The North Star Catholic / FEATURED Archives - Page 103 of 120

Longtime Alaskan friends cherish 60 years as religious sisters

In 1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s, the Vietnam War began, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. And two friends — Loretta Leucke and Joan Oberle — professed their first vows as Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in St. Louis, Missouri. This month, Sisters Leucke, 80, and Oberle, 79, celebrate 60 years of religious life — the last 25 spent in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.

The mask has slipped for Planned Parenthood

The videos don’t lie. They are released in both shorter, eight to nine minute clips, as well as in full length, unedited versions. Additionally, the videos are accompanied by full transcripts. Any claims that they are “heavily edited” fall flat in light of this extensive effort for full transparency. So we are left with hard facts and a decision to make. Do we as a nation, as Alaskans, as local towns and communities across our state want our public money to go toward funding a company which commits acts so grisly they are difficult even to speak of?

Archbishop marks 75 years on earth, 25 as a bishop

As thousands of Alaskans began celebrating the birth of the United States, nearly a thousand others packed Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral on July 3 to celebrate Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz’s 75th birthday and the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination.

Alaskans call on lawmakers to defund Planned Parenthood

An estimated 100 Alaskans gathered in Anchorage on July 28 urging lawmakers to investigate and defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of several undercover videos released in July by the Center for Medical Progress. The videos show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the harvesting and sale of body parts from aborted babies. More than 50 cities across the United States held rallies following the release of the videos.

New priest assignments in Anchorage Archdiocese

Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz has announced several new assignments for long-standing priests in the Anchorage Archdiocese.

VIDEO: Newest Alaskan priest ordained for the church

Here is a short seven-minute video highlighting the ordination of Father Arthur Roraff to the Catholic priesthood. The ordination by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz took place on June 19 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage.

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.