U.S. Catholic
March 2006
Volume 71; Number 3
cover story
Does it pay to work for the church?
Jesus said the laborers would be few, but he didn’t say how much they ought to be paid. Robert J. McClory calculates how much of an earthly reward lay folk who work in the fields of the Lord are reaping.
expert witness
Good news in the mission field
For those who haven’t thought about missionaries for a while, they’re no longer out collecting “conversions,” says Father Josep Maria Abella, C.M.F. in an interview. In today’s multireligious world, mission and dialogue go hand in hand.
features
Dispatches from Iraq
With the Iraq war passing the three-year mark this month, Christian Peacemaker Teams member Sheila Provencher’s journal chronicles her search for peace amid the ruins.
Women’s words for the 40 days
Seven spiritual writers light the way for your Lenten journey.
Border guardian
As his name suggests, John Carlos Frey lives between two cultural worlds. In In Person Tara K. Dix describes how he uses filmmaking to start some cross-cultural conversation.
Reader survey
The state of sin
U.S. Catholic’s readers don’t divide easily into red and blue when it comes to sin, reports Bryan Cones in this Reader Survey. Some sins do make them blue, though, while others make them see red.
essays/opinion
Drawing on faith
Whether squiggly or straight, Jay Cormier always finds hope in the sign of the cross.
Kite rite
Oh, go fly a kite! No, really, says Elizabeth Wells in Practicing Catholic. You may just find a way to make your faith soar.
Put me in, coach!
In The Examined Life Santiago Cort?s-Sj?berg confesses to keeping score at Sunday Mass (by the way, that homily was a measly 2 out of 10), but what he really wants is a Eucharist that can keep his faith going through the week.
departments
Editors’ Note
You May Be Right—Letters
Signs of the Times—News
Catholic Tastes
Glad You Asked: Why are the “40 days of Lent” 46 days long?
Under Review
Spirituality Caf?
Meditation—Jerry Bleem, O.F.M.
columns
Odds & Ends—Peter Gilmour
Limbo rocks!
Margin Notes—Kevin Clarke
Innocents lost
Testaments—Alice Camille
Do like the animals do
Culture in Context—Patrick McCormick
Tactical Terror