“Love is what it’s all about,” Msgr. Felix Oehrlein told high school youth attending the Resurrection 2004 rally in Wisconsin Dells. “Jesus reminds us to keep his commandments. Jesus came here and lived among us and lives with us today. He lives in the Church and you and I are that Church.”
Category: Opinion
Thanks: A word we don’t use often enough
It seems to me that our sense of gratitude has diminished in recent years. How often do we send or receive thank you cards? How often do we express our appreciation to people in our lives, let alone to God who has given us the gift of life itself?
Most of us would have to be honest and say we don’t say “thanks” often enough. We take so many things for granted.
Abstinence education: Why it’s more important than ever
In Wisconsin, we’ve been hearing a lot in the media these days about sex education. Our state Legislature is debating a bill which would overturn a law passed two years ago called the Healthy Youth Act.
That law required public schools that offer sex education to teach about proper use of contraceptives, among other things. The proposed new law, called the “Strong Communities . . . Healthy Kids Act,” would emphasize abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and disease.
In the autumn of the year: A time to remember some lessons and blessings
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.
Birth of Baby Seven Billion: Is it cause for celebration or concern?
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.
There is no conflict between faith and science
To the editor:
I was pleasantly surprised to find an article in the Catholic Herald that honored a science teacher, the late Joe Zaiman of Edgewood High School (October 20 issue, page 9).
I was taught in a Catholic school that there is no conflict between faith and science. In trying to spread this teaching, I like to point out that two of the greatest scientists of the 20th century were also Catholic priests.
Stop exposing people to cancer-causing chemicals
To the editor:
As many of us know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Various groups are working hard to support scientific research of treatments and cures or to educate women about breast health, all in hopes of putting an end breast cancer. While the efforts of such groups have truly made a difference in so many lives, a piece of breast cancer awareness is greatly underplayed.
We should all become more aware of the toxic chemicals entering the environment that have serious consequences on human health, like cancer. In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published with the goal of raising awareness on this very topic. Shortly after her book was published, Rachel died of breast cancer.
Thanks bishop for complete definition of beauty
To the editor:
I’ve just finished the Bishop Morlino’s article in the recent Catholic Herald titled “The beauty of our worship in the liturgy.”
What an excellent and complete definition of beauty! As an artist I often struggle with putting into words the reasons behind my art. And my lack of enthusiasm for all art, as if all art was automatically beautiful, and so should automatically have my enthusiastic support.
To live each day with dignity: Dealing with illness and death with faith, hope, and love
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.
Retired priest appreciates article about happy priests
To the editor:
I enjoyed Nancy Frazier O’ Brien’s article (October 13 issue) which was based on a recent talk by Msgr. Robert Panke, president of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.
Monsignor Panke stated, “Prayer is key to happy and healthy priests. A priest who prays at least 30 minutes a day “is less likely to be emotionally exhausted because Christ is feeding him.”