I wish we didn’t live in a world where this is a big deal. I wish we lived in a world where the Christian leader who DIDN’T do things like this was the exception, instead of the other way around. But it is what it is, and as it is, I am profoundly grateful to Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas. He did what he evidently thought was a daring thing and went out in public and “took a... Read more
I’m going to write more about this whole issue later. But for now I have one question I would like answered. WHERE ARE THE COLLARS? Where are the priests and nuns who should be out there walking alongside the protestors? Where are the preachers of any denomination? I mean where are you? What are you doing that could provide a better witness to the love Christ? Why don’t I see your collars, shining in the sunlight as you walk in support of bringing... Read more
Pope Francis’ prayer intention for this month is that”We pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus” I usually add the Holy Father’s prayer intention to my Rosary when I pray it. This month’s prayer intention would also be good to pray on Fridays in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From Independent Catholic News: This month, Pope Francis takes us to a fundamental aspect... Read more
I got my facts upside down in the post I wrote about Archbishop Wilton Gregory’s statement questioning Trump’s photo op at the St Pope John Paul II shrine in Washington, DC. I didn’t understand that this event had actually been scheduled several weeks in advance. I also did not understand that the President was going to make a formal announcement of an executive order concerning religious freedom. Once I learned that President Trump’s visit had been scheduled well in... Read more
Rick Wilson, author of Running Against the Devil: The Plot to Save America from Trump and the Democrats from Themselves, spent years beating Democrats in elections. He was and is a true believing conservative Republican. He evidently believes what he believes so much that he is willing to walk away from Trump’s Republican Party and stand almost alone. Rick Wilson wantst to see Donald Trump removed from office in a democratic and legal transition of power. Trevor Noah interviews Rick... Read more
Evidently, President Trump has decided to crash in on a Catholic shrine in Washington DC over the ojboectios of the local Archbishop. Archbishop Wilton Gregory issued a statement concerning the president’s upcoming holier than whomever photo op. The Archbishop said that he found it “… baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our principles, which call for us to defend the rights of all people... Read more
Leonard Cohen stepped into a kind of magic when he wrote Hallelujah. The combination of the beautiful, melody and the enigmatic lyrics can be haunting, especially in the hands of the right artist. I’ve heard many versions of his song, but so far as I’m concerned, none of them approach what KD Lang did with it. Here it is for your pleasure. Enjoy. Read more
Seven Catholic bishops, including my own archbishop, have issued a joint statement on the murder of George Floyd. It is a beautiful statement, the kind of thing that has always made me proud to be Catholic. Under ordinary circumstances I would be comforted by it. Under those ordinary circumstances, I would be right now writing a piece thanking these bishops. In it they say While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful non-violent protests, and we certainly do,... Read more
I felt that I needed to watch the videos of George Floyd as he was murdered. It seemed like the least I could do, to bear witness, whether I wanted to or not. I took me multiple tries to make it through those things. I finally watched a New York Times summary account of the videos all the way through. I was struck by the people on the sidewalk who remonstrated with the police officers, trying to get them to... Read more
Jesus lived in a hard place in hard times. It was a time of Empire and heavy-handed political stability. The tiny Republic of Rome had spread from its beginning as a city state to an overarching empire that ruled the world from Persia to what is now the United Kingdom and down through Northern Africa. Rome’s governance ringed the Mediterranean and spread outward from there in all directions in a vast web of trade, dominance and wealth. It was Pax... Read more
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