A toast, a thanks, and a prayer
| jDevereaux | By: | 01/12/10 | 554 words

What a blessing it was to the family that gathered up Lilyana in a loving embrace, and what a generous thing it was for the child's mother to have fulfilled her responsibility in giving Lilyana a chance to live in a loving home. Lilyana is now part of our family of families.

Beyond sweet potatoes
| jDevereaux | By: | 12/29/09 | 551 words

That's when Mary said, "Sweet potatoes!" OK, Mary liked sweet potatoes better than I, and we were having ham for dinner, and sweet potatoes go with ham, and we didn't have any sweet potatoes. So off went the news and I dutifully drove to the grocery store for exactly two sweet potatoes.

Good old days
| jDevereaux | By: | 12/15/09 | 553 words

The kitchen had a small pantry but its walls were void of cabinets and counters. A gas range and oven against one wall, an icebox against another wall and a sink with a cold water tap against the third wall surrounded a table and four chairs.

A lesson in leadership
| jDevereaux | By: | 12/01/09 | 546 words

The quote is from Douglas Hyde's book "Dedication and Leadership" that the University of Notre Dame Press first published in 1966. Hyde was a noted Communist until he renounced his membership in the Communist Party and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1948.

Obama's war
| jDevereaux | By: | 11/17/09 | 544 words

Since my honorable discharge in 1959, I have remained in contact with close classmates as they passed through the Washington area and via the Internet with the class at large. I have never lost respect for the many sacrifices those in service (including their family members) make in defense of our freedoms.

Dignity and destiny
| jDevereaux | By: | 11/03/09 | 542 words

While not a religion itself, our government is necessarily a reflection of the religious convictions of the governed. Among these convictions is a sense of humanity's dignity and destiny.

Thanks for the memory
| jDevereaux | By: | 10/20/09 | 548 words

Being about half the size of Frederick County with a population 40 times greater, I figure I saw 80 people in New York City for every person back home — not counting bumper-to-bumper busloads of sightseers parading by while I snacked on a cheese danish and coffee.

Relieved
| Letter to Editor | By: | 10/07/09 | 133 words

Just think, our Christian God is so forgiving that we can do anything we want to without concern over the final judgment, heaven versus hell, or how we even treat our fellow man. My, what a relief.

The First Amendment
| jDevereaux | By: | 10/06/09 | 542 words

Based on the above there should be no problem with identifying overlapping church and state concerns and convictions on the editorial page of a newspaper. I fear the day there is.

Love — and judge not
| Letter to Editor | By: | 09/29/09 | 196 words

I doubt that Devereaux, or the rest of the right-wing religious cabal, would recognize Jesus if he jumped out of a box in their living rooms Christmas morning. So much thinly disguised hate in the name of God and Jesus is like a dagger to the heart of Christianity, regardless of denomination.

Nice, smart and courageous
| Letter to Editor | By: | 09/29/09 | 173 words

What Devereaux said should have been said by that bishop. The Pelosis, Bidens and so many other politicians who, in search of the Catholic vote, call themselves Catholic but defy the church's teaching on abortion and other moral issues. These politicians are not just a disgrace to the Catholic Church, but are the authors of scandal.

More is less, despite Devereaux's praise
| Letter to Editor | By: | 09/27/09 | 363 words

Among the many others burned at the stake (a 16th century Enhanced Interrogation Technique) under More's tenure as head of the King's Council were Richard Bayfield and Thomas Hitton, burned for distributing copies of the New Testament in, are you ready for this (gasp -- horrors!), English.

Devereaux column is on wrong page
| Letter to Editor | By: | 09/24/09 | 135 words

One thing I learned in my studies is the church's ability to tolerate many views. There are very few Catholics who subscribe to their church's many doctrines or practices. And for the most part the church doesn't try to ram them down Catholics' throats or suggest that all people and not just Catholics subscribe to them.

Tragic, not heroic
| jDevereaux | By: | 09/22/09 | 545 words

More maintained his religious convictions in spite of pressure from King Henry VIII. The king threatened More to renounce his convictions or die. Remaining steadfast, More lost his life prematurely, but he gained saintly recognition in 1935 as patron of politicians — a man that Kennedy had opportunity to emulate.

The troubling trend
| jDevereaux | By: | 09/08/09 | 546 words

That reflection was not about the troubling trend in my church over the last 50 years, where pedophile priests inexcusably define the worst of it. I was only comparing my fond job related memories of the '60s to Woodstock hippies frolicking naked in the mud.

While hippies hugged
| jDevereaux | By: | 08/25/09 | 488 words

From May 1963 to June 1964, IBM marketing manager Joe Fox headed an effort to win the Federal Aviation Administration's computer hardware contract for our Nation's En-route Air Traffic Control System. Though a minor player, I was fortunate to be a member of his team.

Where's Devereaux's concern?
| Letter to Editor | By: | 08/16/09 | 436 words

Health care is a serious problem in this country. The ideas and thoughts of those who care about this issue are important, regardless of their political bent. However, Devereaux offers nothing other than the inaccurate talking points of the far right, which are designed to scare and incite the less informed. Most of what he wrote was refuted in the same edition of The FNP on page B-11 ("Fact Check, Health Care Overhaul Bill") and hopefully he'll get to that page eventually.

Memories of 'Why Not' O's always include Froot Loops
| Sports | By: McClatchy Newspapers | 08/14/09 | 554 words

That the Birds battled the Toronto Blue Jays to the wire before losing the American League flag was attributable greatly to Tettleton, the Popeye-armed journeyman catcher who batted with a chaw in his cheek and a stance all his own.

Unhealthy health care
| jDevereaux | By: | 08/11/09 | 544 words

Maybe I better watch myself. I might end up on the black list of a health care system that rations life-saving treatment based on age, weight and political affiliation. Whether it is true or not, I definitely do not need or want the help of anyone in or near the White House to counsel me every five years on age-appropriate living and dying options.

Charitas in Veritate
| jDevereaux | By: | 07/28/09 | 547 words

Besides Catholics, the pope addressed the letter to all people of good will. One reader, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr., suggested the letter placed "the pope well to Obama's left on economics." I wonder if he read the same letter I read.