Women Religious being scrutinized by Rome?  Interesting times indeed.  I heard about this news today from a UCC friend who is my age (50) AND an Roman Catholic, 88-year-old mother of 12 who is appalled about Rome's anti-Jesus, pro-rules over people attitude.  I have to listen to a Roman Catholic 88-year-old mother of 12. 

Take a look... What do you think? 

Spiritual structures.... awesome interfaith photos

These are done by an undergrad from Texas who is making her home in Evansville.  An amazing spirit and an excellent artist.  This is grace.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fspiritualstructures.com%2F&h=7AQGpTZG7

Diocese of Evansville THE MESSAGE online

Diocese of Evansville weekly paper.  The Message.  It is totally great online.
This is a decent way to see what's up (what might be closing, where the priests are going and what Fr. Sauer and Fr. Don Dilger are thinking).

Rick Jillson, editor, writes a good editorial.
The head lines are at least good for keeping you up-to-date.

If you don't want Catholic surprises, take at least an occasional look.....
http://www.themessageonline.org

Catholic Bishops Criticize Republican Budget

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-17/catholic-bishops-paul-ryan-budget/54361480/1

This is a fair-minded and long overdue response.  As Bishop Thompson of the Diocese of Evansville said last winter, both parties are far from pure and all sides want to use only the convenient rules... this is (at last) a show of strenght that is needed from the bishops. 

How is the preferrential option for the poor not a societal issue?

Letter from Birmingham Jail, 49 years ago

Reading --- what are your favorites?

I Heard the Owl Call My Name, read in grade school.  A priest in Alaska (?) working with Native Americans and gains perspective.
City of Joy, read as adult.  A Polish priest moves to a poor slum in Calcutta -- also gains perspective.  A great GREAT book.
The Cry of the People, classic by Penny Lernoux.  A study of the Catholic Church in Latin America during the 1960s-1980s.  Makes you proud. I read it in 2001.
Fifty Years in a Jealous Marriage.  Of course!  Rev. Jim Lex' memoirs that I co-wrote during the 1990s.
The Secular Journals of Thomas Merton.  Found a copy at my parents.  It was my Granny Long's.  70 years old and still pertinent.  Easy to read, too.

What are your favorite reads that are about Catholics?  And how good is The Power and the Glory?

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as Mass closed, the priest would say, “The Mass has ended. Go in peace.” The congregation replied, “Thanks be to God.”  I always thought that sounds a little rude.  Maybe that is just because I was literally thinking, "Thank God.  We can go home."  But it surprised me the priest would let us all tell him we were glad it was over!