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TEMPERANCE, Mich. (AP) — A priest who criticized a teenager’s suicide during his funeral is protected by the religion clauses of the First Amendment, the Michigan Court of Appeals said. The court affirmed a decision by a Monroe County judge who had dismissed a lawsuit by the mother of Maison Hullibarger. The 18-year-old, who was an athlete and honors student in the Monroe area, died in 2018. Mourners were shocked when the Rev. Don LaCuesta gave a critical sermon. He said suicide was a “secular crime” and a “sin against God with dire eternal consequences.” Linda Hullibarger sued the priest...

Pass the Salt and Put on the Lights - A Homily for the 5th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • February 5, 2017 • In the gospel today the Lord describes metaphorically (i.e. figuratively) what a Christian is and what He expects of us. Note five things about what He says I. The Definitiveness of his Proclamation – The Text says You are the Salt of the earth….You are the light of the World…..But if salt goes flat it is good for nothing…..No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket.The Lord is definitive in...

God Can Use Anything, but He Shouldn’t Have to - A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • September 30, 2017 • In understanding Sunday’s Gospel, we cannot overlook the audience Jesus was addressing. The text begins, Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people …. In other words, He was addressing the religious leaders and religiously observant of His day. He calls at least three things to their attention, three common sins of the pious, if you will: lost connections, leaping to conclusions and lip service.Let’s look at each of...

Fix Your Focus – A Homily for the 19th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • August 12, 2017 • The Gospel today is about faith and about focus. It teaches that although storms and struggles inevitably arise, we have a choice as to whether we focus on them or on Jesus. The message is clear: “Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on!”Let’s look at this Gospel in three stages: Perceived Distance, Produced Distress, and Point of Decision. I have also included a fourth section for more in-depth study: Process of Development.I. Perceived Distance – The text...

Archdiocese of Washington Saint or Ain’t? A Homily for the 16th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • July 22, 2017 • We live in difficult times for the Church; from many sectors the very legitimate cry for reform goes up frequently. Beyond the sexual abuse scandal there are also deep concerns regarding the uncertain trumpet of Catholic preaching, lukewarm and nominal Catholics, an overall lack of self-discipline among Catholics, and a lack of disciplining by the bishops and clergy of those Catholics (lay and clergy) who cause scandal. The list of concerns is long, and in general I...

Humility Lessons from the Nativity – A Homily for Christmas Msgr. Charles Pope • December 24, 2016 • The Christmas Gospel from Luke provides us with many teachings. One thing that surely stands out, however, is the permeating theme of humility. Throughout the account, God confounds our prideful expectations and insists on being found in the lowest of places.The newborn Christ is not found where we expect Him to be nor does His birth conform to any script we would design. Right from the start, He gives us many lessons in humility and begins His saving work of healing...

Crisis at Christmas - A Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent Msgr. Charles Pope • December 18, 2016 • Today’s Gospel gives us some background for the Christmas feast that we need to take to heart. It speaks to us of a crisis at Christmas.We tend to sentimentalize the Christmas story as we think of the baby Jesus in the manger. It is not absolutely wrong to be sentimental, but we must also be prayerfully sober about how difficult that first Christmas was, and about the heroic virtue required of Mary and Joseph in order to cooperate with...

Ignoring the Poor Is a Damnable Sin – A Homily for the 26th Sunday Msgr. Charles Pope • September 24, 2016 • The Rich Man and the Poor Lazarus by Hendrick ter BrugghenIn the Gospel for today about the rich man and Lazarus the Lord gives us some important teachings on judgment and Hell. We live in times in which many consider the teachings on Hell to be untenable. They struggle to understand how a God described as loving, merciful, and forgiving can assign certain souls to Hell forever. Despite the fact that the Doctrine of Hell is taught...

NEW YORK — To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Priests for Life and to highlight its core mission of empowering clergy to be passionate advocates for the unborn, Father Frank Pavone, National Director, has released today his newest book, Proclaiming the Message of Life: Weekly Reflections from the Lectionary (Servant Books, 2016) The book guides clergy –and laity – through the pro-life themes found in the readings of every Sunday of all three liturgical years. Proclaiming the Message of Life provides an overview of the Scriptural, doctrinal and liturgical bases for preaching the pro-life message, presents homily...

"In Bitter, Bizarre First Post "Love" Homily, Pope Lashes Out at Critics, Calls Judas "This Poor Repentant Man," Blames Jewish Priests for Judas' Death (They Were Bad Confessors and had No Mercy)The Pope appears to be growing increasingly unhinged." Is the aggressive crazy talk a response to perceived opposition or a post Amoris victory lap? Vatican Radio reports on today's homily at Santa Marta. The first part deals not with Judas but with those who clutch to "the letter" of the law. It is impossible to believe that Francis is not referring to opponents of the "pastoral solutions" proposed in...

Archdiocese of Washington The Gospel Train Reaches Temptation Station -- Stay on Board, Children! A Homily for the First Sunday of Lent Msgr. Charles Pope - February 13, 2016 - "Jesus Tempted in the Desert" by Jaci XIII is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0There's an old gospel song tradition that speaks of the Christian life as a ride on the "Gospel train." The Gospel train is not always an easy ride with perfect scenery, but you've gotta get your ticket and stay on board.Mysteriously, the train sometimes passes through difficult terrain. But just stay on board! On his way to...

A Knock at Midnight - Christmas, Midnight Homily Msgr. Charles Pope December 24, 2015 In this reflection, perhaps we can consider but one line in the Gospel which both challenges our love, and is a sign of God's humble and abiding love for us: For there was no room for them in the Inn. I. The Cold - There is a knock at midnight. Joseph, speaking on behalf of both Mary and Jesus (who is in her womb still), seeks entrance to the homes and lodgings of those in Bethlehem. And even though the Jewish people placed a great deal...

A Summary of our Salvation -- A Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Msgr. Charles Pope • December 19, 2015 • Here on the Fourth Sunday of Advent we are close to the unfolding of the great mystery of the Word made flesh. It is easy for us to look right past it, but we do well to pause and ponder what is taught to us today about the salvation that is to unfold. One significant way we can do this is by reflecting upon the first reading today from the prophet Micah. In four short verses, we are...

A Recipe for Readiness - - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Msgr. Charles Pope • November 28, 2015 • As the Advent season begins, we are immediately drawn into its principle theme of preparation and readiness for the coming of the Lord. The first coming of the Lord has already been fulfilled at Bethlehem. And while we should prepare spiritually for the coming Christmas Feast, these first weeks of Advent bid us to focus even more on the Second Coming of the Lord in glory.Thus, as the curtains draw back on the opening scenes of Advent, we are...

Archdiocese of Washington Ninety-Nine and a Half Won’t Do – A Homily for the Feast of All Saints Msgr. Charles Pope • October 31, 2015 • Today is the Feast of All Saints. Some saints of the Church have a particular day on the calendar associated with them and are commonly recognized by name. Many more, though not as familiar to us, are still known by God and have been caught up with Him to glory. Today is their day, the day of the countless multitude who have made it home to glory by God’s grace and by their “Amen”...

Marriage Is a Miracle! A Homily for the 27th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • October 3, 2015 • Both today’s first reading and the gospel speak to us of the miracle of marriage. If your marriage is working even reasonably well, it is a miracle! We live in an age that is poisonous to marriage. Many people look for marriage to be ideal, and if there is any ordeal, they want a new deal. Our culture says, if it doesn’t work out, bail out. Thus, successful marriages today are a miracle. But marriages are also a miracle...

Three Principles for Prophets: A Homily for the 26th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • September 26, 2015 • In today’s gospel we see three principles for prophets. And in speaking of prophets, it is referring to you, too. For by our baptism, we are all summoned to be prophets for the Lord.I. PROPER PRIORITIES – The text begins, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” (Mark 9:38)The Apostle John’s consternation bespeaks confused priorities. Task number one is to...

September 20, 2015 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Wis 2:12, 17-20 The wicked say:Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;he sets himself against our doings,reproaches us for transgressions of the lawand charges us with violations of our training.Let us see whether his words be true;let us find out what will happen to him.For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend himand deliver him from the hand of his foes.With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the testthat we may have proof of his gentlenessand...

September 6, 2015   Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Is 35:4-7a Thus says the LORD:Say to those whose hearts are frightened:Be strong, fear not!Here is your God,he comes with vindication;with divine recompensehe comes to save you.Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,the ears of the deaf be cleared;then will the lame leap like a stag,then the tongue of the mute will sing.Streams will burst forth in the desert,and rivers in the steppe.The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water. Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 R. (1b) Praise the Lord,...

August 30, 2015   Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people:“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the landwhich the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,which I enjoin upon you,you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully,for thus will you give evidenceof your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,who will hear of...