Author: Mary C. Uhler

A young woman is frightened and alone. She has no job, no way to provide a home for her newborn baby. Fortunately, a friend told her that in Wisconsin, she can leave her baby at a hospital. Her baby will be cared for and eventually placed with a loving adoptive family.

Rather than writing an editorial on one topic this week, I am going to comment on several current matters of interest to Catholics.

Co-workers, students, family members, and friends of Steve Bolser filled Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Madison on March 20 for his Mass of Christian Burial.

In the past, we used to hear about the DSA — the Diocesan Services Appeal. But this year, parishioners in the Diocese of Madison will be hearing some new letters: ACA.  They stand for the Annual Catholic Appeal.

On March 9, President Barack Obama issued an executive order reversing the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. On that same day I received a news release from John Rogers, who calls himself a Wisconsin-based “political advisor” for actor Michael J. Fox.

Many of us are aware of the term “conscientious objector” as it applies to armed service. During the Vietnam War, for example, some men subject to the draft declared themselves conscientious objectors. They performed alternate kinds of service rather than fight as soldiers.

This week we begin the 40-day season of Lent, a time in which Catholics focus our attention on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.