Have you ever been listening to a homily and suddenly find yourself wishing that so-and-so was here because they really need to hear this? In your mind’s wandering, have you thought so-and-so in the row in front of you should be taking notes? How often do we mentally excuse ourselves from the truth being preached and its challenges because we do not see ourselves as God sees us, as others see us, as we are?
ACROSS GOD’S FRONTIERS: CATHOLIC SISTERS IN THE AMERICAN WEST, 1850-1920
By Anne M. Butler
Published by University of North Carolina Press, $45
Rudolph Bultmann once described our sacred writers as people who had glimpses of the “other side,” but wrote for people “on this side.”
Though they admire the well-known scholar’s insights, most Scripture experts today would disagree with the last half of Bultmann’s statement. Certainly people who have had no experience of the other side read their writings -- anybody can read the Bible -- but these special authors originally wrote for people who had also visited the other side, who had personally touched an awesome God and lived to tell others about it.
THE BETRAYAL OF THE AMERICAN DREAM
By Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele
Published by PublicAffairs, $26.99
“I placed my bet on the American worker. And I will make that bet any day of the week” was a mantra of President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.
Viewpoint: The war in Mali is not a result of the perfidy of Islamist extremists or another case of a dysfunctional African state.
One after another they surface: bemedaled generals coming out of well-pensioned retirements to salute themselves for their military careers of duty-honor-country-valor. They write books, shifting from the martial arts to the literary arts -- aka cashing in.
Mission Management: Why is it so psychologically treacherous for missioners to go into conflict zones?
Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to Ireland, was chosen to restore trust in Irish leadership after decades of clerical scandals and cover-ups.
Lenten reflection: The weeks of Lent are rough, and sometimes, choosing how to spend your Lent is even rougher.
While the Catholic church and the United Church of Canada aren't about to agree about same-sex marriage (Catholic against, United in favor), the official Roman Catholic Church/United Church of Canada Dialogue has found significant common ground in their theologies, liturgies and pastoral approaches.
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