Feedback.What the church teaches me about caring for my body is ... That my body allows me to be Christ's hands, eyes, and voice now, in this time. I need to care for my physical self to be a Christian. Barbara Frank Spring Green, Wis. The church tends to place a great deal of focus on sexual purity. Our sexuality is very important, but I can't recall a homily homily (hŏm`əlē), type of oral religious instruction delivered to a church congregation. In the patristic period through the Middle Ages the focus of the homily was on the explanation and application of texts read or sung during the about obesity, gluttony Gluttony See also Greed. Belch, Sir Toby gluttonous and lascivious fop. [Br. Lit.: Twelfth Night] Biggers, Jack one of the best known “feeders” of eighteenth-century England. [Br. Hist. , or sloth sloth (slōth, slôth), arboreal mammal found in Central and South America distantly related to armadillos and anteaters. Sloths live in tropical forests, where they sleep, eat, and travel through the trees suspended upside down, clinging to . Sandy Stafford Moscow, Idaho Moscow (Pronounced (US) enPR: /mäskō/, IPA: /mɑskoʊ/ ) is the county seat of Latah CountyGR6 in north Idaho, along the Washington/Idaho border. If it feels good--don't do it! Name withheld Bartlett, Texas Bartlett is a city mostly in Williamson County, Texas, United States and partially in Bell County, Texas. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census, and 1,701 in the 2005 census estimate. Geography Bartlett is located at (30. To be more concerned for my soul than my body. Jim Berg James Arland Berg (b. 1952) is a writer on biblical topics, especially counseling, discipleship, and Christian growth. Berg was reared in a working-class home in South Dakota, where he did farm chores, worked in a restaurant, and learned to trouble-shoot machinery with his father. Rhinelander, Wis. It's the temple of the Holy Spirit--but I never remember that when I'm staring at a pizza or homemade chocolate chip Chocolate chips are small chunks of chocolate. They are often sold in a round, flat-bottomed teardrop shape (similar to a Hershey's Kiss). They are available in numerous sizes, from large to miniature, but are usually around 1 cm in diameter. cookies! Name withheld Clinton Township Clinton Township can refer to:
The most important way I care for my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit is ... By recognizing our responsibility to be good stewards of our body and the gifts we have been given. To focus on actions that can enhance both our physical and spiritual well-being spiritual well-being, n a sense of peace and contentment stemming from an individual's relationship with the spiritual aspects of life. . Fred Heinzelmann Vienna, Va. To attend daily Mass and receive the Eucharist. Carol A. Serafin Ligonier, Pa. Doing my best in its care, but not putting the shape of my body and my appearance before real issues. Vanity can be sinful, too. Name withheld Beaumont, Texas Beaumont is a city and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas and is within the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 113,866. Trying to balance obligations: family, exercise, mental and physical recreation, spirituality. Mary Theresa Freund Alma, Mich. As a vegetarian, I'm conscious of the fact that eating lower on the food chain is more in line with the way most of the rest of the world eats and is less cruel to animals as well. Rosemarie Molik Buffalo, N.Y. The body should be cared for in a holistic manner using moderation and common sense. Joy Rebello Hoschton, Ga. I feel guilty about eating when ... Sometimes when I let a few extra pounds slip in and I get upset with it, I wonder if I'm just buying into the whole culture of "thin is in" or if it's really because of social justice issues or not respecting my "temple." Sue Miller Frenchburg, Ky. I am aware that I often eat for gratification rather than hunger. Ann Castiglione Menomonee Falls Menomonee Falls (mənŏm`ənē), village (1990 pop. 26,840), Waukesha co., SE Wis., on the Menominee River; inc. 1892. Wire, metal, paper, concrete, plumbing fixtures, furniture, fiberglass products, machine tools, steel, and aluminum , Wis. It seems I am always struggling with my weight and overeating overeating eating too much food too quickly; leads to acute gastric dilatation in dogs and horses, acute carbohydrate engorgement in ruminants, dietetic (dietary) diarrhea in young calves and foals, abomasal tympany in bottle fed lambs and calves. , and I feel guilty about having so much when others are starving. Name withheld Centennial, Colo. The most serious consequence of our society having lost the spiritual dimension of eating is ... Instead of using meals to refresh body and soul in sharing nourishment and relationship, we use food for escape, reward, punishment, or to feed addiction, and others' needs are ignored. Marilita Lorenz Joliet, Ill. Taking food for granted, not seeing food as a gift, and failing to be thankful and to protect the earth from which the food comes. Jackie Loth Omaha, Neb. We eat alone, quickly, and all the time. It is no longer a special time to come together and share. Mary Styers Choctaw, Okla. Neglect of the poor. Augustine Loes Lincroft, N.J. We have lost the sense that we have "enough." We "need" bigger and bigger houses, cars, and supersized food portions. We are wasteful and much food is thrown away. We demand too much while others go hungry. Mary Romero Morro Bay, Calif. Unnecessary disease. Ronald Cole Scarsdale, Ore. It is an amoral a·mor·al adj. 1. Not admitting of moral distinctions or judgments; neither moral nor immoral. 2. Lacking moral sensibility; not caring about right and wrong. issue to many in our society. Father John J. Blazek, C.S.C. Gates Mills, Ohio One way to recover the spiritual significance between food and eating is ... To begin and end meals with prayer, and to share meals with family and/or friends as often as possible. Rita M. Bottei South Bend South Bend, city (1990 pop. 105,511), seat of St. Joseph co., N Ind., on the great south bend of the St. Joseph River, in a farming and mint-growing region; inc. as a city 1865. , Ind. To try to grow more of our own food ourselves, like a small vegetable garden. Carrie Arnold Green Bay, Wis. Making healthy food affordable and accessible to all, not just those who can afford to shop at Whole Foods, a.k.a. "whole paycheck." Claire Garcia Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. , Colo. We are spoiled in this country. We have so much variety available in foods. Maybe the church's idea of fasting is wise! Alvera Sams Findlay, Ohio Make the simple act of food preparation holy. Prepare and cook with the idea that it is our gift to those we serve. Name withheld Dana Point, Calif. To realize that Jesus gave us his body and blood to nourish us. What Jesus offers us nourishes our spiritual life. If we would see our spiritual bodies as being more important, or at least just as important, we would approach the table of the Lord more frequently. Father Joe Tomei, C.S.C. Austin, Texas To eat to live, and not live to eat. Joe Schmitt Kalamazoo, Mich. General Comments I feel we have many more important issues to confront in our church. Edward J. Bonnes Ridley Park, Pa. The church does little to support healthy eating. Too many times at gatherings it's doughnuts or unhealthy foods rather than fresh fruit and vegetables. The church needs to offer "exercise and spirit" sessions--taking care of our bodies and our minds. Nina Heinzinger Helena, Mont. Gluttony and sloth may be sins, but I believe emphasis should be put on the exercise of virtues: the practice of temperance (moderation in all things) and fortitude (when it would be easier to be lazy). Mary Sue Gates Hiram, Ohio Fat should not be the measure. The measure should be the use of food, our dependence on it for happiness. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , do we make food god? Brian Geffre Moorhead, Minn. Obesity rates are higher in minority and poor populations. The "why" of this is a "life" concern for Catholics. Perhaps the "sin" of obesity lies not in the obese person but in the social structure that allows obesity to happen. Pat Janevic Ann Arbor, Mich. I believe the sin of gluttony is, or has, a flip side Flip side In the context of general equities, opposite side to a proposition or position (buy, if sell is the proposition and vice versa). . I also know people who are obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with being in shape and spend countless hours working out and exercising. I believe any activity that is overdone o·ver·done v. Past participle of overdo. Adj. 1. overdone - represented as greater than is true or reasonable; "an exaggerated opinion of oneself" exaggerated, overstated and takes away from our relationship with God is sinful. Cathy Hawkins Monroe, Wash. Have you ever seen a picture of an overweight Jesus? Is that just a coincidence? Babs Pivonka Panama City, Fla. AND THE SURVEY SAYS ...
1. At least in some cases, I think it
is a sin to be fat.
Agree 61%
Disagree 22%
Other 17%
2. I see the issue of overeating as
connected to the social justice
issue of some people who don't
have enough to eat.
Agree 58%
Disagree 30%
Other 12%
3. The growing obesity of Americans,
including Catholics, is a
spiritual issue our church should
address.
Agree 60%
Disagree 25%
Other 15%
Representative of "other":
"It is not necessarily obesity but the
motives that drive us to overeat (or
undereat) that the church should
address."
4. I have to watch my weight and I
see it as ...
65% A holistic issue with
physical, spiritual,
and psychological
dimensions.
16% A purely physical issue.
16% I don't have to watch my
weight.
3% Other.
5. I don't think Jesus cares at all
what I weigh.
Agree 46%
Disagree 36%
Other 18%
Representative of "other":
"I believe that Jesus cares about
how I care for my body."
6. Sometimes I feel guilty about my
weight or eating.
Agree 62%
Disagree 33%
Other 5%
These results are based on survey
responses from 158 U.S. CATHOLIC
readers and website visitors.
Note: Table made from bar graph.
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