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Philip's avatar

"I met a lot of new people, every one of whom knew who I was before I’d ever laid eyes on them."

"It wasn’t what we talked about that made the evening great, it was the how. Everyone there shared an attitude, an openness, an expectation that they’d be met and welcomed as friends, because our common faith demands of us first that we love God and second each other. "

This, I think, is something that I have really enjoyed about The Pillar.

It is very easy in our new online world to slip into parasocial relationships with those who create the various forms of media (news, apologetics, clergy, and so on) that we consume. I'm sure that Ed, JD, Luke, Michelle, and the rest of the Pillar staff can have some very weird/concerning encounters based on people knowing a great deal about their lives. I emphatically hope that they can avoid the dangerous encounters that many online creators experience.

They display a great deal of vulnerability by allowing us glimpses into their lives, thoughts, and perspectives. It leaves them exposed to criticism and possible physical danger. I, for one, respect that and place my trust in the community here at The Pillar that they are fostering. This is a uniquely Catholic space where comments and reply's tend to be exceptionally charitable. Many feel connected enough to share their own thoughts within the comment box, rooted on their own lived Catholic faith. It has been shaping up to be a very wholesome community compared the vitriol seen on other online Catholic spaces. I pray that this continues.

I hope that those of you who have seen my Likes show up in your inbox/activity box and post replies know that I truly value your input. You are helping to foster a Catholic community that displays "Synodality" in a way that I think is actually representative of Christ's Church. We are cut from all swaths of the Church in every way imaginable: "progressive" and "traditional", every corner of the US and across the world, old/young, married/single, growing families of young children and experienced empty nesters.

Continue to be the shining light of charitable discourse in the online Catholic world. Be those who feel free to be vulnerable yourselves so that The Pillar writers can say, "Ah yes, you're that Philip subscriber who writes those pithy comments on our posts. Thank you for sharing your story with us." Be a community that The Pillar staff can continue to feel comfortable interacting with. God bless all of you.

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Marie's avatar

"When the bishops do begin their wholesale revision of “Forming Consciences” after the next general election, it’s my sincere hope that they will opt for the prophetic over the pragmatic — and take as their starting point the moral repugnance found in both major political parties in this country."

This statement is worth the cost of my annual subscription.

If this Bishops were to publish this statement, I could almost hear shackles (and many hearts) breaking in this country... for the good.

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