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The Catholic New World
Observations - by Tom Sheridan, Editor

May 28, 2006

Polite, but ouch!

Don’t you hate it when two conflicting thoughts crowd into your brain together, neither giving an inch? I do.

There I was, pondering weighty subjects for this issue’s column when I was the target of drive-by thoughts. (While neither had to do with “The Da Vinci Code,” I’ll mention that later, hopefully briefly.)

The conflicting subjects were a) say something meaningful about graduates from our Catholic high schools and b) what happened the other day on the bus. Neither thought would back off, so I’ll have to combine them. Somehow.

Among the benefits of a Catholic education is something called character. Character has a lot to do with how a person connects to the world around her or him. (There’s a good reason I wrote “her or him” which will soon become obvious.)

A person of character is usually the one, perhaps when you least expect it, who exercises politeness in the face of a world which rarely honors civility.

That’s something Catholic students learn, perhaps more than in any non-parochial system. Does that mean that ALL our students demonstrate this character? Of course not, but based on experience and observation—two major tools in a journalist’s kit—it’s something I see more from Catholic school graduates. And I hope that speakers at this year’s graduations both praised and encouraged it.

And, based on that observation, I’m going to at least hope that it was a Catholic school graduate—a 20-something woman—the other day on a crowded bus who asked very politely if I would like her seat. I must have looked like I had a pretty bad day.

(I declined the offer, also politely, I hope.)

Unfortunately, it was the third time in recent months that someone—always a 20-something woman—offered me her seat on a jam-packed bus.

As pleased as I am that Catholic schools, at least, teach such civility, along with respect for age and, one hopes, the wisdom it brings, I would offer a personal note: all that politeness makes a guy feel really old. So is it OK if I wait a while before taking up the offer?



“The Da Vinci Code?” Well, judging from the reviews of the movie, ours (see Page 23) and those in the secular media, all that worrying might have been for naught. The film sold a lot of tickets, but it’s a critical bust. And not very believable. But before you get too cocky, be aware: it could be just the beginning.

The book’s success has suddenly spawned a whole new genre: religious/conspiracy/action/
mysteries. Now there’s one out about the Knights Templar and I just picked up another as fodder for the train, a page-turner about an ancient secret society (yes, fictional!) which dresses up like monks and kills people while purloining the relics of the Magi from their resting place in The Cologne cathedral. Of course the Vatican’s mixed up in that story, too.

Are these attacks on the church? I hope not, though there will be accusations of that, creating even more negative publicity. I hope we don’t end up with another “Code” firestorm.



Finally, here’s a reminder that our next issue, June 11, will contain the third annual special section called A Guide to Catholic Chicago. This is a travelogue of sorts for the summer visitor and the area resident who may not be aware of the rich tapestry of Catholic history which flows through the Chicago metropolitan area.

In addition to highlighting the soaring architecture of many of our churches, the places of faith-history and much more, this year’s section will highlight how Chicago was formed as a church of immigrants. Watch for this informative and inspiring section.



Tom Sheridan

Editor and General Manager

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