November 21, 2009 |
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Broward Red Mass reminder: ‘non-negotiable’ truthsAuxiliary Bishop Felipe J. Estévez and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick stress human rights and human dignity at the Mass and reception hosted by the St. Thomas More Society of South Florida; and Msgr. Vincent T. Kelly is honored. Posted: 06.12.09 
DANIEL SOÑÉ | FC FORT LAUDERDALE | Broward County’s Catholic judges, attorneys and legislators were reminded of some “non-negotiable” truths they must uphold during the 20th annual Red Mass hosted by members of the St. Thomas More Society of South Florida. The Mass took place June 4 at St. Anthony Parish with Archbishop John C. Favalora, Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J. Estévez and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., as concelebrants. The Red Mass is an 800-year-old tradition used to invoke God’s blessings and guidance upon the judiciary and those who make or uphold laws. The color red symbolizes the Holy Spirit. “There is a non-negotiable truth: Each human being is made in the image of God,” Bishop Estévez said in his homily. “It is the dignity of the human person that motivates us in our struggle to promote human equality, human rights and equal protection under the law.” He added that “this dignity is real even if the person is not yet born, even if he or she is a criminal on death row. This dignity is real even if the person is old or terminally ill with limited capacities. This dignity is real even if she is as tiny as a human embryo.”  DANIEL SOÑÉ | FC At the reception which followed, Cardinal McCarrick spoke to the lawmakers about the tenets of Catholic social teaching. “It is important that we recognize that the first and most fundamental right is the right to life. You cannot be authentically Catholic, Christian, Jewish or Muslim if you do not defend this right. Without life, no other rights matter. In doing so, we are protecting the other rights,” Cardinal McCarrick said. The second precept of Catholic social teaching is solidarity. “We have to be concerned about our neighbor. You cannot just worry about your neighbor across the street. You have to worry about your neighbor across the world. We all share in a human dignity,” the cardinal said. He also equated consumption that leaves little or nothing for others to greed, a capital sin. Cardinal McCarrick said that faith-based groups such as the St. Thomas More Society give lawyers and judges the opportunity to “see that they are not alone and that there are others who feel the same way they do. It gives them an opportunity to preach good Christian beliefs: love of God, love of neighbor, and take care of others. It’s why we’re here.” “We are fighting the forces of secularism which believe that religion has nothing to contribute to law,” said Archbishop Favalora. “Here, lawyers and judges can come together as one solid body and the result is more courage in their faith.” Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. Seiler, who was raised a Catholic, said, “All the messages of Catholicism help law. There is no question about that. The messages that the Catholic Church teaches are timeless and ones that we need to remember in the courtroom.” During the reception, the society also honored Msgr. Vincent T. Kelly, vicar for education in the archdiocese, and president of St. Thomas Aquinas and Cardinal Gibbons high schools in Fort Lauderdale. “This year’s graduating class (at St. Thomas) received $32 million in scholarships. One young lady received $1 million because of her academics. Father Kelly has overseen this,” said Michael J. Styles, secretary of the St. Thomas More Society. Msgr. Kelly received the Edward A. McCarthy Award for his witness to the morals and principles espoused by St. Thomas More.
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