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                  I read of a priest who had an unusual flair for the dramatic.  One Sunday morning, he was preaching a sermon.  He said, “If you don’t read the Scriptures you may as well not even have them.”  Then he started in the beginning of the Bible, did a brief summary of Genesis, and asked, “How many of you have read this book in the past year?”  In the congregation of more than a thousand not a single hand was raised.                  He then gathered up the pages, ripped them out, and […]

In one of our gospels, Jesus is quoted as saying, “On this rock I will build my Church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it.” When Jesus made that statement, the Church was just beginning.  It was very small and seemingly insignificant.  But now it reaches around the world and plays a vital role in the lives of millions of people.  Enemies have tried and still try to stop it, but they have failed.  Despite opposition from without and weaknesses from within, the Church has lived and flourished across the centuries. The words of Jesus have come […]

                In the early part of this century, British philosopher Bertrand Russell was a severe critic of religion in general and of Christianity in particular.  Much of his criticism was so obviously biased that it could not be taken seriously.  But we in the Church would do well to at least consider some of the things that he said.  For example, he made this comment concerning Christians: “A few of them may enrich a community, but a world composed entirely of them would die of boredom.”                 That criticism cannot be lightly cast […]

Millions of Americans let the internet “babysit” their children and grandchildren for large portions of the day.  Even at 10, 11, and 12 o’clock at night, long after cartoons and family shows have ended, an estimated 12 million children under age 10 are still watching and playing on the internet.  These hours have an enormous influence on children.  Studies have shown that the internet exercises the greatest formative influence on viewers who have not yet formed strong personal values.  As adults with Catholic principles we have some protection from media           influence, but the minds of the young are wide open.  […]