Columns – Page 41 – Madison Catholic Herald Archive (2001-2025)


	Fr. Steve Grunow

Paul Senz of Our Sunday Visitor recently interviewed Word on Fire CEO Fr. Steve Grunow for an article on how priests are reacting to the sexual abuse scandals. Below is an edited version of the interview. The entire interview can be found at: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/sanctity-or-scandal-an-interview-with-fr-steve-grunow/5961/

OSV: Please tell your vocation story.

FS: My vocation to the priesthood arose out of the conviction, born of an act of faith, that since God in Christ gave his life for me and did so without qualification or reservation, the proper response in faith to his gift is to offer my whole life to him.

OSV: What are your thoughts about the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report?

Making a Difference

On February 20, 2019May 20, 2021

Tony Magliano

A State of the Union for the poor and vulnerable

My fellow Americans and fellow citizens of the world, the greatness of a nation is not measured by its military or economic power, but to the degree it is willing to help the poor and vulnerable.

Tragically, however, to a very significant extent the United States continues to ignore the poor and vulnerable.

Word on Fire

On February 13, 2019

Bishop Robert Barron

The internet and Satan’s favorite game

By now the entire country has seen a video of a supposedly racist confrontation, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, between a grinning young high school student and a Native American elder, chanting and beating a drum.

Everyday Faith

On February 6, 2019February 15, 2022

Julianne Nornberg

Heeding God’s call in a time of darkness

One winter four years ago, I hit bottom. I was a mother of four little ones close in age, and years of exhaustion and isolation were beating me.

With the constant care of my children controlling all of my thoughts and actions, I was becoming a shell, a shadow of my former self, and I needed help.

Word on Fire

On February 6, 2019March 17, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron

New York, abortion, and a short route to chaos

It was the celebration that was particularly galling. On the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, signed into law a protocol that gives practically unrestricted access to abortion, permitting the killing of an unborn child up until the moment of delivery.

Making a Difference

On February 6, 2019March 17, 2023

Tony Magliano

After the March for Life — keep working!

In the more than 30 annual Washington, D.C., Marches for Life I have participated in, I always think the current march is the largest ever. But since accurate figures are hard to come by, it usually comes down to taking a good guess.

Word on Fire

On January 30, 2019

Bishop Robert Barron

Birdbox and engaging in spiritual warfare

Spoiler Alert! This column reveals details of a newly released film.

The film Birdbox, based on a British novel of the same name, started streaming on Netflix around Christmas time. Starring Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich, it is a taut thriller that manages, perhaps despite itself, to shed considerable light on the parlous spiritual condition of contemporary culture.

Seeing with Jesus' Eyes

On January 23, 2019

Fr. Donald Lange

Catholic schools are different where it counts

In 1974, Catholic Schools Week was established as the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. This year it occurs from January 27 to February 2. Its theme is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

Word on Fire

On January 23, 2019

Bishop Robert Barron

Young Jesuits, justice, and evangelization

While I was in Chicago for the Christmas break, I had a wonderful meeting with around 30 young Jesuits, all in their “pre-tertianship” period of formation. This means that these men had already passed through their lengthy education in philosophy and theology and had been involved for some time in a ministry of the Jesuit order.

The group I addressed included high school teachers, university professors, journal editors, and doctoral students — and almost all of them were ordained priests. After a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches, we plunged into conversation.

Our Catholic Schools

On January 23, 2019

Michael Lancaster, Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Celebrating Catholic schools

Happy Catholic Schools Week! This coming Sunday marks the beginning of a national, week-long celebration of Catholic schools.

In the Diocese of Madison, each one of the 43 Catholic elementary and high schools will be celebrating their students, teachers, parents, and all of the incredible success and achievements of their students as they learn and grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.