Gotta Love The Shades Part II

And are those hiking boots I see???

Is Rome Next?

The Abu Hafs al Masri Brigades who claimed the two London bombing attacks published a fresh warning Monday, July 25: “After London, it is Rome’s turn.” The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is warned that by failing to withdraw Italian troops from Iraq, he would by his own hand “turn Rome into a graveyard.”

The statement run on the Internet threatens the Italian capital with harsher and more painful strikes than the London attacks. “As long as a single Italian soldier remains in Iraq, you the prime minister can look forward to nothing but “more and more blood.”

DEBKAfile adds: All the European capitals have placed their security and emergency services of maximum terror alert. London too is bracing for more terrorist attacks. One of al Qaeda’s prime targets is expected to be the Vatican, which the terrorist organization sees as a world center of heresy.

An earlier warning by the same group gave Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and Italy until August 15 to pull their soldiers out of Iraq.

Here Comes Trouble...

From Article 8 Alliance's website:

This is what the homosexual movement (and the sign company, ClearChannel) thinks of the American Flag. (Click previous sentence to see the picture, but be forewarned, you won't like it. For those who don’t want to click through and see it, it is a billboard in Cambridge, Mass., near MIT, depicting two apparently naked men wrapped in a flag together with the slogan “Come Together” and “Gay.com”.) This advertises a pornographic homosexual website for "hooking up." But it's more than that. 

We warned you: Legally sanctioned gay "marriage" is the green light to push this in your face -- in the schools, government, businesses, and the public square.  This is also about desensitizing you and your family to homosexuality.  When will you and your children drive by this in your neighborhood?  This is just the beginning.

And here is what Domenico Bettinelli says about it on his blog: Nice. I guess now that gay marriage is the law of the land, we will have images of this stuff shoved down the throats of our children—along with all the other half-naked pictures on billboards already—whether we want it or not...As so many have said before, the homosexual agenda is not mere tolerance, it’s forced approval and normalization.

I think we should call and let this company know what we think about his sick sign.  You can reach them here:

The sign company (making money thru social decay):

Clear Channel Communications
Stoneham, Massachusetts (Regional Office)
781-438-8880

Pope John Paul The Great

From Catholic Culture:

Before it is completed, John Paul II’s beatification process will require a miracle attributed to his intercession. For this reason, the Church has published an official prayer which we can use to seek John Paul II’s help. Here is the text:

O Blessed Trinity,

We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of Your fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.

Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with You.

Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among Your saints.

Amen.

Portrait by Cameron D. Smith.  Copies can be ordered by clicking here.

40 Goats

Here is a fun one for you:

Former US president Bill Clinton has been offered 40 goats and 20 cows for his daughter by a love-struck African government official.

Mr. Clinton was offered the deal on a recent trip to Kenya.  He was offered the animals as a traditional way of getting a father to give away his daughters hand in marriage.  The dowry is a very generous one by the country's own standard.

Godwin Kipkemoi Chepkurgor wrote to Mr Clinton through Kenya's Foreign Minister. He said: "Had I succeeded in wooing Chelsea, I would have had a grand wedding.  "I would have invited South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu to preside at the ceremony."  The councillor gave the names of the former Kenyan president Daniel Arap-Moi and two of his college mates as character references.

Mr Chepkurgor also said he was also impressed by Mr Clinton's wife, Hillary, for standing by Mr Clinton during the Monica Lewinksy scandal.  He said Mrs Clinton acted like a "like an African woman".

I wonder if he will take the offer?

Illegal Immigrants

Recently I had a discussion with a friend of mine about the topic of illegal immigrants.  My friend has no problem with illegal immigrants flowing into our country because of his religious beliefs that we should care for the poor and abandoned, even if they are breaking the law.  Then yesterday I recieved an e-mail from another friend which said "Would not a spirited debate on your blog about the "Catholic position" on illegal (as opposed to legal) immigration be interesting? What the heck is the Catholic position anyway? How do we reconcile breaking the law with helping those less fortunate than us, and fellow Catholics to boot? What do we think about our use of the world's resources in relation to the poorer countries and their populations? How far do we press the "preferential option" for the poor. In terms of reality, not theology."

I agree that this would make a spirited debate here.  For myself, I struggle with this whole issue.  On the one hand I want to help the poor, but on the other hand I want to make sure that we are safe from terrorists sneaking across our borders.  On one hand I know it is virtuous to help the poor, but on the other the Church teaches that it is a sin to break the law, which clearly illegal immigrants are doing.  So here lies my problem,  how do we justify breaking the law to help the poor? 

As far as I can tell, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops support legislation that would make it easier for immigrants to enter our country, which in theory I have no problem with if we make sure that we are keeping terrorists out and the immigrants follow the proper channels to enter our country legally. 

What are your thoughts?

It's Not Easy Being Pope

Being pope isn't easy, Benedict XVI admitted to reporters Monday during a break from his holiday in the Italian Alps.

Elected pontiff on April 19, German-born Benedict celebrates 100 days in office this week.

Homily: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I recently read a poem that I would like to share with you.  It goes like this:

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes,
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down....
But never found the time.”

Priorities.  It’s all about priorities.  It’s all about putting the most important things first.  As a bishop I know once said “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  My brothers and sisters in Christ are we putting the most important things first?  Are we keeping the main thing the main thing?  Obviously the person in the poem did not quite put first things first…they were just to busy with other things for that.  They were not willing to give up their treasured time in order to obtain the greatest treasure one could ever want:  Heaven.

In today’s gospel we hear Jesus once again telling us a few parables about the kingdom of heaven, and two out of the three parables tell us about someone who found a treasure.  For one man the treasure was buried in a field and for the other the treasure was a pearl of great price – and both of them knew that the treasure that they had stumbled upon was worth giving up everything they had in order to obtain it.  Both men prioritized.  They decided that the most important thing in their life was their treasure…and what was their treasure?  What was the main thing in their life?  What was the thing they put first in their life?  What was the thing that they were willing to sacrifice everything for?  It was the kingdom of God – Heaven.

These men prioritized well.  They knew that the most important thing in their life was obtaining heaven, and they were willing to stop at nothing to obtain it – even to the point of selling everything they had.

Can you imagine what their friends must have thought?  Can you image the strange looks and comments they would have gotten by their neighbours as they sold everything they had to go dig up some buried treasure or buy some pearl?  I am sure they were ridiculed - maybe even threatened.  The same is true of us...if we earnestly strive to seek first the kingdom of God – to put that at the top of our list of priorities, if we will stop at nothing in order to obtain it then we will be roundly mocked.

Now some people might be thinking “Come on Father, who would oppose us in my goal to obtain the kingdom of heaven.”  For the answer to that question all we need to do is look around…how do some in the media look at people who are shamelessly pro-life?  How do many in our society look upon those who would rather teach their children chastity and abstinence than hand out contraception like it was candy?  How many in our world mock the Church’s teachings on sex and marriage because they see them as “behind the times” or “oppressive?” 

My brothers and sisters, if we earnestly seek the kingdom of heaven and are willing to stop at nothing to achieve it we will be opposed, but that shouldn’t stop us – and it won’t stop us.  In fact, if we are willing to give up everything in our lives that is opposed to the will of God then the very people who oppose us will soon see how happy we are, and they will slowly but surely have a change of heart, and eventually they will join the ranks of those who serve the true King.  They will finally make the main thing, the main thing.

My brothers and sisters, if right now we do not have our priorities straight; if we do not have our relationship with God at the center of our lives and our families then now is the time to make the main thing the main thing.  Maybe we can start by praying as a family every single day, or maybe it means giving up some T.V. time so that we can sign up for an hour of adoration every week, or maybe it means spending a few minutes a day doing some spiritual reading.

I don’t know about you, but when that day comes and I stand before the Lord in judgment I do not want to see him paging through the book of life looking for my name only to hear him say the words “I cannot find you name my son. I once was going to write it down....But never found the time.”  I would rather hear Him say “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into your Father’s rest.”

Who The Heck Is This Guy?

I recently came across an advertisement for a book by Edward L. Beck aka Father Edward L. Beck.  I was a bit concerned about what this book may be about considering who was endorsing the book, namely, Andrew Greeley and Diane Sawyer.  With them standing behind him I can only imagine what sort of theological parody it might be.

In my search to find out more about Fr. Beck I found his website which was chock full of all sorts of fanciful fables, one of which was an op ed piece he wrote for the New York Daily News.  Here are a few little morsels from the article with commentary by yours truly.

Fr. Beck began the article with the wonderful scene from Pope John Paul the Great’s funeral where thousands of young people who had packed St. Peter’s square chanting and waving flags to honor their beloved Pope.  After that beautiful image, which brought hope to so many he said that “while youthful exuberance lit up Saint Peter’s Square, the scenes inside of feeble old white men dressed in their ecclesiastical finery couldn’t have been more contrasting.  If the Church leaders seemed not to be representative of the youth and vitality of the Church in developing nations, they were surely consistent with the priesthood we have come to recognize in the United States: old and somber, and seemingly out of touch.”

Considering that Fr. Beck is an educated man I am a bit disturbed that he still clings to the belief that the Church is being ruined by “feeble old white men;” that because of “feeble old white men” the Church is “out of touch” with the young men and women of the world.  After all was it not because of a “feeble old white man” that thousands of youth flocked to St. Peter’s square.  It was the life of a “feeble old white man” that they were celebrating.  It was a “feeble old white man” that they flocked by the hundreds of thousands to see at World Youth Day’s and other youth events throughout the world.  It was a “feeble old white man” that they came to love as a father.  Why else would they have kept all night vigil outside of his apartments as he lay dying and then waited hours upon hours to file past his body to pay their last respects.  As them and I don’t think they will tell you that he was “out of touch” with them.  Rather I think they will tell you that he spoke to their hearts and moved them to put out into the deep and enter into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  What was it they saw in him?  They saw a man who had courage, who was unafraid in the face of opposition, who was unafraid in the face of suffering and who was serene in the face of death.  Pope John Paul was not out of touch with reality; rather he was more in touch with it than you or I.

After that he went on to attack the new liturgical norms by saying that “The new Pope must give local bishops more power in exercising control over their dioceses and in addressing vocational issues unique to their regions.  For example, many of the recent liturgical reforms for the Mass demanded by Rome make no sense for the practicalities of worship in the United States .  Eucharistic ministers can no longer go to the tabernacle to retrieve Holy Communion, nor can they pour the consecrated wine into the chalices on the altar.  So, even though we have fewer priests, Rome is demanding that do more, and in turn, is diminishing a much needed lay ministry.  It makes no sense.  The more labored an already taxed American priesthood becomes, the less attractive it is to prospective candidates.”

At first I thought Fr. Beck had a good point.  After all it seemed logical that a life of sacrifice would seem unattractive to prospective seminarians…but then I realized that it is this very thing, a life of sacrifice, which draws men to the priesthood.  Men who feel called to the priesthood are not looking for a soft, effeminate, and comfortable lifestyle, rather they are looking for a life of hard work, early mornings and late nights, unfailing obedience, loyalty to Christ and His Church, and the joy that only a life of sacrifice will provide.  Young men seeking the priesthood desire to follow Christ, who was not a sissy.  Christ was a real man who suffered and died for His bride, the Church.  That is who young men want to identify with, not a cowardly, effeminate, watered-down and soft image of manhood.

After this Fr. Beck, as might be expected, attacked priestly celibacy, the Church’s teaching on the ordination of women and sexual ethics.  He stated that “seventy percent of American Catholics think priests should be allowed to marry.  The faithful also express interest in exploring the possibility of the ordination of women and in dialoging about issues of sexual ethics.  But the Church doesn’t seem to be listening.”

I wonder how many faithful, daily Mass going (or even Sunday Mass going), and who pray daily would be for Married priests?  I would venture a guess that it wouldn’t be seventy percent.  I am always very cautions when a survey states such things because anybody and everybody can say they are Catholic, but the fact is that they haven’t been to Mass in years.  They are not exactly the kind of people I would trust to comment on what the Church should our should not believe.  And it seems to me that the discussion about Women’s ordination was settled by Jesus, but that wasn’t enough for everyone.  Some people need the Church to declare that it was part of the deposit of the faith, and lo and behold, apparently that isn’t enough for good old Fr. Beck.  Apparently he feels that he is smarter that Jesus and the Church.  And the comment about sexual ethics is laughable.  I wonder if he has read the Theology of the Body?  I suggest that if he hasn’t that he should because it seems to me that the Church’s teachings on sexual ethics as explained by Pope John Paul II are very logical and in keeping with the truth of natural law and the divine law as found in Sacred Scripture. 

And here is an idea, instead of demanding that the Church listen to you, maybe we should all do a little more listening, after all, She has been around the block a few times more than us.

You know, I get the impression that if Fr. Beck were in charge the priesthood would be full of soft, effeminate, self-seeking, bleeding-heart sissies.  Not exactly the kind of priesthood I or anyone with any sense wants.

Now, I could go on, but I will stop for now.  I hope that Fr. Beck finds this post and comments on it.  I would love to enter into dialogue with him; it would be beneficial to all of us.

For more of Fr. Beck's teaching you can watch of video of him preaching about inclusion by clicking here. 

UPDATE:  I recieved an e-mail from Fr. Beck this morning.  He didn't have alot to say other than that he thinks "dialogue would be futile" and he has no desire to be part of my blog.  I thought Fr. Beck was all about openness and dialogue...but I guess not.

Gotta Love The Shades

Judge John G. Roberts

I am guessing that since everyone else is blogging about it you are expecting me to say something about President Bush's nomination of John G. Roberts as a Supreme Court Justice. 

I think it is a good choice.  He is certainly well qualified, in fact, he may be the best qualified from what I can tell.  He is also being endorsed by all the right people and condemned by all the right people.  I fear that this confirmation could get ugly because he is everything that liberals don't want to see in a supreme court nominee.

Here is a little round up of what people are saying:

Here is some general information on Judge Roberts from Wikipedia.  It has alot of good stuff including the fact that his wife has been and still is part of a wonderful group called "Feminists for Life."

National Right to Life has this to say about the Judge in a recent press release which can be found here: 

“Liberal pressure groups will insist that Senate Democrats filibuster against Judge Roberts, unless he pledges in advance to vote against allowing elected legislators to place meaningful limits on abortion,"  said NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson.  "Millions of Americans will be watching to see if the Democratic senators bow to these demands." 

In an interview conducted by Hugh Hewitt with Nan Aron, president of the liberal Alliance for Justice, on April 11, 2005, the following exchange occurred:  Hewitt:  "Do you oppose and urge a filibuster for John Roberts?" Aron:  "Yes, we would."

Then there is this from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priest for Life.  He had this to say in his latest newsletter:

Dear Friends,

Just a few minutes ago, President Bush nominated Judge John Roberts to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Judge Roberts is highly qualified and has proven legal abilities.

Now, his nomination will go to the Senate while he will be questioned about his judicial philosophy and credentials.

We can also expect, unfortunately, that many Senators will seek to derail his nomination with vicious personal attacks against his faith, his belief in strict interpretation of the constitution, and any rulings that he has made that do
not fit their public policy ends. They will question him about abortion and Roe vs. Wade, as if that decision cannot be reversed and belongs to some kind of sacred, unchangeable dogma. In regard to this, of course, it is important to keep in mind what I said in a recent column, that is, that the current Chief Justice of the United States is one of the original dissenters in Roe vs. Wade. If he can hold that position, so can an Associate Justice of the Court. A belief that Roe should be overturned should certainly not be considered an obstacle to serving on the Court.

Expect some Senators to attack Judge Roberts for his religious and personal beliefs. Many have argued in the past that those with strong religious beliefs do not belong on the Supreme Court. This would effectively eliminate every faithful member of any faith from service on the highest Court in the land.

To achieve their goals, some may choose to filibuster Judge Roberts. Doing so would set a dangerous precedent. It would be the first time in history that a minority of Senators prevents the full Senate from fulfilling its duty to provide advice and consent on a Supreme Court nominee. This would create a constitutional crisis, as a minority of Senators would unilaterally amend the Constitution without going through the necessary process to do so.

We can fight those who would engage in these bigoted and unfair tactics, but we need your help to do it!

Please take a few minutes to contact your Senators and tell them you expect a fair up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate! Tell them, furthermore, that any religious or moral beliefs that Judge Roberts expresses should not disqualify him from confirmation. Simply call (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Senator. You will need to make two calls, one for each Senator.

And please keep up to date on this judicial confirmations battle by going to our website, www.priestsforlife.org and clicking on the link for "Judges." Be sure to join our prayer campaign for the Supreme Court at www.PrayerCampaign.org Remember, this will be a battle. Pro-abortion advocates have suffered many losses in the legislatures, and many losses at the voting booth. The Courts are their only real stronghold of political power, and they don't want to lose that! You and I need to urge our Senators to do the right thing. This is what we voted for in November's election - a positive change on the Supreme Court! Let's keep the momentum going!!!

Thank you!
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director of Priests for Life

For those who are interested in Judge Robert's concern for things other than abortion we can turn to what Supreme Knight Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus who said "Judge John Roberts is a "a first-rate choice for the U.S. Supreme Court...Judge Roberts is exactly the kind of nominee that members of both parties have described as the kind of choice the President should make," Anderson said.

"He is one of the brightest legal minds in America, graduating at the top of his class at Harvard Law School, and has a well-deserved reputation for fairness, integrity and superb judicial temperament on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit."

Holy Vacation

Here is what Pope Benedict had to say about vacation in his Sunday Angelus address:

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

I have been here for a few days, in the marvelous mountains of Val d'Aosta, where the memory is still alive of my beloved predecessor John Paul II, who for several years spent brief relaxing and invigorating stays here.

This summer pause is a truly providential gift of God, after the first months of the demanding pastoral service that Divine Providence has entrusted to me. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the bishop of Aosta, esteemed Monsignor Giuseppe Anfossi, and to all those who made it possible, as well as to those who with discretion and generous abnegation see to it that everything runs smoothly. Moreover, I am also grateful to the local population and to the tourists, for their cordial welcome.

In the world in which we live, it is almost a necessity to be able to regain one's strength of body and spirit, especially for those who live in the city, where the conditions of life, often feverish, leave little room for silence, reflection and relaxed contact with nature.

Holidays are, moreover, days in which more time can be dedicated to prayer, reading and meditation on the profound meaning of life, in the peaceful context of one's family and loved ones.

Vacation time offers the unique opportunity to pause before the thought-provoking spectacles of nature, a wonderful "book" within reach of everyone, adults and children. In contact with nature, a person rediscovers his correct dimension, rediscovers himself as a creature, small but at the same time unique, with a "capacity for God" because interiorly he is open to the Infinite. Driven by his heartfelt urgent search for meaning, he perceives in the surrounding world the mark of goodness and Divine Providence and opens almost naturally to praise and prayer.

Reciting the Angelus together in this pleasant Alpine locality, let us ask the Virgin Mary to teach us the secret of the silence that becomes praise, of recollection that disposes to meditation, of love of nature that blossoms in thanksgiving to God. We will thus be able to receive more easily in our hearts the light of Truth and practice it in freedom and love.

Wishful Thinking

I wish this would have been more like this:

Dear Mr. President,

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

In a room across the street from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan sat with other archbishops, trying to contain his excitement.

On July 1, Archbishop Domencio Sorrentino, the head of the Vatican's office for the Congregation of Divine Worship, told Sheehan that St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral would be given a new, higher status in the hierarchy of the church.

The historic Santa Fe church will now be known as Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, a designation given by Pope Benedict XVI.

Sheehan said Sorrentino had made a good case for

St. Francis to be named a basilica, a title churches earn by petitioning the Vatican.

"It was very exciting to be there for it," Sheehan said. "I was elated."

Basilica is a designation given by popes to select churches that demonstrate leadership in promoting faith, antiquity and artwork and have historical importance. The title gives the Santa Fe basilica a higher rank within the church. The famous Roman churches -- St. Peter's, St. John in Lateran, St. Paul Without the Walls and St. Mary Major -- were among the first basilicas. Fifty other Catholic churches in the United States are known as basilicas. St. Francis of Assisi is the first church in New Mexico to be honored with the title.

The Vatican announcement of the new title said the Santa Fe basilica qualified in all areas, especially in historical importance. It was the cradle of Catholicism in the Southwestern United States and was crucial in the establishment of the dioceses in Las Cruces, Denver, El Paso and Phoenix.

Congratulations Santa Fe!

Pope Benedict vs. Harry Potter

They guys at the Ratzinger Fan Club have an excellent roundup on the media hype over Pope Benedicts comments on the Harry Potter series.  They have all the pertinent links and documents.  It's quite interesting to see what everyone is saying about this.   Check it out here.

Bishop Killed In Kenya

The Catholic bishop of Isiolo was shot dead last night as violence continued in northern Kenya, with a further three people killed in spite of a major security clampdown.

Bishop Luigi Locati, a 75-year-old missionary, was shot dead when three armed bandits ambushed him as he walked to his house from the church compound, some 70 metres away.

He was hit twice in the head and died on the spot, according to a watchman at the scene.

Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Is This Really Happening in Memphis?

"A few months ago you published something about the Memphis bishop Terry Steib who compared his new outreach to gays to the civil rights movement.  I have a friend who has been attending these meetings, out of compassion and to help them be authentically Catholic.  The first meeting had the liturgy of the hours, a prayer by Joyce Rupp to Sophia [ed. note: an attempt by certain liberals to identify God in the feminine sense], and supper.  The written materials were secular.

My friend wrote the Bishop, sending him information about Joyce Rupp’s dissenting (Wiccan, he says) perspective towards the Church’s hierarchy and teaching.  The next month, the Gay Pride parade information was removed and the liturgy of the hours was gone.  People had complained vocally in the first meeting that ‘no one would come’ with that much prayer.  However, Rupp’s prayer was still there, with the name removed. This time it was a litany to the energy of God.

Their goal is to have a chapter in every Memphis Catholic church.  The diocesan bureaucrats are spending a lot of time on this.  I wish that the really marginalized, those who want to learn more about authentic Catholic spirituality through the ages, could be encouraged to have ‘chapters’ in every church."

It seems to me that this kind of "outreach" is very innappropriate.  I think instead of coming up with their own program they should use something like "Courage" which has proven effective and is in line with the Church's teaching.

But who know... maybe this is just a bunch of hoopla about nothing.

Pope News

According to Zenit the Holy Father is spending his vacation time writing his first encyclical.

The news, leaked by Vatican sources a few days ago, was confirmed today by Salvatore Mazza, a reporter for the newspaper Avvenire. Mazza discussed the news in his report, on Vatican Radio, on the Pope's vacation, which began Monday.

A pope's first encyclical is usually of a programmatic character, as was the case with Paul VI's "Ecclesiam Suam" (1964) and John Paul II's "Redemptor Hominis" (1979).

According to the Vatican Radio report, the Holy Father began writing the text some weeks ago.

Mazza said: "The time available, the environmental conditions, the silence, the total tranquility of the area and the Pope's capacity to concentrate on his work, leads to the belief that he will take advantage of these days to continue to work on his encyclical."

Whatever the topic of the encyclical I look forward to it.

Also, expect to see this one in the news.  Apparently before ascending the chair of St. Peter Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger condemned the Harry Potter books. 

"As the sixth issue of Rowling's Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - is about to be released, the news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger expressed serious reservations about the novels is now finally being revealed to the English-speaking world still under the impression the Vatican approves the Potter novels."

It will be interesting to see what the media does with this one. 

You can read the whole article here.

Absolutely Hilarious

Click here for one of the all time funniest caption contest photos from the Curt Jester.

Today's Feast Day

Today is the feast of 120 Chinese Martyrs.  We need witnesses like this in our day so that we too might be encouraged to stand up for the faith no matter what the consequences.  And besides, I love the picture above.

Prayer to the Chinese Saints
"Almighty God, we give you thanks for choosing many Chinese faithful to witness for Christ by giving up their lives. We especially thank you for bestowing sainthood on over one hundred Chinese martyrs. We beg you that through the intercession of all the Chinese martyrs saints, many Chinese martyrs would be beatified and canonized as saints to glorify you. We also pray that we may follow the example of these Chinese martyrs by remaining strong in faith, hope and love, by overcoming fear and hardship and sacrifice, and by boldly proclaiming our faith. May the gospel of Jesus Christ be spread throughout China and may Chinese people in all parts of the world receive the light of faith and the grace to follow Christ each day, so as to enter your everlasting kingdom. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. "

Some People Aren't Very Bright

OTTAWA, July 7, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Senator Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, in comments made during debate of the impending same-sex “marriage” legislation Wednesday, made the astonishing claim that Jesus Christ would have voted in favour of the legislation as she did.

“As a Christian, I often ask myself ‘what would Jesus do?’” she said, reiterating a maxim often heard in Christian circles. She answered her question with, “In this case, in this time, I believe he would say yes.” Trenholme Counsell, as LifeSiteNews.com learned from the Senator’s assistant Rebecca Menard, was originally Baptist but converted to Anglicanism when she was married.

“After all,” the Chrétien-appointed Liberal from New Brunswick claimed, “we have come a long way from Old Testament days when adulterers were put to death; and we have come a long way in our understanding of human sexuality.”

That's a pretty big claim there Missy.

Here is a great response in the same article:

As Robert A.J. Gagnon of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary explained to Zenit news, the Old Testament in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 declared homosexuality a capital offence, describing it as an “abomination” – something utterly loathsome to God. “The prohibition of same-sex intercourse is clearly picked up in the New Testament,” Gagnon added. “The basic categories of sexual immorality – such as same-sex intercourse, incest, solicitation of prostitutes, adultery, etc. – remained in place for believers in Christ.”

Evidence from biology reveals clearly that persons disposed to homosexuality are simply not born that way. “Studies to date – including the most important identical twin study ever done, one that factored out sample bias – indicate that homoerotic impulses are not congenital,” Gagnon explained. “Rather, whatever contribution is made through genes, hormones or brain-wiring is largely indirect and subordinate to macro- and micro-cultural factors.”

Yeah, I Know It's a Parody, But It Sure Is Funny...

...and besides, there may be a grain of truth in it.

UCC approves name change

Deus Lo Vult

The other day I recieved a letter from Vincent E. Shaw Lieutenant of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.  The letter began by saying "It gives me profound joy ot have the honor of advising you that you have been nominated and approved as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem."

Pope Condemns London Terrorist Attacks

Pope Benedict XVI decried a string of bombings that struck central London as "barbaric acts against humanity" and said his prayers were with victims and their families.

The pope said he was offering "fervent prayers" for all those affected by explosions that hit London's subway and bus system early July 7.

In a telegram sent by the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor of Westminster, England, Pope Benedict said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims, families of the injured and "all those who mourn."

The pope invoked "the consolation that only God can give in such circumstances" to all the people of Great Britain. He asked the cardinal "to convey to the families of the injured his spiritual closeness at this time of grief."

Pope Benedict to Visit Israel

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday said visiting Israel was a "priority" after accepting an invitation to visit the country from Israeli premier Ariel Sharon. "I have already a long list of commitments to visit foreign countries, but Israel has a priority,"

Something tells me there will be extremely tight security for that trip...at least I hope there will be.

A Plea To The President From The USCCB

Dear Mr. President,

As the nation ponders the legacy of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the occasion of her retirement from the bench, we are reminded that the legacy of a Supreme Court Justice is long and the influence of the Court on the life of the country and the development of the Law is considerable. At this time, I want to take the opportunity to draw to your attention the qualities that I hope you would contemplate as you decide on the appointment of her successor.

When a nomination is made, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops does not participate by endorsing or opposing specific nominees. Our concern is for principles and policies rather than for personalities. We will maintain that position with regard to this Supreme Court appointment and to those that will come in the future.

However, because of the Supreme Court’s ability to affect both principles and policies, I urge you to consider for the Court qualified jurists who, pre-eminently, support the protection of human life from conception to natural death, especially of those who are unborn, disabled, or terminally ill. I would ask you to consider jurists who are also cognizant of the rights of minorities, immigrants, and those in need; respect the role of religion and of religious institutions in our society and the protections afforded them by the First Amendment; recognize the value of parental choice in education; and favor restraining and ending the use of the death penalty. There are many specific applications of these and other fundamental matters which the USCCB has addressed or will address in the future through amicus briefs.

Our prayers are with you as you make this decision which is so crucial for our nation.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
Bishop of Spokane
President

It is always easy to be critical of what others write, and the same applies here.  There are many in the blogosphere criticizing this letter for various reasons, the first of which is the lack of force used to speak about the request, or shall  I say demand, that the appointee be pro-life.  It has been the constant belief of the Church that abortion is evil and must be defeated. This does not come across in this letter.  Rather, it seems to place abortion as just another moral and social ills menacing our country, which it is not.  It is THE moral ill menacing our country.  The others are important, but none of them are as important as the fundamental right of every human person: the right to life.

Surely there will be a battle over whoever the president nominates.  I think we should pray and offer sacrifices so that true justice would prevail.

Homily:  14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

We all have burdens, we all have some cross to carry…and sometimes it gets heavy…sometimes it may even become so heavy that we cannot carry it ourselves.  It is at those times when our crosses seem especially heavy that we turn to our Lord who proclaims in today’s gospel “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

I am reminded of a story I once read about a man named Bob Butler who lost his legs in a land mine explosion in Vietnam . When he came home from the war he was considered a great hero, and twenty years later, he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart.

Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He began rolling his wheelchair toward the house but the dense shrubbery wouldn't allow him access to the back door. So he got out of his chair and started to crawl through the dirt and bushes. Ask him about it and he will tell you, “I had to get there…It didn't matter how much it hurt.” When Butler arrived at the pool there was a three-year-old girl named Stephanie lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming frantically. Butler , himself having no legs, dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue, she had no pulse and she wasn’t breathing.

Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told the paramedics were already out on a call, and would not be able to respond immediately. Helplessly, she sobbed and hugged Butler 's shoulder. As Butler continued with his CPR, he calmly reassured her. “Don't worry,” he said. “I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I am now her lungs. Together we can make it.”

Seconds later they both heard an amazing sound.  The little girl coughed, regained consciousness and began to cry. As they hugged and rejoiced together the mother asked Butler how he knew it would be okay. “The truth is, I didn't know,” he told her. “But when my legs were blown off in the war, I was all alone in a field. No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village, she whispered in broken English, ‘It okay. You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it.’” Her kind words brought hope to my soul and I wanted to do the same for Stephanie. There are simply those times when we absolutely cannot stand alone. There are those times when we need someone to be our legs, our arms, our friend…someone to help us carry our burdens.

My friends we are called to imitate Jesus in helping one another carry our burdens.  We are called to be the legs, arms, eyes, and lungs of those around us, and I would be willing to bet that we don’t have to look far to find someone that could use a little help shouldering their burden.  Maybe it’s the co-worker who is depressed, or the neighbor who has lost a loved one, or an elderly relative who just moved into the nursing home.  Maybe it’s the classmate who is made fun of, or the family on the side of the road with a flat tire.  There are people all around us who could use someone to help carry their burden by just listening, stopping in for a visit, or just smiling at them.

Bob Butler knew from experience that there will be times in our lives when we feel like we cannot do it alone and we will look for someone to help us shoulder the burden. It is then that we will need someone to rise to the occasion, take us by the arm and whisper into our ear, “it’s okay. You can do it. I will help you. Together we will make it.” 

Together, my friends we will make it.  None of us can live this life alone. 

Today this message has special meaning to me because today is my first weekend here at Holy Spirit as the Associate Pastor.  It many ways I am overwhelmed at the responsibility that I, under the leadership and guidance of Fr. Morgan have in shepherding this parish into the kingdom of God .  But just as I begin to be overwhelmed I am reminded that I do not have to go it alone, for you are here to help me shoulder my burdens just as I am here to help you shoulder yours.  Together we will help one another; together, all of us will make it.

Why Was This Held In A Cathedral???

Today's scene occurred when more than a dozen young people attempted to attend the inauguration ceremonies of Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor-elect of Los Angeles, who is a pro-abortion Catholic. The young adults are part of American Life League's 2005 Crusade for Life walks in which they are trekking from San Diego to Sacramento spreading the truth about the incompatibility of Catholicism and support of abortion.

The group planned to attend the inauguration ceremonies, beginning at the Cathedral, and peacefully protest with shirts and signs that read: you can't be Catholic and pro-abortion.

...The young activists were eventually allowed in the Cathedral after the Los Angeles Police Department intervened in the situation. "How ironic that the Cathedral security guards wanted to arrest the students and the LAPD had to step in and point out that such an act would be unconstitutional," said Brown. "The truths of the Church will always stand strong, regardless of who attempts to stifle them...even a cardinal."

I am appalled and scandalized that a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, who is sworn to defend the Church even to shedding his blood whould allow such an even to be held in his Cathedral.  It has really upset the American Life League, which is calling for his immediate resignation.

Something tells me Pope Benedict wouldn't be too happy to hear about this.

Make A Difference

From a Priests for Life e-mail:<