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The day Joe Biden visited my social studies class

I had just hung up the phone in the main office when I got the word: “She wants to see you.” "She" was the principal. I was actually excited to speak to her. I had just gotten off the phone with Senator Joe Biden’s office. Everything was set for tomorrow. He would be speaking to my eighth-grade social studies class. In fact, we were going to be cramming both classes into one room. In 2003, social distancing was unheard of. His office had asked me who would be introducing him. I would, of course. “The senator will speak for exactly 30 minutes, then take questions for 15 minutes,” the woman had said. “When he arrives at your school, someone should immediately direct him to the room where he will speak.” “Got it,” I said. I was excited to tell the principal as I walked into her office, but she was clearly not in the mood to hear me gloat about my special visitor. She asked me to sit down. She removed her glasses and massaged the space between her ...

Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Catholic Church

1. Secret Cardinals The College of Cardinals is made up of about 120 senior bishops from around the world whom the Pope has chosen to elect his replacement. Upon the death or resignation of the Pope, they meet in Rome to elect a new one, almost always from among their own ranks. Only cardinals under the age of 80 may vote. However, what most people don’t know is that there are a handful of bishops throughout the world whom the pope has secretly chosen as cardinals. For a variety of reasons, usually out of concern for security, the Pope chooses not to reveal their names, sometimes even to the men themselves. This is most common when the cardinal resides in a country where he may face reprisals from his government or face other types of persecution. The late Pope John Paul II secretly elevated four bishops to cardinals. One of them was from China, another from Latvia, and one from Ukraine. Their identities were revealed near or a...

Top 10 Great Morality Movies

10. In the Bedroom - 2001 Directed by Todd Field This fantastic film takes viewers into the home of the parents of a young man named Frank who was murdered by his girlfriend’s ex-husband. As the killer walks free due to lack of evidence, the parents (beautifully played by Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson) agonize over how to move on with their lives. As they become alienated from the world and from each other, Frank’s father contemplates taking matters into his own hands to achieve justice. The film is an emotional roller coaster, devoid of any macho Hollywood posturing and gratuitous violence. In the Bedroom leaves viewers in a tortured state, wondering how far one should go to get justice, and whether the pain of loss can ever be alleviated. 9. Minority Report - 2002 Directed by Steven Spielberg ...

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