Students question bishop on various issues via video conference

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester participates in a video conference with students from the three Utah Catholic high schools on Jan. 31. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, ended Catholic Schools Week with a video conference with students from the three Utah Catholic high schools.

All of the seniors at Saint Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, the smallest school, attended the Jan. 31 conference, while about 20 seniors from Juan Diego CHS in Draper participated. At Judge Memorial CHS in Salt Lake City, the students were sophomores, juniors and seniors who were members of either Peer Ministry or Student Council, said Marianne Bartman, the director of communications.

"I think that this is a wonderful way for me to hear what the students have to say, and for me to learn where they’re at in terms of Church matters, moral questions, and questions of the day in our society. It also was a way for them to hear from me," Bishop Wester said.

The students pulled no punches with the questions they asked: The first brought up the issue of same-sex marriage, and as the hour went on Bishop Wester responded to questions about, among other topics, immigration, Palestine, and how students as Catholics can adapt to a changing society in which religion is made less important.

Same-sex marriage came up several times during the video conference. Calling it an important and timely issue, Bishop Wester stressed that the Church has not changed its position on this matter.

"The Catholic Church still teaches that sexual relationships are to be only between a man and a woman in the confines of marriage, and anything outside of that is unethical," Bishop Wester said.

One difficulty, he said, is that the Church definition of marriage differs greatly from the government’s definition. The Church considers marriage not only a contract but also a permanent, exclusive and procreative relationship between one man and one woman, he said, adding that even if the state called a contract between married people something other than marriage, "it wouldn’t change the Church’s point of view in terms of moral theology and sexual ethics."

This definition of marriage doesn’t preclude Catholics from accepting other people, Bishop Wester stressed. "One thing that has not changed and will not change is that we respect every human being, and that all human beings are loved by God and the Church is called to love all human beings, and we do. … We believe strongly that Jesus Christ came to save us as we are. He didn’t wait for us to be perfect and then come to save us, but he saved us while we were still sinners, as St. Paul said."

Another common theme during the conference was how students can live their Catholic faith in a secular society. In response, Bishop Wester pointed to Pope Francis.

"He’s not changing Church doctrine, but he’s emphasizing the Church’s mission ‘to love one another as I have loved you,’ as Jesus said," the bishop said. "Certainly society today has changed and a lot of the values that the Church holds out are not the values of society at large. I think Pope Francis has hit the nail on the head, and that is that we have to be more loving."

Marianne Rozsahegyi, the JDCHS teacher who coordinated the video conference, was pleased with the event, she said, adding that it was a good way for the students to meet the bishop and realize that he wants to hear from them. Their questions, she said, were "a demonstration of the students wanting to know what their place is as adolescents moving into their adult lives. I think they’re looking for ways that they can fit into the adult Church, and being able to talk with the leader of their diocese is a great opportunity."

An edited transcript of the Jan. 31 video conference follows.

Bishop Wester opened the video conference with a prayer, then told the students, “There are a lot of things going on in our Church and in Utah and in the country and the world that I know you are all very interested in.”

Bishop Wester also said he would like the students to suggest topics for him to mention in his homilies when he celebrates the Sacrament of Confirmation at parishes throughout the diocese with students in grades 8 through 12.

“It would help me to know from you what kinds of issues you think I should talk about – what you’re interested in hearing,” the bishop said, adding that obviously he would talk about the Holy Spirit and what it means to be confirmed, “but what are the real-life issues in your lives that you think are important that I should address or bring into my homily? That would help me a lot.”

Letting him know what their issues are “would help me to be a better bishop,” he said.

QUESTION:How has the Church adapted its stance on gay marriage, if at all?

BISHOP WESTER: This is an important and timely question, one that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been talking about for years. The Church isn’t changing its position. The position that the Church has is the position that we’ve had for 2,000 years. However, we do change in terms in how we catechize our position, or how we make our position something people can listen to and hear.  One thing that has not changed and will not change is that we respect every human being and that all human beings are loved by God and the Church is called to love all human beings, and we do. And we respect all human beings. We believe strongly that Jesus Christ came to save us as we are. He didn’t wait for us to be perfect and then come to save us, but he saved us while we were still sinners, as St. Paul saved us.” The Diocese of Salt Lake City favors anti-discrimination laws, because discrimination of any kind is wrong.

It is important to distinguish what marriage is; it is not a state concept. The state has jurisdiction over contracts, inheritance laws and the like, but the way the Church talks about marriage is unique. It does include a contract, but it includes a lot more than that. It includes a permanent, exclusive and procreative relationship between one man and one woman, and that’s what the church means by marriage. The trouble we are having is when we call what the state is doing marriage. 

QUESTION: Regarding immigration and gay marriage, how can both problems be solved?

BISHOP WESTER: These are two different issues, both of which need to be worked on. Comprehensive immigration reform is needed because of the Church’s stance on integrity and the sanctity of human life. We believe all humans have certain God-given rights, and when they can’t achieve them, then they have the right to find a place to live where they can do so. At the same time, governments have a right to protect their borders. But the rights that governments have are not absolute, so when you’re in a country like ours that has a lot of blessings, there are responsibilities that go along with those blessings, and we have a responsibility to reach out to everybody to the extent that we can. That’s why the Church in the United States is working hard on comprehensive immigration reform, particularly emphasizing that families should be allowed to stay together, that more temporary visas be issued, and that immigration judges be given more authority. Also, the Church is urging the federal government to work with other countries to solve problems that cause people to immigrate. Comprehensive immigration reform is needed because it’s not fair for people to be living in the shadows, not getting proper education, medical treatment, etc., being afraid of being deported. And immigrants are giving our country a lot: paying taxes, and doing many jobs. It is really a question of equity in our minds. I’m glad to hear that you’re studying these issues because need people to have informed positions, not just repeat what is said on talk shows. 

QUESTION: Do you feel that sometimes the government tries to legislate free will in regards to immigration or same-sex marriage laws?

BISHOP WESTER: This is a good moral and political science question because it raises the question of free will as well as looking at the common good and how we live in a society. We have free will and individual rights, but that doesn’t mean we can exercise them exactly as we please in every situation. The government needs to legislate certain things so we can live together in common, peacefully and in harmony. We have to be open to the fact that what we want isn’t always in the best interest of the common good, and there also are times when legislation does impede this. The Catholic Church teaches that you have to be true to your conscience; that God is going to judge you at the end of your life on whether or not you were true to your conscience. That conscience, though, needs to be properly formed, so you have to take the proper and reasonable steps to form your conscience, and then act on it. For example when Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus, she was exercising her free will and her inalienable right as a human being. She was breaking the law, but that was the right thing to do in that particular circumstance. So you have to look at many factors: the circumstances, the law, how your breaking of the law going to affect people. Sometimes people break the law as a protest, or to make a statement, but you have to weigh the common good against an individual’s rights and hopefully come together in a balance between the two goods.

QUESTION: If the state called same-sex marriage something other than marriage, would that help the Church’s position? 

BISHOP WESTER: That would be an important first step, if they stopped using marriage from the state’s side because that confuses the issue. It would solve the issue in terms of the state, but it wouldn’t change the Church’s point of view in terms of moral theology and sexual ethics. The Catholic Church teaches that sexual relationships are to be only between a man and a woman in the confines of marriage, and anything outside of that is unethical. You can spend a whole semester talking about moral theology and the difference between ethics, morality and sin. The Church believes our teaching to be the truth, and that this is the way God wants us to live. However, we respect other points of view, as we have to do in a pluralistic society but still try to evangelize because believe this is the truth and this is the way God wants us to live. 

QUESTION: What is Catholic Church’s position on Palestine? 

BISHOP WESTER: It’s better for me not to say too much on this because it’s a very complicated issue, but I think I can quote Patriarch Michel Sabbah that basically what we’re looking for is peaceful co-existence. We’re looking for recognition of the Palestinian state and recognition of the Israeli state. It would be wonderful if we could find an accord so that we could live together in peace. The way to solve it is to sit down at the peace table, with the cessation of violence and certainly of the cessation of terrorism.

QUESTION: With large swaths of the population in Europe and America rejecting organized religion, how are students as Catholics to adapt to a changing society in which religion is made less important?

BISHOP WESTER: The New Evangelization is a good response. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict and now Pope Francis have been asking Church to renew the faith, to be passionate and energized about the faith, and to live the faith in such a way that other people notice it. We haven’t been doing that. Here in Diocese of Salt Lake City, I’d like you to participate in the strategic planning process that is going to start in the fall. We’re going to have people come to the schools to talk to you and get your input. I would really like to hear your ideas about how we can connect with people and re-kindle the faith in people.  Certainly society today has changed and a lot of the values that the Church holds out are not the values of society at large. I think Pope Francis has hit the nail on the head and that is that we have to be more loving. I think we have to affirm the values of human life and the Church values and show people that the Gospel is the Good News.

QUESTION: Pope Francis is being called both a liberal and radical; what’s your opinion?

BISHOP WESTER: If love is liberal, then he’s very liberal. I think he’s a pope who is reaching out to the poor, particularly, but to people in general in a very loving way. He’s not changing Church doctrine, but he’s emphasizing the Church’s mission ‘to love one another as I have loved you,’ Jesus said. I don’t think he’s liberal theologically; I think he’s conservative from that point of view, but I think that he’s liberal in terms of his pastoral approach. I think he emphasizes the pastoral ministry over the teaching in that sense, although he is a teacher. I think his approach is novel, and he is engaging not only Catholics  but others as well.

QUESTION: How do you respond when people say they are spiritual but not religious?

BISHOP WESTER: I believe it’s possible to be spiritual but not religious, if you mean that to be part of an organized religion. For me, it’s not a question of either/or, it’s a question of both/and. I am spiritual and I am religious, and I feel it’s the best of both worlds. Organized religion may not be for everybody, but my own belief is that both are important. Religion implies community; we are saved as part of the people of God through baptism. When you are part of a religion, that community is very supportive, the faith of the community is very helpful in your life. You miss that communal aspect if you keep religion personal.

QUESTION: What advice do you have for teenagers dealing with sexual desires?

BISHOP WESTER: These are part of human nature, so the desires are always going to be there. However, a mature person has proper boundaries; you have to be prudent and honest and avoid situations that could lead to impropriety. Sexual intercourse by its very nature communicates permanence, it communicates exclusivity, it communicates a complete giving of oneself to another human being. If two people have only a casual relationship, that’s a dishonest expression – you’re communicating something sexually that doesn’t exist. You need to be honest with yourself and honest with others.  The media portrays everyone as sexual active, but there are those who practice abstinence and I think we need to be more selective in how we accept the message and realize there are other standards out there.

QUESTION: What is your vocation story, and what would you say to those considering a vocation to the Church?

BISHOP WESTER:  I started thinking of being a priest in about the fifth grade, and I entered the seminary after the eighth grade. I felt a real strong love of God and of people. I felt that this was a way to be close to God and to people and to bring Christ to people. It was a sacrifice to not marry and have children, because I wanted that, but God has been very good to me. I never wanted to be a bishop; I wanted to be a parish priest, but God had other plans for me. I would encourage anyone who might be considering a vocation to talk to your teachers or your priest. I  hope they don’t think that asking about it would be a commitment; it might only be a conversation and not go anywhere.

QUESTION: What do during average day?

BISHOP WESTER:  I have a lot of meetings, but every day is varied. I meeting with officials from the government and other churches and organizations. People come and talk to me about many issues. I celebrate Mass, I spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament – an hour a day when I can, and I like to play the piano, although I haven’t had time to do that

Bishop Wester asked the students what they thought a candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation would want to hear from him. They suggested he talk about:

• opportunities that are available to young adults to help the Church and their community,
• racial equality,
• moments when he doubted his faith and how he dealt with it,
• how confirmed Catholics can apply their faith in their community and their everyday life.

They also suggested that Bishop Wester use Twitter to share his thoughts on the faith, or to offer a challenge regarding the faith, or to comment on the Church's position on current events such as abortion and same-sex marriage.