Mary C. Uhler

Thanksgiving is a time when we give thanks for all the blessings we have received. First among those blessings is the gift of life. Without life, we could not enjoy everything else God has given us.

Thanksgiving also comes just before the beginning of the Church season of Advent, a time when we prepare spiritually for the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Christ, the son of God, took on the challenges of life — and eventually death on a cross — to bring us all the possibility of salvation.

Around the Diocese

On November 18, 2010August 23, 2023

Mary C. Uhler

Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke’s friends are not surprised by elevation

His friends in the Diocese of Madison were not surprised to hear that Pope Benedict XVI is elevating Archbishop Raymond L. Burke to the status of cardinal on November 20.

Editorial

On November 18, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Remembering Monsignor Campion: His ‘parishioners’ will carry on his legacy

It brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. And I probably had to rub my eyes on subsequent times. It always amazed me.

What I’m talking about is the Offertory procession at the Christmas and Easter Masses for the handicapped held for many years at Monroe High School. What happens is about two dozen young men — many of them large football and basketball players — each come up paired with a disabled or elderly person.

Editorial

On November 11, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Campaign spending: Imagine what else we could do with $4 billion

The 2010 elections are over and most of us are breathing a sigh of relief. Even if we didn’t like the outcome of some races, we are probably happy to see the end of bitter campaigning, annoying phone calls, and repetitive radio and television ads.

What really upset me were reports on campaign spending in the 2010 elections. The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) reported that more than $4 billion, or the annual GDP of Mongolia, was spent on this election.

Editorial

On November 4, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Rescue of miners in Chile: Did God and his mother have a hand in it?

A woman I know in the Diocese of Madison e-mailed me a message after the rescue of the miners in Chile. She felt there were many religious aspects to this situation that couldn’t be ignored.

She pointed out these facts:

• Accident occurred: August 5 (feast of Our Lady of the Snows)

• Found they were alive: August 22 (feast of Queenship of Mary)

• Last miner rescued: October 13 (feast of Our Lady of Fatima)

Editorial

On October 28, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Now and at the hour of our death

Our Catholic faith teaches us to respect all human life, from womb to the tomb. In our society today, it seems as if we focus more on the beginning of life than on the end of it.

Many people do not like to talk about death, but it is something we all will face. Some of us will face it sooner than others, but it is inevitable.

Editorial

On October 21, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Concern about increasingly violent society

As we continue our reflections during Respect Life Month, my thoughts this week turn to the increasing incidents of violence in our world.

It seems as if violence is so prevalent today, from abortion to domestic violence, from gang violence to human trafficking, from war to the death penalty, from destroying human embryos for research to physician-assisted suicide.

Editorial

On October 14, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Poverty is a moral crisis threatening our country

October as Respect Life Month prompts us to think about all aspects of human life. Our Catholic faith emphasizes the dignity of human life from the womb to the tomb.

Between the womb and tomb, we require the basics of food, clothing, and shelter to survive. Hopefully most of you reading this have far beyond the minimum daily requirements of all of those essentials.

Editorial

On October 7, 2010February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Let’s form our own ‘humane society’ to protect babies

When we think of respecting all human life, we usually start with pre-born life in the womb. Naturally that should be the beginning of our focus, since that’s where all human beings begin their existence.

Just ask expectant parents these days. They often talk about their unborn baby by name (for example, our son and his wife have chosen a name for their second daughter, who is due in December). Parents also see ultrasounds of their children in the womb and it’s obvious to them — as it should be to everybody — that this is a baby. Birth is just one stage in the development of that new little person.