Month: February 2018

On
Larry Wipperfurth

Breakdown of family, social media to blame

To the editor:

Again, in the wake of the terrible Florida school shooting, Mary Uhler talks about “common sense gun control.” I hear this phrase a lot, whether it’s TV, online, or print, but never hear any answers other than taking away Second Amendment rights.

Let’s take this a step further and start talking about controlling First Amendment rights; there is a lot of anger and hate on the Internet and social media these days, and our young people are exposed to it 24/7. How about the latest video games, that turn human lives into points for the participants?

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Time to set aside politics and protect our children

They were looking for answers, not just platitudes, as a group of students and parents affected by school gun violence met with President Donald Trump on February 21.

Faced with the personal anguish wrought by the most recent school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead, President Trump pledged action, saying, “We don’t want others to go through the kind of pain you’ve been through.”

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

America’s survey of women in the Church

Last month, America magazine published a fascinating survey regarding the attitudes of women in the Church. They were kind enough to publish a few of my reactions to the study, but I would like, in this article, to offer a fuller response to their findings.

One of the most disturbing conclusions from the survey is that women are increasingly disengaging from the life of the Church. The America editors themselves observed that this does not bode well for evangelization, for women have traditionally played a crucial role in the passing on of the faith.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Merger of Catholic health care systems is off to a good start

MADISON — The merger of Catholic health care systems in Wisconsin and northern Illinois is off to a good start. “We are getting to know one another,” said Damond Boatwright, regional president of operations for SSM Health in Wisconsin.

In an interview, Boatwright discussed the recent transfer of the sponsorship of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) health care ministries to SSM Health. Agnesian HealthCare, based in Fond du Lac, and Monroe Clinic, based in Monroe, are now part of SSM Health.

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On
Fr. Rick Heilman

Wisconsin is becoming battle ready!

Guest Column

If you’re looking to go deeper and grow stronger in your faith, to know more about your purpose and call to action as a Christian, or if you’re struggling to connect with your spouse, friend, or loved one about the faith, then you need to experience the BATTLE READY Rally!

A BATTLE READY Rally is a 90-minute talk on what spiritual battle actually looks like, how to identify it and prepare for it, and how to engage in it. These three components are key for those of us who are here on earth as the Church Militant.

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On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Active shooter training held for diocesan staff

MADISON — With stories of workplace and school shootings making up the latest news headlines, the task of learning how to protect one’s self and save lives is gaining importance.

Staff members from the Diocese of Madison and other organizations in the Holy Name Heights building recently took part in active shooter training in order to be prepared to react to an event, if it should happen.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Make sure the devil has one hell of a Lent

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends,

And so, we begin Lent. It strikes me as though yesterday was Labor Day and yet, here we are. There was the possibility that Ash Wednesday might be overshadowed for some by the blissful celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.

However, a far more sinister overshadowing overtook them both. Once again, wonderful young people, with their whole lives ahead of them, were meaninglessly and horrendously slaughtered and injured. So many family lives were changed forever, and not for the better.

Sadness really hung around this St. Valentine’s Day. Deep sadness. And, if any good was to come from this sadness, I hope that it awakened our consciousness to Lent and to our own mortality and need for both repentance and salvation.

Confrontation with the devil

This past Sunday we heard that the Holy Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, to be tempted by the devil (Mk 1:12-15). He drove Jesus out, into a face-to-face confrontation with him who is pure evil. This confrontation was therefore necessary for the sinless, only begotten Son of God.

And as we begin Lent, that tells us, in a way, that this confrontation with the devil is what Lent is all about. For while Jesus has the ultimate victory over the devil in the life to come, in this world the devil maintains his camp, and so we too must confront him.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

St. Dennis School has unique electives program

MADISON — St. Dennis School has a one of a kind middle school electives program.

About five years ago, Mr. Matt Beisser, principal, wanted to find a way to increase interest and enthusiasm in the school. He said, “I remember sitting at a concert and watching a few students stand in the back row and sing nothing. I remember thinking, these kids are wasting their time, and what could we do to get their interest up.”

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