Notes from the prayer breakfast

Here are a few things I jotted down at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington and wanted to share.

Dr. Scott Hahn presented a talk on “Divine Liturgy as Our Prayer”. Outstanding, as always. Afterward in the Q&A, someone asked him about one type of liturgy vs. another, and Dr. Hahn swiftly corrected the thinking that it isn’t a struggle between sides or views or preferences. Right after that, a young man asked him what young adults can do to prepare better for leading the Church in the future. Hahn’s answer: “Thinking with the heart of the Church instead of conservatives, liberals, progressives or moderates – that’s how young Catholics can prepare better”, and he added, that’s how we all can practice better.

Fr. Richard John Neuhaus of First Things presented a talk on “Why I Am Not an American Catholic,” which was very compelling, as he always is. One of his first statements was an important question, I think, for everyone who sees Catholicism as a political thing. “What is our responsibility in this ongoing experiment in a free and just society?” Who can take exception to that?

“There is a great difference between being an American Catholic and a Catholic American,” said Fr. Neuhaus. “The adjective controls.” We strive, he stated, “to be American in a distinctly Catholic way….instead of the other way around.”

In Poland, Fr. Neuhaus recalled, he asked a lifelong friend of Pope John Paul’s why the man had such magneticism with young people, why he was able to draw them in such great numbers over so many years. The answer: “He told them to settle for nothing less than moral and spiritual greatness. It was his one message for over 50 years that attracted them so. He always had the same message, but found a thousand different ways to say it.”

In the afternoon, I came in at the end of what was clearly an excellent session on “Public Policy Issues” like human life and bioethics, judges and the Constitution, and why marriage matters. It was followed by a very interesting session on “Catholics in Entertainment and the New Evangelization.” The panel was moderated by Raymond Arroyo of EWTN. It included Steve McEveetey, Producer of “The Passion of the Christ” and “We Were Soldiers”, among other things; Leo Severino, Producer of the movie “Bella”; Tom Allen, head of Catholic Exchange, among other things; and Joe Campo, producer of “Fishers of Men,” among other things.

Some memorable moments in that session:

“There’s a lot of darkness in the world, so let’s light a candle…We want to change the world, if that’s not too ambitious or idealistic.” – Leo Severino

“Music bypasses logic and goes right to the soul. God created music…Communications today is through pictures and music…We shoot poetry.” – Joe Campo

By the way…”Fishers of Men” is being translated into 18 languages and going into 18 countries. What great news. My reaction to “Fishers of Men” when I saw it was that it’s wonderful, and entirely too short. It left me wanting much more.

“It was more than watching a movie. People were sucked in by it. They experienced it.” – Steve McEveety on “The Passion of the Christ”, and how much power the art form can have.

“Our priests need to be affirmed; our families need to be valued; our fathers need to be honored; and we need to put our heroes back on their pedestals.” -  Tom Allen

Raymond Arroyo was funncy and engaging and provocative as usual. There was much more engaging dialogue, but these are fron the notes, and I wanted you to know that there’s a lot of tremendous work going on out there, and it’s very hopeful.

Champions of Faith is one of them, which Tom Allen worked on as executive producer. If you’re a Major League Baseball fan, you can’t miss it. You’ll see the game differently after this. And, hopefully, the importance of faith.

The role of faith and morals in everyday headlines is the vitally important business of the team at LifeSiteNews, which I check into frequently. I ran into them at this event, and spent a while at their booth talking about the critical work the media do, and how important it is to get to the truth. They’re doing a good job of it.

So is Bobby Schindler and his family, with the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation. He’s everywhere these days, and was in Washington for the prayer breakfast. We talked fleetingly and said we’d catch up after the break. Never did, because there’s just too much work to do in too many places….

Speaking of which, Fr. Frank Pavone was there and we got…maybe 3 minutes to talk about the work we’re doing. Priests for Life is doing outstanding work.

Senator Sam Brownback campaign workers were at my table, which was nice, because the senator was a rather frequent guest on my radio show. I can’t figure out why the media refer to him as ‘the poster child of the social conservatives’….but then say he’s unknown. He has been impressively consistent in his work to uphold the dignity and sanctity of all human life, whether unborn or living and suffering in Darfur.

And, as I mentioned below, President Bush was there.