One year, Hal Urban put up a sign in his high school classroom: "No one ever went wrong by being polite." He had always enjoyed a good rapport with his students, who were college-bound and typically from affluent families. But he was troubled by what he saw as a decline of basic courtesy.
Read MoreThese are the words that echo through my mind as I reflect upon my week with the Missionaries of Charity. At the beginning of July, I travelled with twelve of my students to spend a week helping the sisters put on a day camp for neighborhood kids. The camp was an afternoon event every weekday, consisting of food, catechesis, play time and more food.
Read MoreThe next big piece of the porn-proofing puzzle is actually putting some safeguards into place for the inevitable exposure to pornography.
Of course we’ll talk filtering software, parental controls, etc., but the bigger piece of the puzzle actually takes place internally, for the child whose will and mind and character are being formed and cultivated by loving parents and by humane, comprehensive education that respects and recognizes the whole person.
Read MorePornography isn’t “someone else’s problem;” it’s our problem. It’s my problem and your problem and the guy across the street’s problem. It’s your barista’s problem and the 2nd grade teacher’s problem, and it might just be your spouse’s problem, too.
Read MorePornography is now more popular than baseball. In fact, it has become America’s pastime, and we are awash in it. Porn is on our computers, our smartphones, and our cable or satellite TV. It’s common in our hotels and even in many retail stores and gas stations. For many men — and, increasingly, women — it is part of their daily lives.
Read MoreHarbor of Hope is a spiritual support group for family and friends that have a loved one who is experiencing same sex attraction. As family and friends, we meet with charity and compassion to seek understanding and support. We follow the teachings of the Church and choose to love and share the Truth with compassion as Jesus taught.
Read MoreI now believe there were many reasons I have struggled with this confusion. I was hurt by a girlfriend early in high school. This betrayal led to me not having trust in girls and turning towards guys for affirmation and intimacy. I was subjected to gay porn at the age of 8 years old and I believe this really messed with my brain and formed attachments. I often “feel” like I’m gay but “believe” I am straight.
Read MoreMy relationship with Christ helped create my “mother heart.” And Jesus did just that. He prepared my heart for something I never thought that I would have to face as a mother. Several years ago, my son shared with my husband and I that he has same-sex attraction, or as our world terms it, homosexual. At first, I thought it was all about me. I cried and thought to myself, “what did I do wrong” ... “What will out family and friends think?” But, it did not take me long to figure out that it definitely WAS NOT about me. My son has the biggest cross to carry.
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