Jon’s Story - a Brother’s Forgiveness

“Miss, I don’t believe in God, but can I talk with you for a minute?” He held his red bandana in his hand with a sense of awe and reverence not typically observed in our simple, one-room chapel on the first floor of the shelter. Jon was a tall, muscular young man whose quiet confidence instantly commanded my respect. I may have been older, but I could tell he was much wiser than I.

“You don’t have to believe in God to sit in the Chapel and talk. Tell me what’s on your mind,” I offered him a chair and some chocolate to share while we talked.

“Miss, I don’t really want to believe in God. I guess you could say that I got angry at God a while ago, and I can’t believe anymore.” Jon proceeded to tell me a story that I can’t forget. Read More »

A Pope For Life

    The last Pope could have done more to change the world

The passing of a Pope is not meant to engender a universal response such as we have witnessed recently. This response suggests to us that Pope John Paul II was a person for all people, and not the exclusive domain of Catholics. His numerous travels over a 25-year span to places difficult to locate on maps, but also to most seats of civilization, created bonds between he - the leader of the largest Christian community- and people of other religions and faiths. Now we must ask whether this love-in has been transmitted to the Church as a whole. Read More »