Blog - January 2015 RSS Feed

The civilized world, rightly, rose up to condemn the recent murders in Paris of journalists and shoppers in a Jewish deli. Millions took to the streets, and every sane publication or news program expressed, appropriately, outrage at this attack by Islamic fanatics, a butchery threatening civility and human rights.

AMDG                                                                          JMJ January 30, 2015 Since 2009, a “Red Mass” has been celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph’s in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Remember, when you were in school, how we’d wait for the announcement, the evening before or early the next morning, that “school would be closed” due to the snow? I can still recall the shouts of joy at that good news!

January 26, 2015 Saturday, I had a very memorable experience. Last summer, on a visit to Eastern Correctional Institution up in Napanoch, I was introduced to prisoners who were enrolled in college – – yes, real college !

January 22, 2015 The caricature of a priest, (or any preacher, or rabbi) is that “we’re” hung up on sex” always wagging a finger at “sinners,” ever-ready to condemn, never leaving it alone. The opposite is true.

January 20, 2015 Thanks be to God! We all heard the good news yesterday from Pope Francis himself, that he will visit us here in New York City. Yes, we’ve expected it for awhile, as he himself has expressed his hope to come see us.

An interesting article from Bill McGurn in last Friday’s New York Post called Tocqueville v. Terror . Here is an excerpt: The received wisdom is that France — and Europe — must respond to the threat of radical Islam by rededicating themselves to their highly secularized selves.

Jesus came to restore the culture of life… The more vulnerable the life is the more Jesus reaches out to protect it. On January 22, people will gather to stand up for the culture of life as a reminder that all life is sacred.

A headache . . . to maintain property, pay for it, insure it, protect it. It can become all consuming. No wonder the followers of Jesus have usually been suspicious of it! Then again, a blessing . . .

On Cardinal Dolan’s radio show, he shares his reaction regarding the terrorist attacks overseas.

Last Friday, The Wall Street Journal had an insightful “Houses of Worship” column, Letting Education and Religion Overlap , by Robert Maranto and Dirk C. van Raemdonck. Here is an excerpt: “Ironically, free-market, highly religious America is dominated by government-education monopolies, while social-democratic, highly secular Belgium has embraced school choice, including state-funded religious schools.

“The most important day of my life was the day of my baptism.” Cardinal Dolan’s Homily for  December 11, 2015

Cardinal Dolan speaks about Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Young Adult Mass on December 10, 2014.

You talk to me about Pope Francis; you tell me about your parish and your priests; and you especially so often lovingly and gratefully talk to me about the sisters! How we Catholics love the nuns! How we agree with the Holy Father, “It would be impossible to think of the church without the sisters!” No wonder Pope Francis has designated 2015 as the Year of Consecrated Life , as we thank God for the gift of our sisters, brothers, and priests in religious orders.

Today I visited with the grieving family of murdered Officer Wenjian Liu. Just as with my visit last week with the mourning family of Officer Rafael Ramos, I was very moved by yes, the depth of their loss, but also by the gratitude they savored for their son, husband, brother and cousin, and the sense of hope they exhibited.