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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer A string of articles praising President Barack Obama appearing in the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, is causing a wave of criticism across the Catholic world.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Some of the nation’s leading billionaires met secretly to consider ways in which they can use their wealth to slow the growth of the world’s population.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer  In a 6-1 decision, the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage known as Proposition 8. The also ruling allows the estimated 18,000 gay couples who married before the law took effect to remain married. 

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer The Archdiocese of Baltimore is investigating the miraculous recovery of an Annapolis woman who was healed of cancer that had spread throughout her body after praying a novena to Blessed Francis X. Seelos.

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by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer   A proposed hate crimes bill has been stalled in the Senate largely due to the 500,000 letters sent to senators by an angry constituency.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer In an announcement made this morning, President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of New York as his pick to replace retiring justice David Souter. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer A participant in a recent White House meeting meant to find “common ground” on abortion says the official in charge admitted to a room full of people that the president is not interested in reducing the number of abortions, just the need for abortions.

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Today we honor all of the men and women who valiantly gave their lives for the freedom and privileges we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America. We honor as well, all of those men and women who served us without falling victim to the battlefield, and those who continue to serve our nation here at home and abroad. I especially remember my two vets: my son, Simon Benkovic, who served in both Korea and Iraq, and my husband, Anthony, who served during the Vietnam era. Both were proud to be veterans of the United States Army. May those who gave their lives for the principles and truths expressed in the Constitution of the United States be at peace, and may they be experiencing the joy of eternal happiness in the presence of the Triune God. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your lives. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And may the perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. Note: The above image is a photograph of the six American soldiers who hoisted our nation's flag on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and the key battleground in the Pacific War. This historic photo renewed national morale and rapidly became the public symbol of the US WWII war effort. It remains a symbol of hope, freedom, inspiration, and national sovereignty.

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It is rare that the last one to arrive for Mass on Sunday is the priest, but such was the case at my church today. Father's tardiness was a simple human error that many of us have done at one time or another-- he set his alarm for the wrong time.  However, the fact that we were all gathered together waiting for our priest to arrive stirred a deep reflection in my soul. What if Father didn't arrive? What if there wasn't a priest to arrive? What if our priest was legally prevented from arriving? The fact of the matter is, in countries throughout the world -- including our own -- one or all of these circumstances do happen. How much gratitude do we express for the priesthood? To what extent do we pray for vocations? If we have sons, do we pray that one of them, or all of them, will respond to God's call should He invite? Have we taken seriously the blessing of freedom of religion? Do we actively engage in the cultural and political events of our day to preserve this privilege? Remember: no priest, no Mass. No Mass, no Eucharist. No Eucharist, no Church. Satan knows this. Do we? When Father arrived and the processional hymn began, gratitude filled my heart. First, for Father and his vocation. Second, that he was well and with us. Third, for the gift that is the Mass and the privilege to celebrate it. May none of us take for granted the priest, the gift, the privilege.  

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Two pro-life congressmen are challenging President Barack Obama on the statement he made at Notre Dame on Sunday to “draft a sensible conscience clause.”

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