CatholicAnchor.org It has been an exciting past year with Pope Francis becoming the leader of our church. Like many of you, I find great wisdom and inspiration in the pope’s words. The Holy Father helps us to reflect more deeply on how God’s love can open our hearts to solidarity with our neighbors and move…
Did you know that the word Lent comes from a word for springtime? Christian observances of a time of fasting before Easter go all the way back to Saint Irenaeus. But today, who observes Lent? Holidays have been pretty well appropriated by our general culture: Christmas, despite those who harp about a “war on Christmas,”…
True to form, parades have a message to convey; someone needs to be honored for valor, an event needs to be commemorated, special groups need to be appreciated, a day in summer needs enjoying.
And so it was on a certain spring day in Jerusalem that a group of ragtag Palestinian peasants — kids included — came trooping down a narrow alley of the city, willow and palm branches in hand, leading a donkey on which was seated Jesus of Nazareth who had gained considerable fame preaching and healing back home.
In a few weeks the Catholic Church will enter the extraordinary time of Holy Week as the penitential season of Lent comes to a close and we celebrate The Sacred Triduum. During these days, we will focus our attention on the example of humble service and the self-giving of Jesus at the Mass of the…
Last week while on vacation I had the opportunity to read several editions of the Catholic Anchor which I receive regularly from my daughter who lives in Anchorage. The January column by Christina Martin (“Why I’ll pay the fine instead of buying Obamacare”) really made me sit up and take notice, as this subject on…
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.
Democratic Minority Leader Hollis French, of Anchorage, has introduced a resolution in the Alaska State Legislature to repeal the state’s voter approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of “one man and one woman.” French is proposing a constitutional amendment to override the 1998 law which passed with 68 percent voter support. French called…
State Supreme Court hears challenge from Planned Parenthood The State of Alaska is defending a voter-approved law that requires at least one parent be notified before an abortion practitioner can perform an abortion on a minor girl. The law provides an option for a judge to bypass the notification requirement in special circumstances. Initially approved…
Proposed legislation to prohibit Alaska abortion practitioners from being reimbursed by the state for performing “elective” abortions, not necessary to preserve the life or physical health of the mother are sitting in committees, awaiting further action by the Alaska House. As of March 18 the two identical bills (Senate Bill 49 and House Bill 173)…
Safe Environment I am often asked, “When will we stop hearing about reports of abuse or how badly reports were handled by those representing the Roman Catholic Church?” We know there will continue to be reports from the past until all victims are able to come forward. We also know there will continue to be…