Perpetual Adoration » Birth Control

A Retired Nun Challenges My Manhood

Harry — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:35:01 +0000

Last Monday I received a telephone call from a retired nun who reads my articles every week. I’ve known this particular nun for over 20 years. Even though she’s “retired,” she works harder than most people who are half her age. She’s a very holy and humble woman who cares greatly about the Catholic Church and the current state of humanity.

She told me she had read last week’s article, A Punk Kid & The Student [...] Read More »

A Punk Kid & The Student Teacher

Harry — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:31:43 +0000

When I graduated from a Catholic grade school in 1971, I was determined to never look back. I got off to a bad start in first grade and every year after that got worse. I was more than ready to move on. I looked forward to starting high school with a blank slate and an entire new group of teachers who had never heard of me.

I was actually excited on the evening my dad drove [...] Read More »

Rebellion & Ruination

Harry — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:27:47 +0000

Imagine you’re 20 years old and you recently had to drop out of college because you ran out of money. Until a couple of months ago, your parents were providing you with financial assistance, but that ended when the company your dad was working for closed down and laid off all of its employees.

You’re the “baby” of the family. You have 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters. One of your brothers lost his job [...] Read More »

iPads, iTunes & iHaters

Harry — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:47:13 +0000

When I was a freshman in college, I shared an apartment with a student who was a junior at the same college I was attending. His name was Dale.

Dale and I were opposites in a lot of ways. I was a more serious student than he was. I majored in Accounting and he majored in Parks and Recreation.

Dale was a tall, good looking, charming guy who liked playing around. He attracted girls like a magnet [...] Read More »

The Perfect Family

Harry — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:06:08 +0000

It all started when my wife got pregnant within a month after we were married. What I mean by “it all started” were the questions we got from friends, relatives, and even strangers. Questions like: “Was it an accident?” or “Why didn’t you wait a few years before having your first child?” or “How long have you been married?” Then of course there was the 2-part question. First part: “When’s your due date?” Second part: [...] Read More »

The Tavern Owners Club

Harry — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:33:17 +0000

Did you know that at one time Peoria was known as the “Whiskey Capital” of Illinois? According to a PeoriaMagazines.com article written by Jerry Klein, between 1837 and 1919, there were 24 breweries and 73 distilleries in Peoria. In another publication, “A Brief History of Peoria,” published by C.A. Cockle in 1896, it was noted that out of all of the breweries in Peoria, three of them had the lions’ share of the beer market: [...] Read More »

A Booming Enterprise – Prisons

Harry — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:59:21 +0000

I graduated from high school in 1975 (36 years ago). The school I attended was located in a rural area of Peoria County. Most of the students in the school were from families in which at least one of the parents worked in a blue collar job, such as manufacturing or the building trades. I came from one of those families. While I was growing up, my dad was a carpenter. Although he eventually ended [...] Read More »

American Exceptionalism

Harry — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 21:04:03 +0000

Every July 4th we celebrate “Independence Day,” the anniversary of when our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).

The United States of America is the only nation in the history of mankind that formally declared at the time of its founding that its citizens would always be allowed to exercise their God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

You and I have had the privilege and opportunity to grow up [...] Read More »

The Two Greatest Desires

Harry — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:46:13 +0000

We’ve covered The Idling Man and The Passion Bridge. The last critical lesson I believe every Catholic girl must be taught before she is allowed to go out on a date with a boy is: The Two Greatest Desires.

You may have heard of Fr. Clair Bourdereaux. He was a Franciscan priest who was assigned to Sacred Heart Church in downtown Peoria in 1976. He remained there for 19 years (until his death in January of [...] Read More »

The Real Crisis That Is Destroying Our Church

Harry — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:13:35 +0000

In 1985, I interviewed my grandmother, Cecilia LaHood, for an article I wanted to write about her life. Her children were planning a big 75th birthday party for her (she was born in 1910), and I wanted to share her life story with everyone who attended the party.

While I was interviewing my grandmother, she told me that during the 1930’s when she started having children, most of her Catholic friends were using a new birth [...] Read More »