AUGUST 2023 INVESTING IN BUSINESS ISSUE KEEPING THE FAMILY BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS CONTINUE LEGACIES OF GENERATIONS AI TECHNOLOGY RAISES ETHICAL QUESTIONS VATICAN’S ‘GOOD MEASURE’ GUIDES CATHOLIC INVESTORS GENDER IDEOLOGY AND GOD’S DESIGN John Bursch OVERCOMING ENEMIES OF LEADERSHIP Kathie McBroom THE GOSPEL OF WELCOME IN BUSINESS Fr. David Begany, S.S.J.
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08•23 INSIDE VOL 36 • NO 8 10 KEEPING THE FAMILY BUSINESS by Maura Keller Legatus members maintain legacies handed down more than 100 years 16 20 24 AI RAISES MENSURAM THOSE UNIQUE ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KALI9 TROUBLING BONAM: ‘PAINTED CHURCHES’ QUESTIONS WHAT’S NEW? OF HAWAII by Gerald Korson by Jim Graves by Jim Graves Artificial intelligence offers benefits Vatican’s 2022 document offers Bound for the Big Island? Consider but also abundant ethical concerns taking in these historic wonders e|thical Catholic| investing 5guide for legatus.org August 2023
Oxford toasted rolls MORE COVER 08CHAIRMAN’S DESK 37 PHOTO Tom Monaghan: Remembering Marge 40GUEST VOICE Carl Nix Sr. worked from a young age in 09EDITOR’S DESK Kathie McBroom: Battling the enemies of leadership the blacksmithing Gerald Korson: Put AI in the driver’s seat? 48FIVE MINUTES WITH business founded in 26BUSINESS ETHICS Eric Meyer, author of The Catholic Company Man 1902 by his father, Charles. Carl took Fr. Robert Sirico: Be good and faithful servants 50 MEET THE CHAPLAIN over the shop in 28CULTURE OF LIFE Fr. Vincent De Rosa, Washington, D.C. Chapter Poseyville, IN, from his older brothers in John Bursch: Proclaim truth on gender ideology 1924 and managed it until his retirement 30FAITH MATTERS in 1971. Fr. David Begany, S.S.J.: Race and welcoming PHOTO COURTESY OF 32ENGAGING THE FAITH NIX COMPANIES Fr. James V. Schall: Helping people help themselves PAGE PHOTO 35WHAT TO SEE Put the diet on hold Big George Foreman: Boxing great finds redemption for a day — long 36HEALTH MATTERS enough to enjoy these rich and tasty Oxford Fr. C. Ryan McCarthy: Morality of embryo adoption toasted rolls. Joe 37 FEEDING THE FOODIE Micatrotto Sr. offers Joe Micatrotto Sr.: Tasty treats and sweet memories the recipe. BOARD OF GOVERNORS Thomas S. Monaghan Berni Neal Randall W. Hammond Lusant Ordoñez Mark R. Scalise President Ann Arbor Orange County Denver Orlando Jupiter-Palm Beach Stephen M. Henley Legatus Secretary Advent Capital Zenodro Homes Scalise Industries International Chaplain Founder, Chairman & CEO Troy L. King S. Craig Henry Diana Parent Corporation Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano Christopher S. McMahon Orlando Lafayette-Acadiana Fort Wayne Bishop of Bridgeport Pittsburgh Dentistry for Children Bradford Food Group Parke Group Ecclesiastical Advisor MFA Wealth, LLC Treasurer Jerry R. Jones James P. Sarni Most Reverend José H. Gomez Vice Chairman Sean J. Bellew Indianapolis Pasadena Archbishop of Los Angeles Philadelphia Cannon IV Payden & Rygel Bellew, LLC Communications Director Christine V. Owsik Comments, queries and address changes: LEGATUS MISSION STATEMENT: Editor Gerald Korson Legatus Magazine To study, live, and spread the Design Shawna Kunz, Lime Design PO Box 444 Legatus magazine is published 12 times per Catholic faith in our business, Contributing Writer Judy Roberts Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0444 year by Legatus, a membership organization Contributing Writer Jim Graves [email protected] of Catholic presidents and CEOs. professional, and personal lives. Phone: 866-534-2887 © 2023 Legatus Contributing Writer Rachel Hoover All rights reserved Contributing Writer Trent Beattie To advertise, contact: [email protected] Copy Editor Nancy Carabio Belanger Advertising Sales Representative Joe Giacalone
LUKE FRANKE/NAPLES DAILY NEWS InMdaevrogteioMn otnoaghan (1940 - 2023) L egatus founder Tom Monaghan once by Stephen M. Henley said, “A loving wife and family are, to me, essential for a happy and productive Long before Tom made it big in business, of appointments to be with her instead. life. My wife, Margie, was in my corner he and Margie lived very frugally and through all those tough battles … [and] to simply, and he credits her with being the As his biographer, Joseph Pearce, says in say I couldn’t have succeeded without her one so good at saving money. Even with Monaghan: A Life, “[Tom’s] love for Margie would be a tremendous understatement.” their young daughters as toddlers, Marge is unabated, the abiding love of his life, Tom met his wife-to-be, Marjorie Zybach, helped him in the Domino’s Pizza stores rising above all other passions except for in February 1961, right after he’d gone with bookkeeping and customer service. his love of God.” Very family oriented, the into the pizza business. She was a college Marge worked in the Domino’s accounting Monaghans reveled in time with each other, student at Central Michigan University. department for decades, in fact, and their and with their children and grandchildren. Tom had just arrived with a pizza delivery four daughters “grew up in the business,” Tom once said, “The best reason to have there, while she happened to be working working in various facets there as well. kids is because they have kids!” And on the front-desk switchboard. Margie had a profound effect on Tom, not Marge’s love for the family manifested in He recalls, “She was cute,” but in only when they first met, but continually. her doing so much with them, and for them. his shyness he struggled to make Though he had many business colleagues, Up until recently, she still cooked all the conversation. So instead he’d asked partners, and associates over his decades- family holiday and special dinners herself, her what other pizza companies made long successes, the one he most wanted to sometimes for days. deliveries there. “I was smitten with her please was Marge. His years growing up right off the bat,” he says. in a Catholic orphanage after the death And they continued to attend Mass “I sang and hollered as I drove back to the of his dad planted the lifelong seed of his together at the same church where they pizza store,” he recounts. He called her wanting to serve Christ. And then once he were married, St. Thomas Church in back at the school that same night for a made Marge his life partner, he prioritized downtown Ann Arbor. Margie was called movie date. By their third date, he was sure serving her and his family as a foremost home to the Lord on July 3 – the feast of St. she was the one. They were married the part of the Lord’s will. Thomas the Apostle. L following summer, August 25, 1962. In recent years as Marge’s illness worsened, Tom stayed by her side, often STEPHEN M. HENLEY bringing her with him on business is president of Legatus. engagements. At other times he’d bow out 7August 2023 | | legatus.org
CHAIRMAN’S TOM MONAGHAN ST. PHILIP BENIZI DESK (1233-1285) A love that never ends… FEAST DAY: AUGUST 23 [Last month, on July 3, Marjorie the one who had just delivered a pizza, and would CANONIZED: APRIL 12, 1671 E. Monaghan, wife of Tom she go to a movie with me. In a similar fashion, PATRON OF MINOR BASILICA Monaghan, passed away after she too asked who I was. After I explained, she a short bout with leukemia. Last suddenly realized what had happened: she had OF MONTE SENARIO October, Tom penned a column not worked that evening, and another girl, Margie on the occasion of their 60th Zybach, had substituted for her. Saint Philip Benizi was known anniversary. We reprint Tom’s for his brilliance and holiness article below as a loving tribute I called the switchboard and asked to be of life. to Margie.] connected to Margie’s room. Again, I explained that I had just delivered a pizza, and would she Born to a prominent family IT WAS 1961. I HAD just opened go to a movie with me. She said she would. in Italy, among his first words a store in Mount Pleasant near were to urge his mother to give Central Michigan University. The following Monday, I picked her up, and we alms to the Servites. He later I was working seven days a went to a movie. Shortly after, on Valentine’s earned degrees in medicine and week, and on this particular Day, I sent her a heart-shaped pizza. On our philosophy, and served the poor. night I decided to make a second date, I again took her to a show, and delivery myself. afterward we went to a restaurant. It was then After a vision that I knew I wanted to marry her. Not only was of Mary, he The pizza was to a girls’ dorm, I taken by her beauty, but she was wholesome entered the and in those days you went and unpretentious, the kind of girl I wanted to Servites as to the lobby, and the operator spend my life with! a simple lay would call the customer to brother. His come pick up I was determined to ask community the pizza. I was her to marry me, so I recognized his immediately “Margie has been my went to a local jeweler gifts, and he taken by the anchor, and for her whom I knew. I asked COMMUNION OF was ordained operator and him if I could buy a ring SAINTS a priest. He tried, without I am eternally grateful with no money down, became superior general and preached much success, and he agreed. I took throughout Europe as his order to strike up a the ring with me on our grew. conversation. third date. In 1268, upon learning he was I was on a cloud as I drove to the When we got back to her dorm, I didn’t know a candidate for the vacant store and could not stop thinking how to get the words out, so I just handed her the papacy, he fled and hid until about her. When I returned to ring. After some back and forth, she said would another was selected. the store, I called the operator think about it. She said she wouldn’t tell anyone to ask her out. I explained to the but would wear it at night. After seeing her every In 1283, while preaching girl who answered that I was day for a week, she finally agreed to marry me. in Forli, he was physically the person who just delivered a assaulted by a group of youths pizza and asked her if she would In August, Margie and I celebrated our 60th including 18-year-old Peregrine go to a movie. She was indignant anniversary! Through countless ups and downs, Laziosi. Philip’s meek response and asked who I was. It did not and all that has been thrown at us, Margie has led the future St. Peregrine to take long to figure out what had been my anchor, and for her I am eternally grateful. repent and join the order. happened: she had just come So are our four daughters, 10 grandchildren, and on duty, so I was talking to the six great-grandchildren. L While traveling to Todi in wrong girl. his final year, he and his I asked her to ring the room of TOM MONAGHAN companions were accosted by the girl who just got off duty. is Legatus’ founder, chairman, and CEO. two women driven by hunger I then again explained that I was and despair into prostitution. He offered compassion and 8August 2023 | alms, and they turned away from the sex trade. He said to his companions, “What punishment [has] Almighty God in store for those of the heartless and hypocritical rich who drive the poor into slavery like this?” L — Jim Graves | legatus.org
MARK YOUR EDITOR’S GERALD KORSON CALENDARS DESK MEDJUGORJE & Autonomous vehicles CROATIA CRUISE could drive us crazy SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 7, 2023 A DECADE AGO, THE SOCIETY OF Billions have been invested in LiDAR in recent PRIVATE YACHT ADRIATIC CRUISE Automotive Engineers (now SAE years, but not everyone is sold on it. “We do International) defined five levels not envisage using LIDAR,” said Tesla CEO WAITLISTED of autonomy in autonomous Elon Musk, who announced earlier this year vehicles — or six, if you count that Tesla vehicles would instead use radar MEN’S ENCLAVE Level 0, designating traditional to supplement their camera-based Autopilot non-autonomous vehicles system, which provides Level 3 automation. OCTOBER 9-12, 2023 entirely under human control. “LiDAR does not penetrate occlusions, it does BISHOP’S LODGE RESORT Levels 1 and 2 involve driver- not penetrate rain, dust, or snow, whereas radar assistance features like blind- does. … You can’t look at things in front of the car SANTA FE, NM spot warnings and autonomous in front of you.” emergency braking systems WOMEN’S ENCLAVE now familiar on many newer True Level 4 and 5 vehicles — the vision for vehicles. Level 3 is conditional LiDAR development — are not yet available OCTOBER 24-27, 2023 automation, where the vehicle to the consumer market. “Realizing L4/L5 AMERICAN CLUB assumes full driving function capability has proven to be more challenging KOHLER, WI but where the driver than originally envisioned due to must be prepared to technical, safety, regulatory and SUMMIT 2024 resume control upon “What AI cost considerations,” writes Sabbir notification; here the algorithm Rangwala in Forbes. LiDAR more JANUARY 25-27, 2024 driver is essentially a heavily targets the commercial MONARCH BEACH RESORT passenger and co-pilot. would guide market (trucking, logistics, A Level 4 vehicle is the vehicle’s ridesharing) for Level 4 and 5 DANA POINT, CA highly automated and is vehicles while primarily developing capable of performing decision? value-added autonomy features at 2024 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE all driving functions; Level 2 and 3 for consumer vehicles. at Level 5, the vehicle But this could change with time. FEB 23 – MARCH 3, 2024 is fully automated and TIBERIAS, JERUSALEM, AND MORE! requires no driver at all. There is an old simplistic thought experiment in moral decision-making called the “trolley 2024 POLAND PILGRIMAGE A key to developing autonomous problem.” One of its modern variants envisions vehicles is Light Detection and a fully automated vehicle heading full speed MAY 28 – JUNE 6, 2024 Ranging, or LiDAR, a technology toward a crossing where a group of pedestrians KRAKOW, CZESTOCHOWA, AND originally developed by NASA to suddenly emerges from the side. The only evasive track satellites. LiDAR systems action would send the vehicle into a concrete MORE! use pulsed lasers to map a barrier, killing or injuring its occupants. What three-dimensional model of AI algorithm would guide the vehicle’s decision? SCAN HERE FOR an environment quickly and Would it quickly calculate the likely casualty count INFORMATION ON accurately. When these millions for each outcome, or would it be programmed to of pulses-per-second strike save the vehicle’s occupants at all costs, even if it ALL EVENTS objects, the LiDAR sensors means plowing through the pedestrians? calculate distances and “see” FOR MORE INFORMATION: what is around the vehicle — There is no simple moral solution to such a [email protected] buildings, trees, other vehicles, situation — but it might not be a question best OR CALL 866-534-2887 pedestrians, even lane markers. driven by an algorithm. L With the proper algorithm, the AI “brain” of the automated GERALD KORSON vehicle can make effective is editor of Legatus magazine. operating decisions. 9August 2023 | | legatus.org
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WHEN THE FAMILY BUSINESS IS A LEGACY For these Legatus members, operating the family business means continuing a proud tradition handed down from generations past — and doing so with the guiding principles and values they have inherited BY MAURA KELLER The family business has long been a staple in the American economy. According to Score, a nonprofit organization and resource partner of the Small Business Administration, 19 percent of the 28.8 million small businesses in America are family owned. Ranging in size from small “mom and pop” shops to Fortune 500 entities, family businesses generate about 64 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 78 percent of all new jobs. And a whopping 74 percent of family- owned firms report stronger values and culture. Legatus members are at the helm of some of these companies – incorporating their Catholic faith and values to lead these successful enterprises into the future. And some have been handed down within the family for generations going back more than a century. 11August 2023 | | legatus.org
BACKGROUND: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MILANARESLET THEREFred and Dinah Gretsch with some of the Gretsch Company’s music star Chet Atkins. STEPHEN MORTON PHOTOBE MUSICsignature instruments and a portrait of past family CEOsWhen the Beatles made The late Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones their iconic appearance Historically speaking, most played Gretsch drums throughout his career. on The Ed Sullivan Show, family-owned businesses George Harrison played don’t survive past the a Gretsch “Country second generation. Not so Gentleman” guitar, which for the Gretsch Company helped spike guitar sales to in Savannah, GA, which an all-time high. celebrates its 140th Fred Gretsch Jr., grandson anniversary in the musical of the founder, sold the instrument business this company and brand to year. The company presently Baldwin Piano in 1967. But is led by president Fred Dinah Gretsch, who began Gretsch and his wife, Dinah, working for Gretsch while it who serves at the company’s was a Baldwin subsidiary, CFO. Both are founding helped restore the family members of Legatus’ connection until her Savannah Chapter. husband, Fred, could buy back the company in 1984. Gretsch Company was As the fourth generation originally founded in in charge, Fred and Dinah Brooklyn, NY, in 1883 by proudly share their love of Fred’s great-grandfather, “all things music” with the Friedrich Gretsch, then community. “We love being a 27-year-old German able to give back to both immigrant, who made the local and international handcrafted banjos, drums, communities,” Gretsch said. and tambourines. Within “We have a great respect 40 years, Gretsch was the for the Catholic community, largest manufacturer of and we’ve tried to help musical instruments in young people.” the United States. As years As longtime supporters passed, the company of music education, the introduced innovations in Gretsch’s philanthropic the design of drums, began endeavors have made selling branded guitars, a significant impact on and entered a creative organizations and partnership with country The Gretsch Company developed into the largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the United States. 12August 2023 | | legatus.org
individuals in their effort to A SOLID TRADITION All five generations of the Nix “enrich people’s live though family have been practicing participation in music.” The Nix Companies, a diversified commercial and Catholics and members of St. Through the Gretsch Family industrial metal services company in Poseyville, IN, was Francis Xavier in Poseyville, Foundation, Fred and founded in 1902 by Charles Nix, who immigrated to the U.S. a town of 967 people. Dinah regularly donate in his late teens. He worked on a farm in southern Illinois “My brother and I have musical instruments to before establishing a blacksmith shop and eventually moved outside of town, so charity auctions, sponsor moving to Poseyville to start his company. we belong to neighboring nonprofit organizations, and “We have been an uninterrupted business in the same parishes now, but our home contribute funds for other small town ever since,” said Matthew Nix, president parish is still an important initiatives. For example, the and CEO and fifth-generation family member who part of who we are,” Nix said. foundation supports Music works alongside his brother, Adam Nix, vice president of “Recently, our grandfather’s for Mission, a program that operations. Matthew’s wife, Lindsey, is director of training funeral was there. He forms Catholic musicians by and public relations. Matthew and Lindsey are members of received every sacrament establishing scholarships Legatus’ Evansville Chapter. there, including marriage to help with the expense of and his funeral. He built the musical training. Matthew Nix (left) with his father, entrance to the cemetery Dinah established the Mrs. Bill Nix, and grandfather, Sonny Nix where he is buried.” G’s Music Foundation, which Matthew’s recently retired father, Bill Nix, previously served Incorporating the family’s has benefited thousands. as the company’s president, while Lindsey’s semi-retired Catholic identity and shared In 2021, Georgia Southern father, Don Tenbarge, works part-time as a delivery driver values is a core staple of University established the and groundskeeper. how the Nix family runs its Fred and Dinah Gretsch “Tradition and loyalty are both important to us,” said 121-year-old company. School of Music after the Matthew. “Our history has become a large part of our brand, “Strategies and tactics in couple pledged $3 million to and managing the business for longevity and to leave the business must be ever- the college along with their business to the next generation stronger than we found it is changing, but foundational beloved collection of historic important factor in the way we manage the business.” principles and values Gretsch drums, guitars, and shouldn’t change. It’s really archival materials. that simple,” Matthew said. The Gretsch family also “If you are clear about your supports the Legionaries of values, you can attract people Christ, which is striving to who share those values and create a “resource church” in detract those who don’t.” Vienna, Austria, called the One facet of Matthew’s John Paul II Center. “This is a leadership strategy is to key initiative of the Gretsch accentuate the positive Family, all the more so since rather than focus on negative Fred lived in Vienna in 1959 issues. “As Jesus tell us, ‘If you and went to school there,” light a candle, you don’t put it Dinah said. under a basket, you put it on Dinah indicated her stand for all to see,’” he said. partnership with Fred is a key to the Gretsch Company’s success. “We’re both entrepreneur personalities,” she explained. “As Fred said, he works in one area of the business, and I work in another. We support each other. And I think that’s made us successful.” Fred believes the family business will continue to thrive. “There will always be All in the family (from left): Charles, music,” he said. “So, I think Carl, John, Joe, George, and Bill Nix in 1913 our business has one of the best chances to survive.” 13August 2023 | | legatus.org
Barron Industries employees gather for a team photo in 2022 Matthew supports STRONGER TOGETHER employees and families with affirmation. For Bruce Barron, a member of the Detroit Northeast Chapter example, he gives married and CEO and president of Barron Industries, represents the team members wedding third generation at the helm of the family-owned metal anniversary cards thanking casting business founded in 1923. Bruce’s two siblings — them for their example of Greg Barron, vice president for quality and engineering, and commitment to marriage Don Barron, manager of subcontract and logistics — work and family. The company alongside him as the company enters its second century. also has produced a documentary video series, The Life of a Craftsman, that provides a glimpse into some of its employees’ life outside the workplace and shines a light on their images as strong husbands, fathers, coaches, church volunteers, and other exemplary pursuits. “It also showcases the trades Bruce Barron, CEO of Barron Industries and how making an honest “The 100-year mark makes me think of my grandfather, day’s living with your hands father, three uncles, brothers, and sister, but also the is a noble career path,” said thousands of employees that I have known in my 40 Matthew. years with the company and what an honor it is to work He pointed out that family- with so many great folks,” Bruce said. “We will continue operated businesses tend to to focus on a culture of family, but also on innovation and think longer-term, and team implementation of technology to keep us competitive.” members tend to connect The Catholic faith plays a dominant role in the Barron better with family owners business. For example, they embrace incorporating and operators. “I think of the Scripture Joseph Barron founded the company as passage, ‘I know my sheep, Motor and Machinery Castings in 1923. and my sheep know me.’ When Lindsey travels around to our various locations, it matters to our team,” Matthew said. “If they don’t see her for a while, she hears about it. They know we care about them, and therefore they care about their place of work.” 14August 2023 | | legatus.org
symbols of the Catholic and tries to be an example of what it means to be a family “We do this without it faith in the company’s – to show respect and treat others as he would like to be being pushed on anyone, facility, including a full- treated. and we’ve never had any size statue of the Blessed “Family-owned business is unique because you can have complaints,” Bruce said. Mother in the lobby along policy features that are in line with your family values. with various other Catholic Large corporations or public corporations are so black-and- As a member of Legatus, images and statues. They white that it’s difficult to attend to individual employee’s “I am committed to be an also have had priest needs,” Bruce said. ambassador of faith,” Bruce friends celebrate Mass in When your name is on the building, he added, “You are affirmed. “As long as I am the conference room at held to a very high level of expectation in performance and at the helm of the company, noon and had staff from ethics in standing within the community. So, we all work I am committed to live my neighboring companies hard to live up to those expectations.” faith inside and outside of attend as well. The Barron family also strives to have a faith presence in the business.” L To maintain family values various aspects of their day-to-day activities – offering during changing societal prayers and blessings for their employees at the plant. MAURA KELLER times, Bruce said he just is a freelance writer from Minnesota. makes company decisions 15August 2023 | | legatus.org
New technology rAIses questions The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, with its seemingly boundless potential for positive transformation of society, has also brought philosophical concerns and increasing calls for an AI ethic by Gerald Korson ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/NANOSTOCKK 16August 2023 | | legatus.org
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C alls for serious introspection and even a slowdown in A CALL FOR ETHICS the development of artificial intelligence technology have increased in recent months, and they are The Catholic Church is positioning itself to play a pivotal coming not just from ethicists but from key players in the role in the AI conversation. Last month, the Vatican joined technology space as well. with Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Although recognizing the myriad of benefits to business Ethics to found the Institute for Technology, Ethics and and society that are expected to result from the expanded Culture and to publish Ethics in the Age of Disruptive application of AI, they express concern that the technology Technologies: An Operational Roadmap. The 140-page ITEC can be misappropriated for everything from unimaginable Handbook, as it is also known, incorporates the guiding forms of cybercrime and warfare to the spread of skewed or ethical principles based on those expressed in recent false information and the manipulation of U.S. elections. years by Pope Francis and Vatican statements. It proposes practical recommendations to executives and managers for Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla who ethical implementation and management of AI and other acquired Twitter last year, is among those new technologies. sounding the alarm, stating at one point The Vatican’s interest is not new. Back in February 2020, that AI “has the potential of civilization the Pontifical Academy for Life joined representative of destruction.” He was among the 1,000 AI IBM, Microsoft, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture experts who signed a March letter calling Association, and the Italian Ministry of Innovation in Elon Musk for a six-month “pause” in the “dangerous signing the Rome Call for AI Ethics. This document has since race” of AI development in order to assess its been signed by many other corporations, institutions, and risks. religious leaders. “AI systems with The Rome document human-competitive intelligence calls for a new can pose profound risks to society “algorethics,” a term and humanity,” warns the letter. that appears to have “Powerful AI systems should been coined by Pope be developed only once we are Francis himself in confident that their effects will a prior talk to the be positive and their risks will be academy’s XXVI manageable.” General Assembly to In May, Musk repeated some of describe the ethical his concerns to a meeting of top development of business executives. “One of the algorithms. first places you need to be careful In that address, Pope of where AI is used is social media Original signatories of the Rome Call for AI Ethics include (from left) Qu Dongyu, director- Francis reaffirmed a to manipulate public opinion,” he general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations; Brad Smith, president of Microsoft; commitment to serve said in a videolink message to the Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life; Paola Pisano, “every individual in CEO Council Summit in London. head of Italy’s Ministry of Innovation; and John Kelly, executive vice president of IBM. his or her integrity and of all people, In The Age of AI and Our Human Future, published in 2021, without discrimination or exclusion. The complexity of co-authors Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel the technological world,” he went on, “demands of us an Huttenlocher summarize the upsides and cautions AI increasingly clear ethical framework, so as to make this presents in areas such as education, health care, free commitment truly effective.” information, global security, and international order. The Rome Call for AI Ethics echoes the Pope’s call. Noting AI “promises stronger medicines, more efficient and more the “enormous potential” for good that AI represents, it calls equitable health care, more sustainable environmental for new technology to be developed “respecting the inherent practices, and other advances,” the co-authors write. At the dignity” of each person and all natural environments, same time, however, “it has the capability to distort or, at the “taking into account the needs of those who are most very least, compound the complexity of the consumption vulnerable.” It also wishes to ensure that no one is excluded of information and the identification of truth, leading some from AI’s benefits and “to expand those areas of freedom people to let their capacities for independent reason and that could be threatened by algorithmic conditioning.” judgment atrophy.” The Rome document summarizes three key AI “impact Emerging technologies like AI push humans beyond the areas” as ethics, education, and human rights. It further confines of their own perceptions of reality, but humans offers six broad principles — transparency, inclusion, may find that even these technologies have their limits. responsibility, impartiality, reliability, and security and “Our problem is that we have not yet grasped their privacy — to govern AI development and implementation philosophical implications,” say the three authors. “We are (see sidebar). The new ITEC Handbook expands and builds being advanced by them, but automatically rather than on these principles. consciously.” 18August 2023 | | legatus.org
BUT WHOSE ETHICS? In a recent opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, however, Peggy Noonan raised a further cautionary note. Any AI “pause” should be measured not in months, but years, she said. But more importantly, whose ethics will guide the future of AI? The 1,000 signatories of the letter Peggy Noonan calling for the pause, the same men who invented the internet and developed Big Tech, “are now solely in charge of erecting the moral and ethical guardrails for AI,” ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DEMAERRE Noonan warned. “This is because they are the ones creating AI. Which should give us a shiver of real fear.” From her perspective, these Silicon Valley tech 6 principles of experts’ actions over the past 40 years reveal them ‘algorethics’ to be “morally and ethically shallow” and “uniquely self-seeking.” And AI, Noonan concluded, “will be as [W]e must set out from the very beginning of each benign or malignant as its creators.” algorithm’s development with an “algorethical” vision, i.e., an approach of ethics by design. Designing and planning Not everyone is as critical of Big Tech leaders. AI systems that we can trust involves seeking a consensus among political decision-makers, UN system agencies “Since I have begun meeting and talking with senior and other intergovernmental organizations, researchers, representatives of Silicon Valley, especially those the world of academia and representatives of non- working in the area of artificial intelligence and governmental organizations regarding the ethical principles machine learning, I have been impressed by their that should be built into these technologies. desire to maintain high ethical For this reason, the sponsors of the call express their desire standards for themselves and for their to work together, in this context and at a national and industry,” writes Bishop Paul Tighe, international level, to promote “algorethics,” namely the secretary in the Vatican’s Dicastery ethical use of AI as defined by the following principles: of Culture and Education, in his prefatory note in the ITEC Handbook. 1 Transparency: in principle, AI systems must be This desire, he added, “reflects both an explainable; intrinsic commitment to doing good and a realistic aversion to the risk of 2 Inclusion: the needs of all human beings must be taken reputational damage and long-term into consideration so that everyone can benefit and all Bishop Paul Tighe commercial harm.” individuals can be offered the best possible conditions to express themselves and develop; It remains to be seen whether all stakeholders in the advancement of AI technology will collaborate in 3 Responsibility: those who design and deploy the use of creating an ethical roadmap going forward, or even AI must proceed with responsibility and transparency; whether such agreement is possible. But the desire seems to be there among some influential voices. 4 Impartiality: do not create or act according to bias, thus safeguarding fairness and human dignity; “AI is incredibly promising technology that can help us make the world smarter, healthier, and more 5 Reliability: AI systems must be able to work reliably; prosperous,” said IBM vice president John Kelly III after signing the Rome Call for AI Ethics. “But only if it 6 Security and privacy: AI systems must work securely is shaped at the outset by human interests and values.” and respect the privacy of users. These principles are fundamental elements of good The authors of The Age of AI seem to agree with both innovation. parts of Kelly’s statement. — From Rome Call for AI Ethics “AI is a grand undertaking with profound potential benefits,” write Kissinger, Schmidt, and Huttenlocher. “Humans are developing it, but will we employ it to make our lives better or to make our lives worse?” L GERALD KORSON is the editor of Legatus magazine. 19August 2023 | | legatus.org
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From the Vatican, a ‘good measure’ of investment guidance The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences’ 2022 document Mensuram Bonam offers a faith-based model for investors. Here’s reaction and analysis from some top Catholic investment experts by Jim Graves 21August 2023 | | legatus.org
In 2022, The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences released Mensuram Bonam (“Good Measure”), a 46-page document on faith-based measures for Catholic investors. The guide encourages investors to integrate Catholic social teaching into their investment decisions and offers a model by which institutions can establish clear investment policies consistent with those teachings. In the United States, many Catholic Christians First “It also issues a compelling call to consider institutions and investment firms follow our investing as a source — a means — of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic investment experts doing good,” said Kelly. “It urges Catholics Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines, familiar with Mensuram to ‘put our money to work’ serving the which were first published in 1991 and Bonam are of mixed opinion common good, protecting our common updated most recently in 2021. The USCCB as to how the new Vatican home, and protecting and building up guidelines reflect the conference’s own guidelines should affect human life.” investment policies but are likewise Catholic investor practices. recommended “to others who wish to be He acknowledged that like the USCCB’s own both ethical and responsible to the common “Catholic investors are guidelines, the Vatican guide leaves room good in the investments they make,” states Christians before they are for discernment and prudential judgment in the introduction. investors. This, to me, is the making investment decisions. The 2021 USCCB revision maintains foundational a strong stance against investments contribution “I don’t expect in companies that support evils like of Mensuram Catholic investment that everyone abortion, pornography, human cloning, contraceptives, and certain weapons of Bonam,” said experts familiar with will draw the war but adds to that list of exclusions Patrick Kelly, same practical practices such as euthanasia, assisted supreme knight Mensuram Bonam conclusions,” suicide, in vitro fertilization, gender reassignment treatment or surgery, human of the Knights are of mixed opinion said Kelly. rights violations, gambling, tobacco, and of Columbus, “What is clear, recreational cannabis. In addition, the which offers as to how the new though, is 2021 update says investors “should not” investment Vatican guidelines that Catholics invest in companies that violate certain environmental standards or fail to comply services should affect Catholic cannot not with the UN Global Compact Environmental through Knights engage in Principles launched in 2000. of Columbus investor practices discernment The USCCB update also encourages investors to become more proactive Asset Advisors. in their in engaging with corporations so as to “It is a reminder investments.” encourage positive change and in seeking to Catholics around the new impact investing opportunities that world that every decision Mensuram Bonam is careful to draw support Catholic social teaching. we make with our resources distinctions between Catholic social Mensuram Bonam takes a similar approach is a moral decision.” teaching on investing and the popular ESG to moral and ethical investment decisions, concerns that occupy so many companies arguably going further to propose an Mensuram Bonam today: the document, Kelly noted, clearly integration of Catholic social teaching with “underlines the reality that states that “ESG is not a synonym” for elements of so-called “environmental, there are companies whose Catholic social teaching. social, and governance” issues, or ESG, products, practices, and which encompass broad concerns such commitments are immoral, Some deeply important as climate change and sustainability. and that Catholics must both dimensions of the Church’s Although noting flaws in ESG, the Vatican acknowledge that fact and social teaching escape document draws these issues more make good, moral decisions the ESG lens. Mensuram intimately into the conversation. that correspond,” stressed Bonam notes that a firm Kelly, a member of the could score high on ESG Fairfield County Chapter. criteria while producing or marketing a product The document goes beyond incompatible with the the simple identification of norms and values of the Patrick Kelly moral dangers, he pointed Catholic faith. out. “Not all self-described ‘moral’ investing is the same,” Kelly said. August 2023 | 22 | legatus.org
Reflecting beliefs firms — BlackRock, they fund or might consider funding support Vanguard, and State Street agendas opposed to their faith. George Schwartz, a 25- — which collectively are the “We need to be proud of our Catholic faith year member of Legatus’ largest shareholder in most and ensure our investments reflect what we Ann Arbor Chapter who S&P 500 firms. These firms believe,” he stated. is chairman and CEO of leverage this position to George Schwartz Schwartz Investment promote ESG investing and Time for self-examination Counsel, offered a different lead companies to pursue take on Mensuram Bonam. high “Corporate Equality Kelly believes Catholic business leaders He described the document Index” scores as determined should take the moral analysis of both as “a mile wide and a half- by the Human Rights Mensuram Bonam and the USCCB inch deep.” Campaign, an LGBTQ+ guidelines and look at their own business lobbying group. practices, products, and commitments in His Catholic advisory board, he explained, The result of that “Big Three” light of each. screens out investments that support influence, he said, is that abortion, stem-cell research, contraceptives, leaders of companies who The Knights follow USCCB guidance in and pornography just as Mensuram Bonam otherwise would have informing their investment process, he suggests but does not have an interest in little interest in the culture said, with multiple layers of screening and other topics the document includes, such as wars are pressured to safeguarding as well as an ongoing process “climate change, green genetic engineering, support legalized abortion, of evaluating potential securities. minerals and mining, armaments, violent celebrate homosexuality games and toys.” and transgenderism, and “These documents offer a chance for deeper advocate policies in line reflection on what leaders can do through Ninety-eight percent of his 100,000 with critical race theory their businesses in order to promote the shareholders say their primary moral concern — problematic issues that good,” he said. “What do my products is opposition to abortion, Schwartz affirmed. often get attached to the accomplish? How can I treat my employees ESG agenda. with the dignity they deserve? What kind of “I did not find this document to be useful or “They have the power to culture am I creating in my business, what are helpful in managing our funds,” he said. “I approach the boards of the our commitments, and how can the business applaud it for opposing abortion, but it goes on companies and tell them, help people — especially families — flourish?” ‘If you don’t support these to address too many things.” things, we can vote you out,’” McMahon said. For Chris McMahon, He encouraged Catholic In this confused moral moment, “It’s Legatus’ vice chairman investors to make use of imperative that Catholic business leaders of the board and founder new technology to analyze not only avoid evil but also serve as beacons of MFA Wealth and their investments in order to for what a moral Christian business looks Aquinas Wealth Advisors, discover whether companies like,” Kelly said. “We can bear witness to the Mensuram Bonam provides fact that you can be successful in business an opportunity to reflect on and foster the common good.” L the oversized influence of Chris McMahon the “Big Three” investment JIM GRAVES is a contributing writer for Legatus magazine. ‘Neither the first ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DNY59 nor the last word’ “It is important for all of us, especially investors, … to act, talk and meet on a regular basis to monitor, review, and propose adjustments to the shared project (and shared responsibility) for integral development in all its forms. Sharing in such dialogue is critical considering, in particular, the permanent process of innovation that is taking place in the financial sector. Neither the first nor the last word on faith-consistent investing, [Mensuram Bonam] will continue to contribute to the flow of good measures.” — Mensuram Bonam, 51 August 2023 | 23 | legatus.org
say aloha to the ‘painted churches’ Headed for the islands this month for a late-summer vacation? Take time to check out these three beautifully adorned Catholic churches that grace the shores of the Big Island of Hawaii by Jim Graves Visitors to Hawaii with an penalty of death for having broken the kapu, or sacred laws. temperatures and more interest in art and church Catholic missionaries first arrived there in the South Kona fertile land. history might consider region in 1842 and established St. Francis Regis Chapel A self-taught artist, visiting one of the islands’ on the shore of Honaunau. At the end of the 19th century, Fr. Velghe painted the lesser-known gems: three a Sacred Hearts priest from Belgium, Fr. John Berchmans choir behind the altar Catholic churches with Velghe, arrived, and he renamed and moved the church of St. Benedict’s interior exquisitely painted interiors to its current to replicate the Gothic that date from as far back as location. He did Cathedral of Burgos in the mid-19th century. this because most Spain. His murals in All three churches — St. of the region’s the sanctuary include Benedict in Captain Cook, villagers had biblical scenes such as the Star of the Sea in Pahoa, moved two miles temptation of Christ, the and St. Theresa in Mountain up the slopes of story of Cain and Abel, and View — are to be found on Mauna Loa, an the finger writing on the the main island of Hawaii. active volcano wall at King Belshazzar’s It’s little more than a 100- and one of five feast, along with depictions mile drive from Captain on the island, in of hell, a “good death,” and Cook to Pahoa and another search of cooler much more. The ceiling of 18 miles to Mountain View, the church is themed to the so to visit all three in a Fr. John Berchmans Velghe island with palm fronds and single day is reasonable sky. should one set out to do so. Interior of St. Benedict’s Church, Captain Cook (and above) Saint Benedict is a major ST. BENEDICT tourist attraction. Mass CHURCH, is offered five times each CAPTAIN COOK week, and the church is open to visitors three days Saint Benedict Church, a week. Penny Burgess, situated on the island’s a longtime employee of western shore between the church, recommends Kealakekua Bay and touring with the parish Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, guide, who can point out is the oldest of the details otherwise easily three painted churches. missed. In the painting Kealakekua Bay is where of hell, for example, one the first European explorer of the damned is Queen to visit the island, Captain Kaahumana, a 19th-century James Cook, was killed in Hawaiian ruler who banned 1779, and Pu’uhonua o Catholic missionaries in Honaunau is a national 1827 and Catholic worship park that was once a refuge among islanders in 1830. for those who were under These bans were rescinded under King Kamehameha August 2023 | 24 | legatus.org
II in 1839 after French from Hilo, HI, continued adding to the interior. Among their The church has been warships threatened to images is the story of St. Damien de Veuster, who served decommissioned but fire on the island unless on the Big Island before moving to Molokai to minister to remains open to visitors. religious liberty were those with leprosy. They also depict more biblical scenes, Mass is celebrated on first restored. the stations of the cross, and the sacraments. One image, Fridays of each month. Burgess also noted how Ka Rosario, teaches visitors to pray the Rosary with Saint Theresa Church is the palm fronds Fr. Velghe instructions in the Hawaiian language. located in Mountain View painted on the ceiling are along the Volcano Road/ both alive and dead, with Highway 11 between Hilo the live ones pointing to the and Hawaii Volcanoes altar and the dead ones to National Park. It too was the exit. built by Fr. Gielen in 1936, “Father used the paintings who painted most of its as teaching tools because ceiling and side panels by of the language barrier hand. Its images include between him and the local the Nativity, the miraculous population,” she explained. catch of fish, Jesus’ “He was demonstrating that temptations, the Crucifixion, as long as we keep our focus the parable of the Pharisee on God, we have life; and and the publican, and if we walk away from him, Christ’s Second Coming. we’ll experience eternal death.” Father Gielen funded the The church suffered the work by asking members of effects of termites and the congregation to sponsor humidity over the years, but or contribute to each major a 1980s restoration rebuilt work. He would paint the walls and the roof while images in his Pahoa rectory maintaining the integrity of and then hang them on the the paintings. walls in St. Theresa. ON THE EASTERN Church employee Dana SHORE Jones noted that St. Theresa also is popular among Star of the Sea Church in tourists, particularly Pahoa is a small, wooden those who visit the nearby church painted a pale green volcanos. on the outside but covered with vibrant, Star of the Sea Church, Pahoa (and interior, above) There was once a fourth colorful murals on painted church its interior. Located that stood on the on the eastern shore Big Island near of the island along Kealia, not far Highway 130, it was from St. Benedict: built by another Maria Lanakila, Belgian priest, Fr. or Our Lady of Evarist Matthias Victory Church. Gielen, in 1938. Built in 1860, it Using an oil lantern was destroyed in by night, Fr. Gielen an earthquake painted its domed that accompanied ceilings with images a 1950 volcanic of angels, saints, eruption. Remnants and scenes from of its interior Scripture. artwork can be Two other artists viewed in the painted other Bishop Museum in portions of the Honolulu. L church. George Heidler from Athens, JIM GRAVES GA, and George Lorch is a contributing writer for Legatus magazine. St. Theresa Church, Mountain View: Art depicting Christ’s Second Coming (left) and the miraculous catch of fish August 2023 | 25 | legatus.org
BUSINESS FR. ROBERT SIRICO ETHICS Investing advice from Jesus: Be faithful and productive THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE Christian life, even though that may not be the Parable of the Talents, by A.N. Mironov WIKIMEDIA COMMONS of professionals available ultimate point of the parable. who can provide sound and In this parable, the master makes an investment history, condemning it for extracting rather than strategic ethical investment in his three servants during his absence. We creating wealth. Essentially, they accuse it of advice. However, in this observe his meticulous attention to detail, reaping where it has not sown, all while enjoying essay, I would like to offer a demonstrating that this investment is not the benefits of its bountiful harvest. contemplation on investment arbitrary but carefully evaluated. Instead and ethics of a different kind recognizing the unique abilities of each servant, Reflecting on the economic sense of the story, by looking at a parable of Jesus. he distributes the resources “according to their ownership and investment are intrinsic aspects Did Jesus really provide ability,” a crucial phrase to comprehend the of life. They are dynamic. If we hold contempt investment advice? It is a fair profound depths of the parable. for the master’s intentions and character, how question because reflections As the servants begin to employ this investment, can we consider collaboration with him a on the parables are often not their faithfulness comes to the forefront. worthwhile endeavor? The fact that this servant considered from an economic Let’s look at the last servant who, out of fear, makes no attempt to be productive is, in itself, a perspective at all. buries the one talent he has been given. While failure to acknowledge the initial gift received. So, how can we begin to think safeguarding valuables in such a manner was about one of the most well- an acceptable practice in that era, his motivation known parables, which should reveals something deeper here. be of great interest to Legatus The problem lies in this servant’s fundamental members? I am referring to perception of his benefactor. As he presents his the Parable of the Talents (see defense, he argues that he kept the property Matt. 25:14-30). Interestingly, safe, implying that he thinks not losing what was the word “talent” was used in entrusted to him somehow fulfills his obligation. Jesus’ time as an economic The master sees things differently (v. 28). unit, signifying something of great value. The story holds many “[O]wnership and This servant layers of meaning, but displays at its core, it revolves contempt for around the question investment are intrinsic his benefactor, of how we should aspects of life betraying the utilize the resources trust shown entrusted to us by God. to him. He Our calling is to be faithful with the trust that On a temporal level, further offers God places in us and to be productive with it. We this parable explores a derogatory should become a community of entrepreneurs concepts of capital, investment, and inaccurate assessment of the master, in moral, spiritual, and material dimensions, entrepreneurship, and the stating that “I knew you were a demanding employing prudent risk borne out of trust in appropriate utilization of person, harvesting where you did not plant the goodness of the Grand Benefactor. When scarce economic resources. and gathering where you did not scatter; so out the master returns, our faithfulness will be It also delves into the risks of fear, I went off and buried your talent in the evaluated, and we shall be deemed proven involved in their deployment. ground. Here it is back” (v. 25, NABRE). faithful. L The use of business as a simile for the Kingdom of This antagonistic envy and defensiveness FATHER ROBERT A. SIRICO God directly challenges the bears a resemblance to a Marxist view of is president emeritus and co-founder of the notion that there is an inherent entrepreneurs. Many individuals in our society Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI. His latest contradiction between point accusatory fingers at the most productive book is The Economics of the Parables (Regnery business success and the and free economic experiment in human Publishing). August 2023 | 26 | legatus.org
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CULTURE OF JOHN BURSCH LIFE God’s love and design counter gender ideology MODERN CULTURE IS eternal exchange of inundating us with gender love between God the ideology, the belief that Father and God the everyone can choose for Son proceeds God the themselves whether they are Holy Spirit. Similarly, male, female, both, neither, or the love between a something in between. God’s man and woman natural law and the Catholic in a sacramental Church provide us with the marriage can be so response to this misguided and strong it requires dangerous philosophy. its own name: a “son” or “daughter.” It all begins with a proper As Christopher understanding of love, which West explains, the ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/RONNIECHUA is neither a feeling nor simply communion of giving in to what someone persons established wants. Christian love is an by marriage is, in a intentional act: willing the way, an “icon” of the good of the other. Sometimes Trinity’s inner life. another’s good coincides with that person’s desire, but not Since God designed us male and female in those treated with puberty blockers, cross-sex always. We would never let with purpose, we know there will be adverse hormones, and surgery. Personal stories from a child touch a hot stove, no consequences if we thwart that purpose. We do detransitioners — those who took such steps, matter how much they want not have to follow God’s moral law, just like we then sought once again to present as their actual to do so, because we know the do not have to follow the instructions in a car sex — confirm these outcomes and the lack child would be burned. owner’s manual. But in either case, if we neglect of adequate information they received before the instruction book, things go downhill quickly, making such a profound decision. Next, we need to consider and neither we nor the car will flourish the way God’s purpose for giving us the Maker intended. And the harm is not limited to those undergoing sexed bodies. Our transition. As a result of aggressive government body-soul unity is In the case of our policies, males identifying as females are not an arbitrary “We must proclaim the bodies, science replacing women in athletic competitions and assignment; it truth about the body and bears out that on the winner’s podium and occupying women’s makes us who we intuition. Studies shelters, prisons, dormitories, and showers. are. And when a human sexuality with of brain structure man and a woman compassion and pastoral and function We must proclaim the truth about the body and become “one body” have not shown human sexuality with compassion and pastoral in a sacramental accompaniment any conclusive accompaniment. The lie that we control our own marriage, they biological basis destiny and cannot trust God is the same one the are a selfless gift for transgendered serpent told in the Garden of Eden. We should to each other identity. From a embrace our God-given sex because it is a gift; emotionally, spiritually, and scientific perspective, there is no such thing as a rejecting that gift hurts us and our brothers and physically. They hold nothing “boy trapped in a girl’s body” or vice versa. sisters in Christ. L back, even their reproductive capacity, which allows them to Indeed, there is a recent global shift away JOHN BURSCH is vice president of appellate co-create new life with God. from using gender affirmation as the first-line advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom and response to gender-dysphoric youth because owns Bursch Law, PLLC. He is a three-time past God’s design for our bodies there is no consensus that such affirmation president of Legatus’ Grand Rapids Chapter. His tells us something beautiful advances a child’s good. Quite the opposite, there new book is Loving God’s Children: The Church about God’s nature. From the are a whole host of negative outcomes observed and Gender Ideology (Sophia Institute Press). August 2023 | 28 | legatus.org
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FAITH FR. DAVID BEGANY, S.S.J. MATTERS Living the ‘welcome gospel’ in the business community THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, Recognize in your neighbor a ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DELMAINE DONSON to which we all strive to bear person like yourself: made in witness in our personal and God’s image and endowed with And in that regard, we continue to see the professional lives, is the the same human rights as you, unfortunate reality that the black community gospel of life and the gospel starting with life itself. is targeted by the abortion industry. Though of welcome. God gives us life, Such love drives out African-American women make up about both human and divine, and discrimination, beginning 13 percent of the childbearing population, welcomes us into His Body. with what Pope St. John Paul they have about a third of the abortions. We receive this II called “the most unjust of incomprehensible gift with discriminations,” abortion (see This is not due to a lack of reverence for life, but gratitude, and we also realize Evangelium Vitae, 20). in part because of the racism which is at the that it brings with it a serious, Love also drives out all traces root of the abortion industry. In recent years, far-reaching obligation: of racism and welcomes our even representatives of Planned Parenthood, “Welcome one another, then, neighbors despite any racial the nation’s largest abortion cartel, explicitly as Christ welcomed you, for differences. In fact, as our acknowledged the racist roots of their the glory of God” (Rom. 15:17). Priests for Life colleague organization in Margaret Sanger. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we and board member Alveda King never tires of also must love one another” saying, “We are one race — the human race.” The trauma of abortion renews the pain in the (1 John 4:11). psyche of the black community that originally flows from slavery and segregation. Those evils, Indeed, this logical and In my work, I minister God’s welcome to the combined with abortion, are a painful denial of supernatural connection unborn as the newest pastoral associate of personhood. between the love of God Priests for Life. I am also a Josephite priest, and love of neighbor is most and the mission of our community, St. Joseph’s We have the opportunity daily to counteract fundamentally expressed Society of the Sacred Heart, is precisely to serve that with words and actions that affirm our in the second of the two the African-American community. black brothers and sisters, born and unborn, in greatest commandments: the dignity they possess from God and in our “Love your neighbor as The work of Legatus can likewise foster this common call to welcome and serve one another. yourself” (Matt. 22:39). twofold work of the gospel as our black brothers L and sisters find welcome in the business While most think of that to community, whether as executives or employees. FATHER DAVID BEGANY, S.S.J., mean, “Love your is a pastoral associate with Priests for Life. neighbor to the Such welcome, same extent that “Love … welcomes our experienced in just you love yourself,” neighbors despite any wages — and in the we can perhaps opportunity to climb better understand racial differences the corporate ladder it to mean, “Love as a result not of some your neighbor artificial equity, but as a as a person like result of hard work — is yourself.” refreshing to a community in which the wounds of segregation are often still far too fresh. In other words, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the Our black brothers and sisters furthermore differences that exist between appreciate the mentoring and the your neighbor and you make encouragement extended to them in the your neighbor less valuable Christian business community especially as than you, or less of a person they face circumstances that make home and than you. family life particularly challenging. August 2023 | 30 | legatus.org
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ENGAGING THE FR. JAMES SCHALL, S.J. FAITH Political order exists to help citizens meet basic needs WITHIN THE CITY, ISSUES OF and shelter for good and evil are everywhere a people on a present. They are manifested massive scale is a ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/BYMURATDENIZ in the lives of the citizens. modern invention. CATECHISM The diversity The state, in its Augustinian Generally, we know 101 of political concept, exists primarily to how to do this. If regimes is mitigate the enormous power people have not of evil that occurs in public a sufficiency in morally acceptable, provided life through the actions of basic areas, it is they serve the legitimate good individual citizens within it. most often due to political or ideological reasons of the communities that adopt This idea is more complicated or moral corruption, not to a lack of knowledge them. Regimes whose nature because the state apparatus about how such goods are produced. Many is contrary to the natural law, itself may be the source of the refuse to learn or apply what is known to produce to the public order, and to the greatest of the evils. “Who what is necessary. They prefer dishonest means. fundamental rights of persons shall watch the watchdogs?” cannot achieve the common is a political saying of great Arguments between free markets and socialism good of the nations on which moral insight. The rulers are persist. The political order is usually a support for they have been imposed. themselves human beings the economic order and should not itself become subject to original sin. identified with it. The relationship between the Catechism of the two is mutual; both need each other. Catholic Church, #1901 Actual cities are in part Both the Old and SCRIPTURE Therefore the domain of “[O]ur aim is not to help New Testaments 101 he who justice. The first someone else but to presume that “the resists the responsibility of poor” will always authorities a civil society is enable everyone to help be with us. Yet the resists what to provide for at himself in a fair exchange relative riches of least a minimum others can make God has appointed, and those of just order. This us feel poor even who resist will incur judgment. responsibility if we already have For rulers are not a terror will include what we need. The to good conduct, but to bad. the power of coercion, that requirements of neighbors are looked on both Would you have no fear of is, courts, army, and police. as individual responsibilities and as political him who is in authority? Then At present in the world, we ones. Indeed, one of the most obvious things that do what is good, and you will find perhaps two hundred give glory within the city is its capacity to assist receive his approval, for he is political entities, most of which citizens in their basic needs. God’s servant for your good. have within them subsidiary bodies that carry out various The proper way of any political order to Romans 13:2-4 functions of justice and order. provide for everyone is to enable people to help themselves. Looked at in this way, our aim is not Aristotle and Plato did to help someone else but to enable everyone to not think that politics and help himself in a fair exchange. L economics were the same. The provision of material Excerpted and adapted from Reasonable Pleasures: The Strange Coherence of well-being was not the primary Catholicism, by Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. (Ignatius Press, 2013), pp. 131-133. function of the polity, though FATHER JAMES V. SCHALL, S.J. everyone recognized that such (1928-2019), was a prolific author of things needed to be provided. Producing and distributing books and essays. For many years he was a sufficient food, clothing, popular professor of political philosophy at Georgetown University. August 2023 | 32 | legatus.org
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WHAT TO READ The Art of Principled the work and those who solution to every problem perfection Entrepreneurship: Creating are served. The idea is to that exists, to every issue of God is to Enduring Value create “win-win solutions” that divides one group from seek perfect Andreas Widmer for both the consumers and another whether within holiness, Matt Holt Books, 264 pages all stakeholders, thereby the Church or in the wider which Christ becoming a “force for good.” culture. To transform a world models Andreas Widmer, associate Finally, he offers strategies for of sin into the kingdom of for us — a professor of entrepreneurship teaching these principles to God seems a daunting task, perfection at Catholic University of the next generation of leaders. especially when Christians not fully An inspiring work. themselves are at odds with possible in America’s each other. But as Larry S. this life but one that defines Busch Confessions of a Catholic Chapp sets forth here, the first the journey of Christian School of Worker step in that transformation discipleship. The Second Business, Larry S. Chapp is for each Christian to shine Vatican Council affirms that has penned Ignatius Press, 224 pages forth as a witness by living this call to holiness is for this completely for Christ. everyone, laity as well as penetrating Has there clergy and religious. Saint guide to the ever been a Holiness for Everyone: The Josemaria Escriva was a practice of time when Practical Spirituality of St. 20th-century proponent of lay virtue for the Catholic Josemaria Escriva holiness who founded Opus business leaders. Beginning faith and the Eric Sammons Dei. This fine volume lays out with insights gleaned from world itself Sophia Institute Press, 160 pages practical means by which the life of Wine Group were not in a lay person can advance founder Art Ciocca, Widmer the midst of “You, therefore, must be in holiness — and toward outlines five “pillars” of an one crisis perfect, as your heavenly sainthood — in any walk of entrepreneurial mindset or another? Father is perfect,” said Jesus life. L that prioritizes the dignity To live the message of Christ to the crowd in his Sermon of the human person, both radically offers the ultimate on the Mount. To seek the in relation to those who do August 2023 | 34 | legatus.org
WHAT TO SEE Big George Foreman: how a fallen heavyweight champion found redemption GEORGE FOREMAN ROSE FROM streaming services. It’s a supporting performances by obscurity to win Olympic real-life Rocky tale of rise Sullivan Jones as the taunting gold and eventually to deck and fall and redemption, told and pompous Muhammad the seemingly inconquerable within the usual confines of Ali and Matthew Glave as the Joe Frazier and be crowned cinematic efficiency. nasally sports commentator world heavyweight boxing Critics who say the film Howard Cosell. Neither is a champion in 1973. His sojourn lacks depth aren’t wrong: spot-on impersonation, but at the top would not last long, this is a bullet-point account each is close enough to be however, as Muhammad Ali of Foreman’s life that hits entertaining. would wrest the title from highlights and lowlights the previously undefeated without dwelling much on In case anyone is Big George Foreman Foreman the next year. character study. His Christian wondering, there are no real Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker, Sonja Sohn, Foreman soon would have a faith that emerges from his entrepreneurial insights religious epiphany, retire, and near-death experience also to be gleaned from the Sullivan Jones, Jasmine Mathews become a preacher. After nine goes virtually unexplored, 129 min. • Rated PG-13 years, however, he returned although it bears fruit in to boxing, recapturing a his commitment to serve wild success of his “George film and generally a family- heavyweight title at the age underprivileged youths. Foreman Lean Mean Grilling friendly one at that, with of 45. George Foreman preaches, Machine” – which, although only a few mild instances That’s the true story behind but Big George Foreman convenient, is little more than of language and boxing Big George Foreman, which doesn’t get preachy. an electric panini maker with action that is fierce but not had a decent theatrical run Acting is good throughout, a slanted grill surface that gratuitous. For not-too- and is now available on but particularly enjoyable are drains grease. But it wound up demanding viewers, it packs a making him millions. punch. L Big George Foreman is, GERALD KORSON however, a very enjoyable is editor of Legatus magazine. August 2023 | 35 | legatus.org
HEALTH FR. C. RYAN MCCARTHY MATTERS Adopt frozen embryos? Arguments pro and con IN VITRO FERTILIZATION, OR IVF ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/TOPMICROBIALSTOCK — the joining of human eggs and sperm in the laboratory to create embryos that are frozen for future implantation into the uterus — is used increasingly in some otherwise infertile women. Many of these frozen embryos are never implanted. There is no registry of abandoned embryos, but it is believed they number in the hundreds of thousands or millions. The Church, recognizing the inherent dignity of the life possessed by the embryo and the goodness of marriage as “the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood,” has Some faithful Catholic theologians argue that act that brought him or her into existence. The struggled to form a response to there is currently no ethical solution except solution, they go on, is simple: the embryo can be the needs of these abandoned to preserve the embryos in their frozen state; adopted. human beings. others argue in favor of some form of adoption of the embryos. Adoption establishes a real relationship of child The Church has always seen to parent, the argument continues. An adopted IVF as opposed to the dignity Those opposed to embryo adoption argue that child has a natural right to be sheltered and of the human person because Dignitas Personae has stated authoritatively nourished by his or her parents. In the case of an it makes the potential child a that the problem “cannot be resolved.” They say embryo, this can take place only in the mother’s product of technology instead seeking pregnancy outside of sexual relations womb. The Church teaches that marriage of the fruit of an within marriage is is directed to the procreation and raising of act of love. It points intrinsically evil and children. Implanting the embryo is a fulfillment to the freezing “The Church has violates the marital of the parents’ obligation to raise the child and of embryos as bond. is neither an attempt to procreate illicitly nor to another indignity always seen IVF as Those favoring violate the marriage bond. to which IVF opposed to the dignity submits the embryo adoption The Holy See has shown no indication of giving human person. of the human person argue that Dignitas an authoritative teaching on this issue anytime “The thousands Personae did not soon. Catholics are free to follow their own of abandoned rule out embryo (well-formed) consciences. L embryos represent adoption but rather a situation of injustice which was responding to the problem’s then-current FATHER C. RYAN MCCARTHY in fact cannot be resolved,” status. Presuming that the question is still open, is chaplain of the Catholic Medical Association states Dignitas Personae, a they approach it from the perspective of the Guild in Indianapolis. He has a doctorate in moral 2008 instruction on certain abandoned child: the grave evil of IVF is not bioethical questions by the primarily against the dignity of marriage but theology from the Pontifical University of St Congregation for the Doctrine against the dignity and rights of the child, who Thomas Aquinas and serves as a moral theologian of the Faith. has been abandoned and removed from his or and ethicist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He her family and society by the very technological is the author of What to Do with the Least of Our Brothers?: Finding Moral Solutions to the Problem of Endangered Embryos (Saint Benedict Press). August 2023 | 36 | legatus.org
FEEDING THE JOE MICATROTTO SR. FOODIE Celebrating a half-century of love, blessings, and tasty memories BETWEEN 1972 AND 1974, of both 50 years of marriage and 50 years of my wife Connie and I were graduation just in the past 12 months! married, graduated from Miami University of Ohio, got our first This June, as Connie and I visited campus for our jobs post-college, and had our 50th reunion, we stopped at another great diner. first son. Amazing blessings While sipping coffee and demolishing a toasted and love for a young married roll, I looked into Connie’s radiant blue eyes and couple in such a short span. felt thankful to our Lord — not for the toasted roll, Those “tasty memories” have Connie (second from left) and Joe Micatrotto Sr. (center) but for the bountiful years of life, love, pain, trials, held on to us for over 50 years. enjoy Oxford toasted rolls with fellow Miami of Ohio alumni. joys, and positive energy He has granted us. those great college days and the blessings and If you ask Miami students the love we shared as a newly married couple in OK, maybe the toasted roll is the catalyst that from those days about their a storybook town. It is fascinating now to realize made these gifts flash before me. It is not often tasty college memories, you how present the Lord was even if we were too in life we get these reflective moments. While it will likely hear about a sweet, busy to understand His abundant graces in our may seem unusual that an aromatic toasted roll buttery, frosted excellence early lives. could be this “linchpin to blessed memories,” known as the “Oxford consider Cana, Jesus’ first public miracle. Our toasted roll.” Nothing “I looked into Connie’s The Vietnam Lord used a wonderful moment to highlight could get you rolling War ended, and so many aspects of His teachings — marriage, faster for your 8 a.m. radiant blue eyes and so did my draft obedience, joy, togetherness, tradition — all centered around an element of dining: wine! class than a mug of felt thankful to our Lord deferment, and coffee and a toasted so at lottery roll at legendary time I faced the Because of this miracle, the phrase “turn water Tuffy’s Restaurant! possibility of being into wine” still recalls this event. I relate the Although Miami of drafted. It was a toasted roll to the wine of Cana, as each provided Ohio opened in 1809, it took difficult time for a young couple with a new baby. moments of joy in a moment of time. L 120 years before Tuffy’s began serving students in 1929. Sadly, We would go to Tuffy’s often and dine on these JOE MICATROTTO SR., K.C.*H.S., has been a founder Tuffy’s closed in the mid-1970s. frosted goodies. Little could I have dreamed and CEO in the restaurant industry for more than 45 years, including what God had planned for our lives: two boys, among his credits Bucca di Beppo, Panda Express, and MRG Marketing This sweet creamy cinnamon four grandchildren, two wonderful daughters- & Management, Inc. (Micatrotto Restaurant Group). He and his wife, delight always reminds me of in-law, an amazing career, and the celebration Connie, are members of Legatus’ Las Vegas Chapter. OXFORD TOASTED ROLLS • MAKES 18 Ingredients Glaze mix: on floured boards. Divide 5. When ready, split rolls like browned. Put back together, Roll mix: 1 cup powdered sugar prepared cinnamon mix sandwiches, spread with drizzle glaze on top, 1 cup heated/cooled milk 2 tbsp soft butter and spread over the two butter, and place butter- then lightly sprinkle with 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp vanilla extract rectangles. Cover and let rise side down in pre-heated powdered sugar. ¼ cup sugar 2 tbsp hot water for two hours in a warm area. pan. Remove when lightly Let the memories begin! 4 cups sifted flour 3. Preheat oven to 350 1½ cups soft butter Directions degrees. Place two rectangles 1 pkt dry yeast 1. Blend all roll mix ingredients in lightly oiled pans and bake ¼ cup warm water into large bowl. Blend by hand for 20-25 minutes until lightly 3 egg yolks, beaten to dough consistency. Make browned. into two equal balls. Place in 4. Remove from oven, cool, Cinnamon mix: lightly floured bowls, cover, and cut into smaller rectangles ½ cup sugar and refrigerate overnight. of about 4-in.-by-3-in. Blend 2 tsp cinnamon 2. Roll balls into two 12-in.- together glaze mix (except for by-10-in. rectangles. Place ¼ cup of powdered sugar). August 2023 | 37 | legatus.org
U.S. BRIEFS FAMILY VALUES BENEFIT: vicious cycle where women are paid is hearing the word and receiving FIRM OFFERS $5K BONUS and promoted less and struggle the Eucharist.” Although one FOR BIRTHS, ADOPTIONS more to balance work and family. cannot receive the Eucharist online, CARLSBAD, CA — Michael Seifert, Flexible remote work, he said, livestreamed liturgies, combined CEO of the online marketplace can help women advance their with the use of extraordinary PublicSq., has announced his careers without sacrificing their ministers of Holy Communion, can company is offering its employees family life. But “to fully leverage help the homebound and those $5k bonuses for birthing or remote work, complementary in distant rural communities to adopting a child. policies are needed,” especially “participate more fully.” That’s in sharp contrast to the childcare support policies, Tsipursky CRACKDOWN ON BUSINESS policies of many “woke” companies explained. He urged companies “to THAT HAD FAKE PRIEST HEAR that have begun offering incentives invest in childcare and make remote WORKERS’ CONFESSIONS for employees to procure abortions [employment] work for women.” SACRAMENTO, CA — The U.S. after the fall of Roe v. Wade last year. LIVESTREAM MASSES HAVE Department of Labor cracked down PLACE IN CATHOLIC WORSHIP on the owners and operators of The after-tax bonus is “an awesome AFTER PANDEMIC: PRIEST two Sacramento-area Taqueria ‘thank you’ for being a great team WYNNEWOOD, PA — A new Pew Garibaldi restaurants that brought member and to empower their Research Center study released in a fake “priest” to hear workers’ family to continue to grow,” Seifert in June found that while most “confessions” in late 2021. Numerous told Fox & Friends. Americans prefer to attend worship employees went to “confession” with “We think that ultimately a services in person since the end of the supposed priest. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/NOSYSTEM IMAGEScompany is only as strong as thethe Covid-19 emergency, 25 percent ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DJEDZURAfamilies that built it, and then forstill enjoy livestream services us, we’re a pro-family company,” — mainly for convenience, but a Seifert told Fox & Friends. “We’re significant number say they are “I found the conversation to unashamed about that.” otherwise unable to attend services be strange and unlike normal EXPERT: REMOTE WORK due to illness or disability. confessions,” Maria Parra, an HELPS WOMEN FIND Father Thomas Dailey, employee, said in a sworn affidavit. CAREER-LIFE BALANCE professor of homiletics and “He asked if I ever got pulled over NEW YORK — Remote work social communications at St. for speeding, if I drank alcohol, or empowers women by addressing Charles Borromeo Seminary in if I had stolen anything. The priest “greedy work” and promotes work- Wynnewood, PA, said this is reason mostly had work-related questions, life balance, according to behavioral alone “for continuing to livestream.” which I thought was strange.” economist Dr. Glen Tsipursky. Father Dailey stressed that “the In a June blog in Psychology fullness of liturgical participation Investigators said the restaurant Today, Tsipursky said many had denied overtime pay to professions are “greedy,” paying employees and illegally paid disproportionately more for long managers from the employee tip hours and weekend work — which pool. The employers later threatened more strongly affects women who employees with retaliation and must care for families, creating a immigration-related consequences for cooperating with investigators. The employer has agreed to a consent judgment and settlement including back wages, damages to employees, and civil fines. L SOURCES: Catholic News Agency, OSV News Service, Psychology Today, Fox News August 2023 | 38 | legatus.org
WORLD BRIEFS IN NW VIETNAM, CHURCH The plan calls for private national Long the world’s most populated GROWING RAPIDLY WHERE subscription, similar to one of country, China faces its first ONCE IT WAS PROHIBITED the schemes for rebuilding Notre population decrease in 60 years. SON LA PROVINCE, Vietnam — In Dame Cathedral in Paris, to help Births fell to a record low of 6.77 per Vietnam’s three northwestern smaller, less affluent towns keep up 1,000 people in 2022. provinces, hundreds of people, both religious buildings, which generally China reached a peak of 1.426 lapsed Catholics and unchurched belong to the state. billion people in 2022, and experts persons, join the Church every year Of about 50,000 religious buildings predict the population could drop in the area where practicing religion in use in France — 42,000 of them below 1 billion by the year 2100 — was once prohibited. Catholic — only around 10,500 are a decline that could severely affect In the 1970s, the government sent heritage sites with access to special the nation’s future economy. hundreds of people to this sparsely funds. Most depend on local mayors WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023 populated area to develop it but for public funds for any repairs. ‘IMPORTANT MOMENT,” banned Christianity until a decade Some 5,000 are at risk of closure. SAYS AMBASSADOR ago. A priest was only allowed WELCOME, CHILDREN? LISBON, Portugal — Domingos to live in the region in 2015. The BEIJING NOW PAYS FOR Fezas Vital, Portugal’s ambassador government still only recognizes FERTILITY TREATMENTS to the Holy See, said in mid-June three of the 16 parishes in the BEIJING, China — From 1979 to that World Youth Day 2023 in three provinces and enforces other 2015, China enforced a one-child Lisbon will be “very important restrictions on worship. policy to limit population growth, moment for us, for the country, but with some exceptions. Faced with also a very important moment for Nevertheless, despite these low birth rates, limits were later the Church.” restrictions, a re-evangelization raised to two children, then three, effort has borne fruit, and some 500 before all limits were removed. While young people are being new members join the Church each Now, Beijing and other major cities summoned to look at the world, the year. are offering to pay for Chinese world will be looking at Portugal FRENCH LEADER TOUTS couples to bear more children too, Fezas Vital said. NEW FUND TO PRESERVE through fertility treatments, WYD Lisbon, which runs from Aug. SMALL-TOWN CHURCHES including in vitro fertilization and 1-6, will draw more than 400,000 NORMANDY, France — French embryo transplantation. young people from around the President Emmanuel Macron world. Pope Francis is scheduled announced a new fund to preserve to attend as well. The WYD motto, smaller churches and religious “Mary arose and went with haste” buildings around France. He made (Luke 1:39), is taken from the the announcement during a speech biblical account of Mary’s visit to in Normandy marking the 1,000- her cousin, Elizabeth, and stresses year anniversary of the Mont Saint- Mary’s response to God’s will. L Michel Monastery, which he praised SOURCES: Catholic News Agency, Business Insider, as “the symbol of the French spirit of resilience and resistance.” UCANews, lisboa2023.org August 2023 | 39 | legatus.org
GUEST KATHIE McBROOM VOICE Two enemies of leadership can be overcome with virtue THE POWER OF FEAR AND HUBRIS oneself look good, refusing to are significant independently, admit mistakes, or blaming but when combined they create others or circumstances. Fear disastrous consequences. is evidenced by an inability to These invisible enemies should listen, or a display of emotional never be underestimated. They verbal or physical reactions can be recognized by their such as rolling of eyes or fruits or deeds. slamming fists. Fear takes the form of personal attacks toward Even typically reasonable people with different views, people can have a complete and an obsession with “what breakdown in the face of if…” discussions with a negative ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DEVONYU fear. They can become highly slant. It is often accompanied emotional, unreasonable, and by a disproportionate level angry when presented with of anger even to reasonable facts and logic, refusing to questions. reevaluate policies or decisions Intentionally change your behaviors. The made with incomplete The opposite of fear and hubris are temperance power of hubris is diminished when we engage information. and humility. Temperance, a virtue not in acts of humility, such as acknowledging mentioned frequently in business, is self- the accomplishments of others, admitting we Fear inclines us to act or not act control, the will’s mastery over instincts. If I made a mistake without a long explanation, or in regard to something felt or am a temperate person, I use my will to calm apologizing when we recognize our words or imagined to be negative, bad, and overcome my fear. Humility is a virtue in actions were unkind or inappropriate. As leader, or painful. Experiencing fear which I acknowledge that God is the author of all admitting we are wrong can feel uncomfortable, is normal, but acting on fear good and that I do not know all things. It is the but demonstrating humility is a strength and is detrimental. When acted recognition that I am imperfect and fallible. never a weakness. upon, it becomes a powerful distraction from rational So how can a leader fight fear and hubris, these Humble leaders recognize it is their own fault thinking; left unchecked, it two enemies of leadership? when they act poorly. They own their reactions overrides logic. and take responsibility. They show deference “High-achievement Recognize fear and to others. These small changes in behavior will Hubris manifests leaders instinctively hubris, and call help temper hubris. as excessive pride them out. Don’t or dangerous pretend that these Fear is a sly enemy but can be combatted with overconfidence. Hubris recognize fear and invisible enemies faith in God and faith that things will ultimately results in people hubris in themselves don’t exist. Bringing work out well, even when challenging. Fear fear and hubris into often focuses on what we don’t have rather than protecting their status and in others the light helps to on being grateful for all we do have. or, in some cases, “bad” decisions or policies. loosen their grip. The struggle to cultivate temperance and High-achievement Tap into the logical humility as a leader can be a narrow path, leaders instinctively recognize thought problem analysis. Document the because as you begin to conquer fear and hubris fear and hubris in themselves problem, write the facts. Analyze the problem you separate yourself from the majority of and in others, and they fight from the perspective of brilliant people such people in business and in the world. L these enemies at every turn. as Albert Einstein or Margaret Thatcher. How Hubris presents through would they approach a solution? Write down KATHIE MCBROOM, founder and CEO posturing at all costs, not their perspective. Now you can thoughtfully and of Synergy Business Group LLC, is a member of expressing appreciation or logically approach the problem with neither fear gratitude, speaking or acting nor hubris. Legatus’ Savannah Chapter. in a manner only to make August 2023 | 40 | legatus.org
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Oh, down in Mexico Forty-five Legatus members, staff, and guests traveled to Mexico June 9-12 for the Legatus Family Pilgrimage, which featured 3 visits to the three historic churches of Mexico City as well as to the Girlstown residential school in nearby Chalco. Pilgrims toured the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco, where St. Juan Diego was baptized; and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe with its miraculous tilma bearing Mary’s image from her appearance in 1531. As always on Legatus pilgrimages, there was plenty of time for prayer, fine food, and fellowship. Here are just a few images from this year’s excursion. 1 2 1) Legatus pilgrims arrive for their tour outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City. 2) In the crypt of the 6 magnificent cathedral, pilgrims visit a cenotaph (monument) of Juan de Zumárraga, the first archbishop of Mexico, who was known to protect the native peoples against the abuses of their Spanish overlords. 3) Legatus pilgrims pause for a group photo outside the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco. This church is where St. Juan Diego, to whom the Virgin Mary appeared in 1531, was baptized. 4) Pilgrims pray at the adoration chapel of the Tlatelolco church. 5) Debbie Peroutka of the Baltimore Chapter (left) enjoys a Mexican-style lunch with her granddaughters and her daughter, Marian Baxter, CA of the Baltimore Chapter. 6) Father Dan Leary, chaplain at Girlstown and a speaker at the Legatus Summit the past two years, celebrates Mass for the tour group in St. Joseph’s Chapel at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 7) Pilgrims, staff, and the thousands of young ladies of Girlstown pose for a group photo after a day of tours and activities on the Chalco campus. 45 7 BACKGROUND: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JAVARMAN3 August 2023 | 42 | legatus.org
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CHAPTER NEWS ORANGE COUNTY. At the June event of the Orange County Chapter, president Mark Hulme (right) presented the Farmer’s & Merchant’s Bank Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim and Susan Strader, who founded the chapter in 1989. Hulme had accepted the award on behalf of the chapter at the Orange Catholic Foundation’s 20th Annual Conference on Business & Ethics back in April. ORANGE COUNTY. The Ladies’ Forum of the Orange County Chapter CHICAGO NORTH. Pat McCaskey (left), president of the Chicago North Chapter, and its chaplain, Fr. Nathan spent a day in late June packaging food for distribution at the warehouse Caswell, welcome new member Tom Simon at a recent chapter event. of Catholic Charities of Orange County. The Legatus ladies assembled the bags with fresh fruit and vegetables after they had been filled with frozen meat and canned goods. The warehouse distributes food three days a week and provides a large bag of nutritionally balanced foods to between 700 and 850 families each day. Standing outside the warehouse are (from left) Sally Zens, Ann Rincon, Karen Castro, Michele DeSantis, Amy Jackson, and Lisa VanDorpe. LAFAYETTE-ACADIANA. Bishop Douglas Deshotel, five priests, 15 seminarians, and three consecrated virgins comprised a vocations panel at the June gathering of the Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter. August 2023 | 44 | legatus.org
CHAPTER NEWS MEMBERS IN THE NEWS across the country who will be great learned anything? As a sports team It’s not often that one gets invited witnesses to our Lord and Savior. owner, I know better.” to coach a sports team at a national Some of these men can even sink a Busch, a minority owner of two championship tournament, but jump shot.” pro sports teams, decried Dodger that’s what happened recently to management’s “foolish decision to Patrick Nee, a member The seminary team’s journey invite an anti-Catholic hate group to of the Boston Chapter. through that 2022 tournament an LGBT Pride Night, then rescind is also the subject of a new the invitation after criticism from Nee had the documentary film, Souls in the the right, only to re-invite the group opportunity to coach Game (soulsinthegame.com), after blowback from the left.” seminarians from produced in part with funding The biggest mistake was not the flip- St. John’s Seminary from the Boston Chapter and its flopping, but the “wading into politics in Boston as they chaplain, Father Eric Cadin. A in the first place,” he pointed out. prepared to compete in follow-up four-part video series Sports teams should score points the St. Francis de Sales Patrick Nee was being considered to cover and win trophies, but not try to the team’s road to the 2023 score political points, no matter Seminary Basketball Tournament tournament. what culture-war activists say. By in Milwaukee back in February “jumping in headfirst on one of the 2022. The St. John’s team, some of most divisive issues,” Bush noted, whom had not previously played The Los Angeles the Dodgers risk losing “legions of on a basketball team, performed Dodgers professional fans” especially in the large Los respectably well, finishing with a baseball team caught Angeles-area Catholic community. 2-2 mark. And Nee came away with well-deserved flak It’s a lesson for all businesses, a spiritually enriching experience. recently for inviting and as witnessed by the debacle of featuring the notorious Budweiser losing immense profits “I am eternally thankful to the Tim Busch anti-Catholic drag after their use of a transgender seminarians who have included queen group “Sisters of spokesmodel resulted in widespread me in their journey,” he wrote in the Perpetual Indulgence” boycotts of Bud Light. “We’re in the seminary’s Winter 2023 newsletter. to its celebration of LGBT business of business, and we should “The work of evangelization Pride Night. Writing in the online stay that way,” Busch advised. can happen from the pulpit, the Catholic Business Journal, Tim hardwood or anywhere else we Busch of the San Juan Capistrano encounter our fellow man…. God Chapter recently took them to task willing, we have men at Saint in an opinion piece titled “Bud John’s Seminary and at seminaries Light, Target, haven’t the Dodgers RALEIGH. The Dougherty Team of (from left) Kevin, Shannon, Patrick, Charlie, and Mark Dougherty placed second in the recent DuPAGE COUNTY. Alex Jones, founder of the Father Tighe Memorial Golf Outing held at Longleaf Golf and Family Club in Southern Pines, NC. Charlie is the Raleigh Chapter’s Hallow prayer app, and his wife, Meghan, were immediate past president and paid for Legatus to be a “Presenting Sponsor” at the outing, the top sponsorship. Father Tighe, inducted into the DuPage County Chapter recently. founding chaplain of the Raleigh Chapter, passed away from cancer in 2020. Proceeds benefit the Seminarian Partnership Presiding at the induction are Monsignor Jim Burnett, Program. Right: Chapter president Brooks Braden (left) and Fr. Michael Burbeck, vicar general of the Diocese of Raleigh, were chaplain, and president Larry Krema. among the five lucky winners of a raffle at the outing for bottles of bourbon. August 2023 | 45 | legatus.org
CHAPTER NEWS LONG ISLAND. Pat LaFontaine (second from right), who played 19 years in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers, spoke at the June meeting of the Long Island Chapter. With him (from left) are member George Brennan; Monsignor Jim Vlaun, chaplain; and president Jim O’Hara. CLEVELAND. At its June meeting at Mayfield Country Club, the Cleveland Chapter hosted Denver Chapter CLEVELAND. Cy Kellett, host of the Catholic Answers Live radio member and FOCUS founder Curtis Martin, who presented on “Forming Missionary Disciples.” Martin explained show (center, with day hosts Jeanne and Kevin Coughlin), gave a May how FOCUS missionaries are trained to help college students study their Catholic faith and noted that young presentation to the Cleveland Chapter on “Jesus: Who He Was, What He people raised in families that discuss Scripture at the dinner table are more likely to continue living their faith Taught, and Why People Still Follow Him.” The Legatus audience at the when they leave home. Cleveland Yachting Club found his talk riveting both from a faith and historical perspective and enjoyed Kellett’s engaging wit. VENTURA-LA NORTH. Members gather with Armenian Catholic Bishop Mikael Mouradian (center) and Simone Rizkallah (in white jacket), guest speakers at the June event of the Ventura-LA North Chapter. The meeting was held at the home of members Stan and Una McKnight in Lake Sherwood, CA. After an Armenian Catholic Rite liturgy and a feast that included homemade Armenian dishes, Rizkallah, program director for ENDOW, spoke about a U.S. delegation that plans to visit Armenia to bring international attention to the plight of the 120,000 Christians there. Bishop Mouradian then spoke of how Christian Armenians are facing extermination in Artsakh, an Armenian territory in the middle of Azerbaijan that Azerbaijani Muslim forces have blockaded since December. Armenia, founded in A.D. 301 as the first Christian country, has been subjected to many genocides, including the 1915 Turkish genocide that killed 1.5 million Christian Armenians. August 2023 | 46 | legatus.org
CHAPTER NEWS BISMARCK. John Hale, president of Corporate Travel and a popular Catholic evangelist, addresses COLUMBUS. The Columbus Chapter inducted new members Ben and Jennifer the Bismarck Chapter at its June gathering. His topic was trusting God during a business crisis. The Thompson (center) at its June event. With them are chapter president Joe chapter also celebrated its chaplain, Fr. Thomas Grafsgaard, on his 10th anniversary of priestly Hamrock and Fr. Thomas Blau, O.P., chaplain. ordination. NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. At its June event at the Trump National Golf Course in Colts Neck, NJ, Legatus members were greeted by former U.S. President Donald Trump himself. Preserving the moment in the lobby are (from left) Birger Brinck- Lund, Bunny Brinck-Lund, Jonathan Brinck-Lund, Michelle Brinck-Lund, Trump, Varghese (Jimmy) Kochuvaried, Gene Cordano, Gina Cordano, and Asha James. The moment was made possible after Pastor James Ward Jr., guest speaker for the evening and author of Zero Victim, asked venue staff whether Trump were on site. Trump made an appearance after the meeting and spent a little time socializing with members. PASADENA. President Brad Young arranged for the Pasadena Chapter to gift a set of specially designed PASADENA. Martha Leos speaks with Dr. John Sottosanti after his address liturgical vestments to its chaplains. The four vestments, which reflect colors of the seasons of the to the Pasadena Chapter titled “A Journey of 500 Miles in 12 Days,” recounting liturgical year and prominently feature the Legatus logo, were made by Fr. Melvin James, S.V.D., who was his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain and its role in his trained as a tailor for the Divine Word Missionaries and now serves as a chaplain and spiritual director for rediscovery of his Catholic faith. A past president of the San Diego Chapter, the prison ministry. Sottosanti is an active supporter of Catholic education, evangelization, addiction recovery, and care for the homeless. After his talk, he autographed copies of his new book, Mortal Adhesions, for interested members. August 2023 | 47 | legatus.org
5 MINUTES JIM GRAVES WITH Author describes journey through faith and career PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY VETERAN SEEKS TO BE A ‘CATHOLIC COMPANY MAN’ ERIC MEYER, 54, HAS WORKED Also, I noticed that on the topic of economics, the attending Ash Wednesday services, and making in the pharmaceutical industry Church makes statements on things that I found sure to request meat-free meals. for more than 20 years. His very pragmatic. For example, it teaches about first book, The Catholic What are some of your favorite stories Company Man, published the principle of from the book? this year by Wipf and subsidiarity, that Stock Publishers, is a a community of One is called “500 Beers and a Seminarian.” compilation of personal a higher order When I was young, I managed a theater stories from his business should not company. We were in Australia, and I had a career coupled with interfere in the week off, so some friends and I rented a condo quotes from Scripture internal life and on the beach with the intention of drinking 500 and the Catechism of the community of a beers in five days — something stupid you do Catholic Church which he lower order. If you when you’re young. says offer an “‘on ramp’ have a problem, to deeper curiosity about you solve it on the One morning that week, I took a jog and heard our faith.” local level, and church bells. I thought, “I’d better go to Mass.” Meyer grew up Catholic only move it up if I ran over to the church, turned a corner, and but took a deeper interest in his you have to. ran into a seminarian my age in a cassock. I faith at age 40 when he began apologized and asked, “When is Mass?” He reading the Catechism. He How do you find the time to balance grabbed my arm and led me to a side chapel in currently lives in Moscow, ID, family and maintain a spiritual life when which 12 seminarians were going to Sunday but he has relocated nine times you’re frequently on the road? Mass. during his career and still spends more than 100 days It is hard. I tell people in the corporate world There I was, sweating and hung over, and the annually on the road. that I have an order of priority: God, my wife, my Holy Spirit led me to 12 seminarians doing children, and my work. It sounds like I put work something serious and deliberate with their What impressed last, but if I don’t have the first three things in lives. The faith was real, and here were young order, I wouldn’t be able to work well. people engaged in it. It started a reversion experience in my own life. you about your “I’m no street-corner Fortunately, for me, Catholic faith preacher, so my thing when I’m on the What are your tips for sharing your faith when you began is to let people know road, it isn’t difficult with co-workers on the job? studying the I’m Catholic and managing my family Catechism? have conversations because my wife I’m no street-corner preacher, so my thing flow from there stays home and does is to let people know I’m Catholic and have The most interesting it so well. She is the conversations flow from there. I might mention thing to me was that I house CEO, so I don’t I’ve been to Sunday Mass, or people might see a have to worry about crucifix on my desk or rosary in my pocket. found all the answers the house while I’m there, whether the gone. topic be economics and finance, sex and One significant We need to take our faith to work and be proud marriage, drug abuse, culture, professional challenge is that it seems that all of who we are. And, once we acknowledge that international relations, or any our big national meetings occur at the beginning we are Catholic, it becomes a starting point for number of other things. of Lent. I have to manage attending meetings, further conversation. L August 2023 | 48 | legatus.org
August 2023 | 49 | legatus.org
MEET THE JIM GRAVES CHAPLAIN Chaplain deals with ‘Washingtonian’ problems FR. VINCENT DE ROSA: ‘OVERCOMMITMENT’ CHALLENGES D.C. LEGATUS MEMBERS FATHER VINCENT DE ROSA IS You serve at a historic church. What do you enjoy most about pastor of St. Mary Mother of What is its history? your vocation? God Parish in Washington, D.C., and chaplain of Legatus’ Saint Mary’s is a place that provides a home I enjoy the breadth of experience I get to have Washington Chapter. for those in need. We began as a home for as a priest. Ministry incorporates every inch of the German-speaking Catholics of D.C. in knowledge, every opportunity for prayer, every He grew up in Glen Cove, NY, 1845. By 1935, as our German identity waned, manifestation of culture. It’s a real workout for as the oldest of three children. the pastoral focus of the church shifted to the mind, body, and soul that — I think — helps His father was a the devotion of the us maximize our humanity. teacher, and his Miraculous Medal such mother was a that during World War What are its greatest challenges? lawyer. His family became more II up to 10,000 people serious about their a week would pass I think there are different answers for Catholic faith as through its doors to pray each priest: for me personally, the greatest he got older, and at the Lady Altar for challenge is temptation to despair. I’m prone to he “dived into my their sons at war. negative self-talk. Whether that is just my own faith fully” while psychology or a temptation from the enemy I attending George By the 1970s, devotional don’t know, but the despair it can foster is at the Washington life in the American root of just about every bad day I have. It has University and church generally was taken years first to realize this and then get a participating in in decline as was our handle on it, but now I get to bring that same its on-campus neighborhood. Much of experience to the consolation of others. Catholic ministry. He entered D.C. was hollowed out seminary for the Archdiocese by the riots of 1968. Saint Mary’s became a home What are some challenges your of Washington and was and safe haven for those who stuck out the hard ordained a priest in 2008. times. One of our previous pastors was actually Legatus members face? Why did you want to known as a safe contact for area enter the priesthood? prostitutes who trusted him to Our biggest challenge is a get them out of town when their “Everyone begins in classically “D.C.” challenge of God called me to priesthood lives were in danger. D.C. because they overcommitment. Professional through joy. I experienced Washingtonians usually find joy as a child. In high school I In the 1980s, the diocese want to make the themselves pulled in lots of learned that faith is the direct established our church as a home world better directions trying to do good. route to joy, and in college I for the Latin Mass community After all, you don’t come to D.C. realized that the sacraments of our diocese as well as the for fame (for that you go to Los are the most direct route to Chinese-Catholic community. Angeles) or for money (for that faith. Since parish priests As both of those communities you go to New York). Everyone bring people the sacraments, have moved or shifted, the parish has become begins in D.C. because they want to make the that seemed the best way to a home for young adults moving into a restored world better, then they spend a lifetime arguing connect others with the joy I’ve neighborhood but nonetheless experiencing over just how to achieve that lofty goal. As a known. distance and loneliness in the modern urban result, folks here can find it hard to focus on any context. one good project. It’s not the worst problem to have, but if anyone has a suggested solution, I’m all ears! L August 2023 | 50 | legatus.org
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