The North Star Catholic / FORUM Archives - Page 36 of 39

Are Catholic teachings ‘biblical’?

he following column is a response from Father Michael Shields to a reader (Suzy) who took issue with several points from his December column “After a bad start finish your life well.” The reader questioned whether there was any scriptural support for the Catholic teaching that Mary is the “Queen of Heaven.” She also drew issue with a section of Father Shields’ column in which he recounts how a man prayed to Mary. The reader claimed that praying to the saints is unbiblical.

Catholic Social Services looks ahead to Lenten partnerships

Reflecting on Lent, I contemplate sacrifice and I think about my parents. I think about how they sacrificed daily in order to give me a good foundation. They gave of their time and their resources. They did not solve my problems for me but they gave their time to help me work out challenges on my own. They did not shower me with money but taught me to work and to earn my own way, all the while sacrificing their resources to help fund my education.

What’s the point of suffering?

CatholicAnchor.org My friends, whether helpful or not, this monthly column is meant to lend some insight into the liturgy for Sunday. So, let us get right to it: On Sunday, Feb. 8, you are likely to hear about the biblical question of human suffering? What, actually, is the answer to a phenomenon that practically every…

After a bad start, finish your life well

I am turning 65 this month and a lovely question has come to me: “How do I want to finish this life?” We all may have had some bad starts along the way but the Christian Gospel says we can make a great finish.

New head of Anchorage’s Catholic Social Services shares faith journey

Editor’s note: Last May Catholic Social Services Executive Director Susan Bomalaski announced that she was planning to step down after serving in her post for nine years. Her successor, Lisa DH Aquino, was recently hired by the CSS Board of Trustees and will continue providing a column on social justice from Catholic Social Services. This is her first.

Don’t fix your life — surrender it

I can’t fix Russia because in reality I can’t fix my life either. I can only surrender it. We can’t fix our brokenness with a new seminar, book or resolution. It is too much and too deep for us to fix. We must surrender our brokenness to the One who has come for the broken.

Pope calls Catholic Charities to be ‘on the streets’

As many of you know, Catholic Social Services is a member of the larger Catholic Charities USA network, which just recently held its annual gathering in Charlotte, N.C. The meeting opened with a video greeting from Pope Francis. Although I was not able to attend, the text of his message emphasize that the mission of all Catholic Charities agencies are directed towards his vision for the church to be the “advocate of justice and defender of the poor in the face of intolerable social and economic inequalities.”

Parish loyalties reveal a deep truth

Unless you have moved often during your lifetime, I bet somewhere, tucked in a box among your ancient personal effects, is a collection of memorabilia that identify you as Catholic. They will probably distinguish you as once registered in a specific Catholic church or school. In this box of treasures you might find certain artifacts that identified the history of your adolescence:

In truth, laws cannot redefine marriage

Making Sense of Bioethics In the current debate over gay marriage, people sometimes ask: Who should define marriage? Democrats or Republicans in Congress? The Supreme Court? Should it be put to a referendum, allowing the majority to choose a definition? We can identify two kinds of “definitions” when it comes to marriage. The first touches…

Grappling with the suicide of a loved one

As I write this, today might be the anniversary of my brother’s death. We’re not sure what day he died. My family — two brothers, a cousin, my mom and I — had traveled to New York City to do a surprise intervention with my brother. He had become dependent on cocaine, and my mother had secured the help of a fairly pricey interventionist who was going to lead us in confronting Bill and getting him into rehab. Alas, we were too late.