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November 23, 2011 — Catholicism is in crisis all over Old Europe. Nowhere is that crisis more pronounced than in Ireland, where clerical corruption and disastrous episcopal leadership have collided with rank political expediency and a rabidly anticlerical media to produce a perfect storm of ecclesiastical meltdown. The country whose constitution begins “In the name of the Most Holy Trinity…” is now thoroughly post-Christian. And while there has been no one cause of that radical secularization, the Church in Ireland had best look to itself, its sins, its errors and its unbecoming alliance with political power as it considers how to begin anew ... [read more] |
GUEST COLUMNISTS: Bishop Conley:
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Letters to Editor: More on Julia Greeley In reference to “Saintly Denverite Julia Greeley featured in manuscript” (Nov. 9 Denver Catholic Register): My mother, Agnes Hines Erger, often related stories about Julia. My mother’s aunt, Rose Fisher, who was my godmother and was also a living saint, befriended Julia and often served her lunch and dinner. Once Rose’s assistant told Julia, “You’ll have to pray for me.” Julia reportedly replied, “I’ll put you in the ‘canoe’ (with many other people) but I pray for Mrs. Fisher all by herself.” Julia used her meager resources to help the poor and distributed Sacred Heart leaflets to the firemen in various stations. Julia, with one eye having been put out by a slave master, was not physically attractive. In her humility, though she knew she might be ridiculed, she entered a beauty contest—and won with all the firemen’s votes. As was typical of her, she used the money to help the poor. When Mrs. William Gilpin, wife of the former territorial governor, died, a friend told Julia it was too bad she had not left any money in her will for Julia. Julia is said to have replied, “She gave me more than money—she gave me my (Catholic) faith.” Significantly, Julia died on the feast of the Sacred Heart, June 7. After lying in state at Loyola Chapel for five hours, her body was taken to Sacred Heart Church, where it lay in state all night. Six Jesuit priests were her pallbearers. They carried her remains to Mount Olivet Cemetery where she is buried. Rest in peace, Julia! Keep us in your prayers—even if you put us in the “canoe” with many others. John Erger Kudos The Nov. 16 issue of the Denver Catholic Register was particularly great—lots of local stories: the 100-year celebration at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Father Dan Zimmerschied and the football team, the Dragon News Network, the Machebeuf High School student declaring for the University of Northern Colorado, and free dictionaries for students. This was a very enjoyable issue. Mary Lou Egan
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