Year: 2017

On
Fr. John Zulhsdorf, For the Catholic Herald

Answering Our Lady of Fatima’s call

PINE BLUFF — This year we are observing the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal, from May to October 1917.

Central to the messages given by the Blessed Virgin Mary during those apparitions, and then for years afterward to one of the seers at Fatima, Lucia, was the urgent need of the faithful to do penance and make reparation for sins committed by humanity against Mary’s Immaculate Heart.

Promises of Mary

The Mother of God said that if her requests were heeded, many disasters could be avoided.

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On
William T. McKenna

Preventing teen suicide both in community and home

Ask DMU

After the 13 Reasons Why debut that dramatizes the reasons behind one teen girl’s suicide, there has been a significant amount of discussion regarding teenage suicide and preventing such actions.

Some authors have debated whether or not the Netflix series will harm or help adolescents when navigating both their own and their peers’ feelings regarding this important topic.

Here, however, I wish to discuss ways that you can identify whether or not your teen (or an adolescent you know) is at risk for taking their life, and then what you can do to help.

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On
Pat Casucci, Catholic Herald Correspondent

After-school Code Club offers springboard to the future for Beloit students

BELOIT — It’s music to Adam Gracyalny’s ears even though songbooks and choral singing are replaced by Chromebooks and lively conversation in the music room at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Grade School.

Gracyalny, who is the OLA music teacher, changes hats to conduct Code Club meetings. About 40 students in kindergarten through eighth grade are learning how to write code, how to create simple objects with 3D printing, and how basic concepts can empower them to do many things with a computer.

 

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

First responders deserve our gratitude

In the aftermath of the bombing in Manchester, England, we noticed the quiet efforts of first responders to ease victims’ fears and concerns.

In so many disasters — natural and man-made — we see the heroic efforts of police, fire, and emergency medical (EMS) units. We almost take them for granted.

Yet what would we do without these first responders who offer such invaluable service? These first responders deserve our gratitude.

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On
Fr. Jorge Miramontes, For the Catholic Herald

Bishop Morlino explains the ‘moral evil’ of surrogacy

moral theology bishop morlino
Bishop Robert C. Morlino gave a talk on the “Ethics of IVF and Surrogacy” at Holy Family Church in Waterloo on May 18. Here he is pictured with Fr. Jorge Miramontes, pastor. (Photo by Laura Karlen)

WATERLOO — Fewer areas of ethics have become more complex than those surrounding reproductive technologies. How can the Catholic faithful begin to recognize the problems with advancements such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, and surrogacy and truly understand the Church’s position?

It takes a good teacher. On Thursday, May 18, Bishop Robert C. Morlino drew on his doctoral studies in Moral Theology and specialization in bioethics to teach on the issue of surrogacy at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Waterloo.

Surrogacy agency

In early 2016, an existing surrogacy agency, Pink & Blue Surrogacy and Fertility LLC, moved into a storefront on the main street in Waterloo. The agency matches intended parents who desire a child with a surrogate mother, a woman who is contracted and compensated to carry a child —usually conceived through in vitro fertilization — for the intended parents.

At first glance, Bishop Morlino said this can sound like an “act of charity” on the part of the surrogate mother, who is enabling a couple to bring home a baby. But, a closer look reveals surrogacy’s “moral evil.”

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