber and Similac formulas; wipes; baby shampoo and wash; baby blankets; sleepers and onesies, sizes 0-6 months; socks, bottles; and diaper rash ointment. Also needed are gently used strollers; changing tables; high chairs; swings; bassinettes; crib mattresses; Diaper Genies; walkers; baby slings/carriers; diaper bags and clothing up to size 3T. If you can help, please call Heartbeat at 419-241-9131. Items can be dropped off at their office at 4041 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite LL4, Toledo, OH 43623 (across from Franklin Park Mall) or at their East Toledo location, 101 Main St., Suite 4, Toledo, OH 43605. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

November is the month dedicated to the

memory of all the Faithful Departed.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let Your Perpetual Light shine upon them. May the Souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God,

Rest in Peace.

Catholic Conversations Please note:

Catholic Conversations will resume

THIS week, Wednesday, November 30.

7:30pm in Padua Hall

All are welcome.

Liturgical Assignments for December 3 & 4, 2016

Page threeSt. Anthony Catholic Church, Temperance

Mass Priest Lector Altar Servers

Sunday Vigil Saturday, 5:00pm

Fr. Brian D. Strzelewicz B. & L. Ullery

Sunday, 9:00am Fr. Brian K. Dressel C., J. & M. Torio

Sunday, 11:00am Fr. Brian K. Shade S. Holup; S. Updike

Our Prayer List is a beautiful way to ask for prayers for family, friends, loved

ones and acquaintances.. Anyone may be included on our list. Call the Parish Office to

include a name; please let us know also when a name can be removed.

Our Prayer Chain is an invaluable way of requesting immediate prayers for a

special intention. Each person on the chain calls the next person, and so on until

everyone on the chain has been contacted. Any names or intentions submitted remain on

the chain for two weeks, unless a longer time is specifically requested.

Miriam Dressel is the main call-person and coordinator for the Prayer chain. Please

call Miriam 734-888-1192 with your phone number if you’d like to be included on the

list of callers or to have a name placed on the list.

It’s also been suggested that we have an email prayer chain. The concept is the same

as with the current prayer chain, but we would send emails to those on the list to pray for

requests. Please call the Parish Office with your email address if you’d like to be

included on an email list.

The Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intentions - December 2016

Universal: End to Child-Soldiers - That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.

Evangelization: Europe - That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Gospel which gives joy and hope to life.

Upcoming Events

Ladies Christmas Luncheon - Dec. 6

K of C Breakfast - Sunday, Dec. 11

….Let us Pray for…. Jerry Ameye Phil Ameye

Anne Anderson-Moore Maria Baer Anna Barch

Gretchen Brautigan Toni Breininger

Victor Breininger Ruth Brown Jim Burkett

Don & Shirley Carter Nicholas Christy

Larry Closurdo, Jr. Lowell Cousino Katie Demorest

Mary & John Demorest Fr. Aaron Depeyster

Charles Doyle Jim Drake

Larry Dusseau Rose Dunlap Albert Failer

Whitney Fields James Fuelling

Paul Gabor Shirley Gabor Claude Gillen

Phyllis Glowacki James Gordon Steve Haman Janet Harrell Letha Holup Beth Huner

JoAnn Huntwork Rosemary Jacobs Michael Katafiasz

Dan Keller Michael Kosmider

Albert Kraft Chase Kukiela

Joe Lake Bud LaPlante

Haleigh LaRee Martin LaVoy

Audrey Lawrence Anthony Lehman

Brenda Liwo Ron Liwo

Linda Luchansky Sandy Maenle

Anna Marie McCutchen Carolyn McCutchen

Pamela Moeltner Hugh Moore

Robert Mueller

Steve Murzynski Patty Muskat

Ruth Ann Neal Martin Nusbaum

Bernard Ott Frank Parker

Adrina Raiford Elva Rau

Kaye Ritzenthaler Carol Romero Patty Samsel

Jonathan Scout Brenda Sorder

MaryLou Stevens Kevin Stroles

Tom Townsend Louis Trejo, Jr.

Carole VanBrandt Virginia VanKirk

Aaron Vyse Tom Ward

Eve Weatherholt Pat Webber Jade Wells

Reva Williams Kathy Young Vicki White

The Advent Giving Tree has been set up in the

Narthex by the St. Anthony C h r i s t i a n S e r v i c e Commission. If you would like to participate in helping the less fortunate during the

Christmas Season, please take an ornament from the tree, purchase the item indicated, and return it to the bins under the tree

- UNWRAPPED - no later than

- Monday, December 19 - in order to be sorted and delivered in time for Christmas.

Christmas is just around the bend. If

you like bright and shiny lights, we could

use some new lights for our decorations

around the church for this up-coming

season to replace our older and worn light

sets. Sizes that we use are mini’s for our

small bushes and #6 and #7 LED lights

for our larger trees. Thank you for any

donations toward a bright Christmas

season. Sincerely,

The Light Guys (Dave Thoma)

Please Note: The 50/50 Drawing for December will be held Sunday, December 18 (instead of the 4th Sunday which would be December 25 - Christmas). Don’t forget to purchase 50/50 Annuals for your holiday giving - they make perfect stocking stuffers and are great for that hard-to-buy-for person.

On Sale now! $12.00 for each annual ticket insures one chance in each monthly drawing for 2017. You may purchase annuals through the envelope in your contribution envelope packet; from the Parish Office; from the 50/50 table in the Narthex; or at the December 11 K of C

Fr. Brian’s Blarney Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you had a blessed and

enjoyable Thanksgiving. All of you

were in my prayers at Holy Mass that

morning.

Happy Advent!

I guess I shouldn’t be scandalized

by hearing “Christmas” music on the

radio, but it was barely after All

Hallows Eve when a Detroit and

Toledo radio station began to play

“Christmas”. It seems that as quickly

as Halloween passed that they kicked

into the secular version of

“Christmas”, pushing their sales and

all of the hullabaloo that goes along

with it. Black Friday this. Cyber

Monday that. It all seems to present a

diversion or a distraction. Things tend

to get busier with the “advent” of the

shopping season. However, things

really should begin to slow down, so

that we might be able to prepare

better, because the real reason for the

season is to prepare for The Gift, not

gifts.

Advent is a time of preparation to

reflect on and prepare for the Nativity

of our Lord. It is a time to render our

hearts and surrender our hearts to

God. It is a time to give thanks for not

only for the coming our Lord 2000

years ago, but also to give thanks for

the coming of Jesus at every Holy

Mass and for the graces that He gives

us daily. Then, in receiving The Gift,

we might better be able to gift gifts to

our family and friends.

As I said at the end of Holy Mass on

Sunday, my Advent is going to have

to be more like Lent in foregoing

sweets and the like. But, in some

ways, it is fitting. I am going to have

to set the carbs aside again and get my

numbers down and my exercise up. It

may also force me to set aside a treat

jar, so that the money I would spend

on a malt or donut, may be given to

someone in need. Please consider

setting something aside for someone

that is in need and less fortunate. This

may be done with the Advent Giving

Tree or the food collected for those

who might go without a meal. It

could be helping at Mt. Carmel during

a God Works meal or donating time

or treasures to a homeless shelter, a

veterans’ organization, or a crisis

pregnancy center. It could be visiting

someone or helping them out like the

program that Glen Ingersoll is

spearheading.

But, please be careful of who you

donate to. The article below exposes

where your money may go if you

donate to the Red Kettles. I had heard

something fishy had been going on

recently with the Salvation Army, as

well as, other organizations like

United Way, Komen for the Cure, and

the March of Dimes funding Planned

Parenthood.

Beware the Red Kettle: The

Salvation Army and Abortion

By Birget Jones December 21, 2015

http://www.catholicstand.com/beware

-red-kettle-salvation-army-abortion/

[Editor’s Note: This article was first

published on Catholic Stand,

December 12, 2014. We are

republishing here for your holiday

consideration, since the message is

still quite relevant today.]

It’s Advent and our thoughts

naturally turn toward less fortunate

souls, longing for basic niceties, and

the call for selfless giving. Christ-like

love, almsgiving, and prayer are

staples of this anticipatory time which

brings in the new Church year. The

scripture readings at Mass remind us

of those in need and our moral

obligation toward them. What a sad

statement about current times, then,

that we are forced to look a gift horse

in the mouth.

No, not the gifts we receive, but the

gifts we give.

As the giving season continues, as

well as the rest of the year, we are

often hard-pressed to find a charity

compatible with our moral values.

The mainstay options of Girl Scouts,

UNICEF, and the ALS Association

have already been exposed as being

bedfellows with unsavory sorts – like

Planned Parenthood.

Although there are worthy, ethical

alternatives, you won’t find them

pushed by banks, schools, businesses,

or even churches. You won’t

encounter them as you fulfill

Christmas wish lists at the local mall.

But as Catholics, we are not called to

be of the world – we are just

temporary inhabitants in the world, on

our way to Eternal Life. With this in

mind, a Catholic is best served by a

bit of research and discernment.

Does the Red Kettle Promote Our

Values?

Ring-a-ling-a-ling — the bell

beckons passers-by to drop their

change into the red kettle of the

Salvation Army (SA). Yet even

charity isn’t as simple as it seems.

What ethical problems surface when

the SA is scrutinized? Shouldn’t we

be concerned about the destination of

our good deeds?

W h e n i t c o me s t o l a r ge

organizations, it isn’t enough to

blindly give. As Catholics (or any

Christians, for that matter), we have a

moral obligation to hold charities

accountable. Since there are many

options, we are capable of making a

difference by giving to good, morally

sound organizations. In a past year, I

wrote an in-depth piece outlining and

providing sources to some very

disturbing facts about the Salvation

Army. Here, I offer an reiteration of

what my research found.

What’s the Salvation Army’s

Stance on Abortion?

On the surface, the beginning of

the SA Positional Statement is

m o r a l l y s o u n d . T h e r e i s

acknowledgment that all people are

created in the image of God, and

therefore have unique and intrinsic

value. They further state that human

life is sacred, and that everyone

should be treated with dignity and

respect. The Salvation Army also

accepts that life begins at the moment

of fertilization. So far, so good.

Later, in same section, there are

shocking contradict ions. The

S a l va t i on Ar my no te s t ha t

termination can occur when “carrying

the pregnancy further seriously

threatens the life of the mother” or

diagnostic procedures identify a fetal

abnormality causing only a “very

brief post-natal period”. Further, rape

and incest also represent “special case

[s] for the consideration of

termination”. These exceptions

portray a troubling contradiction to

the professed “sanctity, unique dignity

and respect” due to the “image of

God” found in our unborn brethren.

Salvation Army and Planned

P a r e n t h o o d : W h a t ’ s t h e

Connection?

In order to determine collusion

between the Salvation Army and

Planned Parenthood, we must look at

material cooperation as well as

monetary support. While SA may not

directly contribute to PP, there is

evidence that they do partner with one

another. Research by Life Decisions

International has found this to be the

case, and has placed the Salvation

Army on their Dishonorable Mention

list. Further, American Life League

has also found a troubling connection

between the two. Simply considering

“all the good they do” is not enough to

excuse or set aside this compromise of

pro-life principles.

How About Contraception?

As we further peruse the SA website

we can also find stated support of

contraception in their international

positional statement:

“A serious commitment to the

protection and care of the unborn calls

us to a commitment to the prevention

of unwanted pregnancy through

means such as access to reliable birth

control ….”

Yikes, yet another position not in

sync with Holy Mother Church! Don’t

they know that oral and many other

contraceptives (such as the IUD) are

also abortifacients?

What Does the Salvation Army

Teach About the Sacraments?

Here we find even more, compelling

incompatibility. Founder William

Booth completely rejected the

Sacraments. Although for some years

he continued to follow the Protestant

tradition of two Sacraments – Baptism

and the “Lord’s Supper” — he held

they were purely symbolic, until

finally he dispensed with them

altogether. In practice, many adult

recruits had never been baptized, nor

was it required. In the end, Booth had

come to the conclusion that not only

were the Sacraments not vital, they

were mistakes. Therefore, in his

“Foundation Deed”, he abolished the

Sacraments completely. This is

definitely not a good match for

Catholic charity.

Aren’t There Better, Moral

Alternatives?

So how should we resolve our moral

Advent /Chr i s tmas a lmsgiving

conundrum? Do the good works

performed by the SA outweigh their

acceptance of abortion exceptions,

support of contraception, and

heretodox views?

In a word, no. After all, the options

for charitable giving are vast. We are

easily able to find a more ethical and

life-affirming recipient for our alms.

Rather than giving to a sect that has

little moral common ground with

Holy Mother Church, perhaps our

focus should go to more suitable

recipients.

Luke’s Gospel tells us, “He who has

two coats, let him share with him who

has none; and he who has food, let

him do likewise.” (Luke 3:11) Surely,

our pastors know of local families

who are in need. Perhaps a young

woman in your area finds herself

pregnant during this season.

Pregnancy Support Centers can

always use help as well.

Using the comprehensive list

provided by American Life League,

we can also look for charitable

opportunities, among organizations,

that are ethically compatible with the

teachings of Holy Mother Church.

Among these: Food for the Poor,

Habitat for Humanity, MaterCare

In ternat ional , Water .org and

the Wounded Warrior Project.

About the Author: Birgit Jones

Birgit is a 50-something cradle

Catholic who is passionate about the

pro-life movement. She has been

married to her Catholic convert

husband, Rick, for 40 years. They

have four children and nine living

grandchildren (all age twelve and

under). Their frequent visits eliminate

any fear of an empty nest! Birgit can

also be found on her personal blog

Designs By Birgit and Facebook fan

page Designs By Birgit, where she

shares the pro-life memes she creates.

Painting Class with Betzi Lievens

Saturday, December 3, 2016

6:30pm in Kenna Hall

Paint with me at St. Anthony’s

Kenna Hall in Temperance MI.

6:30 pm following Mass

$15 per person.

You can purchase a ticket online

at https://paintingwithbetzi.com/event/

painting-betzi-st-anthonys/

Call or text 734-735-2227

Not An Artist? No Problem!

Everyone has an artist within! We will

walk you through a step-by-step process

so you can go home with a feeling of

accomplishment and your own

masterpiece. We move at a reasonable

pace and provide lots of hands-on help!

Come alone or grab a few friends. We

provide all the art supplies and loads of

fun!

St. Anthony Catholic Church Advent Christmas New Year’s - 2016/17

*********************************

Feast of St. Nicholas Tuesday, December 6 7:00pm Mass (EF-MC)

********************************************

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Thursday, December 8 - Holy Day of Obligation

Mass Times: 6:30am (OF-LM), 9:00am (OF-MC), 7:00pm (EF-MC) ******************************

Our Lady of Guadalupe Monday, December 12 7:00pm Mass (OF-MC)

Following the 7:00pm Mass will be a presentation by Homero Ortiz Explaining the symbolism of the Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Refreshments following in the Narthex

*******************************************************

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Individual Confessions Saturdays, 3:30-4:30pm

Wednesday, December 7 - 6:30-7:30pm

Tuesday, December 20: 7:00pm - 8:00pm Wednesday, December 21: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Two Priests will be available for Confessions December 20 & 21

**********************************************************************************

Christmas Masses

Christmas Eve: Saturday, December 24 4:00pm

Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25 12:00 Midnight (Choir begins at 11:30pm); 9:00am & 11:00am

********************************************* Mary, Mother of God (New Year’s Day)

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Masses: Saturday, December 31, 2016: 5:00pm Sunday, January 1, 2017: 9:00am & 11:00am

**********************************************************

Advent Daily Prayer: Heavenly Father, as You sent Jesus into the world to make You known and loved,

inspire us to continue Your mission in our daily living and choice of vocation. Amen.

The Frugal Farmer by Joe Sixpack

A frugal farmer was on his way to market one day when he saw a piece of string lying on the road. He thought it might

come in useful, so he bent down to pick it up…just as a passerby saw him put it into his pocket.

Later a man’s wallet containing several hundred dollars was reported lost in the same spot, so the police asked the farmer

what he knew about it. They didn’t believe him when he told them he’d only picked up a piece of string. Indeed, the entire

town laughed at the farmer’s explanation. He tried to tell everyone around town the true story of what happened, but

nobody believed him. He couldn’t sleep that night and was absolutely miserable over everyone thinking he was a thief.

The next day the wallet was found lying empty on the road. The farmer happily told everyone this new detail, but by now

he’d been judged guilty by common consent of all the town’s people. They decided this latest detail was just a clever trick

by the farmer so he could keep the money.

His reputation ruined, the farmer returned home. He brooded over the incident until it drove him to a nervous breakdown

and mental illness. He kept babbling over and over to himself, “A piece of string. It was only a piece of string.” He died

soon after that.

As we complete our examination of the 8th Commandment, this story touches on so much of what we’ve already learned. It

also covers some of what we’ll look at today—calumny, contumely, libel, secrets, and reparation for sins against the

commandment.

Calumny is probably a new word for some of you. Calumny, which we commonly call slander today, is the making of

“remarks contrary to the truth [which harm] the reputation of others and give occasion [of] false judgment concerning

them.” Calumny is gravely 1 immoral, as everyone has a right to a good reputation.

If calumny was a new word for some of you, I suspect contumely is a new word for most of you. I know I didn’t know

either word when I first started studying Catholicism, but they really are words that were at one time common in our

language. Anyway, contumely is showing contempt for a person by unjustly dishonoring him. It may be committed by

ignoring the person, refusing to show him the proper signs of respect, or through ridicule. Not only is this a sin against the

8th Commandment, but it tempts the person being disrespected to anger, revenge and other sins.

Libel is any false or malicious written or printed statement or any sign, picture, or effigy tending to injure a person’s

reputation in any way. We commonly see this today when a political cartoonist abuses his liberty in favor of license to harm

a political enemy. I’m not saying all political cartoons are libelous. I’m merely saying that they often go too far.

1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2477

© Sixpack Productions #44

We also see violations of the 8th Commandment regarding secrets. We’re obliged to keep secrets if we have promised to do

so, if our office requires it (lawyers, doctors, priests, etc.), or if the good of others demands it.

Covered under this prohibition against revealing secrets extends to reading the private letters and writings of others. We

may never read such letters or the private writings of others (diaries, etc.) without the person’s permission, unless the

motive for reading them is to prevent grave harm to oneself, another, or society. For example, say your friend has been very

depressed and you’re concerned about him. You can’t find your friend one day, but do find a letter he’s written and left on

his desk. Should you look at that letter? If you’re concerned it could be a suicide note then you can look at it. If it is a

suicide note, you’re morally obligated to do something about it. If, however, if it becomes apparent that the letter isn’t a

suicide note, then you’re morally obligated to stop reading it and to keep to yourself the content of that part of the letter

you’ve already read.

This indirectly leads us to the seal of confession. The vast majority of people believe the seal of confession applies only to

priests. That simply isn’t the case. “The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation is sacred, and cannot be violated under

any pretext.” Therefore, 2 if you somehow gain knowledge of matter for someone’s confession you must never reveal that

knowledge to anyone.

This extends to seeing or becoming privy to someone’s sin that hasn’t yet been confessed, as it is potential matter for

confession—whether the person confesses it or not. The only exception to that is in the case of a felonious act. But even if

you come to know of a felonious act because you may have overheard a sacramental confession, you are obliged to keep

that information to yourself. It is gravely immoral to violate the seal of confession…even if you merely overheard a

confession. I know I’ve overheard several confessions while waiting to see the priest myself, because the person ahead of

me speaks too loudly. What I’ve overheard will die with me…as it should you.

Reparation for sins against the 8th Commandment is absolutely necessary, and making reparation one time will keep you

from ever committing that particular sin again. “Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of

reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be

made secretly. If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in

the name of charity. The duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another’s reputation. The reparation, moral and

sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. It obliges in conscience.”3 Following

is an example of reparation.

Let’s say Deacon John owns a plumbing business, and you see his truck outside a known brothel at two o’clock in the

morning. Your first obligation is to view that situation in the best possible light—he may be there on an emergency call to

fix a busted water pipe. But rather than doing as you ought, you instead tell other people you saw his truck outside the

brothel. Later, when you discover that he was indeed repairing a busted pipe, you must make reparation for telling others

about what you saw.

How is that done? You must go to everyone you told and correct what you told them. You must also find out who they told

and go to them as well. You must also find out who they told and go to them too. You must carry this reparation as far

as is possible in the name of justice and charity!

So you can see it’s much easier to learn to tame the tongue rather than let it move freely. I think St. James gives us the best

advice in his epistle: “Wherefore, it is better to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath” (James 1:19). In other

words, you have two ears and one mouth, so use them proportionately. This is What We Believe…Why We Believe It.

Got a question? Go to JoeSixpackAnswers.com.

2 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2490

3 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2487

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