Carmel Forum 2002 Stresses Prayer, Hope In Adversity By CINDY PASLAWSKI CARMEL, Calif. - "Our first resource has to be God." One by one, each speaker at the fifth Carmel Regional Wanderer Forum on February 23 here, echoed those words of Stephanie Block as they discussed liturgy, culture, the war on terrorism, and increasing restrictions on pro-life activities. And the entire cadre of speakers, Mrs. Block, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, James Bemis, Lt. General Martin Brandtner, and California attorney Mrs. Catherine Short agreed that an orthodox call to action is in order for each Catholic in defense of truth. In his homily at the opening Mass, Fr. Zuhlsdorf set the tone for the event which was held at the Carmel Mission Inn. "It is what Christ does for us, not what we do for Him," Father said. God is "ever true and faithful," he reminded participants. and this is the "source of hope in this life." Following Mass, Fr. Zuhlsdorf, who writes the weekly column "What Does the Prayer Really Say?" in The Wanderer and is moderator of the Catholic Online Forum, discussed "Liturgiam Authenticam: Hope for True Liturgical Renewal." He chronicled Pope John Paul II's words asking in 1988 for a review of translations. "Few heeded what he had to say." The bishops must act now, Father went on, characterizing Liturgiam Authenticam as an executive order for change. "We are shaped by liturgy" and from liturgy we are to "go shape the world," Fr. Zuhlsdorf said. "What the Church gives to the people is logically prior to what the people give the Church….At the heart of authentic culture, Christ must be found." He cited medieval times, during which the Church formed the people and from that formation, great music and art were given back to the Church. He urged listeners to write to their bishops, for example, prior to attendance at a meeting, to assure them of prayers and also to ask for support of the swift and correct implementation of Liturgiam Authenticam. Saving Souls Inculturation, that is, being formed by the Church and in turn influencing society to goodness, was the theme of James Bemis' talk, "Can the Church Regain Its Moral Status in Society?" Bemis, frequent contributor to The Wanderer and a columnist for California Political Review, said the duty of the Church is to "save souls", and her moral force has always brought "truth, beauty, and goodness" into society. Modern propaganda wants us to believe that cultural achievement is stifled by Church influence, he said. To the contrary, he mentioned he movies - especially 1939's several uplifting films - of the 30s, '40s, and '50s as a golden age when the Church enforced a decency code for both films and literature. He contrasted that with the present, from which man has eliminated God. "Without a concept of God, whom does one worship?" Bemis asked. Today's ideals of sensuous fulfillment have had a great impact a society, breeding selfishness and alienation. Gone is the church-promoted image of the "heroic man, a vision which inspired Western civilization," he said. Gone is the vision of beauty which the Church promoted in medieval times, which led to great works of architecture, art, and music. That was a time of the "Catholic Church holding up a definite image of mankind's place in the universe." But in present times, "Catholic America conformed rather than changed" society, leading to the decaying American civilization," Bemis said. The solution is a personal commitment to save souls on the part individuals and families. It starts with "pestering pastors" for adoration, forming prayer groups and Catholic book clubs, and the creation of "an army of individuals and families to evangelize" society. We need to "immerse ourselves in truth" and stand for truth, for "truth applies to all people in all times," Bemis concluded. A Spiritual Struggle Truth and its manipulation formed the basis of Stephanie Block's talk, "IAF Organizing and Strategies to Watch Out For." Noting several groups working to establish community organizing on the west coast, Block said that most groups are created and/or run by people trained in techniques of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). She cited United Farm Workers and ACORN agencies as well as Central Coast Interfaith as groups operating in California with IAF connections. Many people, including bishops and priests, see these groups as "a means to accomplish good things" in fighting poverty and helping their fellowman. While that is good, Block said, the trained organizers actually control and manipulate the situation for their own agenda, which is to use popular education (small community gatherings and study groups) to change values. One example she cited was introducing leading comments into Scripture study groups to foster the idea of class struggle between the haves and the have-nots. The ultimate goal of Alinskyian organizing is to foster socialism, Block stated. Responding to this problem requires the understanding that this is a truly spiritual struggle, Block said. "We can't begin to address Church-related problems on our own…The first resource has to be God, Church teachings, and research." Information on the true aim of Alinskyian organizing groups must be disseminated by "talking to parishioners, neighbors, and meeting with pastors," she went on. People in New Mexico distributed fliers with facts on IAF goals at local gatherings. Above all, Block continued, "We must love our enemies." Alinsky organization efforts aim at polarization. "We in turn must practice works of mercy, particularly in admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, and counseling the doubtful.... God is still the lord of the earth," she concluded. "He stilled the storms before" and we must have hope that He will again. "We Have Seen These Enemies Before" Turning to the "Current National Crisis," and the war on terrorism, Lt. General Martin Brandtner, USMC (retired), said, "We have entered the most trying time since the American Revolution. The fundamental elements of our country have been challenged and the world will never be the same." He characterized the enemy as unconventional in that they kill innocent people, obey no laws, have no moral conscience or regard for human life. "But we have seen these enemies before," General Brandtner went on, "in Bataan and Iwo Jima, in Normandy . .. Auschwitz, Beirut. We have seen this enemy in the assassinations of Americans around the world.... We know these demons. We know what motivates them. . . their hate and their lust for power." After indicating he doesn't believe Americans "fully comprehend the magnitude of the challenge," he listed areas which could be endangered in our country, from sports stadiums to nuclear power plants. We need to realize, he continued, that "we are in this for the long haul. We are at war, a long and difficult war. Americans must wake up" and realize "we are facing real danger." "Some good has emerged in all of this," the general added, noting a stronger sense of national unity and the awareness of a need for a strong military. Critics of the war on terrorism are distorting the teachings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas, he went on, as he discussed just war theories. General Brandtner asked all to pray for our country and its leaders and that "our adversaries see the truth of their deeds." He asked for support for government officials and the military, as well as for patience. "There is no easy solution," he concluded, "but with God's help we will prevail against these rogue nations." No Safe Harbor California attorney Catherine Short discussed a different sort of terrorism in California, which is being played out against pro-life demonstrators and sidewalk coun-selors across the state. In her talk, "Legislation and Pro-Lifers on the Front Lines," she discussed laws prohibiting crimes against reproductive rights which have been passed and the fact that the media have whipped up public opinion against pro-lifers, characterizing them as anti-government activists. "Abortion has become so institutionalized in California," Short said, that no eyebrows were raised when undocumented charges against peaceful pro-life organizations were publicized from a survey originating in the State Senate Office of Research, run by a well-known "pro-choice" person. Short, who is the director of Life Legal Defense Foundation, said her organization is challenging the law, which is repetitive of laws already in existence. The law has been misapplied, she stated, noting that it mentions "force or threat of force or physical obstruction" to people entering clinics, and sidewalk counselors engage in none of these actions and in fact are victims of them. The law is being used to "stigmatize pro-lifers"; plans are underway to provide "police training to recognize anti-reproductive rights crimes"; and there is a "potential interference with lawful speech rights." In addition, persons suspected of anti-reproductive crimes would be made known to federal authorities and have their names placed on a state web site. There is also talk of action similar to that in New York in which the state attorney general subpoenaed records of all agencies engaged in pro-life counseling. "There really isn't a safe harbor in this battle," Short said, noting that various pro-life activities have been curtailed one by one, from rescues to picketing. Now counseling and abortion alternative providers are being targeted. Pastors get intimidated by the mere mention of loss of tax exemption, she said. But pro-lifers must press on, Short urged. "If you're not pushing, you're going to be falling back. If we give up, the other side will move the battle lines even further up." This is what you get, she went on, "with the Church coddling Catholic pro-abortion politicians…now the hand is being bit.' She urged prayer for wisdom and fortitude to withstand these attacks against life.