VOL. 10, NO. 2  

Jun/Aug 2007

Dear Readers:

If our newsletters had a theme, this one would be teaching. In addition to our Catholic Teaching article regarding the Assumption of Mary, we have a special article concerning Catholic homeschoolers. Our Modern Day Saint article describes the life of the founder of Catholic education in the United States.  Even our Letter to the Editor concerns one of our writers and the results of her teaching about Yoga. Susan Beckworth’s articles have given encouragement to others to defend the faith.
           

In the past two issues we have had several articles concerning sidewalk counseling in front of abortion mills. We continue this issue with a well-written e-mail from Debbie (last name withheld) a leader in the pro-life movement in the area of San Diego, California.  She tells a descriptive and moving story of her two-hour prayer vigils in front of a Planned Parenthood abortuary in her area.  Let us hope it inspires others to step forward and become prayer warriors.

Our main editorial addresses the topic of homeschooling, citing the many advantages and rewards for children as well as parents.  Debbie, who has homeschooled seven of her own, and others like her are truly giving the best possible education to their children.  Until I did the research, I really did not realize the positive results of this type of education.  We all have seen the results in national contests between public, private and homeschooled students in which those who are homeschooled always seem to come out on top.  Now, study after study confirms what is implied by these results. If you are thinking about homeschooling or know someone who is contemplating homeschooling, please read this article.
           

We have included an inspirational commentary by Dave Daubenmire called I’ll Have to Pray on It.  Daubenmire was a high school football coach who was sued by the ACLU in the late 1990s for allegedly mixing prayer with his coaching. After a two-year battle for his First Amendment rights, the ACLU backed off. He now has a ministry defending our constitutionalrights.  His commentary concerns those who lack the intestinal fortitude to act on their convictions and often respond with a polite evasion: “I’ll have to pray on it.”

Our Modern Day Saint is Elizabeth Ann Seton, often called “Mother Seton.” She was the founder and first superior of the Sisters of Charity. She was the first canonized saint born in the United States.  Although Elizabeth was raised as an Episcopalian she converted to Catholicism after her husband died at an early age. To support herself and her five children she began teaching in a boarding school in New York. A Maryland priest, Fr. Dubourg, went to New York to recruit a congregation of religious women to educate girls in Baltimore.  He persuaded Elizabeth to come to Maryland where she eventually established the Catholic schools which formed the cradle of Catholic education in the United States.

Jim Fritz

cc: Most Reverend Bishop Michael J. Bransfield

Close this window to return to current Greetings page