From the editor's desk

Catholic New Times, Nov 16, 2003 by Ted Schmidt

I write this on the eve of Halloween, and just as an observation, I am struck at how our culture seems starved for meaning and ritual. As we become more secular, it appears that folks unconsciously make up for this cultural denuding by going the extra mile and decorating their homes every chance they get. Holloween is a good example. Walk down any street and see imaginative attempts at celebration. Many of our neighbours might be amazed to discover that the jack-o-lanterns (which always grace our porch) are simply a modern adaptation of the old custom of commemorating the souls in purgatory with candles cradled in turnips.

What we are celebrating today is hard to divine. The religious roots of All Hollow eve as a mixture of pagan belief and ritual are long gone and the markets are only happy to rush in to make Halloween the second largest retail bonanza of the year. All in all, relatively harmless and often a source of merriment as we watch the little ones come shyly up our steps.

And speaking of celebrations. Remembrance Day will soon be with us. It is interesting how other cultures 'celebrate' this somber day. See the powerful song that Eric Bogle has written for "Anzac" Day in Australia. See page 13.

Mary Ann Beavi's interesting quest for the feminine in the Divine sparked a lively discussion among our proofreaders with her use of the word "thealogian". Is there such a word? What does it communicate? As our consciousness changes, new words need to be coined to describe these changes. And God (theos, Gr.) is not masculine, though too widely believed to be so. In the meantime, some may be confused. Culture evolves and there will always be a lag before Webster catches up. Page 12.

Our business manager Miles Sosa has asked me to call your attention to our CNT gift-giving subscriptions. The easiest way is by calling our toll free number, 1-800-320-4609. No fuss, no muss, no paper. See page 5.

--Ted Schmidt

editor@catholicnewtimes.org