Author Archives: tklocek2

A Time for Reflection

Christians around the world are embarking on the solemn season of Lent. This is a period for reflection, prayer, fasting, and repentance. For Catholics it is part of the liturgical year, the cycle of feasts and celebrations, much like the cycle of feasts God instructed the Israelites to observe after He brought them out ofContinue reading “A Time for Reflection”

Death: Are You Ready?

I fell in my driveway yesterday, landing on my shoulder and banging my head right above the eye hard on the concrete. My wife insisted on taking me to the emergency room. Anyone who has been to the E.R. for anything knows what that is like – perkatory. Perkatory is that agonizingly endless interval enduredContinue reading “Death: Are You Ready?”

UNITY

While written for my local Knights of Columbus Council Newsletter, the issue of unity is an important one for our Church. It is also important for our country. I am afraid that we have forgotten our national unity as well as our need for oneness with God and each other as part of His family.Continue reading “UNITY”

A New Beginning

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) Christmas is right on top of us. Twenty to thirty years ago the television networks would have multiple showings of “A Christmas Carol” (several versions), “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “The Bishop’s Wife,” and several others. A quickContinue reading “A New Beginning”

True Marriage and Christian Love

[Jesus said] “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God hasContinue reading “True Marriage and Christian Love”

Somewhere There’s a Bottom – We Hope

“People who are happy or breathing easier because of the outcome of this election now own its consequences. Inflation, high gas and food prices, and an open border are likely to continue. … Maybe another two years of suffering will do it, assuming the country survives.” —Cal Thomas How low can we go? We haveContinue reading “Somewhere There’s a Bottom – We Hope”

Love (Charity) is at the Heart of Catholic Social Doctrine

 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Jn 13:35) “A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do good.  It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.” (Catechism 1803) Simply put, Catholic social doctrine supportsContinue reading “Love (Charity) is at the Heart of Catholic Social Doctrine”

Catholic Vote

Dear Editor: I have a response to Maria Mastromarino (Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29: Catholics should not be single-issue voters).  Our issues are the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church. Here are some guidelines for how I think Catholics should vote.  Ask yourself the following questions:  New York has an opportunity this yearContinue reading “Catholic Vote”

Transparency: What are They Trying to Hide?

“For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (Jn 3:19) Who is really running things? Why do all of the Democrats refuse to debate? What are they hiding? Why did the government send all of those immigrants around the country at night, withoutContinue reading “Transparency: What are They Trying to Hide?”

Elections Coming: Check your conscience

(This is the full version of my essay on checking one’s conscience for the coming election. The previous election post, “2022 Elections Coming: Is your conscience ready,” was condensed from this so it could be submitted for publication in the Richmond Diocesan Newspaper, The Catholic Virginian, and was published on September 19, here.) Pope St.Continue reading “Elections Coming: Check your conscience”

The Left Quotes Scripture

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Quoting Sacred Scripture to try to support abortion, the latest tactic by the left, is almost as laughable as VP Harris declaring “the border is secure” while watching hundreds of illegalContinue reading “The Left Quotes Scripture”

2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?

“In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law … always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience [which] speaks to his heart…” Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes The midterm elections are less than 100 days away. Now is time to review our duties and responsibilities as Catholics in theContinue reading “2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?”

Feeling Lost? Try God

I think it was The Muppet Movie where some character told Kermit he felt lost and Kermit asked, “Have you tried Hare Krishna?” Lots of people feel lost today and many more are lost but don’t realize it. Our world has rejected God causing anxiety and discomfort across all levels of society.  In a recentContinue reading “Feeling Lost? Try God”

Be Not Afraid

Published on the Patriot Post July 1, 2022. Below is the unedited version. “We need to tell our story of salvation in a new way. With charity and confidence, without fear.” Archbishop Gomez of LA, Address, Madrid Spain, November 4, 2021 “The liberty of love, therefore, is not license. Freedom implies not just a mereContinue reading “Be Not Afraid”

Victory for Life and America: SCOTUS Overturns Roe v Wade

The decision has been announced. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe and Casey in a 6-3 Decision. This is an overwhelming victory for life and for freedom for all, born and unborn, in the United States. Now we need to work doggedly within our states to make sure that life is preserved and the dignityContinue reading “Victory for Life and America: SCOTUS Overturns Roe v Wade”

Sin Always Goes to the Extreme

“For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Jn 3:20 “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived…” 2 TimContinue reading “Sin Always Goes to the Extreme”

I Don’t Need Church to Worship God

Do you know someone who has said this, or someone close who has left the Church? I do, including some close friends and relatives. Here are some of my thoughts on what I might say to them. God is Calling. And He’s calling YOU! “And the Lord God said: It is not good for manContinue reading “I Don’t Need Church to Worship God”

Jesus and the Cross

At the beginning of Holy Week and in anticipation of Easter I was reflecting on our Lord’s passion, suffering and death on the cross. I began to think about those non-Catholic Christians and wondered what they did in preparation and how they reflected on the events leading up to Our Lord’s glorious resurrection on EasterContinue reading “Jesus and the Cross”

70 Bishops worldwide criticize Germany’s Synodal Way

Several months ago George Weigel commented that bishops needed to band together and tell the German Bishops to wake up and that their synodal way was heretical, to which I commented in agreement. Well, it has taken quite awhile, but now 70 bishops around the world have written an open letter to the German BishopsContinue reading “70 Bishops worldwide criticize Germany’s Synodal Way”

All Hail the State Church

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging freedom of speech, ….” Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1 While not explicitly establishing a state religion by law, the progressives in power have, nonetheless established, by a combination of executive orders, mandates, school board andContinue reading “All Hail the State Church”

On Weigel’s “Liquid Catholicism and the German Synodal Way”

George Weigel is right in describing the German Synodal Way as “liquid Catholicism” and a form of liberal Protestantism. In an earlier article in The Tablet, he noted that the rest of the bishops around the world needed to take the matter in hand and correct their brothers in Germany. (March 10, 2021) They didn’tContinue reading “On Weigel’s “Liquid Catholicism and the German Synodal Way””

Personal Prayer to the Holy Trinity

By your grace and mercy, O Lord, you called me back to you.  I don’t know how long I resisted your call or did not acknowledge it, but you finally called loudly enough that I answered. Then you gently, but firmly, guided me to discern you more and to get to know you better. YouContinue reading “Personal Prayer to the Holy Trinity”