Chris Lee

John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars has proven to be wildly popular among young adults in the English speaking world, and the recently released film adaptation of the book has garnered both impressive reviews and a massive audience.

A one-time divinity school student and Christian minister, Green is not reluctant to explore the “big” questions, though he doesn’t claim to provide definitive answers. He both reflects and helps to shape the inchoate, eclectic spirituality that holds sway in the teen and 20-something set today.

On July 17, 2014

Chris Lee

How much information can be shared?

Q A while back there was a question related to how much information an agency can share with family members about the care they were providing for the mother.

I would like a bit more information about that, because I really don’t understand what the big deal is. If we, as family members, aren’t told about things that are not going well for our parents, how will we know?

(From a daughter in De Forest)

A I really appreciate these kinds of questions, because I think there is a lot of confusion about the roles different entities play in regard to elder support.

I also acknowledge the variety of interpretations of “privacy matters” within the various supportive organizations. So let’s try and break this down and give you some rationale behind these actions.

On July 8, 2014

Chris Lee

Sister Helen Dailey, OP, dies

SINSINAWA — Sister Helen Dailey, OP, died July 4, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Her religious name was Sr. Joeline. The funeral Mass will be held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa July 9, 2014, followed by burial of the cremains in the Motherhouse Cemetery.

Sr. Helen made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1949, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1952. She taught elementary and middle school for 33 years and college for 14 years. Sr. Helen ministered as director of religious education for 12 years, seven of those while also serving as pastoral associate. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Nebraska, and Florida.

On July 5, 2014

Chris Lee

Appointments (7-5-2014)

Msgr. James Bartylla, […]

On July 3, 2014

Chris Lee

Polarization: Can Catholics narrow the divide?

One doesn’t have to try very hard these days to read or hear media accounts of how polarized our politics have become. The topic has been studied and commented upon at length in recent months.

Some of this commentary notes that Wisconsin is among the most polarized places in the country, where the chasm between liberals and conservatives and Democrats and Republicans is especially wide.

Why is our politics so divisive?

For one thing, as was noted recently in a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story on the topic, voters are more ideological. That is, they rarely blend conservative and liberal positions. Instead, they are more likely to embrace either a liberal or a conservative view across the board.

On July 3, 2014

Chris Lee

Finding the one . . . just ‘let it go’

One of my rituals I always look forward to is girl’s night out. A group of four of us have been meeting for dinner about once a month for years now.

Over the years, two of us have gotten married and had kids, one member of our group has been in a steady relationship for a year, and one friend is currently single. We love each other like sisters and look forward to this evening with great anticipation.

After we finished dinner and had dessert served, my single girlfriend blurted out, “I don’t think God is listening to my prayers.” I immediately dropped my fork, forsaking my tiramisu. She continued with a heavy heart, “I’ve been praying and praying. I volunteer, pray for others, go to mass, everything,” exasperation entered her voice, “but I’m still single and can’t seem to meet the right person to share my life with. I just don’t know what to do anymore, and I’m afraid I’m losing my faith in my prayers.”

On July 3, 2014

Chris Lee

Bill Maher doesn’t understand faith

I don’t know what possesses me to watch Real Time With Bill Maher, for Maher is, without a doubt, the most annoying anti-religionist on the scene today.

Though his show is purportedly about politics, it almost invariably includes some attack on religion, especially Christianity. Even during a recent interview with former President Jimmy Carter, whom Maher very much admires, the host managed to get in a sharp attack on Carter’s faith.

Recently, his program included a brief conversation with Ralph Reed, the articulate gentleman who used to run the Christian Coalition and who is now a lobbyist and activist on behalf of faith-related causes.

For the first three or four minutes, Reed and Maher discussed the social science concerning children raised in stable versus unstable families. Reed was scoring points in favor of the traditional understanding of marriage.

On June 19, 2014

Chris Lee

Film looks at sin and salvation

There were a number of reasons why I liked World War Z, the film based on Max Brooks’ book of the same name.

First, it was a competently made thriller and not simply a stringing together of whiz-bang CGI effects. Secondly, it presented a positive image of a father.

In a time when Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin are the norm for fatherhood in the popular culture, Brad Pitt’s character, Gerry Lane, is actually a man of intelligence, deep compassion, and self-sacrificing courage.

About sin and salvation

But what intrigued me the most about World War Z is how it provides a template for thinking seriously about sin and salvation.

On June 19, 2014

Chris Lee

Living a meaningful life

Q I am concerned about my mother. She is in her mid 80s and recently moved to an apartment for older adults — at the strong suggestion of her children. The reason is we thought that she would love to make new friends, get involved in some of the activities they hold, go on some of the outings, and in general be more active and involved. So far, she has not ventured out of her apartment without a family member with her. I wonder if this was a mistake.

(From a daughter in Madison)

On June 19, 2014

Chris Lee

Holy Land Principles: Powerful tool for justice and peace

During his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the pope of surprises gave the world an unexpected powerful message.

On his way to celebrate Mass in Bethlehem, Pope Francis suddenly got out of his popemobile and walked toward the towering concrete Israeli-built barrier that divides Israel from the Israeli occupied territory of the West Bank.

Pope prays for world without walls

In a highly symbolic scene, with Israeli soldiers in a tower above him, Pope Francis touched the separation wall and prayed with head bowed at precisely the spot where spray-painted messages cry out, “Pope we need some 1 to speak about Justice Bethlehem look like Warsaw ghetto” and “Free Palestine.” Then he touched his forehead to the wall.

“This wall is a sign of division, that something is not functioning right,” said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi. And Pope Francis’ prayer there “signifies for me his desire for peace, for a world without walls.”