On February 22, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jacqueline Erwin sentenced Fr. Thomas Marr, 66, former pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Watertown, to nine months in a county jail as a condition of a seven-year probationary period. The sentencing followed a no-contest plea and guilty verdict.
Author: Mary C. Uhler
We can’t lose our hearts: We need compassion in dealing with severe budget restraints
On my visits to Rome in previous years, I can remember seeing gypsies sitting on street corners in colorful but ragged clothes. Often women and children with sad faces would beg for us to put some coins in their cups.
I know the Roma or gypsies have been the subject of controversy. I’m sure they are considered nuisances by the citizens of Rome, who have tried to deport them to their countries of origin.
But whatever the situation, we should have compassion for them, especially for the children who have no control over who their parents are or where they are born. That’s why I was particularly disturbed to learn that four gypsy children burned to death on February 6 while sleeping in a makeshift shack on the outskirts of Rome.
Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers
What a game! What a victory! The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. The Lombardi Trophy returns to Titletown.
Like Packer fans everywhere, I was glued to my TV set on Sunday to watch a great football contest. I wore my Aaron Rodgers jersey, a gift from my husband for Christmas of 2009. I consider it my lucky jersey, since we won every playoff game when I wore it!
The reason I received that jersey was because I have had confidence in Aaron Rodgers since he took over the starting quarterback role from Brett Favre. While I liked Favre when he played for the Packers, I didn’t like the way he left the team. And then after playing for the Jets, Favre took a position with the Vikings as if to rub more salt on the wound. I decided it was time to give Rodgers a chance.
Catholic press has ‘irreplaceable role’
The Catholic press has an irreplaceable role in forming Christian consciences and reflecting the Church’s viewpoint on contemporary issues.
That’s not just my idea. It is what Pope Benedict XVI said in remarks on November 26, 2010, to members of the Italian Federation of Catholic Weeklies, an organization which represents 188 Catholic newspapers.
Despite the crisis in print media today, the Catholic newspaper still has a vital role to play in diocesan communications, the pope said in an article carried by Catholic News Service.
Catholic schools: A+ for America
The United States of America owes a great debt of gratitude to Catholic schools. From the early days of our country, Catholic schools educated the immigrants in this land (along with even some of the Native Americans).
As our country became a nation, Catholic schools continued to provide an outstanding education in both faith and academics to all citizens. Catholic schools have a proud tradition which is carried on today.
It is possible to change minds and hearts on abortion
A young woman walked through the first set of doors at Madison’s Planned Parenthood clinic to register. However, she kept looking back at a person praying on the sidewalk outside the building.
Minutes later, she walked out of Planned Parenthood without ever entering the waiting room, smiling as she left the parking lot in a red truck.
Laura Karlen of Madison’s new initiative, 365 Days for Life, reported this news on the very first day of the new program. Karlen believes a baby was saved that day, promising great things ahead through this new initiative.
In aftermath of Tucson shooting: We must work for respect for life and civility in public discourse
We’ve all heard the old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This saying was meant to convey the idea that people cannot really hurt you by what they say, only by what they do physically.
As we reflect this week on the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six people and wounded 14 others, we realize that both parts of that saying are true. Physical violence, of course, does cause harm. But words can also hurt people and perhaps lead to physical violence.
We don’t know the full story behind why the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, decided to shoot U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords while she was meeting with some of her constituents outside a supermarket in Tucson.
Annual Mass and party for disabled and elderly
Although he wasn’t there in person, Msgr. Thomas F. Campion was certainly there in spirit — and in the minds and hearts of so many of the disabled and elderly guests and the many volunteers at the annual Apostolate to the Handicapped Christmas Mass and Party held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Monroe High School gymnasium.
Two new priests ordained: ‘God’s gift to the diocese’
“This is God’s Christmas gift to the Diocese of Madison that we’re celebrating tonight,” said Bishop Robert C. Morlino as he welcomed people to the ordination Mass for Deacons Chad Michael Droessler and John David Putzer.
Let there be peace, especially in the Holy Land
During Advent and the Christmas season, our thoughts naturally turn towards the Holy Land as we contemplate the events leading to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
We know that there was unrest and conflict in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus’ birth. In fact, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because of a decree from the Roman occupiers that all people must register in a census.