Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. 

 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.  Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write.  And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

 As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).  The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

 We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. 

 Therefore, I would ask of you two things.  First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer that wisdom and justice may prevail and religious liberty may be restored.  Second, I would also recommend visiting the Iowa Catholic Conference website or USCCB websites to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision. 

 Thank you for your prayers and attention to this critical issue.

 Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Martin Amos
Bishop of Davenport

DATE:         September 4, 2011

RE:             Statement regarding Buchanan Abbey, Independence, Iowa

 Statement regarding Buchanan Abbey, Independence, Iowa

Several inquiries have been made to the officials of the Archdiocese of Dubuque concerning the institution, Buchanan Abbey, which is located near Independence, IA. The inquiries arose because of communications in various media announcing that Mass and other religious services are being held at that institution and are open to the public.

 Assertions are also being made that the leader of the Buchanan Abbey is a Roman Catholic priest and that the institution is a Roman Catholic Benedictine Abbey.  No evidence has been provided to the officials of the Archdiocese of a valid ordination to the priesthood. Neither has any evidence been provided that would prove that the institution is in communion with Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishop of Rome.

 The institution is clearly not in communion with the Archbishop of Dubuque, who has not given any permission or approval to the institution. 

 In his solicitude for the spiritual welfare of the Roman Catholics of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., alerts the faithful, religious, and clergy of the Archdiocese that to the best of his knowledge there is no validly ordained priest at the Buchanan Abbey. If that is the case, there is great doubt that the Mass and confessions at the Buchanan Abbey are in accord with the law of the Roman Catholic Church.  This communication is intended to warn the faithful of the Archdiocese of Dubuque to exercise great caution in relating to this institution.

 September 4, 2011

Rev. Msgr. Thomas E. Toale, Ph.D.

Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Dubuque

DATE:         May 26, 2011

RE:             Pope Names Msgr. Robert D. Gruss as Bishop of Rapid City

Pope Benedict XVI has named Rev. Msgr. Robert D. Gruss, 55, pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Diocese of Davenport, as the Bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City.

Bishop-designate Gruss will become the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City which serves more than 30,000 Catholics and 82 congregations throughout western South Dakota. Thirteen percent of the total population is Catholic. Twenty-seven percent of the Catholics are Native American and ten percent are Hispanic.

In response to the announcement from the Holy See, Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport said, “As a bishop when I install a new pastor for a parish, one of the final things I say to him is “My brother, be a loving father, a gentle shepherd and a wise teacher. I pray that Bishop-designate Gruss will be that for the people of the Diocese of Rapid City, loving father, a gentle shepherd and a wise teacher. I join my prayers to the people of the Diocese of Davenport and the people of the Diocese of Rapid City for God's blessings upon him as he begins this new ministry.

Bishop-designate Gruss said, It is with deep humility and gratitude that I have accepted the Holy Father's appointment as the next bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City. While it all seems a bit overwhelming at the moment, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve God, the Church and the people of this diocese.

Robert D. Gruss was born on June 25, 1955 in Texarkana, AR. He holds an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering from Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI, a BA in Theology from St. Ambrose University, a STB from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, Italy, and an MA in Spiritual Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, Italy.

Before entering the seminary, he earned his commercial pilot's license (instrument rating and multi-engine rating) from the Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa, OK. He worked for various companies as a charter pilot, flight instructor and corporate pilot.

Bishop-designate Gruss was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport in 1994 following his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City. He has also completed spiritual direction training from the Institute for Priestly Formation.

After ordination to the priesthood he was named parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Church, Davenport, IA. Subsequent assignments include: parochial vicar, St. Anthony Church, Knoxville; St. Mary Church, Pella; Sacred Heart Church, Melcher; pastor of St. Mary Church, Pella; Director of Vocations; Chancellor; Director of the Propagation of the Faith; Director of Victim Assistance Program; Vice Rector of the Pontifical North American College and Director of Human Formation, Vatican City; and Rector and Pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. Bishop-designate Gruss was awarded the Chaplain of His Holiness with the title "Monsignor" in August 2007.

Description of the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota

The Diocese of Rapid City encompasses 43,000 square miles in western South Dakota with a population of more than 227,000 people. The largest city in the diocese is Rapid City, with approximately 67,500 people. The prairies of the diocese are scattered with farms and ranches and small towns. The Black Hills mountain range runs along the western edge of the diocese. Most of the priests travel long distances to serve two or three parishes. Currently, 30 diocesan priests, 13 religious order priests, and 28 deacons serve 82 Catholic congregations in the diocese. There are also 23 religious women and two religious brothers serving in the diocese.

There are five Indian reservations within the diocese. The counties within the reservations include five of the poorest eleven counties in the U.S.A. Because of the poverty, the indigenous people experience many social ills such as high dropout rates in school, substance abuse, and suicide rates far exceeding national averages. The northern Reservations of Standing Rock and Cheyenne River are served by diocesan priests, while the Jesuits serve the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in the south. Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus serve the people on the Lower Brule Reservation which borders the Missouri River.

Programs in the diocese include a diocesan newspaper, Catholic Social Services, and the Sioux Spiritual Center, a retreat center for ministry formation participants staffed by Jesuits. Catholic Schools include the Rapid City Catholic School System (K-12) with 800 students, and two schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation: Red Cloud Indian School (K-12) with 600 students and Our Lady of Lourdes (K-8) with 150 students.

DATE:         May 18, 2011

RE:             John Jay College Report

Today, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York released the long anticipated report regarding The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010.”  It is the second of two studies about sexual abuse by Catholic priests.  The first study focused on the description and extent of the problem from 1950 to 2002 and was published in February, 2004.

The extensive report concluded that there was no single cause or predictor of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.  According to the report, Social and cultural changes in the 1960s and 1970s manifested in increased levels of deviant behavior in the general society and also among priests of the Catholic Church in the United States.  Organizational, psychological, and situational factors contributed to the vulnerability of individual priests in this period of normative change.

The study provides vital information on this devastating issue that has affected so many lives throughout society.  With this knowledge the Church will continue to expand educational programs, policies and procedures to extend a safe environment to all children and vulnerable adults. 

In the Diocese of Davenport, all employees and those volunteers who work on a regular basis with children are mandated to receive safe environment training through the Virtus Protecting God's Children Program.  Over 7,465 people have been trained since the program began in 2003.  In 2010, the Diocese of Davenport was audited by the Gavin Group, of Boston, MA, and found to be in compliance with the Charter.  The Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator continues to provide outreach to survivors.  Bishop Amos supports the complete elimination of all criminal statutes of limitation for child sexual abuse committed by clergy or others in similar positions of authority

While the majority of cases occurred decades ago, the Church and society at large must remain vigilant in keeping our children safe and to provide assistance to survivors of abuse.

To report child sexual abuse

Contact the Iowa Department of Human Services

Child Abuse Hotline: 800-362-2178

If the abuse involves clergy or church personnel, also notify

Alicia Owens, Victim Assistance Coordinator: 563-349-5002

PO Box 232 Bettendorf, IA

52722-0004

vacdav@attglobal.net

Abuse Survivor's Support Group

The Diocese of Davenport is offering a support group for adult survivors of sex abuse as children.  If you are interested in learning more about the support group, contact Alicia Owens, Victim Assistance Coordinator: 563-349-5002.

Protecting God's Children

Sessions are open to all adults in the Diocese of Davenport and are mandated for all employees and those volunteers who work on a regular basis with children. To pre-register for a session, go to www.virtus.org and click on registration.

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