The Compass

Comment (0) Read More...

There have been many reactions since the Vatican's April 18 announcement of a major reform in  the U.S. congregation of women relgious known as the Leadership Conference of Women Religious or LCWR.  As reported by Catholic News Service, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle will provide "review, guidance and approval, where necessary, of the work" of LCWR. The archbishop will be assisted by Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., and draw on the advice of fellow bishops, women religious and other experts. The LCWR claims about 1,500 leaders of U.S. women's communities as members, represents about 80 percent of the country's 57,000 women religious.
We have yet to see how this reform will take place or what will be involved.  However, this week Bishop Robert Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla., offered a calming perspective on his blog. As Bishop Lynch says, the Sisters "have played and continue to play an extremely important and vital role in the life of our Church."

Comment (0)

Some people compare the aura and excitement around Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan to a rock star. When you’re named one of Time Magazine’s top 100 Most Influential People in the World, it only reinforces his “rock star” status.

Comment (0) Read More...

“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning” Joel 2:12.

Comment (0) Read More...

Do people look at you funny when you have ashes on your forehead?  Ever wonder what to say? Marcel LeJeune, a campus minister at Texas A&M University and a Catholic blogger (Aggie Catholic), has five suggestions  of what you can do this Ash Wednesday. (Four of them actually work all through Lent.)

Comment (0) Read More...

It’s not often you see a nun at the Oscars.  But you just might this Sunday, Feb. 26.  Reverend Mother Dolores, 73, a Benedictine prioress in Connecticut, is a voting member of the Motion Picture Academy. Back when she was Hollywood star Dolores Hart, she starred with performers like Elvis Presley before entering the convent in 1963. Today, she is the subject of a film nominated in the best documentary short category. The film is called “God is Bigger than Elvis, which will be on HBO this spring. The film was made at her Abbey of Regina Laudis.  For more on her story, see this story (USA Today) and this background piece at Catholic Exchange.

Comment (0) Read More...

Last week, I posted a link to the U.S. Bishops’ web site listing six major problems Catholics have with the HHS mandate on contraceptives. On Feb. 13, after President Obama’s Feb. 10 press conference, the bishops’ site added a list of “six more things everyone should know about the HHS mandate." Take a look. There's also a Spanish version, posted on Feb. 14. 

Comment (0)

If you want to know the major problems Catholics have with the HHS mandate on contraceptives take a look at these points posted at the U.S. Bishops’ blog Feb. 6 by Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, RSM.  For example, do you think this won’t affect your local Catholic hospital? Think again. And if you think only Catholics have a problem with this, check out Point 5.

Comment (0) Read More...

It was 60 years ago today, Feb. 6, 1952, that Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. This year will be full of celebrations marking the monarch’s diamond jubilee. However, today will be a somber day for Elizabeth, no doubt. We should not forget that it is also the 60th anniversary of the death of her father, King George VI. Elizabeth, traveling in Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip, when she learned of her father’s death, was 25 years old. 

Comment (0) Read More...

Last weekend, my pastor spoke about the March for Life in his homily. And he noted that the event would probably not receive much coverage in the national secular media — as is usual, he added.

Comment (0) Read More...