War is not the answer

“Catholic personnel in the US military could in good conscience consider disobeying orders to attack Greenland, according to the bishop responsible for their pastoral care.

The Archbishop of the Military Services Timothy Broglio said personnel “could be put in a situation where they’re being ordered to do something that’s morally questionable” if the US acted on President Donald Trump’s threats of military action to take control of Greenland.”

Week of Christian Unity

Today is the first day of the week of prayer for Christian Unity. Jesus emphasized our unity as God’s children and as brothers and sisters, and especially now, when there are so many divisive forces at work in our world and our politics, it is even more imperative that we Christians work together to create a new environment of peace and collaboration.

Room In The Inn

Room In The Inn (RITI) is an organization that utilizes church personnel, church volunteers, and church facilities to provide housing at night for homeless people during the coldest months. I was supposed to be an all-night volunteer tomorrow at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, but today we got notice that the city of Louisville has refused to give the permissions necessary to use the church facilities for this housing even though they allowed it in January, 2025. Fire safety regulations are the issue. It is especially sad to receive this message on the morning after the coldest night this winter in Louisville.

Fratelli Tutti: Respect for Others

Pope Francis, #191 in the encyclical

191. At a time when various forms of fundamentalist intolerance are damaging relationships between individuals, groups and peoples, let us be committed to living and teaching the value of respect for others, a love capable of welcoming differences, and the priority of the dignity of every human being over his or her ideas, opinions, practices and even sins. Even as forms of fanaticism, closedmindedness and social and cultural fragmentation proliferate in present-day society, a good politician will take the first step and insist that different voices be heard. Disagreements may well give rise to conflicts, but uniformity proves stifling and leads to cultural decay. May we not be content with being enclosed in one fragment of reality.

192. …When a specific policy sows hatred and fear towards other nations in the name of its own country’s welfare, there is need to be concerned, to react in time and immediately to correct the course.

Fratelli Tutti: Dialogue

Pope Francis, #198 in the encyclical

Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word “dialogue”. If we want to encounter and help one another, we have to dialogue. There is no need for me to stress the benefits of dialogue. I have only to think of what our world would be like without the patient dialogue of the many generous persons who keep families and communities together. Unlike disagreement and conflict, persistent and courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we imagine.

Time for meeting others

In Nazareth Home, there is an independent living wing where I live and the general wing which provides nursing and living care that might be needed. The general wing has a variety of activities, and when they had an ice cream tasting event, I went over to join in. It was enjoyable–eight flavors of good ice cream–and I got to meet some new people.