Issue of March 14 – March 27
A saint for Chicago?
The archdiocese is introducing a cause for canonization for Father Augustine Tolton, the first black priest for the United States
Father John Augustine Tolton was the first American priest of African descent and may one day be a saint from the Archdiocese of Chicago. At the beginning of March, Cardinal George announced that the archdiocese is introducing Father Augustine — also called Augustus — Tolton’s cause for canonization.
His legacy lives on in Chicago
Overview provided in special pullout section
Though Father Tolton is a century removed from the Chicago landscape, his work, spirit and legacy resonates throughout the archdiocese, particularly among black Catholics.
Tolton’s message, work continues
Throughout his religious career, Father Augustine Tolton championed two worthy causes: education and black leadership in the Catholic Church.
Speaking up in Springfield
School students, children in the womb, the poor and immigrants were among the things on the minds and hearts of Catholics who participated in the second Catholics at the Capitol day in Springfield, March 3.
Laughing at Lucifer in Lent
In 1942 C.S.Lewis published one of his most enduring and endearing books. “Screwtape Letters” is a collection of epistles from a senior devil to his junior colleague, outlining how he should handle his “patient.” Lewis wrote the book as a series of articles for The Guardian newspaper and confessed that the letters were not “fun to write.”
Merger advances pro-life voice
Aid for Women and WomanCare Services now one organization
Noting that consistency and unity were key components to advancing the pro-life movement and its messaging, Aid for Women and WomanCare Services, two life-affirming pregnancy resource centers with a Catholic tilt, completed their merger on Jan. 25. The resulting independent organization, Aid for Women, Inc., signals a significant score for the area’s pro-life advocates.
Letter from Cardinal George on HB 6205
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Once again, there is legislation in Springfield that would violate personal conscience by forcing everyone to pay for the killing of the unborn with public money.
What is so great about ‘Hurt Locker’?
The Hurt Locker” won big at the Oscars, making history in the process: Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win in the “Best Director” category. Did “The Hurt Locker” deserve it? What is the Academy trying to say by this sweeping bestowal of accolades?
O’Looney brings unique voice to immigration debate
There is a youthfulness and innocent charm that belies Maureen O’Looney’s 88 years and grandmother status. Do know, however, that a freedom fighter’s spirit rests inside her Irish body.
Making the devotion known — Mark Endres of Madison, Wis., is part of that growing number who prays faithfully to the Divine Mercy for, well, mercy — for themselves “and for the whole world.” A couple years ago Mark saw a billboard honoring the devotion begun by St. Faustina, but he couldn’t afford a billboard. So he started distributing flyers. Then he produced 3 x 10 bumper stickers, which got him interviewed on EWTN.
Maybe Catholic schools schedule their annual rounds of standardized tests during Lent on purpose.
After all, Lent is when we hear Scriptures about Satan tempting Jesus in the desert — offering him food for his hungry body, power over all the kingdoms of the world and the chance to demonstrate once and for all his status in heaven.
Jesus, of course, passed all those tests with flying colors.
Robert Royal is president of the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, D.C., and regularly makes trips to Chicago to work with the Lumen Christi Institute, a local group founded by Catholic scholars at the University of Chicago.
He is a scholar, prolific author and is editor of the opinion and news analysis Web site TheCatholicThing.org. Some of his books include “The God That Did Not Fail: How Religion Built and Sustains the West” and “The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century: A Comprehensive World History.” During a recent visit to Chicago, Royal sat down with Editor Joyce Duriga.
