Birth Control

February 4, 2012

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. 

January 28, 2012

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.

January 21, 2012

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.

October 15, 2011

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.

October 8, 2011

The Perfect Family

It all started when my wife got pregnant within a month after we were married.  What I mean by “it all started” were the questions we got from friends, relatives, and even strangers.  Questions like: “Was it an accident?” or “Why didn’t you wait a few years before having your first child?” or “How long have you been married?”  Then of course there was the 2-part question.  First part: “When’s your due date?”  Second part: “Oh, so when did you get married?” Then a pause to do the math to figure out when the pregnancy occurred – before or after the wedding.

July 16, 2011

A Booming Enterprise – Prisons

I graduated from high school in 1975 (36 years ago).  The school I attended was located in a rural area of Peoria County.  Most of the students in the school were from families in which at least one of the parents worked in a blue collar job, such as manufacturing or the building trades.  I came from one of those families.  While I was growing up, my dad was a carpenter.  Although he eventually ended up owning his own construction company, he always remained a member of the Carpenters’ Union.

July 2, 2011

American Exceptionalism

Every July 4th we celebrate “Independence Day,” the anniversary of when our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).

April 24, 2010

The Real Crisis That Is Destroying Our Church

Mary - The Queen of Heaven and EarthIn 1985, I interviewed my grandmother, Cecilia LaHood, for an article I wanted to write about her life.  Her children were planning a big 75th birthday party for her (she was born in 1910), and I wanted to share her life story with everyone who attended the party.

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