Month: October 2009

On
William Yallaly, For the Catholic Herald

Bishop Nickless calls the faithful to continuity and renewal

SIOUX CITY, IOWA — To celebrate his four years as Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, Bishop R. Walker Nickless has written a pastoral letter titled “Ecclesia Semper Reformanda (The Church is Always in Need of Renewal),” reflecting on his “understanding of the state and direction of the Church, both universal and particular, at this juncture in her history.”

Nickless begins by identifying himself as “thoroughly a product” of the momentous time of the Second Vatican Council, which he calls “the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church in centuries.”  While much has been done to implement the reforms of Vatican II, the bishop writes, there is much work left.  “The Church is always in need of renewal,” Bishop Nickless states, “because it is made up of us, imperfect human beings.”

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On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

When pregnancy goes awry

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Human pregnancy begins whenever a sperm unites with an egg inside the fallopian tube. The newly-minted embryo must then travel along the fallopian tube during the next few days before finally implanting into the wall of the mother’s uterus.

In rare instances, the embryo will fail to reach the uterus and will instead implant in the fallopian tube along the way, which is a very narrow tube not designed to support a pregnancy.

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On
Fr. Don Lange, Hazel Green

Praying Rosary helps us imitate Mary, do God’s will

To the editor:

October is the month of the Rosary. On October 7, 1571, Catholic forces defeated the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto. Thousands of Catholics prayed the Rosary and invoked Mary’s intercession and helped to achieve this important victory. In gratitude, Pope Pius V established the feast which became the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which we celebrate on October 7.

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