My article on Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical, Spe Salvi, was No. 2 on the Toledo Blade website yesterday, the day after the article was published (here's a link). Another unusually high readership response for a religion article. Usually the interest fades away after one day. It just goes to show that there are many people who are interested in what the Pope has to say and, perhaps, that I did a decent job of explaining it in proper journalistic fashion.
The encyclical, meant to teach Catholics worldwide, examines the theological basis of hope and offers the Pontiff's theoretical analysis as well as biblical and real-world examples of how hope in God helped people through severe struggles.
I enjoyed working on that article and especially having the opportunity to spend some time discussing the encyclical with the two top local theologians, Professor Rick Gaillardetz of the University of Toledo and Father Jim Bacik of Toledo's Corpus Christi University Parish.
Both of these people are brilliant scholars and are terrific sources for information on Catholic teachings. I asked for an interview with Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair, but it was a late request on my part and all he could provide was a comment via e-mail. Still, I was glad to have his view included in the story.
Here is a link to the article.
(I really liked the headline -- "Pope flexes theological muscles" -- but was concerned that some readers might find it too frivolous or flippant. However, no complaints so far. I think religion-page readers have a sense of humor and I was trying to jazz up the page a little bit without being disrespectful. I think it worked out well.)
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I worked yesterday covering the strange story of the disappearance of Karyn McConnell Hancock, a Toledo lawyer who was missing 2 1/2 days before being found in Atlanta. A lot of things in this case don't sound right... But as we have learned the hard way, the truth will come out eventually. Sometimes it takes a while. But I think it'll happen relatively soon in this case.
Here is a link to that article.
Toledo, Ohio
December 10, 2007