Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Conference Focuses On Courage to Defend the Church

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes

July 30, 2014 - 10:28 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

STEUBENVILLE, OH (July 30, 2014) - "We don't tell God how big our problems are. We tell our problems how big God is." Mark Hart's words to the 1,400 people gathered at Franciscan University of Steubenville summed up the theme of the July 25-27 Defending the Faith Conference: "Holy and Heroic: The Courage to Be Catholic."

Franciscan University President Father Sean Sheridan, TOR, welcomed the participants with a call to evangelize: "Each one of us has a responsibility to preach the good news. That's our duty as followers of Christ, and that's what is going to help bring people to Christ and holiness. Our actions and our words."

Hart, executive vice president for Life Teen International, used the story of David and Goliath to encourage the participants to defend Catholicism. In his talk, "Marching Orders: Unleashing God's Power Against All Odds," he reminded them they need not fight on their own and to always follow God's plan.

"I rarely feel challenged in a place like now, when I have a sea of people who agree with me standing behind me. But God likes to trap me on the plane on a four-hour flight next to a self-proclaimed atheist who hates the Church. But it does not matter if we don't have an army beside us. We are more than a series of parishes. We are a Church. Even though we hail from different ZIP Codes, countries, and dioceses, we are marching together even when we are marching separately. Even when your knees are shaking on the foundation, we have a 2,000-year-old rock beneath us, and it's not shaking one bit."

In his rousing talk, "Catholics and the Culture War," Tim Staples, director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers, laid out the challenges Catholics face in North America today. "If you walk in virtue, you become virtuous. If you begin to walk in vice, you become vicious, and then it becomes hard to turn back around. This is not only true for individuals; it's true for nations."

He examined the gradual degradation of faith and morality in the United States. "We kicked God out of our life, then our morals, then our schools, now our marriages," he said. "If you get it wrong on the first principle of justice, to give God what is his due, then it is impossible to have justice in your culture. And you will eventually destroy yourself. But we have the answer to what ails every person walking around. If we stand up as 65 million Catholics walking in the same direction, we can change this nation."

Patrick Madrid, president of Catholic Apologetics Academy, spoke on "Search and Rescue: How to Bring your Family and Friends Into or Back Into the Catholic Church." He called apologists the cleanup crew that comes in after a storm. "The only difference is that this is an ongoing storm. Apologetics in its purest form can be seen as removing the debris that can block someone from returning from the Church."

He explained that people leave the Church for a variety of reasons, from doctrinal issues to boredom to a past hurt. "Some people say 'I could never be in the Catholic Church with all those bad things.' I tell them that the Catholic Church is a hospital for sick people like you and me. The scandals, unfortunately are here, but so are the great saints. We need to remind people that this is where you go to become a saint."

This was the second Defending the Faith Conference for John Domingo, who brought a bus of 40 parishioners from St. John the Apostle Church in Virginia Beach, where he is the director of religious education.

"We want to know how we can affect a counter-revolution in terms of the culture," he said. "Every year it's great to hear a different speaker, but I love them all. I learn something new with every talk. And I love Praise and Worship. It's nice to come here and be fed. When you work for the Church feeding people's lives it's nice to come and be fed personally."

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Dr. Scott Hahn, who holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University, said support comes not just from the Church on earth, but from the Church in heaven, in his talk "Angels and Saints: Holy and Heroic Help."

"It's not just a cloud a spectators," he said, referring to the "cloud of witnesses" spoken of in the Book of Hebrews. "They're not looking down on us taking sides. They're not just cheering us on, like Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell judging our performances. They are witnesses who are invested in us in a way that exceeds our awareness of them. So often the graces that come down upon us are a direct response of the prayers of the elders, the martyrs, and the saints. These are our older brothers and sisters."

On the last day of the conference, Dr. Ian Murphy, a staff theologian for the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio, gave his testimony, "From Agnostic to Baptist to Catholic: The ABC's of Conversion," where he related the difficulties he experienced coming into the Catholic Church, and recounted the support and push-back he got from friends, family, and even a demonic spirit at one point.

"As all hell was breaking loose around me, all heaven was breaking loose within me," he said, after his uncle and some colleagues who converted before him finally convinced him to leave his secure job as a pastor at a Baptist church. "I had the sacraments, and I was home. God's providential care had it covered. I had tapped into reality itself, as my uncle had talked about. The sacramental power transforming my life was real."

A women's Bible study group from the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has attended several Defending the Faith and Catholic Charismatic Conferences, during which a Franciscan University student named their group BFAM, or "Be Fruitful and Multiply."

"We all have kids," explained Regina Hiney from St. Patrick's Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. "Some have 1, some 12. The baby count is at least 80. We come for retreat, girls' weekend, the conference, all of the above."

She explained that they spread out to attend different workshops so they can share notes with one another.

"I homeschool, so it's good to get more to witness for my children," said her friend Ailey Ellis of St. Rita's Church in Alexandria, Virginia. "It's nice to come here and have the renewed, reinvigorated sense of purpose in my vocation as wife, mother, and parishioner, to make sure that I follow the inclination of the Spirit when something comes up."

Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

The Defending the Faith Conference is one of five adult conferences held each summer at Franciscan University of Steubenville. This year there were also 20 youth conferences held around the country and in Canada, as well as 2 new young adult conferences. More information can be found at www.steubenvilleconferences.com.

Contact

Franciscan University of Steubenville
http://franciscan.edu
OH, 43952 US
Tom Sofio - Associate Director of Public Relations,

Keywords

Franciscan University, conference, apologetics, new evangelization, culture war

Category

Catholic Schools & Religious Education

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,177

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérčse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo
Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.