In the midst of so much confusion, commotion, news confirmed, denied, half clarified; In the midst of so much attack on the faith of the Church, the voice of a man has emerged whom the Lord has placed as shepherd of his people. This is the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
The American cardinal has published a beautiful letter in which he calls on the Church to protect, welcome and help a new minority. That of those who, by pure grace, want to live in fidelity to God despite difficulties. This is how the cardinal describes them:
Those who, trusting in the grace and mercy of God, strive to live in virtue and fidelity come to mind : Couples who - given the fact that, at least in North America, only half of couples access the sacrament of marriage - they approach the Church for the Telegram Number Data sacrament; Couples who, inspired by the teaching of the Church that affirms that marriage is forever, have persevered through difficult trials; couples who receive the divine gift of having several children; a young man and woman who have chosen not to live together until marriage; a gay or lesbian who wants to live in chastity; a couple who have decided that the woman is going to sacrifice a promising career to stay at home and raise their children – these wonderful people often feel like a minority in their cultural environment, but sometimes, even within the Church! ! I think there are many more people like this than we realize, but given the great pressure of this time, they often feel left out.
Dear cardinal, thank you. Thank you on behalf of me and my wife, who know well what it means to persevere by grace in the union that God granted us despite going through very difficult crises years ago. Thank you on behalf of all the Catholic faithful who need to know that the Church is with them on the path to holiness, in the midst of a world that despises them, ignores them and even hates them.
Thank you for bringing us the breath of Christ in the midst of a difficult time, where everything seems to be faltering, where the faith of the Church is openly questioned by those who should defend it. His words are imprinted with the fresh and life-giving air of the Holy Spirit .