Many parents and grandparents like myself are afraid of shootings happening in their children’s and grandchildren’s schools.
In fact, a recent study from Ball State University of parents’ expectations found that about 36 percent of respondents believed that their local high school was highly likely to have a gun incident in the next three years.
The following is a statement of Bishop Robert Morlino with regard to the U.S. Immigration debate, as of June 25, 2018:
1) I know of no one who, in his or her heart, favors separating children from parents, and the Church has consistently spoken out against every measure that would do so. Similar problematic immigration elements have been present in U.S. policy for at least the last four administrations, and the U.S. bishops have spoken clearly on the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The Church does not play politics with children, parents, and the reasonable sovereignty of the family, and we find the political practice, past and present, intolerable; |
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There is, in many quarters, increasing concern about the hyper-charged political correctness that has gripped our campuses and other forums of public conversation.
Even great works of literature and philosophy — from Huckleberry Finn and Heart of Darkness to, believe it or not, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason — are now regularly accompanied by “trigger warnings” that alert prospective readers to the racism, sexism, homophobia, or classism contained therein.
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There is, in many quarters, increasing concern about the hyper-charged political correctness that has gripped our campuses and other forums of public conversation.
Even great works of literature and philosophy — from Huckleberry Finn and Heart of Darkness to, believe it or not, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason — are now regularly accompanied by “trigger warnings” that alert prospective readers to the racism, sexism, homophobia, or classism contained therein.
Polls and surveys are not infallible. Nor do they define what is true. But they do have their uses.
If they are conducted carefully and without bias, they can offer insights regarding public opinion or perceptions at a given moment in time. Among other things, polls can help us understand the mood of the moment and confirm or question trends of changing opinion.
Among the more respected polling organizations is the Pew Research Center. The center has a particular interest in measuring the role of religion in public life and how those who identify as adherents of a particular religion feel about issues and events.
Labor Day is past and the fall election season begins in earnest. As in previous years, party leaders and political commentators see Catholics as swing voters. That means people will be paying attention to us. This attention provides an opportunity to explain and witness our values and to express them in ways that elevate, not coarsen, the debate.
But our witness is effective only when we practice what we preach amongst ourselves. The reality is that faithful Catholics are both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, partisans and independents. And, even as we discuss our political differences, we ought not to lose sight of our shared values and common humanity that bind us together as persons created in the image of God.
Anyone familiar with the recent election campaign or with the “reader comments” that accompany editorials and news articles knows that civility is often the first casualty in debates today.
Nearly anyone who makes a public argument finds his intelligence questioned, his motives impugned, or his basic decency assaulted. Some critics will even doubt the patriotism or Americanism of their opponents. Others call their opponents bigots or racists.
