Inspired by Scholastica

  In the past, Christian churches offering sanctuary to those fleeing the law was respected. Christian sanctuary was viewed as a shield to protect the guilty from the state and the lynching mob "because the redempton of the sinner was more important than law and order." Before the Civil War some groups refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and gave protection to escaping slaves. Some saw sanctuary as a way to put a check on the excesses of government. Even in the Middle Ages the state "seemed to recognize the value of the church's role as a negotiator, guardian against violence and force for reconciliation," according to Rockhurst University religious historian Joanna Carraway-Vitiello. This week Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the government will withhold federal funding from any institution that offers safe haven to undocumented immigrants. A number of churches have said they offer sanctuary to law-abiding people with no papers. Many of...

I burned with shame for the United States when I read about the Ugandans in a small village who welcomed 270,000 refugees from South Sudan fleeing persecu-tion. These Ugandan villagers, who themselves were in need of food and water, shared from their meager resources   with those who had nowhere to go. Moreover, these were mostly Muslims aiding Sudanese Christians. There are currently 1.5 million South Sudanese fleeing "mass rape, forced starvation and other unspeakable violence," according to Melinda Henneberger, a Kansas City Star columnist.   ” “We are doing this because we’re part of the international community, and we have this obligation to humanity,” said Robert Baramwesiga of the Ugandan prime minister’s office. This example of mercy and compassion at a time when the richest nation of the world is closing its doors to many refugees is particularly humbling. This comes at a time when the U.S. is banning Muslims from six countries from entering the U.S. and ...

"Women's rights are human rights," Hillary Clinton said in one of her speeches.  Leymah Gbowee, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Tawwakkul Karman, winners of the 2011 Peace Prize, believed those words and acted on them. Gbowee led a women's movment to end the civil war in Liberia. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president of Liberia in 2005, the first elected woman president in Africa. And Tawwakkul Karman, a women's rights activist,  led a pro-democracy protest movement in Yemen. Faced with strong opposition, these women refused to back down and became agents of change in their countries.  We often think one person can't make a difference, can't overcome the forces of oppression. These women proved that it was possible. They refused to let evil prevail at the risk of their own lives. What gave them the strength and courage? I'm not sure of their religious beliefs, but maybe they were just tired of war, of men dominating the government and ignoring the suff...

Sister Lou Whipple When one reaches 80 or 90, it is normal to think about one's impending death. At 50, it is usually the farthest thing from one's mind. And yet, when one has a terminal illness, one cannot escape it. We just experienced the death of a 50-year-old sister in my community. It seemed unfair, unbelievable, and yet she faced it with courage and peace. We have so many sisters in their 90's and one over a 100. Why did not God take them? They are ready, they have been waiting and praying for death. This sister could have had many more productive years. This is one of the hardest things to understand. Yet as Christians we believe that we are destined for an eternal home where there will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more disappointments, but only joy and happiness. We will be reunited with all those we loved on earth and continue to discover more and more of God's wondrous mysteries. God wants to give us everything we've longed for, especia...

  Lord, we come empty-handed, soul-tarnished, selfish-hearted, hesitant to be in your presence and open ourselves to your grace, knowing our inadequacies, our slowness to follow in your footsteps, yet aware of your loving kindness in ages past and even now as we struggle to fast from grumbling, from gossip, to pray for those who irritate and offend us, to be servants of those who have lost hope or fallen through the cracks. Forty days seem long and burdensome but we rely on you for strength,  for courage  as we fall and fail and keep on going.