This has been quite the year for violence in the world. Just looking at the past six months, we have seen the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and the barbarism that has resulted from its insane campaign to spread its hatred throughout the world. We have witnessed their war on Christians […]
Editorials
Questions of Advent
Many homilies at this time of year could be titled “Don’t forget Advent!” Yes, in our mad rush to prepare for Christmas, this liturgical season is too often passed over and forgotten. It’s important for us to see Advent as a preparation for us to commemorate the birth of Christ into history. That aspect is […]
Everyone Matters
Once again, we were reminded this past week that we live in a fallen world. The Eric Garner case is, simply put, a tragedy. Whenever anyone loses his or her life in an act of violence, it is a tragedy. It doesn’t matter that Garner is older or younger, black or white, what matters is […]
Continuity of Papacy
Robert B Kaiser, a commentator on the Second Vatican Council, in his book, “Pope, Council, and World: The Story of Vatican II,” quotes the famous American Roman Catholic systematic theologian, Father John Courtney Murray, S.J., concerning Pope Saint John XXIII: “He (John XXIII) raised some questions himself – notably, the great, sprawling, ecumenical question – […]
Violence Begets Violence
The ugly scene of racially-motivated violence once again has rocked the nation. This time, it followed a Grand Jury decision in Missouri not to indict a white police officer who killed a black teen in the line of duty. Despite pleas from the victim’s family as well as from the president of the U.S. to […]
A Holy Holiday
Thanksgiving is clearly a civil holiday in the USA. And yet, for many of us still, thanks be to God, it takes on a religious significance. Many of our Catholic faithful, either on Thanksgiving day itself, or on the eve of Thanksgiving, join together in the action that defines what Thanksgiving truly is – the […]
Marriage and Priesthood
This past week, responding to a request from Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Oriental Churches, Pope Francis gave permission that Eastern Catholic rite bishops in the Western world may ordain married men in their home territory. This may seem very confusing, as a number of questions arise from this statement. First, […]
Terrorism of Gossip
Twice last week, Pope Francis spoke to the Church about the serious threat of terrorism. However, the terrorism of which he spoke was of a very different kind than the danger of Islamic extremism and the growing threat of the Islamic State. No, in two separate audiences, one with superiors of Religious Orders of Men […]
First, Know the Facts
It’s amazing how often people hear only what they want to hear – especially when the speaker is someone like Pope Francis. In the past week, we read about pop star Sir Elton John, at a fundraiser for AIDS research, praising Pope Francis. “Make this man a saint already!” the pop star declared and referred […]
Let Your Voice Be Heard
This Tuesday, we get our annual opportunity to go to the polls and make our choices as to where the city, state and nation is heading.