Pro-life Organizations with a Secular Approach

Last updated on: May 2, 2022 at 6:44 pm By Lois Kerschen

Why would I talk about a secular approach to the pro-life message in a Catholic blog? Because that’s the approach that works best. Millennials and Gen Z are the least religious generations since Roe and yet lean more pro-life. Further, those seeking an abortion, if religious, react defensively to a religious approach. Obviously then, our language and reasoning need to be secular. Among pro-life organizations, there is a great diversity in members and missions that defies the stereotypical image. For... Read more

Consecrated Virgins: A Restored Ancient Rite in the Catholic Church

Last updated on: October 9, 2021 at 3:26 pm By Lois Kerschen

At a conference two years ago, I met a woman whose daughter had just become a consecrated virgin. Nearly everyone with whom she shared the news asked, “What’s a consecrated virgin?” A consecrated virgin is a woman who has been consecrated by her diocesan bishop to a life of perpetual virginity. While she may live as a nun in a monastic order, the term is more commonly used for those who choose to live a dedicated life in the secular... Read more

Catholics and Abortion: A Distressing Situation

Last updated on: October 7, 2021 at 4:19 pm By Lois Kerschen

Polls show a distressing, even shocking situation among Catholics concerning abortion. According to a 2019 Pew Research Center report: 56% of U.S. Catholics (those who identify as Catholic but are not necessarily regular church goers) said abortion should be legal in all or most cases. while the majority favor at least some restrictions, only 14% said that abortion should be illegal in all cases. Catholics are polarized on abortion along partisan lines, like most Americans. 68% of Catholics say Roe... Read more

The Benefits of Suffering

Last updated on: October 7, 2021 at 3:51 pm By Lois Kerschen

How can there be any benefits to suffering? Pop philosophy says that no one should have to suffer. In our over-indulgent, instant-gratification culture, that idea is well received. Forget self-sacrifice, fasting or anything like that. Offer up our suffering as a sacrifice to God in repentance for our sins? That’s archaic Catholic rubbish, isn’t it? Suffering Is Part of Life No, that’s life. We have to deal with suffering, no matter how hard we try to avoid it or how much... Read more

Tolerance Means Respecting Differences, Not Hiding Them

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 9:18 pm By Lois Kerschen

Don’t be afraid to express your convictions! As a pro-life activist for many years, I can testify that you will more likely receive compliments than condemnation. I’m not saying that front-line workers like the sidewalk counselors don’t get some serious abuse. However, in ordinary situations, you will be surprised at the support you receive. T-Shirts A few years ago, I was in Los Angeles at a pro-life conference as a vendor with some religious T-shirts. One woman was interested in... Read more

Good Works Evangelize the Faith

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 9:10 pm By Lois Kerschen

Our mission as Catholics is to save souls by bringing them to Christ and his Church. That’s evangelization, but that word evokes images of foreign missionaries or retreat leaders. In truth, each of us is called to be an evangelist. We can’t all be traveling orators, though, so how do we evangelize in daily life? Fortunately, one of the best ways to attract people to our faith is through good works. My favorite passage in the Bible is from James... Read more

The Catholic Benefits of Travel to Other Masses

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 9:07 pm By Lois Kerschen

In a previous blog (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/09/famous-churches-still-serve-their-communities/), I mentioned that my husband and I have traveled quite a bit, mostly in the United States. In our travels, therefore, we have attended Mass at many different churches. As previously promised, I will occasionally share some observations about these churches as part of my “musings.” Future blogs will focus on individual churches, but here I would like to preview lessons learned as we wandered from “pew to shining pew.” I once knew a parish... Read more

Catholic Identity versus a Secularized Environment

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 8:59 pm By Lois Kerschen

A headline in the Angelus News on September 23, 2021 read: “Pope Francis to bishops: The saints spread the Gospel, not a ‘social program.’” The saints, the pope said, “lived the Gospel, without worrying about relevance or politics. . .. They did not have a ‘social program,’ but the Gospel alone.’” https://angelusnews.com/news/vatican/pope-francis-to-bishops-the-saints-spread-the-gospel-not-a-social-program/ These remarks were made in connection with the concern over the secularization of society. Every Catholic and Christian publication has noted that the newest generation is the most... Read more

Perinatal Hospice, Loving Compassion for Parents and Baby

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 8:54 pm By Lois Kerschen

Perinatal Hospice is a wonderful, compassionate practice that is not well-known. Consequently, from my place in the pew, I wanted to pass along information to other Catholics about this beautiful service. Although it is not Catholic in origin, Perinatal Hospice (or Palliative Care) matches Catholic teaching concerning life issues and has been embraced by Catholic leaders. The Church agrees with science that life begins at fertilization. Therefore, we must respect and care for life within the womb. If all goes... Read more

Saint or Sinner? Don’t Assume You Know!

Last updated on: February 9, 2022 at 8:45 pm By Lois Kerschen

My husband and I learned a mortifying lesson about misjudging others when we mistook our saintly neighbor for a sinner. Newly moved to Houston, we learned that our next-door neighbor, Mr. G, was a retired widower (his wife had died a couple of years before). We observed that his son would come over to visit regularly, often working on cars with his dad. Sadly, in our neighborhood, people didn’t make much effort to get acquainted, a big city coldness that... Read more

Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘__________________’"