January 22, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

I cannot write the date ‘January 22’ without thinking about that fateful decision made by the Supreme Court on this date in 1973 which legalized abortion on demand in this country. Hopefully regardless of our political affiliations, we can all agree that abortion is sad and tragic for all parties involved: certainly for the child whose life is snuffed out even before he or she had an opportunity to thrive, for the woman who so often feels pressured that this is the only ‘choice’ that she can make, to the culture that has so disconnected sex and pro-creation that abortion has merely become another form of birth control, and even to the men who share in this responsibility, so often by a lack of taking responsibility for the child he helped to bring into creation.

I have long pondered the question of how to eliminate this great scourge in our country and have no simple or easy answer. But I do believe that the answer begins in prayer, for it is prayer that truly changes hearts. For in prayer, we are able to see that small life within the womb as truly that: a life, a life with the full potential of God’s promises surrounding this small child. It is prayer that we are spurred to action to care for the most vulnerable among us. It is prayer that we realize the things we have around us do not belong to me, but are gifts from our Heavenly Father, and when we share those gifts, so much more comes back our way.

In that arena, we have a particular way to help alleviate some of the causes of abortion in our neighborhoods, today. The Elizabeth New Life Center is one of the region’s fastest growing and most successful crisis pregnancy centers. As of February 1, they will be opening their eighth pregnancy center between Dayton, Sidney and Cincinnati, and it is right in Mount Healthy (in addition to their current center next to Kroger in Forrest Park, too.)

Obviously financial donations are greatly appreciated as they seek to build capital to open their new center, but they also have a large ‘baby boutique’ in which they provide clients with the necessary items to care for their children once they are born. If you have new or gently used baby and toddler items, the staff at the Elizabeth New Life Center would put them to good use with in a home of a new family. You can drop things off at the parish office and I will see that they get delivered to center as soon as possible.

This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. Generally on the first Saturday of every month, I offer Mass at Holy Name Church in Mt. Auburn as part of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants movement in which persons gather in prayer for an end to the scourge of abortion and for the conversion of those who are in that industry. Today in particular, I invite you to join me in prayer for this same intention.

God Bless,

Fr. Kyle Schnippel

Pastor

Back a few weeks, talking with a group of guys about Confession. Now, they were talking about confessions they had given and ones I hadn’t received; but will still talk in as much generalities as I can, because this is an area that needs to be addressed to priests and that the laity could hear, too.

As they were talking, they mentioned bad advice they had been given in the confessional (and I’ve both given and received bad advice in such a place, so not casting aspersions, here), when they mentioned something that caught my ear. As many men do, there is a struggle with the ‘solitary sin.’ The advice given was along the lines of ‘find a girlfriend, get married, this problem will go away.’

Uhhhhhh….. NOPE!!!!

This is terrible advice! And if you have ever gotten such advice, I am sorry.

Priests: If you have ever given this advice, please stop!

Why? The following reasons:

1. This problem can have deep roots that need to be addressed, it doesn’t just ‘go away’ upon marriage. Explore with the penitent the ‘why’ of the thing, as that is what is going to help it go away. And it takes work for this problem to go away, and a whole helping of God’s Grace; by giving rather shallow advice, you are depriving the penitent of both of these aspects.
2. This advice is demeaning to women and to married life. Intimacy in married life is not about an outlet for sexual urges, it is a sign of the deep spiritual, emotional and physical connection that exists between a husband and wife. And she is worth more than just being a sexual play toy for her husband. Please read the Theology of the Body!
3. Not all men (nor all women) are called to marriage. By giving such advice, they are all being lumped into something to which they may not be called, discretion is a better part of valor, here.

Anywho, this hit a nerve with me and really seems to miss the mark as to what Confession ought to be about. I’m constantly learning how to be a better confessor, hope this helps some of the brothers to do the same.