Abortion. Euthanasia. Pornography as art. We are constantly debating issues we know to be objectively wrong. Yet, time and again in our discussions, we hit a brick wall: “Well, that’s what you believe, but don’t force your opinions on me.”
Day: September 17, 2009
‘40 Days’ vigil begins Sept. 23 in Madison
MADISON — The third 40 Days for Life prayer vigil to be held in Madison at the east side Planned Parenthood clinic will begin Wednesday, Sept. 23, but the annual event kicked off September 12 with a luncheon gathering at nearby Reindahl Park.
The 40 Days for Life ecumenical effort, echoed in more than 200 cities in-ternationally, draws at least two people each hour for nearly 2,000 volunteer-hours of around-the-clock prayer from September 23 to November 1 outside the abortion clinic on Orin Rd. in Madison.
Volunteers, many of whom sign up for multiple hours but also some who come as groups or only for the hour they can spare, spend the time praying for whose lives will be lost to abortion and those whose lives will be affected by it.
Parishes provide a ‘miracle’ for home in India
I had never met Fr. Joseph Isidore before he came to the Diocese of Madison.
The connection was with my wife’s aunt, Dot Talbot. It seems that she financially helped a seminarian from the Diocese of Tuticorin in India.
When that priest (Father Norbert) was ordained, he began to save the $20 bills she sent him every month with an eye toward helping the less fortunate. Father Joseph is Father Norbert’s friend.
Speaking, hearing truth in health care reform
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Dear Friends,
Two weeks ago I was very fortunate to be back on campus at the University of Notre Dame. Once and a while I take advantage of returning to that campus, where I spent a few years teaching philosophy and serving on the staff at Moreau Seminary (I always recall so very fondly the 11 years I spent on the college campuses, at Notre Dame and elsewhere.)
The following are the words I chose for the occasion, in celebrating the 10 a.m. Liturgy at the Sacred Heart Basilica on campus:
Benedict XVI and the truth about charity
Pope Benedict XVI’s social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), is a complex and occasionally obscure document, replete with possible implications for the future development of Catholic social doctrine.
Sorting those implications out will take much time and even more careful reflection. Along the information superhighway, however, careful reflection hit a few potholes in the early going, as sundry partisans sought to capture Caritas in Veritate as a weapon with which to bolster the Obama administration’s economic, health care, and social welfare policies.
When modern ‘miracles’ lose their luster
I was visiting the other day in the world’s most popular senior club, the doctor’s office, watching as she consulted her computer to check my X-rays from the week before.
I was just relishing the wonders of this technology that allows doctors to view any kind of health record or test results by a click of the mouse. Then I noticed her drumming her fingers in annoyance that she had to wait nearly a minute to get my record on the screen. I laughed.
Sr. Lucentia Klonecki after 31 years as pastoral associate
JANESVILLE — Sr. Lucentia Klonecki, the pastoral minister at St. Patrick Parish in Janesville for 31 years, is retiring.
St. Patrick Parish will honor Sister Lucentia at an open house brunch to be held at St. Patrick School auditorium on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All are invited to come and visit with Sister Lucentia.
Diocese releases guidelines for Communion during flu season
The Diocese of Madison recently released guidelines, developed at the Priests’ Council meeting September 10, for the reception of Holy Communion and other moments of possible contagion during the Eucharistic Liturgy in the context of this year’s flu season.
Scrap current health care reform, do something else
To the editor:
The “health care reform” bill targets the unborn, very sick, and senior citizens.
Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life called it FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) in disguise. He also said: “The ‘health care reform’ bills being finalized in Congress will set off a chain reaction that will result in a massive expansion of abortion! That’s because, unless Congress explicitly states that abortion is excluded, it will be regarded as ‘an essential benefit’ for Americans.”
Teachers are role models and should be appreciated
To the editor:
The beginning of another school year invites us to reflect upon the importance of teachers.
Though they may occasionally fall short like other human beings, teachers do influence youth, who are the hope of the future. For through their classes pass future doctors, farmers, secretaries, computer operators, scientists, lawyers, parents, priests, nuns, engineers, and other shapers of tomorrow’s world.