Category: Editorial

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Mary C. Uhler

In the autumn of the year: A time to remember some lessons and blessings

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Although I love spring, autumn is also a special time of the year. There are things I like about autumn, but there are things that bother me, too.

We live on a street lined with trees on both sides of the road. I enjoy watching the leaves on the trees change from green to yellow, gold, and red. What a beautiful sight!

But those leaves start falling from the trees, and that means lots of blowing and raking. We get our yard clear of leaves and pile them on the curb to be picked up, then we start again as more leaves fall. Of course, they don’t all fall at the same time. It’s frustrating when we think we’ve gotten the leaves all cleared and wake up the next morning to see the lawn full again — many of them having blown in from our neighbors’ yards.

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Mary C. Uhler

Birth of Baby Seven Billion: Is it cause for celebration or concern?

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

A baby born on October 30 in the Philippines has been welcomed as one of the world’s symbolic “seven billionth” babies.

The Associated Press admitted that with all the babies born in the world on that day, it is impossible to pinpoint the arrival of the actual Baby Seven Billion. But the United Nations chose to mark Filipino Danica May Camacho as the symbolic seventh billion child. The parents and the baby were met by top United Nations officials in the Philippines, who presented the child with a small cake.

The birth of any child should be a happy occasion. However, the birth of Baby Seven Billion is being looked at as a cause for celebration by some and a reason for concern and even fear by others.

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Mary C. Uhler

To live each day with dignity: Dealing with illness and death with faith, hope, and love

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

We all know that we will eventually face illness, disabilities, and death of our family members, friends, and ourselves. Despite the inevitability, it is difficult to think about and even more difficult to talk about issues involving sickness and dying.

Yet, these are issues we must confront and deal with — and our faith can provide a great deal of guidance and support. As we conclude Respect Life Month, we should remember that respect for life must encompass respect for the disabled, the elderly, the sick, and the dying.

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Mary C. Uhler

Poverty in the United States: As it continues to rise, it has serious impact on children and families

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

As we continue reflections during Respect Life Month, we should reflect on the standard of living in this country and how it impacts children and families.

We all need food, clothing, and shelter to live healthy, happy lives. Yet statistics show that 46.2 million Americans are living below the poverty line. That means that many families have to make hard choices as they face hunger and can’t afford housing or health care for themselves and their children.

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Mary C. Uhler

It’s a child, not a choice: Ultrasounds have powerful impact on pregnant women

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

In October we celebrate Respect Life Month. This is a special opportunity for Catholics to reflect on issues involving respect for all life from womb to tomb.

During October, I will focus on various life issues in the “Editor’s View,” starting at the beginning of life. I also encourage people to read the special Respect Life section and other articles in this week’s print edition and online edition of the Catholic Herald.

Life begins at conception

Human life begins at conception. The union of the egg and sperm includes all the genetic material needed for the baby to grow and develop.

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Mary C. Uhler

Falling through the cracks: More people need help paying for prescription drugs

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Those of us who take drugs by prescription realize we depend on those drugs to lower our cholesterol, keep our blood pressure under control, and do many other things to keep us healthy or prevent more serious health problems.

Some studies have shown that almost half of Americans take at least one prescription drug. And half of our senior citizens take three or more prescription medications.

We all know that the cost of drugs continues to rise. Plus the number of people who are uninsured or underinsured also keeps going up.

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Mary C. Uhler

The importance of family meals: Eating together can do much to enhance family life

“Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children” will be held on Monday, Sept. 26.

When I was growing up, our family ate all of our meals together at home. This included breakfast, lunch, and supper. We sat around our kitchen table, often lingering to talk after the food was gone.

Mealtime became an opportunity to share our plans for the day, to find out what we thought about the day’s news, and even to debate various issues. My parents always encouraged open discussion, even on such topics as politics and religion.

With our own children, my husband and I also encouraged shared meal times. We almost always ate dinner together, even delaying the meal for sports and after-school activities so that we could sit down and share a meal.

I think our children — now grown with children of their own — enjoyed those times to eat and talk with each other. Now we like getting together with our extended families for meals. Even the grandchildren from babies and up are brought to the table when possible to join with the family for hors d’oeuvres and the meal.

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Mary C. Uhler

Good is coming out of the ashes of 9/11

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

In some ways it doesn’t seem like 10 years since the events of 9/11. I can still remember September 11, 2001, when I was on vacation in Dublin, Ireland, with my mother-in-law and my daughter.

It was upsetting to be away from our country while it was being attacked, but the Irish people gave us their support during that time of tragedy. Ireland even held a day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of 9/11 on September 14, 2001.

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