The North Star Catholic / EDITOR'S PICKS Archives - Page 141 of 170

Buoyed by court ruling Alaska gay rights activists turn to schools

resh off the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring all states to issue same-sex marriage licenses, gay rights activists in Alaska and across the nation are pressuring legislators to pass measures mandating wider acceptance of the LGBTQ lifestyle and ideology in schools. In a June 6 email to Alaskans, ACLU of Alaska Executive Director Joshua Decker praised the Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, but then noted that “the fight for full equality is not yet over.”

Sen. Sullivan backs measure to prevent unborn babies from painful abortions

Alaska U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan is an original sponsor for a bill to prevent unborn babies from feeling pain during an abortion. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, introduced the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in June. Sullivan’s support for the measure drew praise from the Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life organization that works to advance legislation protecting unborn babies and women.

The culture of the west is dying, what to do?

So where is the good news? The secular west is dying by its own hands. Same-sex marriage doesn’t produce children. Abortion and contraception have reduced the west to a graying population.

Alaska airman on a mission to be a military priest

Hayes first felt a call to the priesthood when, as a sixteen-year-old, he made a Confirmation retreat in Germany. “There, I had the confidence to ask the presider (who happened to be the archbishop of the military services at the time, now Cardinal Edwin O’Brien), what I had to do to become a priest,” Hayes recalled. “He told me to go to school, and to continue to pray about it.” Later, after the retreat was over, the base chaplain asked if anyone was discerning a call to priesthood.

LETTER: Sister Arlene was inspiration to youth

The passing of Sister Arlene Boyd although eliciting sorrow also brought great joy when thinking about her legacy. As a teenager and president of the Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) in 1969-70, I was blessed to witness her leadership and compassion in her ministry.

Filmmaker looks ‘Outside da Box’ to inspire teens’ faith

Groth said that a big part of the problem is that “we under-challenge our young people” when it comes to faith. “We’ve got a parish of 3,000 families where I’m at, and I can scan any Mass and maybe find five or ten young people sitting in the pews. And it’s not because we’re over-challenging them” in youth ministry, he said. “It’s because we’re not reaching out enough and we’re boring them out of the pews and we’re not giving them something worthy to really sink their busy lives and time into.”

Lumen Christi student wins essay scholarship

In an effort to promote Catholic education in Alaska, an Anchorage youth was awarded a scholarship for her winning essay on the theme: “Just be a blessing.” The Catholic Daughters of the Americas court in Anchorage organizes the annual student essay scholarship.

Lighten up … spiritually

So, how should we lighten up? Well, first of all, there should be no doubt that we are overloaded with stuff, material possessions that we do not need. Of course, this may prove to be difficult because the sales-wolves are constantly howling at our door: Buy Amazon, buy Land’s End, buy Apple, buy Google, buy from the online catalogue companies that are urging us to get the best and the latest…

News roundup and coming events

Below is a round-up of recent news and upcoming events across the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.

Retired deacon reflects on changes & challenges in the church

A deacon with nearly 40 years of service to the Archdiocese of Anchorage retired from his position as director of the Office of Worship July 1. Deacon Ted Greene, a long-time homilist and catechist, said that health problems this year combined with a restructuring of the pastoral center offices means that at age 75 it’s time to slow down. Slowing down physically is tough for a man whose intellect and interest in all things Catholic have been running at high speed for years.