June 19, 2009
Here in the United States, we are preparing celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday June 21. This traditional holiday celebrates the unique contribution to the stability of our society that fathers make in their every day mission of guiding their families. We Catholics understand that the family is the individual building block upon which an ordered…
June 19, 2009
The ongoing demonstrations in Iran, touched off by public outrage at what is believed to be fraudulent vote counting in the recent Presidential election, has completed its sixth day. Not since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 has there been this much sustained, grass roots political protest in what is one of the world’s most closed…
June 8, 2009
by Mark McElrath Have you just found yourself downsized and feel the need to complete your Bachelor’s degree? Are you feeling empty in your current field of employment and want to work in a new career direction, maybe something related to the church but need further academic development or certification? Are you one of those…
June 4, 2009
When faced with an opportunity to fundamentally change your life, will you take it? Many of us want to answer this question with a resounding “yes,” but may think that reality is not attainable. Not necessarily so. Consider the possibility that the current recession may be providing the catalyst for meaningful lessons and positive life…
June 4, 2009
U.S. ECONOMY Preliminary estimates of 2009 first quarter GDP suggest only a slight improvement from 2008’s fourth quarter (-6.1 vs. -6.3); however, the massive federal stimuli coming forward point to a possible leveling and then rebound in the quarters ahead. Much of the last quarter’s contraction centered on decreases in exports (-30%) and a reduction…
June 4, 2009
When it comes to tapping into the competitive advantage of diversity, few companies succeed. Yesterday I was reminded why. Our firm was having a meeting to discuss important elements of our strategy and marketing efforts, when something really great happened—we got into an argument. Not a disagreement. A loud, contentious, uncomfortable and passionate argument. On…
May 25, 2009
Lest anyone think that the current graduation speaker controversy at the University of Notre Dame is merely a matter of partisan politics and media hype, it is worth a closer look. What is happening right now in South Bend, Ind., is not simply a critical moment of truth for a vaunted institution; it is also…
May 2, 2009
U.S. ECONOMY Recent economic indicators have been coming in at better than expected levels over the past month. After falling at a 4% rate since the summer of 2008, consumer spending is expected to rise slightly in the first quarter of 2009. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is expected to climb again in…
April 1, 2009
Sometimes when we’re in the midst of a major event or a crisis, we don’t notice big changes that are happening around us. And then, when things settle down and we get up off the floor, we look around and notice that some parts of life have fundamentally shifted. I think that is what’s going…
March 27, 2009
There are many who say that loyalty in the corporate world is dead forever. I could not disagree with them more. The kind of corporate loyalty that was based on hanging around for a certain number of years in order to get a pension and benefits forever may be dead, but I think that both…
March 12, 2009
This past weekend St. Peter Chanel Church hosted the 1st Annual Atlanta Catholic Business Conference. The Saturday half-day Conference drew over 160 Catholic professionals and business people to hear acclaimed national speakers and authors Dr. Michael Naughton, Dr. Paul Voss and Dr. Phillip Thompson speak on the subjects of ethics, virtue, leadership and most importantly,…
March 9, 2009
The advance of secularism and moral relativism in the public square is accelerating at an alarming rate – just watch prime time TV programming; see a movie targeted to teens/young adults such as “The Pineapple Express”; note the increase in state court rulings redefining marriage or forcing healthcare workers to participate in medical procedures against…
March 1, 2009
My children are a constant source of wisdom and clarity for me. Our sons are ages 8 and 11, and keenly interested in what’s going on in the world. We share openly and candidly the current state of politics, the economy and world news in a way they will understand. This past Saturday, my wife…
March 1, 2009
When I speak to audiences about teamwork, one of the most frequently asked questions I get has to do with managing groups of people who are geographically dispersed, a.k.a. virtual teams. This surprises me a little because the topic, as well as the solution for addressing it, is certainly not very sexy. But with so…
March 1, 2009
“Tolerance Is Not a Christian Virtue” TORONTO, FEB. 24, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of an address delivered Monday by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado, at the University of Toronto. The archbishop’s presentation was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Salt and Light Catholic Television Network, the Toronto Legatus Chapter, and the…
February 23, 2009
U.S. ECONOMY With prospects unclear for when a rebound in consumer activity may materialize, corporations are working hard to recalibrate their future plans while strengthening their balance sheets through tighter cash management and de-leveraging. Until such time as the stimulus efforts of the U. S. Treasury bear fruit, such financially conservative behavior is warranted and…
I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation a few days ago with a lot on my mind. I have been weighted down for the last few months with work stress, concerns about money and a myriad of other issues big and small. As I went through my examination of conscience, I couldn’t get past the…
February 5, 2009
Throughout human history, there has never been a shortage of men and women willing to point humanity along the right path. Nor have the needs of the human family ever been a secret: food, shelter, purposeful work, companionship, freedom, forgiveness, acceptance, and love.
February 2, 2009
Ed. note: This article was co-written by Chris Findley. As converts to the Catholic Church in the last few years, we have both written and addressed groups about our conversion stories and what led us to the True Faith. We maintain that being Catholic is so much more than knowing the Catechism, the bible, attending…
February 2, 2009
Last weekend, my wife and I went to the Danville Town Green to participate in a Hero’s Welcome for one of our own, Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger. “Sully” became known to the world on a cold January 15th afternoon several weeks ago when he set his US Air Airbus A-320 safely and spectacularly down on…