From the head of the U.S. Bishops, with a direct and pointed tone, a letter to the U.S. president about Haitian deportation. But Archbishop Paul Coakley also wrote he was “humbly” appealing. That shift in tone leads off our collection of news and views, in search of wisdom.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. — Philippians 1:27
It’s been 25 years. “I covered religion after the 9/11 attacks, said the publisher of Religion News Service. “ I never imagined the hate would outlast the war.” A second focus now is the invasion by our own federal forces, ICE and Homeland Security. We have faith responses to the hate and the fear. But keep on reading for brotherly advice from Vincent Van Gogh on the search for beauty.
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor – Sirach 28:7
I offer the following updated essay, first published in 1997 (See Spirituality in Action p. 57ff) for your consideration before we celebrate Labor Day that signals the end of summer leisure and the return to our regular work routines.
Love is the fulfillment of the Law.–Romans 13:10
Care for the Earth. The “Season of Creation” leads our collection of items for this edition of Wisdom Wednesday. “Every creature and every inch of earth is made and approved by God.” Other topics include “what is sharia,” voting rights, Dolly Parton, and Thomas Reese confessing “why I hate the old Latin Mass.”
About 1,600 years ago, the brilliant Doctor of the Church St. Ambrose admonished those of wealth who clung to their sense of entitlement: “You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich.”
In what we call “the Holy Land,” the last Christian village is threatened by settlers. In Gaza, a five-year old girl survives an Israeli military attack that killed her family — but is later found dead nearby the bodies of two medical workers who tried to help her. African Catholic clergy say Israeli action is genocide, and silence is no longer an option.
