Soul searching commission: Believe, teach, practice

		Notes from the  Vicar General  Msgr. Paul J. Swain

These past several weeks have been ones of sadness and challenge. They have also encouraged us to do some soul searching about Church, faith, and our fidelity to Christ and his teachings.

There are several victims in the current scandal. First and foremost are those personally hurt, to whom we priests with embarrassment and sincerity apologize, and for whom we pray for healing. Not to the same extent, but also hurt, are the many good priests who over the years have made a profound difference in the lives of those they serve. Hurt as well are the faithful who have, with love and devotion, built and sustained the Church, especially in the parishes, and now justifiably wonder.

When deacons are ordained, the bishop offers the Book of Gospels and says, "Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach." That threefold commission is a good basis for soul searching for all of us.

Believe in the Gospel

What Jesus offers in the Gospels is the invitation to follow him. To do so requires a commitment in good times and in bad. He tells us first to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The proper focus is God first, which lifts us beyond ourselves and the moment to recognize with humility the love he witnessed on the cross.

He calls us to work each day to become better than we are. None of us is perfect enough to judge others. He calls us to remain faithful in the midst of sorrow and suffering, not to be weighted down by our crosses but lifted up in our trust in God's way.

He calls us to own up to our errors and seek forgiveness and healing, not making excuses or deflecting responsibility. He calls us to reach out to others in their need, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable. If we believe only the parts of his teachings that are convenient or comfortable, we will fail his commission.

Teach, practice what we believe

Christ overcomes all sinfulness in this world. The Church is His. We are stewards for only a time. With God all things are possible. If we believe that, we will know that the sadness of these days will pass because in Christ there is always new life.

As priests, as parents, as workers, we teach in a formal way through instruction and words. Whatever our role, we are to teach the fullness of what we believe. We also teach by what we do.

Practicing what we believe and teach is the toughest part of the commission. Often, we may not even be aware of what we teach by our habits and casual comments. There is the old saying: I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. Witness of faith is the greatest teacher. This is a time when public witness is especially needed.

From these days of sadness, challenge, and soul searching can come a deeper faith, a stronger Church, a renewed commitment to follow Christ wherever he leads - if we believe what we read, teach what we believe, and practice what we teach.

Taxes: How high is too high?

		Eye on the  Capitol  John Huebscher

Two columns ago, I suggested a possible linkage between Wisconsin's fiscal difficulties, its commitment to fund two-thirds of elementary and secondary education, and a second commitment to reduce taxes.

The last column discussed education. This column addresses taxes.

Wisconsin's ranking

Those who favor tax cuts and oppose tax increases cite studies that place Wisconsin near the top of lists that rank the 50 states in terms of their tax burden. Exhibit A in this argument is the data that places Wisconsin third among the states in the percentage of state and local taxes per $1,000 of personal income. High taxes hinder Wisconsin's business climate and contribute to a "brain drain" of highly educated Wisconsinites to other places.

Those who disagree with this analysis observe that focusing on state and local taxes fails to include user fees, other assessments on taxpayers, and federal support for state programs that rightly belong in any effort to measure the cost of government.

When these other sources are added, they point out, Wisconsin's ranking falls from third to 20th. Wisconsin also ranks 20th when one measures not taxes, but actual government expenditures per $1,000 of personal income.

Thus it seems comparisons with other states will produce different results depending on the point of reference. No single comparison tells the whole story.

Whatever method one chooses, one must ask: Does it make any difference?

In comparison

If high taxes explain a sluggish business climate or a brain drain, it makes sense to examine a state that seems better off in these regards.

Minnesota comes to mind. Our neighbor to the west is nearly equal to Wisconsin in population and size. Both states boast an abundance of lakes, tourist attractions, and a large agricultural sector. We also endure cold winters unknown to the warm weather states in the Sun Belt.

Minnesota gets high marks for its healthy economy and quality of life. Minnesota is also cited as a preferred destination of educated professionals that account for much of the brain drain mentioned earlier. Minnesota does have the Vikings, but no one is perfect.

People in Minnesota and Wisconsin also share a similar tax burden.

The study that places Wisconsin third in taxes per $1,000 of income puts Minnesota right behind us in fourth place.

If one measures taxes per capita, Minnesota ranks higher, fifth place to Wisconsin's sixth. When one examines all revenue sources, Minnesota and Wisconsin are paired again, at 21st and 20th respectively.

If we compare state and local expenditures per $1,000 of personal income, Wisconsin is 20th and Minnesota 22nd. When we compare state and local expenditures per capita, Minnesota is noticeably higher, sixth among the 50 states while Wisconsin is 15th.

When one examines population growth in the midwestern states between 1990 and 2000, the U.S. Census tells us that Minnesota led the group at 12.4 percent while Wisconsin and Indiana finished in a virtual dead heat for second at just over 9.65 percent. This suggests that having the highest taxes in the Midwest did not prevent Minnesota and Wisconsin from growing at a faster rate than their neighbors.

Common good

Does this mean that holding the line on taxes is a bad thing? Not necessarily. But as we debate the issue, it may be relevant that our taxing and spending habits are pretty similar to those of a neighbor who seems to be doing quite well in attracting new residents and sustaining a healthy economy.

The bottom line is that the prevailing orthodoxy on taxes warrants the same scrutiny as the prevailing orthodoxy on education spending. The common good should be sacrificed to neither.

John Huebscher is executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.