Catholic Church closures
It saddens me to see once vibrant Catholic parishes having to close in the Dubuque Archdiocese. It’s a combination of too few parishioners and too few priests to justify keeping the churches going. This phenomenon is a growing problem, partially caused by the demographic winter that will eventually impact every phase of society.
This demographic winter is the result of historically low birth rates of 1.57 children per woman in the United States (United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025). A birth rate of 2.1 is required to maintain a population. The demographic winter will eventually impact schools, universities, Social Security, Medicare, and every major institution.
You may ask the question, “why are these low birth rates occurring, and what can be done about it?” This same question is being asked by the United Nations, and virtually every nation on earth. The answer and solution are very simple. Catholic teaching on marriage and human sexuality is the key to reversing the demographic winter, and restoring the sanctity of all human life. Holy marriages bring forth holy children. Holy children lead to holy priests and future holy parents. Holiness flows forth from sacrificial and sacramental love. Sacrificial and sacramental love are found in the body and blood of Jesus in the holy Eucharist.
Reversing the downward spiral of falling birthrates will require a spiritual renewal and reawaking in our nation and throughout the world. Let us turn back to the Holy Trinity with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. The God of life will bless our homes and fill them with the gift of children. God is simply waiting for us to open the door.
Mike Gannon
Milford, Iowa
Abortion and the rosary
The tomb is empty, but unfortunately modern day Calvary exists where babies are murdered. Abortion is at the root of everything that plagues our broken world.
When a society deems it okay to kill a defenseless, innocent life it can’t morally survive. “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion,” said St. Mother Teresa. Unfortunately, the disregard for the sacredness of every human life has made it okay that 13 states and Washington, D.C. have laws supporting assisted suicide. What are we doing?
In the past few weeks we got horrible news. Planned Parenthood released its annual report showing it killed a staggering 434,450 babies in abortions last year. That’s a record number of babies killed. That’s 1,190 precious babies killed every single day. Our society is infinitely worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. It is amazing that we are still standing.
Our Blessed Mother has told us many times that the rosary is the answer to healing our broken world. When will we listen to her? We need to pray the rosary daily for the conversion, healing and forgiveness of our country. Let us make a commitment to Our Blessed Mother and to each other to daily pray the rosary. As we near the month of May, the month of Our Blessed Mother, let us give her the gift of praying the daily Rosary to end her tears as she sees precious children being aborted.
Paul S. Breitbach
St. Wenceslaus Parish, Iowa City
