The Gospel in the Digital Age: Cardinal's Blog & Columns

The passing of George H.W. Bush, our forty-first president, has moved me. I’ve always admired him. While working at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, I got to meet him a number of times, since, as vice president, he lived across the street, and then, as president, my boss, the papal nuncio, would often be in contact with him.

The national feast of Thanksgiving brings me warm memories...family; prayer, Mass, and food drives for the poor at the parish; grandparents, aunts and uncles now passed onto eternity; two free days from school; the arrival of Advent with Christmas not far off...and, of course, a great meal!

As you know, my first column in November, the month of the Faithful Departed, I like to reflect on our beautiful Catholic customs surrounding the passing of people we love. Some of these points you’ll remember from before, but they are worth repeating.

You are aware, I trust, that these weeks of October are designated Respect Life Month.

While we Catholics believe that a church building is certainly not The Church, we still take the building very seriously.

My column is not usually a place to discuss personnel moves, but I hope you will allow me to give you some background on two decisions that are particularly significant for our archdiocese.