Florida Catholic Online Edition

Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are suffering from recent natural disasters. Bless them, Lord God, with your healing grace, comfort those who grieve and help all to work in peace to bring them relief, we pray in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Lord and Savior. Amen

‘Common good’ calls for defense of traditional, legal marriage

ORLANDO | The imposition by judicial fiat of same-sex marriage on the citizens of California has reminded us that society’s culture wars are far from over. This example of raw judicial activism should reinvigorate efforts to enshrine in state and federal constitutions the traditional legal understanding of marriage. The stakes are high. Those who see “same-sex marriage” as progress towards a more “tolerant” society will – with characteristic intolerance – label their opponents as “intolerant,” “bigoted,” “homophobic” and so on. However, to defend marriage as a monogamous union between one man and one woman is not bigotry. Nor are the efforts of those who seek to enshrine in state or federal constitutions the “traditional” understanding of marriage intolerant. Read Bishop Wenski's complete column HERE.

Preserving God’s Creation

MIAMI | With global warming threatening to alter the economy, displace millions and destroy countless habitats, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist hoped to raise “green” consciousness by convening a state summit on climate change.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee conveyed the Catholic perspective during an interfaith panel discussion called “Preserving God’s Creation” that led off the summit June 25. Read the full story HERE.

Faith Around The State | July Web Log

Catholics gather in prayer against executions

Over the prayerful protests of Florida’s bishops and many Catholics in their flocks, Gov. Charlie Crist declined to halt the July 1 execution of Mark Dean Schwab — the first use of the state’s death penalty in more than a year and a half.

Full–time volunteers serve Florida

Recall the reason we celebrate the Fourth

Election 2008 Web Special

Catholic groups question candidates

This is part one in a three-part series on the Candidate Questionnaire Project in which the Florida Catholic Conference, which drafts the questions, explains what was asked and why.

Archdiocese of Miami Front Page

Head of the class

“When I go into a classroom, it’s hard to get me out of there,” the archdiocese’s top teacher said when he received the Lumen Christi award from the Catholic Educators Guild.

Diocese of Orlando Front Page

Migrant workers hit hard by rising costs

Though no one has been insulated from dramatic increases in food and gas prices, the soaring inflation has been particularly devastating on low–income families. One social service source that Laura Dodson spoke with while preparing her articles compared the situation to the brewing of a “perfect storm.” Dodson’s reports begin here.

Diocese of Palm Beach Front Page

‘not in my name’

Catholics gathered on the grounds of St. Ignatius Loyola in silent prayers of peace and with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito as Mark Dean Schwab was executed by lethal injection July 1.

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Front Page

Love for deployed pastor extends overseas

Father Pete Zalewski may not be physically present at his pastoral office at St. Dominic Parish in Panama City, but his spirit is alive and well among the community there.

Diocese of St. Petersburg Front Page

Susanna’s ‘love letter’ to God

Every night for 10 years, Susanna George has spent her nights copying the Bible by hand — twice — first in Korean, then in English. To understand why a woman would spend a staggering number of hours writing the Bible in two languages, you have to understand something about Susanna.

Diocese of Venice Front Page

Bishop Verot grad bikes, builds cross–country

Aaron Patzwahl is pedaling his way from San Diego to Savannah with stops along the way to help build five homes — all for charity.