Commentaries
Free exercise no longer free or exercisable
By now you’ve heard of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) religious liberty-violating mandate that employers must cover sterilization, abortion-causing drugs and contraception. The directive includes no real regard for religious beliefs or dictates of conscience, and will be applied to nearly all employers, including Catholic schools, hospitals and charities.
Never stop telling the stories
Many years ago, I was listening to a homily, where the priest urged the congregation: “Never stop telling the stories.” He was reminding us that it was our responsibility, some as the elders, and some as someday to be elders, to tell the story of our history; to tell the story of our heritage. We […]
School choice: If not now, when?
The recent announcements of the Blue Ribbon Commission in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have motivated many people to action on the issue of school choice. The need for major restructuring in Catholic schools is a vivid example of why school choice is necessary: Current parents are struggling to choose the best school for their child. […]
The Need for Scholarships in Philadelphia County
If you have been reading about Senate Bill 1: The Opportunity Scholarship Act (SB1) that is making its way through the state legislature, you may question whether or not children in your community need scholarship aid, or could use a voucher-based school choice program like the one proposed in the bill. Based on my experience […]
Chance for school choice might not come again
The Catholic community across Pennsylvania rose up to demand that their state legislators support school choice. Catholics with school-age children and those without sent letters, made phone calls and personal visits in the thousands with one message: we’re your constituents, and we want you to pass school choice legislation, especially in the form of vouchers. […]
Abortion statistics released — Where’s the outrage?
About a year ago, when news was released about the Philadelphia abortion clinic of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, words like “house of horrors”, “shocking”, “murder”, and “intentional killing of babies” graced the headlines. The stories told of charges filed against Gosnell and others stemming from the death of one woman and the murder of seven newborn […]
Get ready for necessary changes of 2012
In a week’s time, Jan. 6, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will issue its long-awaited report. A year in the making, the report is expected to recommend significant and possibly large numbers of closures and consolidations of parish elementary and high schools in the region. The numbers are […]
Inaction on voucher program ‘disappointing’
In the final days of their 2011 session, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives did not take up the issue of vouchers to the great disappointment of school choice proponents across the state. Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act, passed the Senate in late October by a vote of 27-22. School choice supporters were hopeful […]
A Renewed Apostolate
“And with your spirit.” Most of us will need some practice to be comfortable with these words. As we stumble to catch on to the new translation of the Mass, lay Catholics are reminded that we are an important part of the Church. We have a “special and indispensable role” to play, not just in […]
President Obama denies trafficking victims grant to Catholic Bishops over abortion
A little over a decade ago, I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000—the landmark law that created America’s comprehensive policy to combat modern day slavery. Among its many mutually reinforcing provisions designed to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute those who reduce people to commodities for sale — the three Ps — […]