When Does Distortion Become Dishonesty?

 

Written by Mike Lewis

I keep coming back to the same question: Why the dishonesty?

I genuinely do not understand how people who hold themselves out as traditional, orthodox, faithful Catholics can be so ruthless in distorting the truth about other Catholics.

I cannot see into anyone’s heart, but after nearly a decade of open and obvious distortions of reality from Catholic journalists, influencers, and media personalities, it is becoming impossible to believe there is an innocent explanation.

A recent example involves Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, who was named president of the Pontifical Academy for Life last year following the retirement of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia at age 80. Michael Haynes of the Catholic Herald announced earlier this month on X that Pegoraro “has argued Catholics can support ‘imperfect’ euthanasia laws.”

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Pastoral Mercy and the Processus Brevior

Decades ago, I was called to assist the marriage tribunal of my diocese as a judge, under provisions the Holy See had extended to dioceses that lacked a sufficient number of trained canon lawyers to staff their tribunals. Because I held a pontifical degree in theology — the Licentiate in Sacred Theology I earned at Louvain — I was conscripted into that service. It was not a role I had sought, but it became one I came to value deeply. I have always had a particular interest in canon law, and in marriage law especially, as it pertains to the process of annulment: a sad but necessary means by which the church seeks to bring healing to couples who have suffered the collapse of a marriage — an all too common reality in our society today.

With the growth over time in the number of trained canon lawyers available to the diocese, I was eventually relieved of that tribunal responsibility. But I have carried the wisdom gained from those years with me throughout my more than fifty-two years in the priesthood. It is a peculiar grace of ecclesial service that one’s formal duties may end while the insight they impart does not.

It was with that background, then, that I read with real interest the two-part column Cardinal Blase Cupich recently completed on the marriage nullity process — coming, fittingly, in the year that marked the tenth anniversary this past April of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the document that gathered the fruits of the 2014–2015 Synods on the Family and gave the church’s pastoral approach to marriage and family life its most developed expression in a generation.

How to behave on yom kippur

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism, focused on atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Observing it traditionally involves following five physical prohibitions and focusing on prayer and self-reflection.

Here is how to behave on Yom Kippur, whether you are observing the traditions yourself or attending services.

📌 The Five Traditional Prohibitions

For 25 hours (from just before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur until nightfall the next day), traditional Jewish law prohibits:

Eating and drinking: A complete fast is observed by healthy adults (above Bar/Bat Mitzvah age). If fasting endangers your health, Jewish law actually commands you to eat.
Bathing or washing: Only minimal washing to remove actual dirt is permitted.
Applying lotions or oils: This includes perfumes, makeup, and creams.
Wearing leather shoes: Traditional leather shoes are avoided as a sign of humility and because they represented luxury in ancient times. People often wear canvas sneakers or Crocs.
Marital relations: Intimacy is avoided during the holiday.

🏛️ Behavior at the Synagogue

If you attend services, expect a solemn but deeply communal environment:

Dress in white: Many people wear white clothing (or a white robe called a kittel) to symbolize purity and look like angels.
Wear non-leather shoes: Opt for canvas shoes, sandals, or sneakers.
Follow the service: The prayer book used is called a Machzor. Services are long and run throughout most of the day, featuring intense communal confessions (Al Chet).
Maintain decorum: Keep conversations to a minimum inside the sanctuary, as people are fasting and deeply focused on prayer.

💬 Greeting Someone

What to say: The standard greeting is "G'mar Chatimah Tovah" (May you be sealed for a good year) or "Tzom Kal" (Have an easy fast).
What to avoid: Do not say "Happy Yom Kippur," as it is a somber day of reflection rather than a celebratory holiday.

Are you planning to attend a synagogue service for the first time, or are you looking for tips on how to prepare your body for the fast? Let me know so I can give you the most relevant tips.

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