Category: Editorial

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Prayer: It’s the FIRST thing we should do

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Sometimes when we are facing problems and challenges in our lives, we try many alternatives to fix the problem or meet the challenge. When all our alternatives are seemingly exhausted, we finally turn to prayer.

We say to ourselves, “Well, I guess all I can do now is pray about it.” In effect, it’s our last resort.

Experiencing many tragedies

Recently our world has been experiencing many tragedies: conflicts between the Israelis and Palestinians, shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in the Ukraine, Christians fleeing the city of Mosul in Iraq for fear of being killed by the Islamic State group . . . the list goes on.

In addition, many people have been killed and injured in weather-related disasters. People have been murdered in drive-by shootings and gang warfare in our own country.

What can we do in the midst of all these awful things happening around us? Pope Francis keeps reminding us to pray in the face of each disaster. But are we really listening to him and turning to prayer?

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Pope shows how Church must protect children

Many years ago, I received a phone call from someone who complained that a priest had been removed from her parish because of an allegation of sexual abuse of a child. (We have had very few such cases in our diocese, thanks be to God and the vigilance of our bishops and diocesan leaders.)

The caller said to me, “He was such a wonderful priest. I can’t imagine that he would harm a child.”

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Get rid of buffer zone: City of Madison should listen to the Supreme Court

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

On February 25 of this year, the Madison city council passed a new ordinance requiring a 160-foot “buffer zone” around any healthcare clinic in the city.

A modified version of the ordinance was passed in March, narrowing the zone to 100 feet from a medical facility’s entrance and 30 feet from its driveway.

This ordinance was proposed primarily in response to the presence of pro-life “sidewalk counselors” who have kept up a regular presence outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic on Madison’s east side for 10 years.

Supreme Court rules against buffer zones

The Madison ordinance could now be in jeopardy after the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling on June 26 that struck down buffer zones at abortion clinics. The Supreme Court decision reversed an appellate court decision upholding a 2007 Massachusetts law that made it a crime for anyone other than clinic workers to stand within 35 feet from the entrances of Planned Parenthood clinics in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, Mass.

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Mary C. Uhler

Religious freedom: We need to protect it more than ever!

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Religious freedom was among the topics which Pope Francis touched upon during a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

Vatican Radio reported that in his address to the Italian head of state, Pope Francis recalled how 2013 marked the 17th centenary of the Edict of Milan, a document which many consider to be the first example of religious freedom being promoted.

It’s everyone’s responsibility

“In today’s world, religious freedom is more often affirmed than put into practice,” the pope said. It is often threatened, and not infrequently violated. The serious outrages against this fundamental right are a source of serious concern and need to be confronted at the global level, he said.

Defending religious liberty and making it available for everyone, Pope Francis said, is everyone’s responsibility. Doing so “guarantees the growth and development of the entire community.”

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

The power of prayer: Pope Francis invites Palestinian and Israeli presidents to pray for peace

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Pope Francis has again surprised the world by inviting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to join him at the Vatican to pray together for peace. The event has been scheduled for Sunday, June 8.

The pope announced his invitation to Abbas on May 25 at the end of the Mass that Abbas attended in Manger Square in Bethlehem. Later the same day, Pope Francis repeated his invitation — using the same words — to Peres after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

Stay on the path of dialogue and peace

Pope Francis has urged the two leaders to stay on the path of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace. There is “simply no other way,” the Holy Father said.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

The power of prayer: Pope Francis invites Palestinian and Israeli presidents to pray for peace

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Pope Francis has again surprised the world by inviting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to join him at the Vatican to pray together for peace. The event has been scheduled for Sunday, June 8.

The pope announced his invitation to Abbas on May 25 at the end of the Mass that Abbas attended in Manger Square in Bethlehem. Later the same day, Pope Francis repeated his invitation — using the same words — to Peres after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

Stay on the path of dialogue and peace

Pope Francis has urged the two leaders to stay on the path of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace. There is “simply no other way,” the Holy Father said.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

The value of cemeteries: Remembering those who have gone before us

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Maybe I’m a little strange, but I have always enjoyed visiting cemeteries. I still have memories from my childhood of walking around the small country cemetery when we visited my grandmother’s home not too far away.

It was interesting to see the names of our relatives on the tombstones. Some of the monuments even had pictures of the deceased and information about them. Rather then being scary, the cemetery gave me a sense of peace and connection with those who lived before me.

Connection with family members

My father died when I was 16 years old as a result of a heart attack. We didn’t have a family plot in La Crosse, where I was born (my parents both came from other parts of the state). I recall helping my mother select a plot and a tombstone for the grave. Since my father loved praying the Rosary, we had a Rosary engraved on his monument.

In the years since, I have been doing genealogy research on both sides of my family. During that research, I have visited cemeteries where my ancestors are buried. It has been such a joy to be able to pray at the graves of my grandparents and great-grandparents. Fortunately parishes have been kind enough to let me search through their records, some of which are in Latin (I’m thankful for my high school Latin classes).

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

The value of cemeteries: Remembering those who have gone before us

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Maybe I’m a little strange, but I have always enjoyed visiting cemeteries. I still have memories from my childhood of walking around the small country cemetery when we visited my grandmother’s home not too far away.

It was interesting to see the names of our relatives on the tombstones. Some of the monuments even had pictures of the deceased and information about them. Rather then being scary, the cemetery gave me a sense of peace and connection with those who lived before me.

Connection with family members

My father died when I was 16 years old as a result of a heart attack. We didn’t have a family plot in La Crosse, where I was born (my parents both came from other parts of the state). I recall helping my mother select a plot and a tombstone for the grave. Since my father loved praying the Rosary, we had a Rosary engraved on his monument.

In the years since, I have been doing genealogy research on both sides of my family. During that research, I have visited cemeteries where my ancestors are buried. It has been such a joy to be able to pray at the graves of my grandparents and great-grandparents. Fortunately parishes have been kind enough to let me search through their records, some of which are in Latin (I’m thankful for my high school Latin classes).

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Remembering mothers: On Mother’s Day and throughout the year

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Mother’s Day is set aside to remember and honor all mothers. It is important that we recognize mothers on this Sunday, May 11.

As a mother myself and now a grandmother, I appreciate spending time with my children and grandchildren. The gift of time is probably more important than cards and gifts, but most mothers like to receive a small token of love from their children.

Many of us keep those special homemade cards and drawings we got through the years. I found some of them when we moved from our house to a condo last year and enjoyed sharing them with our now grown children.

But while Mother’s Day should be observed in some way, we should also remember mothers throughout the year. This is especially vital for our aging mothers, mothers-in-law, and grandparents. They especially cherish the time we can spend with them, including those who live in senior housing, assisted living, or nursing homes.

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