Some might point out the pastoral benefits of an all-boys altar server team in promoting priestly vocations, while others might appreciate how allowing female altar servers emphasizes our common baptismal priesthood.

The idea will not leave my head: how do we anoint a whole world so terribly and self-evidently in need of soothing, healing, consolation and unconditional love?

Although Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations in the country and make up a large portion of the young Catholic Church, nearly half of Latino young adults are leaving the faith.

Given that his “Dilbert” cartoon spoofed corporate life, it seems fitting Adams approached the idea of religious conversion as a dryly analytical risk-return computation. To some his thinking recalled “Pascal’s wager,” in which 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal reasoned that a 50 percent probability of God’s existence represented a bet worth making.

By all appearances, January’s consistory was a first step to returning to a more collegial sense of governance that has largely marked the exercise of papal ministry since the Second Vatican Council.

Although few of us will ever sing at the Grand Ole Opry, may each of us find a way to use the talents God has given us.

Anyone along the way could have said, “No.” “Not today.” “Why should we bother?” But people said yes,

When we know we have safe spaces where we can return — like our family home, our favorite chair or our regular parish pew — we can strike out in good faith and courage to do whatever challenging work that God calls us to do.

We need to tone down the rhetoric and see each other as people – flawed and fearful, but also hopeful and holy.

God shows us that our imperfections can become fields of second chances – moments when perseverance, mercy and shared burden accomplish what perfection never could.