In light of Alabama’s and Missouri’s passage this week of the nation’s most rigorous state abortion laws, the debate between pro-life and pro-abortion camps is coming to a head. On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a bill which bans abortions after a heartbeat is detected, about six weeks into the pregnancy, except where there is a serious risk to the health of the mother. There are no exceptions for rape or incest in the law. Missouri followed... Read more
Our children have had their share of occasions to visit the nearby urgent care and emergency room – accidents, illnesses, and everything in between. A little medical attention or a prescription is all it usually takes to get them back in shape. Our souls, too, experience sicknesses when we succumb to temptations and fall into sin. “In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual... Read more
The Alabama State Senate passed the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation today, after considering several amendment proposals. Amid a host of strict bills that would ban or nearly ban abortion in several states, House Bill 314, “Human Life Protection Act” passed the House of Representatives by a substantial margin and today was approved in the Senate with a 25-6 vote. It heads to Governor Kay Ivey, who is known to be anti-abortion, for signing. The ‘heartbeat’ bill restricts... Read more
I attended my daughter’s middle school Spring band concert this weekend and was impressed with the performance, especially the Beatles selection. I don’t know much about music, but I do know that in order to produce a harmonious sound, each member of the band must follow their music and play their notes properly and in harmony for the piece to be successful. If one or more members is off key the music will sound noisy and discordant. Each instrument makes... Read more
Humility is a virtue that is often not appreciated in our culture today. The spirit of intense competition and self-promotion that is common today is contrary to the practice of humility, and often hinders Christians who are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives and are trying to live the gospel values. I recently attended a retreat on the subject of the Spiritual Childhood of St. Therese directed by Fr. David Wilton of the Fathers of Mercy, who defined humility as... Read more
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Jesus said that there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed. In this age of #metoo, the scourge of sexual assault and violence has begun to come to light, but the full extent of the damage has probably yet to be discovered. Survivors of sexual trauma are left picking up the pieces of their shattered lives, sometimes with inadequate support. Some are fortunate enough to have family and friends who support them in their healing, but many others don’t... Read more
As Christians, in life we are often like Peter and the other disciples in John’s gospel who went fishing in the Sea of Tiberias and came up with empty nets all night. Try as we might, sometimes when we put out to sea we end up with only fish tales when return to shore. This happens when we make plans and efforts on our own without entrusting the mission to God and following his lead and direction, and when we... Read more
As we enter the month of May, it is fitting to reflect on the mother of the Son of God and our mother, Mary. Gazing on her image, we can observe the feminine power and majestic traits that devotees of the Blessed Virgin come to know in her: strength, grace, loving protection. She stands solid yet gentle; regal yet humble, arms outstretched in a solicitous welcome to all of her children who implore her assistance, looking down on the inhabitants... Read more
The world was shocked and saddened by the Easter Sunday bombing of three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka which killed over 250 people, and we continue to pray for the country, for those affected, and for peace in our world. However, we remember the words of our Holy Father Pope Francis in his Easter Vigil homily as he urged the world not to despair or give in to discouragement, but now to seek the Risen, rather than the... Read more
The Way of the Wildflowers
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