Tuesday, February 28, 2017
The witches cursing Donald Trump have no idea what they are unleashing
The witches and Trump: What fresh hell is this? - Spirituality - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.org: Last week thousands of self-proclaimed witches in the United States publicly announced their intention to cast a “binding spell” against President Donald Trump, in hopes of driving him from office. According to the Boston Globe, the spell was to be performed on February 24 at midnight and on every “waning crescent moon until Trump is out of office — to keep the president from harming people and nature.” Additional spells will be cast on March 26, April 24, and May 23 with plans to continue casting spells until Trump is no longer president.
Sistine Chapel gets full digital treatment for future restorations
Sistine Chapel gets full digital treatment for future restorations | Reuters: The last time the entire Sistine Chapel was photographed for posterity, digital photography was in its infancy and words like pixels were bandied about mostly by computer nerds and NASA scientists.
Now, after decades of technological advances in art photography, digital darkrooms and printing techniques, a five-year project that will aid future restorations has left the Vatican Museums with 270,000 digital frames that show frescoes by Michelangelo and other masters in fresh, stunning detail.
Now, after decades of technological advances in art photography, digital darkrooms and printing techniques, a five-year project that will aid future restorations has left the Vatican Museums with 270,000 digital frames that show frescoes by Michelangelo and other masters in fresh, stunning detail.
Mostar Bishop Perić issues new statement: “There have been no apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje”
Local Bishop: There Were No Apparitions of Virgin Mary in MeđugorjeSANMARTIN: On the heels of the arrival of a papal delegate in the alleged Marian apparition site of Medjugorje, the local bishop has reiterated what he’s always affirmed: there is no truth to the claims from a group of purported visionaries that Our Lady of Peace appears today, or that she’s ever done so, in this otherwise unknown town of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pope Francis gives exclusive interview to magazine run by homeless
Pope Francis gives interview to 'homeless' magazine - Vatican Radio: Pope Francis has given a wide-ranging interview to an Italian magazine run by homeless persons. The interview was published on 28 February in the magazine called “Scarp de’ tenis” (“Sneakers”).
The magazine also functions as a social project, as most of the staff is homeless, suffers difficult personal situations or forms of social exclusion. For most contributors, the magazine is an important source of income. “Scarp de’ tenis” entered into partnership with the Italian arm of the Vatican’s charity organization, Caritas, in 2008.
The magazine also functions as a social project, as most of the staff is homeless, suffers difficult personal situations or forms of social exclusion. For most contributors, the magazine is an important source of income. “Scarp de’ tenis” entered into partnership with the Italian arm of the Vatican’s charity organization, Caritas, in 2008.
Monday, February 27, 2017
A glimpse of parish life and Mass in the 1920s
A Glimpse Liturgy and Parish Life in the Late 1920s - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: I have said the Traditional Latin Mass for all of my many years of priesthood. Back in the late 1980s, only a few priests were “permitted” to do so and there were few resources available to learn it. About the only visual help was the Fulton Sheen film from the 1940s describing the Mass. So, I trained under a few older priests during my seminary years. I moved from being part of the schola in the choir loft, to serving as sub-deacon, then deacon, and finally as priest-celebrant. Solemn High Mass was my specialty; I only learned the low Mass later. Most of us who celebrate the traditional Latin Mass exhibit great care in observing the rubrics and norms and have great esteem for its beauty.
Our immigration system is broken and unjust
Standing in solidarityCONLEY: The Catholic Church’s teaching on immigration is based on three clear principles: that families have the right to migrate for economic opportunities, for freedom, or for safety; that nations have the right to security, to fixed borders and ordered policies for immigrants; that as an obligation of justice and mercy, nations who can receive immigrants without detriment to the welfare of their citizens should do so.
By those standards, the immigration policy of the United States is in serious need of reform.
By those standards, the immigration policy of the United States is in serious need of reform.
Interactive map plots where every known fossil was discovered
Interactive Map Plots Where Every Known Fossil Was Discovered | Mental Floss: Curious to see who your neighbors would have been 100 million years ago? The answer can be found in this interactive map spotted by Popular Mechanics. Compiled using information from the Paleobiology Database, the graphic plots fossils uncovered by paleontologists around the world.
The scientists maintaining the database have cataloged a massive amount of fossil discoveries, and they eventually hope to include every fossil ever found. On the website, 350,442 taxa from seven continents spanning more than 500 million years are already represented.
The scientists maintaining the database have cataloged a massive amount of fossil discoveries, and they eventually hope to include every fossil ever found. On the website, 350,442 taxa from seven continents spanning more than 500 million years are already represented.
The hidden stories behind 5 of your favorite prayers
The Hidden Stories Behind 5 of Your Favorite Prayers | ncregister.comCRAUGHWELL: How well do you know the Our Father, or the Hail Mary? Not just the words, but how these prayers developed, and what they have meant—and continue to mean—to generations of Catholics. Do you know the story behind Hail Holy Queen? Or St. Francis’ Peace Prayer?
For Catholics, prayers such as these are like breathing—spiritually, we could not get along without them. And while it is always beneficial to slow down and think about the words of the prayers as we pray them, there is a lot of good that can be derived from knowing where these prayers came from.
For Catholics, prayers such as these are like breathing—spiritually, we could not get along without them. And while it is always beneficial to slow down and think about the words of the prayers as we pray them, there is a lot of good that can be derived from knowing where these prayers came from.
7 churches of Hollywood where the stars go to pray
Where the Stars Go to Pray: The Churches of Hollywood | ncregister.comSTAGNARO: I’m as jaded a New Yorker as they come, and it takes a great deal for me to look up from my weekend bagel, coffee and newspaper. Though my out-of-town friends are thrilled whenever they spot a star pounding the pavement along with us, their pedestrianism doesn’t impress me as much. However, I am thrilled to find out a star of stage, screen or tube is a devout Catholic — or, even better, a convert to the one, true, holy, catholic and apostolic faith.
What G.K. Chesterton and a dear friend taught me about confession
What G.K. Chesterton and a Dear Friend Taught Me About Confession | ncregister.comWORNER: “Why should I have to go to Confession?”
I was being testy. And my wife knew it.
Now, this wasn’t my first misgiving about the Catholic Church. Nor would it be my last. Having married a “cradle Catholic” while personally been raised Lutheran, I had asked terse questions about church hierarchy, the veneration of Mary and the Saints, and the exclusivity surrounding the partaking of the Eucharist. For fourteen years, as we alternated Sundays between Lutheran services and Catholic Mass, my wife mounted a steady, winsome defense of the Catholic faith against my sometimes-earnest-oftentimes-chippy questions.
I was being testy. And my wife knew it.
Now, this wasn’t my first misgiving about the Catholic Church. Nor would it be my last. Having married a “cradle Catholic” while personally been raised Lutheran, I had asked terse questions about church hierarchy, the veneration of Mary and the Saints, and the exclusivity surrounding the partaking of the Eucharist. For fourteen years, as we alternated Sundays between Lutheran services and Catholic Mass, my wife mounted a steady, winsome defense of the Catholic faith against my sometimes-earnest-oftentimes-chippy questions.
The best films of 2016
Best Films of 2016: More�Lists! | ncregister.comGREYDANUS: It’s time once again for my annual round-up of the best films of last year according to some of my friends and peers (see previous years).
This year I’ve collected 10 lists so far, plus mine. As always, the lists were chosen from a circle of friends and peers who are Christians and whose faith in some way informs their film writing. These lists (and, where available, the writing behind them) represent a cross-section of thoughtful film appreciation among Christians, and, while my remarks below emphasize the commonality, there is also a significant diversity of thought.
This year I’ve collected 10 lists so far, plus mine. As always, the lists were chosen from a circle of friends and peers who are Christians and whose faith in some way informs their film writing. These lists (and, where available, the writing behind them) represent a cross-section of thoughtful film appreciation among Christians, and, while my remarks below emphasize the commonality, there is also a significant diversity of thought.
Who is Vladimir Soloviev, and why do recent popes admire this Russian mystic so much?
Vladimir Soloviev, the Mystic Admired by Popes | ncregister.comPRONECHEN: Who is Vladimir Soloviev, author of Tale of the Antichrist? Recent popes gave some insight.
Soloviev is a “Russian figure of extraordinary depth,” said St. John Paul II during his Angelus of July 30, 2000.
He is “one of the greatest Russian Christian philosophers of the 19th and 20th centuries,” John Paul II said again in 2003 in a long message about Soloviev that the Holy Father sent to participants gathered to discuss this major figure on the 150th anniversary of his birth.
In his Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul II refers to Soloviev, and in his encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) he lists Soloviev as standing in a line of distinguished Christian philosophers.
Soloviev is a “Russian figure of extraordinary depth,” said St. John Paul II during his Angelus of July 30, 2000.
He is “one of the greatest Russian Christian philosophers of the 19th and 20th centuries,” John Paul II said again in 2003 in a long message about Soloviev that the Holy Father sent to participants gathered to discuss this major figure on the 150th anniversary of his birth.
In his Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul II refers to Soloviev, and in his encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) he lists Soloviev as standing in a line of distinguished Christian philosophers.
Ailing Bishop David Choby issues rare declaration of ‘impediment’ for Diocese of Nashville
Whispers in the Loggia: Amid Prayers For "Teddy Bear," Nashville Is ImpededPALMO: Eleven years ago this week, at his ordination to the helm of his hometown church, these pages dubbed the Eleventh Bishop of Nashville a "mitred teddy bear." On getting to know Bishop Dave Choby after the fact, the line just became more true – at his behest, it's admittedly the only thing this scribe has called him ever since. Yet now, the wonderfully sweet, soft-spoken prelate is in need of prayers far beyond Opryland.
Coming soon: 10 beautiful new churches in the works
Coming Soon: 10 Beautiful New Churches in the Works | The Christian ReviewLAFAVE: This article continues our series on the revival of sacred architecture that has arisen in the past decade, and features ten new Church designs, whether in concept phase or nearing completion in construction, all adhering to the rich, traditional design of centuries past. Our previous article, which highlighted church interior renovations, can be found here.
Lent, laughter and the joyful soul
Lent, Laughter, and the Joyful Soul - The Imaginative ConservativeLONGENECKER: Before his sudden fall from the limelight last week, an interestingly entertaining interview made its way into the scrambled world of the internet between the right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and the liberal jester Bill Maher. It’s a sharpish exchange between the always grinning, always cynical Mr. Maher and a guy Mr. Maher accurately calls “an impish British fag.”*
There’s crude language in the interview, but the predictably sardonic Mr. Maher is clearly befuddled by a young man who claims to be a Catholic and who seems to espouse some conservative views, and yet who comes across as a simpering, giggling, waspishly witty homosexual. Sparks flew in the discussion, but there was light as well as heat.
There’s crude language in the interview, but the predictably sardonic Mr. Maher is clearly befuddled by a young man who claims to be a Catholic and who seems to espouse some conservative views, and yet who comes across as a simpering, giggling, waspishly witty homosexual. Sparks flew in the discussion, but there was light as well as heat.
Pope Francis visits Anglican Parish in Rome
Pope Francis Visits Anglican Parish in Rome | ncregister.com: During his Sunday visit to Rome’s Anglican parish of All Saints, Pope Francis voiced gratitude for the good relations Catholics and Anglicans now enjoy and said that on the path toward full communion, humility has to be the point of departure.
“(Humility) is not only a beautiful virtue, but a question of identity,” the Pope said in his Feb. 26 visit to All Saints.
He noted that in evangelizing the Christians in Corinth, St. Paul had to “grapple” with the fact that relations with the community weren’t always good. But when faced with the question of how to carry out the task despite ongoing tensions, “Where does he begin? With humility.”
“(Humility) is not only a beautiful virtue, but a question of identity,” the Pope said in his Feb. 26 visit to All Saints.
He noted that in evangelizing the Christians in Corinth, St. Paul had to “grapple” with the fact that relations with the community weren’t always good. But when faced with the question of how to carry out the task despite ongoing tensions, “Where does he begin? With humility.”
Liberal education frees us from some things and it frees us for other things
Lent and Liberal Learning | Classical Catholic EducationLANGLEY: Some things are never out of season and liberal education is one of them.
As a matter of fact the Holy season of Lent provides the Christian with an opportunity to focus on the first thing that anyone should know about Liberal education.
And what is the first thing that anyone should know about liberal education? It is, of course, that liberal education is the kind of education that specifically frees us from slavery!
As a matter of fact the Holy season of Lent provides the Christian with an opportunity to focus on the first thing that anyone should know about Liberal education.
And what is the first thing that anyone should know about liberal education? It is, of course, that liberal education is the kind of education that specifically frees us from slavery!
Catholic writer Fiorella De Maria embraces Truth through fiction
The Creative Catholic: Fiorella De Maria | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and viewsTURLEY: Fiorella De Maria is an award-winning author who was born in Italy of Maltese parents and grew up in Wiltshire, England. She received a BA in English Literature and� a Masters in Renaissance Literature from Cambridge. She now lives in Surrey with her husband and children.� A winner of the National Book Prize of Malta, she has published four novels with Ignatius Press: Poor Banished Children, Do No Harm, We’ll Never Tell Them, and most recently, The Sleeping Witness: A Father Gabriel Mystery.
Timothy Fuerst: Authentic Christian witness, Notre Dame favorite
Timothy Fuerst: Authentic Christian Witness, Notre Dame Favorite | National ReviewLOPEZ: Timothy Fuerst recently died after a fight with cancer. He was a father and husband and a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame. I never met him, but simply reading about him makes me want to be a better person. You might have the same experience. What got my attention first about Fuerst was a tribute letter a colleague wrote in The Observer campus paper. Describing Fuerst as “great” and “beloved” clearly seemed like throat clearing to Joe Kaboski, the author, a fellow professor of economics.
It's not just the head of the Jesuits. Some scholars have been undermining the Gospels for decades...
It isn’t just Fr Sosa: some scholars have been undermining the Gospels for decades | CatholicHerald.co.ukPETRI: St Jerome, one of the great Doctors of the Church and the patron saint of Biblical scholars, famously said that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Yet in a recent interview, the current Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, asserted that Jesus’ words, as recorded in the Gospels, are not necessarily what He meant to say. If Fr Sosa is right, then it appears that the Scriptures are not a trustworthy source to know Jesus Christ.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
The priests who sacrificed their lives for their daughters
The priests who lay down their lives for their daughters - Saints - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.org: The history of the Church in China is a long and complicated one, with mission after mission that lasted only a time before being driven out by persecution. In the 19th century, St. John Bosco (who influenced so many saints it sometimes seems everything he touched turned to a halo) had a dream about the future of the Church in China: a chalice filled with sweat and another filled with the blood of Salesians.
The Gallery of Regrettable Lenten Food
Gallery of Regrettable Lenten Food | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: What to cook for those Lenten meals? Such a dilemma!
Me, I always have dreams of various interesting vegetable-based stews and soups, but you know what it always ends up being?
Cheese pizza. Lots and lots of cheese pizza. With maybe some pancakes and eggs tossed in there for variety.
For some reason, I went on a bit of a rabbit trail last night..I have no idea how I happened to think that there might be a treasure trove of Lenten-themed vintage food advertisements out there…but there is. It’s at an advertising design archive website, and, yes, there is a “Lent” keyword, although several of the ads in that category are Valentine-themed, but who knows.
Me, I always have dreams of various interesting vegetable-based stews and soups, but you know what it always ends up being?
Cheese pizza. Lots and lots of cheese pizza. With maybe some pancakes and eggs tossed in there for variety.
For some reason, I went on a bit of a rabbit trail last night..I have no idea how I happened to think that there might be a treasure trove of Lenten-themed vintage food advertisements out there…but there is. It’s at an advertising design archive website, and, yes, there is a “Lent” keyword, although several of the ads in that category are Valentine-themed, but who knows.
Pope's Sunday Angelus: God is faithful – trust him and don't worry
God is faithful – trust him and don't worry, Pope Francis says :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): While earthly pleasures such as power and money bring temporary satisfaction, they are ultimately fleeting and deceptive, Pope Francis said Sunday, explaining that God alone is faithful and in trusting him, we have nothing to worry about.
“God is not a distant an anonymous being: he is our refuge, the source of our serenity and our peace,” the Pope said Feb. 26. “He is the rock of our salvation, to whom we can cling with the certainty of not falling; he is our defense against the evil that is always lurking.”
“God is not a distant an anonymous being: he is our refuge, the source of our serenity and our peace,” the Pope said Feb. 26. “He is the rock of our salvation, to whom we can cling with the certainty of not falling; he is our defense against the evil that is always lurking.”
Pope Francis helps SSPX take over church, complex, in heart of Rome
Pope Francis helps SSPX take over church, complex, in heart of Rome | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: Il Foglio today as a story about how Pope Francis was a decisive factor in handing over a neo-Gothic church in the center of Rome, Santa Maria Immacolata all’Esquilino, to the SSPX.
It is going to be a center for studies and, perhaps, their HQ. It is a pretty large complex.
It is going to be a center for studies and, perhaps, their HQ. It is a pretty large complex.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
The whole world is more Catholic than you think
The Whole World is More Catholic Than You ThinkCLARK: The world is Catholic. All of it.
When I was asked to write an online world geography course two years ago, I wondered if I were the right man for the job. After all, I rarely travel more than 100 miles from my home; the only foreign country I have ever been to is Canada, and I haven’t even been there for over 30 years.
But I’ve learned a lot since I started writing. And while you world travelers might be aware of a little secret already, I just discovered it myself: Planet Earth is Catholic territory. “Christendom” can be defined as those nations and lands where Christ is loved. Historically, that is a vast territory indeed.
When I was asked to write an online world geography course two years ago, I wondered if I were the right man for the job. After all, I rarely travel more than 100 miles from my home; the only foreign country I have ever been to is Canada, and I haven’t even been there for over 30 years.
But I’ve learned a lot since I started writing. And while you world travelers might be aware of a little secret already, I just discovered it myself: Planet Earth is Catholic territory. “Christendom” can be defined as those nations and lands where Christ is loved. Historically, that is a vast territory indeed.
Suppressing Jesuits, suppressing Jesus: Fr. Sosa’s surprising words on Christ’s own words
Suppressing Jesuits, Suppressing Jesus: Fr. Sosa’s surprising words on Christ’s own words - Top Stories - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgPECKNOLD: In 1773 the Society of Jesus was suppressed. While Jesuits were not without theological critics – Jansenists, Dominicans, and Franciscans – their suppression was not theological but political. As nation-states were forming throughout Europe and the Americas, many monarchs saw the Jesuits not simply as priests attending to the propagation of the Church’s faith, but as political and economic actors with more “global” concerns. Justified or not, in many parts of the world, monarchs accused Jesuits of “inciting the mobs.”
The Martyrs of Damascus of 1860 knew the difference between heroic and casual Catholics
Clinging to Onions: The Martyrs of Damascus (1860)BECKER: “The days in which we live now require heroic Catholicism, not casual Catholicism,” declared Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky in 2012. “We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction.” This is especially the case when religious tolerance is lacking and when faithfulness to Christ can – and often does – lead to death, a situation not restricted to our current age.
Consider, for example, the persecuted Christians of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. In 1856, following the Crimean War, the Ottoman Sultan granted full and universal religious freedom to his subjects. It was an unacceptable concession for the majority Muslim population, and it was particularly noxious in the view of the minority Druze sect, a gnostic offshoot of Shiite Islam.
Consider, for example, the persecuted Christians of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. In 1856, following the Crimean War, the Ottoman Sultan granted full and universal religious freedom to his subjects. It was an unacceptable concession for the majority Muslim population, and it was particularly noxious in the view of the minority Druze sect, a gnostic offshoot of Shiite Islam.
Dear converts: How did you deal with impatience while waiting to become Catholic?
How Did You Deal With Impatience While Waiting To Become Catholic? CHNetwork Community Question - The Coming Home Network: In a lot of Christian churches, if you want to join up, it’s as simple as praying a prayer, and you’re in. �With Catholicism, it’s quite a bit different- which can be jarring to those who are used to more informal traditions. �For some, going through either the 9 month RCIA process (or even a shorter set of personal sessions�with a parish priest) can carry with it some frustration- you want to be Catholic NOW!
Fortunately, this is an issue we deal with quite a bit at The Coming Home Network, so we asking our members and readers to weigh in on the following question:
Fortunately, this is an issue we deal with quite a bit at The Coming Home Network, so we asking our members and readers to weigh in on the following question:
How one soldier used beer to fight off 6,000 Chinese Communist troops
How One Soldier Used Beer to Fight Off 6,000 Enemy Troops: Everyone knows beer can save the day when you're watching the game or staging a cookout. But it can also save the day on the battlefield. Consider the case of Private William Speakman, who used the incredible power of beer to fight off 6,000 enemy soldiers during the Korean war.
Marriage prep should be more than just a few courses, Pope tells priests
Marriage prep should be more than just a few courses, Pope tells priests :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On Saturday Pope Francis told a group of parish priests training on the new marriage annulment process to place strong emphasis on good preparation that isn’t limited to just a few courses, but extends even to the first few years after marriage.
“I ask myself how many of these youth who come to marriage preparation courses understand what ‘marriage,’ the sign of the union of Christ and the Church, means,” the Pope said Feb. 25.
“They say yes, but do they understand this? Do they have faith in this?” he asked, and voiced his conviction that “a true catechumenate is needed for the sacrament of marriage.”
“I ask myself how many of these youth who come to marriage preparation courses understand what ‘marriage,’ the sign of the union of Christ and the Church, means,” the Pope said Feb. 25.
“They say yes, but do they understand this? Do they have faith in this?” he asked, and voiced his conviction that “a true catechumenate is needed for the sacrament of marriage.”
Thursday, February 23, 2017
What does it mean to be salted with fire?
What Does It Mean to Be Salted with Fire? - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: To apply the image of salt to the Christian life, we should see that the Christian is charged with purifying, sanctifying, and preserving this wounded and decaying world by being salt to it. The Christian is called to bring flavor to life in a world that is so often filled with despair and meaninglessness.
With that background, let’s turn to an analysis of Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Mark.
With that background, let’s turn to an analysis of Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Mark.
No, Pope Francis did not say it's better to be an atheist than a bad Catholic
No, Pope Francis Did NOT Say It's Better to Be an Atheist Than a Bad Catholic | ChurchPOP: Don’t believe the headlines!
Have you heard the news that Pope Francis preached it was better to be an atheist than a hypocritical Catholic? It’s in the headlines from Reuters, CNN, The Guardian, and many others.
There’s only one problem: that is not what he said. They’re all wrong.
From Vatican Radio itself, here is what Pope Francis actually said, in context
Have you heard the news that Pope Francis preached it was better to be an atheist than a hypocritical Catholic? It’s in the headlines from Reuters, CNN, The Guardian, and many others.
There’s only one problem: that is not what he said. They’re all wrong.
From Vatican Radio itself, here is what Pope Francis actually said, in context
3 ways philosophy can give power to evangelization
3 Ways Philosophy Can Give Power to Evangelization | ncregister.comSCHIMPF: Many of the Third Orders and lay movements in the Church have a rather simple idea at their core: if one is called to holiness, then one should make use of the “tools” of holiness—i.e. basic Christian practices such as frequent reception of the sacraments, personal prayer, daily reading of the Scriptures, and a life lived in common. These are the practices, the “tools” used by priests and those in the various forms of consecrated life in the Church (the “professionals” of holiness, if you will permit me to stretch the analogy even further). The genius of the ecclesial movements and Third Orders is in the realization that these practices need not be limited to the cloistered or those in positions of Christian leadership. In various degrees and modes, these are practices from which all Christians can benefit.
What being a country Catholic is really like
The Benedict Option in Practice: Living the Rural Life is Surprisingly Normal | The Catholic GentlemanCRAIG: Humanity is a part of nature, we are nature’s stewards, and living in close proximity is living in the most “normal” of settings. As G.K. Chesterton once noted, the city is the only habitat where people have to leave (i.e. visit the countryside) to have a retreat. Living close to it helps us to see and feel our relation to it, which helps to temper the extreme and anti-life sentiments that view humanity as a total drain on nature’s goodness and therefore it would not be all that bad if we self-exterminated, perhaps starting before birth even.
Better to be an atheist than a Catholic with a ‘double life’, Pope Francis says
Pope: Don't put off conversion, give up a double life - Vatican Radio: Don’t scandalize “the little ones” with a double life, because scandal destroys. That was the message of Pope Francis in his homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. And so, the Pope said, we should not put off conversion.
“Cut off your hand,” “Pluck out your eye,” but “don’t scandalize the little ones,” that is, the just, those who confide in the Lord, who believe simply in the Lord. That was the Pope’s exhortation in the homily, based on the day’s Gospel.
“Cut off your hand,” “Pluck out your eye,” but “don’t scandalize the little ones,” that is, the just, those who confide in the Lord, who believe simply in the Lord. That was the Pope’s exhortation in the homily, based on the day’s Gospel.
Social media is slowly driving Americans insane
Social Media Are Driving Americans Insane - Bloomberg: If you pull out your phone to check Twitter while waiting for the light to change, or read e-mails while brushing your teeth, you might be what the American Psychological Association calls a “constant checker.” And chances are, it’s hurting your mental health. Last week, the APA released a study finding that Americans were experiencing the first statistically significant stress increase in the survey’s 10-year history. In January, 57 percent of respondents of all political stripes said the U.S. political climate was a very or somewhat significant source of stress, up from 52 percent who said the same thing in August. On Thursday, the APA released the second part of its 1 findings, “Stress In America: Coping With Change,” examining the role technology and social media play in American stress levels.
Iraqi Christians erect large cross in area liberated from ISIS
Iraqi Christians erect large cross in area liberated from ISIS :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): After years of darkness, hope has returned to Telekuf-Tesqopa. Located just 17 miles from Mosul, the village is rebuilding after being liberated from ISIS.
As a visible sign of the rebuilding, a giant cross was erected on a hill, marking the victory of the Christian faith against the darkness of the jihadists.
On Feb. 18, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad, Louis Sako, visited the village, where he blessed the large cross and participated in the celebration of the first Mass after two and a half years in Saint George Church.
As a visible sign of the rebuilding, a giant cross was erected on a hill, marking the victory of the Christian faith against the darkness of the jihadists.
On Feb. 18, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad, Louis Sako, visited the village, where he blessed the large cross and participated in the celebration of the first Mass after two and a half years in Saint George Church.
The Modesto Statement: Playing politics, bishops are conned again
The Modesto Statement: playing politics, bishops are conned again | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The statements adopted by the First US Regional Meeting of Popular Movements are, for the most part, fairly predictable leftist boilerplate: a condemnation of President Trump, a focus on the evils of racism and exploitation, a claim that the few are growing rich on the suffering of the many. Nothing that we haven’t heard before.
What makes the Modesto Statement noteworthy is that it is the product of a meeting organized, promoted, and subsidized by the Catholic Church. Co-sponsored by the Vatican’s new dicastery for Integral Human Development with the US bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), it was run by PICO: a leftist group that has received generous support from the CCHD (that is, from the people in the pews). A few dozen Catholic bishops attended, included Cardinal Peter Turkson, a leading official of the Roman Curia; Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement.
What makes the Modesto Statement noteworthy is that it is the product of a meeting organized, promoted, and subsidized by the Catholic Church. Co-sponsored by the Vatican’s new dicastery for Integral Human Development with the US bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), it was run by PICO: a leftist group that has received generous support from the CCHD (that is, from the people in the pews). A few dozen Catholic bishops attended, included Cardinal Peter Turkson, a leading official of the Roman Curia; Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement.
How this Catholic chapel, built a century before Columbus discovered America, ended up in Wisconsin...
This Catholic Chapel In Wisconsin Was Built A Century Before Columbus Discovered America | uCatholic: At the Jesuit-run Marquette University stands the oldest structure in Milwaukee, the Chapel of St. Joan of Arc, built in the early 1400’s, nearly 100 years before Columbus set sail for the New World.
How did a medieval French chapel come to stand in Wisconsin?
How did a medieval French chapel come to stand in Wisconsin?
Is the right to abort a child with disabilities becoming a duty?
Is the right to abort a child with disabilities becoming a duty? | America Magazine: It lasts only two minutes. Titled “Dear Future Mom,” the film features children with Down syndrome from different nations. They speak in various languages with appropriate subtitles. They address a mother who is expecting a child with the genetic condition, explaining the skills a person with Down could acquire: language, education, work, even the ability to fix a bicycle. Produced by the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation in 2014, the film has won numerous awards and has been exhibited at international celebrations of World Down Syndrome Day, marked each year on March 21.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Trump administration reverses Obama policies on transgender bathrooms in schools
Transgender bathrooms: Trump administration reverses Obama policies - CBS News: President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday reversed Obama-era policies requiring that public schools allow transgender students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. It will now be up to states and school districts to interpret whether federal sex discrimination law applies to gender identity.
A letter sent to schools nationwide Wednesday by the Justice and Education departments says the earlier Obama directive caused confusion and “significant litigation” over how it should be applied. The new letter says the guidance is lifted “in order to further and more completely consider the legal issues involved.”
A letter sent to schools nationwide Wednesday by the Justice and Education departments says the earlier Obama directive caused confusion and “significant litigation” over how it should be applied. The new letter says the guidance is lifted “in order to further and more completely consider the legal issues involved.”
A primer on the manly tradition of brewing, drinking and enjoying tea
A Primer on the Manly Tradition of Tea | The Art of Manliness: When you think of tea parties, you’re probably getting an image of a group of women sitting around a table drinking out of delicate tea cups while eating fancy cookies. There’s probably a doily somewhere in the picture too.
For most Americans, this is what comes to mind. How could this be? After all, the American Revolution began with one of the manliest tea parties in history.
Despite the notion that “real men don’t drink tea,” the drink is readily consumed by both sexes around the world, making it second only to water in popularity. Tea not only has a long and surprisingly manly history, but its health benefits continue to make it a wise (and tasty) choice for modern men.
For most Americans, this is what comes to mind. How could this be? After all, the American Revolution began with one of the manliest tea parties in history.
Despite the notion that “real men don’t drink tea,” the drink is readily consumed by both sexes around the world, making it second only to water in popularity. Tea not only has a long and surprisingly manly history, but its health benefits continue to make it a wise (and tasty) choice for modern men.
It is sometimes necessary to risk giving offense
It Is Sometimes Necessary to Risk Giving Offense - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: We live in times when many people take offense very easily. While this may have been a human problem seen in all ages, it is particularly evident today, when relativism and subjectivism are so widespread. Relativism is essentially a form of subjectivism. In subjectivism, the measure of truth shifts from the object (i.e., that which is being perceived) to the subject (i.e., the one who is perceiving). In this system, truth becomes relative, because there are as many versions of truth as there are subjects to perceive it. In this highly subjective perception of reality, people tend to take their own views very personally and are easily offended by views contrary to their own.
Promoting Christian religious freedom, to the exclusion of others, could end up harming Christians...
Religious Freedom: All For One, One For All | arcoftheuniverse.infoPHILPOTT: Nearly 3/4 of the world’s population lives in a country where religious freedom is strongly curtailed, and Christians suffer persecution and discrimination more than people of any other faith. The advocacy group Open Doorsreports that persecution only increased in 2016, when some 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith and some 215 million Christians faced persecution. Among the worst violators are the governments of North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Eritrea and India, as well as the Islamic State.
Abbey and Trappist beers are not the same, don’t taste the same, and are not “kinds” of beer...
Abbey beers vs. Trappist beers - Best of the Web - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgESPARZA: Neither Trappist nor Abbey beers are “kinds” of beers. That is to say, if a beer is called “Trappist” that won’t tell you whether it’s an Imperial Russian Stout, an IPA, or a Pale Ale. Moreover, it could not even be said Trappist beers and Abbey beers are produced differently, since they both share practically the same unique tradition of monastic brewing. As the independent brewmaster David Jaimes Messori points out in this article, the difference really lies in who brews the beer and where it is brewed.
Restaurants have secrets for keeping diners on schedule
How Restaurants Stick to Their Schedules - WSJ: There’s a reason the service at your Valentine’s Day dinner seemed too attentive. The restaurant already had calculated when it expected you to finish your meal and walk out the door.
As online reservation systems make it simpler to fill seats at less-popular hours, restaurateurs are finding that their biggest challenge is getting tables turned over in time for the next reservation, says Gabe Garza, a partner in Blue Door Kitchen & Garden, La Storia and a handful of other Chicago restaurants.
As online reservation systems make it simpler to fill seats at less-popular hours, restaurateurs are finding that their biggest challenge is getting tables turned over in time for the next reservation, says Gabe Garza, a partner in Blue Door Kitchen & Garden, La Storia and a handful of other Chicago restaurants.
6 reasons why Bl. Columba Marmion is such an important figure for our times
Bl. Columba Marmion on Living in Christ – Homiletic & Pastoral ReviewSTAUDT: Fr. Aidan Nichols in his book, Christendom Awake, rightly points out that we have lost the cultural foundation of the spiritual life. In the modern world, God is perceived as absent and there is an intense focus on the individual. Nonetheless, he insightfully recognized the emergence of a new spirituality witnessed by the likes of St. Therese, Bl. Charles de Foucauld, and St. Edith Stein. He describes the spirituality of these new masters as follows: “Their prayer life appears to have arisen with a force and intensity unusual in the history of spirituality from out of a sense of what their very existence demanded. They could not take prayer for granted … They found out, rather, that for them existence was not bearable without prayer. Theirs was existential praying.”
Attention New York Times copy desk: It's time to buy more reference Bibles (and use them)...
Attention New York Times copy desk: It's time to buy more reference Bibles (and use them) — GetReligionMATTINGLY: Truth be told, the Bible is a very complicated book. It also doesn't help that there are many different versions of it.
Why bring this up? Well, it's time to look at another error abut the Bible found in a story published in The New York Times. Another error? Click here for some background.
This one isn't quite as spectacular as the famous case in which the Gray Lady published a piece on tourism in Jerusalem that originally contained this rather infamous sentence...
Why bring this up? Well, it's time to look at another error abut the Bible found in a story published in The New York Times. Another error? Click here for some background.
This one isn't quite as spectacular as the famous case in which the Gray Lady published a piece on tourism in Jerusalem that originally contained this rather infamous sentence...
Do our faces reflect the divine signature of Christ?
A Meditation on the Theology of the FaceKRANICK: Genesis declares that man is “made in the image of God.” Humanity is set apart from the rest of creation with an eternal soul capable of reason, will, and self-giving love; that is, God created man with divine attributes. These preternatural gifts bestow on us a rational and spiritual nature, elevating us above our mere physical natures. Man is separated from animal, person from non-person, primarily by our rational souls.
Yet, as Christians, we do not believe that we are just spiritual beings. We are more than just incarnate spirits confined to a body and then freed upon death. This is an ancient gnostic heresy, a Manichean dualism, unfortunately still prevalent today. Rather, our true human nature is a composite nature of spirit and body. The Catechism calls the flesh of the body the “hinge of salvation.” In the beginning, God created the flesh of the body; in marriage, man and woman become one flesh; in the Incarnation, the Word became flesh; in the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His flesh; and in the resurrection, the flesh is raised glorified and incorruptible. (CCC 1015) Christ, the Bible, and the Church are all in agreement: The body is good.
Yet, as Christians, we do not believe that we are just spiritual beings. We are more than just incarnate spirits confined to a body and then freed upon death. This is an ancient gnostic heresy, a Manichean dualism, unfortunately still prevalent today. Rather, our true human nature is a composite nature of spirit and body. The Catechism calls the flesh of the body the “hinge of salvation.” In the beginning, God created the flesh of the body; in marriage, man and woman become one flesh; in the Incarnation, the Word became flesh; in the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His flesh; and in the resurrection, the flesh is raised glorified and incorruptible. (CCC 1015) Christ, the Bible, and the Church are all in agreement: The body is good.
Stop arguing with people on Facebook, and start reading more good books...
How many books could you read if you gave up (just a bit) on social media? - Best of the Web - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgESPARZA: It is never too late to build a reading habit. In fact, if you quit social media, chances are you’ll be able to read 200 books per year, cover to cover. At least, that’s what Charles Chu suggests, in his article published by Quartz.
You might feel reluctant to embark on what sounds like a speed reading exercise. After all, books are supposed to be thoroughly enjoyed, and depending on the genre, some might be harder to crack than others. But once you take a look at the numbers, a 200-books-per-year goal really isn’t that difficult to achieve.
You might feel reluctant to embark on what sounds like a speed reading exercise. After all, books are supposed to be thoroughly enjoyed, and depending on the genre, some might be harder to crack than others. But once you take a look at the numbers, a 200-books-per-year goal really isn’t that difficult to achieve.
Vatican to crack down on illegal sale of papal symbols, coats of arms
Vatican to crack down on illegal sale of papal symbols, coat of arms :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On Wednesday the Vatican announced plans to monitor with a more careful eye those who print official images of the Pope or the Holy See and sell them for profit, intervening with “appropriate action” when necessary.
A Feb. 22 communique issued by the Secretariat of State said pointed out that among its various tasks, it also has “that of protecting the image of the Holy Father, so that his message can reach the faithful intact and that his person not be exploited.”
A Feb. 22 communique issued by the Secretariat of State said pointed out that among its various tasks, it also has “that of protecting the image of the Holy Father, so that his message can reach the faithful intact and that his person not be exploited.”
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Mall chapel in New Jersey preparing to celebrate its last Mass
Mall chapel in Paramus preparing to celebrate last Mass: The Catholic chapel at the Outlets at Bergen Town Center in Paramus, which for 47 years has been a secluded spiritual sanctuary in the midst of a suburban shopping mall, is preparing for its last Mass.
The chapel will close after saying its final Ash Wednesday masses on March 1, the start of Lent, the holiest season for Catholics. It then will pack up its pews, religious items, and its gift shop, and look for a new home. The chapel, office rooms and gift shop occupy 5,000 square feet.
The chapel will close after saying its final Ash Wednesday masses on March 1, the start of Lent, the holiest season for Catholics. It then will pack up its pews, religious items, and its gift shop, and look for a new home. The chapel, office rooms and gift shop occupy 5,000 square feet.
Where you should start looking for your lost keys
Where You Should Start Looking for Your Lost Keys: If you’ve lost your keys, you might think it’s best to search in the most obvious, open areas before moving on to more cluttered areas. But a recent study suggests our peripheral vision is better than we think, and being so thorough while searching might actually be a waste of time.
I think I found the best anagram in English
The Universe of Discourse : I found the best anagram in English: I planned to publish this last week sometime but then I wrote a line of code with three errors and that took over the blog.
A few years ago I mentioned in passing that in the 1990s I had constructed a listing of all the anagrams in Webster's Second International dictionary.
This was easy to do, even at the time, when the word list itself, at 2.5 megabytes, was a file of significant size. Perl and its cousins were not yet common; in those days I used Awk. But the task is not very different in any reasonable language
A few years ago I mentioned in passing that in the 1990s I had constructed a listing of all the anagrams in Webster's Second International dictionary.
This was easy to do, even at the time, when the word list itself, at 2.5 megabytes, was a file of significant size. Perl and its cousins were not yet common; in those days I used Awk. But the task is not very different in any reasonable language
I’m convinced that we need good arguments, but I’m even more convinced that we need saints...
Evangelizing Through the Good | Word On FireBARRON: Anyone even vaguely acquainted with my work knows that I advocate vigorous argument on behalf of religious truth. I have long called for a revival in what is classically known as apologetics, the defense of the claims of faith against skeptical opponents. And I have repeatedly weighed in against a dumbed-down Catholicism. Also, I have, for many years, emphasized the importance of beauty in service of evangelization. The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, the Sainte Chapelle, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion, T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, and the Cathedral of Chartres all have an extraordinary convincing power, in many ways surpassing that of formal arguments. So I affirm the path of truth and the path of beauty. But I also recommend, as a means of propagating the faith, the third of the transcendentals, namely, the good. Moral rectitude, the concrete living out of the Christian way, especially when it is done in an heroic manner, can move even the most hardened unbeliever to faith, and the truth of this principle has been proven again and again over the centuries.�
Why on earth did they start offering Mass “facing the people”?
ASK FATHER: Why on earth did they start offering Mass “facing the people”? | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: There are several factors for why the altars got turned around. Before launching in, the great liturgical expert Klaus Gamber thought that turn altars around did more damage to Catholic identity than anything else after the Council. Also, I am leaving aside the blah blah that everyone has to add: “we have to admit that either way of saying Mass is okeydokey”. No. Both ways are legal and rubrical in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, but they are not “equal”. I’m not going to make any arguments for Mass versus populum here.
What really happened at the fortress of Masada?
Decoding the ancient tale of mass suicide in the Judaean desert | Aeon Essays: In 73 or 74 CE, 960 Jewish zealots – men, women and children – committed suicide on top of the mountain of Masada by the Dead Sea in Israel rather than be captured by the Romans. The story, told by the Roman historian Josephus, is one of the most famous from antiquity. But did it actually happen? Yigael Yadin, the late Israeli archaeologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who excavated the site in the mid-1960s, said that it did. Moreover, he also said that the objects found during his dig proved it. His subsequently published book, Masada: Herod’s Fortress and the Zealots’ Last Stand (1966), was a bestseller.
Henry ‘Box’ Brown, the slave who literally mailed himself to freedom
This ingenious slave literally mailed himself to freedom: On March 30, 1849, a group of white men in Philadelphia breathlessly opened a wooden crate, carefully prying open the slats. Inside, was a black man. He was Henry Brown, a Virginia slave, who by unlikely and clever means had just completed a 27-hour journey. Brown had shipped himself to freedom.
In a custom-made box—three feet and one inch long, two feet wide, and two and a half feet deep— Brown had endured 350 miles of rough and painful carriage by way of numerous steamships, trains, and wagons.
In a custom-made box—three feet and one inch long, two feet wide, and two and a half feet deep— Brown had endured 350 miles of rough and painful carriage by way of numerous steamships, trains, and wagons.
Archbishop Charles Chaput: How to be a faithful witness in a post-Christian world
Being a Faithful Witness in a Post-Christian World | ncregister.com: In his nearly six years as archbishop of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles Chaput — just as he did as archbishop of Denver for 14 years and as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, nine years before that — has steadfastly maintained his primary role as a pastor and a teacher of the faith. In his many writings, he has also emerged as one of American Catholicism’s keenest observers of culture.
The Catholic Church cannot teach error, because she was founded by Jesus Christ, Who is God Himself
The Church Cannot Teach Error, Because She Was Founded by Jesus Christ, Who is God Himself | ncregister.comPOPE: There are often strident demands, coming from both within and outside the Church, that she change her teachings to conform to modern notions. Given our era’s preoccupation with sex, many of the demands for change involve related issues: homosexual acts, same-sex “marriage,” adultery (particularly divorce and “remarriage”), premarital sex, contraception, and abortion.
But such demands show a misunderstanding of both the nature and power of the Church. There are many mistaken ideas today regarding the theology of the Church (ecclesiology), even among the faithful. It is commonly thought that the Church (or at least her current leaders) can simply decide what we want to teach on any given topic; for example, if we want to simply change what we teach about abortion we can just do it. And modern critics assert that if we can do it, then we should do it. The same goes for any of our “controversial” teachings such as contraception, the male-only priesthood, and so forth. This is mistaken ecclesiology and an exaggeration of the Church’s power.
But such demands show a misunderstanding of both the nature and power of the Church. There are many mistaken ideas today regarding the theology of the Church (ecclesiology), even among the faithful. It is commonly thought that the Church (or at least her current leaders) can simply decide what we want to teach on any given topic; for example, if we want to simply change what we teach about abortion we can just do it. And modern critics assert that if we can do it, then we should do it. The same goes for any of our “controversial” teachings such as contraception, the male-only priesthood, and so forth. This is mistaken ecclesiology and an exaggeration of the Church’s power.
Amazing video of German fighter jet intercepting a 777 that went quiet
Amazing Video of German Fighter Jet Intercepting a 777 That Went Quiet: A Boeing 777 was carrying passengers on India's Jet Airways from Mumbai to London this week when the pilots lost contact with air traffic controllers based in Cologne Germany. With a suddenly out-of-reach jet cruising through its airspace, Germany quickly hustled Typhoon fighter jets to intercept the airliner, as you can see in this video from the Facebook page CirrusPilot.
Pope Francis: Protecting migrants is a 'moral imperative'
Pope Francis: protecting migrants is a 'moral imperative' :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On Tuesday Pope Francis said that it is our duty to defend the dignity of migrants, particularly by enacting just laws that offer protection to those forced to flee from dangerous or inhumane situations.
“Defending (migrants’) inalienable rights, ensuring their fundamental freedoms and respecting their dignity are duties from which no one can be exempted,” the Pope said Feb. 21.
“Protecting these brothers and sisters,” he said, “is a moral imperative which translates into adopting juridical instruments, both international and national, that must be clear and relevant; implementing just and far reaching political choices.”
“Defending (migrants’) inalienable rights, ensuring their fundamental freedoms and respecting their dignity are duties from which no one can be exempted,” the Pope said Feb. 21.
“Protecting these brothers and sisters,” he said, “is a moral imperative which translates into adopting juridical instruments, both international and national, that must be clear and relevant; implementing just and far reaching political choices.”
When U.S. astronauts received Holy Communion in space
When Astronauts Received Holy Communion in Space | ncregister.comSCHIFFER: Fifty-five years ago — on February 20, 1962 — NASA launched one of the most important flights in American history. On that day, astronaut John Glenn became the first man to circle the globe aboard the Mercury “Friendship 7” spacecraft. NASA's goal was to send a man into earth orbit, observe his reactions, and return him safely to earth.
The mission was a success. John Glenn circled the earth three times, reaching speeds of more than 17,000 miles per hour. After four hours and 56 minutes, the successful mission concluded with a splashdown and recovery in the Atlantic Ocean, 800 miles southeast of Bermuda. John Glenn was immortalized as a national hero and a symbol of American ambition.
The mission was a success. John Glenn circled the earth three times, reaching speeds of more than 17,000 miles per hour. After four hours and 56 minutes, the successful mission concluded with a splashdown and recovery in the Atlantic Ocean, 800 miles southeast of Bermuda. John Glenn was immortalized as a national hero and a symbol of American ambition.
A model letter on the restoration of all-male altar service
New Liturgical Movement: A Model Letter on the Restoration of All-Male Altar ServiceKWASNIEWSKI: topic of conversation that often arises among young (and not-so-young) traditionally-minded Catholics is: “Can we do anything about the problem of female altar servers?” It is a problem worth solving and one that is capable of being solved, rather than a fateful mistake about which nothing can be done.
Imagine you are a bishop, thinking about what a wreckage feminism has made of the Church in the Western world, as men continue to feel alienated, women no longer offer themselves to religious life, and a pathetic number of priestly vocations dribble in. You are planning to write a letter to your presbyterate, explaining why you are abrogating, in your diocese, the use of female altar servers. What might such a letter look like? How would you make the case?
Imagine you are a bishop, thinking about what a wreckage feminism has made of the Church in the Western world, as men continue to feel alienated, women no longer offer themselves to religious life, and a pathetic number of priestly vocations dribble in. You are planning to write a letter to your presbyterate, explaining why you are abrogating, in your diocese, the use of female altar servers. What might such a letter look like? How would you make the case?
Vladimir Soloviev and his Tale of the Antichrist
Soloviev and His Tale of the Antichrist | ncregister.comPRONECHEN: In his Tale of the Antichrist, Vladimir Soloviev details a vision of how events might take place in the 20th century and into the 21st that usher in the Antichrist, and then how that monstrous person would act.
Although Soloviev died in 1900 just as the 20th century began, he clearly showed himself a mystic, that’s along with him also being one of the greatest of philosopher-theologians named in league with the likes of Cardinal Newman — who a little earlier had given lectures on the times of the Antichrist — and even very close to Aquinas. St. John Paul II mentioned or specifically wrote about Soloviev several times. Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Ratzinger, referred to him.
Although Soloviev died in 1900 just as the 20th century began, he clearly showed himself a mystic, that’s along with him also being one of the greatest of philosopher-theologians named in league with the likes of Cardinal Newman — who a little earlier had given lectures on the times of the Antichrist — and even very close to Aquinas. St. John Paul II mentioned or specifically wrote about Soloviev several times. Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Ratzinger, referred to him.
Archbishop Chaput’s hope-filled advice for Catholics in secular America
Archbishop Chaput’s Hope-Filled Advice for Catholics in Secular America | ncregister.comMCCLOSKEY: Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput has written a new book intended to help Catholics navigate the journey to our heavenly home.
Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World is an insightful exploration of how the America of the early 21st century differs from the past, not just in degree, but in kind. Like the more fully neo-paganized nations of Europe that most of our ancestors hailed from, we live in a society in moral free fall, facing critical challenges to right living and the pursuit of justice in such areas as economics, education, the handing on of the faith, marriage, sexual behavior and “gender identity,” the decline of family and community, and, of course, glaring human life issues like abortion and euthanasia.
Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World is an insightful exploration of how the America of the early 21st century differs from the past, not just in degree, but in kind. Like the more fully neo-paganized nations of Europe that most of our ancestors hailed from, we live in a society in moral free fall, facing critical challenges to right living and the pursuit of justice in such areas as economics, education, the handing on of the faith, marriage, sexual behavior and “gender identity,” the decline of family and community, and, of course, glaring human life issues like abortion and euthanasia.
In standing up for unborn children, Norma McCorvey stood up also for herself
Norma McCorvey: ‘Jane Roe,’ Pro-Life Heroine, Dies -- A Remembrance of Her Life | National ReviewFRANKOVICH: Flipping channels in a hotel room in Chicago in June 1995, I stopped at The Late Late Show, where Tom Snyder was interviewing Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade. She spent much of her time reciting sarcastic clichés about pro-lifers, bantering with Snyder and laughing at my expense — and, of course, at that of everyone who shared my conviction, to say nothing of the unborn children whose welfare we were always being told was none of our business.
Monday, February 20, 2017
How U.S. history is taught around the world
How US history is taught around the world: The pervasiveness of American culture means that people around the world are constantly confronted with U.S. exports, whether through global corporations, entertainment, American cuisine or other aspects of everyday life.
But what do those in other countries know about America's history? Probably not as much as you'd think.
Professor Tim Roberts writes in the Journal of American History, "Like many college students around the world, students in Turkey are familiar with American popular culture ... but have little sense of American history, particularly history before the Cold War."
But what do those in other countries know about America's history? Probably not as much as you'd think.
Professor Tim Roberts writes in the Journal of American History, "Like many college students around the world, students in Turkey are familiar with American popular culture ... but have little sense of American history, particularly history before the Cold War."
13 rules regarding proper email etiquette from around the world
13 Rules Regarding Proper Email Etiquette from Around the World | Mental Floss: Last month, France enacted a new labor law that gives anyone who works at a company with 50 or more employees the "right to disconnect" from their email. That means that employers actually have to actively enact policies discouraging people from sending or responding to messages outside of typical business hours.
While that ruling may sound like a utopian pipe dream to the many Americans for whom work communication infiltrates early mornings, late nights, and even weekends, it wasn’t such a big leap for the French, who have long valued work-life balance.
Generally, email culture varies widely around the world, from the response times you can expect to the phrasing and tone used. So, if you plan to communicate with colleagues, new clients, or sources from other countries, we've rounded up some examples of email etiquette and other quirks to remember to help ensure smooth communication.
While that ruling may sound like a utopian pipe dream to the many Americans for whom work communication infiltrates early mornings, late nights, and even weekends, it wasn’t such a big leap for the French, who have long valued work-life balance.
Generally, email culture varies widely around the world, from the response times you can expect to the phrasing and tone used. So, if you plan to communicate with colleagues, new clients, or sources from other countries, we've rounded up some examples of email etiquette and other quirks to remember to help ensure smooth communication.
3 reasons why Lent determines your happiness year-round
3 Reasons Why Lent Determines Your Happiness Year Round - Taylor MarshallMARSHALL: Everyone wants to be happy, but few are truly happy. Let’s look at how our attitude about Lent reveals our level of happiness in 3 ways:
In Christianity there is a subtle difference between internal and exterior happiness. Internal happiness is usually identified with “joy” (laetitia in Latin). External happiness depends on happenstance. In the case of “external happiness,” the happiness depends on “what happens” with our money, sex life, health, relationships, politics, etc.
The Christian has learned from Christ that internal happiness (joy) is the secret to life. And the annual Christian practice of Lent is a training camp for internal happiness.
In Christianity there is a subtle difference between internal and exterior happiness. Internal happiness is usually identified with “joy” (laetitia in Latin). External happiness depends on happenstance. In the case of “external happiness,” the happiness depends on “what happens” with our money, sex life, health, relationships, politics, etc.
The Christian has learned from Christ that internal happiness (joy) is the secret to life. And the annual Christian practice of Lent is a training camp for internal happiness.
Memento Mori: You are dust and shall return to dust
Memento Mori: You are Dust and Shall Return to Dust | ncregister.comMANN: Many years ago, I belonged to a book club named for the protagonist of John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces, Ignatius J. Reilly. We called it the IJR Society; in addition to reading books, articles, and encyclicals, and watching movies, we shared potluck dinners. Those monthly meetings are cherished memories. My husband and I made several close friends because of the IJR Society. The founder of the group died on the Feast of the Presentation 14 years ago; it was never the same and we stopped meeting.
The day I made a batch of relics
The Day I Made a Batch of Relics | ncregister.comCRAUGHWELL: A few years ago, I had a part-time gig working for a Catholic travel company that specialized in in-depth tours of Rome. I wasn’t the tour guide. More like the tour shepherd: if 34 pilgrims got off the bus, I made sure that 34 pilgrims got back on the bus. This was not always easy, since pilgrims have a tendency to wander off into obscure chapels, or to take a seat in a pew to appreciate a work of art, or enter into a reverie of devotion just as the rest of the group is heading out the door. As a result, a lot of my time was spent rounding up the wayward, while keeping an eye on where the guide was taking us next.
Inconvenient but cheerful: A defense of the unplanned family
Improvident but Cheerful: A Defense of the Unplanned Family | Classical Catholic EducationLANGLEY: I need to make a confession:
I hate planning. I always have. I don’t like calendars and I refuse to think about retirement.
The result, and this is sort of the elephant in the room right now, is twelve children!
If I were smarter and enjoyed planning and worrying and calculating, I am quite certain that I would only have one child.
And so you might be chuckling right now thinking,
“It’s all well and good for you for the time being, but why don’t we wait another twenty years when you are thinking about retirement? Tell us then about how well your lack of planning has worked!”
I hate planning. I always have. I don’t like calendars and I refuse to think about retirement.
The result, and this is sort of the elephant in the room right now, is twelve children!
If I were smarter and enjoyed planning and worrying and calculating, I am quite certain that I would only have one child.
And so you might be chuckling right now thinking,
“It’s all well and good for you for the time being, but why don’t we wait another twenty years when you are thinking about retirement? Tell us then about how well your lack of planning has worked!”
Why does God make us wait?
Why Does God Make Us Wait? - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: One of the most common frustrations in the spiritual life is the fact that God often makes us wait. Many of our requests are made with an elevated sense of urgency. Frankly, we are in a big hurry about many things—but God is not. Although He could fix every problem in an instant, He does not, and He has His reasons for this.
While the reasons for God’s delay may be somewhat mysterious, we can certainly understand some of them. For example, any parent knows that giving a child whatever he wants precisely when he wants is to spoil him. Learning to wait is beneficial. It humbles us, keeps us vigilant, helps us to clarify our desires, and aids us in developing self-control.
While the reasons for God’s delay may be somewhat mysterious, we can certainly understand some of them. For example, any parent knows that giving a child whatever he wants precisely when he wants is to spoil him. Learning to wait is beneficial. It humbles us, keeps us vigilant, helps us to clarify our desires, and aids us in developing self-control.
U.S. bishops join Mexican colleagues in denouncing ‘Santa Muerte’
US bishops join Mexican colleagues in denouncing ‘Santa Muerte’ | CatholicHerald.co.uk: Bishops in the United States are denouncing La Santa Muerte — the skeleton folk saint in Mexico linked to the illicit drug trade.
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester, El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, and San Angelo Michael Sis in Texas joined their counterparts in Mexico last week in urging Catholics to avoid honouring to the folk saint. Wester called her “antithetical” to the teachings of Jesus.
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester, El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, and San Angelo Michael Sis in Texas joined their counterparts in Mexico last week in urging Catholics to avoid honouring to the folk saint. Wester called her “antithetical” to the teachings of Jesus.
Christians in the Middle East refuse hatred, even as they face the machete
Middle East Christian Martyrs Practice Love & Forgiveness | National ReviewLOPEZ: Two years ago this month Beshir Kamel went on television and thanked so-called Islamic State terrorists for not editing out the last words of his brother and the other Egyptian men they beheaded on a beach in Libya. “Lord, Jesus Christ,” were the last words of the Coptic Christians slaughtered because of their faith.
The courage and integrity of their witness strengthened Kamel’s faith. “We are proud to have this number of people from our village who have become martyrs,” he said after his brother’s murder. “Since the Roman era, Christians have been martyrs and have learned to handle everything that comes our way. This only makes us stronger in our faith, because the Bible told us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us.” He further explained that his mother is prepared to welcome any of the men involved in her son’s beheading into her house. If one of them were to visit her, she would “ask God to open his eyes, because he was the reason her son entered the kingdom of heaven.”
The courage and integrity of their witness strengthened Kamel’s faith. “We are proud to have this number of people from our village who have become martyrs,” he said after his brother’s murder. “Since the Roman era, Christians have been martyrs and have learned to handle everything that comes our way. This only makes us stronger in our faith, because the Bible told us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us.” He further explained that his mother is prepared to welcome any of the men involved in her son’s beheading into her house. If one of them were to visit her, she would “ask God to open his eyes, because he was the reason her son entered the kingdom of heaven.”
SpaceX nails Cape Canaveral launch—and landing the rocket
SpaceX Nails Cape Canaveral Launch—And Landing the Rocket: A SpaceX rocket soared from NASA's long-idled moonshot pad Sunday, sending up space station supplies from the exact spot where astronauts embarked on the lunar landings nearly a half-century ago.
It was the first flight from NASA's legendary Launch Complex 39A since the shuttle program ended almost six years ago, and SpaceX's first liftoff from Florida since a rocket explosion last summer.
It was the first flight from NASA's legendary Launch Complex 39A since the shuttle program ended almost six years ago, and SpaceX's first liftoff from Florida since a rocket explosion last summer.
Why did so many journalists avoid the Catholic angle in Norma McCorvey's life?
God is in the faith details? The messy, complicated lives of Norma 'Jane Roe' McCorvey — GetReligionMATTINGLY: If you ever talked with Norma McCorvey, you know that there was one thing that she wanted journalists to do more than anything else: To tell her story, with all of its messy and complicated details.
She had more than her share of regrets. She had deep sorrows and, through the years, crossed an ocean of shame. As "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade she was a footnote in just about every textbook used in an American History class, at any level of education. Yet, from her point of view, she was famous because of a lie at the heart of her own life.
She knew that she could not make her lies go away. But she did want journalists to allow Americans to hear her tell the story of when she lied, why she lied and how she came to regret what legal activists built with the help of her most famous lie. Thus, she told her story over and over and over, while also trying to walk the walk of a conception to natural death Catholic pro-lifer.
She had more than her share of regrets. She had deep sorrows and, through the years, crossed an ocean of shame. As "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade she was a footnote in just about every textbook used in an American History class, at any level of education. Yet, from her point of view, she was famous because of a lie at the heart of her own life.
She knew that she could not make her lies go away. But she did want journalists to allow Americans to hear her tell the story of when she lied, why she lied and how she came to regret what legal activists built with the help of her most famous lie. Thus, she told her story over and over and over, while also trying to walk the walk of a conception to natural death Catholic pro-lifer.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Cardinal Burke firmly rejects account by Order of Malta’s acting head
Cardinal Burke Firmly Rejects Account by Order of Malta’s Acting Head | ncregister.comPENTIN: Cardinal Raymond Burke has firmly rejected an account given by the acting head of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta who said in an interview this week that the cardinal, and not the Order's Grand Master, was the one who asked its Grand Chancellor to resign in December. Here below are Cardinal Burke’s remarks in response to the account given by Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein, who is reportedly suffering from ill health and not in possession of all his faculties.
These Christians are working to cure one of the worst diseases you've never heard of
These Christians Are Working to Cure One of the Worst Diseases You've Never Heard Of | ChurchPOP: You joyfully receive your new baby into the world, but quickly make a horrifying discovery: your baby’s skin is not attached correctly to his body and is constantly causing terrible pain to your child.
You were probably not even aware that such a disorder even exists. It’s called epidermolysis bullosa, or EB or short, and it affects around 500,000 people around the globe.
It’s a genetic disorder where a certain protein that keeps the layers of your skin attached to each other is missing. It makes the skin extremely fragile so that even small amounts of rubbing (from an embrace or even wearing clothes) can cause terrible blistering and sores. It affects all racial/ethnic groups and both sexes.
You were probably not even aware that such a disorder even exists. It’s called epidermolysis bullosa, or EB or short, and it affects around 500,000 people around the globe.
It’s a genetic disorder where a certain protein that keeps the layers of your skin attached to each other is missing. It makes the skin extremely fragile so that even small amounts of rubbing (from an embrace or even wearing clothes) can cause terrible blistering and sores. It affects all racial/ethnic groups and both sexes.
Pope's Sunday Angelus: Christ's law of love overcomes law of retaliation
Pope: Christ's law of love overcomes law of retaliation - Vatican Radio: During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis said the day’s Gospel – part of the Sermon on the Mount, from the Gospel of Saint Matthew – is one of the Biblical passages that best expresses the Christian “revolution.”
In the day’s Gospel reading, he said, “Christ shows the path of true justice, through the law of love that overcomes that of retaliation, that is, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.” Jesus, he continued, does not ask His disciples simply to bear evils patiently, but to return good for evil: “Only in this way can the chains of evil be broken, and things can truly change.”
In the day’s Gospel reading, he said, “Christ shows the path of true justice, through the law of love that overcomes that of retaliation, that is, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.” Jesus, he continued, does not ask His disciples simply to bear evils patiently, but to return good for evil: “Only in this way can the chains of evil be broken, and things can truly change.”
The cycle of hatred and retribution ends with me
The Cycle of Hatred and Retribution Ends with Me - A Homily for the 7th Sunday of the Year - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: In today’s Gospel the Lord is teaching us, by His grace, to break the cycle of hatred and retribution. When someone harms me I may well become angry, and in my anger seek to get back at the offender. If I do that, though, then Satan has earned a second victory and brought the anger and retribution to a higher level. Most likely, the one who originally harmed me will then take exception to my retribution and try to inflict more harm on me. And so the cycle continues and escalates. Satan loves this.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Norma McCorvey, ‘Jane Roe’ of Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, dies at 69
Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, dies at 69 - The Washington Post: Norma McCorvey, who was 22, unwed, mired in addiction and poverty, and desperate for a way out of an unwanted pregnancy when she became Jane Roe, the pseudonymous plaintiff of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that established a constitutional right to an abortion, died Feb. 18 at an assisted-living facility in Katy, Tex. She was 69.
Weapons for battle: the use of sacramentals (holy water, blessed salt, crucifixes) in the Christian life
Weapons for battle: the use of sacramentals (holy water, blessed salt, crucifixes) in the Christian life – Mama Needs CoffeeUEBBING: Maybe the thought of doing spiritual battle against demonic forces conjures up Hollywood images from The Exorcist, with an outstretched crucifix and dramatic exchanges of liquids, both holy and not. Maybe it strikes you as hokey or superstitious. Maybe the thought of it harkens uncomfortably far back in human history to a time before computers and antibiotics and space travel, to when people had to resort to magical, pagan-esque rituals to protect their hapless, unenlightened selves from the horrors of the natural world.
Pope Francis encourages meeting of popular movements in California
Pope Francis encourages meeting of popular movements in California :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Pope Francis on Friday sent a message of encouragement to the hundreds of religious and community leaders participating in a meeting of popular movements being held this week in California.
“It is the Church, the Christian community, people of compassion and solidarity, social organizations. It is us, it is you, to whom the Lord Jesus daily entrusts those who are afflicted in body and spirit, so that we can continue pouring out all of his immeasurable mercy and salvation upon them,” Pope Francis said in his Feb. 17 message to a regional meeting of popular movements being held in California.
“It is the Church, the Christian community, people of compassion and solidarity, social organizations. It is us, it is you, to whom the Lord Jesus daily entrusts those who are afflicted in body and spirit, so that we can continue pouring out all of his immeasurable mercy and salvation upon them,” Pope Francis said in his Feb. 17 message to a regional meeting of popular movements being held in California.
The hidden legacy of Michael Novak (1933-2017)
The Hidden Legacy of Michael Novak (1933-2017) | ncregister.comGRESS: Michael Novak, theologian, author, professor, Templeton Prize winner, and former ambassador, died Feb. 17, surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer at the age of 83.
As the tributes to Michael Novak pour in from around the world, citing his accolades, accomplishments, and awards, there is one significant but largely unknown part of his legacy that deserves a special spotlight.
As the tributes to Michael Novak pour in from around the world, citing his accolades, accomplishments, and awards, there is one significant but largely unknown part of his legacy that deserves a special spotlight.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Answers to “dubia” from the Vatican! About the Traditional Mass and overly restrictive bishops...
Answers to “Dubia” from the Vatican! About the Traditional Mass and overly restrictive bishops. | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: If you are a priest who has been hassled by your bishop about saying the traditional Mass with the 1962 Missale Romanum, pay attention. Help has arrived.
Recently a priest of my acquaintance sent two questions to my old haunts the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”. Here are the priest’s questions with the answers from the PCED following the answers. The original response follows, below.
Recently a priest of my acquaintance sent two questions to my old haunts the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”. Here are the priest’s questions with the answers from the PCED following the answers. The original response follows, below.
Michael Novak will be read for a long time to come
Michael Novak’s Death: George Weigel’s Remembrance of His Life | National ReviewWEIGEL: Michael Novak loved the Catholic Church and the United States passionately. And with his death at 83, both Church and nation have lost one of their most imaginative and accomplished sons: a groundbreaking theorist in philosophy, social ethics, religious studies, ethnic studies, and economics; a brilliant teacher; a winsome journalist and apologist; a great defender of freedom, as both ambassador and polemicist; a man of striking energy and creativity, some of whose books will be read for a very long time to come, and in multiple languages.
The dangers of half-truths
The Dangers of Half-Truths | Michael Pakaluk | First ThingsPAKALUK: You’ve read it again and again. Finnis and Grisez asserted it. Joseph Seifert said the same thing in his critique. So did the forty-five theologians. It’s implicit in the cardinals’ dubia.
What am I getting at? Namely, that there are statements in Amoris Laetitia which, although they admit of a true interpretation, more easily suggest a false one, and are likely to be used to subvert the teachings of the Church. Thus, these people say, the pope as the guardian of the faith should clarify, and rule out explicitly those false interpretations.
The worry can seem abstract. Who exactly is plotting to subvert Church teaching? Some might say the Maltese, Argentine, and German bishops have already taken initial false steps. But put this idea aside. Can we find some other concrete example?
What am I getting at? Namely, that there are statements in Amoris Laetitia which, although they admit of a true interpretation, more easily suggest a false one, and are likely to be used to subvert the teachings of the Church. Thus, these people say, the pope as the guardian of the faith should clarify, and rule out explicitly those false interpretations.
The worry can seem abstract. Who exactly is plotting to subvert Church teaching? Some might say the Maltese, Argentine, and German bishops have already taken initial false steps. But put this idea aside. Can we find some other concrete example?
Our strengths are often our weaknesses...
Warning: Our strengths are often our weaknesses. Same with the Pope. | Catholic CultureMIRUS: How many times have you fallen into the traps set by the very strengths of your own personality? This is one of the great paradoxes of the spiritual life. As we come to grips with divergent personalities within the Church, it is worth thinking about.
I’ll start with a personal example. When I was a young man, I fairly frequently rubbed other Catholics the wrong way with my “orthodoxy first” personality. I’ve always been intellectually-oriented, and the first priority of what I call my personality type is to communicate the principles that ought to govern each situation. This approach makes it easy, in assessing the input of others, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Now it goes without saying that there is much to be said for my wonderful personality, but to put the matter in the least favorable light, I’ll simply state the obvious: This constant assessment of orthodoxy has often made it easier than it should be to differentiate between those who pass my time and energy test and those who don’t.
I’ll start with a personal example. When I was a young man, I fairly frequently rubbed other Catholics the wrong way with my “orthodoxy first” personality. I’ve always been intellectually-oriented, and the first priority of what I call my personality type is to communicate the principles that ought to govern each situation. This approach makes it easy, in assessing the input of others, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Now it goes without saying that there is much to be said for my wonderful personality, but to put the matter in the least favorable light, I’ll simply state the obvious: This constant assessment of orthodoxy has often made it easier than it should be to differentiate between those who pass my time and energy test and those who don’t.
Why dragonfly wings kill bacteria
Why Dragonfly Wings Kill Bacteria | American Council on Science and Health: Special bacteria-killing surfaces constitute a highly active area of research and development.
Strategies to construct them vary widely. One group has infused a slippery surface with molecules that disrupt bacterial communication. Others have shown that silver nanoparticle coatings can destroy bacteria. Yet another group used black silicon to create a surface that resembled a tiny "bed of nails" (nanopillars), which physically rip bacteria apart.
Strategies to construct them vary widely. One group has infused a slippery surface with molecules that disrupt bacterial communication. Others have shown that silver nanoparticle coatings can destroy bacteria. Yet another group used black silicon to create a surface that resembled a tiny "bed of nails" (nanopillars), which physically rip bacteria apart.
“President Trump, do the right thing on religious liberty. It's why many Christians voted for you”
President Trump, This is Why Many Christians Voted for You | ncregister.comMATTARCHBOLD: They call it "holding their nose." And many Christians who were wary of Donald Trump, worried about specific policies, or disgusted by some of his personal behavior still voted for him because he vowed to nominate pro-life conservative judges and to cease the Obama administration's war on religious liberty. (His press conferences are just a fun bonus.) Many serious Christians were berated and hectored in incredulous tones with phrases like...
‘The Great Wall’ is colorful, but generic and deeply silly
SDG Reviews ‘The Great Wall’ | ncregister.comGREYDANUS: The Great Wall is one of those movies that is more interesting for what it portends and for the discussion around it than for what is actually onscreen. Not that what is onscreen, in the most literal sense, is bad or uninteresting. Zhang Yimou, the versatile director of splashy martial-arts epics like Hero and House of Flying Daggers, but also human dramas like Raise the Red Lantern and Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, is probably incapable of making a movie that isn’t worth looking at.
Theologian Gregory Baum, who led charge against ‘Humanae Vitae’, says he's actively homosexual
Theologians’ conflicts of interest | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Gregory Baum, one of the influential theologians who led the charge against Humanae Vitae, has now revealed that he is, and has been since the 1960s, an active homosexual.
Are you surprised? No; it’s a familiar story. A theologian writes that it’s unrealistic to expect people to live in sexual continence, and eventually we learn that the theologian isn’t willing or able to control his own sexual impulses. So he has a vested interest in changing Church teaching; that teaching is an indictment of his behavior.
The editors of medical journals understand the danger involved in conflicts of interest. If a researcher wants to publish an article on the effectiveness of a new drug or device, he is required to certify that he has no financial ties to the manufacturer. The reasons for that policy are obvious.
Are you surprised? No; it’s a familiar story. A theologian writes that it’s unrealistic to expect people to live in sexual continence, and eventually we learn that the theologian isn’t willing or able to control his own sexual impulses. So he has a vested interest in changing Church teaching; that teaching is an indictment of his behavior.
The editors of medical journals understand the danger involved in conflicts of interest. If a researcher wants to publish an article on the effectiveness of a new drug or device, he is required to certify that he has no financial ties to the manufacturer. The reasons for that policy are obvious.
Cardinal Zen: I fear the Vatican’s Ostpolitik with Communist China
Cardinal Zen: I Fear the Vatican’s Ostpolitik With Communist China | ncregister.comBLACKMAN: Ipsa Cura Est (“He cares for you”) is a fitting motto for a man who has singled himself out in his robust defense of the persecuted — whether that’s members of Falun Gong or China’s persecuted Christians.
Although now retired, Cardinal Joseph Zen, 85, is far from living a quiet life. The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong is an outspoken critic of China’s communist government and has made headlines around the world about his fears over a pending Vatican deal with China.
He recently spoke with Register correspondent Daniel Blackman at his home in Hong Kong’s Salesian House of Studies.
Although now retired, Cardinal Joseph Zen, 85, is far from living a quiet life. The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong is an outspoken critic of China’s communist government and has made headlines around the world about his fears over a pending Vatican deal with China.
He recently spoke with Register correspondent Daniel Blackman at his home in Hong Kong’s Salesian House of Studies.
12 more surprising and little-known facts on Fatima
12 More Surprising and Little-Known Facts on Fatima | ncregister.comPRONECHEN: There are so many fascinating details connected with Fatima. All in their own way emphasize the importance of Fatima. Fatima must once again come into our sight. It begs our response especially on this 100th anniversary year.
As St. John Paul II said after he was seriously wounded on May 13th, 1981, the Fatima message is “more important now than it was in 1917.”
More recently, when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Fatima in 2010 to mark the 10th anniversary of the beatification of the young seers, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, he said, “We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete.”
As St. John Paul II said after he was seriously wounded on May 13th, 1981, the Fatima message is “more important now than it was in 1917.”
More recently, when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Fatima in 2010 to mark the 10th anniversary of the beatification of the young seers, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, he said, “We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete.”
How Yoda helps me with teaching my kids
How Yoda Helps Me.... With Homeschooling - Seton MagazineCLARK: “No. There is another.” This was Yoda’s response when Ben Kenobi expressed that Luke Skywalker was the “last hope.”
Some have said that we live in a “post-Christian world.” That’s bleak. But when people suggest to you that Christianity’s time has come and gone, remind them there are reasons for hope in thousands and thousands of homeschool homes and across the country. There’s no such thing as a “last hope.” But there is such thing as “next hopes.” They are your children.
And make no mistake: You are raising Jedi.
Some have said that we live in a “post-Christian world.” That’s bleak. But when people suggest to you that Christianity’s time has come and gone, remind them there are reasons for hope in thousands and thousands of homeschool homes and across the country. There’s no such thing as a “last hope.” But there is such thing as “next hopes.” They are your children.
And make no mistake: You are raising Jedi.
A look at 5 exciting telescopes of the future, and what we might be able to see through them
A Look At the Telescopes of the Future, and What We Will See Through Them: The Hubble Space Telescope might not make it to 2030. Currently operating 12 years beyond its original 15-year lifespan, Hubble's science operations are slated to end in 2021. A proposed servicing mission could keep the beloved space telescope running even longer, but eventually, the era of Hubble will come to an end.
Fortunately, a number of new telescopes, both in space and on the ground, are currently being developed to probe the cosmos like never before. Here is a look the five scopes we are most excited about.
Fortunately, a number of new telescopes, both in space and on the ground, are currently being developed to probe the cosmos like never before. Here is a look the five scopes we are most excited about.
Michael Novak dies at 83
Michael Novak Dies at 83 - Catholic University - Washington DC: Michael Novak, groundbreaking author, philosopher, theologian, and faculty member of Catholic University’s Tim and Steph Busch School of Business and Economics since last August, is remembered at the University as one of the country’s most influential thinkers and a mentor to business students and faculty, among many others.
The hidden power of holy water
The Hidden Power of Holy WaterTURLEY: It is said that people in the British Isles speak of the weather more than inhabitants of other countries do. Not surprising, perhaps, the climate is unpredictable. Not for us are the blues skies of California or, as in parts of Canada, the snows and sun dividing the year neatly into distinct seasons. No, in these isles each day can be as different as the next. There is one kind of weather, however, that we hope to avoid more than any other: rain.
How following the liturgical calendar can change your life
How following the liturgical calendar can change your life - Liturgy - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgLOPEZ: Advent. Christmas. Ordinary Time. Lent. If you’re a cradle Catholic, perhaps it all can become ordinary after a time, background music to busy Sundays. But if you are a church-goer, you have this schedule to the year that can help rearrange and even transform your life. And Chene Heady, in a book called Numbering My Days: How the Liturgical Calendar Rearranged My Life, wants to help. Heady, who teaches in the English Department at Longwood University in Virginia, shares some of his own experience.
Did Noah really live to be 950?
Did Noah Really Live to Be 950? - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: Many theories have been proposed to explain the claimed longevity. Some use a mathematical corrective, but this leads to other pitfalls such as certain patriarchs apparently begetting children while still children themselves. Another theory proposes that the purported life spans of the patriarchs are just indications of their influence or family line, but then things don’t add up chronologically with eras and family trees.
France bans pro-life websites that do not ‘openly state’ they are pro-life
France bans pro-life websites that do not ‘openly state’ they are pro-life | CatholicHerald.co.uk: A law has been passed in France banning pro-life websites which attempt to dissuade women from having abortions without making clear they are pro-life.
The law was passed by the National Assembly, which has a Socialist majority, on Thursday evening.
The new crime is punishable with two years in jail or a €30,000 fine.
Laurence Rossignol, the minister for women’s rights, said pro-life activists were still at liberty to voice their opposition to abortion, as long as it was “under the condition they openly state who they are, what they do and what they want,” according to AFP.
The law was passed by the National Assembly, which has a Socialist majority, on Thursday evening.
The new crime is punishable with two years in jail or a €30,000 fine.
Laurence Rossignol, the minister for women’s rights, said pro-life activists were still at liberty to voice their opposition to abortion, as long as it was “under the condition they openly state who they are, what they do and what they want,” according to AFP.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Archdiocese of Denver reiterates warning about Charlie Johnston's false prophecies
Archdiocese of Denver Reiterates Warning About Charlie Johnston | ncregister.comARMSTRONG: Charlie Johnston, in his quiet, folksy demeanor, came on the scene in 2010 with his blog, “The Next Right Step.” He told faithful Catholics what they already knew—the culture had lost its way. And he told them a lot of things they did not know — startling prophecies with specific dates.
Johnston preached all things Catholic and did not seem crazy. Could it be that his guardian angel had really appeared to him for over 50 years since he was a young boy? Did Jesus and the Blessed Mother also appear to him with warnings of a coming “storm” followed by a rescue?
Followers grew by the thousands as videos, speaking engagements, and radio appearances attracted attention. Photos and the claim of friendships with well-known Catholics seemed evidence that Johnston was someone worth noting.
Johnston preached all things Catholic and did not seem crazy. Could it be that his guardian angel had really appeared to him for over 50 years since he was a young boy? Did Jesus and the Blessed Mother also appear to him with warnings of a coming “storm” followed by a rescue?
Followers grew by the thousands as videos, speaking engagements, and radio appearances attracted attention. Photos and the claim of friendships with well-known Catholics seemed evidence that Johnston was someone worth noting.
U.S. House votes to overturn Obama's “parting gift” abortion ruling
House Votes to Overturn Obama Abortion Funding Ruling | ncregister.comKNAP: In a dramatic pro-life victory, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to allow states to decide whether or not to fund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers with federal dollars. The 229-188 vote effectively repeals an Obama administration rule from December.
“As a registered nurse, I know that vulnerable women seeking true comprehensive care deserve better than abortion-centric facilities like Planned Parenthood,” Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), who introduced the resolution, stated before its Feb. 16 passage.
“As a registered nurse, I know that vulnerable women seeking true comprehensive care deserve better than abortion-centric facilities like Planned Parenthood,” Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), who introduced the resolution, stated before its Feb. 16 passage.
Finding a way forward for wounded and hurting Catholics
Finding a way forward for wounded and hurting Catholics | America Magazine: Father Thomas Berg is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York who currently serves as vice rector and professor of moral theology at St. Joseph Seminary in Dunwoodie. His new book, Hurting in the Church: A Way Forward for Wounded Catholics, will be published by Our Sunday Visitor on Feb. 20. A former member of the Legion of Christ, Father Berg left the congregation after its founder Marcial Maciel was exposed as a sexual predator. He talks in part about this experience in the book.
I recently interviewed Fr. Berg by email about his new book. This interview has been condensed.
I recently interviewed Fr. Berg by email about his new book. This interview has been condensed.
The Catholic Church cannot upend truth, and call it mercy...
No Authority Over Divine Law | J. D. Flynn | First ThingsJDFLYNN: In his column this week, George Weigel writes that “it cannot be the case that a grave sin in Poland is a source of grace two kilometers across the border in Germany.” The point is that the Church is universal, and ecclesial division ruptures our communion with Christ. There is only one problem with the argument: What is a grave sin in one place can, most certainly, be an occasion of grace in another.
St. Patrick’s Day, the great high feast of Irish-Catholic Americans, falls on a Lenten Friday this year. On such Fridays, Catholics are obliged to fast and abstain from meat. Except where they aren’t. The Lenten fasting regulations are a matter of what canon law calls “merely ecclesiastical law.” Though disobeying these kinds of laws is a grave and serious matter, dispensations from them can usually be granted by local bishops. No dispensation will be granted in the diocese where I live, but in many dioceses it will. If my family feasts on corned beef, cabbage, and Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll commit a mortal sin: disobedience to the legitimate exercise of ecclesiastical governance. But for a family in a diocese where a dispensation has been granted, the very same feast could be a real source of grace and communion.
St. Patrick’s Day, the great high feast of Irish-Catholic Americans, falls on a Lenten Friday this year. On such Fridays, Catholics are obliged to fast and abstain from meat. Except where they aren’t. The Lenten fasting regulations are a matter of what canon law calls “merely ecclesiastical law.” Though disobeying these kinds of laws is a grave and serious matter, dispensations from them can usually be granted by local bishops. No dispensation will be granted in the diocese where I live, but in many dioceses it will. If my family feasts on corned beef, cabbage, and Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll commit a mortal sin: disobedience to the legitimate exercise of ecclesiastical governance. But for a family in a diocese where a dispensation has been granted, the very same feast could be a real source of grace and communion.
Meeting the Mother of God — as a mother
Meeting the Mother of God — as a mother - Spotlight - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgMILLS: As a new Catholic, I knew that Catholics had a special relation to Mary. When my family and I entered the Church I had signed on to all the teaching and all the dogmas. In theory, it was in for a penny, in for a pound. In theory, but not in practice and definitely not in feeling.
I knew that on becoming Catholic I was part of Mary’s family in a way I had not been before, But I felt (as I see it now) that I had to do so rather like someone filling out a form and submitting it by mail to a high official, who was indeed noted for her benevolence but was still very far away. This I think is the way many converts feel. The cultural distance from whatever they had been to the full Catholic devotion is great.
I knew that on becoming Catholic I was part of Mary’s family in a way I had not been before, But I felt (as I see it now) that I had to do so rather like someone filling out a form and submitting it by mail to a high official, who was indeed noted for her benevolence but was still very far away. This I think is the way many converts feel. The cultural distance from whatever they had been to the full Catholic devotion is great.
‘A first-class mind’: New Opus Dei prelate Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña
Opus Dei’s New Head: ‘A First-Class Mind’ | ncregister.comPENTIN: The new head of Opus Dei is a humble, hard worker with a “first-class mind” who has immense loyalty to the Church and the personal prelature.
This is according to Father Thomas Bohlin, regional vicar for Opus Dei in the United States, in Feb. 3 comments to the Register about Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña.
“Like his predecessors, I think he will provide a continuous source of encouragement for all the members and their friends in their ongoing efforts to grow in holiness and to be more effective in the work of evangelization,” Father Bohlin said.
This is according to Father Thomas Bohlin, regional vicar for Opus Dei in the United States, in Feb. 3 comments to the Register about Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña.
“Like his predecessors, I think he will provide a continuous source of encouragement for all the members and their friends in their ongoing efforts to grow in holiness and to be more effective in the work of evangelization,” Father Bohlin said.
New Pew Center poll shows improving attitudes toward Catholics and all faith groups
New Pew Center Poll Shows Improving Attitudes Toward Catholics and All Faith Groups | ncregister.comSCHIFFER: They like me, they really like me! A poll released by the Pew Research Center on February 15 reveals that Americans' attitudes toward people of faith have improved in just three years – and that Jews and Catholics are especially well regarded by people of all faiths.
Pew's survey of U.S. adults – titled “Americans Express Increasingly Warm Feelings Toward Religious Groups” – was conducted on January 9-23, 2017. The American Trends Panel's survey participants included both Republicans and Democrats, men and women, younger and older Americans. The respondents were asked to rate various religious groups on a “feeling thermometer,” with 0 being least warm and 100 being warmest.
Pew's survey of U.S. adults – titled “Americans Express Increasingly Warm Feelings Toward Religious Groups” – was conducted on January 9-23, 2017. The American Trends Panel's survey participants included both Republicans and Democrats, men and women, younger and older Americans. The respondents were asked to rate various religious groups on a “feeling thermometer,” with 0 being least warm and 100 being warmest.
What I learned from Winston Churchill and ‘The Crown’
What I Learned From Winston Churchill and ‘The Crown’ | ncregister.comWORNER: The artist was standing before a bulldog.
And both of them knew it.
His subject stood dressed in his stately parliamentary attire. Cigar champed between his teeth, his eyes periodically glowering when they were not searching the artist’s face and hands. Impatiently, he shifted from one foot to the other. The bulldog wasn’t sure he trusted this modern artist.
For in 1954, Graham Sutherland had accepted a sizable commission. He was asked to paint a portrait of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
And both of them knew it.
His subject stood dressed in his stately parliamentary attire. Cigar champed between his teeth, his eyes periodically glowering when they were not searching the artist’s face and hands. Impatiently, he shifted from one foot to the other. The bulldog wasn’t sure he trusted this modern artist.
For in 1954, Graham Sutherland had accepted a sizable commission. He was asked to paint a portrait of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Short but illuminating video: “Who do people say that I am?”
New Advent: “Who do people say that I am?”: A new video from Brian Holdsworth in the spirit of today's Gospel reading at Mass: “Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
'Who do people say that I am?'
They said in reply,
'John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.'
And he asked them,
'But who do you say that I am?'
Peter said to him in reply,
'You are the Christ.'
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.”
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
'Who do people say that I am?'
They said in reply,
'John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.'
And he asked them,
'But who do you say that I am?'
Peter said to him in reply,
'You are the Christ.'
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.”
Vouchers help schools but hurt parishes, new study shows, and economists aren't quite sure why...
Vouchers Helped Prevent Catholic School Closures in Milwaukee - The Atlantic: Catholic schools, once a mainstay for the Irish, Italian, and Polish communities in American cities, are struggling. With shrinking numbers of nuns as a source of free labor, and fewer parishioners passing the donation baskets on Sunday and enrolling their kids in parochial schools, many simply cannot afford to keep their doors open. Just last week, the Archdiocese of New York announced the closure of five more schools for financial reasons; that’s on top of dozens that were shuttered in 2011 and 2013.
Here are the 2017 Underwater photographer of the year winners
2017 Underwater photographer of the year results and winners: "From my own point of view, I have been captivated not only by the winning images but also by the stories behind how those images were achieved. The conception, the planning and the physical effort to achieve a successful result; it is those efforts that we, as judges, pay our respects to by taking out two days to meet up, sit together and look in detail at all the images. It is a mammoth task but one that we all agree is a privilege to be part of."
What's the world's greatest lost treasure? Here's what Indiana Jones might search for in real life...
What's the Greatest Lost Treasure in the World?: A full-scale platinum-skinned model of the Hindenburg stuffed with Nazi plunder, biblical artifacts, and crates of alien space-propulsion gear lost at sea when the life-size replica of the Titanic transporting it tore its solid-gold hull on a gigantic, floating diamond somewhere close to Atlantis. Well, that or an honest politician.
Actually, there's some pretty tempting stuff still out there, ranging from priceless Indiana Jones–grade relics to missing art (seven Fabergé eggs, for instance, worth perhaps $20 million apiece) to lost treasure ships laden with unfathomable riches. The Flor de la Mar, an as-yet-unrecovered Portuguese vessel, purportedly went down off the coast of Sumatra carrying "200 coffers of precious stones" and "diamonds from a half-inch to the size of a man's fist," which ought to cover the cable bill for a few months. Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, wrecked off the Bahamas in 1656, was first found in 1972 and divers have recovered perhaps ten tons of sodden swag since. But that still leaves an estimated 140 tons of missing treasure for the rest of us—assuming we can snorkel our way onto it.
Actually, there's some pretty tempting stuff still out there, ranging from priceless Indiana Jones–grade relics to missing art (seven Fabergé eggs, for instance, worth perhaps $20 million apiece) to lost treasure ships laden with unfathomable riches. The Flor de la Mar, an as-yet-unrecovered Portuguese vessel, purportedly went down off the coast of Sumatra carrying "200 coffers of precious stones" and "diamonds from a half-inch to the size of a man's fist," which ought to cover the cable bill for a few months. Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, wrecked off the Bahamas in 1656, was first found in 1972 and divers have recovered perhaps ten tons of sodden swag since. But that still leaves an estimated 140 tons of missing treasure for the rest of us—assuming we can snorkel our way onto it.
What I learned from living with a Navy SEAL
What I Learned from Living with a Navy SEAL | Outside Online: In 2010, Jesse Itzler—a successful businessman behind ventures ranging from a prepaid private jet company, to Zico coconut water, and even the Atlanta Hawks—decided to radically change his life. He wanted to become mentally tougher and thought that the best, or at least the most effective way to do that was by inviting a Navy SEAL to live with him for a month. But he didn’t call upon just any SEAL. Itzler enlisted David Goggins, who, thanks to his outrageous feats of endurance, many consider to be the toughest man on the planet. Goggins’ range is impressive: he holds the 24-hour record for pullups—4,030, or 168 per hour—and has placed highly in numerous ultra-endurance races. In 2006, Goggins placed fifth in the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon after taking up running less than a year prior.
Palestine opens Holy See embassy, “a significant achievement for the Palestinian people”
Palestine Opens Embassy at the Vatican | ncregister.com: In mid-January, the Palestinians fulfilled a dream: opening an embassy at the Holy See.
The Vatican has informally recognized Palestine as a state since November 2012, following a United Nations vote that recognized it as a non-member observer state. Furthermore, Pope Francis referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the “president of Palestine” during the Holy Father’s 2014 Holy Land pilgrimage.
But it was not until June 2015 that the Vatican signed a treaty, known as the “Global Agreement,” that acknowledged the “State of Palestine” as an official entity.
Diplomacy is one thing, but for Palestinians living in the Holy Land, statehood isn’t even close to being a reality. Israel, which captured Gaza and the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War, continues to control the borders of these territories, even though Israel uprooted its settlers and army from Gaza a decade ago. The wall it built around the West Bank severely limits Palestinians’ mobility, while Israel’s partial blockade of Gaza (Egypt maintains an even tighter blockade) strictly limits who and what can enter or leave the territory.
The Vatican has informally recognized Palestine as a state since November 2012, following a United Nations vote that recognized it as a non-member observer state. Furthermore, Pope Francis referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the “president of Palestine” during the Holy Father’s 2014 Holy Land pilgrimage.
But it was not until June 2015 that the Vatican signed a treaty, known as the “Global Agreement,” that acknowledged the “State of Palestine” as an official entity.
Diplomacy is one thing, but for Palestinians living in the Holy Land, statehood isn’t even close to being a reality. Israel, which captured Gaza and the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War, continues to control the borders of these territories, even though Israel uprooted its settlers and army from Gaza a decade ago. The wall it built around the West Bank severely limits Palestinians’ mobility, while Israel’s partial blockade of Gaza (Egypt maintains an even tighter blockade) strictly limits who and what can enter or leave the territory.
Pope to Special Olympics athletes: “You are a sign of hope”
You are a sign of hope, Pope tells athletes at the Special Olympics | CatholicHerald.co.uk: The athletes of the Special Olympics witness to the world the beauty and value of every human life and the joy that comes from reaching a goal with the encouragement and support of others, Pope Francis has said.
“Together, athletes and helpers show us that there are no obstacles or barriers which cannot be overcome,” the Pope told representatives of the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which will take place in Austria on March 14-25.
“You are a sign of hope for all who commit themselves to a more inclusive society,” the Pope told the group. “Every life is precious, every person is a gift, and inclusion enriches every community and society. This is your message for the world, for a world without borders, which excludes no one.”
“Together, athletes and helpers show us that there are no obstacles or barriers which cannot be overcome,” the Pope told representatives of the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which will take place in Austria on March 14-25.
“You are a sign of hope for all who commit themselves to a more inclusive society,” the Pope told the group. “Every life is precious, every person is a gift, and inclusion enriches every community and society. This is your message for the world, for a world without borders, which excludes no one.”
Dignitas: The manners of humility...
Dignitas: The Manners of Humility - Crisis MagazineRUTLER: Accounts vary, and a few say that the story about our civil Founders is apocryphal, but it would seem that the story is true. As one of the more jovial national patriarchs, Gouverneur Morris, a native of New York City, but representing Pennsylvania, willingly accepted a challenge from Alexander Hamilton during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to pat George Washington on his left shoulder and say “My dear General, how happy I am to see you look so well!” Having vowed, he did exactly that in front of surprised onlookers. The General was a formal man, even austere in manners, and had already assumed a sense of presence that would befit him two years later when he became president of the United States. Washington froze, and then removed Morris’s hand, casting an icy stare at him. The room fell silent save for the sound of the offender’s wooden leg as he withdrew in confusion. Hamilton rewarded him with the promised dinner with wine for a dozen friends, but Morris said: “I have won the bet, but paid dearly for it, and nothing could induce me to repeat it.”
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
The inside story of the woman who fought Satan at Harvard
The Inside Story of the Woman Who Fought Satan At Harvard | ChurchPOP: I encountered Aurora Griffin one evening at the Opus Dei-run Catholic Information Center in Washington, DC, where she was giving a talk and holding a book-signing. The email that I received, informing me of the occasion, advertised the event with the title “God and Woman at Harvard,” playing off of William F. Buckley’s classic book God and Man at Yale.
Buckley’s famous first book, which placed the then-young intellectual into the spotlight, notoriously named names and wrote of professors whose ideological bent, Buckley believed, betrayed Yale’s Christian roots. The inspiration for Griffin’s book, on the other hand, began with fighting an even bigger enemy, Satan himself, battling efforts by Satanists to ridicule Christianity at Harvard.
Buckley’s famous first book, which placed the then-young intellectual into the spotlight, notoriously named names and wrote of professors whose ideological bent, Buckley believed, betrayed Yale’s Christian roots. The inspiration for Griffin’s book, on the other hand, began with fighting an even bigger enemy, Satan himself, battling efforts by Satanists to ridicule Christianity at Harvard.
Cardinal Marx: C9 pledge of support for Pope Francis “well received”
Cardinal Marx: C9 Pledge of Support for Pope Francis “Well Received” | ncregister.comPENTIN: Cardinal Reinhard Marx has said the Council of Cardinals’ unexpected statement this week expressing its “full support” for Pope Francis was well received, but he gave no details about why the affirmation was needed, or made.
Informed sources meanwhile have told the Register that the recent plastering of posters across Rome critical of Francis was the reason for the statement as the cardinals are concerned they could be part of a coordinated effort to oppose the Pope.
Cardinal Marx, one of nine members of the Council advising the Holy Father on curial reform, told reporters at the Vatican Wednesday that the cardinals “didn’t want to make a great thing, a great drama” about their pledge, but that they felt it was “time to repeat from our group that we are supporting the Pope, that we are going together with him.”
Informed sources meanwhile have told the Register that the recent plastering of posters across Rome critical of Francis was the reason for the statement as the cardinals are concerned they could be part of a coordinated effort to oppose the Pope.
Cardinal Marx, one of nine members of the Council advising the Holy Father on curial reform, told reporters at the Vatican Wednesday that the cardinals “didn’t want to make a great thing, a great drama” about their pledge, but that they felt it was “time to repeat from our group that we are supporting the Pope, that we are going together with him.”
Two pictures of patience
Two Pictures of Patience - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: The readings from Mass yesterday (Wednesday of the 6th Week of the Year) give two helpful images that call us to patience. Patience is a virtue through which we are willing to endure as we look for something better that will come to pass. The word comes from the Latin patior, which means “to suffer.” Thus the virtue of patience is the capacity or willingness to suffer some difficulty for a greater good rather than for immediate satisfaction. For example, we might be annoyed at someone’s behavior and want to vent our anger immediately, but patience (and prudence) might counsel that we should wait for a better moment to discuss the matter. We are willing to suffer now for a potentially better outcome later.
Mary Eberstadt: Americans are neglecting authentic conversation with people who think differently
Donald Trump Protests Exclude Low Income Trump Voters | Time.comEBERSTADT: America is surfing an information tsunami these days. Cabinet appointments, executive orders, Tweet storms. If keeping up with the new administration isn’t exertion enough, there’s the progressive opposition — rising waves of public nyets against President Donald Trump, his Cabinet and defenders and all their works.
The so-called general strike now being planned for March 8 and the smaller ones leading up to it are the latest in a series of high-profile public protests unmatched in American presidential history. What you make of them depends on which part of the cultural geography you’re occupying.
The so-called general strike now being planned for March 8 and the smaller ones leading up to it are the latest in a series of high-profile public protests unmatched in American presidential history. What you make of them depends on which part of the cultural geography you’re occupying.
Cardinal Burke travels to Guam to preside over sex abuse trial
Cardinal Burke sent to Guam to preside over sex abuse trial: Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, a church law expert and former head of the Vatican’s highest court, arrived in Guam Feb. 15 as the presiding judge in a church trial investigating allegations of sexual abuse leveled against Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of Agana.
The Vatican press office confirmed a “tribunal of the first instance” was constituted by the Vatican Oct. 5 and its presiding judge is Cardinal Burke. Four other judges, all of whom are bishops, also were appointed, the press office said.
“When an action is in a ‘first instance’ court, that indicates that it is in the initial trial phase,” according to the website of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles accusations of clerical sexual abuse.
The Vatican press office confirmed a “tribunal of the first instance” was constituted by the Vatican Oct. 5 and its presiding judge is Cardinal Burke. Four other judges, all of whom are bishops, also were appointed, the press office said.
“When an action is in a ‘first instance’ court, that indicates that it is in the initial trial phase,” according to the website of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles accusations of clerical sexual abuse.
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