Profiles in Catholicism
Apr 25, 201914 min
A Message from the Editor
The United States has a humanitarian crisis at the United States/Mexican boarder and a moral crisis in the leadership in the White House. We demean the value and dignity of human life when we cage children, traumatically separate children from their parents, and express hatred for Latino immigrants and Muslims.
To counterbalance this hatred of immigrants, we have a review of the film
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini by my friend Lucia Mauro about an extraordinary woman who spent her life loving and helping immigrants.
Prayer of the Month
A Prayer for Migrant Children
Good Lord, who said “Whoever receives one of these little ones, receives
me,” bless the little ones who are caught in the struggle of migration,
separation, and abuse.
Give all those adults who are responsible for them and for their welfare the
wisdom and courage to do the children justice and to protect them.
Make our hearts more loving and willing to do the right thing by them.
May we see in all people young and old your image and so reverence their
great dignity.
We make our prayer through you who came among us as a child and who
was forced to flee the threat of violence
Amen
by Father Louis Cameli Profiles in Catholicism
Quote of the Month
Migrants trust that they will encounter acceptance, solidarity, and help, that they will meet people who will sympathize with the distress and tragedy experienced by others, recognize the values and resources the latter have to offer, and are open to sharing humanly and materially with the needy and disadvantaged.
by Pope Francis
Interviews
General Articles/Commentaries
1.6 Million Children in Need after Cyclone Idai hits South-East Africa
by Jesus Caritas Est Catholic News World
USCCB president decries terrorist bombings of Sri Lanka churches, hotels
by Catholic News Service/ National Catholic Reporter
Young Martyr: 11-Year-Old Was Murdered While Standing in Line for Communion
by Deacon Greg Kandra Patheos
Link to War/Terrorism/Genocide
Pope Francis, the agenda of the secular world
by Andrea Gagliarducci Vatican at a Glance
Honoring Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust
by United States Holocaust Museum
Carry an organ donor card, Pope urges
by Cian Molloy Catholic Ireland.net
Northern Ireland bishop expresses ‘shock, revulsion’ after journalist’s murder
by Charles Collins Crux
After Columbine: How one survivor found faith, and a vocation
by Jonah McKeown Angelus
Link to Vocations
Cardinal Tagle: Fight Evil with Humility, Never with Violence
by Roy Lagarde Zenit
Church’s Teachings Challenge Troubling Migration Policies and Practices
by Dr. Anne T. Gallagher International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
Silence equals complicity in US border 'crisis'
by NCR Editorial Staff National Catholic Reporter
Link to United States Immigrant General Challenges
Mexican bishops deplore plight of migrants
by Fides News/Independent Catholic News
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma Plays Bach In Shadow Of Border Crossing
by Norma Martinez WBEZ
Why We Need to Do More to Fight Islamophobia
by Carly Pildis The Tablet
Bannon helps spread cancer of populist nationalism
by Michael Sean Winters National Catholic Reporter
Steve Bannon and U.S. ultra-conservatives take aim at Pope Francis
by Richard Engel NBC News
'The Brink' shows Steve Bannon as a human, and as the enemy
by Sr. Rose Pacatte National Catholic Reporter
Call to end Affordable Care Act is 'immoral,' says CHA president
by Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Agency/The Pilot
Northern Ireland bishop expresses ‘shock, revulsion’ after journalist’s murder
by Charles Collins Crux
From Ballymun to Chile in search of social justice
by Hannah Harn The Irish Catholic
Link to Social Justice
An Entrepreneur And His Ex-Cons: Meet The Former Gang Member Who Created A $10 Million Packaging Startup That Hires Former Inmates
by Amy Feldman Forbes
Link to Gang Violence
English cardinal: Human slavery ‘as deep as ever, just in different forms’
by Christopher White Crux
The Jews of San Miguel de Allende
by Roslyn Bernstein The Tablet Magazine
Poems from children on the frontlines of climate change
by Veronica Gaylie America
Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop Eamon Martin as Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Dromore
by Zenit Staff Zenit
Visit With Raphael Mechoulam, the Israeli Godfather of Cannabinoid Research
by Madison Margolin Tablet Magazine
Jewish rock-n-roll journo describes her path into the Church
by Charles C. Camosy Crux
Justice Wecht Breaks Judicial Silence on Anti-Semitism
by Joel Cohen America
Link to Antisemitism
Should the Church focus only on "spiritual matters"?
by Fr. Nick Meisl Catholic Canada
The Fire of Notre Dame and the Theology of Architecture
by René Albert Patheos
Link to Spirituality and Architecture
She was buried in a mudslide that killed her father and brother. Singing has been her salvation
by Catherine Saillant The Los Angeles Times
Link to Spirituality and Music
Pope Francis makes Surprise visit to Alzheimer Patients for Mercy Friday
by Jesus Caritas Est Catholic News World
Link to Alzheimer’s disease
He’s 4 years old with Down syndrome, and his brothers’ joyful keeper
by Annalisa Teggi Aleteia
How Cardinal Joseph Tobin found his calling in the Catholic Church
by Today
What happens when a priest is falsely accused of sexual abuse
by Michael J. O’Loughlin America
Solitary confinement in U.S. prisons qualifies today as torture
by Mark Pattison Catholic News Service/Crux
Link to Prison Challenges
Bishop calls on UK to promote global abolition of death penalty
by Independent Catholic News
Link to Death Penalty
China holds first bishop elections since Vatican deal
by UCANews.com reporter UCANews.com
Link to Catholicism and China
Cardinal address epidemic of violence sweeping the U.K.
by Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service/The Arlington Catholic Herald
Summary Report on End-Of-Life Care (euthanasia) In Québec.
by Alex Schadenberg Catholic Canada
Link to End of Life
Featured Report
Stations of the Cross
by Mary Jane Miller Profiles in Catholicism
Pope cites tech whiz as role model for young people
by Junno Arocho Esteves Crux
What’s in your cup of coffee? Capeltic, a Chiapas-based cooperative, is serving up dignity
by Jan-Albert Hootsen America
Meet The Catholic Graffiti Artist Who Created A Giant St. Thomas Aquinas Mural In Texas
by Vivian Cabrera America
Link to Spirituality and Art
Importance & Influence of Blessed Cardinal Newman
by Dave Armstrong Patheos
What does justice look like for survivors?
by Deliver Us America
Link to Sexual Violence Against Minors
Father Robert Spitzer Explains the Science Behind the Shroud of Turin
by Busted Halo
Pope: human trafficking a crime of the “commercialization of the other"
by Robin Gomes Vatican News
Link to Human Trafficking
Can you find God in a black hole?
by Guy Consolmagno America
Across the Universe: An extraordinary, ordinary man
by Br. Guy Consolmagno The Catholic Astronomer
Seeing Abortion
by Bishop Robert Barron Echoes
Link to Abortion
Parish ministries working to end domestic violence by Michelle Martin Chicago Catholic
Link to Domestic Violence
Euthanasia would undermine whānau values
by Dame Tariana Turia NZ Herald
Dozens of doctors in Appalachia charged in opioid fraud bust by Gabriella Borter Reuters
Link to Substance Use/Addiction
Nun who threw “perfect pitch” at Chicago Sox game to get own baseball card
by John Burger Aleteia
Link to Sports and Spirituality
Made in Lazio by Marco Lo Russo Profiles in Catholicism
Liturgy Q & A: Communion for the Autistic
by Fr. Edward McNamara Zenit
Health Equity: Examining How Systemic Racism Has Sickened Our Communities
by NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Untold Story: Nazi Murder, Torture and ‘Experiments’ on Polish Girls in Ravensbrück Prison Camp
by Brian Kelly Catholicism
Though this holy priest died of cancer, here’s why he’s recognized as a martyr of Communist Poland
by Larry Peterson Aleteia
NATO Military Alliance Incompatible with Gospel Nonviolence ·
by Tony Magliano Pax Christi International
Myanmar nun enjoys doing God's work with lepers.
by John Zaw La Croix International
Link to Leprosy
The parish is dead, long live the parish
by Gauthier Vaillant La Croix International
Link to Parish Challenges
Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop of Cork & Ross
by Jim Fair Zenit
25 years after Rwanda genocide, survivors forgive killers
by Associated Press/Crux
Link to Forgiveness and to War/Terrorism/Genocide
Cardinal: Create a sense of belonging for young people to counteract gang culture, knife crime
by Independent Catholic News
Link to Gang Violence
Robots are coming: Time to consider the ethical dimensions
by Paul de Dinechin Aleteia
Link to Artificial Intelligence
The day Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and Bruce Springsteen met at America magazine
by Chad Mitchum America
Church membership in US plummets over past 20 years
by David Crary Associated Press/Crux
‘Harry Potter’ books burned at Catholic parish in Poland
by Monica Scislowka Associated Press/America
China's 'genocide' unlike any other The global community must act to end the forcible extraction of organs from prisoners of conscience
by Benedict Rogers La Croix International
Human rights and Catholic social teaching
by Jesuits in Ireland
Link to Human Rights
Archbishop Auza Stresses Climate Concerns at Fordham Conference
by Zenit Staff Zenit
Link to Environment Challenges
The gifts of poetry and Down syndrome. Tyrants, who are usually expert in doing the numbers, often fear poets because they cut through the shallow, the cheap and the brutal
by Andrew Hamilton La Croix International
Link to Spirituality and Poetry
Teen kicks cancer, ready to head to World Irish Dance Championship
by Mary Stachyra Lopez Crux
Link to Cancer
Diocese faces demand for Spanish-speaking priests
by Zita B. Fletcher Catholic Herald
National Trust: One-third of Canada’s churches to close within 10 years
by Michael Swan Catholic News Service/Crux
New Zealand mosque attack: Egypt’s grand imam schools the West on terror equality
by Ashraf Ramelah Voice of the Copts
Link to War/Terrorism/Genocide
A Traumatic Legacy
by Adam Kovac Tablet Magazine
Link to The Holocaust
An Exorcist Comments on Walmart’s Satanic Products
by Patti Armstrong National Catholic Register
Link to Exorcism and Satanism
Founder, board of Vatican women’s magazine quit
by Nichole Winfield Associated Press
Link to Women's Challenges and to Social Media
Artificial Intelligence experts at Rome event warn of ‘technology arms race’
by Claire Giangravè Crux
Link to Artificial Intelligence
David Hogg in Minneapolis: Work Together on Gun Violence
by Jack Hartjes Patheos
Link to Gun Violence
Q & A with Sr. Véronique Margron, leader of religious addressing abuse in church
by Elisabeth Auvillain Global Sisters Report
Link to Sexual Violence Against Women
With a church in crisis, why do Catholic women stay?
by Cecilia González-Andrieu America
Link to Women's Challenges
You can’t keep your kids from screen addiction unless you do this one thing
by Mathilde De Robien Aleteia
Former Catholic priest to plead guilty in child porn case
by Associated Press/Idaho State Journal
Link to Pornography Challenges
Priest arrested in arms fair protest
by Independent Catholic News
Occam’s Razor, a Feast for William, and a Celebration of Critical Thinking
by James Ford Patheos
White supremacy and me and you
by Julia Walsh National Catholic Reporter
Link to White Supremacy
Father Greg Boyle’s solution to an unjust criminal justice system: radical kinship
by J.D. Long-García America
Link to Prison Challenges
Marquette’s Markus Howard is changing the way athletes talk about mental health
by Zac Davis America
Link to Mental Health/Illness
Beirut: Young people from 43 countries attend Taize weekend
by Katja Dorothea Buck Independent Catholic News
The Power of Negative Thinking: On Trauma and Validation
by Melinda Selmys Patheos
Small Portland parish offers big hospitality to poor, homeless
by Peter Feuerherd National Catholic Reporter
Link to Homeless
Out of Darkness. What We Can Learn from a New Orleans Lynching by Paul Moses Commonweal
Link to Racial Challenges and to Murder
Advocacy
Please support one of our organizations and people who need help
Please send a donation for help save the life of my close friend Alwin Rex in India. Please read the article How do we love our neighbor as ourselves? and send a donation of $10.00 or more to help cover his healthcare costs to Father Thomas Ayyaneth, Syro Malankara Catholic Eparchial Chancery,1500 DePaul Street, Elmont, New York 11003, USA with a notation that the donation is for Alwin Rex. Father Thomas will process donations and send them to his pastor.
Thank you
Gordon Nary
Editor, Profiles in Catholicism
When Children are Set Free
by Shay Cullen, Mssc Preda Foundation
Aiming high: Irish charity wants to impact five million African students
By Susan Gately Catholic Ireland.net
Donation request for mentally retarded children in India Help save the lives of people in Kenya whoare dying from lack of access to clean water. Please read our interview with Father Joseph Mungai, FMH.
Whether They Are Young or Old, Hungry or Addicted, Homeless or Friendless... Catholic Charities sees the faceof God in those in need. By providing food, clothing, shelter and counseling, we bring hope to the hopeless in the city of Chicago and its suburbs. With 150 programs at 153 locations throughout Cook and Lake counties, we serve virtually every neighborhood and parish in the Chicagoland area. Through our broad spectrum of services, we annually assist more than 1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. For more than 98 years, Catholic Charities has empowered families and individuals of all races and religious backgrounds to realize their full potential. Our services help people from the point of conception through the last stages of their lives. We keep mothers and their babies well-fed, prepare children in low-income families for school, keep youth in school and out of gangs, counsel and give job training to adults with economic troubles, provide affordable housing for seniors, and organize in-home care services for seniors who need help caring for themselves. donations@catholiccharities.net
Only 8 cents of every dollar donated goes toward our administrative expenses; the rest goes directly to help clients. While Catholic Charities raises funds separately from the Archdiocese of Chicago, we serve as the social service arm of the church
Support Capuchin Community Services At the Capuchin Community Services, we support those who cannot support themselves. We are grateful to you for your support whether it be through prayer, through donated goods, or through financial donation. Please be assured that we are careful stewards of your trust. We welcome contributions of any size. All are acknowledged and are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Capuchin Community Services is a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. Unless otherwise directed, donations support the local ministry and the Province. To donate through the mail: Capuchin Community Services PO Box 05830 Milwaukee, WI 53205-0830
Book Reviews/Commentaries
Elie Wiesel: Teacher, Mentor and Friend
Edited by Alan L. Berger
Reviewed by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism
Dorothy Day: An Introduction to Her Life and Thought by Terrence C. Wright Reviewed by Rachelle Linner The Pilot
When Jesuits were Giants
by Fr James Schall
Reviewed by Tracey Rowland Catholic World Report
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe Commentary by Terrance Klein America
Deaf Republic
by Ilya Kaminsky
Reviewed by Jake Marmer Tablet
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Reviewed by David Russell Mosley Patheos
Miracle Workers
by Simon Rich Reviewed by Jake Kring-Schreifels America
The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard Rohr Reviewed by Cathleen Falsani Religion News Service/National Catholic Reporter
Making Missionary Disciples by Curtis Martin Reviewed by Kathryn Mihaliak Wallice National Catholic Register
Glorious Weakness by Alia Joy Reviewed by Kristy Burmeister Patheos
Film Reviews/Commentaries
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Reviewed by Anna Clara Ionta Profiles in Catholicism
The Italian Panacea in Two Films by Lucia Mauro
by Anna Clara Ionta Symposium on Italian Cinema
Mary Magdalene
Reviewed by by John Anderson America
The Brink
Commentary by Sr. Rose Pacatte National Catholic Reporter
Us Reviewed by Eve Tushnet America
'Prey': A documentary by Windsor director shines a light on sexual abuse by priests?
Commentary by CBC News
Unplanned Reviewed by Kate O'Hare Patheos
Faces Places.
Reviewed by Charles Bramesco Vulture
The Devil’s Doorway
Reviewed by Eve Tushnet America
Avengers: Endgame
Commentary by Colten Biro, SJ The Jesuit Post
Dumbo Reviewed by Steven D. Greydanus National Catholic Register
Shazam
Reviewed by Paul Asay Patheos
Noah
Commentary by Peter T. Chattaway Patheos
The Best of Enemies
Reviewed by Sr. Rose Pacatte Patheos
Peterloo
Reviewed by John Anderson America
Five Feet Apart
Reviewed by Roberto J. De La Noval America
TV Reviews/Commentaries
Les Miserables
Reviewed by Kate O'Hare Patheos
Game of Thrones On ‘Game of Thrones,’ Jesus Christ is a girl on a dragon by Jim McDermott America
Workin’Moms Reviewed by Megan Harper Patheos
Fosse/Verdon Reviewed by Rob Weinert-Kendt America
Wine Masters Review, Season 1: France Commentary by Bernard Kenner
Theater Reviews/Commentaries
Oranges and Ink Reviewed by Christy Lawrance Independent Catholic News
Miracle In Rwanda
Reviewed by Deniz Demirer America
The Jungle
Reviewed by Yasmine El Rashidi NYR Daily
Obituaries
Feasting with the Saints
Prayers
A Prayer for Those Killed and Harmed and their Families in the Sri Lanka Terrorist Attack
Loving God,
Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism.
Comfort their families and all who grieve for them.
Help us in our fear and uncertainty,
And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love.
Strengthen all those who work for peace,
And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts.
by Author Unknown
A Prayer for Those Who Have Suffered Abuse by the Clergy
God, in your providential love you comfort those who are wounded and
afflicted.
Hear our prayers for those who have suffered abuse by those in their
families or by those entrusted with their care.
In a special way, we pray for those who suffered abuse by clergy who
betrayed a sacred trust and who were meant to
stand for your loving presence in their lives.
May those who have been hurt find support and encouragement in
communities of faith, hope, and love.
May they discover healing in genuinely loving and caring relationships.
May they reclaim hope for themselves.
May they be strengthened and confirmed in their resolve to set things
aright.
May they rest in you who make all things work for the good.
Amen
by Father Louis Cameli Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer to Prevent Nuclear War
Lord God, you created life and beauty in this world. You then entrusted the human community with caring for, and enhancing, your creation. Strengthen us, we pray, in this challenging time when the power to destroy this creation has grown so dangerously. Lead us on a road of peace, a road that includes a program of removing all nuclear weapons from our earth. We cannot hope to meet this challenge without your continuing presence and support. For this we make our prayerful plea in your name.
by John T. Pawlikowski, OSM Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer to Prevent Antisemitism
Lord God, through the covenant you established with the Jewish People,
we Christians have been grafted into this covenantal tradition according to
St. Paul. But very often throughout history we have shown ourselves
ungrateful for this gift given us through Jesus who imbued in his teachings
this Jewish covenantal tradition through acts of antisemitism.
We join with Popes St. John Paul II and
Francis in confessing our sins of antisemitism past and present.
Through this prayer we commit ourselves to the elimination any
remaining anti-Semitic teachings in the Catholic community and pledge to
add our public voice in denouncing any manifestations of antisemitism in
contemporary society. We ask your blessing so that we may have the
strength to fulfill this pledge we make in your
presence.
by John T. Pawlikowski, OSM Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer to End Racism
As we gather together for prayer and communion, we are reaffirming our commitment to love unconditionally, welcome all people and work to root out the cancer of racism that betrays our faith and country’s highest principles.”
by The Rev. Dr. Darryl Roberts, Senior Pastor, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, Washington. DC
A Prayer for East Africa
O Lord, with so much tragedy going on in our own country,
children separated from their parents at our borders,
needy asylum seekers turned away,
against the spirit of all that we stand for,
as stated on the Statue of Liberty,
help us to think of, pray for, and find the means to help others
around the world, especially the millions of people facing starvation in East
Africa.
We are called by the Jewish prophets and by Jesus
to help all in need, and our country has the resources to do so.
Help us to work together with other nations around the world
to raise awareness of the desperation of the East Africans,
and to pool our resources to send them food and medical aid,
so that they may survive and help others to survive and thrive.
We ask this in the name of our Loving Father, the Son who sacrificed his
life for all,
and the Holy Spirit who permeates all reality and the hearts and souls of
all humans.
Amen
by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse
God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
To save us by the blood of his cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear our cries as we agonize
over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers,
soothe restless hearts with hope,
steady shaken spirits with faith:
Show us the way to justice and wholeness,
enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform our brokenness.
Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,
so that we may act with justice
and find peace in you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
by Christian Peschken Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer to End Gun Violence
Lord Jesus, as you approached the city of Jerusalem,
Before your passion,
As your people waved palms in your honor,
You saw the city and wept over it because you
Loved it.
You knew of the violence and chaos you would suffer
In that beloved city
still you loved it and wept over it.
Lord Jesus, look upon our cities, weep over them,
Love them and protect them.
Weep over us and strengthen us as we suffer
Violence and chaos.
Weep over us and love us.
Lord Jesus, weep over us and love us. (See Lk 19)
by Father David O. Brown, O.S.M.. Profiles in Catholicism
Videos
Why did St. Padre Pio receive the Stigmata?
by EWTN Vaticano
Sandpiper Shores Elementary School students honor child survivors of the Holocaust
Conference on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment
by Archdiocese of Winnipeg
How Do We Drive Demons from Our Lives?
by Rabbi Schneider
Dr Gregory Bottaro and Father Ian VanHeusen on Catholic Mindfulness
by CatholicPsych Institute
Alfred de Zayas about Global Compact for Migration
by Christian Peschken PESCHKEN reports