worth noting . . .

GENERAL ABSOLUTION AFFECTS THE PRIEST . . . I continue to hear reports about the widespread use of General Absolution, at least in some dioceses, especially at Christmas and Easter. In this issue Fr. Daniel C. Conlin, from the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, takes a different approach to the problem. Instead of focusing on the bad effects in the penitents, he sees a serious loss for the priest in this abuse. For, the parish priest who indulges in General Absolution does not know the sins and heartaches of his people. This means that in a certain sense he cannot carry their sins and help them to carry the burden (p. 7).

THE UNIQUENESS OF CATHOLICISM . . . The Catholic Church is unique-one of a kind, because it was founded by Christ as the vehicle of salvation for all mankind. In this issue Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., no stranger to regular readers of HPR, grapples with the problem of the truth of the Catholic faith and the fact of the existence of many other religions and philosophies. God tolerates them and he desires that all men be saved, so they must be related to the Church in some way. This is a most difficult theological problem. Fr. Schall of course does not solve it but at least he spells out the problem for us (p. 13).

TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT CONTRACEPTION . . . A few years ago a pastor told me he preached on contraception twice a year and as a result one third of his flock deserted the parish and went to other parishes where they would not hear what the Church teaches. In this issue Fr. James Buckley, F.S.S.P., spells out clearly and briefly the Church's teaching on artificial contraception. He also emphasizes the obligation of bishops and priests to preach the truth about this doctrine, whether the parishioners want to hear about it or not. In this he follows Jesus who preached the truth and "tough love," regardless of the consequences for himself (p. 22).

CAN WE NOW CONSOLE JESUS THEN? . . . An enduring element in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the consolation we can offer to him now, which was foreseen by him then during his passion, by our prayers and penances. Some modern theologians have down-played this. Mr. Robert A. Stackpole is writing his doctoral thesis on this matter and offers us some of his reflections. A key point in all of this has to do with the consciousness of Christ and whether or not he had divine foreknowledge of each one of us. Many popes and saints think that he did (p. 27).