To the editor:
The Healthy Youth Act is now Wisconsin law. In public school, sex ed programs’ mandatory topics now include: gender stereotypes, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, use of contraception and barrier methods, and what defines criminal sexual conduct and all using materials which do not promote bias against sexual orientation or sexually active children or pupils.
Five years ago on April 19, the white smoke appeared and the bells were rung at St. Peter’s Basilica to announce that the Catholic Church had a new pope: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who took the name of Pope Benedict XVI.
As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger had attempted to retire and spend more time writing. Pope John Paul II had encouraged him to remain in his office.
Dominican Sister Ellen Mary Cull died April 14, 2010, at Southwest Health Center, Platteville, Wis.
 |
|
| Bishop Morlino distributes the holy oils to parishes around the diocese. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner) |
MADISON/VATICAN CITY — The Chrism Mass is held every year during Holy Week to bless the oils to be used throughout the year for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and the Anointing of the Sick.
The Mass also is an opportunity for priests to gather and to renew the promises they made at ordination.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at the Chrism Mass in the Diocese of Madison on the Tuesday of Holy Week, March 30. Hundreds of priests, religious, seminarians, and laity filled St. Maria Goretti Church for the diocesan celebration.
After acknowledging the presence of Bishops William H. Bullock and George O. Wirz, Canon John Pintabone, Fr. Isaac Mary Relyea, and the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre in his opening remarks, Bishop Morlino thanked all of the priests from around the diocese who came to the Mass.
MADISON — Four ex-offenders spoke about their lives at a recent celebration marking the seventh anniversary of the Pathfinder Jail Diversion Program.
Susan* was just 15 the first time she became pregnant. Scared and alone, she turned to her mother for help.
To the editor:
It is extremely encouraging for a layperson like me to hear from a medical expert like Dr. Michael Robiolio that “there is never a need for an abortion even in these cases.” The cases referred to in the guest column, “Catholic physician’s perspective on the health care debate,” in the March 25 issue of the Catholic Herald, are rape, incest, and threat to the mother’s life.
To the editor:
Just finished reading your editorial, “Media Bias,” in the March 25 issue. I’m disappointed in the whining tone you have taken. I guess you and your family are not one of the many who have been affected by the lecherous activities of your parish priest. “Even if it happened 30 or 40 years ago.”
Almost every day we hear media reports concerning how the Catholic Church has handled cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. It is important for Catholics — and the public at large — to get the facts straight.
First of all, Pope Benedict XVI and countless bishops around the world have continued to repeat that sexual abuse is wrong, sinful, and must not be tolerated. For example, in his March 19th letter to the Catholics of Ireland, Pope Benedict says, “Like yourselves, I have been deeply disturbed by the information which has come to light regarding the abuse of children and vulnerable young people by members of the Church in Ireland, particularly by priests and religious. I can only share in the dismay and the sense of betrayal that so many of you have experienced on learning of these sinful and criminal acts and the way Church authorities in Ireland dealt with them.”
To the editor:
The abortion issue is only one part of a complex Culture of Death equation masterminded by liberal minds and aimed at putting “mother earth” ahead of man, created in the image and likeness of God. So the news about the latest battle for government-run health care would imply.
A broader scrutiny reveals, however, that there is another part of this equation, possibly even more despicable than abortion, a discussion which was unfortunately missed in the health care debate. It is aimed at building a foundation for the “ultimate solution.”
