Talking
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I’m Exhausted and A New Podcast
Guys, I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the sadness hitting the newsfeeds right now. I really wanted to write a post about the Catholic View on Racism, but it will have to wait until next week. It’s just too much right now. But here’s a quote from one of my hero’s John Paul II that sums up it quite well: “In the last decades…marked by the worrying resurgence of aggressive nationalism, ethnic violence and widespread phenomena of racial discrimination, human dignity has often been seriously threatened. Every upright conscience cannot but decisively condemn any racism, no matter in what heart or place it is found.“ John Paul II, 2001…
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That We May Be One
Jesus’ greatest desire is that all who call themselves “Christian” would stand united, before the world. How we doing there? 😬 I think most of us have to admit “not so good” — and it’s not supposed to be that way! And here’s the thing, it’s okay to not see eye to eye on everything. It’s okay to have disagreements. People of faith can disagree and should be open to even passionate discussions on doctrine and working out the differences between us — because these things matter! We shouldn’t fail to discuss the hard stuff for the sake of unity — because that’s just a facade of unity. It’s not…
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In God’s Plan of Salvation, We Are All Essential Workers
There are some amazing people out in the world doing amazing things right now to address the challenges we are facing. They have been deemed “essential” and rightly so! Shout-out to all the essential workers out there! You are amazing! But it’s so good to remember that, in God’s plan of salvation, each one of us is essential. We all have a unique part to play in reflecting His love and Light in the world. In fact, we are irreplaceable! There are some people who simply won’t experience God’s love if you or I fail to love them. That’s how crucial we are to God’s plans. The truth is, your…
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Apparently, My Catholic Blog Was Banned From Facebook and Instagram
Hey guys, as some of you may know, the powers that be banned my Catholic blog from Facebook and Instagram. As you also may know, almost all of my activity was banned from Instagram unless I removed the link to this blog. So the other day, I had to ask myself, do I dig in and continue to fight — or do I give up? And believe me, I’m a fighter by nature. Just ask my inner circle — they could tell you some stories — and Joan of Arc is my patron Saint for Heaven’s sake. Do I think it’s unfair that I was given no explanation for why…
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Hope Begins With Prayer
This little window in a wall has me thinking about the power of prayer. Prayer is very much like a window that helps us to see beyond the wall of our problems. It is not a denial of the problems in our midst — but it offers us a look at the beautiful thing waiting on the other side it. It gives us hope, even when we have hit a wall. Right now, I am so grateful for the gift of prayer. I know many people are seeing only the problems right now — but prayer is helping me to see beyond the problems. It’s helping me to see the…
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Pray, Hope, Don’t Worry….And Wash Your Hands, too
For what it’s worth, I figured I’d share some of my thoughts on the Corona Virus. But firsts, the facts. Here’s a link to some of the latest facts about the Corona Virus in the US. I don’t know about you, but this is not being reflected in the craziness that is filling the headlines. Having said that, this should be taken seriously. We should actively try to slow the spread so the critical cases can be taken care of and lives saved. So, yes, let’s think of the vulnerable around us and wash our hands and stay home if we’re sick or if quarantines happen — but let’s not…
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Talking to Your Kids About Sex
A number of years ago, I was asked to testify before Congress on the issue of abstinence education. I guess you could say it was because I had “survived” the sexual experiment that so many kids my age had been subjected to — in our schools and in the media we consumed. I guess you could say I had “survived” all the obvious (and not-so-obvious) messages pushing kids my age into the world of “safe sex” — whatever that was — to the detriment of our hearts, minds, souls and bodies, too. I was one of the 90210, Dawsons Creek, Friends generation of kids that didn’t actually buy what they…
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Thirsting For Lent
Whether or not we know it, we are all thirsting for Christ. Even more amazing is that — despite our sinfulness or brokenness — Christ is thirsting for us, too. This photo below was taken in 2016 at the Canonization of Mother Teresa. I guess you could say she’s one of my heroes. Perhaps more than anybody else in recent years, Mother Teresa recognized that thirst in all of us. She recognized it, because she felt it more keenly than most. In every chapel of every convent that Mother Teresa established, she wrote 2 words over the main crucifix: “I thirst”. They were some of the last words Jesus spoke…
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To Be Pro-Life is To Love Those Who Have Chosen Abortion
I write this on the morning of the 47th Annual March for Life. Three of my own kids are in attendance and they’ll join likely half a million other people for the largest human rights demonstration in the world. In this increasingly divisive, politically-charged, climate that we find ourselves in, I think that it’s important that we all remember that being pro-life is not about politics — it’s about people — and it always has been. In fact, if you go to the March for Life — you will not find condemnation for those who have had abortions. You will find love — and lots of it! But a regular…
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Is Abortion Good for Women?
Let me say this up front: If you consider yourself “pro-abortion” I still love you — and I’m guessing you think that it’s helping women — but I would ask you to examine if that’s actually true. It also should be said that if you consider yourself “pro-choice”, it’s time to ask yourself if supporting abortion is really the best thing for women. Don’t forget, though, that lives are literally in the balance of that choice — so choose well. But before you choose, consider this: Women who have abortions often experience what has been termed PAS, similar to PTSD in its symptoms and effects upon the woman. Depression, suicide,…
