"You are tenacious. I love a woman who won't give up." William Luse 6/1/04
"Kudos also to Elena, who proved that she can take it as well as she can dish it." TSO 6/4/04
"the wonderful Elena" Nathan Nelson 8/1/04
"Elena, I quake at the sound of your name" John B-Catholic Packer Fan 8-12-04
"I like your writing and your spunk." Todd Flowerday, Catholic Sensibility 11-8-04
"Elena is is so many shades of stupid they don't make a Crayola box big enough to begin coloring her" Anonymous TWA blog 2/05
"Well, Elena cuts to the chase. Says it like it is and doesn't mince her words." Alexa of Domestic Excellence
"Elena, a woman I have little in common with but have come to be fond of" Cecily Kellog 9/15/05
"I work nonstop to help people with stupidly limited perspectives, like you, accept this reality. Even when it’s hopeless, like in your case. You live in a fantasy. I can’t help you" Also Cecily Kellog 07/2020
"Your witness is horrendous" JCecil of Liberal Catholic News
"Truth, love, charity, and, oh yeah, sensitivity, decorum, good taste and a dollop of wit. That's more like it. Keep rockin'!" PMC 12/05
"I've also been reading this blog for some time and just noticed I hadn't added you to my favorite blogs. Done!" The Mighty Barrister 5/21/04
"Now go haul your huge, sagging, obese, smelly old body out of the chair and take care of those kids of yours before I call CPS and have them do an inspection and see what you're really up to when you're supposed to be homeschooling them." NMH 2006
"That you are one narcissistic, bizaare individual." Jill Filipovic on Feministe Blog September 2006
"I could certainly continue to go back and forth (and believe me, I would love to!!!!!), but that would be answering a fool according to his folly." Amy-anti-Catholic blogger at Blessed Motherhood 7/07/07!
"Where's Elena? We need Elena." Kathryn the Daring Young Mom 2/17/06
"I have no problem with Elena. I find her answers to be quite lucid, witty, and insightful." David B commenting on In Today's News 10/29/05
"She's not cranky, she just senses happiness and snuffs it out." Gabe, age 9, after being scolded for not being ready for swim practice. 12/0
"you are one narcissistic, bizaare, individual." Jill Filipovic 9/11/2006
"Elena of My Domestic Church get’s my nomination for living a life of loveliness that I could only ever dream of. She’s an awesome wife and mother, a deeply committed Catholic, a proponent of pro-life issues, a hands on make-and-bake-and-cut-and-stick-musical-momma, a prayerful, compassionate, thoughtful and passionate woman who endeavours to live a christocentric life in her own euphonious way. Yes, I am proud to know her as a blog buddy and sharing in her trials and her triumphs via reading her blog over the last few years has impacted me more than she could know… and always for the better." Deb from Ukok's Place 08/2007
"I have a feeling elena never moves on from anything. other than the couch to the fridge." 08/2007 commenter on the now defunct Rock Star Mommy Blog.
"I think you're a shrew." Anne Basso 7/08
"Even with our differences, I will say one thing--she's smart. I may not always agree with what she says, but she doesn't spout unsupported garbage as fact." Ruthjoec aka JAnn from AOL Catholic message boards and This That and the Other Thing Blog
"I was wrong. You were right. God bless you" T from LO2W blog 3/6/2008
"As a Catholic Mother myself, I enjoy reading My Domestic Church. It's one of the many blogs that I follow and read regularly. It's refreshing to read comments from a mother that shares your views. So much of what Elena has me nodding my head in agreement. I'm sure that any Catholic-Mother will enjoy reading Elena's blog." SAMinIL on Blog Catalog 9/09
"Because of my interest in Benedictine spirituality and monasticism, began reading about the Domestic Church. This site is an excellent resource. Like any good family it is alive with energy and the Holy Spirit." John on Blog Catalog 12/08
"I watched your talk on YouTube and thought you and your husband did a wonderful job. Very natural, not stilted. Your account of your child, Raphael's, life and death were extremely touching and profound." Eileen via e-mail 02/21/2010
"Happy Easter to you Elena! Four years ago I discovered Candy. Two years ago I discovered you. Last night (Easter Vigil) I was received into full communion with the Catholic Church. It was a beautiful night and one I will remember forever. Thanks to you and Kelly for clearing up any confusion there may be about what the Church believes, teaches, and proclaims. Have a blessed Easter season!" From a VTC reader. 05/2010
"Elena, You completely 'foul up' the catechism. I repeat you are a nice lady, but your lack of education and knowledge, as your distorted answers show," Jack from Liberal Catholic Sports Music 1/9/2009
"you repeatedly impress me. I know we have very different political views that show up in our comments to each other at times, but I have never once felt anything but generosity from you toward who I am." JB via e-mail 7/23/2010
"The post I really love, though is 28 Things I Learned About Marriage in 28 Years at My Domestic Church. In fact, it's so good I plan to show it on the first day of class for my Family and Society course this." Sister Edith at Monastic Musings
Elena was animated, enthusiastic, faith shined through! She was very real. For us, she was relatable and so honest and open. She motivated us the most and we are thankful that she shared so much of her personal life to show example. some PreCana evals from 2014
"you never cease to amaze me, and everyone else! You are unbelievably unforgettably wow! I'm so blessed to be your cousin and friend. Dan - My domestic cousin 5/2014
"Elena: A flute could never sound or feel so etherial as when you play." Marissa
"Your comments are continually provoking, idiotic and condescending" my nephew 11/2018
" As a mom of littles, I really appreciate moms like you tackling these tough issues and sharing your wisdom!" Laura commenting on Catholicmom 06/2019
"Thanks so much for a thoughtful article faithful to the teachings of our faith, while being compassionate towards gay people."Tim commenting on Catholicmom dot com 06/2019
"Grandma, snuggle me!" - My domestic granddaughter 2017
"When Elena turns the other cheek, it's so she can whip around the other side with full force!" Mr. Pete My Domestic Husband!
She seems to have spent a lot of time thinking about how the Church is wrong, all while feeling pretty proud of her seriously ignorant claims about Saint Peter!
Having grown up Catholic, I can tell you that I never once had any misunderstanding about who Jesus Christ was, or about his standing amongst the Saints. It never occurred to me that Mary was equal or greater than the Lord Himself, but through her, a girl, a mother, a woman, and a wife, I am brought closer to the mystery of Jesus Christ. To get so hung up on the size of the statues speaks more to this woman’s need to find problems with the institution that employs her.
It is so frustrating when people seem to purposely misunderstand the truth.
I’m not sure that “hypocrite” is an accurate description of this sort of conflict of interest. A Catholic teacher could certainly have the same concern: that these kids are fixated on the externals with insufficient attention to the interior life.
Perhaps the teacher did not accept the job under false pretenses. Perhaps the teacher was genuinely ignorant of Catholicism and only now, after seeing the Faith practiced close up, wants out.
Yet, the attitude towards Peter and his (pre-resurrection, remember!) denial of the Lord belies such charitable speculation.
Eventually everyone interacts with people of differing faith … or no faith. Having their religious practices questioned and even challenged – but not disparaged – ultimately benefits them.
I continue to listen to George Harrison … he’s (was) an amazingly holy person. His songs are not for the celebration of the Eucharist, ‘though. No, of course not.
Theresa, I don’t disagree with your position. (If I remember correctly Harrison converted back to Catholicism before his death.)
However I do think that kids in formation do not need to be challenged in their beliefs. They are not in the season of their lives for it, particularly in being challenged from their teachers.
Come to think of it though, I have also read accounts of Catholic kids who made it all the way to college, only to lose their faith the first semester in college by attending the class of a liberal socialist and being swayed away from the faith.
I guess my real point is that parents pay a lot of money and sacrifice greatly to send their children to Catholic schools so that their faith can be nurtured and grown, not nipped in the bud by a teacher with anti-Catholic leanings. And if the teacher was truly unsure of how she felt about Catholicism in the first place, why the heck did the administration hire her!? I guess the school administration can share the hypocrisy label in calling itself Catholic but not carefully screening their teaching staff!
I guess my real point is that parents pay a lot of money and sacrifice greatly to send their children to Catholic schools so that their faith can be nurtured and grown
I wish I could agree with you about the above statement, but all too often, at least around here, I don’t think that’s the reason the parents are making that sacrifice. Even our old pastor once said to those of us who taught religion classes “Thank God for the parents of your students. Despite whatever weaknesses of faith they have, they are bringing their kids here BECAUSE you are teaching them the Catholic faith. We have kids in the schoool who are there DESPITE the fact that they are taught the faith”.
For other reasons we are thinking of switching my son from a Catholic school to a public school next year. I wish I could say that the lack of religion classes in the public school gave me reason to pause, but, to say the least, I’m quite unimpressed with the religon classes in the Catholic school–and his teacher is a sister.
Hi Elena! My daughters attend Catholic School, and I would be angered to no end if a teacher such as this were at their school. Hopefully this teacher has been honest with the school administration about her personal distaste for the teachings of Catholicism and the staff is taking measures to limit her participation in the religious formation of her students. For her to be anything but completely upfront in her feelings is dishonest and unfair to the Parish, the school administration, the students, and the parents. But judging by her “secret” posting, it sounds like she may have been less than forward in her dissatisfaction. Sigh.
There is one teacher at my daughter’s school who is not Catholic. She does NOT teach religion class, and I have been very impressed at how respectful she is to the Catholic faith despite the fact that she does not practice it. She is a wonderful teacher, and the school is richer for having her there. She is proof that you don’t have to be Catholic to be a good teacher in a Catholic school and that you can be respectful of beliefs that are different from your own.
Just my two cents. 🙂