I hope you noticed the references to the mind-boggling statistics in the last issue of CORPUS Reports... 2,929 priestless parishes in the United States alone, 105,530 worldwide. (Not included are the over 1 million men, women and children worldwide under the responsibility of the US archdiocese for the military which has 75 - 80% fewer Catholic chaplains than 20 years ago.)

Pleased about CORPUS developing collaboration with other ministry-based reform organizations, in my May-June Adsum article I commented that I have hope that in the not too distant future well be discussing effective steps we can take to reunite organizationally with our sisters and brothers in the Federation of Christian Ministries (FCM).

We Americans are faced with two contending obligations: One is a national security obligation by the administration that calls for regime change in Iraq. The other is a moral obligation that says that U.S. cannot take the law into its own hands.

Here’s my latest angel story.  I had just parked my visiting daughter’s car in the supermarket’s parking lot.  When I returned with some orange juice and milk, the battery was dead. The motor wouldn’t engage.  As I turned the key all I could hear was click, click, click. It was bitterly cold. I had forgotten my cell phone. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  I prayed.

Are you Spiritual But Not Religious -- an SBNR? Many would describe themselves that way. Spirituality is fashionable today and religion unfashionable. Part of the problem is that the word “religion” carries tons of dogmatic, authoritarian baggage, but whatever the reasons the relationship of religion and spirituality is symbiotic and convoluted.

I was taking “Lori,” one of our Village kids to her soccer game on Saturday when she asked me. Grandpa Hank, are you staying to watch me?” Lori is a quiet ten year old and normally doesn’t ask a lot of questions but this one, I could sense, was important to her. She wanted me to be more than a pick-up and take-home chauffeuring service. This little ten year old, separated from any parent or other relative wanted someone down on the field cheering her on. She needed to have “family” watching her. Needless to say, I was delighted to be able to fill that role for her.

Polarization has poisoned politics in America.  It has also poisoned dialogue in our Catholic Church.  What should be a respectful interaction of faithful followers of Christ sharing valid insights on issues affecting life in the twenty-first century too often degenerates into name-calling and attacks among the laity, and censure and excommunication from the bishops.  What would Christ expect of us? - by Tony Kowalski

Bernard Haring critically evaluates celibacy and priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. "Whose heart wouldn't bleed to think that a Church law so contrary to the Gospel would help to cause so much pain?"