Ellen Kolb

What’s a “niche” issue?

The most recent edition of the New Hampshire Sunday News featured an op-ed column from a gentleman well-known in New Hampshire political circles. The headline cheerfully blared “Senate GOP puts NH families first”. The column went on to list the policy priorities announced by leaders of the New Hampshire Senate majority at a recent press conference.

Something was missing. In the words of the columnist, “Absent from their agenda are niche ideological issues and special interest appeals.” I assume that the columnist and the senators are relegating the right to life to one of those niches.

Tough luck, ladies and gentlemen. The minority party has already introduced legislation to lock abortion into the New Hampshire constitution and statutes. There’s also a bill to repeal the Fetal Life Protection Act altogether. The right to life is on your agenda whether you like it or not. If you think stressing the economy is going to get you past that fact, take a look at the last midterm election.

Read the rest of the post at Leaven for the Loaf.

Header image by Piro/Pixabay.

A thought for the new year from St. Josemaria Escriva

It’s New Year’s Day. I usually celebrate it by going on a hike and then watching some football on TV, and this year is no exception. Fifty-degree weather in northern New England on the first of the year? Yes, please. But Mass came first.

As a Catholic, I celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God today. It’s also the World Day of Peace. That’s a lot of freight for one date to carry.

St. Josemaria Escriva is up to the task.

We have to fight – a fight of peace – against evil, against injustice, against sin. Thus do we serve notice that the present condition of man is not definitive.
St. Josemaria Escriva, collected in Christ is Passing By: Homilies, escrivaworks.org

There’s a challenge, a reminder, and reassurance all at once.

May you know blessings in this new year!

For my fellow NH hikers: Hike Safe

I’m distressed at news of a Christmas Eve hike gone terribly wrong upstate. A rescue attempt became a recovery mission. First responders and volunteers put their own lives on hold and at risk to come after a lost hiker. I might wonder how a hiker could have made this-or-that bad decision, but I’m reluctant to point fingers, having made enough foolish decisions on my own less-ambitious hikes.

I’m left with two thoughts: gratitude to rescuers, and a plea to my fellow Granite State hikers to purchase a Hike Safe card.

May the hiker who never made it home rest in peace.