Alaska U.S. Senator Mark Begich, a professed Catholic and parishioner of Holy Family Cathedral, has shown, by his actions, that he has little problem subordinating several major, non-negotiable matters of Catholic faith to politics.
While the synod certainly included energetic debates on how to best reach out to those who have suffered from divorce and those who live with same-sex attraction, in the end there was a resounding affirmation of the church’s long-standing teachings on these important issues. We must not be surprised if the church is unbending in affirming long-standing teachings even as it grapples with new applications. This is the kind of institution Christ established — a living church that moves through the variables of history while always inviting, urging and challenging each new generation to embrace the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ.
As part of an effort to inform Alaskans about candidates and their positions on issues important to Catholic voters, the Catholic Anchor solicited responses to a questionnaire from the seven candidates running for U.S. Senate: Incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Begich, Republican candidate Dan Sullivan, Libertarian candidate Mark Fish, non-affiliated candidate Ted Gianoutsos, Republican candidate Sean Godfrey, non-affiliated candidate Sidney Hill and Republican candidate John Jaramillo. Only Ted Gianoutsos and Sean Godfrey responded to the questionnaire. Wherever possible, the Catholic Anchor has included the positions of candidates who did not respond to the questionnaire.
Here is a sampling of news and upcoming events across the Archdiocese of Anchorage for the month of November.
In an effort to inform Alaskans about candidates and their positions on issues important to Catholic voters, the Catholic Anchor solicited responses to a questionnaire from the four candidates running for Alaska Governor: incumbent Republican candidate Gov. Sean Parnell, non-affiliated candidate Bill Walker, Alaska Constitutional Party candidate J.R. Meyers and Libertarian candidate Carolyn Clift. All candidates responded except for Clift, whose positions could not be ascertained from either her website or her public statements on the issues listed below.
Dear brothers and sisters, now we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many difficulties and innumerable challenges that families must confront; to give answers to the many discouragements that surround and suffocate families.
In an effort to better serve the needs of a growing Catholic population, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz has decided to establish Our Lady of Guadalupe Church as the co-cathedral for the Anchorage Archdiocese. This will officially occur during a special Mass on Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Holy Family Cathedral will continue as the “historic cathedral” and should always be considered to be the “primary church of the archdiocese,” Archbishop Schwietz told the Catholic Anchor.
The Catholic Church must never forget its “failure to honor” Alaska Natives or the suffering these people endured as many missionaries to Alaska failed to appreciate the depth of native language and culture. This was one aspect of the Oct. 22 homily given by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz at Holy Family Cathedral during the annual Mass celebrated just before the start of the Alaska Federation of Natives yearly convention.
Gunderson is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado. She was invited by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz and Juneau Bishop Edward Burns to speak to the public about the impact of pot use and abuse since its legalization in Colorado last April.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Theology and Brew in Anchorage will host a talk by Colleen Duncan, a Holy Family Cathedral cantor and the music teacher at Holy Rosary Academy. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Gonzaga University. Duncan’s presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Sea Galley Restaurant. Titled: “Music of Devotion: The Rosary Sonatas of Heinrich Biber,” the talk will look at the role of devotional music in the Catholic journey.