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I visited the office of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (1st District, NE) at the end of the recent Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington.  I went with two people from Nebraska, and a staffer from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.  We met a legislative assistant, and the meeting was very professional – that is to say, dry.  Everybody was polite: a Republican aide from well-mannered Nebraska meets with some well-meaning liberals from the East Coast of Obama-Land.  Then someone mentioned Pope Francis’s planned visit in September, and the aide lit up: “The Pope challenges everybody!” Can we all agree that the visit in September can be a time of grace? Maybe people will listen to their consciences with a fresh awareness.  Can we all agree to let people – even legislators – shift their positions on issues of conscience at that time? Legislators take positions on issues during campaigns.  What should they do if they change their minds?  Are they ...

unborn unnamed undocumented uncounted unburied – and dead American immigration restrictions support population control measures overseas.  The exact number of abortions overseas that are linked to America’s refusal to welcome immigrants is hard to determine.  But it’s possible that anti-immigration pro-lifers who are working hard to save about a million babies from abortion annually here are accidentally helping to trap and kill far more than a million annually overseas. HOPE!   Every pro-lifer who has spent time outside an abortion clinic is keenly aware that most of what we offer to women who feel trapped is hope.  We offer medical help, legal help, housing, whatever is necessary; and the offers are real and testable.  But women who listen to us and turn around usually don’t take the concrete help we offer.  What they hear from us that matters is, “By God’s grace, this is possible. I can handle this.”  They don’t need money or housing (usual...

Catholic Social Ministry Gathering – 2015 I have been going back and forth between the social justice advocates and pro-lifers since 2012, intending to press for increased cooperation, mutual respect, unity.  Four days amongst social ministry folks at major annual event: what a great group! Day one, initial impressions.  Music is rich, international, vibrant, engaging.  Msgr East from DC was the most visible musician: from 200 yards away, you can see and feel and hear that he means every word of praise and love that erupts from his long bony hands and his brilliant smiles and his wonderful voice. He was most visible, but not the best: great joyful music all over the place! And there are pro-lifers all over the place.  The event is sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the USCCB does not suffer from left-right polarization.  There are arguments over emphasis, but not cosmic chasms between the left and right. Just one talk.  Fr. Dani...