The North Star Catholic / OPINION Archives - Page 22 of 29

Childhood trauma has far-reaching consequences

As the Archdiocese of Anchorage recognizes Child Abuse Awareness Month in April, the Archdiocesan Office of Safe Environment invited a guest writer Marg Volz to show the connection between negative childhood experiences and consequences to emotional and physical health. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages all dioceses to focus on this designation to learn how child abuse goes against the basic premise of Catholic teaching on the dignity human persons.

Anchorage’s young people are making a real difference

“I believe that children are our future.” Whitney Houston sang it, but I think we all believe it. There are stories in the 24-hour news cycle all the time about young people in our country and in our communities making a negative impact. My experience though, is different. Time and time again, young people in Anchorage have made a positive difference everyday. Here is one account of amazing Anchorage young people.

Where two or three are gathered

I’ve been thinking about community lately, because I realize how important it is to me and to all of us. We can’t get along without some kind of community of friends, and the quality of the community we form says a lot about how healthy we are as human beings and especially as Christians.

Sacred grounding

Out on the plains of North Dakota there once stood a church, a building of severe Gothic style that served my German-Catholic ancestors. It is gone now, demolished! Those who once worshipped there have gone elsewhere. I was deeply saddened when I learned of its passing, because it was on the very grounds of this modest sacred edifice that my faith took first root.

Rudderless fasting vs. Lenten tradition

In Alaska, thousands of miles to west, a friend is up in his years and living out his last week on earth. He is sick and dying, and I’m using the pangs of hunger throughout the day as a reminder to send “positive intentions” his way — more commonly known as prayers. But I am reluctant to call them that, just then. I have been reading some “out there stuff.” I have also studied the faith of the Mormons and of Jehovah Witnesses, and been comparing the two with my philosophical anchoring in a Lutheran church. I am contemplating an exhaustive study of Buddhism next.

Sex offender accountability is part of upholding dignity

The goal in implementing the policies of safe environment is to promote the charity, love and strength of Jesus to and from everyone. I am specifically referring to one very sensitive issue. Parishioners and ministers alike ask me about the church’s policies when a parishioner or church minister or volunteer has been convicted of a serious crime, such as a sexual offense against a child or vulnerable person or child pornography. These offenses are clearly against charity and the dignity of the human person. They cause very deep, life long wounds.

Free speech is messy

In discussing the horrible Charlie Hebdo magazine massacre, the UK’s Daily Mail said the pope pointed at a friend, threw a pretend punch and said, “If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch.” My husband’s grandparents were all from Italy, and just recently I heard a fourth generation member of that family respond to the ultimate insult: “You disrespected my mother.” To an Italian, disrespect to a mother is free speech used despicably, so the pope’s point is taken. People who insult things that are sacred to you are likely to incite your ire.

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.

Stand firm and bring healing to the world

Christ teaches that the church is to live in this created world, but in such a way that it does not embrace or accept sin. Instead the church embraces the world and heals it by proclaiming the kingdom of God. The world, you see, is broken and needs healing. Our call is not to condemn the world but to save it. God has chosen us for this very task. He has chosen us to live during this time and in this culture with all its flaws.