Author: Francis Mannion
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Viewpoint: Bishop Robert Barron a Great Gift to the Church
Barron has lamented what he calls the “beige Catholicism” that developed after Vatican II (not because of Vatican II!). By this he meant a watered-down understanding of Catholicism that lacked conviction and was minimalistic in content and tone. “Beige Catholicism” sadly led to a colorless style of catechesis and liturgical practice.
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Viewpoint: How Christians Can Deal with the Experience of Suffering
We are participants in God’s gift by being with the sick person, not primarily by talking or offering explanations of sickness and dying.
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Viewpoint: News and Commentary Items That Caught My Attention Recently
Whether God sends terror attacks; rock star Bono’s advice for church composers; going to hell in a hand basket.
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Viewpoint: Why Lay Liturgical Ministers Should Wear Albs at Mass
At the parishes at which I have served, I have observed EMs wearing tennis shoes, jeans, shorts, and flip-flops. At one parish an EM was wearing a Bryce Canyon sweat shirt.
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Viewpoint: The Holy Year, Part Two: The Corporal Works of Mercy
I would like to propose the corporal works of mercy as a way of participating in the Holy Year.
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Viewpoint: The Holy Year, Part One: The Spiritual Works of Mercy
I propose that every Catholic set some time aside and draw up a list of commitments to be carried out during the Holy Year based of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
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Viewpoint: Prayer of Acceptance is Neglected Mode of Address to God
God does not always intervene to resolve terrible experiences; rather he gives the strength to live through them with profound faith in the indestructible glory of the kingdom of heaven.
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Viewpoint: Women Could Be Authorized to Give the Homily at Mass
The bottom line: opening up preaching to lay men and women after rigorous training and official episcopal commissioning as “Lay Preachers” could, I think, greatly improve the unsatisfactory state of preaching in the Catholic Church.
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Viewpoint: Eight Reasons College Students Turn Away From Church
The church is not called to adapt to society and to make social norms the pattern for its own practice, but to transform society, while accepting critically from society what is deemed valuable.