by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk In her still-widely-read 1971 article, “A Defense of Abortion,” Judith Jarvis Thomson sets up a thought experiment known as “The Famous Violinist Problem” to argue that abortion ought to be morally justified when a pregnancy arises out of sexual assault: “You wake up in the morning and find yourself back to […]
Author: settinger
Start the New Year With Good Energy
by Maureen Pratt Feeling sluggish? Dazed? Foggy? As if you’d like to hibernate for the rest of the winter? The period after the holidays can leave us feeling anything but energetic. A bit of that is the natural letdown from a festive and active season of celebrations, reunions and an outpouring of good cheer. If […]
So Much at Stake In Ukraine
by George Weigel My fascination with Ukraine began in 1984, during a sabbatical year at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. One of the first friends I made among my fellow Fellows was Dr. Bohdan Bociurkiw, a Ukrainian-Canadian professor at Carleton University in Ottawa. We first connected through a mutual interest in religious freedom […]
Walking in the Presence of The Power of God
Msgr. Joseph Calise MICHAEL YORK gave one of his most brilliant performances as John the Baptist in Franco Zeffirelli’s film, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He showed the strength, determination and power of the prophet who prepared the way for Christ’s coming. In the few times we actually hear of him in Scripture, John leaps in his […]
The Division of Poverty
The incidence of National Migration Week, Jan. 5-11, during Poverty Awareness Month is not accidental. Both call our attention to the kind of division that comes from the hardening of the difference and diversity among equals – brothers and sisters who are children of the one God. The Bible depicts it as destroyer of families […]
One-Man Show Gets to The Heart of St. Paul
by Glenn Smith “I’ve had problems with Paul,” the woman remarked. “But now I want to read his letters. I have a whole new appreciation of him.” This comment followed my one-man performance, “A Visit with St. Paul” at St. Paul’s Church, Cobble Hill, last April. Whenever I hear this kind of response, as I […]
Consider Pastoral Ministry in New Year
by Cruz-Teresa Rosero “What did May 16, 2013 mean to you? What were your biggest struggles during the three years of study in the Lay Ministry Program? What did it mean to both of you to study as a couple?” I put these questions to Rita and Domingo Reyes, from the parish of St. Agatha, […]
Our Youth: Beam with the Christmas Spirit
Jackpot of Nativity Sets – 193 Sets Later, First Two Are Still Most Precious
by Sam Lucero NEW LONDON, Wis. (CNS) – Every Christmas season, Verna Bechard’s home is transformed into a gallery of Nativity sets. Scenes of the first Christmas in Bethlehem fill nearly every curio cabinet, coffee table, mantel, window sill, hutch and cupboard in her spacious New London home. Today the collection of Nativity sets numbers […]
Teacher Proud That His Kids Made a Difference
by Walter Stark I am so impressed and proud of my sixth graders at St. Pancras School in Glendale. Every year, I suggest that we try to make a difference during the Christmas season. It is sort of a tradition with my students to decide on an act of kindness and run with it. This […]