Life is not a fairytale

Amazing ad campaign from a small Catholic college: a message to girls and young women.

Gloria Steinem would likely say, “It’s about time.”

Philomena

Judi Dench is remarkable in Philomena. Wrenching, true story about a woman whose son was taken from her in Ireland in the 1950s and sold to an American couple. The brokers, a group of Catholic nuns.

So many things to be thankful for this day, Thanksgiving in the U.S. The list is written in my heart — and will stay there.

What they’re hoping happens

That there are people in the world willing to tackle the tough questions, including those involving the church, pleases me. The people who attended the Ecclesiology and Exclusion conference in Dayton a few weeks ago dig in.

My long piece on their scholarship appears in National Catholic Reporter. So much material, so few words to work with. Chagrined by that because the material is very layered and rich. And the issue of unity, important.

Thomas Merton

Came across this lovely quote in Kathleen Norris’ book Amazing Grace:

“Prayer and love are learned in the hour when prayer is impossible and your heart has turned to stone.” — Thomas Merton