In the early 1980’s, a Lithuanian sailor on a Soviet ship in an American port jumped overboard in an attempt to seek political asylum in the United States. Authorities on shore summarily returned him to the ship where he was …
Faithful Citizenship
We bishops insist in our statement called, Faithful Citizenship, that when Catholics bring our moral convictions into public life we “do not threaten democracy or pluralism but enrich them and the nation. The separation of church and state does …
Mass Attendance and Vacation
When I was a young seminarian, the rector before dismissing us for our summer break would admonish us: remember, guys, there’s no vacation from a vocation. This was certainly wise advice – we were after all still seminarians even when …
Citizenship Day
President Harry Truman established September 17th as Citizenship Day. The choice of this date was not arbitrary: today marks the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution – and, it is this hallowed document that defines what it is …
Editorial on Marriage
Last week, President Bush lent his support to efforts in Congress and several states to seek passage of a 28th amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment reads simply: Marriage in the United States shall consist of only a …
Faith of Custom
Pope John Paul II earlier this month visited Switzerland. Though frail and weak in body, his spirit is indomitable and his message youthful and strong. He reminded the thousands that came to pray with him that “for all the baptized …
Politicians And Communion
Any Catholic on this side of Judgment Day can call himself a “practicing Catholic”. After all, our earthy pilgrimage in this “valley of tears” is our one time opportunity to “practice” Catholicism until we get it right. But “getting it …
Msgr. Roland Knox – February 17, 2004
The late Msgr. Ronald Knox, an English convert from Anglicanism, once observed: “A scandal (carries) further than a tale of sanctity; our Blessed Lady lived and died unknown, but all Jerusalem knew when Judas hanged himself.” The scandal of child …
150th Anniversary of the Solemn Proclamation of the Dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception
December 8th of this year marks the 150th anniversary of the solemn proclamation of the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. The belief in this singular privilege of the Blessed Mother was already a part of the faith of the Catholic …
Bishop Wenski Coat of Arms
THE COAT OF ARMS OF BISHOP THOMAS G. WENSKI
FOURTH BISHOP OF ORLANDO
Since the Middle Ages, bishops have been accorded the privilege of displaying a personal crest as a sign of their authority.
The coat of arms of Bishop …