The North Star Catholic / Mario Bird, Author at The North Star Catholic

Alaskans among new members of ancient Catholic order

Founded during the First Crusade in the 11th century, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre were formed as a military order, taking vows of poverty and obedience to the King of Jerusalem. However, the order’s military charism has been defunct for at least 500 years, and was modernized by Pope Pius IX in the 19th century. Since the papacy of Saint John Paul II, the order has been a public association of the faithful per canon law. Its chief charisms are to strengthen the practice of Christian life in its members, to propagate the faith, and to assist the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Analysis: Time for Alaska to rethink ‘right to privacy’ relating to abortion

Most states took Roe as the final judicial word on abortion. Alaska was no exception. No one expected that a judge would use the right to privacy in Alaska’s constitution to further liberalize abortion, firstly because the United States Supreme Court had the opportunity to do so, and did not.

Bishop urges AK judges, lawyers, politicians to honor God’s laws

Where does the authority to make law come from? What role have Catholics played in shaping the laws of the United States? And how should bishops address Catholic politicians who act contrary to church teaching? These were some of the topics broached during the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s annual Red Mass on Sept. 28. Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz invited Juneau Bishop Edward Burns to deliver the Red Mass homily at Holy Family Cathedral and to then speak at length to Alaskan politicians, legislators, judges and lawyers at a subsequent brunch at the Marriott Hotel.

Lumen Christi grads urged to seek God, remember Catholic roots

CatholicAnchor.org Moments before receiving their high school diplomas, the six graduating seniors from Lumen Christi High School were urged to seek God, to be humble enough to really know themselves and to remember their Catholic roots as they head off into the wider world. Lumen Christi, which serves grades 8-12, hosted its 16th annual commencement…