AMID THE FRAY By the time Dr. Jack Kevorkian was put in prison for second-degree murder, he had helped an estimated 130 patients kill themselves. The first person he “helped” was an Oregon teacher suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It was hardly “death with dignity.” With a suicide machine he had rigged up inside his rusty […]
Greg Erlandson: When our children leave the faith
AMID THE FRAY Once upon a time, you may have prayed for your darling child to become a nun. Odds are you never prayed that she become a none. Gallup reported earlier this year that church membership by Americans has hit a historic low, falling for the first time below 50%. More disturbing is the […]
Greg Erlandson: Appreciating the gift of the Mass
AMID THE FRAY Fresh from his 10-day stay in the hospital, Pope Francis dropped a Friday bombshell when he released his document, issued “motu proprio,” restoring, and in some cases adding to, the church’s restrictions on celebrating the Tridentine Mass. The outcry has been predictable and often heartfelt. Its devotees are not simply hostile reactionaries […]
Greg Erlandson: How badly do we want to return?
AMID THE FRAY What if you were a Catholic who had not seen a priest in 60 years? What if you had not seen a priest in one year? Jesuit Father Anthony Corcoran was visiting an old folks’ home in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan when he met a man who had waited six […]
Greg Erlandson: Where we go from here
AMID THE FRAY “I think it’s a great opportunity.” I was bemoaning the state of a country divided almost down the middle. The election that so many people thought was for the soul of the country or for its future instead revealed that we are divided almost 50-50. The priest I was talking with agreed. […]
Greg Erlandson: A rosary for our nation
AMID THE FRAY I’ve found myself praying for my country a lot these days. As a family, we remember to do so when we say grace at dinner. At other times — usually after reading some terrible headline or seeing the latest total of fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic — I’ll say a silent prayer […]
Greg Erlandson: The pandemic’s grace notes
AMID THE FRAY It is always impressive to hear the stories of people who rush toward danger when others are fleeing. Remember Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus? He lost his life when without hesitation he rushed into the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, to stop a mass shooter. Remember Lt. Jason […]
Greg Erlandson: How far is too far for Mass?
AMID THE FRAY How far would you drive for Mass? I don’t know if anyone has ever done a study of such a pedestrian topic, but it is a question that will become increasingly relevant. Once upon a time, driving farther than your local parish was simply a matter of choice. For example, when I […]
Greg Erlandson: Selling the sizzle at a parish near you
AMID THE FRAY “Marketing is a contest for people’s attention.” — Seth Godin I heard about a parish recently. It has regular eucharistic adoration, but only the old-timers show up, and their numbers are shrinking. There is some handwringing over this fact. Nobody wants to see it disappear when its current devotees disappear. The funny […]
Greg Erlandson: A letter in the inbox of every young Catholic
AMID THE FRAY Attention Catholic young people, by which I mean everyone under 30: Pope Francis has written you a letter. Called “Christ Is Alive,” it is a historic document in that it isn’t just a letter about young people. It is to young people. Whether you are in high school or in college or […]