Catholic Church

February 16, 2013

Did Pope Benedict Make the Right Decision?

The same day Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, lightning struck St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

The same day Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, lightning struck St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

February 9, 2013

80 Years and Still Counting

John & Ann Betar celebrate their 80th anniversary at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

John & Ann Betar celebrate their 80th anniversary at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

November 3, 2012

An Apostle Speaks Out

As you know, last week Bishop Jenky issued a directive to all the priests in the Diocese of Peoria to read a letter at each of the weekend Masses.  I have some observations about the letter, but first, here’s what Bishop Jenky wrote:

June 23, 2012

The Dark Side of Humanity

On June 13, 2012, Justin Siebenthal, a 21-year-old East Peoria, Illinois, man was shot and killed inside his home by two men.  The crime took place in the middle of the night.  Siebenthal opened his front door thinking that a man he had talked to earlier about buying some drugs was going to be standing outside the door.  Instead, there were two men armed with handguns.

June 2, 2012

How To Deal With A Gay Family Member

The Catholic Church has always taught that we should love the sinner but hate the sin.  That’s exactly what we’re expected to do when we have a family member or friend who is homosexual.  The Church’s official position on homosexuality can be found in paragraphs 2357 through 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which provide as follows:

May 5, 2012

The Religion of America – As Represented in Disney Productions and The Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen - District 12 - The Hunger Games

April 28, 2012

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.

March 24, 2012

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!”

March 17, 2012

Wolves At The Door

About 10 years ago, I saw a young priest I knew at an out-of-town graduation party.  I asked him how everything was going and he answered, “Terrible!”  When I asked why, he said, “The people in my parish hate me.”  I started laughing.  I thought he was kidding.  He was a good and holy priest, had a good sense of humor, and liked to joke around.