Columns – Page 155 – Madison Catholic Herald

MADISON — Ghana is the featured country for Operation Rice Bowl this week. Last year, this African nation celebrated its 50th year of independence. Ghana gets high marks for improvements in the democratic process and has shown strong economic growth. Part of this success can be attributed to the efforts of Catholic Relief Services.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian aid agency for U.S. Catholics. By feeding school children, training teachers, providing knowledge and resources to grow better crops, providing clean water, and so many other ways, CRS has contributed to Ghana’s success. The Diocese of Madison has been a part of these efforts through interaction with our sister diocese, the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga in Ghana, through multiple delegations to share faith and friendship.

On April 2, 2009

Deacon Jack Fernan

Increase prayers, efforts against abortion

Pro-lifers everywhere are seriously concerned about the threats to life growing throughout the world, especially in the United States.

Bishop Robert Morlino is particularly requesting prayers for President Barack Obama in the area of abortion activity. Pro-lifers in Wisconsin are greatly concerned about the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison restarting abortion practices which it had abandoned over 20 years ago.

On April 2, 2009

Gregory Krohm

The ‘rightful place’ of science cannot be separated from moral and political decisions

President Barack Obama’s executive order casting aside the ban on federal funding for developing and using new embryonic stem cell lines was nakedly inconsistent and, despite his protestations, thoroughly political.

Obama said: “As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering . . . I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research — and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.”

On March 26, 2009

Michael Lancaster

The challenges facing Catholic schools

These days one does not need to look very far to know that our society is facing many challenges. Every day, even every hour, it seems we hear more news of the deepening economic crisis, corporate excess, massive layoffs, failing businesses, and increasing home foreclosures.

The current crisis seems to have affected nearly every facet of life. In one way or another, it touches every person and every organization, including our diocese, our parishes, and our schools.

On March 19, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

Joining the survivors’ club

The Survivors Club is currently a best seller. In his travels far and wide, the author found that faith in God was the top reason people gave for surviving the ups and downs of life.

Speaking of survivors, have you heard the story about the three Olympic Games fans who had no tickets to see the track and field events?

On March 19, 2009

John Huebscher

Want to be a faithful citizen? Attend hearing on budget

Whenever we at the Wisconsin Catholic Conference talked to groups last year about the US Bishops’ statement on political responsibility, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, we emphasized that faithful citizenship is about more than voting. It is about doing the hard work of citizenship on a year-round basis.

In the coming weeks, Catholics around the state who want to live out their call to be faithful citizens will have a chance to do so — by attending one of six hearings on the 2009 budget bill. The hearings, conducted by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance will take place over a two-week period beginning on Monday, March 23, and concluding on Friday, April 3.

On March 19, 2009

Susanna Herro

Catholic Relief Services: Small changes, big results

What do fish, coffee, and apples have in common besides being an interesting Lenten meal?

Each of these foods has a story that highlights how Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has worked with local people to find a new way to create economic success.

CRS is the major international outreach to 100 countries in Central and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. Programs are designed to work with people of a community in helping lift their poverty.

These three examples of fish, coffee, and apples show how small changes lead to big results.

On March 19, 2009May 20, 2021

Audrey Mettel Fixmer

With a song in my heart

Recently, a young man on American Idol sang a “modern” song, one of those all-beat-and-no-sense. I used to complain that I couldn’t understand the words, but now that my TV has the words printed on the bottom of the screen and I can actually understand them, I know I wasn’t missing much. And nothing rhymes. How can they memorize them? Oh, yes, they just repeat one phrase a hundred times.

In a recent interview, one of these guys whose voice seemed spectacular despite the song said that his vocal music training had come primarily from church choirs. Two thoughts came to my mind: He should have stuck with the church music and where have I heard that before?

On March 11, 2009

Fr. Donald Lange

Lent: A time for fasting and feasting

Lent is a time for fasting. When we think of fasting, we probably think of fasting and abstaining from food and drink for the sake of Jesus according to the Lenten regulations.

However, in Isaiah 58:1-9, through Isaiah, God reveals another kind of fasting that enables us to feast and feed on living God’s way more fully.

On March 5, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

A new season full of new beginnings

Daylight Savings Time returns. One rooster’s step longer. That is how my parents described the gradual lengthening of brightness each day from winter into spring.

One day at a time like the little step of a bird, the world enjoys more light as we shed the winter wearies and embrace the lingering dusks to come.