The U.S. Bishops met recently in St. Petersburg Florida. While there, they offered a prayer for the ongoing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. That is not unusual. What I found most interesting is the final part of their prayer. It says, "Finally, we offer our prayers for our government leaders and for the industry leaders and experts who are working to cap the leak and repair this damage. May God give them wisdom and strength in this trying hour, and may He move them to seek lasting solutions benefiting the common good of our society." What a wonderful prayer to say everyday. When we elect people to positions of leadership, the expectation is that they will respect the followers. After all, without followership there can be no leadership. I feel that may be part of the problem in the U.S. right now. The followers have so little faith in the leaders that we are all wandering looking for something else. Unfortunately for many people that something else can be destroying their lives. Returning to the prayer offered by the Bishops, I particularly was touched by the statement about seeking lasting solutions that benefit the common good of our society. The problem presented by that statement is that we have not stopped to consider what the common good for our society is or could be. Now there is an abundance of talking heads on the television that tell us what their version of the common good is and that is part of the conversation. But are we as God's people having the same conversation in our churches or parish halls? Are we gathering as prayerful women and men to consider how to effect change that will bring about lasting solutions that are grounded in Godliness? What the prayer said to me most loudly is that we must be actively talking with God everyday about everything. We should be asking Him to guide us in all that we do. We should be asking Him to deliver the solution to calamities like the oil leak in the Gulf. And we should definitely be asking Him to provide us with the leadership that will allow us to use the abilities, talents and gifts He gave us to make the world a more Godly place.
Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...
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