Abortion

April 28, 2012
April 28, 2012
Categories

Walt Disney & The Renegade Bishop

I’ve written before about Fr. John Hardon, a spiritual advisor and mentor of mine during the 1990s.  From 1989 to 1999, I attended 11 men’s retreats that were given by Fr. Hardon.   He died in 2000 at the age of 84.

Do you like it?0
2 Read more
March 24, 2012
March 24, 2012
Categories

Slamming The Wolves

Six years ago, while I was doing a holy hour in the adoration chapel, a young local businessman that I knew stopped by the chapel to say a prayer.  When he saw me, he brought up an incident involving the pastor in his parish.  He said that the incident upset him so much that he was going to circulate a complaint petition around to his fellow parishioners to sign, and then send the signed petition to the Bishop of Peoria.  After I asked him some questions about the incident, I told him, “You’re not going to circulate a petition against the priest!”

Do you like it?0
2 Read more
February 25, 2012
February 25, 2012
Categories

Honey Boys

When I was growing up, my oldest brother, Jerry, was everything a mother and father would want in a son: intelligent, gentle, and respectful.  I never saw him argue with my mom or dad.  Never.  Not even once.

Do you like it?1
1 Read more
February 18, 2012
February 18, 2012
Categories

A Reservoir of Love

It happened on a Friday evening in April of 1977, when I was 19-years-old.  I was home from college for the weekend and after dinner, my mom brought out a cake she had baked for my youngest brother, Tony.  There were 2 candles on the cake and it was time to sing Happy Birthday to the baby of the family.  As usual, the candles were lit and the lights were turned off.  Tony sat in mom’s lap while we sang to him.  After Tony blew out the candles, someone turned on the lights to the dining room.  It was then that we noticed mom was wiping away tears from her eyes.

Do you like it?0
1 Read more
February 11, 2012
February 11, 2012
Categories

The Unanswered Question

The first time I ever heard the phrase “Academic Freedom” was when I was 22 years old.  It happened in 1979, when I was a student at St. Louis University School of Law.  I had no idea when I started law school that I was going to get a real “education” on how a Catholic university operated. 

Do you like it?0
3 Read more
February 4, 2012
February 4, 2012
Categories

A Retired Nun Challenges My Manhood

Last Monday I received a telephone call from a retired nun who reads my articles every week.  I’ve known this particular nun for over 20 years.  Even though she’s “retired,” she works harder than most people who are half her age.  She’s a very holy and humble woman who cares greatly about the Catholic Church and the current state of humanity. 

Do you like it?0
4 Read more
January 28, 2012
January 28, 2012
Categories

A Punk Kid & The Student Teacher

When I graduated from a Catholic grade school in 1971, I was determined to never look back.  I got off to a bad start in first grade and every year after that got worse.  I was more than ready to move on.  I looked forward to starting high school with a blank slate and an entire new group of teachers who had never heard of me.

Do you like it?0
6 Read more
January 21, 2012
January 21, 2012
Categories

Rebellion & Ruination

Imagine you’re 20 years old and you recently had to drop out of college because you ran out of money.  Until a couple of months ago, your parents were providing you with financial assistance, but that ended when the company your dad was working for closed down and laid off all of its employees.

Do you like it?0
2 Read more
October 15, 2011
October 15, 2011
Categories

iPads, iTunes & iHaters

When I was a freshman in college, I shared an apartment with a student who was a junior at the same college I was attending.  His name was Dale.

Do you like it?0
1 Read more
Load more
Contact