U.S. Catholic
September 2006
Volume 71; Number 9
cover story
A little less confrontation, a little more action
Despite the ever-escalating war of words and battle of bumper stickers, the nation is no closer to reducing a stubbornly high abortion rate. Vincent Gragnani explores how some are choosing life by finding ways to work with those on the other side of the abortion divide.
feature
Fixer-upper
Luis Soler learned the ABCs of community organizing while growing up in New York’s tough Alphabet City neighborhood. In In Person Deirdre Clarke describes how his success in developing affordable housing, however, wasn’t as easy as 1-2-3.
sounding board
Is it a sin to be fat?
Are our bulging bellies just a matter of too many meals, or are they actually a sign of spiritual starvation? In Sounding Board Fran Ferder, F.S.P.A. serves up some satisfying yet low-fat soup for the soul. Readers ruminate on the spiritual dimensions of their daily
diet in Feedback.
essays/opinion
Tough guy
Devotion to St. Michael may seem a little outdated nowadays, says Mary Ellen O’Brien in Practicing Catholic, but against the demons of a rough-and-tumble postmodern world she’ll take any heavenly help she can get.
Extending family
There is more than one way to be together in the household of God, says Bryan Cones in The Examined Life. Our Catholic family album is nothing if not diverse.
Fall book issue
In memory of me
Telling your story is more than just listing facts, says Catholic writer Patricia Hampl. As she points out in Expert Witness, the act of remembering requires thoughtfulness and effort if we are to make sense of what we have seen and heard.
Book report
Even after reading all day, the staff of U.S. Catholic still loves to take “work” home. We hope you’ll enjoy the books we just can’t put down.
Joy
A short story by Jacqueline Guidry.
departments
Editors’ Note
You May Be Right: Letters
Signs of the Time: News
Catholic Tastes
Glad You Asked: How did Mass become BYOB?
Under Review
Spirituality Café
Meditation: Jerry Bleem, O.F.M.
columns
Odds & Ends by Peter Gilmour
You probably think this song is about you
Margin Notes by Kevin Clarke
Let's still do lunch
Testaments by Alice Camille
Don't put away childish things
Culture in Context by Patrick McCormick
Separation anxiety