CBB Interview with Cardinal Donald Wuerl

His Emminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl is known for his teaching ministry and is involved in many education, health care and social service organizations. He is the author of numerous articles and over a dozen books, including the best-selling catechisms, The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way. His recent books include, The Church (2013), The Light Is On For You (2014), Open to the Holy Spirit: Living the Gospel with Wisdom and Power (2014),  The Marriage God Wants for You (2015), To the Martyrs (2015) and Ways to Pray (2015).

Cardinal Wuerl hosted in Washington Pope Benedict XVI in April 2008 and Pope Francis in September 2015 for their first pastoral visits to the United States. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to help direct the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Cardinal Wuerl was also appointed by Pope Francis as a member of both the 2014 and the 2015 Synods on the Family.

The Cardinal was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received graduate degrees from The Catholic University of America, the Gregorian University in Rome and a doctorate in theology from the University of Saint Thomas in Rome. He was ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1986, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He served as Auxiliary Bishop in Seattle until 1987 and then as Bishop of Pittsburgh for 18 years until his appointment to Washington. His titular church in Rome is Saint Peter in Chains.

Cardinal Wuerl recently answered some questions I had about his new book To the Martyrs.

PETE: What inspired you to write To the Martyrs: A Reflection on the Supreme Christian Witness?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: I’m sorry to say it was the daily news. The posts coming from the Middle East and elsewhere remind us that Christians are, in every age, called to follow the footsteps of Jesus. In ancient times the Romans killed Christians during “games” in the most public places, in the arena. Now the arena is YouTube. The persecutors post video of their executions online. Their goal is the same. They want to terrorize Christians and make us afraid and ashamed of our faith. With this book I wanted to provide the biblical, historical, and doctrinal context for a true understanding of these contemporary events.

I’ve always found the stories of the martyrs inspiring, and I’ve written two other books that deal with this ultimate Christian witness. I hope my book will share that inspiration with many others.

PETE: Why is it important for people to read this book? How can it help them understand the plight of Christians today?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: Martyrdom is not a new phenomenon. Most of the Apostles died for the faith; and Christianity was almost universally illegal — a capital crime — for the first two and a half centuries of its history. Yet the Church grew during that period at the astonishing rate of forty percent per decade. Why? The second-century author Tertullian explained it in a single sentence: “The blood of martyrs is seed.” Today it’s still true: the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. People need to see that martyrdom is not a meaningless tragedy. Martyrs in every age give the most compelling testimony to the Gospel. They show that the value of everything else in this world — including bodily life — is relatively small compared to our life in Christ. I hope my book will bring people to that understanding.

I hope, too, that it will give Christians in the West, where we’re safe and prosperous, a practical program for living in solidarity with suffering Christians in other countries. The book is filled with history and doctrine, but it’s not at all an abstract or theoretical study. It’s about a spirituality of sacrifice that’s at the heart of our religion.

PETE: It seems that martyrdom has never left this world. Persecution of Christians began during the Roman Empire and is still happening today. Rather than stand on the sidelines, what things we can we do to aid our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: In chapter 10 of my book I detail a plan of prayer and action. We need to be active intercessors. We need to make our voices heard in government and media. And we need to contribute money wisely to those who are providing practical relief for suffering and persecuted Christians. If we are doing nothing to relieve the pain of our brothers and sisters whom we know are suffering, then we are, to borrow a phrase from Thomas Merton, “guilty bystanders.”

PETE: Granted, what I am about to use as an example pales in comparison to what we see coming out of the Middle East. But in some sense we have persecution occurring in our country, as our government continues to test the limits of how far they can go in restricting religious freedoms. We can look at removal of the ten commandments from various public places (we had this occur locally here in Hanover, Pa.) and at the health-care reforms that put religious institutions in very uncomfortable situations in regard to abortion and birth control. What can the average Catholic do to let their voice be heard on these things?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: There is indeed a great deal of difference between what’s happening in the Middle East and what’s happening in the United States and Canada. But that doesn’t mean that what’s happening here is unimportant, and it doesn’t mean that it isn’t persecution. There are degrees of persecution. There are degrees of pressure.

Freedom is a fragile thing. Rights, once lost, are not easily regained. And no land is safe from a sudden resurgence of persecution. Think about the bloodiest purges of the last century. Where did they take place? Catholic Spain. Orthodox Russia. Christian Germany. Christian Armenia. They began with small encroachments that grew greater over time. To say “it can’t happen here” is to speak from profound naivete and ignorance of history.

PETE: I always enjoy reading your books Cardinal. In fact, I recently picked up a used copy of your book Fathers of the Church. Do you have any other book writing projects on the horizon?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: All of my books have been written to address particular needs of the people God has called me to serve. I’ll write as long as I can, and as long as my writing is useful. We’ll see what the coming year brings. Let’s pray that I can write a book celebrating the end to persecution in one region or another.

PETE: It has been a while since I asked this, so it’s time for my signature ending question. This is a blog about books. What books are currently on your bookshelf to read?

CARDINAL DONALD WUERL: Since I am leaving in a few days for retreat I am taking with me a book I have already read but will use during the quiet time of retreat, 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn, published by Ignatius Press/Lighthouse Catholic Media.

Another is Come Love with Me: Augustine as Spiritual Guide by Gabriel Quicke, published by Paulist Press.

Also for spiritual reading is a delightful book of short reflections on the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy compiled by Matthew Kelly, published by Beacon Publishing and available at DynamicCatholic.com. (For full disclosure I note I have a very small reflection as part of this effort.)

Of more general Catholic interest is a small gem entitled Last Priest Standing and Other Stories by  Father Richard Infante, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh whom I ordained in 1992 and have come to recognize as a gifted pastor and short-story writer. This book is published by another gem, The Lambing Press of Pittsburgh. I recommend a visit to its website.