News broke yesterday that on June 6, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that a Wisconsin law defining marriage discriminates against same-sex couples. Crabb’s ruling countered a referendum passed in 2006 by a majority vote. The referendum defined civil marriage as a union oif one man an done woman, stating that legal statuses identical or similar marriage would not be recognized by the state. (more…)
Friends, this past Friday I had the great pleasure of chatting with National Catholic Register Executive Director Dan Burke about my trip to the Holy Land and why every Catholic should make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives. I truly enjoyed chatting with Dan, and I know Read more
I learned something wonderful as I stood outside the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Here’s my latest at National Catholic Register. http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/standing-at-the-birthplace-of-the-catholic-church/
The Vatican has released the program for tomorrow’s Invocation for Peace to take place in the Vatican and include Pope Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. The Holy Father has asked that we, too, pray for peace in the Holy Land, not just tomorrow, but always.
I thought you’d like to have the full text of the invocation so that you can be aware of what’s going on and being prayed during this monumental event.  I also want to point out that the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa had made it very clear (more…)
As you may have read, during his visit to the Holy Land, Pope Francis invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet with him at the Vatican to pray for peace. Both presidents accepted, and the meeting is set for this Sunday, June 8 – Pentecost Read more
An aerial view of Masada.
While I was in the Holy Land, many Scripture verses surfaced in my mind and heart as I stood in the places of the Old and New Testaments. But, the one I found myself recalling most often was Psalm 91:
For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
            Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
     No evil will befall you,
            Nor will any plague come near your tent.
     For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
            To guard you in all your ways.
     They will bear you up in their hands,
            That you do not strike your foot against a stone. (Ps 91:9-12)
Why this one?
Well, I have to confess that it was less an expression of spiritual or historical meaning and (more…)
Tomorrow, Thursday, June 5, at 5:15am EST I’ll be chatting with Morning air guest host John Harper about my trip to Israel and the importance of pilgrimages. Please join us live or catch the podcast later here.