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Migrants, in a spiritual sense

The town of Princeville, where I was proud to serve for 10 years, has had migrant workers from Texas since the 1930’s, mostly to harvest and process pumpkins.  I quickly learned, upon arrival, that these good people and their children were often neglected when they returned home for Winter.  I would make the point, at […]

Did You Just Turn Your Website Into A Video Commercial?

“Video requires your visitor to switch from an active mode to a passive mode, which may not be the best thing to get a lead or sale.” I’ve noticed a recent trend with respect to video being used on websites. Often I will visit a home page and almost as soon as the page opens, […]

The Fuller Brush Man

I admit there were times growing up when us kids rolled our eyes at the strange ways of Mom and Dad.  The Old Coots (as they are sometimes known) could just be so out-of-step with the times.  Granted, this was partly due to circumstances.  My folks raised eight kids in the seventies, which were decidedly […]

Satan’s Attack On The Church – What You Can Do!

“The Catholic Church —  and I am a life-long member — has disgraced itself beyond belief. If evidence should be revealed that a Cardinal was implicit in this cover-up, he should be indicted. I’m having trepidation as I prepare to attend Mass this morning. I’m afraid that if my pastor reads The Cardinal’s BS letter, […]

Cut Deeply

I cut our dog this past weekend. I mean, I literally cut her! I was grooming her and intended to cut her hair but caught her skin instead, making a painful gash in her back leg. She yelped and jumped, whirling her head around and looking back at me in complete bewilderment. The tears came […]

“A Fourth Rome There Will Not Be” — Russia and Her Mission, Part One

“Two Romes have fallen, but the third stands, and a fourth there will not be.” —The Russian Monk Philotheus, c. 1520, referring to Rome, Constantinople (“New Rome”) and Moscow “In the afternoon Tatiana stayed indoors and read from the prophets Amos and Obadiah… “Commandant Yurovsky got up from his chair, went out on to the […]

Welcome Baby Seven Billion!

Sometime late this year a baby will emerge from the womb of its mother, draw its first breath, and announce its arrival into the world with a tiny cry. Thus will Baby Seven Billion be born. Everyone agrees that Baby Seven Billion’s birthday—the day that our planet becomes home to seven billion human beings—marks an […]

My Story of Becoming a Mom, Part Two: Adoption, a Second Choice, not Second Best

For birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees, adoption is almost never first choice. The choice of most birthparents would obviously be to avoid an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. The first choice of most adoptive parents would be to achieve parenthood through the more traditional route, rather than to become parents after a long journey of scrutiny, paperwork, financial […]

Dear Editor, (Boss-Man, Big Cheese, Favorite Boss Ever)

Dear editor, I’m so sorry, but I didn’t  write a column today. This must come as a shock to you as you are, on a weekly basis without fail, so accustomed to my promptness and professionalism—always amazing you with yet another award-winning piece delivered days before deadline. And believe me, I woke up today with […]

An Ethical Defense of Conscience Clauses

Last week, the Obama administration revised controversial government regulations intended to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals. Put into place by the Bush administration, these conscience rules had allowed health care workers to opt out of performing medical interventions that they believe are morally objectionable. The new rules limit the medical procedures what medical […]

Re-Defining the Abortion Debate

Public opinion about abortion in America can best be described as ambivalent: uncomfortable with unrestricted abortion, yet unwilling to ban it totally. Another word for public opinion on abortion is “stalemate.” It has not moved much over the years since Roe vs. Wade. One time it did move was when partial-birth abortion was being debated […]

Bloated Budgets Endanger Freedom

Inside the beltway, discussion of President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 has provoked the “Sturm und Drang” that we have come to expect in the polarized partisan atmosphere that predominates in Washington. The President maintains that his $3.7 trillion proposal – which would produce a $1.6 trillion deficit this year (the largest since […]

Are You Thinking About Homeschooling?

Even though September seems a long ways away, this is the time of year when academic decisions for next school year are often made. Are you considering homeschooling next year? Perhaps it is an idea you have been considering for a long time, or maybe you recently met someone who homeschools and you want to […]

T2VT: Marie Bellet – Ordinary Time

The Dilemma of the Would-be Job Seeker

Have you recently received a call from a recruiter about a new opportunity that got you thinking?  Perhaps you’re feeling underappreciated by your boss.  Are there few opportunities for professional growth at your company?  Is it experiencing financial challenges that have impacted your income and benefits?  Have the leaders failed to inspire you because of […]

Landing Pages: The New Sales Tool

The future of print media is in flux. Newspapers and magazines are trimming their pages and their staffing as subscribers and advertisers dwindle. One thing for certain, the Internet isn’t going away. It’s foolish not to pay attention to new ways you can use the Internet to ensure the profitability of your business. One great […]

My Story of Becoming a Mom, Part One: Aching Arms

As a registered nurse, I have patients who experience discomfort in different regions of the arm for a variety of reasons:  frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, the list goes on.  Some of these conditions are very difficult to treat, and I’m very blessed that I don’t suffer from these or any other debilitating medical […]

Turn the Other Cheek?

“Love your enemies.”  “Turn the other cheek.”  (Mat 5:38-40).  This sounds admirable to some, but preposterous to others.  The 19th century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche thought such talk promotes a society of weaklings.  Karl Marx thought these words keep the oppressed under the thumbs of the capitalists.  Does Jesus want us to be doormats, suckers who […]

Egypt’s Chance

If developments in Egypt have gone as well as one could hope for, future prospects remain unclear. The exciting part is over, now come the worries. Let’s start with three pieces of good news: Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s strongman who appeared on the brink of fomenting disaster, fortunately resigned. The Islamists, who would push Egypt in […]

Heart Speaks to Heart: See and Hear the Man Cured by Blessed Newman

Does Google Despise Success? Internet Giant Slaps Down Small Catholic Start-up

Catholic Lane launched its new online home for Catholics on February 19, 2011 with a score of Catholic authors who came aboard offering their materials to the public – all because of their generosity and their commitment to Catholic Lane and its audience. As a small Catholic apostolate with a no offices, a small staff, […]

The Egyptian Revolution: Evidence of Blessing

Bobby Kennedy often noted the inscription chiseled by a conscripted worker into one of the building blocks of the Great Pyramid, “none had the courage to stand up and speak out.”  Recently, it seems, a salutary change has taken place in the Egyptian character.  No longer are they afraid to defy unjust decrees and egocentric, […]

Will a New Papal Document Curtail Use of the Old Mass?

Will the Vatican soon issue a document calling for some restrictions on the use of the old rite of the Mass? The internet, especially in traditional Catholic circles, is abuzz with reports that this may be about to happen. But for the moment, these reports are based only on rumors. Officially, no one yet knows […]

Understanding Celibacy Through the Theology of the Body

“What does that have to do with the priesthood, Father?” I like to think, as Vocation Director, I can tie just about anything back to the priesthood, if I really try; but in the conversation noted, there was no need to try, as the links were plenty evident, if you but scratch the surface. In […]