Posted on: Saturday, January 22, 2005
Red Mass mixes faith, politics
By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer
As the cathedral on Bishop Street filled with lawmakers and clergy Thursday for the annual Red Mass, onlookers had come to expect a bit of politicking from the pulpit.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser But after several years of gentle nudging from the pulpit by former Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, this year struck a decidedly different note as the diocesan theologian, the Rev. Marc Alexander, spent his 20-minute-plus sermon lobbying loudly against physician-assisted suicide.
He called the perennial hot topic an "assault" on the relationships between physician and patient, and between society and its most vulnerable members.
"Physician-assisted suicide corrupts vital, sustaining, age-old relationships ... and irreparably damages end-of-life care," he told the group, which included two lawmakers on the other side of the issue.
Both House Speaker Calvin Say, a Democrat, and Rep. Barbara Marumoto, a Republican, have voted for such bills on previous occasions. Though Gov. Linda Lingle has publicly opposed physician-assisted suicide, both sides are girding for battle as the new session opens.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser As for the sermon, "I listened as I listen to others with differing points of view. As a legislator, I always remain open to the pros and cons and the ongoing debate of this issue. I thought it was a positive delivery by Father Marc Alexander, and I really enjoyed attending the Mass."
At other Red Masses, the governor attended with Duke Aiona, her Catholic lieutenant governor, who pointed out to the Jewish governor different parts of the ritual. But not this year.
The Republican governor was in Washington, attending President Bush's inauguration.
During the sermon, Alexander also took to task the Netherlands and Oregon, the first state to pass an assisted-suicide bill, for failing to provide more hospice care.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser While the Catholic Church and several groups are prepared to oppose assisted-suicide measures, bills to allow it have failed in the past two Legislatures.
There were some light moments in the hourlong celebration. Alexander said nearly one in five Hawai'i residents is Catholic and nearly 65,000 gather weekly for Mass. Then he delivered the punch line: "And a lot more on Christmas and Easter!"
That drew a laugh, even from comedian Frank DeLima, one of the lectors.
Not all of the Red Mass is about politicking. Freshman lawmaker Rep. Kymberly Pine, R-43rd ('Ewa Beach, West Loch), talked about feeling a tingle of something when lawmakers bowed their heads and the assembled group raised their right hands and prayed a special blessing over them.
"I felt that I needed a lot of prayer ... I'll try my best not to let politics destroy my soul," she said.
Reach Mary Kaye Ritz at mritz@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8035.
For nearly 50 years, the Mass has brought together Roman Catholic and non-Catholic lawmakers to have priests pray for them under crimson banners and amid bright-red plumeria, ginger and poinsettias. The second day of the new session is a time when many elected officials mingle after Mass at a reception with the leaders of the largest faith organization in the state.
In his sermon during the traditional Red Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace on Bishop Street., the Rev. Marc Alexander lobbied against physician-assisted suicide. Alexander told the gathering of politicians: "Physician-assisted suicide corrupts vital, sustaining, age-old relationships ... and irreparably damages end-of-life care."
"I attended the service out of respect for the tradition of Red Mass," Say said later.
The Very Rev. Thomas L. Gross offers a blessing for legislators, City Council members and other Hawai'i politicians at the Red Mass, an annual service for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. *The Rev. Marc Alexander spoke for 20-plus minutes on Thursday.
"The grim reality of the Netherlands and a growing body of disturbing data from Oregon both point in the direction of danger," Alexander said.
The Rev. Marc Alexander spoke for 20-plus minutes on Thursday.
