Declaration of Peace

I continue to pray, write letters and hope that the War in Iraq can be stopped and that peace can be given a chance. I hope that the Bush Administration will not start a pre-emptive war with Iran. In the past nearly five years I have continued to hope and pray for peace. I run … Read more

Kick the oil habit

There is a lot of talk today in some circles of kicking the oil habit. For politicians it is largely lip service but for folks in the grassroots there is a growing activism among people who long for alternative ways to power their cars and to heat and cool their homes. The week President Bush … Read more

Preaching Cardinals

This year was our first as empty nesters. We had two children in college. Now, we have a recent college graduate working away from home and trying to get established in a new career. Into this vacuum comes a cardinal family. Here is a picture of mother cardinal standing on the edge of the nest … Read more

St. Francis and the way of nonviolence

Sometimes topics and ideas seem to come in waves. Tonight while reading on the internet I came to Fr. John Dear’s website and came across a great article written about St. Francis and a topic I wrote about just last night. Here is an excerpt from that article. Francis embodies the Gospel journey from violence … Read more

Memorial Day

In the United States we celebrate Memorial Day everyday on the last Monday of May. This is a United States only holiday and its principle aim seems to be honoring and glorifing war dead. I just heard President Bush use all the politically correct cliches to affirm his policy of war without end. No doubt … Read more

Increasing the minimum wage

There is a well written piece by Steve Bogner expressing his thoughts on the minimum wage and it’s relationship to Catholic social teaching. It’s worth your time to check it out. Peace. Technorati Tags:minimum wage, catholic teaching

Is a war ever just?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with … Read more

Ordinary people

Are we witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus? Do our lives reflect that truth? Those were a couple of questions Fr. Bob asked us to reflect on this morning at Mass. What in our lives invites us to resurrection? When questions like these arise I tend to shrink away. What evidence of the healing presence … Read more

Haditha

I’ve been reading about the horrible atrocities that occured at Haditha, Iraq. Yes, an American Marine was killed and his buddies reacted in the fog of war and killed a couple dozen innocent Iraqi citizens. It’s not the fault of the Marines although they are the guys who pulled the triggers. It is the fault … Read more

Funny business

Yesterday I was having lunch with my mother. We were having a conversation about the consolidation of parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York brought on by a shortage of priests to fill those vacancies. Mom’s parish, SS. Peter & Paul in Arcade, New York has the responsibility to cover the parish of St. … Read more