Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Each year we set aside a week in late January to focus attention on and celebrate our Catholic schools. This year Catholic Schools Week runs from Sunday, Jan. 25, to Saturday, Jan. 31, with the theme, “Celebrate Service.”
To the editor:
On September 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton, an opponent of same-sex marriage, signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had passed in the Senate 85 to 14 and in the House of Representatives 342 to 67.
DOMA had two major effects, “No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state, and, secondly, the federal government may not treat same sex relationships as marriages for any purposes, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.”
To the editor:
Father Murphy’s letter in the December 25 edition of the Catholic Herald touched on a number of sensitive issues concerning the military.
6 January 2009
Dear Brother Priests,
I pray that this letter finds you well and enjoying a blessed Christmas Season. During this time of year, when we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world, it is necessary to consider an area of darkness in our country — the continued practice of aborting our unborn brothers and sisters.
Estimados amigos,
En el momento que ustedes puedan leer esta columna, habré comenzado mis vacaciones en climas más calidos. El Obispo Bullock me ha enseñado muy bien lo recomendable que es tomar vacaciones en esta época del año, y, además de muchas otras buenas cosas, estoy agradecido con él para este pedacito importante particular de sabiduría. Pido sus oraciones de salud y seguridad durante esta época de vacaciones y, más importante, el crecimiento en la fe. Éste es muy la misma oración que elevo de mi corazón para cada uno de ustedes, todos los días.
To the editor:
I wholeheartedly agree with Fr. Jim Murphy’s December letter that Catholics should not participate in the U.S. military when it is fighting an unjust war in Iraq.
To the editor:
Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, empowers and commands us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, be compassionate as God is, avoid judging and condemning others (cf. Luke’s gospel, chapter 6). Does this not seem to be the antithesis of making war or responding to warlike actions of others?
Articles about the shortage of priests and religious men and women in the Church, particularly in Europe and North America, are common these days. Many international congregations like my own, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, are still getting new members but in lands other than the United States.
Whenever I read or hear about this subject, I often think about an article I read several years ago that has really stuck with me. Dolores Leckey, a laywoman who wrote a column for Catholic newspapers, entitled her article, “What Vocation Crisis?”
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) has been surfacing for years, so why are dioceses across the country mounting a massive postcard campaign now?
The urgency is that President-Elect Obama has promised to sign this radical legislation. In speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007, Senator Obama said, “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.”
The Freedom of Choice Act might appear under a different name, but under whatever title, it is one of the most radical anti-life pieces of legislation to be promoted. It is important that this legislation NEVER reach the desk of the president.
Nearly 100 people from across the diocese gathered on January 7 to carry forward the work of Catholic Schools Planning as members of one of the four Core Teams.
The evening opened with introductions, prayer, a brief background of the project, and an explanation of the process. In a letter of welcome to all of those gathered, Bishop Morlino conveyed his “deep gratitude and constant support” for the work of the Core Teams saying, “What a true blessing that so many of you have gathered to offer your time and talent as we plan for the future of our Catholic schools.”
