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WASHINGTON – Proposed regulations protecting the conscience rights of individuals and health care institutions are especially needed in light of the “growing hostility on the part of some professional organizations and advocacy groups” to those rights, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in public comments to the Department of Health and Human Services.

NEW YORK – The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees both have agreed to be guest speakers at the Al Smith dinner Oct. 16 in New York, the Archdiocese of New York announced Sept. 17.

The Baltimore Sun delivered the good news last week that six Maryland elementary schools were granted the prestigious “Blue Ribbon” award, issued by the United States Department of Education each year to approximately 300 schools nationwide and widely considered the highest honor that an American school can achieve.

Both of these things can be said, at the same time, about most current news, not only the November election, but also the hurricane season, and the baseball season. The best feature, at this writing, about all three is that they will end, unlike the tragic wars in the Middle East, which do threaten to linger and the edginess in the economy.

“Father Joe, I went to my funeral last week!” said Liz. Now I’ve been part of a lot of funerals. And I’ve talked to a lot of people. But I’ve never talked to anyone who attended his or her own funeral!

Friday is pizza day in the cafeteria at St. John Regional School in Frederick, where for years students loved the taste of the school-made pie.

“This is where we used to have band practice.”