Category: Columns

On
Michael Lancaster

Catholic schools educate the whole person

Our Catholic Schools, by Michael Lancaster

As we begin September, we prepare to engage in the wonderful task of teaching and learning in Catholic schools.

Some may wonder and question why this task is any different than similar tasks undertaken by tens of millions of students and hundreds of thousands of teachers at public schools?

After all, aren’t all schools in the business of teaching and learning? Don’t all parents want basically the same things for our children — to educate them so they gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to succeed economically and socially, to instill traits that will ensure that they understand and fulfill their social responsibilities and perform well the duties of national and global citizenship?

Read More
On
Fr. Donald Lange

Labor Day: Making our work a prayer

Seeing with Jesus' Eyes, a column by Fr. Donald Lange

In the 15th century in a village near Nuremberg, Germany, Albrecht Durer and his brother Albert dreamed of attending art school.

But Albrecht Sr., their father who supported 18 children, understandably couldn’t afford to send them. So the two brothers made an agreement. Albrecht would attend art school while Albert worked in the mines to pay his expenses. When Albrecht graduated, he would use his artistic talents to pay for Albert’s tuition and other expenses.

Read More
On
George Weigel

On really not getting it

The Catholic Difference column by George Weigel

In the wake of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s homicide convictions this past May, several state legislatures began crafting laws that would protect unborn life at earlier stages of gestation while shutting down horror houses like Gosnell’s Philadelphia “clinic.”

Whether these laws will stand constitutional scrutiny remains to be seen; what is worth noting now is the degree to which deeply-entrenched supporters of the unrestricted abortion license created by the Supreme Court in 1973 still don’t get it — and still continue to muddle the public debate with their confusions.

Read More
On
Jean Mueller

Recognizing depression affecting a senior citizen

Ask Jean column by Jean MuellerQ: Both of my parents are alive, and in their late 80s. They have some physical health issues, nothing major, and I am grateful that they are still mobile and able to live independently.

My issue is with my dad’s emotional health. He sleeps almost all day. He gets up to eat and then returns to bed or to his chair and naps. He has lost interest in gardening, helping around the house, and doesn’t even seem to want to go out or do anything.

My mother feels it is just his age and doesn’t expect him to help with anything. She does not want to force the issue. I say he is depressed but my mom doesn’t want to do anything about it. It is sad to see him sleeping away — should we force him to see a doctor? (From a son in Monona.)

Read More
On
Fr. Gregory Ihm, For the Catholic Herald

Encouraging a culture of vocations

“We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain” (2 Pt. 1:16-19).

This is my prayer for each of you who are reading this article and especially for each of the seminarians for the Diocese of Madison.

How beautiful it is when we hear the voice of God speak to us personally and we respond by following him, like SS. Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration.

Read More
On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Morality and the Natural Law: The importance of being guided by a moral compass

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

People sometimes use the phrase “moral compass” to describe the innate sense of right and wrong that human beings have.

President Obama, for example, recently mentioned in one of his speeches how we need to, “keep our own moral compass pointed in a true direction.” Although he didn’t spell out what that true direction might be, his remark nevertheless highlighted something that all can agree upon, namely, the importance of being guided by a moral compass.

Read More
On
George Weigel

Continuing to fight for marriage

The Catholic Difference column by George Weigel

Responses from right-minded marriage proponents to the Supreme Court’s June 26 decisions in two cases involving the (re)definition of marriage seemed to come in three waves.

The immediate reaction, influenced no doubt by a partisan press, was that the friends of marriage had suffered a severe, and perhaps lethal, blow when the court first struck down the key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and then denied standing to those challenging the judicial overturn of California’s “Proposition 8,” an initiative that restored the classic meaning of marriage to California law.

Read More
On
Abbot Marcel Rooney

Sacrament of Penance: examination of conscience

By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB

year of faith column logo

This is the second in a series of articles examining the theology and spirituality of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.

We have seen, in the first article about this sacrament, that three things are necessary for its valid celebration: contrition for the sins one has committed; confession to a priest of all serious sins; and satisfaction of the penance which is asked of the penitent.

Read More
On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Monday Night Sports League: more than a game

On His Time by Kevin Wondrash

From day one of journalism school, a reporter is told not to put him or herself into a story. Just learn the facts, observe what happens, interview interesting subjects, and tell the story. Sometimes, however, the paths of reporter and story cross, and the reporter is in the story.

As a young adult in the Diocese of Madison, I am blessed to be part of many activities for Catholics my age in the area. One of them is the Monday Night Sports League (MNSL).

A look at the league

The MNSL started last summer with six teams. Young adults from my parish, St. Maria Goretti (SMG) in Madison, as well as teams from Cathedral Parish in Madison, Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, St. Paul University Catholic Center in Madison, St. Christopher Parish in Verona, and a team of friends called “Faith, Friends, and Funnies” (FFF) make up the league.

Read More