The North Star Catholic /

Editorial: Direct challenge

<a href=”http://www.CatholicAnchor.org“><img src=”http://childventure.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Anchor-Logo-e1402908854277.png” alt=”Anchor Logo” /></a><a href=”http://www.CatholicAnchor.org“>CatholicAnchor.org</a> Much has been said of Pope Francis since being elected to the papacy a year ago. But headlines, sound bites and endless “pontifications” about the pontiff tend to drown out his transformative challenge to the faithful. Unless you read Vatican documents or in-depth Catholic news sites like Zenit.org,…

Alaska abortion report rife with vague answers

CatholicAnchor.org Alaska’s latest annual report on abortions reveals that abortion practitioners are increasingly failing to provide specific answers to questions about their practice or only partially filling out responses to queries about how, why and at what gestational ages abortions were performed, as well as how old women and minor girls were who underwent the…

Why Catholics leave & sometimes return to church

CatholicAnchor.org At 20 million strong, lapsed Catholics would be the second largest religious denomination in the United States, surpassed only by practicing Catholics. Among lapsed Catholics are some who wish to return to full communion with the church. These men and women often find myriad approaches to welcome and assist them. Outreaches range from dedicated…

Parish reaches out to ‘invisible’ parishioners

CatholicAnchor.org Sean Lemaire looked serene processing forward with several young people as they brought forth the gifts during a recent Mass at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River. But this wasn’t a usual Mass, or a typical procession. The Special Religious Development Mass, held March 2, was the culmination of a year of training and…

The church is not for the left or the right

CatholicAnchor.org A favorite quote of mine comes from George Bernard Shaw: “God created man in his image and then man returned the favor.” We might say the same about how many people try to make the church into the image of the present culture or serve the present political agenda. The left wants the church…

Think twice before signing living wills

CatholicAnchor.org The introduction of a couple of bills in the Alaska Legislature this session aim to establish a registry where you can file an advance directive for health care, for easy access by health professionals. These measures beg at least a couple of questions. Can an advance health care directive comport with Catholic teachings on…

It’s our duty to protect the vulnerable

CatholicAnchor.org Safe Environment “Things have a price and can be sold, but people have dignity; they are worth more than things and are above price….” “In a frail human being, each one of us is invited to recognize the face of the Lord…” Pope Francis spoke these words last year in his address to the…

New scouting group for boys launches three Alaska troops

CatholicAnchor.org Trail Life USA has launched its first troops in Alaska. According to the Trail Life USA website the group is a Christian adventure, character and leadership program for young men. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that “build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as…

Sacred art points students to deeper reality

CatholicAnchor.org For 2,000 years sacred art in the form of paintings, sculpture and stained glass have brought the truths of the church to life by providing the faithful with a visual means of deeper devotion and understanding. This historic emphasis on art is still evident in Catholic school education across the Archdiocese of Anchorage. From…

An unstoppable force

CatholicAnchor.org The pastor at my church told a story a few weeks ago that is seeping into my Lent, so with apologies to Father Pat Malone, I retell it here. As a Peace Corps volunteer years ago, before becoming a priest, he lived with a family in a remote African village. He loved the family,…