In 1634, a mixture of Catholic and Protestant Christian settlers arrived in southern Maryland from England aboard two ships, the Ark and the Dove. They had come to Maryland at the invitation of a Catholic Lord Baltimore who had been granted the land by the Protestant King Charles I of England. While Catholics and Protestants had been killing each other on a regular basis for a number of years in Europe, Lord Baltimore articulated a vision for a community where people of different faiths could live together peacefully. His vision was soon crafted into the “Toleration Act” in 1649 or “Maryland’s 1649 Act Concerning Religion.” This was the first law in the history in our nation’s history to protect an individual’s right to freedom of conscience.

Like any freedom, religious freedom requires constant vigilance and protection or it will disappear. Maryland’s experience with religious toleration ended within a few decades. The colony was placed under royal control and the Church of England became the established religion. Discriminatory laws, including the loss of political rights, were enacted against those who refused to conform. For Catholics this meant the closing of chapels and a restriction to practicing their faith in their homes. The Catholics and other Christians lived under this coercion until the American Revolution.

By the end of the 18th century our nation’s founders embraced freedom of religion as an essential condition of a free and democratic society. Thus when the Bill of Rights was ratified, religious freedom had the distinction of being the First Amendment. Religious liberty is the first liberty. Within our American heritage, this is our most cherished freedom. If, as Americans, we are not free in our conscience and our practice of religion, then all other freedoms are fragile as well. Scripture is quite clear that our obligations and duties to God come first and if those are impeded or contradicted by the government, then American is flirting with becoming a land where freedoms of all sorts will be rare commodities.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has declared a “Fortnight of Freedom” from June 21 through July 4. For Catholic Christians this is to be a time of prayer, further study, teaching, and public action. We are to witness for religious freedom, our first freedom. The Dept. of Human Health and Services (HHS) has mandated that almost all private health plans cover things such as contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs. Catholics and many other Christians (and even non-Christians) clearly see this as contrary to sound moral common sense. No one is asking the government to prohibit contraception or even stop supporting it. It is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide coverage for contraception and sterilization, even when it violates our religious beliefs.

Go to www.usccb.org/conscience today and let your voice be heard. Tell Congress and HHS to stand up for religious liberty and conscience rights.  A Fortnight For Freedom.

The last couple of weeks, my wife and I decided to spend more time exploring all the “good” there is in the Kansas City community.  By “good,” I mean all the fun and rewarding things to do as well as all the people serving others in remarkable ways.

On Friday evening, June 15th, at least 400 people gathered at Livestrong Park (home of Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC soccer team) and honored Monsignor Tom Tank, the current pastor of Ascension Parish in Overland Park, Kansas.  Monsignor Tank had the vision to challenge local clergy, bankers, and community leaders in Wyandotte County to help tackle the problem of inadequate and deteriorating housing that was quickly leading to unsafe neighborhoods. In 1996, an organization called Catholic Housing (now known as Community Housing of Wyandotte County, or CHWC) was formed, and a slow revitalization of historic neighborhoods began to occur. CHWC has helped hundreds of families realize the “American Dream” of home ownership, and prompted development in a community that had not seen new construction in 85 years. CHWC also facilitated low-interest loans and home-repair grants for existing home owners, helped first-time buyers educate themselves regarding the home buying process, and offered financial and budgeting classes. So what has been the economic impact on the Kansas City community? Since 2006, CHWC has directly invested more than $16.5 million into these neighborhoods and, in 2011, CHWC created or sustained 23 construction-related jobs and served 117 families. The total direct investment for 2011 was over $3.1 million. This outstanding result illustrates not only the power of faith, but the power of faith coupled with a vision to serve others. “To leave the world a better place . . . is to have succeeded.” (Emerson) Thank you, Monsignor Tom Tank!

As for the fun and rewarding things to do in Kansas City, my wife and I took a “stay-cation” during the first week of June.  We visited sites in Kansas City that we had never visited or had not seen in many, many years. Thus included a trip to the new aquarium in Crown Center, a visit to the World War I Museum (a spectacular experience, for a history buff like me), a trip to the Kansas City Zoo with our grandchildren (the African Veld is wonderful, and so were the grandkids), and some time at the Nelson-Atkins Museum (where the painting of John the Baptist by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is stupendous. Caravaggio (1571-1610) was, by most accounts, very difficult to get along with and appeared to enjoy brawling and fighting after spending hours producing his amazing art. He even killed a young man in a brawl and had to leave the community where he was staying with a bounty on his head. This is very un-artist-like behavior! Caravaggio was forgotten after his death but he was soon thereafter rediscovered and became known for the use of “chiaroscuro” in his paintings. Chiaroscuro literally means “light-dark” in Italian and refers to Caravaggio’s use of clear tonal contrasts within a painting. His art is a realistic portrayal of the human condition (which includes struggle, at times) and his paintings capture the physical and emotional dimensions of the characters with dramatic lighting. Caravaggio, after his death (under mysterious circumstances – no surprise there!), influenced Baroque painting mightily.  There are 80 known works of his that have survived to this day. The fact that the Nelson-Atkins Museum has a painting by Caravaggio in its collection is a treasure, and I encourage all Kansas City residents to see it. You might also enjoy the book entitled The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr.  It’s worth reading because it is a true detective story about the recovery of a work of art thought to be long-lost.

Speaking of art, there has been some real controversy about a sculpture of a nude and headless adult female taking a picture of herself at the Arboretum in Overland Park. The exhibit was assembled by a gentleman from China, and this particular piece is so controversial that a young mother, with help from the American Family Association, began a petition drive to force a city council hearing on the matter.  Her goal was the removal of the sculpture from the Arboretum. However, the mayor of Overland Park was not swayed by the petition (which apparently got enough signatures to force a hearing). Now the matter has been forced to a grand jury hearing based on a charge of “promoting obscenity to a minor.” An editor for the Kansas City Star said the whole thing has been blown out of proportion because the work of art is not even that good, and that it could be interpreted in several different ways by the viewer.

When I hear all of this, I am reminded of the story of putting a frog in water and turning up the temperature gradually. The frog will attempt to adjust to the temperature changes but will ultimately boil to death. This is what our society has come to:  obscenity and vulgarity promoted as “art.” The editor of the Star is correct – the sculpture is not good art, and the mother is right – it is obscene and has no place in a family venue. What has not been mentioned is that it disfigures what a true human being is – body, mind, and soul. Certainly it is obvious that there is a body present but the piece is headless (there is no mind without a head), and it is lacking soul because there is no dignity in the sculpture. It is just exposed flesh taking a picture of itself. What a symbol for a narcissistic culture – “the cult or worship of the body.” Eliminating a person’s head (and thus face) dehumanizes the person and suggests that humans do not possess a spirit that yearns for the eternal and ultimate union with God. Come on, Carl Gerlach – admit the mistake and get rid of the statue. Put something in its place that is not so vulgar and narcissistic. Art should enrich our environment not degrade human beings as just a bunch of body arts thrown together without intelligent design. Come on, Overland Park Mayor and City Council – be courageous and admit that this sculpture is not appropriate for a family setting.

My mother, Rose Mary, is a special woman. Recently I was sitting with a group of men and we were discussing what we were most thankful for in our lives. The discussion was about unexpressed gratitude for things that we had taken for granted and had neglected to give thanks for. My answer was my mother’s love for me and all of her children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren. My mother will be 77-years-old this June and I guess I would compare her love for all of us like the sun shining down on us. Most days we just take the sun for granted but it continues to shine and provide light and warmth for all that we need. In fact, how often does one stop and reflect about the sun and all that it provides for us? Well, mothers are very much the same even when children are ungrateful. Our mothers gave us life, and sometimes we take that life granted. “Unexpressed gratitude is like winking in the dark. You know how you feel about them, but they don’t.”

Well, it finally happened. My oldest son, Lamar Hunt III, graduated from college with three bachelor’s degrees – one in philosophy, one in math, and one in linguistics. He did so well at “The University of Kansas” that family members were obliged to attend not one but TWO recognition ceremonies. The first was a ceremony for those in the University Honors Program and the second was a ceremony for those graduating with “highest distinction.” Much like his grandfather, Lamar Hunt, Lamar III is a quiet, introverted individual who doesn’t blow his own horn. At one point along his academic journey, he won the philosophy award and neglected to tell his parents about it. Perhaps Lamar’s greatest gift is a lack of attachment to worldly things such as honors or vain pride. “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”  E. E. Cummings

On Saturday night May 12, the Columbus Crew hosted FC Dallas at Crew Stadium. On different occasions, family members are asked which team they root for when the two teams play each other because the Hunt family is the investor-operator of both teams. In the past I would often hear my Dad say that he would root for a good game – naturally thinking about the fans and the thrill of attending a live sporting event. My answer to that question is more like one of a parent being fond of a first-born child. Both teams have played in the MLS Cup in recent years, so both franchises have known success. When my father began considering where to locate his first MLS franchise, he settled on Columbus, Ohio. The state of Ohio was a soccer hotbed (and still is) and the community was able to deliver 10,000 season ticket holders.

Without meaning to offend FC Dallas or its fans in any way, I was happy that the Crew won the game on an absolutely spectacular header. In looking at the replay, it looked as if the FC Dallas goalkeeper’s vision was slightly obscured – thus allowing the spectacular header to find the net before the keeper could make a play on the ball. The “Pioneer Bowl,” as this game is called, honors my father, Lamar Hunt, as well as the fans of the game. The Pioneer Bowl is a great rivalry, and will hopefully continue to help stoke interest in (and the growth of) Major League Soccer. 

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Lamar Hunt, Jr. recorded a short video essay on the effect of sincerity in leadership and interpersonal relations earlier today.

Saturday evening, we were blessed to celebrate my wife Rita’s 60th birthday with about 100 friends and family. What always strikes me about events like this is the variety of people we have come to know over the years. Friendship can blossom in any setting, and my lovely wife is a testimony to that. There are, of course, family friendships that have deep strong roots and then there are friendships from shared activities or business relationships.  Examples include things that Rita has participated in over the years, including tennis, aerobic dancing (jazzercise), and Bible study (to name a few).

To relate to others is to live. As part of the celebration of Rita’s 60 years, I asked someone to help me assemble a scrapbook of some of Rita’s most cherished moments.  When I say “help,” I really mean “rescue.” You see, while I had a grand idea, I had no aptitude for the execution of that idea. Enter a new friend, Anna Slocum (scrapbooker extraordinaire) who my son-in-law, James Arkell, found through the “Scrapbook Page” store located at 13205 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Shawnee, Kansas. Anna did all of the actual work and I supplied her with information, ideas, and themes to incorporate. She handled the rest.  One hundred and six pages, 203 pictures, and 83 mementos later, we had a two-volume scrapbook that reflects the joy and beauty of Rita’s life.

Once the books were in my hands, I had to decide how to present them to Rita. I was concerned that delivering them at her party might distract her from what she enjoys most – relating to others, and dancing. My instincts proved to be correct (yes, occasionally we men do get it right!) and I presented the scrapbooks to her Saturday afternoon in the quiet of our home. Her reaction? Gratitude, amazement, and joyful tears triggered by so many memories.  We offer our sincere compliments and appreciation to Anna Slocum for a job well done.

After Rita reviewed both books, she got very enthusiastic about a newspaper photo that showed her dancing in the background in an aerobic dance class. The clipping was from 1973, and Rita said the instructor had come from Dallas to Kansas State University to introduce the campus to a novel way of exercising – aerobic dancing. Rita is so grateful to have been a part of that seminal moment, and she became dedicated to various forms of aerobic dancing over the years. As a husband, I am grateful for all of Rita’s friendships and amazed at her joy for living. She lives full throttle, but by no means recklessly. I am humbled to be the man in her life.