Everett Jenkins 2018

The following email was originally posted on August 16, 2018 Michael, The internet can be a wonderful tool ... and educational as well.  Taking up your challenge, this is what I found just this morning about the decanonization of saints https://abcnews.go.com/International/saint-saint-kind-demoted/story?id=23477573 and this article shows how, in the 21st century, the canonization process has indeed changed http://theconversation.com/who-becomes-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-and-is-that-changing-81011 And so, Michael, it does appear to beg the question as to whether, over time, certain saints may be decanonized because the process for their selection may have been flawed. Any thoughts? Peace, Everett "Skip" Jenkins Class of 1975 P.S. Also, please note that from a Protestant perspective, the notion of saints has become broader to where all who call themselves "Christian" may be considered to be a saint https://www.livingluth...

The following email was originally posted on August 14, 2018 The story that most appalled me today was the report emanating from Pennsylvania that identifies more than 1000 victims of Catholic priest abuse committed by some 300 priests https://abc11.com/religion/report-identifies-more-than-1000-child-victims-of-catholic-priest-abuse/3957556/ This story is particularly appalling because it could have been prevented if action had been taken earlier https://www.thenation.com/article/shame-john-paul-ii-how-sex-abuse-scandal-stained-his-papacy/ I wonder, given these revelations, and the increased social awareness of such issues during the #MeToo era, should the beatification and canonization for Pope John Paul II be rescinded?  Can one still be considered a saint when so much damage to children occurred during one's stewardship over the church? I wonder. Peace, Everett "Skip" Jenkins

The following email was originally posted on August 8, 2018 Today, August 8, is celebrated by some as "Happiness Happens Day".   https://anydayguide.com/calendar/3304 I suppose in the grand scheme of things, a day devoted to letting happiness happen may seem a bit frivolous.  But, for the last few minutes, just thinking about, and writing about, a day that is devoted to making happiness happen has... dare I say it ... made me happy.  And so, in an effort to see if maybe happiness can be spread, I send to each of you this email and I pray that you too will take a moment to let happiness happen for you. Peace, Everett "Skip" Jenkins

The following email was originally posted on August 7, 2018 This week is Nuclear War Remembrance Week.  It is an unofficial week on most calendars but on my Amherst calendar, it holds a special place to remember what happened on this week some 73 years ago and to reflect on why we must do everything we can to make sure that it never happens again. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki It also is a time when I can reflect on those who survived the bombing and listen to their stories  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/31/japan-atomic-bomb-survivors-nuclear-weapons-hiroshima-70th-anniversary And it is especially important to remember the only "officially" recognized survivor of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Tsutomi Yamaguchi https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/world/asia/07yamaguchi.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi and to pray that the message of his life, the purpose of his survival, wo...

The following email was originally posted on August 3, 2018 Most may have paid little attention to the recent passing of the world's oldest person, Chiyo Miyako, the Japanese woman known by those who are close to her as the "goddess" https://nationalpost.com/news/world/worlds-oldest-person-a-japanese-woman-dies-at-117 Those of you who did pay attention may not have noticed that the woman who was the oldest woman before Miyako was Nabi Tajima, another Japanese woman who lived to be 117, and that the woman who succeeded Miyako as the world oldest woman is Kane Tanaka, another Japanese woman who happens to be a spry 115.  Oh, and by the way, the world's oldest man is a 113 year old whippersnapper by the name of Masazo Nonaka, another citizen of Japan. The notoriety of these four should come as no surprise since the Japanese are the longest living people on earth ... and perhaps in all of history. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/26/health/japan-centenarian-l...