Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan 4, 2018 / 11:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Thomas Monson, president of the Mormon Church, died Tuesday at the age of 90, leading Catholic bishops to offer prayer and praise for a man dedicated to philanthropic works.
“President Monson was an advocate of unity and believed in the goodness of each person. He embraced people regardless of faith, seeing in them the image of Jesus,” Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City said Jan. 3.
“He was a ‘human’ touch of kindness and dignity that will long be treasured. We join in prayer with the LDS faithful at this difficult time.”
Monson, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died of natural causes Jan. 2 at his home in Salt Lake City. The leader of the 15.8 million-member religion had a strong dedication to the poor. He had been president of the religion since 2008.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Monson would make surprise visits to sick children or bereaving widows. Additionally, former Utah legislator Stuart Reid said Monson had modified the LDS Church’s three-fold mission to include a fourth – an outreach to the poor.
“The President has been a good friend and supporter in our mutual efforts to support the common good and care for the most vulnerable both at home and abroad,” continued Bishop Solis.
“Catholic Community Services as well as the Good Samaritan Program have benefited from his commitment to the poor.”
Born in 1927 in Salt Lake City, Monson was always an active member of the Mormon Church. He served on one of the religion’s governing bodies, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, from 1963 until his 2008 appointment as president.
Monson’s funeral services will be held Jan. 12 in Salt Lake City.
Cardinal Daniel NiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the US bishops’ conference, offered his condolences to the leaders and members of LDS Church and promised to pray for Monson, whom he said aided friendship between Catholics and Mormons.
“During his tenure as president, understanding and friendship developed between our two communities on national and local levels,” he said Jan. 3. “As we engage important questions on family and the dignity of the human person, Catholics and Mormons work together and support each other. Today, Catholics join their Latter-day Saints brothers and sisters in commending his soul to the mercy and love of God.”
The Mormon Church, a nontrinitarian religion, was founded in the 19th century in New York.
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Attendees visit vendors at the Diocese of Arlington’s 2025 “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference.” / Credit: Porto Charities
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Families whose children have disabilities and Catholics with disabilities were welcomed by the Diocese of Arlington March 15 to the fourth annual “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference” which focused on plans for the future as those with disabilities prepare for adult life out of high school.
“The Lord, for us, is one who will always be there to strengthen us, to heal us, and to help us,” Bishop Michael Burbidge said in his opening remarks at the conference, held at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
With more than 200 people in attendance, the diocesan conference featured an array of talks, in English and Spanish, about resources for children with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities. These included tips for life skills, faith formation, education, and employment, which were presented to parents, teachers, priests, and others.
The conference also provided talks for teenagers with disabilities, designed to help guide them on how to advocate for themselves. Those participants were brought to vendors who offered resources to connect them with opportunities.
“We are called to live the Gospel of life,” Burbidge told CNA after giving his remarks. “In fact, it is a mandate to protect, to revere, to celebrate, to cherish, and to welcome all human life. …There are no exceptions.”
Nearly 20 diocesan schools educate students with disabilities, including all four high schools. A few of the schools also have specialized programs for children who have disabilities.
Diane Elliott, an assistant superintendent for Arlington Diocese Catholic Schools, told CNA that it is important for Catholic schools to have the mindset that “we’re going to serve all God’s children.”
She said it’s “not only about the kids with disabilities,” but it’s also important for other children to learn “how to accept individual differences” and avoid stigmatizing people.
Elliott added, “the majority of what we do, it doesn’t cost any money for inclusion,” and spoke about the sensory Masses offered by the diocese. Those Masses are designed for people with sensory processing issues, and usually include dimmed lights, no organ music, and homilies that are very concise. Some people who benefit from those Masses include people with autism, downs syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.
For efforts that do require financial resources, Burbidge told CNA that the inclusion of those with disabilities should still always be a priority, and that when resources are limited, priorities “must be reflected in how you use those resources.”
Guadalupe Williamson, whose 14-year-old son Patrick has an intellectual disability caused by a malformation in the brain, told CNA she sends him to Saint Anthony of Padua School in Falls Church because she wanted all of her children to attend the same Catholic school.
Williamson said the inclusion efforts ensure Patrick has a “learning environment that also matches our values as a family — our Catholic values.” She said he is also an altar server, and “just absolutely loves everything that the Church has to offer.”
Roxanne Miller, a mother of 10 who lives in Huntley, sends her 18-year-old daughter Megan to St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly. She said her daughter, who has down syndrome, is “part of the fabric of the school” and referred to the inclusion efforts as “second to none.”
Miller told CNA she attended the conference while she is helping her daughter plan for her future with employment opportunities and possibly advocacy. She said Megan is in the high school’s post-graduate transitional program for those with intellectual disabilities, which is helping them connect her with future opportunities.
Faith formation for those with special needs
The Diocese of Arlington also operates a Special Religious Development (SPRED) Program, which helps those with disabilities develop a faith community and have “access to prepare for and receive the sacraments,” Burbidge told CNA.
“That’s been a great work in our diocese,” the bishop said.
Charleen Katra, who serves on the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, gives talk on ensuring those with disabilities have access to the sacraments at the Diocese of Arlington’s “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference.”. Credit: Tyler Arnold/Catholic News Agency
Nancy Emanuel, the coordinator for Special Needs Ministries in the diocese, told CNA that the program provides special religious development designed for those “who don’t fit into the typical religious education programs.”
Emmanuel said about 150 adults and children participate in the program, which divides those who are enrolled by age. The program is inclusive of those with physical and mental disabilities, which includes people with autism and down syndrome.
For some Catholics with disabilities, Emmanuel said that accessing the sacraments can at times be “overwhelming” for them. She said the program uses a lot of visual and tactile learning. For a person’s First Communion or for Confirmation, she said the instructors will practice those rituals with those children or adults to “make it so that it’s a friendly experience.”
Charleen Katra, who serves on the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, gave a talk on the importance of ensuring Catholics with disabilities have access to the sacraments and the ways in which dioceses can accommodate their needs.
She said that dioceses must “meet the real needs” of each person. She noted that catechesis for a person affected by serious intellectual disabilities can sometimes be as simple as ensuring the person knows that the Eucharist is the literal Body and Blood of Christ before communion and ensuring the person knows he or she is receiving the Holy Spirit prior to confirmation.
“If there’s anybody missing in the Body of Christ, we know it’s not complete,” Katra said.
CNA Staff, May 5, 2020 / 11:34 am (CNA).- A national novena to St Isidore the Farmer will be livestreamed by Catholic Rural Life this month, beginning May 7 and concluding with a Mass on May 15, the feast of St. Isidore.
Washington D.C., Feb 7, 2020 / 03:57 pm (CNA).- Reports of a new special adviser to the President on international religious freedom could be a game-changer for U.S. foreign policy, one expert said Friday.
To call this sect a Church is not a proper Catholic understanding of the word. It is a non Christian sect. To call it simply “non trinitarian religion” is insufficient. It leaves the only impression that it’s Christian just not Trinitarian.
It’s proper to express condolences but to pray for a man of a different religion is problematic.
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt 5:44). Not that he was an enemy. But, there you go. You are correct, however, about “Church.” The LDS is not a “Church” in any truly Catholic sense; not even sure it’s an “ecclesial communion,” as the Mormon understanding of God and Christ are both deeply lacking and wrong.
Nice to know you are an expert on what God the Father knows or believes, or that one religion in which you know very little of could be the wrong one. The Nicene Creed destroyed scholarly study of scripture, deleting and dismissing entire passages based upon the desires of a pagan leader in Constantine. So you easily dismiss what we LDS faithful consider in our faith as Christ Himself actually set in place after the resurrection…that’s mighty narcissistic and vain of you to think that the corruption of the faith that draws nearer to Christ with their lips but still have their hearts far from Him, with grandeur and extreme opulence, fine garments and vainness, political gain and an army corps of pediphilics preying on vulnerable young boys and men…what hubris! Sure, The LDS church has some issues in it’s past, and even if you don’t believe our doctrine or tenets are “correct,” but still the Catholic church takes the cake when it comes to abuse of wealth, association with socialist and communist dogma, and even a strong connection with Nazism, not to mention the forced conversion of non-Catholics during the dark-ages, the crusades and inquisition. If one is forced to believe, do they truly believe? Does anyone really need a cleric to commune with God? Believe as you will, but remember…you open it up to criticism of your own faith when you attack another’s. I could give a fig what Catholics believe…I know that our Heavenly Father will sort it out…not a man.
“So you easily dismiss what we LDS faithful consider in our faith as Christ Himself actually set in place after the resurrection”
An idea with which you agree in principle, since you are so easily dismissing what we Catholic faithful believe that Christ Himself actually set in place after the Resurrection.
“The Nicene Creed destroyed scholarly study of scripture, deleting and dismissing entire passages based upon the desires of a pagan leader in Constantine.”
Flapdoodle. And the more so since it is coming from a man the founder of whose religion created his “scripture” from a hodgepodge of the King James version of the Bible and several works of fiction.
“that’s mighty narcissistic and vain of you”
Someone whose sect believes that members will become gods and form and create their own worlds is not really in a position to accuse anybody of narcissism and vanity.
“Does anyone really need a cleric to commune with God?”
For Holy Communion, yes, one does.
“I could give a fig what Catholics believe”
Which of course is why you came galloping into a Catholic board to pitch a hissy fit and throw insults because people on it have stated the plain fact that Mormon beliefs are not those of Christianity, however much they may borrow words from Christianity and then change their meanings.
“the Catholic church takes the cake when it comes to abuse of wealth”
By which you mean what? Give me examples. The Catholic Church has founded and supported charities, hospitals, schools, and many other things.
“association with socialist and communist dogma,”
Again, what exactly do you mean? That’s a nice, general statement that means nothing. Do you mean because the Church encourages sharing one’s wealth with those less fortunate?
” and even a strong connection with Nazism,”
What connection? The Nazis hated the Church, hated the Pope, and persecuted Catholics.
” not to mention the forced conversion of non-Catholics during the dark-ages,”
There were some forced conversions, and that was wrong.
“the crusades”
The Crusades were an attempt to retrieve the Holy Land from the people who took it by military force. They were not a bad thing in and of themselves.
“and inquisition.”
Which Inquisition do you mean? Against the Albigensians? The Roman Inquisition? The Spanish Inquisition? Be specific, so that your accusations can be addressed, instead of flinging words in randomly.
” an army corps of pediphilics preying on vulnerable young boys and men”
There is no “army corps” of pedophiles. There are some priests who have committed horrible sins, against the teachings of the Church. What they have done is evil. It is a sad fact that people sin.
Your founder, Joseph Smith, however, introduced, as an official tenet of Mormonism, polygamy, and convinced some of his “wives” (some of whom were already married to other men) to “marry” him by telling them that they must to secure their and their families’ salvation (Helen Mar Kimball) or by saying that he himself would be killed by an angel if he didn’t commit polygamy. Strange how so many manmade religions seem to include the idea on the founder’s part that “Cool! I get to have sexual intercourse with as many women as I want!” So, someone whose church had an official policy of promoting evil doesn’t exactly have any standing to criticize the Church because some Catholics sin.
The first Mormon who befriended me was called ‘Tiny’ late seventyish so tall he often dangled his left leg out the pickup window pistol on the dashboard and had a girlfriend. Ramah NM my new mission was built on property he sold to the Franciscans inquired where to find him told the saloon. He invite me for a drink. Baptists called drinking Mormons Jack Mormons. They were the only kind around most tough ranchers from Texas. Tiny was delighted to have a priest in the area and said he would like to ring the church bell on Sundays. His horse Hank roaming free at night would tap on my rectory steps until I appeared. Tiny burst in one day as was his wont with just cut beautiful bark timber for my altar. Needless to say I loved the old guy. I can’t say as much for the non Jack Mormon Mormons who tried to proselytize my parishioners except that their towns were neat and clean.
To call this sect a Church is not a proper Catholic understanding of the word. It is a non Christian sect. To call it simply “non trinitarian religion” is insufficient. It leaves the only impression that it’s Christian just not Trinitarian.
It’s proper to express condolences but to pray for a man of a different religion is problematic.
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt 5:44). Not that he was an enemy. But, there you go. You are correct, however, about “Church.” The LDS is not a “Church” in any truly Catholic sense; not even sure it’s an “ecclesial communion,” as the Mormon understanding of God and Christ are both deeply lacking and wrong.
Nice to know you are an expert on what God the Father knows or believes, or that one religion in which you know very little of could be the wrong one. The Nicene Creed destroyed scholarly study of scripture, deleting and dismissing entire passages based upon the desires of a pagan leader in Constantine. So you easily dismiss what we LDS faithful consider in our faith as Christ Himself actually set in place after the resurrection…that’s mighty narcissistic and vain of you to think that the corruption of the faith that draws nearer to Christ with their lips but still have their hearts far from Him, with grandeur and extreme opulence, fine garments and vainness, political gain and an army corps of pediphilics preying on vulnerable young boys and men…what hubris! Sure, The LDS church has some issues in it’s past, and even if you don’t believe our doctrine or tenets are “correct,” but still the Catholic church takes the cake when it comes to abuse of wealth, association with socialist and communist dogma, and even a strong connection with Nazism, not to mention the forced conversion of non-Catholics during the dark-ages, the crusades and inquisition. If one is forced to believe, do they truly believe? Does anyone really need a cleric to commune with God? Believe as you will, but remember…you open it up to criticism of your own faith when you attack another’s. I could give a fig what Catholics believe…I know that our Heavenly Father will sort it out…not a man.
“So you easily dismiss what we LDS faithful consider in our faith as Christ Himself actually set in place after the resurrection”
An idea with which you agree in principle, since you are so easily dismissing what we Catholic faithful believe that Christ Himself actually set in place after the Resurrection.
“The Nicene Creed destroyed scholarly study of scripture, deleting and dismissing entire passages based upon the desires of a pagan leader in Constantine.”
Flapdoodle. And the more so since it is coming from a man the founder of whose religion created his “scripture” from a hodgepodge of the King James version of the Bible and several works of fiction.
“that’s mighty narcissistic and vain of you”
Someone whose sect believes that members will become gods and form and create their own worlds is not really in a position to accuse anybody of narcissism and vanity.
“Does anyone really need a cleric to commune with God?”
For Holy Communion, yes, one does.
“I could give a fig what Catholics believe”
Which of course is why you came galloping into a Catholic board to pitch a hissy fit and throw insults because people on it have stated the plain fact that Mormon beliefs are not those of Christianity, however much they may borrow words from Christianity and then change their meanings.
“the Catholic church takes the cake when it comes to abuse of wealth”
By which you mean what? Give me examples. The Catholic Church has founded and supported charities, hospitals, schools, and many other things.
“association with socialist and communist dogma,”
Again, what exactly do you mean? That’s a nice, general statement that means nothing. Do you mean because the Church encourages sharing one’s wealth with those less fortunate?
” and even a strong connection with Nazism,”
What connection? The Nazis hated the Church, hated the Pope, and persecuted Catholics.
” not to mention the forced conversion of non-Catholics during the dark-ages,”
There were some forced conversions, and that was wrong.
“the crusades”
The Crusades were an attempt to retrieve the Holy Land from the people who took it by military force. They were not a bad thing in and of themselves.
“and inquisition.”
Which Inquisition do you mean? Against the Albigensians? The Roman Inquisition? The Spanish Inquisition? Be specific, so that your accusations can be addressed, instead of flinging words in randomly.
” an army corps of pediphilics preying on vulnerable young boys and men”
There is no “army corps” of pedophiles. There are some priests who have committed horrible sins, against the teachings of the Church. What they have done is evil. It is a sad fact that people sin.
Your founder, Joseph Smith, however, introduced, as an official tenet of Mormonism, polygamy, and convinced some of his “wives” (some of whom were already married to other men) to “marry” him by telling them that they must to secure their and their families’ salvation (Helen Mar Kimball) or by saying that he himself would be killed by an angel if he didn’t commit polygamy. Strange how so many manmade religions seem to include the idea on the founder’s part that “Cool! I get to have sexual intercourse with as many women as I want!” So, someone whose church had an official policy of promoting evil doesn’t exactly have any standing to criticize the Church because some Catholics sin.
The first Mormon who befriended me was called ‘Tiny’ late seventyish so tall he often dangled his left leg out the pickup window pistol on the dashboard and had a girlfriend. Ramah NM my new mission was built on property he sold to the Franciscans inquired where to find him told the saloon. He invite me for a drink. Baptists called drinking Mormons Jack Mormons. They were the only kind around most tough ranchers from Texas. Tiny was delighted to have a priest in the area and said he would like to ring the church bell on Sundays. His horse Hank roaming free at night would tap on my rectory steps until I appeared. Tiny burst in one day as was his wont with just cut beautiful bark timber for my altar. Needless to say I loved the old guy. I can’t say as much for the non Jack Mormon Mormons who tried to proselytize my parishioners except that their towns were neat and clean.