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Friday, May 9, 2025

Mark Azzara

Mark Azzara spent 45 years in print journalism, most of them with the Waterbury Republican in Connecticut, where he was a features writer with a special focus on religion at the time of his retirement. He also worked for newspapers in New Haven and Danbury, Conn. At the latter paper, while sports editor, he won a national first-place writing award on college baseball. Azzara also has served as the only admissions recruiter for a small Catholic college in Connecticut and wrote a self-published book on spirituality, "And So Are You." He is active in his church and facilitates two Christian study groups for men. Azzara grew up in southern California, graduating from Cal State Los Angeles. He holds a master's degree from the University of Connecticut.

The precious gift of grieving

Humanity is rapidly losing the ability to grieve. We still ache and shed tears at the death of a loved one, but what about the living dead among us that we don't know, including those we think we know?

Catholic Synod: All that huffing and puffing. For naught?

Even now I am hesitant to write about that topic. It's only been a week since a few hundred prelates packed their bags and left Rome.

How easy is it to play God? Really easy

We humans believe we can look at and address any and all of the above-cited topics without God's input, understanding, perspective or will, which also empowers us to dismiss Him as irrelevant.

ISIS is repeating a very old story

The blood-letting in the Middle East is an egregious example of the depths to which humanity can sink in the name of religion, and the howls of protest are more than justified.

Can’t these bishops shut up and just read?

I'm not a lawyer. But at least I'm in good company. Neither was Jesus. I say this because 250 Catholics, mostly bishops, gathered Sunday to begin discussing the family and evangelization at a special synod called by Pope Francis.

Who do you hate?

Logical thinking is no match for hatred because hating is easy and fun. It doesn't require careful thought because it's instinctual, it makes you feel superior to those you hate, and it relieves you of the burden of acting with moral scruples.

It didn’t take long for Pope Francis to give us a glimpse of the one he represents

I probably will never have the chance to meet Pope Francis but that's OK because I already have had a stunning encounter with him.

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