New Advent: Evil, be thou my goodRUTLER: On April 26, President Obama, the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood, not only thanked that organization which aborts around 300,000 children a year, but added, “God bless you.” Evil, be thou my good.
On June 13, Nancy Pelosi said that the abortion issue is “sacred ground.” Evil, be thou my good.
On June 20, a New York Times Op-Ed contributor described the aborting of her 23-week-old son, who had a heart defect: “I felt my son’s budding life end as a doctor inserted a needle through my belly into his tiny heart. As horrible as that moment was — it will live with me forever — I am grateful. We made sure our son was not born only to suffer. He died in a warm and loving place, inside me.” Evil, be thou my good.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Old texts reveal what people in the Middle Ages named their pets
Medieval Pet Names: People in the Middle Ages did keep pets – dogs, cats, birds, monkeys and many other kinds of animals. Although they often had particular duties – i.e. hunting or catching rats – there are many accounts that showed affection and love between these pets and their owners.
Scattered in various texts and remains from the Middle Ages, one can find that people gave names to their pets.
Scattered in various texts and remains from the Middle Ages, one can find that people gave names to their pets.
An in-depth look at Google's massive global mapping operation
An In-Depth Look At Google Maps - Business Insider: Are you planning a holiday to North Korea? Probably not. But if you are, your job will be a lot easier now that Google Maps covers the place. You could, if you like, use it to navigate your way from Yongbyon nuclear site, along Nuclear Test Road (as it is, apparently, called) and to Camp 22, one of the many scenic prison-labour camps along the country’s border with China.
Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus: "Discern God's voice and follow it courageously, following the example of Pope Benedict XVI"
Pope Francis: Sunday Angelus (full text): Pope Francis prayed the Angelus on Sunday with faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square. In remarks before the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, the Holy Father spoke of the conscience as the interior space in which we can listen to and hear the truth, the good, the voice of God. Pope Francis praised his predecessor, Benedict XVI, as a model of docile attention to the voice of one’s conscience. “Pope Benedict XVI has given us a great example in this sense,” he said. “When the Lord had made it clear, in prayer, what was the step he had to take, he followed, with a great sense of discernment and courage, his conscience, that is the will of God speaking to his heart.” Below, please find Vatican Radio’s translation of the Holy Father’s remarks.
10 things you need to know today: June 30, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 30, 2013 - The Week: The EU accuses the NSA of spying, the Tour de France enters its second stage, and more
5 disciplines of discipleship: A meditation on the Sunday Gospel
Five Disciplines of Discipleship – A Meditation on the Gospel for the 13th Sunday of the Year � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: The Gospel today portrays for us some disciplines that are important for disciples. They are portrayed in the life of Jesus, but are to be applied by us. Lets look at them each in turn. The text says, When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, [Jesus] resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Has a gay pedophile prostitution ring been discovered at the Vatican?
Has a gay pedophile prostitution ring been discovered at the Vatican? (8 things you need to know) |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: A few days ago, the Catholic blogosphere began buzzing with the sensational charge that a prostitution ring involving homosexual pedophiles had been discovered at the Vatican. The initial claim was that there was a former priest who applied to the Holy See to be reinstated to the priesthood, though he had been convicted of pedophilia and sent to prison.
Is this true?
Or is it one more case of people running amok with rumors?
Here are 8 things you need to know
Is this true?
Or is it one more case of people running amok with rumors?
Here are 8 things you need to know
Photos: Mother Mary Wendy, superior of the Sisters of Reparation, bags her first deer...
Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Blog: "Mother is putting food on the table for the Sisters: she shot her first deer using our nuisance permit"
The bronze toes of St. Peter
Peter’s ToesSCHIFFER: In the Middle Ages, pilgrims who made the arduous trip to Rome to visit St. Peter’s Basilica gazed with fondness and awe upon a larger-than-life bronze statue of St. Peter. �The statue, sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century, depicted the first pope—his right hand extended to confer a blessing, while his left hand clutched the keys of the Kingdom, holding them close to his heart.
What Antarctica looks like under all that ice
What Antarctica Looks Like Under All That Ice | Mental Floss: As a child, you're taught that the South Pole sits on a continent—and the North Pole doesn't—because Antarctica has land underneath it. While you may grow to accept this distinction, it's still hard to imagine the frozen continent as anything but a giant sheet of ice.�
Depression is rampant in our culture. Here's how to get help from the saints, the sacraments, and psychiatry...
NCRegister | Depressed? Help Is Here.MCCLOSKEY: It is highly unlikely that anyone reading this review has been untouched by clinical depression, either as one who has suffered from it or as one who knows others who have.
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty (with Father John Cihak) has written a book to address clinical depression from a perspective that fully acknowledges both its biological and spiritual dimensions.
The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments and Psychiatry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again, published by Sophia Institute Press, is, as far as I know, the only book of its kind from a Catholic point of view.
This book provides a full explanation of the illness and current treatments, along with sound advice on how spiritual methods of prayer and the sacraments can assist the standard pharmacological and cognitive treatments.
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty (with Father John Cihak) has written a book to address clinical depression from a perspective that fully acknowledges both its biological and spiritual dimensions.
The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments and Psychiatry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again, published by Sophia Institute Press, is, as far as I know, the only book of its kind from a Catholic point of view.
This book provides a full explanation of the illness and current treatments, along with sound advice on how spiritual methods of prayer and the sacraments can assist the standard pharmacological and cognitive treatments.
We're not called to win arguments. We're called to love...
We're Not Called To Win Arguments, We're Called to Love |Blogs | NCRegister.comMATTARCHBOLD: A couple recently told me that they had been debating having another kid. She wanted another one and he thought they couldn't handle another. They already had two. She said she saw me and my five kids at Mass every Sunday and then she said one day the kids and I were on the sidelines of one of my kids' games right in front of them and we were laughing and talking and running around a bit. She said they watched us and they agreed to have another. I tend to think they thought that if an idiot like me could handle five children they could certainly handle three. I'm bowled over at the thought but I can't help but think that every time that child does something bad they're going to secretly blame me.
Every life is a story, a story known fully by God
Every Life is a Story, A Story Known Fully by God – A Meditation on a Moving Video � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: When my Father lay dying, I remember that one of the losses I began to grieve was that he was the keeper of many family stories. He was the one who could look at an old family photograph and tell you who they all were and something about each of them. As I saw him lying there, no longer able to talk much, I thought of all the memories stored up in his mind, all the stories, all the people he once knew and had spoken so vividly of.
And not only the family stories, but he was also a great historian and a great wellspring of the classics. He had read all the “Great Books” all of Shakespeare, all of Sacred Scripture, so many other worthy writings, and had memorized many lengthy quotes.
And not only the family stories, but he was also a great historian and a great wellspring of the classics. He had read all the “Great Books” all of Shakespeare, all of Sacred Scripture, so many other worthy writings, and had memorized many lengthy quotes.
"Servants of unity, consumed by love for Christ": Pope Francis confers pallium on 34 metropolitans
Whispers in the Loggia: "United In Our Differences: This Is the Way of Jesus" – On Peter's Day, Francis Seeks to Share the KeysPALMO: Today's feast of Saints Peter and Paul is the "Pope's Day" – the patronal feast of the bishop of Rome. Yet in marking his first 29 June as Peter's 265th successor, the first Francis to occupy the Chair kept to his own script in repeatedly veering from his prepared homily to speak of, among other things, an enhanced spirit of "synodality," or collegiality, between the Roman pontiff and the college of bishops.
Even if that prospect has already been voiced by Papa Bergoglio in other contexts, on a day where the global liturgy is centered on the Conferral of the Keys to the Prince of the Apostles – and nowhere more than at the Vatican, with the recipient's heir presiding and Bernini's statute of Peter decked out in the bygone tiara – what boils down to a papal call for wider power-sharing is especially potent.
Even if that prospect has already been voiced by Papa Bergoglio in other contexts, on a day where the global liturgy is centered on the Conferral of the Keys to the Prince of the Apostles – and nowhere more than at the Vatican, with the recipient's heir presiding and Bernini's statute of Peter decked out in the bygone tiara – what boils down to a papal call for wider power-sharing is especially potent.
10 things you need to know today: June 29, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 29, 2013 - The Week: Obama visits South Africa, Edward Snowden's father tries to bring him back home, and more
Friday, June 28, 2013
Catholics must become beacons of clarity in the confusion, a bold alternative to anyone looking for something better...
Kathryn Jean Lopez | Catholic PulseLOPEZ: Feeling liberated? I am — albeit not in exactly the same spirit people were popping champagne outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.
There’s a liberation that comes from transparency. The sun over our nation’s capitol Wednesday may have been blinding, but we can no longer be blind to where we are in American history, as a largely Catholic Supreme Court did its best to change the face of marriage in the United States this week.
Unless — like the coalition working to defeat attempts to protect the lives of 20-week-olds-and-older unborn children (and even ones born alive) — we choose denial.
There’s a liberation that comes from transparency. The sun over our nation’s capitol Wednesday may have been blinding, but we can no longer be blind to where we are in American history, as a largely Catholic Supreme Court did its best to change the face of marriage in the United States this week.
Unless — like the coalition working to defeat attempts to protect the lives of 20-week-olds-and-older unborn children (and even ones born alive) — we choose denial.
What it would look like if other planets were closer
Photographer Ron Miller creates incredible pictures of what it would look like if planets were closer | Mail Online: An astronomical artist has created eye-opening illustrations imagining what the night sky would look like if the moon was replaced by the other planets in the solar system.
Ron Miller, a former art director for NASA, used digital trickery to superimpose scale drawings of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune over the same landscape, highlighting the sheer size of the planets.
The incredible drawings imagine each planet to be 233,812 miles from Earth - the same distance at which the moon orbits.
Enormous planet Jupiter, around 11 times the size of Earth, would dominate the skies while Mars would appear to be around twice the size of the moon.
Ron Miller, a former art director for NASA, used digital trickery to superimpose scale drawings of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune over the same landscape, highlighting the sheer size of the planets.
The incredible drawings imagine each planet to be 233,812 miles from Earth - the same distance at which the moon orbits.
Enormous planet Jupiter, around 11 times the size of Earth, would dominate the skies while Mars would appear to be around twice the size of the moon.
Roman buzz: Archbishop Pietro Parolin, apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, is about to be named Secretary of State
New Vatican Secretary of State may be appointed soon :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Rumors have emerged that Archbishop Pietro Parolin, apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, will shortly be appointed as the Vatican's Secretary of State.
The move could take place as soon as June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
As the Secretary of State must technically be a cardinal, he would first be appointed pro-secretary of State, retaining his status as archbishop. He would, however, be the acting Secretary of State until a new appointment is made or until receiving the red “biretta” of the cardinal, thus taking officially the post.
The move could take place as soon as June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
As the Secretary of State must technically be a cardinal, he would first be appointed pro-secretary of State, retaining his status as archbishop. He would, however, be the acting Secretary of State until a new appointment is made or until receiving the red “biretta” of the cardinal, thus taking officially the post.
Hated the red shoes, but those pink sneakers are to die for!
Hated the Red Shoes, but Pink Sneakers are to Die For!SCALIA: When Pope Benedict XVI abdicated his papacy and was succeeded by Pope Francis, one particular fact seemed to delight the press — and Benedict-haters — more than any other: Francis was not wearing the red shoes!
Google his red shoes (once incorrectly reported and forever incorrectly misunderstood to be Prada-made) and it feels like more was written about them than Benedict’s encyclicals, his books, his travel, his kissed babies. Those red shoes drove secularists, and some Catholics crazy, and the throwing up of hands in grateful hallelujah to see them gone was evidence of one of the strangest fixations we’ve seen by press members, secular or sacred.
Google his red shoes (once incorrectly reported and forever incorrectly misunderstood to be Prada-made) and it feels like more was written about them than Benedict’s encyclicals, his books, his travel, his kissed babies. Those red shoes drove secularists, and some Catholics crazy, and the throwing up of hands in grateful hallelujah to see them gone was evidence of one of the strangest fixations we’ve seen by press members, secular or sacred.
Hobby Lobby moves forward in seeking mandate reprieve
Hobby Lobby moves forward in seeking mandate reprieve :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): A federal appeals court has paved the way for arts-and-crafts retailer Hobby Lobby to pursue an injunction that would block devastating fines while it continues its lawsuit against the federal contraception mandate.
“Today marks a milestone in Hobby Lobby’s fight for religious liberty,” said Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is defending Hobby Lobby, in a June 27 press release.
“Today marks a milestone in Hobby Lobby’s fight for religious liberty,” said Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is defending Hobby Lobby, in a June 27 press release.
Media to Wendy Davis: Remember your filibuster? That was awesome...
Media: Remember your filibuster? That was awesome.HEMINGWAY: The media gushing over Texas filibusterer Sen. Wendy Davis continues in such a way as to make Chris Farley, above, seem restrained. Davis is the woman who has halted, at least for the time being, a bill that would require Texas abortion clinics to have the same standards other ambulatory surgery centers are required to have. It would also prohibit, with some exceptions, the killing of children who had reached five or more months’ gestation. And the bill would also require abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, in case of an emergency.
The situation of the Catholic Church in America today is increasingly perilous. Let me explain why...
American Church | Catholic LaneSHAW: Nearly 40 years ago, reacting to the Supreme Court’s then-recent decision legalizing abortion as well as other social and political developments, I published a magazine article with the title “The Alienation of American Catholics.”
The point I was making was that American secular culture had lately shifted in directions radically opposed to central Catholic values and beliefs. Hence the rising sense of alienation from that culture being experienced by Catholics like me.
What I wasn’t so conscious of then was that millions of my fellow Catholics had for years been becoming part of this hostile culture–accepting and adopting as their own its world view, its value system, its patterns of behavior, even when these clashed with their Catholic faith.
The point I was making was that American secular culture had lately shifted in directions radically opposed to central Catholic values and beliefs. Hence the rising sense of alienation from that culture being experienced by Catholics like me.
What I wasn’t so conscious of then was that millions of my fellow Catholics had for years been becoming part of this hostile culture–accepting and adopting as their own its world view, its value system, its patterns of behavior, even when these clashed with their Catholic faith.
Was St. Peter the mysterious "other man" in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans?
Was Peter the "Other Man" in Rome? - A Mystery in St Paul's Romans ~ Dr. Taylor Marshall | Canterbury TalesMARSHALL: It may seem rather odd that Paul does not mention Peter’s name in his Epistle to the Romans. Protestant scholars are quick to use Peter’s absence in the Epistle to prove Peter’s absence in Rome, with an argument such as this: “If Peter had practiced his apostolic ministry in Rome, Paul would have referred to it. Since Paul did not mention Peter’s apostolic ministry in Rome, it must be the case that Peter had not been in Rome.”
Contrary to this claim let me affirm that Paul did in fact refer to Peter in his Epistle to the Romans though not by name. This should not come as a surprise to us because Paul elsewhere avoids the proper names of important people. This is the “principle of anonymity”. The New Testament authors show a general reluctance to name names concerning certain subjects.�
Contrary to this claim let me affirm that Paul did in fact refer to Peter in his Epistle to the Romans though not by name. This should not come as a surprise to us because Paul elsewhere avoids the proper names of important people. This is the “principle of anonymity”. The New Testament authors show a general reluctance to name names concerning certain subjects.�
Do Catholics need to set aside the word "marriage" and use "Holy Matrimony" exclusively?
Do we need to set aside the Word “Marriage” and use “Holy Matrimony” exclusively? � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: In the wake of the supreme court decisions of this week, I would like to return to a question I have Asked before: Are we coming to a point where we should consider dropping our use of the word “marriage?”
It is a simple fact that word “marriage” as we have traditionally known it is being redefined in our times. To many in the secular world the word no longer means what it once did and when the Church uses the word marriage we clearly do not mean what the increasing number of states mean.
It is a simple fact that word “marriage” as we have traditionally known it is being redefined in our times. To many in the secular world the word no longer means what it once did and when the Church uses the word marriage we clearly do not mean what the increasing number of states mean.
Ferment in Nigeria; Syria; the Vatican bank; and sex scandals
Ferment in Nigeria; Syria; the Vatican bank; and sex scandals | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: Perhaps it's the curmudgeon in me, but I'm always drawn to news stories that seem to upend conventional wisdom, and I award bonus points if the story challenges both liberal and conservative biases at the same time.
That quirk probably explains why I find recent developments in Nigeria's Ahiara diocese so fascinating.
In December, Pope Benedict appointed a new bishop for the diocese, located in the oil-rich south of Nigeria not far from Port Harcourt. He tapped an outsider, 50-year-old Peter Ebere Okpaleke from the Awka diocese, triggering strong protests from the Mbaise ethnic group that populates Ahiara. They wanted one of their own.
That quirk probably explains why I find recent developments in Nigeria's Ahiara diocese so fascinating.
In December, Pope Benedict appointed a new bishop for the diocese, located in the oil-rich south of Nigeria not far from Port Harcourt. He tapped an outsider, 50-year-old Peter Ebere Okpaleke from the Awka diocese, triggering strong protests from the Mbaise ethnic group that populates Ahiara. They wanted one of their own.
"Common themes surfaced again and again": The top five regrets of the dying
Top five regrets of the dying | Life and style | guardian.co.uk: There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.
Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
10 things you need to know today: June 28, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 28, 2013 - The Week: The Senate passes a sweeping immigration overhaul, protesters greet President Obama in South Africa, and more
Vatican official arrested on suspicion of corruption, Rome prosecutor says
Vatican official arrested in corruption probe , Rome prosecutor says - CNN.com: A Vatican official, a financial broker and a former secret service police officer were arrested Friday on suspicion of corruption over an alleged attempt to smuggle a huge sum of cash into Italy, Rome's prosecutor said.
The official, Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, works as a financial analyst in the Vatican office that administers Vatican-owned property.
The archdiocese of Salerno, in southern Italy, issued a statement saying media reports identifying him as a bishop there were incorrect.
The official, Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, works as a financial analyst in the Vatican office that administers Vatican-owned property.
The archdiocese of Salerno, in southern Italy, issued a statement saying media reports identifying him as a bishop there were incorrect.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
This is what I would do if I won a really big lottery: The Story Institute
xNICOLOSI: For over a century, the undisputed engine of global storytelling, Hollywood is now in a crisis. The box-office numbers are holding up but the declining number of theater-goers is masked by the constant hikes in ticket prices. The demographic span of the audience that goes into theaters is at its least diverse in Hollywood’s history. Most grown-ups rarely go to the movies any more. Fewer and fewer films become beloved of the broad cross-section of peoples and places that used to be the hallmark of Hollywood’s golden mystique. The Los Angeles-New York based entertainment industry has not only lost the love of the country and the world beyond, but more often, their offerings are met with derision and disgust. Everywhere I go people ask me, “Why don’t they make good movies any more.” The answer is, “They don’t know how.” The truth that is obvious to everyone inside Hollywood and out is that 21st Century culture has forgotten how to tell good stories.
Wait, Baltimore’s archbishop is a national voice on WHAT?
Wait, Baltimore’s archbishop is a national voice on WHAT?MATTINGLY: As one would imagine, the editorial team that produces the newspaper that lands in my front yard in the liberal environs of greater Baltimore was celebrating a great victory yesterday.
I am, of course, talking abou those U.S. Supreme Court decisions that were consistent with the newspaper’s longstanding and clearly stated editorial stance on all matters linked to gay rights.
I am, of course, talking abou those U.S. Supreme Court decisions that were consistent with the newspaper’s longstanding and clearly stated editorial stance on all matters linked to gay rights.
Where do we go from here?
Where Do We Go From Here? | Crisis MagazineRICHERT: Yesterday’s Supreme Court decisions regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8 should have come as no surprise to anyone.� The handwriting was on the wall as far back as 2004, when Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives sponsored a bill that would have removed cases involving DOMA and state laws defining marriage from consideration by the federal courts.� Article III, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to determine the limits of the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court (and, by extension, all federal courts), and the George W. Bush administration had endorsed similar legislation that removed cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance and the detention of suspected terrorists at Guantanomo Bay from consideration by the federal courts.
If Nancy Pelosi says that partial-birth abortion is “sacred”, I think it’s only right that we take her at her word...
Is Nancy Pelosi a Satanist? - AleteiaZMIRAK: If human life is cheap enough that it can snuffed out at the brink of birth, then no human choice is logically sacred. The woman whose Sex-Choice Pelosi worships was once a silent, pre-born infant fit for destruction, fair game for her mother to terminate at will. At what point did that girl attain some supernatural dignity, which renders her choices too sacrosanct for the state to mess around with, or for a Weekly Standard reporter even to ask about? It wasn’t birth—a newborn is not medically different from the late-term fetuses Pelosi would let men like Kermit Gosnell destroy. Given that Sex-Choice is the only area where Pelosi does not support the government stepping in to corral individual citizens’ activities in support of the common good, I think we have our answer: Personhood begins at puberty, at the moment when we gain the power to say yes or no in bed.
St. Peter and St. Paul, the Fathers of Great Rome
St. Peter and St. Paul, the Fathers of Great Rome | Crisis MagazineAKERS: According to early Christian traditions, Peter and Paul met again in Rome under the persecution of Nero.� They were imprisoned together in the Tullianum, Rome’s oldest prison reserved for the greatest enemies of the state.� For nine months, Peter and Paul pray, preach, and prepare for their birth into eternal life.� Little is known about this period of their lives but it must have been a time of grace for the friends to spend so much time together discussing the things of God.� Artists have rightfully been captivated by the final embrace between Christian brothers as each goes off to give the ultimate testimony of their earthly life.� Peter was crucified upside down on the western side of the Tiber River and Paul was beheaded on the eastern side perhaps in God’s Providence so that both sides of the river, the whole city, might be sanctified by their blood.
10 things you need to know today: June 27, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 27, 2013 - The Week: The Supreme Court hands landmark wins to gay-marriage supporters, Obama starts a tour of Africa, and more
Justice Antonin Scalia: "High-handed" Supreme Court has declared matrimony supporters "enemies of the human race"
Scalia: 'High-Handed' Kennedy Has Declared Us 'Enemies of the Human Race' - NationalJournal.com: Dissenting from this morning's opinion on the Defense of Marriage Act, Justice Antonin Scalia – as expected – holds nothing back.
In a ripping dissent, Scalia says that Justice Anthony Kennedy and his colleagues in the majority have resorted to calling opponents of gay marriage "enemies of the human race."
In a ripping dissent, Scalia says that Justice Anthony Kennedy and his colleagues in the majority have resorted to calling opponents of gay marriage "enemies of the human race."
The surest way to persecution is to say, “It can't happen here”
New Advent: The surest way to persecution is to say, “It can't happen here”RUTLER: We recently celebrated the joint feasts of Thomas More, who was Chancellor of England, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester. Their personalities were different in many ways, and it was almost a miracle that an Oxford man and a Cambridge man got on so well and eventually were canonized together. The Act of Succession and the Act of Supremacy were the challenges that King Henry VIII threw at them, and the saints returned the challenge. The issues were rooted in natural law: the meaning of marriage and the claims of government. These are the same issues that loom large today. Whatever our courts of law may decide about these matters, Saint Thomas says: “I am not bound, my lord, to conform my conscience to the council of one realm against the General Council of Christendom.” In 1919, G. K. Chesterton predicted with powerful precision that great as More’s witness was then, “he is not quite so important as he will be in a hundred years’ time.”
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Marriage and the Supremes: What to read
Marriage and the Supremes: What to Read: First, National Review Online‘s editorial...
Obama says he'll respect religious consciences on gay marriage. He said the same thing before the HHS mandate...
Obama says Church Consciences will Be Respected?SCALIA: This from the man who said, during his Commencement address to the University of Notre Dame: Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree…” and then (whoops!) allowed an HHS Mandate that said, essentially, “all your conscience are belong to us.” Same administration that went ahead with a suit against the Lutheran church that would have dictated to churches who they might call “minister.”
Draw near to God in the Sacramental Ocean of Mercy
The Shipwrack-Harvest: Draw Near To GodZELONIS: The girl explained the drawings to me: the first two were butterflies, while the third was a man in jail (the caption above him simply reads "bad"). She called him "evil."
She then asked me to "give them to God" (as the first one was addressed, along with her name) and had naught else to say. I thanked her, and devised a way to honor her request.
Later that evening, our Pastor, Monsignor Hartgen, would be offering Mass in honor of his fortieth anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood.
What to do with her offering was but the secondary question; the first, what to make of it!
She then asked me to "give them to God" (as the first one was addressed, along with her name) and had naught else to say. I thanked her, and devised a way to honor her request.
Later that evening, our Pastor, Monsignor Hartgen, would be offering Mass in honor of his fortieth anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood.
What to do with her offering was but the secondary question; the first, what to make of it!
Religious liberty and the "gay marriage" endgame
Religious Liberty and the Gay Marriage Endgame - NYTimes.comDOUTHAT: Since Anthony Kennedy tends to have the final say when our republic’s culture war debates reach the Supreme Court, and since it seems safe to assume where the author of Romer v. Evans and Lawrence v. Texas stands on the question of gay marriage, you can make a strong case that same-sex marriage opponents should actually be breathing a sigh of relief at today’s rulings on the issue. For now, the right to define marriage is still reserved to the states, which means that the political battle can continue — albeit amid a flood of new lawsuits inspired by some of Kennedy’s arguments�—�in jurisdictions where the national trend toward support for gay wedlock hasn’t yet overwhelmed the traditional view. This obviously matters to the hardy band of activists who still hold out hope of reversing that trend. But it also matters to the many social conservatives who assume that gay marriage’s continued advance is more or less inevitable, but who hope to build in as many protections for religious liberty as possible along the way.
I'm scared. The powers of the mass media and the state are lining up with the powers of the Culture of Death
Why I’m ScaredLONGENECKER: The reason I’m scared is that behind all of this is an irrational, demonic rage. This rage simmers behind the political arguments. It simmers beneath the “peaceful protests”. Most of all it simmers beneath what I call “the kindly mask of liberalism.” This is the smiling face of “concerned” citizens who are “saddened” by anyone who takes a conservative position. Poke their favorite cause a bit and these are the folks who come back whining about how “judgmental and harsh” one is being. These are the ones who put on their sad face and manage to summon up a wan and wounded smile with and promise in a self righteous tone to “pray for you.” Let’s call it like it is. These people are passive-aggressive. They bully you with a phoney nice-ness, but underneath is a simmering rage.
I'm Catholic, and a direct descendant of Charles Darwin
I’m a Direct Descendant of Darwin...and a Catholic | Strange Notions: "Are you related to the economist?” people sometimes ask when they see my surname. I explain that, yes, John Maynard Keynes is my great-great-uncle—his brother Geoffrey married Margaret Darwin, my great-grandmother. “So you’re related to Darwin too?” Yes, he’s my great-great-great grandfather. Eyes might fall on the cross around my neck: “And you’re a Christian?” Yes, a Catholic. “How does a Darwin end up Catholic?”
I am enough: My recovery from anorexia
I Am Enough: My Recovery from Anorexia - Made in His ImageBYRNE: Two months before graduating from eighth grade, while warming up before field hockey practice, I overheard two high school girls gossiping about a girl in my class who had a heavier build than I. Why are they speaking about her like that? That’s so cruel! My mind raced, I wonder if they talk about me like that? What if they laugh about me and think I’m fat too? I glanced down at my scuffed up oxford shoes and noticed my skirt, which was supposedly two inches too short for the school. Every morning one of the teachers reminded me, Maura, your skirt is too short. Please tell your mom to hem it or you will need to get a new one.�
12 things you need to know about the Supreme Court’s "gay marriage" decisions
12 things you need to know about the Court’s homosexual “marriage” decisions |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: Proposition 8 is a ballot initiative that amended the California state constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.
It was passed by the voters of California in 2008. The opinion of the court was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was joined by Justices Scalia, Ginsburgh, Breyer, and Kagan.
Justice Kennedy filed a dissenting opinion, and he was joined in it by Justices Thomas, Alito, and Sotomayer.
The full text of the opinions are here.
It was passed by the voters of California in 2008. The opinion of the court was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was joined by Justices Scalia, Ginsburgh, Breyer, and Kagan.
Justice Kennedy filed a dissenting opinion, and he was joined in it by Justices Thomas, Alito, and Sotomayer.
The full text of the opinions are here.
The Supreme Court's stance on gay unions is a supreme mistake
Supreme Mistake – A Response to the Supreme Court Decisions on Same-Sex Unions � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: The decisions of the Supreme Court regarding marriage today were disappointing but not surprising. Especially disappointing was the decision turning away “Proposition 8″ where California voters rejected the status of �legal marriage for same-sex attracted couples. The court seemed to set aside that proposition for technical reasons. This is not a legal blog, and hence I am not equipped to speak to legal aspects of the questions. And frankly, I am not at all certain that a Proposition 8 were it voted on again today, would pass.
With his own hand, Pope Francis targets the Vatican bank
Whispers in the Loggia: With His Own Hand, Francis Targets The BankPALMO: While much of the beat waits with bated breath for this morning's expected Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage, back in Rome, the Pope's launched a salvo on what's become one of his favorite punchlines, naming a five-member commission "in the general atmosphere of reform" to advise him on the Vatican Bank.
Like the old line goes, it's becoming ever clearer that Francis "never more serious than when [he's] joking." And to underscore his intent here, the boom was lowered in a rare "chirograph" letter – that is, a legal text drawn up by the Pope in his own handwriting.
Like the old line goes, it's becoming ever clearer that Francis "never more serious than when [he's] joking." And to underscore his intent here, the boom was lowered in a rare "chirograph" letter – that is, a legal text drawn up by the Pope in his own handwriting.
"Trust reluctantly, verify deeply": Pope Francis takes on the Vatican bank
Francis takes on Vatican bank: 'trust reluctantly, verify deeply' | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: In a move that observers describe as a clear signal of a desire for greater transparency and accountability, Pope Francis on Wednesday set up a new commission to investigate the activities of the Vatican bank and to report its findings directly to him.
Among other things, observers say the move indicates that Francis intends to take a personal interest in the bank as opposed to relying on others to make decisions in his name.
The commission is not empowered to govern the bank or to implement any reform measures, but to gather information and relay it to the pope in what's described as a "timely" fashion.
Among other things, observers say the move indicates that Francis intends to take a personal interest in the bank as opposed to relying on others to make decisions in his name.
The commission is not empowered to govern the bank or to implement any reform measures, but to gather information and relay it to the pope in what's described as a "timely" fashion.
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act, dismisses Proposition 8
Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, dismisses Prop 8 :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and the federal government must recognize “gay marriages” accepted by individual states.
The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act – known as DOMA – “violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the Federal Government,” said Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority.
In a June 26 ruling, the Court said that section 3 of DOMA, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for federal purposes, violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection guarantees.
The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act – known as DOMA – “violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the Federal Government,” said Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority.
In a June 26 ruling, the Court said that section 3 of DOMA, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for federal purposes, violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection guarantees.
Can we save the idea of infidelity?
Can We Save Infidelity? |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: I just read an extraordinarily candid article by a gay man who promotes gay marriage.� He's been in what he considers a committed relationship with another man for six years.� They've had, he says, "varying understandings about monogamy at different times in [their] relationship."� It is, he says, a well-known secret in the gay community that monogamy is by no means a given, even when a gay couple "marries" or otherwise swears allegiance to each other.� He cites a recent long-term study of gay couples that shows that
That stark divide in Catholics in America and on the Supreme Court
That stark divide in Catholics in America and on high courtMATTINGLY: Shortly before Barack Obama reached the White House, pollster John C. Green of the University of Akron visited the classroom here at the Washington Journalism Center to meet with a circle of mainstream journalists from around the world. At one point during his presentation, he created a chart detailing the changing landscape of religion in contemporary America.
The key was that a solid belt of religious believers — something like 20 percent or so — remained on the cultural right, people who could be identified in a number of ways — but primarily by the fact that they actively practiced more traditional forms of religious faith. Worship attendance was one key statistic.
The key was that a solid belt of religious believers — something like 20 percent or so — remained on the cultural right, people who could be identified in a number of ways — but primarily by the fact that they actively practiced more traditional forms of religious faith. Worship attendance was one key statistic.
U.S. Supreme Court hands two major victories to gays in DOMA and Proposition 8 rulings
U.S. Supreme Court wipes out Proposition 8's gay marriage ban - San Jose Mercury News: The U.S. Supreme Court today paved the way for same-sex couples to marry soon in California, effectively leaving intact a lower court ruling that struck down the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage.
In a ruling that assures further legal battles, the high court found that backers of Proposition 8 did not have the legal right to defend the voter-approved gay marriage ban in place of the governor and attorney general, who have refused to press appeals of a federal judge's 2010 ruling finding the law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruling, which found it had no legal authority to decide the merits of a challenge to Proposition 8, sends the case back to that original decision -- and the only question now is how quickly same-sex couples can marry and whether that ruling will have immediate statewide effect.
In a ruling that assures further legal battles, the high court found that backers of Proposition 8 did not have the legal right to defend the voter-approved gay marriage ban in place of the governor and attorney general, who have refused to press appeals of a federal judge's 2010 ruling finding the law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruling, which found it had no legal authority to decide the merits of a challenge to Proposition 8, sends the case back to that original decision -- and the only question now is how quickly same-sex couples can marry and whether that ruling will have immediate statewide effect.
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act
Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act: A divided Supreme Court gave a major boost to gay and lesbian rights on Wednesday, striking down a key section of a federal law that denied federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
The justices declared unconstitutional part of the 17-year-old Defense of Marriage Act, a law that has denied federal benefits to married gays and lesbians in a dozen states, from Maine to Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The justices declared unconstitutional part of the 17-year-old Defense of Marriage Act, a law that has denied federal benefits to married gays and lesbians in a dozen states, from Maine to Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Pope sets up new pontifical commission to study reform of "Vatican Bank"
Pope sets up Pontifical Commission to study IOR reform: Pope Francis has established a Pontifical Commission charged with drawing up an “exhaustive” report into the juridical standing and activities of the Vatican’s financial institution, the Institute for Religious Works, more commonly known as the IOR.
The Commission is composed of 5 people. These include two US natives, Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon and Monsignor Peter Bryan Wells, of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Presenting the Secretariat of State communique to journalists Wednesday, Holy See press office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. stated that the Commission is tasked with carrying out inquiries and presenting the Holy Father with a report of their findings “in view of possible reform".
The Commission is composed of 5 people. These include two US natives, Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon and Monsignor Peter Bryan Wells, of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Presenting the Secretariat of State communique to journalists Wednesday, Holy See press office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. stated that the Commission is tasked with carrying out inquiries and presenting the Holy Father with a report of their findings “in view of possible reform".
Pope Francis at morning Mass: "A father knows what it means to protect his children"
Pope at Mass: The joy of fatherhood: The desire to be a father is ingrained in all men, even priests, who are called to give life, care, protection to their spiritual children entrusted to them. This was the focus of Pope Francis homily at morning Mass Wednesday, in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta. Mass was concelebrated by the Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo, Salvatore De Giorgi, who was celebrating the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Wednesday general audience: The ancient Temple prefigured the mystery of the Church
Pope Francis: weekly General Audience (full text)COATOFARMS: What does the word, ‘temple’ call to mind? It makes us think of a building, a construction. In particular, it recalls to many minds the history of the People of Israel narrated in the Old Testament. In Jerusalem, the great Temple of Solomon was the locus of the encounter with God in prayer. Within the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant, a sign of God's presence among the people, and inside the Ark were the Tablets of the Law, the manna and the rod of Aaron, a reminder that God had always been in the history of his people, had always been with them on their journey, always directed their stride – and the Temple recalls this story. We, too, when we go to the temple, must remember this story – my story – the story of each one of us – of how Jesus encountered me, of how he walked with me, how Jesus loves and blesses me.
Video killed the atheist star: Richard Dawkins has seen the future, and it looks like an old "Flock of Seagulls" video...
Richard Dawkins is So Far Out : Stacy Trasancos: I keep coming back to St. Thomas Aquinas’ explanation about how awkward things can happen without faith, but even he could not have seen this one coming. The first half is talk about evolution and memes, but you’ll probably want to skip right to 4:55 for the fun.
Texas pro-life law fails at last minute after filibuster, Obama tweet, "mob tactics"
Wendy Davis' stunning filibuster of a Texas abortion bill - The Week: The Texas state senator talked for 11 hours to prevent a restrictive abortion bill from passing... and succeeded, for now
10 things you need to know today: June 26, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 26, 2013 - The Week: The Supreme Court invalidates a key part of the Voting Rights Act, Obama spells out his plan to fight climate change, and more
Begin the Apocalypse!
Begin the Apocalypse! by Elizabeth Scalia | First ThingsSCALIA: Two weeks ago in this space, while still processing Election 2012, I wrote of my relief at the outcome, not because I approved of it, but because it provided a bit of needed clarity. Faced with a challenger whose most daring political strategy was to cultivate vagueness in his relentless pursuit of all things beige, and an incumbent gleefully willing to launch a daily barrage of splattering, oozing color bombs heedless of what or whom they hit–or whether their tints were environmentally toxic or even true–the voters chose “sound and fury” over “nothing.”
4 big changes to English so subtle we hardly notice they're happening
4 Changes to English So Subtle We Hardly Notice They're Happening | Mental Floss: Everyone knows that language changes. It's easy to pick out words that have only been recently introduced (bromance, YOLO, derp) or sentence constructions that have gone out of style (How do you do? Have you a moment?), but we are constantly in the middle of language change that may not be noticeable for decades or even centuries. Some of the biggest and most lasting changes to language happen slowly and imperceptibly. The Great Vowel Shift, for example, was a series of pronunciation changes occurring over 350 years, and not really noticed for over 100 years after that. It resulted in an intelligibility gap between Modern and Middle English and created the annoying misalignment between English pronunciation and spelling. But it was impossible to see while it was going on.
What is character? Its 3 true qualities and how to develop it...
What Is Character? Its 3 True Qualities and How to Develop It | The Art of Manliness: Character. Like honor, it’s a word we take for granted and probably have an affinity for, but likely have never really had to define and may struggle to do so when pressed. It’s a word most men desire to have ascribed to them, and yet the standards of its attainment remain rather vague in our modern age.
20 things you might not know about your favorite types of liquor
20 Things You Might Not Know About Your Favorite Liquors | Mental Floss: Jack Sparrow has his rum, Ron Burgundy has his scotch, and you probably have your own favorite liquor, too. But how much do you know about your beverage of choice from that magical shelf behind the bar?
Whether you're a whiskey connoisseur or just a gin enthusiast, it's always good to keep a few little-known facts under your belt, because you never know when the right piece of trivia will come in handy. After all, if you can't do a magic trick, you might as well dazzle your drinking partners with your knowledge of good spirits.
With that in mind, here are 20 things you might not know about the most popular types of liquor.�
Whether you're a whiskey connoisseur or just a gin enthusiast, it's always good to keep a few little-known facts under your belt, because you never know when the right piece of trivia will come in handy. After all, if you can't do a magic trick, you might as well dazzle your drinking partners with your knowledge of good spirits.
With that in mind, here are 20 things you might not know about the most popular types of liquor.�
The Edict of Milan, seventeen centuries later
The “Edict of Milan,” 1,700 years later | First ThingsWEIGEL: Very few twenty-first-century Christians would welcome a return to state establishments of religion as the accepted norm. So however much the Constantinian settlement led Christianity into what some regard as a lengthy Babylonian captivity to state power, the “Edict of Milan” also affirmed truths that have proven stronger over time than the temptation to use Caesar for God’s work. Today’s challenge is quite different: it’s the temptation to let Caesar, in his various forms, reduce religious conviction to a privacy right of lifestyle choice.
Lactantius knew that religious conviction is more than that. Seventeen hundred years later, so should the Obama administration and the West’s radical secularists.
Lactantius knew that religious conviction is more than that. Seventeen hundred years later, so should the Obama administration and the West’s radical secularists.
Clear eyes, full heart, can’t stop gushing about abortion
Clear eyes, full heart, can’t stop advocating for abortionHEMINGWAY: Last night, reporters were very excited to tweet extensively about an abortion filibuster going on in Texas. While reporters struggled and struggled and struggled to find any reason at all to cover abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell’s trial, there was no struggle at all to give extensive coverage to Texas Sen. Wendy Davis’ filibustering of a bill that would protect unborn children who had made it to 20 weeks’ gestation, would require abortion clinics to meet the standards of other ambulatory surgery centers and would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
Five practical lessons for discipleship
Five Practical Lessons for Discipleship (Living the Faith Series) : The Integrated Catholic LifeBICKERSTAFF: How many times do we experience what we might call false starts? Maybe it seems you have even spent a life-time of making false starts. We mean well.� We mean to do what we say. But, somehow we always find ourselves needing to start over. Has this ever happened to you? It sure has to me.
So what is wrong?
First, let’s be sure we distinguish between the faults we are certain to commit and a more serious failure to even begin. We will fail at times. There will be bumps and falls along the way. The grace of the sacraments, the practice of the virtues and a commitment to prayer will help us persevere.
So what is wrong?
First, let’s be sure we distinguish between the faults we are certain to commit and a more serious failure to even begin. We will fail at times. There will be bumps and falls along the way. The grace of the sacraments, the practice of the virtues and a commitment to prayer will help us persevere.
There is no loss of wonders, but only a loss of wonder. A brief summons to awe...
There is No Loss of Wonders, But only a Loss of Wonder. A Brief Summons to Awe � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: One of the great modern problems is boredom. It might seem that we would be one the of least bored ages of all, with our many diversions. Almost every form of entertainment is available quite literally at our fingertips, television, radio, Internet, Netflix, video games, and on and on.
But boredom easily overtakes us moderns. �The problem seems quite simply that we are overstimulated.
But boredom easily overtakes us moderns. �The problem seems quite simply that we are overstimulated.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
As one devil to another: How an Adolf Hitler speech inspired C.S. Lewis to write "The Screwtape Letters"
One Devil To Another : Roman Catholic Spiritual DirectionMCCUSKER: On a Friday evening in July, 1940, CS Lewis and a friend listened to Hitler on the radio. Lewis wondered if he was weaker than other people since he found that, while the speech lasted, it was hard not to believe what Hitler was saying. He marveled how statements which he knew to be lies sounded convincingly true as long as they were spoken “unflinchingly.”
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, considering this experience and the intensifying war with Germany, that an idea would come to Lewis about devils.
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, considering this experience and the intensifying war with Germany, that an idea would come to Lewis about devils.
Pope’s eight cardinal advisors say the Curia is not the only thing they’ll be reforming
Pope’s eight cardinal advisors say the Curia is not the only thing they’ll be reforming - Vatican InsiderTORNIELLI: Although their official meeting will be in October, they are already moving full steam ahead with their work and will use the summer months to prepare thoroughly for their first meeting. The eight cardinals Francis chose as his advisors last 13 April, exactly one month after his election, are currently mulling over ideas and proposals. And they will not just be dealing with Curia reform.
�
When the Vatican Secretariat of State announced Francis’ decision to set up the advisory group, it specified that it was established “to advise him [the Pope] in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus'.” Advising the Pope on the running of the universal Church is certainly no less important than the council’s task of reforming the Curia, but the latter will be the council’s main focus.
�
When the Vatican Secretariat of State announced Francis’ decision to set up the advisory group, it specified that it was established “to advise him [the Pope] in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus'.” Advising the Pope on the running of the universal Church is certainly no less important than the council’s task of reforming the Curia, but the latter will be the council’s main focus.
Medieval castle cesspit shows Crusaders struggled with worms and poor hygiene, researchers say
Medieval feces shows Crusaders struggled with worms and hygiene | Reuters: Medieval feces discovered at an ancient castle in Cyprus has revealed that the Crusaders suffered from a bad case of the worms, and had poor hygiene habits.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that occupants of a 12th century Crusaders' castle in western Cyprus were rife with parasites, reaffirming previous research which suggested high mortality rates among Crusaders from malnutrition and infectious diseases.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that occupants of a 12th century Crusaders' castle in western Cyprus were rife with parasites, reaffirming previous research which suggested high mortality rates among Crusaders from malnutrition and infectious diseases.
Rick Santorum named CEO of Christian film studio
Santorum named CEO of Christian film studio - Yahoo! News: Former U.S. Senator and GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is bringing Christian films to the big screen.
EchoLight Studios said Monday that Santorum, known for his socially conservative views, has been named CEO of the Dallas-based Christian film production company.
Santorum says he has always had an interest in shaping cultural messages and joined the company's board a year ago. He believes EchoLight has the opportunity to transform the movie industry by tapping into the demand for high-quality films with a focus on "inspirational and uplifting" Christian messages.
EchoLight Studios said Monday that Santorum, known for his socially conservative views, has been named CEO of the Dallas-based Christian film production company.
Santorum says he has always had an interest in shaping cultural messages and joined the company's board a year ago. He believes EchoLight has the opportunity to transform the movie industry by tapping into the demand for high-quality films with a focus on "inspirational and uplifting" Christian messages.
Selfish marriages are like sealed caskets. They sometimes explode...
Why Marriages Explode |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: Here's a happy thought:� caskets sometimes explode. The phenomenon is well-known enough to have a name: "exploding casket syndrome." It happens because bereaved people want the caskets of their beloved dead to be sealed up as tightly as possible against the insults of time, moisture, oxygen, vermin, and change in general.� They want the dead body preserved, and they want it to stay preserved, even once it's permanently out of sight.
The only problem is, death is death.
The only problem is, death is death.
Boston's Cardinal O'Malley bars talk by dissident Austrian cleric
Boston's Cardinal O'Malley bars talk by dissident Austrian cleric : News Headlines - Catholic Culture: Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley has forbidden a speaking appearance by a dissident Austrian priest at a local parish.
Father Helmut Schüller, the leader of the Austrian Priests’ Initiative, was scheduled to speak in July at St. Susanna’s parish church in Dedham, a Boston suburb. Father Schüller is making a tour of the US, speaking in several cities about the Austrian group, which brought together several hundred Austrian priests in a “Call to Disobedience,” a vow to ignore Church teachings on several controversial issues.
Catholics are contracepting our parochial schools out of existence
Priest: You’ve contracepted our parochial school out of existence | LifeSiteNews.comSAUPPE: A stranger came into the sacristy after Sunday Mass. In an incriminating huff he said, “I have been away from the area for fifteen years; where are the people? And now you are tearing down the school? I went there as a kid.”
I put my hands up to quiet him from further talking and I calmly said, “Let me ask you a question: How many kids did you have?” He said, “Two.” Then I said, “So did everyone else. When you only have two kids per family there is no growth.” His demeanor changed, and then he dropped his head and said, “And they aren’t even going to Mass anymore.”
I put my hands up to quiet him from further talking and I calmly said, “Let me ask you a question: How many kids did you have?” He said, “Two.” Then I said, “So did everyone else. When you only have two kids per family there is no growth.” His demeanor changed, and then he dropped his head and said, “And they aren’t even going to Mass anymore.”
5 things new Down syndrome parents need to hear
5 things new Down syndrome parents need to hear: The day I was told that my unborn son had Down syndrome was the day my entire world changed. In some ways, it was shattered. Everything I thought I knew about what I could expect from my life, my ideas about the kind of mother I was and could be, the hopes and dreams I had for my children…with one phone call, they were all erased. I was a mess, crying on the phone to my mom and my best friend, trying to understand why this had happened, or how, and what I was supposed to do now.
Twenty years later, recalling World Youth Day in Denver
USCCB Blog: World Youth Day: Twenty Years AgoWALSH: Twenty years ago this August Denver hosted World Youth Day, the first time the world event took place in the U.S. As WYD director of communications, I was on a core team from Washington with Father Dennis Schnurr, WYD executive director and now archbishop of Cincinnati, and Paul Henderson, WYD director of programming and now director of planning and communication operations at the USCCB. We’ve remained friends, with the kind of friendship borne of going to war together.
10 things you need to know today: June 25, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 25, 2013 - The Week: Obama addresses climate change, the IRS also targeted liberals, and more
Monday, June 24, 2013
Pope Francis to Jewish leaders: "Due to our common roots, a Christian cannot be anti-Semitic"
Pope: Christians cannot be anti-Semitic: The Pope was speaking to a 30 strong delegation from the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) who gathered in the Apostolic Palace’s Hall of the Popes for a private audience Monday. The IJCIC is committed to developing relations with the Vatican’s Commission on Religious Relations with the Jews, the Orthodox Christian Church, the World Council of Churches, and other international religious bodies.
Though he acknowledged he has met “important personalities of the Jewish world,” Pope Francis admitted this marked the first time he was addressing an official group of representatives of Jewish organizations and communities. And as such, he wanted to recall that landmark Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra Aetate which he described as a “key point of reference for relations with the Jewish people.”
Though he acknowledged he has met “important personalities of the Jewish world,” Pope Francis admitted this marked the first time he was addressing an official group of representatives of Jewish organizations and communities. And as such, he wanted to recall that landmark Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra Aetate which he described as a “key point of reference for relations with the Jewish people.”
Religious liberty is rooted in the dignity of the human person
Religious Liberty; Rooted In Dignity Of The Human PersonETIENNE: As our Fortnight For Freedom progresses this summer, today seems an appropriate moment to reflect upon the innate freedom of every human person to give expression to their relationship with God.�
Today the Church celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist.� We read in Sacred Scripture that this birth was announced to Zechariah by an angel of the Lord. The angel even goes so far as to describe the life mission of John.
Today the Church celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist.� We read in Sacred Scripture that this birth was announced to Zechariah by an angel of the Lord. The angel even goes so far as to describe the life mission of John.
"Go and tell John what you have seen and heard"
Go, Tell John | Catholic AnswersARNOLD: Today is the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. John is one of the few saints to have more than one feast day on the liturgical calendar (his martyrdom is celebrated on August 29), and perhaps the only saint besides the Blessed Virgin to have his birth celebrated as a feast day. That means that we receive a surprising number of questions about John here in Catholic Answers' apologetics department.
We're settling into a fascinating pontificate
John Thavis | Settling in for a fascinating journeyTHAVIS: The first 100 days of a pope are not like the first 100 days of a president or prime minister or a CEO. A pope thinks long-term, and is under less pressure to put forward a series of short-term goals or programs. Most of the issues facing a pope transcend the pragmatic and the political. They require careful thought, prayer and consultation, not a string of policy statements.
For journalists, though, 100 days is a marker that requires evaluation and commentary. It was certainly the hot topic at the Catholic Media Conference this week in Denver, where I gave a talk this morning to several hundred Catholic communicators.�
For journalists, though, 100 days is a marker that requires evaluation and commentary. It was certainly the hot topic at the Catholic Media Conference this week in Denver, where I gave a talk this morning to several hundred Catholic communicators.�
The pagans are happy to socialize your children
The Pagans are Happy to Socialize Your Children : IgnitumTodayDEVINROSE: A few weeks ago I wrote something criticizing public schooling over this incident. It got the ire up of friends and family members, many of whom have spent decades of their lives teaching and working in public schools. They vehemently disagreed with my portrayal of public schooling.
I reflected on what, exactly, bothered me about public schools and other activities or institutions like them, and I came up with a simple thesis
I reflected on what, exactly, bothered me about public schools and other activities or institutions like them, and I came up with a simple thesis
Our culture is sad, bored, and desperate for authentic witnesses to Jesus Christ
We Ain’t Seen Catholics Yet | National Review OnlineLOPEZ: I’ve spent the better part of the last week among Catholics who communicate — or at least pray to. They’re people of varied backgrounds and political leanings, who all love their Church. We’re at the annual meeting of the Catholic Press Association, where I’ve been asked to speak during more than a few sessions. But what I’ve been doing even more is listening.
And what I’ve been hearing is an acknowledgment that something has gone terribly wrong. Not that Church teaching has to be overhauled, as is so often the assumption in the secular media, but that we need to communicate better, we need to be more consistent witnesses of an alternative to the prevailing culture.
And what I’ve been hearing is an acknowledgment that something has gone terribly wrong. Not that Church teaching has to be overhauled, as is so often the assumption in the secular media, but that we need to communicate better, we need to be more consistent witnesses of an alternative to the prevailing culture.
Daredevil Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk 1,500 feet over river near Grand Canyon
Daredevil Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk near Grand Canyon | Fox News: Aerialist Nik Wallenda completed a tightrope walk that took him a quarter mile over the Little Colorado River Gorge in northeastern Arizona on Sunday.
Wallenda performed the stunt on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the river on the Navajo Nation near the Grand Canyon. He took just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the rope swayed.
Wallenda performed the stunt on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the river on the Navajo Nation near the Grand Canyon. He took just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the rope swayed.
What are those little colored circles on food packages?
What Are The Colored Circles on Food Packages? | Mental Floss: There's a lot of information crammed onto food packaging these days, and along with all of the helpful stuff (like nutritional data and ingredients), there's also the mysterious, multicolored row of circles or squares that serves a very important purpose ... for the printer.
Referred to as “printer's color blocks” or “process control patches,” this grid of color swatches indicates which hues of ink were used to produce the design on the package. The printer checks these colored circles or squares to determine whether a package conforms to the necessary color scheme for the product. In the case of any problems, the color blocks let both the human and computerized printers know if a deficiency (or surplus) of color caused the issue.
Referred to as “printer's color blocks” or “process control patches,” this grid of color swatches indicates which hues of ink were used to produce the design on the package. The printer checks these colored circles or squares to determine whether a package conforms to the necessary color scheme for the product. In the case of any problems, the color blocks let both the human and computerized printers know if a deficiency (or surplus) of color caused the issue.
Why has modern mythology grown so serious? Because it reflects the dark materialism of modern hearts...
Soberheroes: A Critical Look at Modern Mythology | Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: Comic book heroes have recently become less comic—which is of both cultural and Christian concern. After the brooding superhero films of the last few years, many are asking the question made famous by the late Heath Ledger’s truly menacing, anything-but-funny Joker: “Why so serious?”
The motivation behind this trend—largely spearheaded by Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and continued with this summer’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel—is a desire to make the superhero more realistic, more human, more flawed, more psychologically divided; struggling to fight crime in a world where the line between good and evil is grayed, if not lost altogether. Many moviegoers and aficionados of the genre lament this movement, looking back wistfully to colorful escapades with Christopher Reeve, or wisecracking Spider-Man strips. Today, the innocence of Batman and Robin as quirky caped crusaders has been lost. The Incredible Hulk is now incredibly haunted. The X-Men are discriminated ex-men. All is edgy, jaded, and serious.
The motivation behind this trend—largely spearheaded by Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and continued with this summer’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel—is a desire to make the superhero more realistic, more human, more flawed, more psychologically divided; struggling to fight crime in a world where the line between good and evil is grayed, if not lost altogether. Many moviegoers and aficionados of the genre lament this movement, looking back wistfully to colorful escapades with Christopher Reeve, or wisecracking Spider-Man strips. Today, the innocence of Batman and Robin as quirky caped crusaders has been lost. The Incredible Hulk is now incredibly haunted. The X-Men are discriminated ex-men. All is edgy, jaded, and serious.
"Someday, what you are doing will become normal": Atheist preacher holds atheist religious service in the Bible Belt...
In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home - NYTimes.com: It would have been easy to mistake what was happening in a hotel ballroom here for a religious service. All the things that might be associated with one were present Sunday: 80 people drawn by a common conviction. Exhortations to service. Singing and light swaying. An impassioned sermon.
Freedom of religion, the common good, and the pretty frump girl
Freedom of Religion, the Common Good and the Pretty Frump Girl: A Review of “The Hypothesis of Giants: Book 1″ROSSI: Though it occurred inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City’s iconic Catholic house of worship, the last stand for religious freedom included members of many faith traditions. They didn’t all agree on theology, but they were united in believing they had a right to practice their religion without fear of government interference. The government, however, with the consent of its citizens, now decreed that was not the case. No one had the right to practice any religion anymore – and no one had the right to voice any opinions that differed from the ruling party. The resulting massacre ended with 15 pro-religion rebels dead and 40 arrested. Freedom of speech and religion were officially outlawed in the newly designated United States for the Common Good.
A recipe for overinterpreting the Pope
A recipe for overinterpreting the pope | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: Here's a recipe for overinterpretation: Start with intense public fascination with a new pope and add a basic lack of substantive movement on matters of policy and personnel. Sprinkle in the coincidence of the new regime reaching its 100-day mark and mix with a slow news cycle.
Two stories in the Italian press over the weekend nicely illustrate the resulting soufflé of hype.
On Saturday evening, Francis decided at the last minute to skip a Vatican musical concert, leaving the papal throne empty. Pictures of the "empty chair" were swiftly splashed across Italy's major news outlets, with pundits such as famed church historian Alberto Melloni styling it a metaphor for a rejection of imperial pomp. Some even termed it a deliberate "snub" of the Roman Curia.
Two stories in the Italian press over the weekend nicely illustrate the resulting soufflé of hype.
On Saturday evening, Francis decided at the last minute to skip a Vatican musical concert, leaving the papal throne empty. Pictures of the "empty chair" were swiftly splashed across Italy's major news outlets, with pundits such as famed church historian Alberto Melloni styling it a metaphor for a rejection of imperial pomp. Some even termed it a deliberate "snub" of the Roman Curia.
If nine out of ten of our evangelization efforts are bound to fail, we must do ten times more work
Junipero Serra and his witness for today - Catholic PhillyCHAPUT: If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead – and I don’t mean “metaphorically” rise, as a kind of shared emotional experience of the Apostles; but rise in his crucified body, glorified by his Father – then we’re misleading ourselves with a fairytale.� But if he did rise, then the Gospel is true.� And then all of creation, and the eternity of every living man and woman, depends on Christ’s Good News being preached.� So in the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (28:19-20), he’s not merely offering an invitation.� He’s also binding a commission, a mandate, to every one of his disciples.
10 things you need to know today: June 24, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 24, 2013 - The Week: Mandela slips into critical condition, George Zimmerman's trial begins, and more
Sunday, June 23, 2013
"Justification for their human rights abuse": Former president Jimmy Carter attacks Catholics for belief in male priesthood
Jimmy Carter: A Sunday Interview | TIME.com: In a wide-ranging interview, the former president calls on Catholics to accept female priests, America to denounce the death penalty, and Obama to stay out of the Syrian war.
11 incredible island airports around the world
THE WORLD GEOGRAPHY: 11 Incredible Island Airports: Very interesting and somewhat dangerous airports are those located on an artificial islands and atolls. Artificial island airports are constructed in waters close to land, serving regions where available land is scarce and population density is high. Atoll airports are located on small coral islands and are usually associate exotic island countries with the world's greatest cities, so they are mainly used by tourists.
Pope's Sunday Angelus: Catholics are called to "daily martyrdom"
Catholics are called to 'daily martyrdom,' says Pope :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): During his June 23 Angelus reflection, Pope Francis said the faithful are called to follow the example of the martyrs in losing their lives for Christ, even if they do not suffer violence for their faith.
“Both in the past and today, in many parts of the world there are martyrs, both men and women, who are imprisoned or killed for the sole reason of being Christian,” he said, noting that there are more martyrs dying violent deaths in modern times than in the early centuries of the Church.
“Both in the past and today, in many parts of the world there are martyrs, both men and women, who are imprisoned or killed for the sole reason of being Christian,” he said, noting that there are more martyrs dying violent deaths in modern times than in the early centuries of the Church.
Disappointed by the "super moon"? Here's why: it wasn't that super...
Disappointed by Super Moon? It's Because It Isn't Super | Geekosystem: It’s Super Moon Weekend 2013!�The Moon is at it’s closest point to the Earth all year, plus it’s a full! The Moon’s gigantic! Huge! Enormous! Except — it isn’t. For as much hype as “Super Moons” get they never fail to disappoint, and there’s good reason. They’re not actually that super. Don’t get me wrong. The Moon is amazing. It’s a giant rock in the sky that affects tides, turns people into wolves (allegedly), and we sent people to go walk on it (definitely). The Moon is great every day, but “Super Moons” are overhyped.
Leonard Nimoy explains the religious origin of the Vulcan salute
Leonard Nimoy Explains The Origin Of The Vulcan Salute…WEATHERS: It has something to do with one of my favorite Hebrew letters,�ש, and a memorable event from his childhood. Let's roll the clip, and read more about it in The Jewish Origin of the Vulcan Salute...
'Monsters University' is a charming but underachieving prequel, with an unexpectedly thoughtful finale
SDG Reviews 'Monsters University' | Daily News | NCRegister.comGREYDANUS: Revisiting the world of Monsters, Inc. in the prequel, Monsters University — set in the salad days of Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, who meet in college as fellow scaring majors — is perhaps a bit like pulling an old yearbook off the shelf. There are happy memories, pierced by regret and loss. We were young and foolish then, but vibrant and ambitious and full of promise. Not to mention thinner. What happened to our dreams?
A dozen years ago, Pixar was still a relatively new commodity. Before Pete Docter’s Monsters, Inc., their only non-Toy Story animated feature was the cheerfully competent A Bug’s Life, and their greatest triumphs were still ahead. Still, the studio exuded a confidence and energy much like eager young Mike: the smartest kid in the class, eager to prove himself, despite (in Mike’s case, not Pixar’s) being undersized and lacking natural aptitude.
A dozen years ago, Pixar was still a relatively new commodity. Before Pete Docter’s Monsters, Inc., their only non-Toy Story animated feature was the cheerfully competent A Bug’s Life, and their greatest triumphs were still ahead. Still, the studio exuded a confidence and energy much like eager young Mike: the smartest kid in the class, eager to prove himself, despite (in Mike’s case, not Pixar’s) being undersized and lacking natural aptitude.
Despite growing protests, Rio archbishop assures safety at World Youth Day
Despite Protests, Archbishop Assures Safety at World Youth Day | Daily News | NCRegister.com: The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro has reassured young people planning to attend World Youth Day that the protests occurring in various cities in Brazil will not affect the massive event.
Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta told Vatican Radio June 21 he has spoken with Brazilian intelligence officials who have guaranteed that World Youth Day will be a safe event.
Millions have taken part in protests across Brazil in recent days, over an increase in the cost of public transportation, the high costs of the 2014 World Cup and demanding an end to government corruption.
Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta told Vatican Radio June 21 he has spoken with Brazilian intelligence officials who have guaranteed that World Youth Day will be a safe event.
Millions have taken part in protests across Brazil in recent days, over an increase in the cost of public transportation, the high costs of the 2014 World Cup and demanding an end to government corruption.
Media MIA: Mother Dolores Hart’s love for Jesus
Media MIA: Mother Dolores Hart’s love for JesusMATTINGLY: It’s the question that echoes between the lines of mainstream news features about the life and work of Mother Dolores Hart, the cloistered nun (yes, she gave Elvis his first on-screen kiss) who walked away from her promising future in Hollywood.
The question, stated simply, is this: Why did she do it?
The answer? I’m not really clear on that, but based on reading a number of mainstream press reports on this subject I can say that her decision — if the mainstream media is to be believed — had very little to do with her love for Jesus or his church.
The question, stated simply, is this: Why did she do it?
The answer? I’m not really clear on that, but based on reading a number of mainstream press reports on this subject I can say that her decision — if the mainstream media is to be believed — had very little to do with her love for Jesus or his church.
Will the real Jesus please stand up?
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up. A Meditation on the Gospel for the 12th Sunday of the Year � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: The Gospel for today sets forth some parameters in terms of how we picture Christ. Sadly today, as in the time of Jesus many have a designer Messiah, a designer Christ that they worship. It is not the real or revealed Christ they acknowledge and worship. Rather it is a Christ of their own design they create, or shall we shall we say “carve” in the form of an idol and then worship.
Lets look at some of the parameters Jesus sets forth for our acknowledgement of him and worship. As we shall see, the Lord denotes both problems and parameters in understanding who He is.
Lets look at some of the parameters Jesus sets forth for our acknowledgement of him and worship. As we shall see, the Lord denotes both problems and parameters in understanding who He is.
Pope's Sunday morning Mass: "What do you think of Jesus?"
Pope Mass: Respond to Jesus from the heart: This morning, Pope Francis celebrated mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. About 40 apostolic nuncios, who remained in the Vatican after the Pope’s meeting with them on Friday, were present. Commenting on the Sunday Gospel from Luke, in which Jesus asks the Apostles, “But who do you say that I am?”, the Pope underlined that we need to respond to Jesus from the heart, inspired by our veneration for him and from the rock of his love.
In Luke, Jesus asks: “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter responds: “The Christ of God”. The question that Jesus asks in the Gospel of Luke is relevant to us 2,000 years later and cuts straight to the heart, said Pope Francis in his homily, to which we must respond with the humility of a sinner, beyond all ready-made answers.
In Luke, Jesus asks: “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter responds: “The Christ of God”. The question that Jesus asks in the Gospel of Luke is relevant to us 2,000 years later and cuts straight to the heart, said Pope Francis in his homily, to which we must respond with the humility of a sinner, beyond all ready-made answers.
10 things you need to know today: June 23, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 23, 2013 - The Week: Snowden lands in Moscow after fleeing Hong Kong, flood tolls reach record levels in Canada and India, and more
Pope's Sunday Angelus: "Learn how to lose your life for the cause of Jesus"
VATICAN Pope: Losing one's life for Jesus by serving truth and going against the tide, like John the Baptist - Asia News: The martyrs are the best example of the "losing ones life" for Christ, but there are also moms and dads who do their duty, priests and nuns, young people who give their time to children, the disabled and the elderly. There is also a witness to the truth by Christians and non-Christians: "a rule of life offered to all." Young people must not be afraid to "go against the grain". The example of John the Baptist, whose feast is celebrated tomorrow.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
2013 Fortnight for Freedom begins in the United States
(95) Fortnight for Freedom 2013: The Fortnight for Freedom, which we celebrated for the first time last year, takes place from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day. Last year, we saw a great diversity of events promoting religious freedom across the country. In 2013, we face many challenges to religious liberty, including the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate; potential Supreme Court rulings that could redefine marriage in June, causing serious religious liberty issues for Catholic adoption agencies and many others; and religious liberty concerns in other areas, such as immigration and humanitarian services.
5 ordinary things that save your life every day without you knowing it
5 Ordinary Things That Save Your Life Every Day Without You Knowing It | Mental Floss: Water is problematic. You need it to live, but it's practically aching to kill you. Naturally occurring water, even when not soiled by human contact, can be swimming with an untold number of murderous micro-organisms.
Now, tap water, which is decidedly non-fatal, has gotten a bad rap in recent years. We believe it's just not as pure as our favored bottled water, which (we're subconsciously convinced) sprang straight from the heart of an ice-blue glacier.
Now, tap water, which is decidedly non-fatal, has gotten a bad rap in recent years. We believe it's just not as pure as our favored bottled water, which (we're subconsciously convinced) sprang straight from the heart of an ice-blue glacier.
10 things you need to know today: June 22, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 22, 2013 - The Week: 1 million protesters march in Brazil, Obama picks a former Bush official to head the FBI, and more
Pope's morning homily: Cares and riches make you "forget the past, reject the present, distort the future"
Pope Francis: serve the Word of God, not the idolatry of riches and worldly cares: The riches and the cares of the world “choke the Word of God,” said Pope Francis at Mass this morning at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope pointed out that our life is set on three pillars: election, covenant, and promise, adding that we must trust the Father in living in the present without worrying about what will happen.
“No one can serve two masters.” Pope Francis began his homily with the words of Christ in today’s Gospel, where He focuses on the theme of riches and cares. Jesus, the Pope said, “has a clear idea on this subject”: they are “the riches and cares of the world” that choke the Word of God, they are the thorns spoken of in the Parable of the Sower, that choke the seed that has fallen on the ground:
“No one can serve two masters.” Pope Francis began his homily with the words of Christ in today’s Gospel, where He focuses on the theme of riches and cares. Jesus, the Pope said, “has a clear idea on this subject”: they are “the riches and cares of the world” that choke the Word of God, they are the thorns spoken of in the Parable of the Sower, that choke the seed that has fallen on the ground:
What really happened at the Komen Foundation
What Really Happened at the Komen Foundation | Crisis MagazineRUSE: The clean sweep at the Komen Foundation is finally complete. A few days ago Komen founder Nancy Brinker finally lost her job as CEO. It took a while but they finally got rid of her, the woman who watched her sister suffer and die from breast cancer, who dedicated her life to eradicating the disease, who created one of the most successful global health charities in the world. They removed her for the crime of trying to defund Planned Parenthood. She’s being replaced by a woman some say had a hand in developing Obamacare and who has never run a non-profit.
Charm is deceptive (as seen in a commercial)
Charm is Deceptive – As Humorously Seen in A Commercial � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: The famous and oft quoted Proverbs 31 says, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
This is no disrespect of women, especially those of widely regarded physical beauty. But it is something that men especially need to be mindful of, for men are very visual, and thereby focused on physical beauty. Yet physical beauty, however a man accounts it, is no guarantee that the woman in question shares his faith, values, or outlook. Neither does it reflect anything for or against her virtue, honesty or integrity.
This is no disrespect of women, especially those of widely regarded physical beauty. But it is something that men especially need to be mindful of, for men are very visual, and thereby focused on physical beauty. Yet physical beauty, however a man accounts it, is no guarantee that the woman in question shares his faith, values, or outlook. Neither does it reflect anything for or against her virtue, honesty or integrity.
Shifting plates in Rome and Tehran; Francis in Brazil; and St. John Paul
Shifting plates in Rome and Tehran; Francis in Brazil; and St. John Paul | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: Thirty-five years ago, Iran and the Vatican seemed on parallel paths. The election of John Paul II in October 1978 signaled a new Catholic assertiveness, ending a time of introspection following the Second Vatican Council, while three months later, the triumphant return of Ayatollah Khomeini amid the Iranian Revolution unleashed a similar revival across the Shiite world.
The $64,000 question today is whether we're witnessing another shifting of the historical plates in Rome and Tehran, this one toward the moderates.
The $64,000 question today is whether we're witnessing another shifting of the historical plates in Rome and Tehran, this one toward the moderates.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Pope to nuncios: "Beware of those who are ambitious, who seek to become bishops"
CNS STORY: Pope tells nuncios to help him find new bishops who are meek, merciful: Tracing the characteristics he wants to see in candidates to serve as bishops, Pope Francis said they must be "pastors who are close to their people, fathers and brothers, who are meek, patient and merciful."
A good prospective bishop will "love interior poverty as freedom for the Lord" and live that externally with a simple lifestyle, and he won't have the "mindset of a prince," the pope said June 21 during a meeting with nuncios and apostolic delegates.
A good prospective bishop will "love interior poverty as freedom for the Lord" and live that externally with a simple lifestyle, and he won't have the "mindset of a prince," the pope said June 21 during a meeting with nuncios and apostolic delegates.
Are most Catholics in America going to hell?
Are most Catholics in America going to hell? |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: When you look around society today, it doesn’t look good.
Even in the Church, people are committing abortion and contraception.
They are sleeping together outside of marriage, using porn, and doing a host of other things that can endanger their souls.
It can be tempting to conclude that most Catholics in America today are going to go to hell.
Is the situation that bleak?
Even in the Church, people are committing abortion and contraception.
They are sleeping together outside of marriage, using porn, and doing a host of other things that can endanger their souls.
It can be tempting to conclude that most Catholics in America today are going to go to hell.
Is the situation that bleak?
The celibacy of Jesus, and the Christian response to it, is ultimately a question of love
Jesus and Marriage? A Theological Response – Homiletic & Pastoral ReviewSTAUDT: On September 18, 2012, Karen L. King introduced an alleged Coptic papyrus fragment, which speaks of a wife of Jesus. The Christian response to the discovery of this fragment has been overwhelmingly historical in nature, focusing on either the inauthenticity of the fragment or the lack of evidence in the Gospels to support the claim. This approach has been significant, raising doubts on its authenticity based on striking parallels with the Gospel of Thomas and certain grammatical irregularities.
Assad’s regime is appalling, but I can’t blame my Christian friends in Syria for praying that he wins
Assad’s regime is appalling, but I can’t blame my Christian friends in Syria for praying that he wins | CatholicHerald.co.ukLUCIE-SMITH: What exactly is happening in Syria, and what is the West doing about it? This is not a simple question, to put it mildly, and one has no real way of knowing, but one gets two distinct impressions as one reads the papers.
The first impression is that President Bashar al-Assad is winning his war. This war has been going on for two years, and if the papers were to have been believed, ought to have been over some considerable time ago. But Assad, unlike Mubarak, has not been overthrown; neither, like the now forgotten President of Tunisia, has he fled the country. This tells us two things: Assad can count on the support of a considerable section of the Syrian population: his own Alawite people in particular will back him at all costs, and other groups will offer more passive support (more on that later). Between them, this alliance of minorities and interest groups provides a sufficient basis for survival.
The first impression is that President Bashar al-Assad is winning his war. This war has been going on for two years, and if the papers were to have been believed, ought to have been over some considerable time ago. But Assad, unlike Mubarak, has not been overthrown; neither, like the now forgotten President of Tunisia, has he fled the country. This tells us two things: Assad can count on the support of a considerable section of the Syrian population: his own Alawite people in particular will back him at all costs, and other groups will offer more passive support (more on that later). Between them, this alliance of minorities and interest groups provides a sufficient basis for survival.
Watch Stephen Colbert's moving, tearful tribute to his late mother
Stephen Colbert's mom VIDEO: Watch Stephen remember his late mother, Lorna Colbert.: For those of you who missed it, Stephen Colbert opened his show last night with a moving tribute to his mother, Lorna Colbert, who died last week at the age of 92. "I know that it may sound greedy to want more days with a person who lived so long," said Stephen, breaking character to eulogize his mother and fighting back tears. "But the fact that my mother was 92 does not diminish, it only magnifies the enormity of the room whose door has now quietly shut."
The Catholic Church opposes surrogate motherhood. Here's why...
Why the Church Opposes Surrogate Motherhood and attempts to legalize it in The District of Columbia � Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: The killing of many embryos is also morally odious. The vast number of embryos that are conceived are either discarded, frozen, or sent off to experimentation and to be� harvested by those engaged in stem cell research etc. Again, human life is treated as a commodity to be bought and sold, and used at will.
And this leads us then to the problem of so-called surrogate motherhood. The process is similar to in vitro fertilization wherein the father and mother both contribute sperm and ovum and these are combined in a petri dish. But the difference is, instead of being placed in the womb of the genetic mother, the embryo is placed in the womb of a second woman who carries the baby to term.
And this leads us then to the problem of so-called surrogate motherhood. The process is similar to in vitro fertilization wherein the father and mother both contribute sperm and ovum and these are combined in a petri dish. But the difference is, instead of being placed in the womb of the genetic mother, the embryo is placed in the womb of a second woman who carries the baby to term.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
'Man of Steel' is an excruciatingly long and loud sloppy mess of a story
“Man of Steel” – Movie of SlopNICOLOSI: The big question for the Christian critics/pastors/leaders/scholars lining up to praise this thing is, “REALLY?!” So, what we’re saying is, you can have a really bad story with lots of ridiculous plot leaps and holes; and you can have flat one-dimensional main characters who never change, and youcan have too many stars popping up doing nothing in the movie just because they have been paid to be there; and you can have awful dialogue without any cleverness or subtext, and you can have spectacle inappropriately being served by all the other story elements — and all that is redeemed just by a few overt, but achingly banal, religious references?! We’re all supposed to fall over like Man of Steel is the new Fifth Gospel?
'The Exorcist' was based on an actual 1949 exorcism in St. Louis. Read the chilling diary of one of the priests here..
Priest's SLU exorcism diary | ksdk.com: Many consider the 1973 film "The Exorcist" the scariest movie of all time. Wednesday is the 40th anniversary of the film's release.
If the mere thought of the famous flick gives you the chills, consider this: It's directly based on a true incident that happened in St. Louis.
The real story that inspired the famous book and movie happened in 1949. It began in Maryland, ended in St. Louis, and involved several Jesuits from Saint Louis University.
If the mere thought of the famous flick gives you the chills, consider this: It's directly based on a true incident that happened in St. Louis.
The real story that inspired the famous book and movie happened in 1949. It began in Maryland, ended in St. Louis, and involved several Jesuits from Saint Louis University.
Pope to FAO: More must be done to end the scandal of starvation
Pope to FAO: more must been done to end scandal of starvation: “Something more can and must be done” for the millions of people who are “still suffering and dying of starvation”, something which is “truly scandalous” in this day and age. Moreover, the current global crisis cannot “continue to be used as an alibi” for people, states and institutions to shirk their responsibility in helping the poor and hungry of the world.
This was the focus of Pope Francis address Thursday morning to the 400 participants at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Conference.
This was the focus of Pope Francis address Thursday morning to the 400 participants at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Conference.
10 things you need to know today: June 20, 2013
10 things you need to know today: June 20, 2013 - The Week: Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies, stocks fall after Bernanke says the Fed's stimulus might end this year, and more...
Pope to Middle Eastern Christians: "I say forcefully: never lose hope!"
Pope to Middle Eastern Christians: Never lose hope: Pope Francis on Thursday met with the “Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches” – ROACO – today at the conclusion of the group’s 86th Plenary Assembly.
The ROACO is a committee which unites funding agencies from various countries around the world for the sake of providing assistance in different areas of life from worship buildings to scholarships, from houses of study and formation to social and health care facilities.
In his address to the members of ROACO, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for Eastern Catholics, who, through the years have “faced every difficulty for the Christian name” and have “kept the faith.”
The ROACO is a committee which unites funding agencies from various countries around the world for the sake of providing assistance in different areas of life from worship buildings to scholarships, from houses of study and formation to social and health care facilities.
In his address to the members of ROACO, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for Eastern Catholics, who, through the years have “faced every difficulty for the Christian name” and have “kept the faith.”
Father Robert Barron's 6 tips for the new evangelization
OSV Daily Take Blog: Father Robert Barron at #CMC13: Six tips for the new evangelization: Today marked the beginning of the Catholic Press Association's Catholic Media Conference, a gathering of Catholic communications professionals from around the world. This year, the conference is in the Mile High City of Denver, Colo.
With the theme of "Riding into New Frontiers," we are exploring new methods, new expression and new ardor: the new evangelization.
With the theme of "Riding into New Frontiers," we are exploring new methods, new expression and new ardor: the new evangelization.
Here's the startling truth about the hidden pyramids of the Bible
Hidden Pyramids of the Bible! |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: Sometimes the Bible uses a little-known literary form that most people have never heard of.
It’s called chiasmus.
Whatever does that mean?
We begin to get a glimmer when we consider the origin of the name.
It’s from the Greek letter Chi, which looks like the English letter X.
In a Chi—or an X—there are two lines that cross each other. If you consider just the bottom half of the letter, they form a peak.
One line goes up to the peak and the other descends down.
Like a pyramid.
And that’s what a chiasmus is like, only with words or blocks of texts instead of lines.
It’s called chiasmus.
Whatever does that mean?
We begin to get a glimmer when we consider the origin of the name.
It’s from the Greek letter Chi, which looks like the English letter X.
In a Chi—or an X—there are two lines that cross each other. If you consider just the bottom half of the letter, they form a peak.
One line goes up to the peak and the other descends down.
Like a pyramid.
And that’s what a chiasmus is like, only with words or blocks of texts instead of lines.
Obama offends Catholics in the UK, says religious schools are divisive
Obama offends Catholics in the UK, says religious schools are divisive - BizPac Review: The Catholic media is up in arms over comments President Obama made during a speech while in Northern Ireland for the G8 summit. Obama made what is described as “an alarming call for an end to Catholic education,” in spite of the fact that it is considered “a critical component of the Church.”
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
7 social media secrets in Catholic youth ministry
7 Social Media Secrets in Catholic Youth Ministry � 22nd Century CatholicismSCHNEIDER: The goal of Catholic Youth Ministry is to help teens know and experience Christ. To do this we need to reach teens. But where are teens? Today many are on social media. Yet social media can seem daunting to those of us just a few years older. I figured I could offer some things that helped me reach teens on social media.
I don’t think of myself as a social-media expert. However, somehow I’ve supposedly become the most influential person online in Catholic Youth Ministry, I should have something to say. I guess I’ll try to say what I know. I hope it helps.
I don’t think of myself as a social-media expert. However, somehow I’ve supposedly become the most influential person online in Catholic Youth Ministry, I should have something to say. I guess I’ll try to say what I know. I hope it helps.
"Illegals" are not "immorals": What every Catholic needs to know about immigration law...
“Illegals” are not “Immorals”: A Persistent Immigration Fallacy - Catholic CultureMIRUS: Many Americans, especially conservative Americans, tend to be selective legalists. Despite their recognition of the falsity of some anti-life laws, they hold that the law confirms a sort of territorial moral exclusivity on citizens. This is one of many values which can arise from being culture bound. It typically creates a huge blind spot on immigration. There are two false assumptions here. First, there is the assumption that those who have come earlier rather than later to a particular region, and have established a government over the region, and have developed a kind of society in that region, somehow have an exclusive claim to that region as their own. This is typically applied self-servingly; it is rarely upheld for peoples who may have occupied a territory prior to “us”. But in any case, the idea that one group of people can morally set a broad region to be off limits to other groups of people is absurd.
Pope invites teen with Down Syndrome into the Popemobile
Pope invites Down Syndrome teen on car for a spin: Pope Francis has given a 17-year-old boy with Down Syndrome the ride of his life, sort of.
Francis invited Alberto di Tullio up onto his open-top Mercedes at the end of his general audience Wednesday, letting him spin around on the pontiff's white chair while tens of thousands of people looked on.
The boy's father, Celestino di Tullio, told The Associated Press he choked up when Francis approached his son: "The pope saw him, embraced him. Then Alberto pointed to the car, and so he brought him up!"
Francis invited Alberto di Tullio up onto his open-top Mercedes at the end of his general audience Wednesday, letting him spin around on the pontiff's white chair while tens of thousands of people looked on.
The boy's father, Celestino di Tullio, told The Associated Press he choked up when Francis approached his son: "The pope saw him, embraced him. Then Alberto pointed to the car, and so he brought him up!"
How to overcome your fear of rejection and show Catholic courage at work
NCRegister | Show Catholic Courage at WorkHAIN: How many times have we missed opportunities to stand up for Christ or share our faith? Is it the conversation we avoid with a troubled co-worker? Is it our refusal to publicly make the Sign of the Cross and say a blessing over our meals? Is it our reluctance to stand up to someone who is attacking the Church?�
Too often, a misplaced concern for the possible negative opinions of those around us keeps us from embracing our responsibilities.�
Too often, a misplaced concern for the possible negative opinions of those around us keeps us from embracing our responsibilities.�
The famous Psalm 23 is actually a hidden catechesis on the sacraments
The Psalm Prefigured the Sacraments : Stacy TrasancosTRASANCOS: As a little girl I memorized Psalm 23 and I remember longing for those things. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.” I thought it must be about Heaven, the place where people go when they die. When the world seemed big and confusing, that psalm brought me peace. There was something about it, I dreamed of it.
The world is way, way bigger than you (as seen in these awesome photos)
The world is way, way bigger than you - The Week: When you're crammed into a New York City subway car at rush hour, waiting in an interminably long line at the DMV, or squished among hundreds of sweaty fans at a concert, the world can feel like a stiflingly small place. But make no mistake: Earth is really big — and way, way bigger than you. Consider the scale of a single person when contrasted with some of Mother Nature's more impressive features.
The world's six most bizarre animals
The World's Six Most Bizarre Animals: Native again to the island of Madagascar, the curious Giraffe Weevil gets its name from its jointed neck, which assists in nest building and fighting. At a teensy 2.5 centimeters long, the red and black Giraffe Weevil comprise the title of the world’s longest weevils and, in spite of their size, are fairly common sights amid the African island’s terrains. Not much is known about the species, though; after all, it was only discovered in 2008.
5 more productivity myths, debunked by science (and common sense)
More Productivity Myths, Debunked by Science (and Common Sense): “A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.” “If you had more hours in the day, you'd be more productive.” These are common productivity tropes you've probably heard before, and you may even be wasting time trying to follow them when they don't make sense for you. Let's take a look at some of the most popular claims about productivity, and see if there's science to back them up.
The last time we tackled productivity myths, we used studies and published research to break down oft-repeated productivity tropes. We'll take the same approach this time, dig into the science that refutes each myth, and offer some tips to help you work smarter in your quest to get things done.
The last time we tackled productivity myths, we used studies and published research to break down oft-repeated productivity tropes. We'll take the same approach this time, dig into the science that refutes each myth, and offer some tips to help you work smarter in your quest to get things done.
"Share with me, dear Mother of God, your courage": The prayer of a loving father consumed by grief...
Prayer in Time of Grief | The American Catholic: I had been fortunate in my life and avoided great tragedy, until the death of my son a month ago on May 19. My mother and father died, both too young, and their deaths saddened me greatly.� However, it is in the nature of things for parents to die before their children, and although I still miss them greatly, their passing did not overwhelm my life with grief.� My son Larry’s death is a completely different matter.� I have experienced the depths of grief at his young, and completely unexpected, death, and I miss him constantly and think about him all the time.
Protestant writer Timothy George explains why Pope Francis is so popular with Evangelical Christians
Our Francis, Too | Christianity Today: Papa Francesco! In the damp darkness of St. Peter's Square, the crowds chanted his name when Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was named the new pope. Seldom has a religious leader been embraced so warmly across the Christian world, including by many evangelicals. Seldom has hope risen so high so quickly. And the hope has arisen for good reason.
Since the Reformation, many of the names chosen by popes—Pius, Clement, Leo, Urban, even Benedict—sound quaint to non-Catholic ears. But the humble Francis of Assisi is a saint for everyone.
Since the Reformation, many of the names chosen by popes—Pius, Clement, Leo, Urban, even Benedict—sound quaint to non-Catholic ears. But the humble Francis of Assisi is a saint for everyone.
Pope Francis sends message reaffirming call to abolish death penalty
Papal Message Reaffirms Call to Abolish Death Penalty | Daily News | NCRegister.com: In a message to participants of the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty held in Madrid, Pope Francis reiterated the Holy See’s support for “the abolition of the death penalty.”
Opposition to the death penalty is part of the Church’s defense of the dignity of human life, he said, and it is “a courageous reaffirmation of the conviction that humanity can successfully confront criminality” without resorting to the suppression of life.
In his message, which was signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy Father recalled that his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II made similar pleas.
Opposition to the death penalty is part of the Church’s defense of the dignity of human life, he said, and it is “a courageous reaffirmation of the conviction that humanity can successfully confront criminality” without resorting to the suppression of life.
In his message, which was signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy Father recalled that his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II made similar pleas.
How to recognize (and avoid) the most popular moral heresy in the world
The Most Popular Moral Heresy in the World | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and viewsSHEA: In the previous two pieces in this space, we have looked at two fallacies: the ad hominem and the genetic fallacy.� Both fallacies are, like all fallacies, bad ways of trying to achieve good ends.� For arriving at Truth is, of course, a very good end, but fallacies are poor ways to get there.� To be sure, sometimes even fallacious arguers can occasionally arrive at truth despite their bad arguments.� So, for instance, it may be that the guy I claim is too ugly to understand science is also factually wrong about the earth being 6,000 years old.� It could be that the member of the McCoy clan whose every utterance I and my fellow Hatfields reflexively reject is, in fact, wrong about the infield fly rule.� But the fact remains that I arrived at a true conclusion despite, not because of, my ad hominem or genetic fallacy.� It was a matter of dumb luck, like throwing my racket and scoring a point in tennis.� If I learn from this experience, “Throw my racket more” and not, “Learn to play tennis better” I may get lucky now and then, but the (pardon the pun) net result will be that I become a terrible tennis player.�
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)