Now I get it...

A few months ago, I was invited to join the Chicago Tribune's panel of guest religion bloggers. I got my superiors' permission to accept (you'll even find my picture and a brief bio on the Tribune site), but so far I haven't had anything published. The religion editor (who is also the religion writer) didn't quite explain the procedure. I thought I was supposed to make occasional contributions, and as the only Catholic on the list, I feel more than a little anxious lest my contributions be counterproductive! But I sent in something a few weeks ago (on the editor's suggestion) and then again this morning.
Finally, though, I get how this works.
The editor sends an email to all the bloggers, suggesting a particular news item that could use the various perspectives of the churches, synagogues and secular humanist fellowships. Then a variety of perspectives on that one (or some closely related) topic are offered on the religion blog.
Well, in one way that lets me off the hook. Most of the topics are so far out of my range of experience that I really have very little to offer. (That doesn't let me off the hood for finding something to offer by way of calling up Catholic leaders...something else I am realizing today.)
On the other hand, in so many things, the Catholic "take" comes from such a different worldview, that it very well could be that the things I would most be in a position to write about (today's topic, as posted below, for instance) would be the things that are least likely to be asked for--because just about everyone else is in agreement among themselves and with the culture.
At least I get how this works, now. And I can be on the lookout for those topics about which I am personally clueless--because if I'm going to be the Catholic voice on the Tribune, it's important that I get the Catholic perspective out there.
Pray for that, won't you?