Some might wonder why St. Francis de Sales devotes attention to how one's recreation activities affect his or her spiritual life. Everyone needs recreation after all and, as long as one stays away from the most hideous forms of activity, one should have free rein in deciding how to spend one's free time. Right?

Francis is quick to agree that everyone needs recreation. "It is undoubtedly a defect," he writes in his Introduction to the Devout Life, "to be so strict, ill-bred, uncouth and austere as neither to take recreation ourselves nor to allow it to others." Every person needs to relax both mind and body.

During Pope Benedict's trip to Germany last month, he raised the question of who may enter the kingdom of God. In a homily during a Mass in Freiburg in Breisgau, the pope said some agnostics – those "who are constantly exercised by the question of God, those who long for a pure heart but suffer on account of their sin" – are closer to God's kingdom than are believers whose life of faith is routine and who see the Church as mainly an institution.

The pope raised this matter, not to incite our curiosity about who is going to heaven and who is not, but to challenge us to a deeper faith.

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

Our world thinks it understands sex. It doesn't. Moreover it is beginning to ignore and even disdain how Christianity views sexuality.

We are paying a price for this, mostly without consciously realizing it: Sex, outside of its proper containers – respect, unconditional commitment and love – isn't bringing more joy into our lives, but is leaving us more fragmented and lonely.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 30, 2011

RALPH HIMSL

The Gospel readings for recent Sundays have Jesus engaged in discussions with priests, scribes, elders and Pharisees - community leaders in Jerusalem. He berates them in personal confrontations.

Even in their absence, as in today's Gospel, he discusses their failings in a forthright manner. He acknowledges their intimate knowledge of the law - the scribes for example, made copies of its texts and so knew them well. But their failure to live by its requirements drew Jesus' ire.

BISHOP FRED HENRY

With more than 100 religious leaders in attendance on Oct. 3, International Affairs Minister John Baird opened formal consultation on the creation of an Office of Religious Freedom.

The office's mandate is intended to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief, consistent with Canadian values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The office will operate within the department of foreign affairs and international trade.

GORDON SELF

Those visiting the new statue on the Alberta Legislature grounds recognizing the historic contribution of the Catholic sisters in our province may experience what I did when I first looked up at the stained glass plate in the hands of the bronze figure.

The sister's face is framed in one of the central glass panels focusing an array of warm light around the statue. Seeing her face in this light underscores the creative vision of artist Herman Poulin who attests the sisters' work as one of service, reflecting ultimately the light and compassion of Christ.

Slowly and carefully, the Vatican is setting the stage for the third edition of the interreligious "prayer for peace" encounter in the Italian pilgrimage town of Assisi.

The widening campaign by U.S. gay rights advocates to promote same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue is forcing Catholic and other religious institutions to confront charges of intolerance and discrimination.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon inaugurated the new Plaza Mariana Oct. 12 adjacent to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but credit for rescuing the project from budgetary and political problems went to the world's richest man, Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu.

Pastors are responsible for continually educating the people in the faith, because otherwise they could "lose the vineyard," Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said during the Oct. 3-6 annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Priests.