Much has been said and written about the latest national educational standards known as the Common Core State Standards or, more simply, Common Core. As those affiliated with the public school systems publicly debate the merits and shortcomings of Common Core, I thought it may be helpful to discuss the relationship between archdiocesan schools and...Read More
Introduction It is a pleasure to be with you this afternoon and I want to thank Governor Ehrlich for inviting me to offer a few words on the notion of mercy according to Blessed John Paul II. As you know, John Paul II will be canonized later this month and I will be traveling to...Read More
Introduction: A Word of Thanks Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this evening about the crucial importance of being pro-actively pro-life in today’s society. I appreciate your inviting me here to Catholic University. In the antediluvian days, back in 1982, I earned my doctorate here and more recently served on the Board of...Read More
Formed and inspired by faithful men, Karol Wojtyła became a powerful father figure for many. Years ago, while serving as Cardinal James A. Hickey’s priest-secretary, I had the privilege of joining a small number of priests who concelebrated an early morning Mass in Pope John Paul II’s private chapel. Afterward, the Holy Father greeted each...Read More
Fish Stories We have to admit it: sometimes we like to tell fish stories. When we get back from a fishing trip and tell our buddies how it went, we may find ourselves exaggerating the size of the fish we actually caught, not to mention the one that got away when no one was looking....Read More
Last week, nearly 3,000 people gathered at Loyola University Maryland’s Reitz Arena for a symposium we sponsored to celebrate the first anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. “The Francis Factor” featured Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston and four panelists who offered much insight into the life and ministry of Pope Francis. By all accounts,...Read More
Introduction: On Being Thirsty All of us know what it is to be thirsty. After exercise or physical labor, we welcome a glass of cold water. Even if we’re not exerting ourselves, we instinctively drink water through the day. Healthcare professionals tell us about the benefits of drinking water and some urge us to drink six...Read More
Introduction It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to offer Mass for the first time in this historic Church, dedicated to St. Patrick. Here, various bishops were ordained at sent forth as missionaries. I think in particular of Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget, who was consecrated by Archbishop Carroll in 1810 and sent to Bardstown,...Read More
News from Home Years ago, as a young priest, I accompanied my boss and mentor, Cardinal Hickey, to a Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Dinner in downtown Washington. For those of you who have never been to these dinners, let me say that the spirits of every one there are high, or perhaps I might...Read More
Introduction Not long after I started serving as the Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, my new doctor told me I should have a complete physical exam. So one day I underwent an amazing battery of tests and not long afterwards the doctor phoned to tell me the results. After that call concluded, my priest secretary (not...Read More
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. Not surprisingly, recent polls have shown what we all have come to know about our new Holy Father: Pope Francis has caught the attention of American Catholics. But those same polls also show that this renewed interest has not yet convinced the unchurched to...Read More
Amigos, Queridos catecúmenos, candidatos, y todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas aquí presentes, Hemos escuchado en las Sagradas escrituras como Adán y Eva cayeron en la tentación; sin embargo también escuchamos como Cristo supero las tentaciones en el desierto. Cristo nos da vida nueva y nos invita a continuar el camino hacia Dios. Él también fue...Read More