OneYear of Blogging!

I started this blog a year ago with a post about St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius is one of my favorite saints. His desire to do God's will, and how he continuously sought God's will, moved forward with what he thought was best, but he was open to changes in direction. He shows us how all of life is a process of discerning God's will. St. Ignatius, pray for us on our journeys. That we may faithfully discern our paths in following our Lord Jesus Christ. Since it is this blog's anniversary, I thought I would gather my favorites from the past year in a single list. Thanks to those who shared the past year, I look forward to the next. I am sure there will be plenty to share. Well, here are my favorites from oldest to most recent: “Thy Will Be Done” or “My Will Be Done” – Part I and Part II Grattitude & Responsiblity - Laying Foundations Forgive me Father for I have sinned... What color hat do you wear? Heroes Superordinate Goals El Camino Real Metal as in a Forge Miracles (Part 1 of 3), (Part 2 of 3), and (Part 3 of 3) Ears of the Deaf & Tongue of the Mute Advice For Couples Starting Out On Christian Pride - Part I and Part II Pride and the Poor

Amnesty International defiant on pro-abortion stand, ridicules Catholic criticism

Amnesty International defiant on pro-abortion stand, ridicules Catholic criticism: Denver, Jul 29, 2007 / 11:07 am (CNA).- Amnesty International has remained defiant about its new pro-abortion stance despite receiving international criticism for their decision to abandon their long standing neutrality regarding abortion and embrace it fully as a human right. Amnesty was founded in 1961 by a Catholic convert, the late Peter Benenson, and has enjoyed the support of Catholic organizations and individuals in its campaigns against torture and capital punishment. It has also received praise in the past for staying clear of the abortion issue, which the organization has viewed as 'outside its mandate' for the last 50 years. However, after a two-year consultation process that many of the 2.2 million Amnesty member have described as 'biased,' flawed' and 'prejudiced in favor of abortion,' AI decided to turn abortion into a 'human right.' And the insanity continues. If you are a Catholic and you continue to support Amnesty International - YOU NEED TO STOP. Abortion is murder. Murder is wrong. It is not a human right. It is evil. Every day we are confronted with forces that want us to harden our hearts. They trick us into sacrificing our soul by making us think we are doing good. Every day we must chose which side we stand on. The forces of good or the forces of evil. When a good organization goes bad, we can plead with it to turn back, we can pray for it, but we cannot support it. Doing so is to step down the wrong path. The fight for human rights is noble. It is unfortunate that the forces of darkness have a victory here by infiltrating AI. However, the kind of work that Amnesty has done can be supported through organizations that do not condone the murder of millions of human beings every year. Do what is right. Other Human Rights organization that do not endorse abortion include: Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC) 4121 Harewood Road NE ~ Suite B Washington, DC 20017 Phone: (202) 529-2991 www.tassc.org info@tassc.org National Religious Campaign Against Torture c/o CCTPP 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 885-8648 www.nrcat.org campaign@nrcat.org Human Rights First 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor New York, NY 10001-5108 Phone: (212) 845 5200 www.humanrightsfirst.org feedback@humanrightsfirst.org

Photo Hunters #68 Creative

Click on picture for larger image I may have been trying too hard to be creative on this one. It is oil on asphalt after a rain. I zoomed in thinking it was a cool abstract - kind of Jackson Pollock. Have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Boycott Companies that Support Planned Parenthood

Life Decisions International has released information about those supporting planned parenthood. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Life Decisions International (LDI) will soon release a revised edition of The Boycott List, which identifies corporations that are boycott targets due to their support of Planned Parenthood, the world's leading abortion-advocacy group. "As a direct result of the commitment, action and prayers of pro-family people, at least 153 corporations have stopped funding Planned Parenthood," said LDI President Douglas R. Scott, Jr. It is estimated that the boycott has cost Planned Parenthood more than $35 million since the Corporate Funding Project (CFP) began some 15 years ago. "This should be a testament to those who believe it is impossible to change corporate philanthropic behavior." Corporations appearing on The Boycott List for the first time are Allstate (insurance), CCA Global (Carpet One, Flooring America, Flooring Canada, Flooring One, Lighting One, etc.), Chevron (fuel/energy; Xpress Lube, Texaco), Comcast (cable television, Internet, etc.), DuPont (chemicals), eBay (online marketplace; PayPal), Four Seasons Hotels (Regent Hotels), GlaxoSmithKline (over-the-counter medication, prescription drugs, etc.), Marriott (Courtyard Hotels, Fairfield Inn, Grand Residences, Hori-zons Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels & Inns, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites), OSI Restaurant Partners (Outback Steakhouse, etc.), Sears (Kmart), Sonic (drive-in restaurants), and Wawa (convenience stores), among others. Corporations continuing as boycott targets from the pre-viously released Boycott List are Basics Office Products, Adobe (software), Wachovia (finance), Nike (shoes/ap-parel, etc.), Time Warner (Cinemax, HBO, AOL, etc.), Bank of America, CIGNA (insurance), Walt Disney, Johnson & Johnson, Lost Arrow (Patagonia, etc.), Wells Fargo, Whole Foods Market, and Nationwide (insurance), among others. The new Boycott List includes a revised and significantly expanded "Dishonorable Mention" section, which identifies charitable organizations that are associated with Planned Parenthood and/or its agenda. Among the groups new to this section is the Audubon Society, Alzheimer's Asso-ciation, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), American Diabetes Association, Council of Churches (including Church World Service, and CROP Hunger Walks), Glaucoma Research Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Leukemia & Lympho-ma Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), National Education Association (NEA), National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Save the Children, and the Sierra Club, among others. "The Pro-Life Movement will succeed only to the extent that pro-life people are willing to be inconvenienced," Scott said. "The very lives of children are worth that much effort and a whole lot more." To find out more about the boycott list, you can go to a page where you can order information about the boycott list by clicking here. Don't forget to boycott Rudy Giuliani too - he supports abortion and personally gave money to Planned Parenthood. H/T to Seminarian Matthew UPDATE 8/9/07 - Allstate has been removed from the boycott list. It is always wonderful to see progress!

Pride and the Poor

When I had finished all of my schooling, I remember talking politics with my father - I think it was about welfare and helping the poor in our society. I was saying that everyone has the same opportunity and that why should those of us who have struggled and created a place for ourselves be responsible for the bad decisions of other. My logic was personal and prideful. I come from a humble blue collar background. My parents had only a high school education, and I have memories of their struggles (especially when my father was injured at work). They put me and my siblings through Catholic school in spite of the cost. My dad had me working at grocery stores with him to understand what working meant. I paid my way through college, and came out the other side. I got a good paying job. I had worked hard and made it. It involved choices, and I made good ones. So, I didn’t see why I should be asked to pay for the poor choices of others. My father looked at me and told me that others did not have what I had, and that what I had been given was a gift, not something I was entitled to. I have been given genetics that provided me intelligence. I have been given parents that sacrificed what they wanted so I could have an education. I have been given a father who showed me what hard work was and what responsibility looked like. My very existence is a gift. Certainly what I have accomplished took will and perseverance, but even these are gifts. I have been given so much, how could I look down on others who have not been given these gifts? How could I think that I was better because I had been given more? We are not “self made” people. Who we are is a gift - from our genetics, to our up-bringing, to our experiences. This does not make one of us better than another - just different. Pride can ruin our souls. It can make us think we deserve what we have and those less fortunate deserve what they have. It can harden our heart to the plight of others, blaming those who suffer for their suffering. This is a shame, because suffering too is a gift. To the one who suffers it is an opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering. To others it is an opportunity to meet Christ. Not one of us deserves what we have. It is all a gift. It is all an opportunity. What will you do with yours?

Catholic Carnival 129: Prayer . . . and Spring Break

The Catholic Carnival is up at: Living Catholicism: Catholic Carnival 129: Prayer . . . and Spring Break Be sure to check it out!

Shutting Out The Silence

Silence is an endangered commodity in the modern world. And we may be the worse off for it. Where has all the silence gone? Do you remember when cell phones first started appearing? I recall feeling sorry for this busy professional in the early ‘80s answer a phone in a grocery store because of their electronic leash. I did not realize I was looking at myself and everyone else that I know. Now we have text messaging and wireless email access, with 1000s of minutes and people talking on the phone constantly. I remember the time before Ipods, a time even before Walkmans. Remember that time? Sure there were portable radios, but nothing like what we have today. Anyone ride a subway in the past few years? Everyone is tuned in, with noise continuously pouring through little white earbuds. I remember when there where 7 VHF TV channels and a few on UHF that no one ever really watched. Now we have hundreds of channels and no time to watch any of it. I remember the time before the Internet, and before computers. This was a time without email or instant messages or message boards or blogs. When someone wanted to get a hold of you, they had to call (and there weren’t answering machines either) or write you a letter, or come over to see you. All of the technology over the past 25 years has had a dramatic impact on our lives and culture. A lot of it has been very good. Some of it has not. Perhaps the greatest damage has been to silence. In the silence we could ponder the world and our place in it. We did not need to constantly react. We could reflect, at least a little, and then act. We could attend to God. God is found in the whispering wind and the silence of our hearts. If we do not allow silence, we cannot hear Him. It is a symptom of our society that we shut out the silence. We do not want to hear what is in that silence. It is calling us, but we drown the silence with our activity, with our noise. We fear that it is calling us to change; to repent. But we don't want to. So we plug in, and turn up the volume. We keep moving, and talking, and reacting; never just being and listening. Take time today to create some silence. And listen.

The Kitchen Church

National Catholic Register: The Kitchen Church: "The father smiles and says to one of his sons, “Go tell them I want all my children together, in the kitchen, with me.” The son does what he is told — but the dining-room group is aghast at his message. “Well, look at Mr. Special,” says one of them. “He thinks it’s his way or the highway!” “All of this talk about ‘You must gather in the kitchen’ is silly,” says another. “What’s most important is that we love our father and we are talking to him. It’s all his house. He can hear us just as well from the dining room as from the kitchen.”" Outstanding commentary in NC Register. To my protestant brothers and sisters: I must say that I don't understand the flub from some of you prots out there about the Chruch's paper on the position of the Church in relation to other Christian communities. I mean, you left the one true Church thinking we had things all wrong anyways. Frankly, I expected you all to just shrug. What do you care whether we think you are only Christian communities versus full fledged Churches. You left us and went your own way, remember? With all the shouting, someone might think you actually cared. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" - Shakespeare (Hamlet). Some of your responses strike me as the sour grapes of spoiled children who want to do things their own way AND have other say "why that is just wonderful, Billy! Your just like the Roman Catholics!" Sorry, it just ain't true. We pray you come back with us. Our statement of the facts are not meant to hurt - they are meant to ensure that those involved in dialogue remember that truth. Sometimes well meaning people can put the goal of unity above faithfulness to the truth - the article was meant for those Catholics engaging in the ecumenical dialogue more than anything else (imho). So why do we have ecumenical dialogue if this is the Catholic position? Because we want to restore unity among all Christians. We want to be one with you. We DO care about you. We want share our faith so you can see that the truth you believe is here, and so much more that you are missing. The fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. That does not mean truth is not found in your communities - it is, but not all of it. Like what? Well. for starters you are missing the sacraments. Protestant faiths have valid baptism (thank God). That is good, you are part of the family - but you miss so much more, especially the Eucharist. Compared to the Eucharist, those with out it are like the hungry left out of the banquet. You need a valid Eucharist to receive the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ (that is one of the reasons apostolic succession is so important). And there are 5 other sacraments you are missing - moments of Grace that you refuse to accept. Not to mention we are supposed to be one, but you left. There is no way around it. Protestants broke the unity. It was there once, and we know it will return in the end. So we must reach out to our wayward brethren and beckon back. It is what Christ wants us to do. Please. Stop the protests. Open your hearts. Come back.

Irresponsible Obama

Obama: Don't stay in Iraq over genocide: "Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday the United States cannot use its military to solve humanitarian problems and that preventing a potential genocide in Iraq isn't a good enough reason to keep U.S. forces there." Obama states that if we use the logic of responsibility, then we should be in the Congo and the Sudan to prevent and stop genocide. But there is a fundamental flaw in his reasoning. Right now, we are not causing the problem in Sudan or the Congo. I can see an argument that we need to be doing more to help the situation - whether that is unilateral military, military as part of a larger organization, greater support for International African troops, or stronger diplomacy. But the point is that we are not causing the problem. If we pull out of Iraq prematurely we will be causing the problem. See the difference? We would share culpability for what follows. Because we have acted, justly or unjustly, by entering Iraq, we are responsible for much more than if we were merely observers. It can be hard for people who preach the politics of irresponsibility to understand duty.

Photo Hunters #67 Tiny

Click on picture for larger image I called this one Desktop Dreamin'. These are from my little boy's collection of matchbox cars (and not surprisingly, the photo is on my desktop). Thanks, TNChick for making me site of the week last week, and thanks to all for all the comments! It was very much appreciated. Have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Bible Statistics and Lesson from Maccabees

Dom Bettinelli at Betnet.com has a new tumblelog appropriately named Bettumblog. This is a place he started for interesting clippings he finds, but provided without comment. There he had posted some lectionary statistics about the percent of the bible you will hear at mass. For the New Testament, if you go just on Sundays, you get about 41%, and if you go daily, you get about 72%. For the Old Testament it is about 4% from Sunday masses and 14% if you attend daily mass. So, if you rely only on mass attendance for your Bible reading you are missing out on A LOT, especially from the OT. Read your bible! You will find that it has great relevance for and many parallels with today! Last night, I was reading 1st Maccabees (0% in Sunday lectionary readings). It was describing how the Seleucid king had conquered Israel, had taken over the temple, and had banned Jewish worship and rituals (those circumcising their sons were killed - the mother, those doing the circumcision, and the child). This was done because the king, Antiochus, wanted to unify his realm with a single religion (worshiping the Greek gods). So here is the part that is relevant for today. Many of the Jews who had admired Greek culture embraced this change and became apostates - rejecting their faith in the true God - even some of the priests! While we do not have a pantheon of false gods in the sense of Zeus and his ilk, we do have a modern pantheon of materialism, sex, power, science, nature, and the self. While none of these "gods" are wrong when kept in their proper place, our modern society tells us to fall down and worship them. They take the good that these false gods are based upon, and distort them until they are evil. We are pressured to abandon our God and follow their "truth." Secular cultural leaders tell people of faith that they are fools, and that true knowledge and wisdom are found in their false gods. The worst of these are those that masquerade as religious or faithful. Those who have bought into the modern fallacies - those who reject the tenets of the faith, but retain the "cultural" aspect of their religion. Or they tell us the god "tolerance" supersedes all else, and any disagreement is simply not tolerated. Here is the good news/bad news. In Maccabees, even though the false religion succeeds for a while - a statue of a false god is even erected in the temple, the resistance of those who remain faithful renews the Jewish faith and restores Jerusalem. Here is the bad news, it was not easy and many suffered. This theme recurs frequently in the Bible. Our faith will be challenged, many will fall, but those who stay faithful will be saved in the end - but not without suffering. It is always good to remind ourselves that the faithful win in the end, but it is also important to remember that we may suffer greatly before that time. Stay faithful.

Why I Love Jesus

Why I love Jesus I got tagged twice in the span of less than two days! I guess I better take care of this. Thanks to Creative Minority Report and Play The Dad? Be the Dad! for the tags. The rules: Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus. Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers. Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them. So here are some of my reasons for loving Jesus: Through him all things were made. He made me, and my wife and my kids and my parents and my dog and the sunrise and the sunset and the oceans and the mountains and everything else that is good in this world. He died for me. After we humans screwed it up good and basically told God to take a hike, he STILL loves us. So much so that he paid the price of our redemption. And he would have done it if it was only me that had sinned. That is how much he loves me! For his first miracle, he turned WATER INTO WINE. And at the end of a three day wedding feast! Talk about joy in life! Let me tell you, Jesus is the life of the party! He gave us the best mom in the world, Mary! And he listens to her! Guess who told him to make the wine? Yep, it was her. I mean, this was his mom - and he gave her to us and us to her. He gave us the Eucharist. I go to mass and receive my Lord and God in a real and physical way. At that moment of communion, when all masses are one outside of space and time - I am with my God and savior and the entire Church throughout time. Here is a 6th freebie. I also love Jesus because he cares enough to knock me over the head every now and then with the spiritual equivalent of a 2 x 4 to get my attention. I mean, he goes out of his way to make sure I get the message some times. And here is a 7th. He gave us the Church that he told us he would not leave. He built it on Peter, and has promised that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. I could go on but I am already two past the requested five, so I'll leave it at that. Since the people I would tag have mostly been tagged or have done this one, I am going to leave the tagging open. Let me know if you play, I’d love to read your responses!

Catholic Carnival is up!

The Catholic Carnival is up at Book Reviews and More. This was my first contribution to the effort (though I had been meaning to participate for some time). My own contribution was my article on our modern day Nehemiah and Ezra.

Democratic Party Has Its Own Muslim Extremist?

Bush like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress | International News | News | Telegraph: "Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers. 'It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that,' Mr Ellison said. 'After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted.'" Let me paint the scene. The only Muslim member of Congress compares the president to Hitler in a hall of hundreds of Athiest who applaud the comparison. So why don't we hear this in the US? Why do I have to go to the UK for this news? LA Times? NY Times? AP? Hellooooo. Anybody home?????? Just how liberal are you media guys?!? But this does give us some information on the Democratic strategy. They said they would be reaching out to people who sympathize with the other party. Funny, I thought they were talking about Republicans. I guess they meant Hezbollah. (h/t to Creative Minority Report)

On Christian Pride Part II

I have been reading much of the reaction that the American (and other) bishops and the entrenched liturgical establishment has to say about the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, that Pope Benedict released 10 days ago. Fr. Z has a listing of these, with intelligent commentary (far more intelligent than most of the original pieces). His July 2007 listings can be found here: What Does The Prayer Really Say? » 2007 » July. When I read the reactions of our leaders, I was saddened by the pride and arrogance that many of the responses exhibit, which prompts this post. I posted on Christian Pride previously, and want to continue my thoughts in light of the current developments. What does pride look like? It goes something like this. I don't need to listen to you. Who cares what the Church says. The Church doesn't know what its talking about. I don't not need to pay attention to the Bible. Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? I know what is best for myself. I know better than you what needs to be done. What, do you think I'm stupid that I need your help? I have a brain to think for myself, I certainly don't need to be told what to think. I will only believe what I see, I will not trust the word of others. My own counsel will I keep. We all have seen this kind of thinking. I suspect we all have thought this way. I certainly know I have. But this thinking is the root of sin. It sets up whoever thinks this way as their own god. It stiffens the neck and hardens the heart. When we are called back to the truth, to repentance, it fights the soul within us that wants to return to God. This is the real plague that threatens Western civilization. Our culture tells us we are all little kings of our own realms, gods of our own existence. This fatally flawed perspective tells us that there is no right and wrong, except as the individual sees it (relativism feeds and insulates pride). This pride even infects our Church. Bishops that resist the lead of the Pope demonstrate it. They want to be head of the Church and resist following the Vicar of Christ. Liberal religious advocates speak from this very place. They argue that the Church is wrong, that our tradition is not sacred, that we do not need to believe the teachings of the Church, and that, somehow, the Church was wrong in its teachings before the 60's, and is wrong now on a number of important issues. Those that argue the Holy Spirit abandoned the Church at Vatican II show this arrogance as well. Both groups share the foolish pride that they have the truth and that Christ's own Church is too ignorant to see it. We have seen this sinful pride before in our history. We saw it as the unity of the Church was splintered at the Great Schism and during the Protestant Reformation. Those episodes resulted in fractures in the Body of Christ that have yet to heal. To many of our wayward brothers have not yet returned home. We are facing the same situation today. But it is not from the extreme traditionalists - they have had their say and only a fringe are willing to leave the Church with them (though we should strive to keep all within the Church). No, it is the liberal side of the Church that is the greater threat. This group says they are Catholic, but in their arrogance reject what is Catholic and what is Sacred. So what can we do? We all must humble ourselves before God. We must answer whether we believe what we say every Sunday in the Nicene Creed. If so, we must follow the leader of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We must open our hearts and bend our knees. Pray for forgiveness, and receive the Holy Spirit. All lay, and all priests, and all bishops who serve the Lord, set aside your pride and open your hearts!

Giuliani Advisory Warning

Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate: Giuliani to Reveal Five-Star Conservative Judicial Advisory Panel: "Conservatives who are pro-life and/or care about the future of the federal judiciary aren't going to buy this latest dog and pony show from Rudy." As always, read Jay at Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate. He brings more slippery slime dog activities from the candidate from New York (the label applies to both New York candidates, but I mean the former mayor) to our attention. Rudy is at it again. Trying to say one thing and be another. He hates abortion, but gives money to Planned Parenthood and acts to further the abortion agenda. He is trying to have it both ways. He wants to be a culture of death Democrat, but under the Republican banner. Don't be fooled! He is telling us who will be on his Judiciary Advisory Panel. The hidden message is that they will be conservative and more likely to be Pro-Life. Balogna! Sorry Rudy, you will do the nominating. It is YOUR values that we have to evaluate, not your committees (that don't exist). If you want a true pro-life candidate, support Brownback! And if we don't get a candidate that is clearly Pro-Life, vote third party.

Photo Hunters #66 Shadow

Click on picture for larger image For your viewing pleasure today, we have the El Capitan in Yosemite valley as the shadows from passing clouds fall over the rock face. Hope you have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Modern Ezra & Nehemiah

This week I read Ezra and Nehemiah. And something struck me about the parallel between these two biblical figures and Pope Benedict. Ezra restored right worship of the Lord, and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem so the City could be re-established after it had been destroyed. Both books were about restoring God's law in his city and in the hearts of his people. The release of the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum strikes me as directly parallel to Ezra re-establishing worship and rebuilding the temple. The Holy Father is seeking to restore the right worship to the Church - not by requiring that all return to the Extraordinary form of the right, but by setting in place an influence to control the rampant liturgical abuses and the lack of the sacred found so often in the current ordinary form of the Latin Rite. As with Ezra, there are some who do not want this. But restoration of the sacred is what we need, and what many who feel exiled within our own Church need. The document released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "Regarding Certain Aspects of Church Doctrine" is akin to Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah re-established the borders of the City of God. He strengthened its defenses so that it could again be inhabited and defended by His chosen people. The Pope, through this document, clearly establishes the border of the Church. He is re-stating, and strengthening the defenses against those would see the boundaries erased and relativism installed as god. Of course those outside of the Church take offense - just as Sanballat and Tobiah grew angry. There were even those among the Jewish people who conspired with those outside to stop Nehemiah, as Shemaiah conspired with Sanballat and Tobiah. Similarly, today we see those who are nominally within the Church trying to undermine the work of the Pope on this and other issues. In these old testament cases we see opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem. Today, we have something similar, as Pope Benedict, building on the work of Pope John Paul, calls the people back from the error of their ways so the Church can be strengthened. The question is where do you stand. Do you stand with those seeking to keep the Church weak, or will you give your efforts to building Christ's own Church? I, for one, will serve the Lord by offering my labor in the service of building and strengthening his Church.

Giuliani Side Steps Reporting Laws?

Salt Lake Tribune - First Romney, now Giuliani's security detail zeal draws questions: "For most of this year, Giuliani's consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, has paid the cost of the security detail, an arrangement that has existed since Giuliani stepped down as mayor, campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella said. His campaign travels eventually became so extensive that the campaign began picking up the costs on June 18, she said. Campaign finance experts say the campaign may have run afoul of federal campaign laws that prohibit candidates from accepting money or in-kind contributions from corporations." It seems to me that it is not a good idea to ignore the law as a presidential candidate, especially if you are touting your credentials for cleaning up crime. Sure, he's tough on the homeless, but what's a little illegal money shuffling among friends? I mean, if your rich and powerful you don't have to obey ALL of the laws, right? Don't these people know who he is? He was MAYOR during 9/11! Doesn't that mean he can break a rule here or there?

North Korean Christian To Be Executed - Brownback Speaks Up

EWTN.com - North Korean Christian Evangelist To Be Executed as Example: "In his letters to Rice and Ban, Brownback wrote: 'Future cooperation and engagement with North Korea will be far more challenging if its leaders continue to persecute their own people for religious views. The United States has made political and religious freedoms important elements in its diplomatic relations, and we are gravely concerned about abuses of such basic rights in North Korea.'" This is a kind of foreign policy we need in this country. We need this kind of straight up talk to the Chinese as well. If you want a truly just perspective in the White House - support Brownback!

"What would Raymond Brown say?"!?!

Commonweal -Between Theology & Exegesis: "This is not, however, what a substantial majority of American Catholic Bible scholars wants to hear. I venture to guess that their silent question about this book is: “What would Raymond Brown say?”" I have unexpectedly been added to a Commonweal mailing list. This was not really intentional, and can make for some scary reading. The most recent email I received was a review about the Pope's book, Jesus of Nazareth. The line above summarizes the review. It was largely dry and critical as only an academic review can be. It put me back into a world that I knew, not in theology, but in psychology. I could get my blood pounding reading issues about the structure of personality. Things that to anyone in daily life, are largely irrelevant, but were pretty important to me in my little academic world. My academic discussions centered around mental life, but often had little to say that was directly relevant to actual living. Such is the nature of the academy. The problem with this attitude in theology is that one is in danger of leaving faith out of the study of God. So we get all the academic trappings, but none of the prayer, none of the holiness. It looks like it can become a lot like the English department. With discussions of what the received view is and how something does or does not fit with that view. It puts me in the mind of the warning of St. Francis to St. Anthony "It pleases me that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, as long as in the words of the Rule you "do not extinguish the Spirit of prayer and devotion" with study of this kind." The attitude presented in the review can suck the life out of faith, and lead one down dangerous roads. Roads that lead one to criticize a pope leading and teaching his flock, because he has not kept up with the latest trends in the academy. It can take faith, and turn it into an academic battleground - trampling on the sacred in the road to academic fame (and what a low prize that). It makes a grand tempest in a teapot, appearing as nothing more than a lot of noise from the outside. The only clear message in the article is that "experts" think the Pope is wrong. Which feeds the liberal leanings of some, raises the traditional ire of others, and undermines the teaching of the faith to all. This pedantic position leads one to ask "what would Raymond Brown say" rather than "what would Christ himself say." I for one, will attend to Christ, listen to my pope and worry not about Fr. Brown.

Random Facts Meme

I was tagged by Jerry at My Autistic Boy, and am supposed must now reveal eight random facts about myself, presumably those not otherwise known. The rules: 1. Let others know who tagged you. 2. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves. 3. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts. 4. Players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged 1. For high school, I was discerning whether to become a priest and lived at the minor seminary. 2. I was not allowed to run for school president, because I was not the right material (I was a rebel...for the seminary). The dean of students who made that decision, later presided over our wedding ceremony and mass. 3. We moved for work 5 times in 8 years. The last move was more than 2 years ago, and we have NO plans of moving again. 4. I lived in the South (US) even though I said I never would. AND I am glad that I did. Some of my favorite people in the world live there. There is much about the South I love. Besides some of the people, I love BBQ, and there is NO good BBQ in California. And I love southern breakfast - mmm, hmmm; with grits (especially with a fried egg on top) and biscuits and gravy. 5. I proposed to my wife at the top of one of those huge Ferris wheels at the LA County fair. 6. My folks had me when they were 19, and I have a sister 19 years younger than me, and my youngest is 19 years younger than my sister. 7. I was the first in my family to go to college, and I decided to go all... the... way for the Piled High and Deep degree. 8. I have been interviewed on TV - twice (thanks, Jerry). I have tried to not tag those whom I would have tagged otherwise but have already done this meme (e.g., Deb at Ukok's Place, Barb at SFO Mom). If others I tag have already done this meme, well...oops. I Tag: Tim at The Lapped Catholic Jay at Pro Eclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate Dadwithnoisykids at Scorpion Stalking Duck Paul at Thoughts of a Regular Guy Dom at Bettnet Amber at This Catholic Journey and just for fun... Fr Tim at SOV2 RadTradChad at The Society of St. Leo I

It's still official - the Catholic Church is THE Church

DOCUMENT REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CHURCH DOCTRINE Not that I expect any minds to change outside of the Church. No, I think this letter is for those Catholics stuck in the late '60s and '70s. You know, the ones with theology from The Beatles. The ones who say it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you have love (of course the definition of love is a bit amorphous in that theology). Those who love the "Spirit of Vatican II" (as opposed to the actual Vatican II). This is for those in the Church to remind them that there is one true Church. May all who seek God come to find him in the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ and extended through his apostles and led by the successor of Peter.

What do you think of the Moto Proprio?

I'd love to see what people are thinking about the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum. Leave your vote and then leave a comment as well.

Summorum Pontificum

What Does The Prayer Really Say?»Blog Archive » Summorum Pontificum: my intro comments and the text: "This document is about opening hearts and healing. In his explanatory letter Pope Benedict even quotes 2 Cor 6:13: “Widen your hearts!” Read Summorum Pontificum with a wide heart, and no one need fear that rights will be trampled or due authority undermined." I look forward to the positive impact this will have on the Church and on the Norvus Ordo liturgy. We need more sacred, and this provides it both directly and indirectly as the Norvus Ordo mass is reconnected to its roots. Let us thank God for this extraordinary pope. Let us pray for open hearts. Let us humbly follow where our shepherd leads. Click to go to Fr. Z's WDTPRS. He is a great resource for this issue.

On Christian Pride - Part I

I have some thoughts on Pride especially when found in Christians, and particularly the Catholic variety. This is the first of at least two parts. The concept of Christian Pride or Catholic Pride is an oxymoron. I am glad I am Christian. I am grateful to God most high that I am Catholic. It is a sacred gift to have been born thus. It is a gift from God that I was given parents and nuns and priests who catechized me well. It is still a greater gift that the fire of the Holy Spirit has touched me with a thirst for knowledge about the true faith and a desire to live it. But pride...? Many see pride as a good thing (e.g., "I'm proud of you," or "I am proud to be an American (or whatever group)." But what is the opposite of pride? We have an answer from the Thesaurus. The opposite of pride is humility, modesty, and shame. We are called to be both humble and modest. These are set clearly against pride. How then can we be proud of being Catholic Christians when being called to Christ means to seek humility and live modestly? If I am proud to be an American (or Christian or of Irish decent), does that mean all who are not should live in shame? I understand being grateful. I understand pledging my heartfelt allegiance. I understand owing a debt to those who have given me the great gifts I have. But does that make me superior to others? Am I God that I can make such a judgment? Being blessed with gifts should not be a source of judging those who do not have these gifts - rather they impose a burden of responsibility. "When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted." Lk 13:48

Congressional Hypocrisy

Members of Congress urge US bishops to intervene in Iraq War: "Washington DC, Jul 5, 2007 / 11:30 am (CNA).- Fourteen Catholic members of Congress released a letter on Tuesday, calling on the country's Catholic bishops to help end the war in Iraq. The letter urges the bishops to 'mobilize Catholic opinion on this, one of the most critical issues of our time.'" How is that for a joke? Catholic members of Congress don't want the Church to speak when it reminds them that abortion is wrong, but wants the Church to speak when it benefits there particular position. As to the specific issue of Iraq.... When the country first decided to go to war, I strongly believed it a wrong and unjust decision - I still think so. I also believed then, and I believe now, that once we made the decision for war, we had to commit to finishing the job - no cowardly withdrawals. Going into Iraq was a mistake, simply pulling out without creating the real opportunity for stability would be an even bigger mistake. I wish these Catholic members of Congress would start attending to how one lives with responsibility for making mistakes, not just the freedom to commit them. Pulling out of Iraq, like having an abortion would be seeking to avoid responsibility. Our nation must stop avoiding the consequences of our actions and do what it takes to set things right. Shame on you "members of Congress" - stop the politics and do what is right.

Tolerance, Muslim style

MALAYSIA Whipping, prison and fines for anyone who tries to convert Muslims - Asia News: "Under the revised law passed by the northern Malaysian state of Kelantan, anyone found guilty faces a maximum penalty of six lashes with a rattan cane, five years in prison and a fine of almost us$ 3,000. The previous maximum penalty was two years in prison and a fine of RM 5,000 (US$ 1,400)." How is that for tolerance? It does make me glad I live in the United States.

A Catholic American or an American Catholic?

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. The day we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. I have always been patriotic, and that increased after the 9/11 attacks. But what does it mean to be an American, and how does that fit in with being a Catholic? I would consider myself patriotic, and believe that I live in one of the greatest nations that have ever existed. I have always loved the freedom afforded by my government. That freedom allows a man to live as his conscience dictates. We are free to do what we believe to be right. America is great because of the freedom and opportunity it affords. And America has taken its responsibility as a member of the world seriously. While not perfect, I must say the world would be a very worse place without the United States in WWI, WWII, and standing up to the communists in the Cold War. I honor the brave soldiers who have answered the call to duty in all conflicts to defend the liberty we hold dear and extend hope to others. America is a great country and I am glad I am an American. But I am also Catholic. And the two sets of values - American and Catholic, are not always in sync. Modern American values see freedom as being free to do whatever you want, while Catholics see freedom as being free to do what we are called to do. There are many "Catholic" politicians in America who are "cultural" Catholics. In fact, most Catholic politicians publicly espouse values that are counter what faithful Catholic believes. They do so, in the name of "freedom." They will not defend the life of an unborn child because women need to be "free." They are even willing to force those of us who believe differently to pay for these murders (poor women need to be "free" to murder their unborn children too). They undermine the sanctity of marriage because others should be "free" to have the government equate their sin with my sacrament. They argue that my voice has no place in the public square, unless I check my Catholicity at the door, as if it were a coat I could take off. These are Catholic Americans. They are Catholic to the extent that it describes their culture of origin, like an Irish American, Italian American, or Asian American. It is important to one's identity - but not the central component. It is the adjective, not the noun. I value being an American, but for me, it is the adjective to the noun of being Catholic. Being Catholic is central to my identity. Being an American describes the culture I come from (to be accurate, I am and American Roman Catholic). More important than all of the freedoms, successes, virtues, and faults that come with living in the United States is my struggle toward heaven in the Church founded by Christ himself. If I had to give up either being American or being Catholic, the answer is easy for me. I will always be Catholic. What would your choice be? Have a safe and happy 4th of July! God Bless America!