February 2nd is a big day in the US especially for Catholics. Yes, it is true that Feb 2nd is Groundhog Day, but that isn’t what I am referring to. February 2nd is also the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also know as Candlemas. This day is an important day in salvation history. Interestingly enough, there are some connections between Candlemas and Groundhog Day. Let’s take a look. Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Most Catholics... Read more
The Supreme Court released a landmark decision in June 2022 in the Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization lawsuit that struck down the Roe v Wade “standard” that has been in place since 1973. The standard was struck down when the Court ruled that the right to abortion was “not deeply rooted in the nation’s history or tradition.” This of course was a very controversial decision that once again brought into question the “separation of church and state.” Did the... Read more
The third Sunday in January is designated as World Religion Day. This is a global day of celebration created to promote understanding and dialogue between faiths, while highlighting the common themes across different religions. The day will celebrate diversity with a goal to foster peace and religious tolerance. As Catholics, we have had exposure to the Jewish faith through catechesis, but what do we know of the other religions and what are the commonalities between them? Let’s take a look.... Read more
I want to thank everyone who has read and/or followed my column in 2023. As we turn the page and start to look at 2024, I thought we could take a look back at some of the topics we covered this past year. 2023 In Review There were 22 articles published this year covering the following topics: Catholic Politicians and Communion – This article focused on the question as to whether we should be denying communion to Catholic politicians who... Read more
Pope Francis recently caused a stir in a number of Catholic circles by stating that transgender people can be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to a wedding in the Church. This statement exacerbated an already tense situation with some conservative Catholic bishops in the United States who have objected to the Pope’s attempts to welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community to the Church. Is the Pope moving the Church away from some of its basic teachings, or is... Read more
Climate change is yet another polarizing subject in society today. There has been tremendous focus on this in the US ever since President Biden came into office. The US government is spending money like it is going out of style to reduce the global temperature, but how serious is the situation or is this just the natural progression of the climate over the 4 billion years the earth has existed? What does the Church and the Bible say about the... Read more
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is on November 23rd this year. There is historical context for this day going back to 1621 when the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a harvest feast to express gratitude for assistance provided by the Native Americans. For Catholics and all Christians, this day is an opportunity to ask God to forgive our sins, to repent for the things we have done, and to give God thanks for all that He has given us.... Read more
World Children’s Day was celebrated on November 20th. First established in 1954, this day is celebrated to promote international togetherness and improving children’s welfare. In 1959, the UN adopted the “Declaration of the Rights of the Child.” The vision behind the declaration is to affirm rights and responsibilities to each child based on their age to enable them to reach their full potential. What are the four “Guiding Principles” of the Declaration? There are 4 guiding principles behind the Declaration:... Read more
Indi Gregory, the center of a right to life dispute in the UK, died on November 13th in hospice care after her life support was removed the previous day. Little Indi had suffered brain damage as a result of a rare condition known as mitochondrial disease. Indi’s life support was removed against the wishes of the parents who wanted to pursue other treatment options in an effort to save her life. The Italian government sought permission to treat her in... Read more
This week we celebrate World Adoption Day on November 9th. Adoption doesn’t get the press it deserves as an alternative to abortion. There are many couples out there that want a child and cannot have one of their own. There are many children in orphanages that are looking for homes. This would seem to be a perfect match, yet there are challenges that in some cases make abortion the easier choice. Following Jesus is not easy and while I cannot... Read more
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