Sometimes the roles our doctors, nurses and medical techs can easily be taken for granted. They are individuals whom we have to encounter when we are either ill or have a loved one who is ill.
I simply wish to take this opportunity to extend a happy 50th birthday to someone who have been a healer and friend to me and my family.
I first met Dr. Paul Chemello just prior to my ordination as priest in 1997. During those years, Paul Chemello has not only been our family physican but he has also become a friend. His skills as a doctor provided my mother an additional year of quality of life before we lost her to cancer.
In 2007, it was Paul Chemello who knew me well enough and could read me well enough to make me sit still and undergo and electrocardiogram which discovered that I was in need of quintuple heart bypass surgery. Had it not been for his keen eye and ears, this blog would be written today.
And finally, Paul Chemello is a someone who suffers with grace my particular dry and wry form of humor - and is willing to one-up me from time to time.
So to my friend and doctor, Paul Chemello - I extend, in friendship and gratitude, a very best 50th birthday.
Ever since the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, I have had to question the psychological impact on children being dressed up by their parents to participate in Children Beauty Pageants. I find it rather scary to see 6 years old dressed and made up to look like adult women.
For the past three weeks, I have been home recovering from a recent cardio-blip and have been getting my moneys worth from cable television. While browsing the channels, I came across a program called Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC.
Watching what these children are being put through by their parents has convinced me that these activites border on child abuse.
If parents want to paint up their children in adult clothes and makeup, then they should by a Barbie Doll. Their children are NOT dolls to play with.
This past week our national family celebrated the life of Betty Ford, First Lady of President Gerald Ford.
It is somewhat difficult to believe that so many years have passed since she and President Ford retired to California.
During her brief time in the White House, Mrs. Ford's impact on social issues was nearly as profound of that of Eleanor Roosevelt and her post White House contributions to the welfare of our national family was as equally significant.
All of the eulogies have been spoken, tributes given and now Mrs. Ford rests beside her husband in Michigan.
I guess all that can be said now is thank you for making our national family better with the gift of your life.
On June 1st, 2011, gender common couples in Illinois obtained the legal right to enter into civil unions. As of today it seems that the numbers of civil union licences have far exceed the expected amount.
I wish each of these couples well.
I wish to focus my comments on the fact that civil unions are not equal to civil marriage and those gender common couples who sincerely wish to obtain the same, full and equal rights which comes with marriage cannot and must not settle for civil unions as "the best we can get."
It is my hope and prayer that unconditional civil rights are provided for all members of our local and national families.
I am the Presiding Bishop for the Evangelical Catholic Church and I concurrently serve as the Bishop for our Diocese of the Northwest and I am in residence in Chicago.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Governors State University, a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University and a Masters in Divinity from Kenrick Seminary.
