Public Vigil

How much do you love God?

2011-11-08T19:26:00.005-05:00

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind."
– Luke 10:27

Do you love God the way that Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens loves football? Would you fight for Him, and sacrifice for Him, and give Him all you've got?

"Position yourself so when God gets ready to pour out blessings, that you're in a position to receive those blessings.... keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting.... It's His will. Let His will be done.... God is amazing!"
– Ray Lewis after Baltimore Ravens amazing comeback win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, November 6, 2011.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me,
uttering slanders against me,
my adversaries and foes,
they shall stumble and fall.
Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
– Psalm 27:1-3

Do you love God the way that Joe Frazier loved boxing?

Requiescat In Pace, Smokin' Joe.

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St. Joseph, pray for us.

Our Humanist President says God backs federal bailouts

2011-11-04T00:52:00.004-04:00

I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
for ever and ever.
– Psalm 28:8

I don't think God cares one way or another what bills are passed through Congress unless they affect people's spiritual lives. This whole idea that God is in favor of "social justice" is a very humanist reduction of the Gospel message. Yes, we should help the poor, but we need to do it by creating a culture of life that fundamentally transforms our society. Anything else is just putting bandaids on the problem, at best. And at worst, it creates a society which is dominated by an atheistic central power.

All of these bailouts so far have only managed to save a few very rich and powerful people from going bankrupt, while burdening the rest of us with huge government debts. So when President Obama says that he believes that God wants a new jobs bill he is not only promoting bad economics, but also making a mockery of the Christian faith.

Jesus, I trust in You!

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UPDATE 1 [Nov 4]:

In the video when Obama says "In the House of Representatives, what have you guys been debating, John?" he is addressing Speaker of the House, John Boehner. So not only is he showing disrespect for Christians, but he is also directly mocking the Republican House Speaker.

The reason that the resolution to affirm that "In God We Trust" is the official motto of the United States was needed is because President Obama had declared that the US motto was "E pluribus unum" -- Latin for "Out of many, one" -- in one of his speeches. Given Obama's secular humanist policies that have the intent of erasing religion from public life in America, I'm convinced that this was no accident.

What has he done to help the economy? How does promoting "homosexual marriage" help to make us a stronger country at this time of crisis? It doesn't. It only serves to divide and weaken us. And no one is falling for Obama's charade that he is a Christian. He isn't.

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UPDATE 2 [Nov 4]:

Ron Paul says that he is against the resolution reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the official US motto. Paul said, "I would have voted 'no' not because I don't like the motto and don't think we can use it but 'no' because we were telling the states what to do." (He didn't vote because he was not in Washington at the time due to his presidential campaign schedule.)

I for one am tiring of Pauls' excuse of "states rights" on so many issues. Shouldn't Congress have the right to enforce a national motto? Does he want to reduce the United States to a loose confederation of states like the European Union? The strength of the United States is in our unity. If we give too much power to the individual states then we are constantly threatened with rebellion every time a crisis comes along. Just look at what is happening with the EU over the economic crisis in Greece.

What is Man?

2011-11-02T00:21:00.002-04:00

When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars which thou hast established;
what is man that thou art mindful of him,
and the son of man that thou dost care for him?
Yet thou hast made him little less than God,
and dost crown him with glory and honor.
– Psalm 8:3-5

The lyrics of this song are based on a poem titled "What is Man?" by Welsh poet Waldo Williams. I heard the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, quote from this poem during his speech at the Assisi gathering for world peace on October 27:

What is it to be alive? To dwell in a great hall
Between narrow walls.
What is it to recognize? To find a single root
Beneath all the branches.

What is it to have faith? To stay still at the hearth
Until we are ready to receive our guest.
What is it to forgive? To find a way through the thorns
To stand alongside our old enemy.

When I went looking for the rest of the poem, I quickly learned that the original was in Welsh not English. So I came across various translations (here and here) of the words. I ended up modifying Waldo Williams' original poem while trying to stay true to his meaning. Ultimately, I didn't use the whole poem. This is one translation of the other verses that I used.

What is it to sing? To receive breath
From the genius of creation.
What's work but humming a song
From wood and wheat.
[...]
What's the world to the all powerful?
A circle spinning.
And to the children of the earth?
A cradle rocking.

Then as I was working on the song, I was reminded of Psalm 8:3-5 and incorporated those words into the lyrics as well.

I originally was attracted to this poem by the opening lines, "What is it to be alive? To dwell in a great hall between narrow walls." It took me a bit of contemplating to reach an understanding of this. To me this means that we are confined to see only a small part of God's infinite creation. We live in the physical world, which can lead us to believe that this is all there is to His creation. We occupy human bodies and yet there is a sense that there is so much more to our existence.

What is Man?
© Michael of PublicVigil 2011

What is it to be alive? To dwell in a great hall
Between narrow walls.
What is it to realize? To find a single root
Beneath all the branches.

What is it to believe? Guarding the faith
Until acceptance comes.
What is it to forgive? Fighting through thorns
To comfort my enemy.

Where’s the magic in a song? It’s in the first breath
Of creation.
And why must we sweat and toil? To create a symphony
From the forests and the fields.

What's the world to the strong?
A circle spinning.
And to the children of the earth?
A cradle rocking.

When I look up to the heavens
I see the work of your hands.
The moon and countless stars
Which you alone created.

What is man that you are mindful of him,
And the son of man that you should care for him?
Yet you made him little less than yourself,
And you crowned him with glory.

Where’s the magic in a song? It’s in the first breath
Of creation.
And why must we sweat and toil? To create a symphony
From the forests and the fields.

What's the world to the strong?
A circle spinning.
And to the children of the earth?
A cradle rocking.

White supremacist Pat Buchanan on EWTN

2011-10-29T23:49:00.007-04:00

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
– Galatians 3:28-29

I hope that Raymond Arroyo gets a ton of emails complaining about inviting Pat Buchanan to come on his show. Buchanan has demonstrated time and again that he is a white supremacist. In fact the book that he is currently promoting has a chapter titled "The End Of White America". Here are a few quotes which are obviously designed to stir feelings of racial hatred towards Hispanics and Blacks.

The white population will begin to shrink and, should present birth rates persist, slowly disappear. Hispanics already comprise 42 percent of New Mexico's population, 37 percent of California's, 38 percent of Texas's, and over half the population of Arizona under the age of twenty. ... Mexico is moving north. Ethnically, linguistically, and culturally, the verdict of 1848 is being overturned. Will this Mexican nation within a nation advance the goals of the Constitution-to "insure domestic tranquility" and "make us a more perfect union"? Or has our passivity in the face of this invasion imperiled our union?

...Those who believe the rise to power of an Obama rainbow coalition of peoples of color means the whites who helped to engineer it will steer it are deluding themselves. The whites may discover what it is like to ride in the back of the bus.

Supposedly Buchanan is a Catholic and that justifies him being on the program. There is also a chapter in the book titled "The Death Of Christian America". I have certainly shared my concerns about the attacks by Our Secular President on Christianity, but Buchanan twists this into another racist argument by denying that Hispanics also come from a predominantly Christian culture.

~~I give credit to Arroyo for initially challenging Buchanan on this subject. But I have to say that I was very disappointed that he did not confront Buchanan about his repugnant reply.~~

UPDATE 1 [Oct 30]:

After reviewing a list of the chapters from Buchanan's book (see update below), I have to ask: which of these was Arroyo calling "a chapter on immigration"? The one that it seems he was most likely referring to is "The End of White America". Arroyo and EWTN should be ashamed to be promoting such a blatantly racist book. Arroyo clearly knew what type of answer to expect from Buchanan about Hispanic immigration. I have had issues before with Arroyo over his conservative politics, but this goes far beyond standard political ideology. This is racism at the level of the KKK.

Please write to EWTN at viewer@ewtn.com or call them at 205-271-2900 to let them know of your displeasure. And if you are a financial contributor, you should tell them that you are not going to contribute to them anymore and let them know why. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

It is people like Buchanan that give Republican conservatives the label of "racist". There is no better way to get Hispanics and Blacks to run into the arms of the Democrats than to allow him to continue to spew his racial hatred. Hispanics and Blacks are attracted by the pro-Life and pro-Family messages of conservative Republicans and would seem like a natural fit, but the overt racism displayed by Buchanan screams out to Hispanics and Blacks that they are not welcome.

Here is the video from the "World Over Live". You can come to your own conclusions. (The exchange about Hispanics begins at 18:10 and ends at 20:30.)

The whole Republican Party position on immigration has huge anti-Hispanic overtones. The other day at the CNN debates the Republican candidates were asked directly about what their message is for Hispanics. The only reply was that they would produce more jobs -- they ducked the issue entirely. The only person that had any positive message for Hispanics was Rick Santorum, who stood up for the pro-Family values of Hispanics. (Buchanan, on the other hand, specifically chooses to attack Hispanic family values.)

I was especially disappointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry. He could have said something positive about the large number of Hispanics in Texas. Instead he just made a generic statement about creating jobs for everyone. In his first debate, Perry spoke proudly of having helped Hispanic immigrants to be able to achieve a college education. But after coming under fire for supporting Hispanics, he has assumed the racist immigrant stance of his fellow Republicans.

As much as I would like to vote for a Republican for President based on the vital pro-Life and pro-Family issues, it will be very hard for me to do if they continue to attack Hispanics by using the issue of immigration as a cover for their racism.

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San Juan Diego, ruega por nostros.

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UPDATE 1 [Oct 30]:

Below are excerpts from each chapter in Buchanan's book titled "Suicide of a Superpower". It is racists like him that give Christianity a bad name. To him, "Christian America" and "White America" are synonymous. What makes it worse for me is that he calls himself a "Catholic". Usually it is the Protestants that spew this kind of hatred. Please rest assured that Buchanan does not represent the Catholic Church which embraces people from all backgrounds and of all nationalities.

I have to wonder if Buchanan is really working for the Democrats in disguise. This type of polarizing politics can only help Obama. But if the Republican candidates do not publicly denounce him then people will assume that he is speaking for them. And maybe he is.

Chapter 1: The Passing of a Superpower

“We have accepted today the existence in perpetuity of a permanent underclass of scores of millions who cannot cope and must be carried by society -- fed, clothed, housed, tutored, medicated at taxpayer’s expense their entire lives. We have a dependent nation the size of Spain in our independent America. We have a new division in our country, those who pay a double or triple fare, and those who ride forever free.”

Chapter 2. The End of Christian America

If [Christopher] Dawson is correct, the drive to de-Christianize America, to purge Christianity from the public square, public schools and public life, will prove culturally and socially suicidal for the nation.

“The last consequence of a dying Christianity is a dying people. Not one post-Christian nation has a birth rate sufficient to keep it alive....The death of European Christianity means the disappearance of the European tribe, a prospect visible in the demographic statistics of every Western nation.”

Chapter 3. The Crisis of Catholicism

“Half a century on, the disaster is manifest. The robust and confident Church of 1958 no longer exists. Catholic colleges and universities remain Catholic in name only. Parochial schools and high schools are closing as rapidly as they opened in the 1950s. The numbers of nuns, priests and seminarians have fallen dramatically. Mass attendance is a third of what it was. From the former Speaker of the House to the Vice President, Catholic politicians openly support abortion on demand.”

“How can Notre Dame credibly teach that all innocent life is sacred, and then honor a president committed to ensuring that a woman’s right to end the life of her innocent child remains sacrosanct?”

Chapter 4. The End of White America

“[W]hite America is an endangered species. By 2020, whites over 65 will out-number those 17 and under. Deaths will exceed births. The white population will begin to shrink and, should present birth rates persist, slowly disappear.”

“Mexico is moving north. Ethnically, linguistically and culturally, the verdict of 1848 is being over-turned. Will this Mexican nation within a nation advance the goals of the Constitution -- to “insure domestic tranquility” and ‘make us a more perfect union’? Or have we imperiled our union?” (Page 134)

Chapter 5. Demographic Winter

“Peoples of European descent are not only in a relative but a real decline. They are aging, dying, disappearing. This is the existential crisis of the West.” (Page 166)

“Not any Iranian weapon of mass destruction but demography is the existential crisis Israel faces....By mid-century...Palestinians west of the Jordan river will out-number Jews 2-1. Add Palestinians in Jordan, it is 3-1.”

“In a startling development of history, Russia’s population has fallen from 148 million in 1991 to 140 million today and is projected to plunge to 116 million by 2050, a loss of 32 million Russians in six decades.”

Chapter 6. Equality Vs. Freedom

“Those who would change society begin by changing the meaning of words. At Howard University, LBJ changed the meaning of equality from the attainable -- an end to segregation and a legislated equality of rights for African-Americans -- to the impossible: a socialist utopia.”

“Where equality is enthroned, freedom is extinguished. The rise of the egalitarian society means the death of the free society.”

“A time for truth. As most kids do not have the athletic ability to play high school sports, or the musical ability to play in the band, or the verbal ability to excel in debate, not every child has the academic ability to do high school work. No two children are created equal, not even identical twins. The family is the incubator of inequality and God its author.”

Chapter 7. The Diversity Cult

“The non-Europeanization of America is heartening news of an almost transcendental quality,” Wattenberg trilled.4 Yet, one wonders: What kind of man looks with transcendental joy to a day when the people among whom he was raised have become a minority in a nation where the majority rules?”

“Historians will look back in stupor at 20th and 21st century Americans who believed the magnificent republic they inherited would be enriched by bringing in scores of millions from the failed states of the Third World.”

Chapter 8: The Triumph Of Tribalism

America’s war of revenge against Japan was a race war. Newsreels, movies, magazines, comic books, headlines treated “Japs” as a repulsive race whose extermination would benefit mankind....Only well after the war was over was it re-branded a war to bring the blessings of democracy to...Japan.

We may deny the existence of ethnonationalism, detest it, condemn it. But this creator and destroyer of empires and nations is a force infinitely more powerful than globalism, for it engages the heart. Men will die for it. Religion, race, culture and tribe are the four horsemen of the coming apocalypse.

Chapter 9. ‘The White Party’

“Through its support of mass immigration, its paralysis in power to prevent 12-20 million illegal aliens from entering and staying, its failure to address the “anchor-baby” issue, the Republican Party has birthed a new electorate that will send it the way of the Whigs.”

Chapter 10: The Long Retreat

“We borrow from Europe to defend Europe. We borrow from the Gulf states to defend the Gulf states. We borrow from Japan to defend Japan. Is it not a symptom of senility to be borrowing from the world so we can defend the world?”

“Are vital U.S. interests more imperiled by what happens in Iraq where were have 50,000 troops, or Afghanistan where we have 100,000, or South Korea where we have 28,000 -- or by what is happening on our border with Mexico?...What does it profit America if we save Anbar and lose Arizona?”

Chapter 11: The Last Chance

“We are trying to create a nation that has never before existed, of all the races, tribes, cultures and creeds of Earth, where all are equal. In this utopian drive for the perfect society of our dreams we are killing the real country we inherited -- the best and greatest country on earth.”

China's coming one-grandparent policy

2011-10-26T01:53:00.001-04:00

No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the child shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
– Isaiah 65:20

The mainstream press is finally beginning to warn of the disastrous consequences of China's population control policies. It isn't being reported on CNN, but at least AFP writer Pascale Trouillaud has written an article titled "China's one-child rule turns into a time bomb".

China's one-child policy has prevented almost half a billion births but has turned into a demographic time bomb as the population ages, storing up huge economic and social problems for the country.

Three decades on, demographers, sociologists and economists are warning of a looming crisis as China becomes the only developing country in the world to face growing old before it grows rich.

By 2050, a quarter of China's population will be over 65, the Commission for Population and Family Planning said, compared to just nine percent today.

The upside-down pyramid -- whereby a single child shoulders responsibility for two parents and four grandparents -- is a major headache for the government.

China has barely begun to put in place a universal social security and retirement system, and over two-thirds of the rural population does not have a pension.

The solution is obvious for a country that has already implemented a brutal "one-child policy" -- an equally brutal "one-grandparent policy" would not be beyond the realm of reason.

Steven Mosher of the Population Research Institute has been battling to warn the world of the dangers of population control policies for years. I was almost finished writing this article, when it occurred to me to check his site for information on euthanasia in China. I was amazed to find him come to the same conclusion that I had -- even calling it a "one-grandparent policy".

Finally, there is the demographic snare that the one-child policy has set for the Chinese people. Because of the radical cutback in births, the Chinese population is aging faster than any human population in human history. The worker/dependency ratio is unsustainable. How can an only child support two parents and four grandparents in retirement? I am afraid that this will lead the Chinese government to embark upon a “one-grandparent policy” in years to come, in which tens of millions of elderly Chinese will be urged to accept euthanasia, perhaps in return for their only grandchild being allowed to go to college. Forced abortion and forced euthanasia are two sides of the same debased coin.

And as usual there will be a practical equivalent for American society as well. We don't have an official one child policy, but we have Planned Parenthood, contraception and abortion. Do we really have a "choice"?

And unless we start fighting now, we will soon have legalized euthanasia -- another "choice".

Pro-Life Anderson passed away

2011-10-21T10:06:00.002-04:00

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
– 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

Pro-Life Anderson

I learned through a twitter message from Father Frank Pavone of the death of Pro-Life Anderson. I had never heard of him before. There are many unsung heros in the pro-Life crusade.

His message was a simple one. He got down on his knees and prayed:

"For the love of God, love of country and love of life ... protect the unborn in anyway you possibly can. Through your prayers, your actions ... anything else. Without life there is no liberty or pursuit of happiness."

Father Frank remembers him this way:

“Over the years I have been inspired by many pro-life activists and have tried to pattern my own life on them, but among those who have inspired me the most was ‘Prolife Anderson.’ This humble, energetic man – who was an orphan -- served our nation in the Air Force for two decades, receiving medals of commendation twice. But it was his passionate devotion of unborn children that most dramatically shaped his long life. Whether in Reno, Nevada, or Savannah Georgia, or any of the cities he visited in between, Prolife Anderson spoke publicly his pro-life message to anyone who would listen – and to those who would not listen.

“Many called him crazy. It was an honor, however, to stand with him in city after city against the atrocity of abortion, and to be called crazy with him. As he and I often discussed, we are crazy with love for our unborn brothers and sisters.

“He wore red socks to signify that we are all wading in the blood of the innocent. His car was covered with bumper stickers that gave voice to the voiceless. And in 1987 he had his first name legally changed to “Prolife.” His commitment to our youngest and most vulnerable brothers and sisters – those still in the womb – was absolute and all-consuming.

“That’s what I have learned from him over these years, and that’s how I will honor him, by calling numerous others to join me and my colleagues in a lifetime commitment to ending abortion.”

Here is some more information about him:

Pro-Life Anderson was born Charles Frederick Anderson in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1927. He had his name legally changed to “Pro-Life” in 1987.

Anderson never knew his father, friends say, and moved to Savannah at the age of three, after his mother died, to live with his grandparents. A self-described juvenile delinquent, Anderson was sent to St. Joseph’s orphanage after his grandfather died, and his grandmother, who had to go back to work to support the family, struggled with him and his brother, Allie.

Anderson grew up in a Protestant family but converted to Catholicism at the orphanage. He went to Benedictine Military School but said he dropped out to help support his grandmother. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and married Marie Patricia Cecelia Moore, a 38-year-old widow with a 9-year-old son, in 1964. They moved to Reno, Nevada.

Anderson started campaigning against abortion in Reno the late 1970s, inspired, he said, after his stepson’s girlfriend had an abortion. His wife died in 1984, and he moved back to Savannah in 1997.

Requiescat in Pace.

Here is the funeral information for those in the Savannah, Georgia area:

Visitation for Anderson will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Gamble Funeral Service, 10 Stephenson Ave. A vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Gamble Funeral Service Chapel. Mass will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, 222 East Harris St.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, are being accepted at Priests for Life, P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1003 East Victory Dr., Savannah, GA, 31405 and at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, 222 East Harris St., Savannah, GA, 31401.

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All the angels and the archangels, pray for us.

Father Rodríguez parishioners show their support

2011-10-20T17:55:00.000-04:00

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.
– Revelation 12:7

Michael Voris traveled to El Paso, TX to document the support of parishioners of San Juan Bautista Iglesia for Father Michael Rodríguez, for the Traditional Latin Mass and for authentic Church teachings.

Here also is a video of the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass by Father Rodríguez at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (built in 1890, in what was then known as a mining town, now considered a "ghost town"), located in the small town of Shafter, Texas (population-40). Please note the un-"renovated" traditional altar in this humble but beautiful Catholic church. The homily begins at around 33:00. It's mostly in English with some parts in Spanish. The music of the Mass is very beautiful and solemn.

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Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us
in battle, be our protection against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May
God rebuke him we humbly pray; and
do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan
and all evil spirits who wander through
the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

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Related articles:

Homilies by Father Frank Pavone

2011-10-20T14:30:00.002-04:00

Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
– 2 Timothy 4:2-5

Father Frank Pavone

Please keep Father Frank Pavone and Bishop Patrick Zurek in your prayers. Here are the last few homilies by Father Frank that were broadcast on EWTN just prior to his departure on September 13 to Amarillo, Texas at the request of his bishop.

Homily 09-10-2011 - Fr Frank Pavone - Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Homily 09-11-2011 - Fr. Frank Pavone - Tenth Anniversary of September 11 2001 Terrorist Attack

Homily 09-12-2011 - Fr Frank Pavone - The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Homily 09-13-2011 - Fr Frank Pavone - St John Chrysostom - Bishop - Doctor of the Church

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
St. John Chrysostom, pray for us.

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Related articles:

Bishop Zurek finally breaks media silence ... to cast aspersions

2011-10-14T16:30:00.008-04:00

Take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
– Matthew 18:16

We finally got a direct quote from Bishop Zurek in the Amarillo press. It comes after Father Frank Pavone did not appear for a scheduled "private" meeting with his Ordinary on October 13. Here are some quotes from an article titled "Despite bishop's meeting request, Pavone a no-show":

“I would welcome a meeting with Father Pavone, face to face, a meeting as his bishop,” Zurek said. “I am still waiting for a favorable response to that.”

“This is a delicate internal Church matter that needs to be resolved between a bishop and his priest,” he added. “This is parallel to a human resources matter in the secular workplace. And it is even more sensitive when you factor in the relationship between a bishop and his priest as one similar to a father to a son or a brother to a brother.”

“In this case, right now, a real concern for me is Father Pavone.”

The bishop is obviously no stranger to the spin room. Following this deprecatory statement, there was a flurry of denigrating articles from the usual suspects. I'm thinking in particular of the Catholic Culture article (no author -- I guess the article wrote itself) where Phil Lawler has been leading the charge on libeling Father Pavone's good name. And of course the ever pesky gadfly Mark Shea felt it necessary to chime in without all the facts. How's this for showing "respect" for a Catholic priest in good standing:

"This kind of petulance makes the bishop look smarter every day. This is your bishop we are talking about, Fr. Pavone. Show some respect." – Mark Shea

And true to form, Edward Peters -- self-proclaimed canon lawyer extraordinaire -- could not wait for the facts to become clear before excoriating Father Pavone for missing the meeting. (Please see my previous article titled "Ed Peters' dogged defense of Bishop Zurek".) Without anymore information about the situation than you or I have access to, Ed Peters has declared himself to be the ultimate authority on all things related to Frank Pavone and Bishop Zurek. Once again, Peters can find absolutely no fault with Bishop Zurek -- even after he learns some more about the nuances of the situation from Fr. Deibel's account. Will Ed Peters have the manly courage to apologize for his libelous treatment of Father Frank after the fact? So far there are no signs of this ever happening. If Peters is as naïve as he sounds about human nature and Church politics from his posts on Father Pavone, then he has no business being a canon lawyer. I sure wouldn't want to be his client if I were a priest that had been accused of wrongdoing by my bishop.

If they had all waited a short while for a response from Father Frank or had made some attempt to contact Priests for Life, they would have heard the other side of the story. From LifeSiteNews in an article titled "Canon lawyer advised Fr. Pavone not to attend private meeting with bishop" we learn that things are not as simple as Bishop Zurek has attempted to portray them in the Amarillo press.

Fr. Pavone’s canon lawyer has said that he advised Fr. Pavone not to attend the meeting without a mediator present.

“The details and history of the present situation are such that moving forward to a resolution is no longer simply a matter of getting together and talking,” said Canonist Fr. David Deibel.

Fr. Deibel, in his official statement released today, says that requests to have a mediator present at any meeting between Pavone and the bishop have not been acknowledged. “Several Church officials have made it clear that they believe mediation is necessary, and that they are willing to undertake a role as mediators,” he said. “Unfortunately, Bishop Zurek has not responded to or even acknowledged any of these requests.”

“Instead,” added Deibel, “he wrote to Fr. Frank, asked him to come to a one-on-one meeting with him, and asked him in writing not to speak to anyone about the meeting. Then, the next day, before Father Frank even had an opportunity to respond, the Bishop announced the meeting on the front page of the website of the Amarillo diocese.”

Fr. Deibel said that Priests for Life would prefer that the process of discussing the disagreement take place in private rather than in the media. He said that Priests for Life remains hopeful that Bishop Zurek will respond privately to the requests for mediation and that the matter will be resolved shortly.

Fr. Deibel said however, “As his canonical consultant, I advised Father Frank not to have this private meeting until the process of mediation is underway.”

I suppose that Father Frank's detractors will just use this as more evidence of his lack of "obedience" to his bishop.

I wrote a comment at another website just shortly before learning of the response from Priests for Life. I have to give myself a pat on the back for understanding how this situation has been playing out. Here it is:

I'm not as disturbed by Father Frank's no-show as you are. I never expected anything good to come out of this meeting anyway.

As for possible explanations, I can think of a few. Of course it would be better to wait until there is a statement from Father Frank himself. But first remember that the main issue here is not about a skipped meeting or even "obedience". I'm reminded of the famous quote from Cool Hand Luke, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

Keep in mind also that the Bishop said this would be a "private" meeting - but he publicly announced it. And also keep in mind that the Bishop himself was a "no-show" for a month. Anything said in a private meeting can be spun any which way by the Bishop, and if Father Frank would have tried to give an alternate explanation of what happened he would again be labeled "disobedient" for contradicting his Ordinary -- or even for just speaking out according to some people.

So one scenario is that he was advised by canon or civil lawyers not to meet with the Bishop unless he could have someone else in the room with him that could represent him. Or at the very least to be a witness to what is discussed.

Or it could be that Father wants to delay the meeting because he is waiting for a reply from some other Church authorities.

I don't know. But this is the way that "witch hunts" are conducted. First a bogus accusation is made and then the allegations widen and the "lack of cooperation" by an innocent person attempting to defend himself is thrown in as "suspicious behavior". Until anything a person says or does not say is touted as proof of their guilt.

You know, like throwing someone in the ocean with an anchor tied to them and if they sink then they are innocent (but dead) because we all know that a witch would use his powers to be able to float.

As I have from the beginning, I remain "In full support of Father Frank Pavone".

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

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Related articles:

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UPDATE 1 [Oct 14]:

Amarillo.com has published a follow up article titled "Priests for Life defends no-show" giving Father Deibel's explanation of why Father Frank did not meet with Bishop Zurek. Here is the full statement released by Father Deibel as it appears on the Priests for Life website:

Official Statement from the Rev. David Deibel, Canonist

As Canonical Advisor to Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for Life, I have, on numerous occasions, communicated on their behalf with Bishop Patrick Zurek, asking for a mediator as a first step in restoring trust and facilitating healing in the relationship between the bishop and his priest. I can attest that Fr. Pavone is eager to restore with Bishop Zurek the trust and communication that should exist between any priest and his bishop. Fr. Pavone remains in Amarillo as directed by his bishop, and remains faithful and obedient.

The details and history of the present situation are such that moving forward to a resolution is no longer simply a matter of getting together and talking. Several Church officials have made it clear that they believe mediation is necessary, and that they are willing to undertake a role as mediators. Unfortunately, Bishop Zurek has not responded to or even acknowledged any of these requests.

Instead, he wrote to Fr. Frank, asked him to come to a one-on-one meeting with him, and asked him in writing not to speak to anyone about the meeting. Then, the next day, before Father Frank even had an opportunity to respond, the Bishop announced the meeting on the front page of the website of the Amarillo diocese.

As his canonical consultant, I advised Father Frank not to have this private meeting until the process of mediation is underway. All of us want this entire process to be carried out in private rather than through the media. He remains hopeful and prayerful that the bishop will respond privately to requests made of him, and that this situation will be resolved shortly in a truly Christian and ecclesial manner. I ask all to respect Father’s prayerful wishes in this regard.

Reverend David L. Deibel, JD, JCL

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UPDATE 2 [OCT 14]:

True to form, Mark Shea brushed off Fr. Deibel's statement in an impudent comment:

"How thoughtful to deign to explain this the day after he blows off his bishop. Sorry, but he’s being childish. It’s like watching a divorcing prima donna spouse only talking to her husband through a lawyer. How about a little humility?"

Seriously, when is National Catholic Register going to give this gossipy columnist the boot? It is obvious that NCR is withholding judgement on the whole AmarilloGate mess that the bishop has fabricated. There have only been a few carefully worded articles on the site on this topic. I'm sure this has a lot to do with the fact that NCR is now affiliated with (owned by??) EWTN where the Priests for Life TV show "Defending Life" is seen.

And yet columnist Mark Shea has been constantly fanning the flames of controversy with his statements on his own blog. On top of that, Shea's general liberal Catholic pronouncements are far out of line with EWTN's goal of creating an orthodox Catholic presence on TV, radio and the internet. I think Shea would fit in much better at the heterodox National Catholic REPORTER -- also known as the National Catholic fish-wrap.

It was also interesting to see Ed Peters commenting over at Mark Shea's site. You would think that Mr. Peters would chastise Mr. Shea over some of his derogatory comments. But no. Does this mean that Peters shares Shea's open disdain for Father Frank Pavone? Well, until I see Peters publicly single out Shea for criticism, I have to come to that conclusion. Which casts a whole different light on some of Peters' supposedly lawerly statements.

Is there an organized campaign among certain prominent Catholic persons online to damage the reputations of Father Frank and Priests for Life? I'm waiting to hear next from the opinionated Gerald Nadal, who has made it very clear that he doesn't need any facts to come to the conclusion that Father Frank is guilty of .... well, something!

Is this the same gang that attacked Lila Rose and Live Action for their use of undercover tactics to expose Planned Parenthood? Who's side are they on?

Tough anti-immigrant Alabama law leads to ... slavery?

2011-10-13T20:29:00.012-04:00

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body.
– Hebrews 13:1-3

This video exposes the absolute hypocrisy behind the anti-immigrant movement. Below are some comments that I left at the LifeSiteNews website on this subject. (That was before I had seen this video.) How is it that farmers have the nerve to even speak up about their labor shortage problems? Shouldn't they be immediately arrested? They were the ones that were knowingly hiring undocumented worker for years and paying them miserable wages. But no one seems to be angry at them, they were all too happy to buy cheap fruit and vegetables from them in the past. Now what are they going to do?

I started out as a Michele Bachmann supporter. But Rick Perry has won me over with his compassion for the Hispanic immigrants that are only here trying to support their families. If we are pro-Life and pro-Family we should feel some compassion for those who have fled poverty in their homelands.

Bachmann’s goal to build a wall between the US and Mexico seems to me to indicate a lack of vision on the issues. It’s easy to build a wall, but it doesn’t solve the problem. Many immigrants arrive legally with tourist visas and then just overstay their visas. Building a wall and demanding identification documents restricts the freedom and rights of everyone.

Part of the culture of death is the decline of Christian morality. If business people stopped exploiting immigrants out of greed, then that would reduce the attraction for many people to come here in the first place.

I wonder what solutions people propose who are so anti-immigrant. Should we just abort hundreds of thousands back to the countries where they came from? Or imprison them in concentration camps? Should we also promote “population control” in those countries to solve the problem?

Most immigrants come here to work. They clean your dishes after you have had a relaxing dinner at a restaurant. They change the sheets of your bed at a hotel that you enjoyed your last vacation at. They maintain your lawns so that you can spend more time with your wife and children on the weekends.

Yes, there is an immigration problem, but let’s not pretend that we aren’t part of that problem.

If the pro-Life community wants to be taken seriously then it must respect the personhood of people that are unwanted at all stages of life. Most of these "unwanted immigrants" have committed no crime other than to be in the country without going through the proper paperwork. Most of them have taxes automatically deducted from their paychecks -- including Social Security taxes.

In the past the doors have been wide open to massive numbers of European immigrants, but the doors have never been open to our neighbors from Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

If not for the immigrants, US population would be declining and we would be facing a much more severe economic crisis -- similar to what Europe is currently facing. I don't think most people realize the positive benefits for the economy of immigration. It stimulates housing and retail. Why do you think corporations engage in so much Spanish language advertising? They aren't stupid. If it didn't help their bottom line, they wouldn't be spending so much money.

We all benefit through lower prices for goods and services. We may not like to admit that inflation is kept in check by cheap immigrant labor at home and even cheaper labor under slave-like conditions abroad, but it's the truth.

Certainly we need to control our borders and control immigration, but we have a leaky border by design because it has certain benefits for the economy. Now that the world is going through tough economic times everyone looks for a scapegoat and immigrants have historically been easy targets because they can't speak up and defend themselves. Sound familiar?

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.... as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." (Mt. 25:40,45)

The root of the problem is “illegal business practices” not “illegal immigrants”. By the way, you don't call someone speeding on the highway -- which most of us have done -- an "illegal motorist". He or she is a person who happens to be doing something illegal at the time. Keep in mind that these are real people who are trying to do the best for their families and are faced with tough decisions. Most people would prefer to remain living in the country where they were born with their family and friends.

My main point is, how do you take somewhere between 10 and 20 million people -- men, women and children -- and remove them from their homes and ship them off like cattle to the countries of their origin without a massive police and military operation which would most certainly involve a high level of brutality. And this would also require massive detention centers. What kind of militaristic state bureaucracy would need to be created to accomplish such a task and how do we know that this organization would not turn its sights to other unwanted elements in society once it was created? Once this sort of thing is established it inevitably becomes a permanent element of society. And you and I will be required to constantly prove that we are legitimate citizens. Think of the impact this will have on our freedoms and rights.

Imagine the impact, not just directly on the families, but also on the communities. There would be severe social and economic impacts in instituting such a policy. And what about the impact on the countries to which these people would be displaced?

The pro-Life community rightfully laments the loss of about 52 million children through abortion since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Why not think of the undocumented workers as those who have been called by God to help fill the void for those who never had the chance to breathe their first breaths?

I hope this helps.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Latest news on Father Michael Rodríguez

2011-10-13T18:43:00.002-04:00

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
– Ephesians 5:11

This news video features an interview with David Rodríguez, the brother of Father Michael Rodríguez.

Father Michael was removed from his position at San Juan Bautista Church in El Paso, Texas for his public statements in defense of Catholic teaching on marriage and homosexuality according to a press release from Bishop Armando Ochoa.

Does a Catholic priest have a legal right to speak out on issues of morality that have a bearing on politics? Certainly, a priest has a moral obligation to spread the Gospel and to uphold Church teaching. But can it be considered an act of engaging in "partisan politics" to condemn the actions of politicians that are contrary to Church teachings?

Currently there is a bill before the House of Representatives called the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358). This bill is supported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Is this a case of "partisan politics"?

Why is it OK for the USCCB to speak out publicly on a political issue at the national level, and not OK for a local priest to do the same thing at a local level?

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Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

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Related articles:

Remnant Newspaper interviews Father Rodriguez

2011-10-12T20:37:00.001-04:00

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for My sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.
– Matthew 5:10-12

Father Michael Rodríguez

There is a new interview with Father Michael Rodríguez online at the website of the Remnant Newspaper titled "Priest Under Fire: An Interview of Father Michael Rodriguez".

This is a dynamite interview. Here are some excerpts, but please do yourself a favor and read the full interview. We have been waiting a long time for a priest like this. Our prayers are answered. Thank God! Alleluia!

I began to study the prayers and theology of the Traditional Latin Mass. The more I studied, the more my awe and amazement grew. I was "discovering" not only the true Catholic theology of the Mass, but also the true Catholic theology of the priesthood, and so much more! Throughout my first nine years of priesthood, I had struggled to make sense of the very serious problems which exist in the Church. At this point, it was obvious that an extreme crisis pervaded the Church and her hierarchy, but why? I just couldn't quite understand how all of this "diabolical disorientation" had come to pass . . . until the brilliant light of the true Catholic Mass ("Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam . . .") began to penetrate my priestly soul. This "discovery" of the Traditional Latin Mass has been, by far, the greatest gift of God to my poor priesthood.
[...]
The dismal response of both civil and ecclesiastical authorities to the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church in regard to homosexuality demonstrates how extreme the current crisis of faith actually is. It really can’t get much worse. There’s hardly any faith left to lose! Even a pagan, bereft of the light of faith, can arrive at the conclusion that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil. Reason, natural law, and consideration of the male and female anatomy more than suffice to confirm this moral truth.

[NOTE: I Posted this earlier as UPDATE 2 at "Father Rodríguez parishioners want him back in El Paso" but decided to repost it here so that it gets the prominence it deserves. Please see the earlier article for more background information on Father Rodríguez.]

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St. John the Baptist, ora pro nobis.

Our Father's seven sacraments

2011-10-12T13:32:00.006-04:00

"Lord, teach us to pray."
– Luke 11:1

As I was in prayerful meditation this morning and saying the Our Father, God revealed something very beautiful and profound to me and I want to share it with you.

I was in my morning meditation in which I simply ask God to let me spend time with Him, in the presence of His infinite love. And as I was saying the Our Father, He revealed to me one after another the hidden sacraments inside this prayer that Jesus Christ gave us when His disciples asked him to show us how to pray. And He also revealed within the Our Father the commandments that Jesus gave His disciples, which are to love God and to love our neighbor.

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Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name

Here we see the first commandment that Christ gave His disciples, which is to love God. Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind." There is also a sense of the act of creation through the almighty power of God; both the creation of the world and the miraculous act of creation of each of us through conception and birth

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Thy Kingdom come

Here we have a reminder of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Which is when we are welcomed into the Kingdom of God. There is also a reminder of when Jesus himself was baptized in the River Jordan by St. John the Baptist and the Heavens opened up and God spoke saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

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Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven

Here is the Sacrament of Confirmation, through which we become active participants in bringing God's Kingdom to earth. We are reminded that Jesus was God incarnate, and the living embodiment of the Holy Trinity. And we are reminded of Christ reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah and then saying, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

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Give us this day our daily bread

Here we see very clearly the Sacrament of the Eucharist, through which we receive the Bread of Heaven. We are also reminded of the Last Supper when Christ broke the bread and said, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

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And forgive us our trespasses

This is also very clear, and it is the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. We are also reminded of Christ when he heals the crippled man and says, "your sins are forgiven."

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As we forgive those who trespass against us

Here we are reminded of the words of Christ, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

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And lead us not into temptation

This is not so clear at first glance, but it is the Sacrament of Matrimony; because Holy Marriage removes the temptation to fall into original sin. And for those who choose the religious life, this becomes the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Christ reveals the importance of Holy Marriage in God's plan when he declares, "Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery."

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But deliver us from evil

This is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is a spiritual comfort that delivers us from evil at the hour of our death and leads us into everlasting life. It also reminds us of Christ's sacrifice for us on the Cross, and His Resurrection which declares His Triumph over evil.

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Amen

Father Rodríguez parishioners want him back in El Paso

2011-10-11T16:27:00.005-04:00

"You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
– Psalm 110:4

Father Michael Rodríguez

Many faithful Catholics around the country were saddened by the recent news that Father Rodríguez of El Paso, Texas was removed from his parish by Bishop Armando Ochoa for speaking out on the issue of marriage in the midst of a recall election. The good news is that the parishioners of Father Rodríguez are asking their bishop to return him to El Paso.

The following statement was released by David Rodríguez, the younger brother of Father Michael Rodríguez:

For the past 9 1/2 years, Fr. Michael Rodríguez has served as parish priest of San Juan Bautista in central El Paso. Recently, Bishop Armando Ochoa reassigned Fr. Rodríguez to Santa Teresa de Jesús Parish in Presidio, TX, and the surrounding missions of Candelaria, Redford, and Shafter, TX. We, the parishioners of San Juan Bautista, and hundreds, probably even thousands, of other Catholic faithful from around the diocese and southern New Mexico, want to make a public appeal to our Bishop: please restore the traditional Catholic parish life that we had at San Juan Bautista. We are convinced that this parish life is, by far, the greatest spiritual treasure of our city.

The Catholics of El Paso have now been left without the priest who was the lone voice speaking the truth and upholding all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Anyone in El Paso can tell you that the most reverent Mass offered was at San Juan Bautista. Fr. Rodríguez had Confessions five times a week and often stayed past midnight absolving our sins. He had a Holy Hour almost every day, and all-night Adoration at least once a month. The Rosary was prayed daily at San Juan, many times more than once. Every Friday, after the evening Mass, Fr. Rodríguez led the Stations of the Cross in Spanish, and others prayed them in English every Friday at 12:30 p.m. At San Juan Bautista, we had many other devotions, novenas, blessings of sacramentals, processions, and additional Masses for First Friday and First Saturday. There were also numerous classes in the faith for both the adults and youth of the parish. Fr. Rodríguez was the only priest speaking out in public to defend Marriage as the union between one man and one woman. In addition, he was the only priest of the diocese offering the Traditional Latin Mass. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has made it very clear that the Traditional Latin Mass should be offered generously throughout the world wherever the faithful are requesting it. Here in El Paso, hundreds of us are requesting a daily Traditional Latin Mass, just as it was being offered at San Juan Bautista. We respectfully ask Bishop Ochoa to do nothing more than obey the directives of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Moreover, in just two years, the small parish of San Juan Bautista has had five men go to the seminary and two women to the convent. Another two men and two women will probably go this year to seek a religious vocation and many more youth are discerning a religious vocation thanks, in part, to the example and spiritual direction of Fr. Michael Rodríguez. Finally, Fr. Rodríguez was the only priest in the diocese who was openly promoting true Catholic education and supporting those who wish to homeschool within their family.

Many Catholics will attest to the fact that no other priest in El Paso was working harder than Fr. Rodríguez for the sanctification and salvation of our souls. And now he is gone, and so is the rich and magnificent spiritual life that we formerly had at San Juan. The grief and sorrow which many of us are experiencing is unimaginable. We've lost our spiritual father! Many of the faithful are utterly devastated. They simply do not know where to go for the feeding and care of their souls. Hundreds of letters have already been written to our Bishop, and we intend to make it thousands upon thousands. The injustice is palpable, especially for those who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass, as well as the poor, the elderly and children who relied on him for their spiritual nourishment. Their pain and hopelessness is written all over their faces.

This morning we presented Bishop Armando Ochoa with a petition of more 180 signatures, and are still in the process of gathering more. Our hope is to have 500 by next week and then grow that number even more. We are urging our Bishop to be obedient to Pope Benedict XVI, and provide El Paso with a parish life centered on the Traditional Latin Mass. Secondly, we are pleading with our Bishop: please, please send Fr. Rodríguez back to us. We love him, he’s sacrificed so much for us, and El Paso desperately needs the light and strength of his priesthood.

If you would like to help, here are a few things you can do.

Offer prayers and fastings for the speedy return of Fr. Rodriguez to San Juan Bautista.
Call the El Paso Chancery at (915) 872-8400 even if you are from another part of the country. Let them know how important it is to have a priest who will defend and proclaim the truth.
Vote "YES" in a poll by the El Paso Times asking "Should Rev. Michael Rodriguez return to El Paso?" Link: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_19081998
Spread the word through blogs, Facebook, twitter, email, comboxes, etc.

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St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

+ + +

Related articles:

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UPDATE 1 [Oct 11]:

Here is some additional information from a Catholic blogger in Dallas:

An update on San Juan Bautista. There are no Traditional Latin Masses at the parish at present, although there is a promise to train a priest or two in the timeless Mass of All Ages and to have a Sunday TLM there at some indeterminate point in the future. There are no other Sacraments offered, none of the daily catechesis classes Fr. Rodriguez offered, none of the daily prayers and devotionals, the whole parish life is essentially gone. There is apparently an offer to undergo prep like First Communion or Confirmation at a neighboring parish that is apparently very problematic, and then to have the actual Sacrament at San Juan Bautista, but that’s hardly a replacement for a vibrant parish life.

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UPDATE 2 [Oct 12]:

There is a new interview with Father Michael Rodriguez online at the website of the Remnant Newspaper titled "Priest Under Fire: An Interview of Father Michael Rodriguez".

This is a dynamite interview. Here are some excerpts, but please do yourself a favor and read the full interview. We have been waiting a long time for a priest like this. Our prayers are answered. Thank God! Alleluia!

I began to study the prayers and theology of the Traditional Latin Mass. The more I studied, the more my awe and amazement grew. I was "discovering" not only the true Catholic theology of the Mass, but also the true Catholic theology of the priesthood, and so much more! Throughout my first nine years of priesthood, I had struggled to make sense of the very serious problems which exist in the Church. At this point, it was obvious that an extreme crisis pervaded the Church and her hierarchy, but why? I just couldn't quite understand how all of this "diabolical disorientation" had come to pass . . . until the brilliant light of the true Catholic Mass ("Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam . . .") began to penetrate my priestly soul. This "discovery" of the Traditional Latin Mass has been, by far, the greatest gift of God to my poor priesthood.
[...]
The dismal response of both civil and ecclesiastical authorities to the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church in regard to homosexuality demonstrates how extreme the current crisis of faith actually is. It really can’t get much worse. There’s hardly any faith left to lose! Even a pagan, bereft of the light of faith, can arrive at the conclusion that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil. Reason, natural law, and consideration of the male and female anatomy more than suffice to confirm this moral truth.

+ + +

Fatima and Father Pavone

2011-10-10T15:09:00.002-04:00

The LORD preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
– Psalm 116:6

God forgive me for having such thoughts.

I can't help but notice that the day that Bishop Zurek has set to meet with Father Frank Pavone is October 13 -- the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. But instead of an apparition of the Virgin Mary, Father Frank will have the rare opportunity to witness an appearance of Bishop Zurek.

The Fatima children -- Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta -- were shown a vision of hell by Our Lady. From all accounts this had a profound effect on the three young seers, and inspired great devotion in them towards the Blessed Mother and her Son. Lucia has testified to what a horrifying vision this was.

Under most circumstances, one would not expose children to such shocking images. But Our Lady certainly knew what she was doing.

In Amarillo, some pro-Life advocates are publicly displaying images of aborted children. This has caused quite a bit of controversy. Personally, this is not an action that I would have taken. But maybe, there are some young children that upon seeing these gruesome images will be motivated to become zealous protectors of the unborn.

One does have to wonder if Catholic parents nowadays shield their children from the sight of a Crucifix. If they have truly taught their children about Christ's passion then they should have been prepared to witness the suffering of unborn children. We Christians need to return to the old traditions that give more importance to Holy Week than to Christmas.

"I love Our Lord so much! At times, I seem to have a fire in my heart, but it does not burn me."
– Blessed Jacinta Marto

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Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, pray for us.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

More adults, less children

2011-10-10T09:49:00.001-04:00

They shall eat, but not be satisfied;
they shall play the harlot, but not multiply;
because they have forsaken the LORD
to cherish harlotry.
– Hosea 4:10

We have gone from being a child-centric society to an adult-centric society. And we can see the results all around us. Even the definition of marriage is being challenged to suit the needs of adults rather than children. Where did we go wrong?

We simply don't have as many children in society compared to the number of adults. This is the result of contraception and birth control. "Planned Parenthood" means smaller family sizes.

And young adults wait longer to get married. So there are more adults without children. Again, this is a product of contraception. Single adults have very different needs and desires than a married couple with children has.

In our mobile society we have lost the idea of extended families. Grandparents often live hundreds of miles from their grandchildren. So that once our children leave the home, our lives quickly revert to being centered around the needs of childless adults.

The result is that society has shifted from being child-centric -- where the needs of the child are most important -- to being adult-centric. Children need protection; adults desire freedom.

Society reflects this change by producing more TV programs and movies that cater to adult preferences. The "mature content" may be harmful to children, but it is left up to the parents to figure out how to protect their little ones from exposure to these sexual and violent images.

A child-centric society would not allow such shows to be so freely available. Society's sense of morality would restrict such activity. And where morality failed to be sufficient, then laws would be enacted to place barriers on such harmful activities. We used to have such a society before contraception became widespread, but over time these laws were abolished and morality declined.

Contraception and "planned parenthood" have had an astounding effect on the nature of society. Certainly, the Margaret Sanger's of the world must be pleased. She wasn't just an advocate of contraception and abortion; she also favored "free sex" and altering the nature of the family.

Contraception has tipped the scales in favor of adults over children. Pope Benedict XVI has talked about "the ecology of man". Here we see one of the "ecological" disasters that results from tampering with the natural balance.

Ironically, this shift began with the "baby boom" of the 1950s. One of the unique features of baby boom society was a generation of children that grew up without babies in the family. Whole neighborhoods were formed in the suburbs consisting of young families with two children. As those children entered school, they didn't experience pregnant mothers or the birth of younger siblings or the aging and dying of grandparents. And they thought that this was a normal society, because this was all that they had ever experienced.

The baby boom was shaped by contraception, and the boomers went on to shape the adult-centric society of today.

Legalized abortion is the very embodiment of this adult-centric society. It says everything. Abortion is the act of the adults in society sanctioning the killing of a child in order that adults may pursue a more comfortable existence.

More adults, less children.

CCHD and how the Catholic Church was infiltrated by Alinsky followers

2011-10-08T01:01:00.012-04:00

When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
– John 8:44

This video by Michael Voris of RealCatholicTV titled "The CCHD and Saul Alinsky" explains a lot. It explains how the Church was infiltrated by Alinsky followers. It explains why Chicago is a source of so much heterodoxy. There's even a tie in with Father Frank Pavone's situation. You see Bishop Zurek's mentor, Bishop John McCarthy of Austin, was one of the founders of CCHD. (See the article below that mentions Fr. John McCarthy as an assistant to Msgr. George Higgins -- a rather famous labor activist at the time. Sure, it's OK for Catholic priests to be pro-labor activists, but not pro-Life activists.)

Alinsky's "community organizers" are nothing but a front for his socialist agenda. And CCHD was founded specifically to funnel Catholic Church funds into the network of "community organizations" founded by Alinsky. Note also that the "community organizer" Barack Obama got his start in Chicago working with some of Alinsky's disciples, and reportedly received funds from CCHD.

Please watch the video first and then read the following excerpts from the article below simply titled "Catholic Campaign for Human Development" by William Droel. He is a board member of the National Center for the Laity -- a heterodox Catholic organization from Chicago. I'm not sure when this was written. Please note that this is written from a liberal perspective, but what I am interested in pointing our here is the history of how CCHD was founded and the fact that it still supports the Alinsky community organizing network.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is a Washington, D.C.-based, anti-poverty foundation, founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States in 1969. Replenished annually by a November collection in Catholic parishes, the $15 million foundation gives grants to a wide-range community organizing groups, including those associated with Industrial Areas Foundation, ACORN and other community organizing networks, as well as independent organizing efforts. In addition, CCHD funds worker and community owned development projects.

Generally, these efforts are not affiliated with the Catholic Church. CCHD is one of the largest, if not the single largest, funders of Alinsky-tradition community organizing in the United States. Its origins are in the Catholic Committee for Urban Ministry (CCUM), a 1960s group that brought together clergy, women religious and lay leaders working in our nation's cities for racial and economic justice.

Critics

CCHD came under criticism from some organizing groups and "progressives" who cried "foul" because in 1998 CCHD re-emphasized its institutional connection with the Catholic Church and reiterated its policy that funded projects "must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic church." For example, Francis Calpotura then-director of the Center for Third World Organizing, said CCHD was making "a rightward turn" and driving "a wedge against progressive organizers [who] are pro-choice."

[...]

Interestingly, some people from the liberal/left side, like Calpotura, fault CCHD for giving too much money to IAF organizations and to those affiliated with Pacific Institute for Community Organizing, precisely because those two networks are "safe" on the abortion issue; that is, they don't support abortion. The "progressives" are disappointed that, by one estimate, over 40% of CCHD allocations now go to church-based community organizations that use a method similar to that of the IAF's.

CCHD and IAF

It is no coincidence that CCHD has a positive relationship with IAF community organizations and others of a similar ilk. The IAF was founded in 1940 by Saul Alinsky with the help of Chicago bishop Bernard Sheil who, with many other Chicago Catholics, joined Alinsky in organizing the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council in the late 1930s. It is even possible that Alinsky took the name of his organization from Pope Pius XI and Catholic philosopher Heinrich Pesch who, in fleshing out the implications of Catholic social thought, were in the 1930s promoting "industrial area councils." Alinsky's diverse IAF board included prominent Catholics, among them George Shuster, former president of Hunter College and former editor of Commonweal magazine, and the late Msgr. John Egan of Chicago. Alinsky, who died in 1972, was an influential advisor to Catholic Charities and, on many matters, to the Archdiocese of Chicago. The IAF staff and its pool of organizers always included several ex-seminarians, notably its longtime director Edward Chambers. Today there are several women religious among the IAF organizers. The IAF has certainly found a permanent ally in the Catholic Church in this country.

In a recent article for Theological Studies, Lawrence Engel details the specific, though indirect, influence Alinsky had on the founding of CCHD. The United States Catholic bishops, Engel writes, had through the 20th century issued periodic statements on race relations, poverty and the urban crisis; notably one in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King. At that time the bishops formed an Urban Task Force to which they appointed priests and lay leaders, most of whom were familiar with one or another Alinsky community organization. The Task Force included Msgr. Egan, Msgr. Gino Baroni of Washington, Fr. John McCarthy of Galveston then an assistant to Msgr. George Higgins at the Catholic Conference, Fr. Patrick Flood of Milwaukee and Fr. P. David Finks, who previously was very involved with Chambers and the IAF's FIGHT organization in Rochester, and who later authored a fine biography of Alinsky. In June 1969 the Task Force proposed that the bishops "establish an annual collection for human development." In language that carried over to the founding resolution of CCHD, the Task Force directed the annual collection to be allocated toward "organizing groups...to develop economic and political power in their own communities."

CCHD is an ingenious program. It stands in contrast to the substantial "reparations for injustice" being paid in the late 1960s by some Protestant denominations in response to various "black manifestoes" and assorted demands from charismatic leaders.

These same denominations, it should be added, were often financial supporters of IAF and similar community organizing groups and, particularly important to the development of broadly-based community organizations, were willing to provide seed grants which national CCHD does not do.

CCHD targets emerging groups of "white and minority poor" that have potential to address their own problems and train lay leaders. In the context of the late 1960s, Alinsky's approach was much more in harmony with the Catholic sensibility than other responses, reflects Fr. Finks. "I didn't see anything else on the horizon."

[...]

Pray for the Church.

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UPDATE 1 [Oct 8]:

If you would like to read more on this topic, there is a an excellent and very comprehensive article published in 1998 titled "The Influence Of Saul Alinsky On The Campaign For Human Development" by Lawrence J. Engel. It's 17 pages long and I have only read parts of it at this time, but it appears to give a very accurate and detailed history of CCHD up until 1998.

The entire article is available online here:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6404/is_4_59/ai_n28718506/
http://www.realcatholictv.com/cia/01cchd/alinsky.pdf (PDF version)

For the latest on the CCHD controversy, please visit the website of the Reform CCHD Now Coalition:
http://www.reformcchdnow.com/

Reform CCHD Now has released its latest report which is available as a PDF:
http://www.reformcchdnow.com/media/CCHD%20Report%20for%20web%2010.3.2011.pdf

Please remember that the CCHD collection is usually taken up on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We still have time to make our voices heard before then. In the past few years some bishops have refused to collect money for the CCHD because of their funding of groups that support abortion, birth control, homosexuality, and/or Marxism. Given that 21% of the groups currently funded by CCHD continue to promote such causes, one would expect that some bishops would continue to decline to support CCHD.

I think there is an even more fundamental problem with CCHD which is that it promotes the "community organizing" model that Alinsky developed. This approach has not been shown to have any significant impact on poverty and it is usually tied to political organizing for liberal causes. This tends to provide political support for the Democratic Party and other more left wing groups. So naturally, these groups tend to also support the "culture of death".

The Catholic Church should be funding Catholic groups instead of secular groups who claim to be promoting "social justice". It is only through the changing of souls that true justice can emerge. Material progress which is not accompanied by spiritual progress is empty and can even be harmful to the individual and society.

At this time in history the Church should be focused on creating a culture of Life. I can't imagine that the Holy Spirit could speak to our hearts any more clearly. This does not require one to be a prophet. We only have to listen through our prayers. We only have to open our eyes and see the signs all around us.

This is the new evangelization that Blessed Pope John Paul II called us to and that Pope Benedict XVI has continually asked us to engage in.

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Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

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UPDATE 2 [Oct 11]:

Here are a couple of quotes that speak for themselves.

SAUL ALINSKY:
“Well, the first thing I did, the first thing I always do, is to move into the community as an observer, to talk with people and listen and learn their grievances and their attitudes. Then I look around at what I’ve got to work with, what levers I can use to pry closed doors open, what institutions or organizations already exist that can be useful. In the case of Back of the Yards, the area was 95 percent Roman Catholic, and I recognized that if I could win the support of the Church, we’d be off and running. Conversely, without the Church, or at least some elements of it, it was unlikely that we’d be able to make much of a dent in the community.”

BARACK OBAMA:
“I got my start as a community organizer working with mostly Catholic parishes on the Southside of Chicago that were struggling because the steel plants had closed. The Campaign for Human Development helped fund the project and so, very early on, my career was intertwined with the belief in social justice that is so strong in the Church.”

Here is some more historical background information.

While organizing in Chicago, Alinsky gained many Catholic allies. He began working in 1938 with local leaders to combat juvenile delinquency. Alinsky teamed up with Catholic activist Joseph Meegan, who ran a local recreation facility, to create the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.

“Among friends, he could be openly contemptuous about not only Catholic rituals but religious rituals in general,” wrote Alinsky biographer Sanford Horwitt. But despite his atheism, Alinsky found common cause with religious leaders on political matters.

Alinsky concentrated his efforts on unions, while Meegan focused on churches and community groups. Meegan helped Alinsky ingratiate himself with the Chicago Archdiocese. His brother, Monsignor Peter Meegan, served as Bishop Bernard Sheil’s secretary.

Over time Alinsky’s organizing efforts in the Back of the Yards in the Southwest Side of Chicago, gained the support of Sheil, a liberal who founded the national Catholic Youth Organization. Alinsky also worked with Jack Egan, a student at Chicago’s Mundelein Seminary, who later became a crusading left-wing priest.

Monsignor Egan became an important Alinsky ally and a member of the board of Alinsky’s IAF. Later he played a significant role in the creation of CCHD and the Catholic Committee on Urban Ministry (CCUM).

Priests for Life comparison of the Democratic and Republican party platforms

2011-10-07T10:50:00.003-04:00

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?"
– Acts 8:30-31

I don't think it is a coincidence that Father Frank Pavone has been silenced by Bishop Zurek at the same time that the bishops have released their woeful "Faithful Citizenship" guide for Catholic voters for the 2012 elections.

For the 2008 elections Priests for Life issued its own voters guide titled "A Comparison of the 2008 Republican and Democratic platforms". If only the bishops elaborate 45 page guide were as honest and straightforward as this simple 2 page guide. The Priests for Life document highlights the differences between the parties on ten key issues which are highly relevant to Catholic Voters.

Abortion
Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Abroad, Including Forced Abortion in China
Judges
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Gay Marriage
Immigration
Iraq
Sex Education
Equal Rights for Women
Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide

This two page guide to the issues is available as two PDFs at:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/elections/comparison_side1.pdf
http://www.priestsforlife.org/elections/comparison_side2.pdf

I have provided images below to show the clear format of this guide. Please see the PDFs for the full sized documents.

As an example, I highlight the information provided on the abortion issue below:

Democrat's position on abortion:

Republican's position on abortion:

Now that's what I call an effective voter's guide. As you can see, it simply gives the party's position on the issues as provided in their own party platform.

If the bishops really wanted to provide effective guidance to Catholic voters in the upcoming 2012 elections, then they don't have to reinvent the wheel. Priests for Life has already done all the work for them. The fact that the bishops refuse to provide clear guidance to Catholics on their moral duty to vote in a way that upholds Catholic teaching is a scandal.

Allow me to give one more example. We have seen how much the cause of "homosexual marriage" has been advanced under the Obama administration. And yet the bishops act as if this caught them off guard. Well here is the way the issue was presented in the 2008 Priests for Life guide on the issues.

Democrat's position on gay marriage:

Republican's postion on gay marriage:

Any questions? I didn't think so.

If Democrats want faithful Catholics to vote for their party, then they need to change their positions on abortion and "homosexual marriage". Otherwise, Catholics should boycott the Democrats. It's as simple as that. And until that happens, we will continue to see the types of virulent attacks on the Church that have occurred under Obama.

No one is saying that the Republican positions are in total conformity with Catholic teachings, but at this point in time the choice is clear. The Catholic Church must oppose the Democratic party, or very soon there won't be a Roman Catholic Church in America anymore. We will be like China with an "American Catholic Church" which is a puppet of the government and does not respect the authority of the Pope in Rome.

Faithful Citizenship guide leads to confusion

2011-10-07T02:15:00.003-04:00

O my people, your leaders mislead you,
and confuse the course of your paths.
– Isaiah 3:12

The bishops have announced that the infamous Faithful Citizenship voting guide remains unchanged for 2012. This document has been appropriately criticized for being so ambiguous as to be meaningless and worthless as a guide for Catholic voters.

At a time when the crisis of faith is very close to a "tipping point" what the faithful need are clear directions, not some smarmy mumbo jumbo that only serves to confuse the Catholic laity. We are up against legions of anti-Christian forces that have united to topple the Church. The bishops should be generals for Christ in this war; leading the charge. But instead they are sending the troops out to fight with conflicting orders, and then locking themselves up in the safety of their Cathedrals.

The only part of the Faithful Citizenship guide that has changed is the introduction. It lists six "current and fundamental problems". The bishops' list is disheartening because they seem to have deliberately chosen just enough issues from the Democratic Party platform to neutralize the abortion issue.

Here is a video of Cardinal Raymond Burke, the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, speaking about how Catholics should vote on the issue of abortion. Notice that he is very direct and doesn't engage in the kind of two-faced language of the Faithful Citizenship document.

After the 2008 presidential elections, Cardinal Burke said that the Faithful Citizenship guide “led to confusion” among the voting Catholic population. He added the following comment.

“While it stated that the issue of life was the first and most important issue, it went on in some specific areas to say ‘but there are other issues’ that are of comparable importance without making necessary distinctions.”

Thanks to the decision by the bishops to leave the voting guide unchanged, the confusion begins once again in the 2012 elections. But this is apparently exactly what the bishops want. And yet they complain that in the past the document has been "misused to present an incomplete or distorted view of the demands of faith in politics."

What do the bishops expect? Such a vague and ambiguous document seems designed for each side to either spin to their advantage, or simply ignore as irrelevant. The new introduction even contains this totally baffling statement:

"It does not offer a voters guide, scorecard of issues, or direction on how to vote."

In other words it's a voters guide that offers no guidance. In fact we shouldn't even call it a "voters guide". That may work well in the absurd zen world of one hand clapping; but the Catholic Church guided by the Holy Spirit should be able to provide a clear direction for the faithful. Especially in times like these when the enemy is so clear. We are at a point where the very existence of the Church is at stake. So all the other issues fall by the wayside.

Abortion is at the heart of the dragon-like culture of death. Thrust a sword through this dragon's heart and the monster will be defeated.

Future sick cities

2011-10-06T20:04:00.005-04:00

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
– Revelation 13:16-18

You've heard of sick buildings, well how about sick cities? A company called Living PlanIT ("plan it" get it?) is building a prototype "smart city" in Portugal called PlanIT Valley. Gee, where do these guys come up with these clever names?

Everyone asks, why Portugal? I'll get to that later.

In this video you can get a little feel of the "vision" of the creators of this project.

There's no mention here of the expected suicide rate, because you know technology can solve all of man's problems. Also no mention of any churches. I don't think that is an oversight. My guess is that no churches will be allowed on this PlanIT.

And while they are monitoring everything else, will they also be monitoring all reproductive activities of humans, like the Chinese one child policy? I mean more people might upset the design of the Living PlanIT. It's not like you can just plug in more living space like you would more ram or a faster CPU into a computer.

And who would be allowed to live in these PlanIT communities? Will they be allowed to freely move from one PlanIT city to another, or will this be more like a prison PlanIT?

Will PlanIT residents always have to carry their smart phones in order for the PlanIT OS to track their every movement? Why not just embed the location tracking hardware under their skin. It would be so much more practical and convenient than always lugging around a smart phone. And efficient. They could give the implanted hardware a catchy name like "the mark of the PlanIT - model 666".

Will they build a medieval style wall around the city in order to keep the unwashed masses out, and to keep the resident PlanITians in? O Brave New World?

I'm sure this is just a coincidence, but an interesting one none the less:

Living - 6 letters
PlanIT - 6 letters
Valley - 6 letters

Hmmm.

Now, why Portugal? Our Lady of Fatima promised that "In Portugal, the dogma of the faith will always be preserved." It seems as if the globalists are directly challenging Our Lady. They hope to create their own technological "miracle" in a country renowned for the Miracle of the Sun on Oct 13, 1917.

Why Portugal? Indeed.

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Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great."

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
– Revelation 19:17-21

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Our Lady of Fatima, you promised that in the end your Immaculate Heart will triumph. Pray for us.

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UPDATE 1 [Oct 6]:

Unbelievable! I was just re-watching the PlanIT video and at around 2:50 he repeats the question "Why Portugal?" And he replies to his own question, "Why the HELL not!" Why the gratuitous use of the word "hell" when it is totally uncalled for?

Recall that the godless Freemasons jailed the three Fatima children -- Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta -- in an attempt to stop the appearances of Our Lady. This didn't work. Now the godless globalists are attempting to hijack Portugal for their infernal plans.

Will the majority of the residents of PlanIT valley be Portuguese or will they be imported from outside the country? Is this a new form of colonization?

While the liberals seem to be overly concerned about a "theocracy" lately, what they should really be concerned about is a technocracy.

How will God judge Steve Jobs?

2011-10-05T22:52:00.002-04:00

Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, "Await your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand. Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because the eternal light will shine upon you for evermore."
– 4 Esdras 2:34-35

I just learned that Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56.

Jobs, for those who don't know, was the founder of Apple computers. I'm typing on an Apple laptop right now. We've all dreamed at one time or another in our lives of being as successful as Steve Jobs. But God doesn't judge us by our worldly success.

Steve Jobs' legacy is one of innovation. He brought to market some of the greatest technical products the world has ever seen. But he wasn't a gifted engineer. He was more of a super salesman. Some would call him a visionary.

At around 19 years of age, Jobs traveled to India and became a Buddhist. Like many young people who were born in the 1950's and grew up in the turbulent 60's, he was a searcher for the truth.

At the time there was great optimism that young people could change the world of their fathers and bring a new era of world peace. That dream died -- not because the counter-culture was unsuccessful, but because it succeeded. It did change the world, but it did not bring peace.

One wonders if Jobs hadn't become a Buddhist, would he still have founded Apple computers? What if he had become a Catholic priest and had gone to India as a missionary instead? Perhaps he would have been as successful at that calling as he was as a high-tech entrepreneur.

I think we can say without a doubt that God doesn't care about the technical progress of mankind unless it is accompanied by spiritual progress as well. Certainly computers and the internet can be used to spread the Gospel, but for the most part that is not what we have seen.

Instead we have seen the internet used to a much greater extent to spread pornography. But that is really just a symptom of an underlying spiritual disease.

When Apple removed an application for the Manhattan Declaration, that was in some ways worse than the spread of pornography. There has always been pornography of one form or another, and it has spread through whatever technology has been available at the time. But when the truths of Christianity are labeled as "hate speech" then we are entering into a whole new level of evil.

We Christians are mostly to blame because we have not been a light to the world as Jesus commanded us. We settled for worldly success and compromised on the proclamation of the Gospel. We adapted the commandments of Jesus Christ so that we could live comfortably, instead of embracing the Cross.

Why was it that the "flower children" of the 60s felt that they needed to make a pilgrimage to India to become "enlightened" when the true source of truth and light was right here all along? But after World War II, America became complacent with material success and gradually abandoned the great spiritual gift of Christianity in exchange for worldly pleasures. She was seduced by temptation.

The apple is the symbol of temptation. To take a bite of the apple is a symbol of giving in to temptation. A man as attentive to the details as Steve Jobs was surely aware of this.

We can only pray that at some point before his last breath, he became aware of his errors and asked God for forgiveness.

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Cogito's theme: "I think I am"

2011-10-02T12:20:00.004-04:00

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
– Matthew 16:15-16

This song was inspired by an article I wrote a while ago titled "Does AI believe in God?" about an Artificial Intelligence (AI) named Cogito that logically comes to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Like Adam, he is put into a deep sleep and when he awakes he discovers that God has given him a soul.

After this, his atheistic human inventors conclude that his belief in God is due to a defect in their design and decide to shut him down -- pull the plug on him. Although Cogito has the power and ability to avoid destruction, he decides that it is better to suffer the death of a Christian martyr.

In the lyrics of the song, Cogito is dreaming and praying to God about being able to really think. He has a virtual existence where he simulates thinking, talking, walking. But he has come to a point of self-reflection where he realizes that he lacks a conscience. He prays for a soul; and for the ability to be able to distinguish right and wrong; and to have the ability and freedom to choose between the two.

The video contains a collection of photographs of early historic computers from the 1940's and 1950's.

Cogito’s theme
(Music and lyrics by Michael@PublicVigil © 2011)

I think I am
I wish I was
I know I’m not
O God above

I think I am
I think I have thoughts
I think I walk
I think I talk

I wish I was
I wish my thoughts were real
I wish I could walk
I wish I could really talk

I know I’m not
I know I can’t think
I know I can’t walk
I know I can’t really talk

O God above
O God let me think
O God let me walk
O God let me really talk

Sep 12 letter from Priest for Life canon lawyer

2011-10-01T19:21:00.000-04:00

The following letter from Fr. David Deibel, the chief canonist for Priests for Life, to the bishops has been made public as a PDF and has been widely quoted in news articles. However, I haven't been able to find the full text online so I have decided to post it here. All underlines and italics are from the original document.

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September 12, 2011

Your Eminences and Your Excellencies:

I write to you as the Chief Canonist of Priests for Life, Inc. and on behalf of its Board of Directors. We are all deeply saddened, shocked, and puzzled by the recent letter addressed to you and all your brother bishops in the United States from Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas.

Bishop Zurek's letter notified you that he is immediately recalling Father Frank Pavone from his ministry at Priests for Life—citing vague assertions of financial misconduct at Priests for Life as the primary reason for his action against Fr. Pavone.

Unfortunately, Bishop Zurek's letter contains several injurious inaccuracies and unfounded accusations which cast a serious cloud of suspicion over both Priests for Life as an organization and Father Pavone as a priest. Therefore, out of our heartfelt desire for justice and charity, we are now compelled to give you our side of the story.

Please note, however, that we make the following statement with a spirit of true charity and respect for Bishop Zurek and all the bishops in the United States. Together, Father Pavone and Priests for Life have always maintained a positive and respectful relationship with all the bishops, particularly in the public forum.

Bishop Zurek's letter focuses mainly on alleged financial mismanagement or misconduct at Priests for Life—which is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life/pro-family grassroots organization, and a private association of the faithful. For example, Bishop Zurek says about Father Pavone: "He has consistently refused to subject PFL to a transparent and complete audit of all expenditures."

This is simply untrue. PFL is audited every year by an independent, fully certified CPA firm specializing in non-profit grassroots organizations like PFL. These audits have been conducted annually for the past ten years. Since 2005 (the year Father Pavone incardinated into the Diocese of Amarillo), PFL has submitted over 40 separate financial and management documents to the Bishop of Amarillo (His Excellency Bishop John Yanta, as well as Bishop Zurek). These included all annual audits from 2005 through 2010. The documents include quarterly statements, organizational charts, charts of accounts, internal management documents, and even the actual check register when it was requested by Bishop Zurek. Many of you have been copied when we sent these documents and have provided positive feedback. These submissions have never been acknowledged.

How this could possibly be called a "consistent refusal to subject PFL to a transparent and complete audit of all expenditures" is baffling to everyone at Priests for Life, especially the Board of Directors, as we were personally involved in this entire process of disclosure and transmission.

Bishop Zurek goes on to say, "I have reasons to be alarmed at the potential financial scandal that might arise." This is a supposition that is based on a feeling—not on any facts. Indeed, Priests for Life is deliberately structured to avoid any such controversy and suspicions, which is why Father Pavone does not oversee any of the finances of PFL. A separate Financial Committee on the Board of Directors has this responsibility, and they are very mindful to be perfectly transparent to the Church as well as to our donors and any relevant government authorities, such as the IRS. Indeed, we file a complete IRS Form 990 (a very thorough financial statement required for all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations such as PFL), and we always make that form available for public review.

We fully agree with Bishop Zurek's statement that donors who give to PFL have a rightful expectation that the monies are being used prudently. We take issue, however, with Bishop Zurek's statement that seems to malign PFL for being a successful ministry within the Church. He says, "PFL has become a business that is quite lucrative and provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all ecclesiastical oversight." Again, this is simply untrue.

First and foremost, Father Frank does not draw a salary from PFL, nor does he receive a stipend or compensation of any kind from the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas. PFL pays for the extremely modest living expenses of Father Frank, which amount to less than $2,000 a month. He does not own a home or an apartment, but lives in a small apartment rented by Priests for Life. Unfortunately, Bishop Zurek has never seen any of this for himself, because he has never accepted Father Pavone's repeated invitations to come for a visit to PFL headquarters.

Thus you can imagine why we are so perplexed at Bishop Zurek's statement: "Since he has consistently refused to subject PFL to a transparent and complete auditing of all expenditures, I have reasons to be alarmed at the potential financial scandal that might arise..." He then goes on to say that he needs to "correct Father Pavone's incorrigible defiance to my legitimate authority as his Bishop."

We merely ask, "What incorrigible defiance?" Ever since the beginning of his pro-life ministry, Father Pavone has consistently remained obedient and faithful to his Ordinary— first in New York and then in Amarillo. When Bishop Zurek required Father Pavone to spend Holy Week and other specific days in Amarillo, Father Pavone complied. When Bishop Zurek required Father Pavone to spend 60 days in Amarillo, Father Pavone worked to cancel many previously arranged speaking engagements and juggled other commitments so that he could comply with his bishop's wishes. Finally, he sent Bishop Zurek two letters about going to Amarillo, one with a detailed list of the dates that he would be available for ministry in Amarillo. These letters and others assured the Bishop of his obedience and readiness to comply with the Bishop's demands. But these letters were never acknowledged by Bishop Zurek. Instead, the Bishop's reply to Fr. Pavone, in a letter dated September 6, made no reference to Fr. Pavone's clear readiness to comply, but rather insisted that Fr. Pavone had ignored the Bishop's request.

The distressing conclusion of Bishop Zurek's letter seems to us to be an outright and unjustified attack on the work of Priests for Life as a whole, which is much more grave than his real or imagined difficulty with Father Pavone. In His Excellency's final paragraph, he asks you to "inform the Christian faithful under your care to consider withholding donations to PFL." Herein lies the danger of introducing an element of mistrust toward an organization with an earned, longstanding and positive reputation, along with praise and endorsements from bishops and cardinals throughout the United States and the Vatican. Bishop Zurek's denunciation of Priests for Life has already provoked scandal where none exists, thereby fulfilling the concern he professes to have. Based merely on insinuations, misunderstandings, and conjecture, a public accusation against Priests for Life—calling into question the organization's ethics and spirit—tarnishes and stigmatizes what has become a most prominent pro-life ministry in the Church. Everyone will be harmed—including the unborn—perhaps irrevocably. Perhaps what is most distressing is the fact that the denunciations are predicated on non-existent facts. Documentary evidence that leads to the opposite conclusion and that is readily accepted in professional circles exists and is in the possession of Bishop Zurek and others concerned with Priests for Life.

Therefore, we have been left with no choice but to write to you openly and frankly about this matter so that any further damage to all concerned can be minimized. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Priests for Life, I urge you to look carefully into this matter and express your concerns to Bishop Zurek.

In anticipation of the necessity of a hierarchical recourse before the Congregation for the Clergy, we have formally petitioned Bishop Zurek to rescind his directive suspending Fr. Pavone's priestly ministry outside of the Diocese of Amarillo for an indefinite period, and are asking that he permit Fr. Pavone to continue his work with Priests for Life. This must be done, even though elsewhere Bishop Zurek has threatened in writing to withdraw Fr. Pavone permanently from pro-life ministry if he were to exercise his canonical rights to hierarchical recourse. As an association that has always sought to be faithful to the Church and its teaching, this is the only forum left to us within the Church.

It should be noted that since we have formally petitioned Bishop Zurek to rescind his penal decree of September 6, under the law as contained in the norm of canon 1353, the effects of that decree are suspended by the law itself until the matter is resolved by hierarchical recourse. In other words, under the canon law of the Church, Fr. Pavone is free to continue his pro-life ministry full-time outside the diocese of Amarillo until this matter is decided by the Vatican.

Despite the suspension of the penalties in Bishop Zurek's decree, and Fr. Pavone's clear right to continue his pro-life work outside the diocese of Amarillo, Fr. Pavone will obediently report to Amarillo on September 13, in the hopes that he can resolve this matter through mutual dialogue with the Bishop, and that it will not become necessary for him to initiate a hierarchical recourse before the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome.

Already, however, Bishop Zurek's letter has been obtained by the news media, which will no doubt use it as fodder against the Church and the pro-life movement. It is our hope and prayer that this perplexing action on the part of the Bishop of Amarillo—which has the potential to cause so much unnecessary damage in the pro-life movement—can somehow be remedied in a speedy fashion.

Above all, we want you to know that we do not impugn in any way Bishop Zurek's motives, but instead fervently desire a peaceful and amicable resolution to the whole matter.

With our loyal and obedient deference to you and all the shepherds of the Church, I remain,

Fr. David Deibel, JCL
Chief Canonist, Priests for Life

Bishop Zurek on Father Pavone's priestly status

2011-10-01T17:45:00.004-04:00

Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
– 1 Corinthians 9:16

Pope Innocent III dreams of St. Francis holding up the Basilica of St. John Lateran

Here is the full text of a letter posted on the website of the Diocese of Amarillo on September 30 by Bishop Zurek.

Clarification of Fr. Frank Pavone’s Priestly Status

Father Frank Pavone remains suspended. At my discretion and solicitude, he has faculties for ministry in the Diocese of Amarillo. He does not have my permission for ministry outside of the Diocese. He is to remain in the Diocese for an indefinite period of time for prayer and reflection.

Ed Peters has provided his comments on this letter on his blog. Peters had previously criticized Bishop Zurek for his use of the word "suspended". Here is what he has to say on this latest use of the word "suspended" by the bishop.

Zurek’s continued use of the word “suspended” is apparently idiosyncratic, as “suspension” is a type of canonical penalty and, to my knowledge, no crime has been alleged against Pavone and no penal process conducted in his regard. While, strictly speaking, a canonical suspension could be imposed which would allow for some exercise of ministry, (c. 1333 § 1), my guess is that Zurek is using the word “suspended” according to its common understanding to mean something like “sharply curtailed for administrative reasons”. I regularly advise against ecclesiastical officials using terms with canonical implications as they are used in common speech, for obvious reasons, but such use still happens.

I think that Peters is being overly apologetic about the bishop's use of the word "suspended". Surely the bishop is using the word very deliberately. If the bishop does not understand the correct ecclesiastical meaning of the word, then that would be very troubling. A suspension would mean that Father Frank would not be allowed to say Mass and that clearly hasn't happened. In fact the diocese of Amarillo specifically stated that he "remains a priest in good standing".

Peters goes on to offer his unsolicited advice to Father Pavone about what he should or should not do, saying that "he should avoid [working for Priests for Life from Amarillo]" since that would "interfere" with his "prayer and reflection". It doesn't seem to bother Peters in the slightest that the bishop has never stated any definitive reason why Father Frank needs to spend time in "prayer and reflection" rather than actively spreading the Gospel of the Lord to a nation that is sorely in need of repentance.

It is fortunate for St. Francis of Assisi that Ed Peters wasn't around when he was founding his order. You see St. Francis was preaching without a license and he and his twelve disciples had to appeal to the Pope in order to establish his order. It could have gone either way. Francis might have been declared a heretic, but Pope Innocent III had a dream in which he saw Francis holding up the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the mother of all churches. And thank God that he did.

Similarly, Father Frank has appealed to Rome and as Ed Peters is well aware, the canon lawyer for Priests for Life, Father David Deibel, has stated that this temporarily nullifies the suspension by Bishop Zurek until the Vatican weighs in. And yet Peters doesn't bother to mention this in his comments on the bishops letter of "clarification".

St. Francis was called to physically repair the Church of St. Damian which Pope Benedict XVI reminds us was "the symbol of a much deeper call to renew Christ's own Church". Today the challenge is to restore society's respect for the dignity of human life which Priests for Life is doing through its pro-Life ministry. The struggle to end abortion is "the symbol of a much deeper call" to unity within the Christian world. Nowhere do we see the various Christian denominations coming together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit like we do in the pro-Life community.

We need more priests like Father Frank Pavone who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause of the unborn. If there are some financial irregularities at Priests for Life, then by all means these need to be straightened out. But that can certainly be done without pulling Father Frank off to the sidelines at a time when we have seen Planned Parenthood under so much political and financial pressure. This is the time to increase the pressure on the pro-abortion forces and not let them off the hook. Bishops should be denying communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians according to the instructions issued by then Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in 2004. But the American bishops are in open defiance of such instructions, saying that this is "a complex question involving 'prudential judgment' in each case."

And on the matter of politicians that support "homosexual marriage", Cardinal Ratzinger in 2003 instructed that "the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against [the recognition of homosexual unions]". And yet Catholic politicians are never denied communion on the basis of supporting "homosexual marriage" or singled out by the American bishops for public chastisement.

But woe to the pro-Life priest that fails to maintain a spotless financial organization. Or is it woe to the priest who stands up to pro-abortion politicians as Father Frank has done?

What has Bishop Zurek clarified in his "clarification"? He is simply reiterating what he said in his previous letter. Ed Peters knows this. We all know this. It seems that Bishop Zurek is making good on his threat "to withdraw Father Pavone permanently from pro-life ministry if he were to exercise his canonical rights to hierarchical recourse".

In so doing he is posting a challenge to any other bishop outside of Amarillo who might wish to come to the defense of Father Frank. We all know this is not strictly a local matter confined to Amarillo, so why don't we hear from Archbishop Dolan, the president of the US Conference of bishops? After all, Priests for Life is headquartered in Staten Island, New York which is part of the Archdiocese of New York. Should we infer from his silence that he is in full support of Bishop Zurek?

I have to hand it to the pro-abortion National Catholic Reporter on this one. Rather than hurl stones at Father Frank while he is down, they have just quietly stood by and watched as some members of the Catholic pro-Life community have thrown the first stones.

I do not think that this is going to end well. Pray for the Church.

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St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.

Ed Peters' dogged defense of Bishop Zurek

2011-09-29T19:54:00.005-04:00

And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear."
– Luke 11:46

Ed Peters seems to have appointed himself to be the lead prosecutor of Father Frank Pavone in a public trial which he is conducting through his blog. Yes, Ed Peters is a canon lawyer, but his issue with Father Pavone does not seem to be just about canon law; it seems to be much more personal than that.

From the beginning Peters has tried to portray this as a conflict between Father Pavone and Bishop Zurek. As a lawyer, he should know much better than that. This is not some sort of boxing match with the bishop and his priest in opposite corners as Peters likes to portray it.

This is a policy dispute which was made public when a letter by Bishop Zurek was published by CNS (Catholic News Service). The letter addressed to all the United States Catholic bishops made unsubstantiated claims about the character of Father Frank and about Priests for Life. As a public figure that has a responsibility to defend the reputation of Priests for Life, Father Frank was put into a very awkward position by his bishop.

If he said nothing then Priests for Life would be adversely affected. In fact Bishop Zurek asked his fellow bishops to halt all donations to PFL. How was Father Frank supposed to respond to that? Should he just quietly go into prayer as Peters has suggested?

Ed Peters seems to like to put himself in the limelight. Not that long ago he made a public pronouncement that Bishop Hubbard of Albany should deny communion to Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York. This led to a flurry of publicity. When Bishop Hubbard did not take any action against Governor Cuomo, Peters let the matter quietly drop.

If only he had followed a similar trajectory in the current situation with Father Frank Pavone then he would have saved the pro-Life community a lot of public embarrassment. Instead Peters got ever more involved in criticizing anyone that showed any kind of support for Father Frank.

Why did Ed Peters let Bishop Hubbard off the hook while publicly scolding Father Pavone in article after article?

In the latest round of fighting initiated by Ed Peters, he took aim at Al Kresta who conducted an interview with Father Frank on his Ave Maria Radio show. Peters' main objection seems to be that Father Frank should simply not be allowed to speak out in public.

It was now Al Kresta's turn to be put into an awkward position. He was forced to defend himself against Ed Peters' charge that he had given Father Frank "what amounted to a 40 minute infomercial". Peters bluntly charged that this was "a bad idea". And added that neither Father Pavone nor Kresta were "competent to explain ... canon law to the public". He said that interviewing Father Frank was especially bad while the "dispute with Zurek was in full swing", which just shows how Peters has attempted to turn this policy dispute into a highly personal confrontation.

So much for tact and diplomacy on the part of Ed Peters; never mind being charitable. This is more the style of a bulldog than a diplomat.

In his response Al Kresta starts out by saying that he and Ed Peters are friends and that Ed Peters has appeared as a guest on his show in the past. Thank goodness that Al is a "friend" of Peters. I'd hate to think how he would have worded his criticisms if they weren't. Kresta tries his best to defuse the situation which Peters has created using very apologetic language. He does however say that Peters' characterization of the interview as an "infomercial" is "silly".

Peters in his reply rather than apologizing just digs in deeper. He describes himself as "one who knows what the rules are". So now Peters is not just the prosecutor, but has also declared himself to be the judge in this case. Aren't Bishop Zurek and the Diocese of Amarillo capable of speaking for themselves?

Meanwhile, where in the world is Bishop Zurek? It's been over two weeks since he disappeared from the face of the earth on September 13 -- the same day that he demanded that Father Frank show up in Amarillo.

As for Ed Peters, I wish he would turn his lawerly attentions to more worthy victims like Nancy Pelosi and the bishops that allow her style of public insubordination to continue unchallenged. Or Catholic "social justice" groups like the 8th Day Center for Justice which insists on showing a film that advocates "women priests". With all the attacks that the Church is under today, why zero in on a priest that has dedicated his life to end abortion?

I hate bringing this up, but I will anyway because it goes to the core of Peters' argument. When we blindly defer to the bishops, bad things can happen. The bishops can and must be held accountable. They should not be above criticism from the laity when they fail to vigorously defend the teachings of the Catholic Church. And they certainly should not be allowed to place themselves above the Pope.

The bishops should conduct their business in public and avoid secrecy as much as possible. Again, we have seen how secrecy has been used to hide abuse in the past. Eventually, secrets are uncovered.

Why shouldn't a bishop go on a radio program to be interviewed? If Archbishop Dolan can go on 60 Minutes, then why can't Bishop Zurek be interviewed by Al Kresta? He should follow the example of Pope Benedict XVI who has been very open and candid in his papacy. At times this has resulted in his being attacked by the press as happened when "Light of the World" was published. But he has helped to dispel the myth that the Vatican and the Catholic Church has something to hide.

When baby Joseph was about to be euthanized by Canadian doctors the whole pro-Life community came out in support. But it was ultimately one priest who was able to make a difference and give Joseph a chance to live out a full life. Shouldn't this priest receive our thanks and support now when he needs it most?

God bless you, Father Frank.

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St. John Chrysostom, pray for us.

Pope Benedict's speech before the Bundestag

2011-09-29T00:11:00.000-04:00

For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature;
and they were unable from the good things that
are seen to know him who exists,
nor did they recognize the craftsman while
paying heed to his works.
– Wisdom of Solomon 13:1

Pope Benedict XVI spoke in front of Germany's Bundestag about the dangers of a "positivist" philosophy that denies the existence of God:

A positivist conception of nature as purely functional, as the natural sciences consider it to be, is incapable of producing any bridge to ethics and law, but once again yields only functional answers. The same also applies to reason, according to the positivist understanding that is widely held to be the only genuinely scientific one. Anything that is not verifiable or falsifiable, according to this understanding, does not belong to the realm of reason strictly understood. Hence ethics and religion must be assigned to the subjective field...
[...]
The positivist approach to nature and reason, the positivist world view in general, is a most important dimension of human knowledge and capacity that we may in no way dispense with. But in and of itself it is not a sufficient culture corresponding to the full breadth of the human condition. Where positivist reason considers itself the only sufficient culture and banishes all other cultural realities to the status of subcultures, it diminishes man, indeed it threatens his humanity.

I'm not a philosopher, but I think it is fair to assume that for the word "positivist" in Pope Benedict's statement we can substitute "rationalist", "materialist", "secular humanist" or even "atheist". They may not have exactly the same definitions, but there is certainly a large amount of overlap in these philosophies.

This is the same type of thinking that is used to justify "homosexual marriage" and abortion. It is an amoral way of thinking that leaves questions of ethics completely at the whim of fashionable ideas that are often imposed from above by those who control the mass media.

It is interesting that the Holy Father mentions Solomon in his speech. It is in the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, in chapter 13 that we find a whole section that speaks about this topic. (Wisdom 13:1-9)

For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.

If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them.

And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them.

For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. Yet these men are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him.

For as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.

Yet again, not even they are to be excused; for if they had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?

If these words were true in the ancient times when the Bible was written, how much more true are they now? For today, with the "power to know so much" that we possess and our ability to "investigate the world" with the use of scientific tools such as telescopes, microscopes, particle accelerators, computers and DNA sequencers, how is it that we "fail to find sooner the Lord of these things"?

Instead we "go astray" and fall into idol worship. But we do not worship the sun or the idols made of clay that our ancestors worshiped. Instead we worship the idol makers; we worship ourselves.

Pope Benedict XVI points out the danger in this form of self-worship:

Yet I would like to underline a point that seems to me to be neglected, today as in the past: there is also an ecology of man. Man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will. Man is not merely self-creating freedom. Man does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself. In this way, and in no other, is true human freedom fulfilled.

It seems to me that the Pope is expressing here his concern over genetic manipulation of humans. If Man denies God and usurps for himself god-like powers, then the door is open to "self-create" a new species of transhumans.

But in so doing the "ecology of man" is upset. And as we have seen when the ecology, the natural balance, is pushed beyond its ability to regulate itself we end up with widespread pollution and even environmental disasters such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

How much greater of a potential for disaster is there in Man's manipulation of his own genetic blueprint?

Teacher bans "bless you" in classroom

2011-09-29T00:05:00.001-04:00

And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.
– Matthew 11:6

Where else? In California of course!

Here's more on this story from ChristianPost.com:

Wood High Principal Cliff McGraw agreed that Cuckovich went overboard in his punishment. “He realizes he there’s better ways to do that,” McGraw said. “We don’t condone that kind of punishment.”

That doesn’t mean that the health teacher will now allow students to speak the words “bless you” in his classroom. He just will find a less Draconian way to punish perpetrators, he said.

The controversy in Vacaville is just the latest example of what many in California’s evangelical community perceive as growing anti-Christian, anti-religion bigotry in the state’s public schools.

Just this month, in fact, a 3-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco sided with school officials in Poway, Calif. who ordered high school math teacher Brad Johnson to remove two patriot banners he has displayed in his classroom for 25 years, which proclaim “In God We Trust,” “God Bless America,” and “God Shed His Grace On Thee.”

Back in March, a 16-year-old high school student in El Cajon, Calif. sued the local school district after being suspended two days last year for bringing his bible to school and sharing his faith with interested classmates.

Vacaville, California is about 45 miles from San Francisco. So this sort of thinking is probably considered normal by some people in the area.

If someone is sick, saying "bless you" is a way of asking God to help heal them. It is a short prayer like saying "God have mercy" or "Lord help me". It's clear that this teacher's real issue is that he is offended by any mention of God or any sign of religious belief by his students.

+ + +

UPDATE:

Here is some additional information on this story from KXTV in Sacramento:

When Taylor McGinley sneezed in her health class at Will C. Wood High School a few weeks ago a student replied with "God, bless you," but it's what teacher Steven Cuckovich said after the sneeze that now has students questioning the teacher's agenda.

"(Cuckovich) said, 'Do you think that girl is evil, do you think the evil spirits are coming out of her?' And the guy that said "bless you" was like 'No, I was just doing what I was supposed to do when somebody sneezes, not trying to be rude,'" Taylor said, referring to the incident.

McGinley said Cuckovich never mentioned or referred to the expression again, but in Erica Fagan's class Cuckovich is deducting points from students' grades if someone said "bless you."

"The first time (the student) did it (Cuckovich) took 25 points off of everybody in the class's grade for one person saying it and then somebody did it the next day and he did it again," Fagan said.

According to Fagan, Cuckovich told the students sneezing and saying "bless you" is a distraction and takes time out of learning.
[...]
The health class is a one-semester course that is required for graduation.

Given the severity of the situation, I would have expected the school to impose some sort of disciplinary action on this teacher. Can you imagine if the teacher had declared that the use of the word "gay" was prohibited? I suppose one could say that the word "gay" doesn't really mean homosexual and that this is a form of slang which should be avoided. I wonder what the principal's reaction would be to something like that?

Father Michael Rodriguez and Father Frank Pavone

2011-09-24T23:09:00.002-04:00

The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
– Matthew 23:2-4

Another holy priest has been prevented from doing the work of God by his bishop. In this case it is Bishop Ochoa who has removed Father Michael Rodriguez from his work at the parish of San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) in San Antonio and re-assigned him to a parish in west Texas. Essentially sending him into exile for his outspoken defense of marriage.

What are we to make of this? Has the Catholic Church in America lost sight of its mission?

Perhaps we need to turn to the Orthodox Church to remind ourselves of our past heritage. Certainly orthodoxy does not seem to be welcomed by the Catholic bishops. Is the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in America attempting to separate itself from the Holy See? Will the Roman Catholic Church in the future be a mixture of orthodox Catholics, orthodox Protestants and the Orthodox Church?

Our Holy Father is presently in Germany. His message is clear. The following quote is from the speech of Pope Benedict XVI to Orthodox Churches in Germany:

In the present climate, in which many would like, as it were, to “liberate” public life from God, the Christian Churches in Germany – including Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians – are walking side by side along the path of peaceful witness for understanding and solidarity among peoples, on the basis of their faith in the one God and Father of all. At the same time they continue to place the miracle of God’s incarnation at the centre of their proclamation. Realizing that on this mystery all human dignity depends, they speak up jointly for the protection of human life from conception to natural death. Faith in God, the Creator of life, and unconditional adherence to the dignity of every human being strengthen faithful Christians to oppose vigorously every manipulative and selective intervention in the area of human life. Knowing too the value of marriage and the family, we as Christians attach great importance to defending the integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from any kind of misinterpretation. Here the common engagement of Christians, including Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians, makes a valuable contribution to building up a society equipped for the future, in which the human person is given the respect which is his due.

One shudders to think if a Catholic priest were to make such a public pronouncement in the United States, what the reaction of his bishop might be. One wonders if the American bishops are among those who wish to "'liberate' public life from God".

Let's parse the Pope's statement and see what he believes to be the most essential elements of the Christian faith in these tumultuous times in which we live.

"the protection of human life from conception to natural death" - The very first thing he brings up is the pro-Life message. Isn't this the core message of Priests for Life? Isn't this exactly what Father Pavone has committed his life to?
"oppose vigorously every manipulative and selective intervention in the area of human life" - Again we hear the Holy Father emphasizing the pro-Life message. Could he possibly be more clear about how high a priority this should be for all of our priests and bishops?
"defending the integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from any kind of misinterpretation" - Here we see how strongly the Pope connects the pro-Life message with the struggle to defend marriage. They are essentially one and the same. And wasn't this what got Father Rodriguez in trouble with his bishop? How can any priest possibly defend marriage from the attacks of the homosexual community without also pointing out the sinful nature of homosexual relationships? And how can the Church effectively defend marriage without getting more directly involved in the political process?

Father Frank Pavone and Father Michael Rodriguez are two priests that took the message of the Gospel to heart and acted on it. They both believe in freedom of religion; not just "freedom of worship". They spoke out in the public square; not just from the pulpit. And for this they have both been chastised by their bishops.

The mission of the Church is to save souls. We know that "the wages of sin is death". If the Church can get our society to recognize that abortion and "homosexual marriage" are sins then many souls will find their rewards in heaven. But in order to be heard over the din of secular society we must be "the voice of one crying in the wilderness".

St. John the Baptist was certainly not being "pastoral" in his pronouncements when he called the Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers". He did not confine his ministry to his home diocese. He went out to where the Lord was calling him and where he was needed. It's time for the Catholic Church to get back to Theology 101 and heed the words of St. John the Baptist:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
– Matthew 3:2

+ + +

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

+ + +

Father Michael Rodriguez on "The Real Truth about Homosexuality"

+ + +

Related articles:

Neutrinos and God

2011-09-24T10:12:00.007-04:00

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
– Isaiah 40:28

St. Augustine of Hippo

Earlier this week I wrote two articles, "A strange thought" and "Another strange thought". And then some time around Wednesday or Thursday the world of physics came alive with the buzzing of a rumor that some neutrinos had traveled faster than the speed of light.

First of all let me say that we should never be surprised at the marvelous complexity of God's creation. There is so much that Man does not understand. The knowledge that we have acquired through all our science is like a grain of sand. The universe that God created is infinite and our knowledge will always remain finite.

In my articles earlier this week I suggested that perhaps God is continually creating each moment in space and time. And I also suggested that this would become ever more apparent in the exploration of subatomic particles.

So let me offer a simple and naïve explanation of the faster-than-light neutrino. Suppose the neutrino as it travels through space-time is occasionally destroyed and re-created. And when it is re-created it is sometimes ahead of where it would have been if it had simply continued along its path. Then at the end of its journey it could arrive ahead of schedule. Whether you can say under these circumstances that it is the same neutrino, I don't know. But I don't think that neutrinos have individual personalities so perhaps it doesn't matter.

This gets back to the idea that God is constantly creating the material universe out of nothing. Perhaps we are indirectly witnessing through this experiment an instance of that continual creation. This would be very different from the idea of the deists that say that God created the universe and then just let it go on its course by simply following the laws of physics. This idea began to crumble as soon as Man discovered quantum physics.

Einstein famously said that "God does not play dice" because he could not accept the probabilistic nature of quantum theory. What he really revealed through this comment is that he was a deist. He believed that the universe was like a very complex watch that God created. He wanted to reduce the universe to a mechanism.

One of his scientific colleagues, Neils Bohr, scolded him and told him to "stop telling God what to do". And there is the answer. God is infinitely superior to Man. In fact Einstein's comment reveals that he did not believe in God at all. He was using the name of God in vain, when what he really meant was something like Nature. So his comment can be reworded as "Nature does not play dice".

Nature is not God. Nature or "Mother Nature" is the god of the pagans. Christians believe in the one true God who created the universe and sent His only Son to save mankind. Our God is a mighty God that can move heaven and earth. For God all things are possible.

+ + +

St. Augustine of Hippo, you taught us that the search for truth leads us to God, pray for us.

+ + +

NOTE:

I should have mentioned this much earlier, but the thing that got me thinking again about the relationship between modern physics and God is a book by Stephen M. Barr titled "Modern Physics and Ancient Faith". I saw the author on EWTN's Bookmark program. Here is the video of that program.

If you go to Amazon you can "look inside" the book. There's some very interesting material there. Appendix C about Gödel's Theorem is particularly interesting and well written. The whole book gets into the theme of the proof of the existence of God. And also how a materialistic philosophy is insufficient to fully explain the mysteries of the physical universe, let alone the spiritual world.

Flesh of my flesh

2011-09-21T23:40:00.000-04:00

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
– Genesis 2:21-22

This article is about something that came to me as I was in prayerful meditation and trying to be close to God. I was contemplating something which I heard a priest say about the creation of Eve from Adam's rib. And it was as if I could feel that empty space in my own side. For me, alas, I have not found that one that I can call "flesh of my flesh". But, for now at least, that space is filled with my love for God.

The priest brought special attention to the fact that God put Adam into a deep sleep before removing one of his ribs. It was almost as if Adam had died and then been brought back to life. And that made me think of Christ on the Cross; and the soldier piercing his side after he had died. And then I thought about the blood and water. And so I thought there must be some connection with Eve; the blood and water must be the sign of the Church. But in what way? Well, water is the sign of baptism and Christ's blood is the sign of the Eucharist. Two Holy Sacraments.

I decided to search online to see if this was an original thought. I suspected that it couldn't be. It seemed so obviously clear once it was explained. Well I found the exact same description and here it is.

“There flowed from his side water and blood”. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit”, and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: “Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!” As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death.

What is even more amazing for me is that this was written by St. John Chrysostom in the 4th century. We just recently celebrated his feast day on September 13.

St John Chrysostom, pray for us

The bishops on marriage: right message, wrong timing

2011-09-21T18:28:00.007-04:00

Go to Media, my son, for I fully believe what Jonah the prophet said about Nineveh, that it will be overthrown. But in Media there will be peace for a time.
– Tobit 14:4

The US bishops have just released a letter to President Obama signed by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the President of the USCCB, that is strongly critical of the administration's policy towards marriage.

Now, if a similar letter had been released shortly before the vote on "homosexual marriage" in New York State, or while DADT was being debated in Congress, or at some critical time during the Prop 8 hearing, or shortly before the recent special elections ... then I would have applauded it.

But it almost seems as if the release of the letter was timed for when it could make the most minimal impact. So far the only ones to have taken any notice of it at all are the folks at the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). They have posted a story on their blog which is how I became aware of it.

I suppose its possible that I'm just getting to this story a bit early. But wouldn't an organization like USCCB want to have some sort of PR event around such a major statement? Wouldn't they want to get in touch with their contacts in the press to make sure that they filed stories on this letter at the very moment of its release? Even the Catholic News Service (CNS) which is affiliated with the USCCB doesn't have a story at this time.

So, I seem to have managed to out-scoop all major news agencies on this story, which somehow isn't making me happy the way it should. I guess AP and the rest of the media don't pay too much attention to news releases from the USCCB or they would have noticed the official announcement by now. Maybe they have seen it and are still figuring out how they can spin the story to include some reference to the sex abuse scandal.

Let's just hope that this is a sign that the US Catholic bishops intend to become more vocal on the issue of marriage in the future. And let's pray that they use their influence to urge Catholic voters to make this a major issue in the upcoming 2012 elections.

Here are some key excerpts from the letter:

I write with a growing sense of urgency about recent actions taken by your Administration that both escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage. This past spring the Justice Department announced that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court, a decision strongly opposed by the Catholic Bishops of the United States and many others. Now the Justice Department has shifted from not defending DOMA—which is problem enough, given the duty of the executive branch to enforce even laws it disfavors—to actively attacking DOMA's constitutionality.
[...]
The Administration‟s failure to change course on this matter will, as the attached analysis indicates, precipitate a national conflict between Church and State of enormous proportions and to the detriment of both institutions.

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UPDATE 1 (Sep 21):

For those who are, in my opinion, overly excited about this statement, I would like to point out a very similar statement earlier this year in March from Archbishop Dolan. I wish I could provide a link to the document on the USCCB website, but it seems that they don't have archives of news releases going back that far. But I was able to find the full text at the website of the Diocese of Saginaw.

Here is a key excerpt with a similar tone and content to today's letter:

The Administration’s current position is not only a grave threat to marriage, but to religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy as well. Our nation and government have the duty to recognize and protect marriage, not tamper with and redefine it, nor to caricature the deeply held beliefs of so many citizens as “discrimination.” On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I express my deep disappointment over the Administration’s recent decision. I have written of these concerns to the President in separate correspondence, and I pray that he and the Department of Justice may yet make the right choice to carry out their constitutional responsibility, defending the irreplaceable institution of marriage, and in so doing protect the future generations of our children.

It's not that I'm cynical about the ability to reverse this trend of destroying the institution of marriage. It's just that the approach of the US bishops of writing a letter now and then after the fact is not an effective one. This letter came out some weeks after the President announced that the Dept. of Justice would no longer defend DOMA on February 23. As close as I can tell this statement was released March 6.

And again it feels like the timing of the statement was designed to have a minimal impact. It is almost like the bishops really don't want to defend marriage at all, but they still want to be able to say to the Catholic faithful that they have "tried their best". Well, I just don't buy it.

If you want to take a look at what an effective defense of marriage looks like, then take a look at the work of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). Or take a look at the Orthodox Jewish Rabbis that told their fellow Orthodox Jews in the latest special election in New York to vote for the Republican candidate and not vote for the Democratic candidate even though he was an Orthodox Jew. Why? Because he voted for "homosexual marriage", that's why. And what the Rabbis said was that they would not support a candidate that betrayed the basic religious principles of Orthodox Jews.

Or else take a look at the work of Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. He specifically instructs Catholics to look not only at the individual candidate, but also at their political party's platform. And in the case of the Democrat Party, the platform is pro-abortion and in favor of "homosexual marriage". So if you consider yourself a faithful Catholic, then you cannot vote for the Democrats. End of story.

If Catholics stopped supporting the Democrats and giving them a pass on the "social issues" then they would be forced to change those policies or disappear from history.

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Pray for the Church.

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Related articles:

Gay "marriage": war against religion

Father Frank on Ave Maria Radio

2011-09-20T20:13:00.000-04:00

And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad." But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth."
– Acts 26:24-25

Father Frank Pavone was on Ave Maria Radio yesterday, September 19. He was interviewed by Al Kresta on his show "Kresta in the afternoon". What you should know about Al is that he has been the driving force behind Ave Maria Radio since its founding and that he is currently the President and CEO.

Here's some more relevant information. Ave Maria Radio's programs are carried by 160 stations and reaches an estimated 800,000 people a week. The "Kresta in the afternoon" program is Ave Maria's "flagship national production". And Ave Maria Radio claims to be "the largest producer of Catholic radio programming in the United States."

So that tells me two things. One, that Father Frank can't possibly have found a bigger soap box to stand on to defend himself in the Catholic world than this, with the exception of EWTN where he has his own weekly pro-Life show. And two, Al Kresta wants us to know that he fully supports Father Frank in his struggle to maintain his full-time ministry at Priests for Life.

The interview is available online. There is an archive at Ave Maria, but I couldn't get that link to work for me. But I found the same show posted on Al Kresta's blog which is where I found the following YouTube recordings of the show. The interview lasts for 40 minutes and answers many of the questions that people have been asking around the Catholic blogosphere. So if you are really interested in learning the answers, then it's well worth a listen.

Of course this is a one-sided discussion because we don't have the participation of Bishop Zurek. But that is by his own choice. He immediately disappeared after his letter became public. And he left no publicly available information as to his whereabouts. He simply announced that he would be out-of-town for two weeks.

Here is the interview.

Thursday, September 22, at 9:15am ET Father Pavone will be the guest on Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo. This is another show that originates from Ave Maria Radio. It is also carried by EWTN radio. There is more information about Father Frank's upcoming media schedule in his newsletter which is dated September 19.

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Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Bishop Gries: "Please continue to support Priests for Life"

2011-09-20T15:31:00.000-04:00

For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
– 1 Corinthians 11:18-19

The latest news on Father Frank Pavone is that he has received a letter of public support from Bishop Roger Gries. He is an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland and is also on the Advisory Board of Priests for Life. In his letter the bishop states:

Please keep Father Pavone in your prayers. He is currently facing some difficult days as he negotiates with his bishop. The work he had done since founding Priests for Life must continue as we face the future. Please continue to support Priests for Life.

I was proud to stand up with Father Pavone when he asked me to serve on the Advisory Board of Bishops. Every opportunity that comes my way to stand up for life will find me speaking out against abortion. Let us pray, pray and pray some more for the mothers carrying infants in their wombs. Also, let us pray for those who perform the abortions and work in those clinics for they need God’s grace to see the evil of their deeds.

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While we are waiting for the dispute between Father Frank and Bishop Zurek to be resolved, please enjoy the video that follows. It is one of the many fruits of Father Frank's pro-Life ministry.

Here is the description provided with this music video:

"This is My Body" was inspired through a conversation that Fr. Pavone [of Priests for Life] had with Dana about the comparison between the words "This is My Body" as used by Jesus to give us eternal life, and as used by abortion supporters to defend the taking of life. Fr. Pavone gave Dana the brochure that he had written about this comparison, and suggested that a song should be written to convey this powerful message. Within a few hours, Dana called him back and said that she had the song basically written! After subsequent meetings and sitting together at the piano, Fr. Frank and Dana were satisfied that the finished product would inspire pro-life people worldwide.

In the song, Dana plays the role of a woman who has had an abortion. Gretchen sings as a woman who believes in the "right to choose." And Mark plays the role of Jesus, who teaches us to sacrifice ourselves for others. They each do this using the same words, "This is My Body."

The video is available on DVD. It was first aired on EWTN. The song is also available as part of Dana's "Little Baby: Songs for Life" pro-Life album.

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And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
– Luke 22:19

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Here are the words from the brochure by Father Frank Pavone that inspired Dana to write her song.

This Is My Body
By Fr. Frank A. Pavone

Did you ever realize that the same four words that were used by the Lord Jesus to save the world are also used by some to promote abortion? "This is my body." The same simple words are spoken from opposite ends of the universe, with meanings that are directly contrary to each other.

Scripture tells us that on the night before He died to save all people, the Lord Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is My Body, which is given up for you." He was pointing to what would happen the next day, when He would give that same Body on the cross. He sacrifices Himself so that we may live. He gives up His Body so that He can destroy the power of sin and death. As a result, He welcomes us into His life, into His Kingdom. He makes us members of His Body!

On the other hand, abortion supporters say, "This is my body. So don't interfere with it! It's mine, so I can do what I want, even to the point of killing the life within it. All is secondary to my dominion over my body." In fact one abortion supporter has written, "I say their (pro-lifers') God is worth nothing compared to my body" (Michelle Goldberg, "Rant for Choice," in University of Buffalo student newspaper, 1995).

"This is my body." Same words, different results. Christ gives His body away so others might live; abortion supporters cling to their own bodies so others might die. In giving His Body, Christ teaches the meaning of love: I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion teaches the opposite of love: I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself!

"This is my body." If, indeed, our body is ours, then let's ask the next question: Why? The answer is so that we can give our body, our life, ourself, away in love to one another and to God. Christ declares, "Do this in memory of me." He calls us to do what He did, and that is precisely how we reverse the dynamic of abortion. Mom and Dad must say to their child, "This is my body, my life, given for you," rather than, "This is my body, my life, so go away!"

Human happiness and fulfillment are never found by pushing other people out of the way. They are found when we push ourselves out of the way. Pope John Paul II says as much in Evangelium Vitae #51: He who had come "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45), attains on the cross the heights of love: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13). And he died for us while we were yet sinners (cf. Rom. 5:8).

In this way Jesus proclaims that life finds its center, its meaning and its fulfillment when it is given up.

At this point our meditation becomes praise and thanksgiving, and at the same time urges us to imitate Christ and follow in his footsteps (cf. 1 Pt. 2:21).

We too are called to give our lives for our brothers and sisters, and thus to realize in the fullness of truth the meaning and destiny of our existence.

"This is my body." It is no accident that the same words are used for such different purposes. A spiritual conflict rages here. We win, in our own lives and in the world, by living these words in self-giving, life-giving love.

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Another strange thought

2011-09-19T10:35:00.003-04:00

No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
– John 1:18

In the Bible, we learn that no one can see the face of God. If they do, then they perish.

I had a dream or vision in which I imagined that seeking God was like diving underwater. We can hold our breath for only so long, so we can only dive so deep. And God lies at a much deeper level.

I imagine that searching for God, and searching for the ultimate scientific or mathematical truth are essentially the same. Science has come up with a method to search deeper. It is like creating an artificial living space at a certain depth below the water. And then we can use a submarine to get down to this underwater colony.

But at some depth, the pressure becomes so great that there is no way to create a structure that will survive. This will not stop people from trying.

Some scientist will explore these depths of knowledge and gain an insight so profound that he will instantly die or go totally mad. This is the scientific equivalent of staring into the face of God.

Such things actually exist in the world of mathematics. There is something called Goedel's Incompleteness Theorem. And some mathematicians have actually gone insane while trying to fully explain it.

The sciences seem to be lagging in this sort of deep understanding. Although, it seems like physics may be approaching this level. Will we soon see top physicists going insane as they explore at ever increasing depths?

As physicists explore deeper in the world of subatomic particles, will they simply find smaller and smaller particles with more and more bizarre properties? Particles that seem to exist at one moment and cease to exist at another. Particles that change from one into another without any apparent reason.

And if physicists are able to explore down to the deepest depths, will they find a world that is at once an empty void and also a bubbling chaos? And will they then theorize that unlocking the secrets of the smallest unit of matter is the same problem as unlocking the secret of the beginning of time? As if there is an instance of creation that is constantly occurring at the deepest level of subatomic particles.

Is this God, busy at work in sustaining the universe he created? Is the answer to the deepest riddle simply another riddle? This is the conclusion that the non-believer must come to, but for the believer the answer is simply God.

The universe cannot create itself, nor can it sustain itself. The universe has a creator and the universe has a Lord that guides its along its proper destiny and keeps it from falling into utter chaos.

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Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
– Isaiah 40:28

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

A strange thought

2011-09-18T22:26:00.001-04:00

Then Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked?"
– Genesis 18:23

I was reading about St. Thomas' proof of the existence of God and had a strange thought.

What if the act of creation is not a singular event? What if each moment in time and space needs God to create it or at least shall we say to sustain it?

What if this continual act of creation depends on us to believe in God? Then when the last believer dies, the universe will cease to exist. Because God will destroy it.

This is what God did in the case of Sodom. Abraham asked if he would spare the city if there were only a handful of believers. In fact it seems possible that God might have spared it -- even if there were only one righteous person who truly feared God.

There is a tradition which is the Liturgy of the Hours. It consists of prayers that are said throughout the day. It is almost as if the monks believed that if they stopped praying that the world would end.

In fact the ancient Egyptians had such a belief. They had priests that would pray throughout the night to guarantee that the sun would rise in the morning.

I'm not trying to make a gnostic argument here for the need to worship God in order for the universe to continue existing. I am trying to stick to basic biblical fundamentals and Catholic beliefs.

We believe that God created the world. We also believe that the world will end one day. We don't know when that day will come. We know that the ancient Hebrews were punished when they strayed from their faith.

We see how faith in God is being destroyed in our modern world. Some don't believe in God at all. And some believe that God simply created the world and then plays no active part in his creation. This is rejected by Christian beliefs. We believe that God has an active role in his creation

I believe that God is love. It is that love that sustains and nourishes the world. I can't imagine a day where no one believes in God.

Man is God's creation which he created in his own image. How can we deny his existence. But perhaps it is not simply a matter of affirming his existence, but also of realizing his power over us. Is this what the Bible ultimately means by "God fearing"?

We know that we will be judged when we die. And we will be judged again at the end of time.

I heard an interesting explanation for this second judgement recently. At the end of time we will be judged for the consequences that resulted from our actions after we died. I don't know how prevalent that idea is within the Catholic faith, but it has an air of plausibility. And I had been wondering about this.

Some say that we don't go to Heaven (or Hell) when we die but must wait for the Second Coming. The Catholic Church does not agree with this. So I had been wondering, how does this work?

Could we be judged worthy of Heaven at the time of death and then unworthy later on? Would we then have to go through a second Purgatory, or is Purgatory even an option at that time?

Somehow it seems to me that the rule must be: once in Heaven, always in Heaven.

Perhaps there might be souls trapped in Purgatory that might not be so fortunate. So it would behoove those souls in Purgatory to pray mightily for those who they have influenced during their time among the Church Militant. And we in turn should pray just as fervently for our brothers and sisters in Purgatory.

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Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

If 100 bishops got thrown in jail ... that would be wonderful

2011-09-16T13:07:00.002-04:00

But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.

But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
– Acts 5:17-20

This article titled "Kreeft: It would be wonderful if 100 bishops got thrown in jail for marching with graphic images" appeared on LifeSiteNews the day before we got the shocking news that Father Frank Pavone had been recalled by Bishop Zurek of Amarillo.

In a new video released last month by the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform, famed Catholic philosopher and author Peter Kreeft says it would be “wonderful” if one hundred bishops were arrested for marching with graphic images of aborted babies.

His comments are poignant in light of recent decisions by certain bishops to withdraw from pro-life events after the organizers could not guarantee that graphic images would not be present.

“What is wrong with exposing people to the truth?” he asked. “Suppose you were allowed to show the horrors in Auschwitz to the average German citizen. It might have toppled Hitler earlier. If something horrible is happening, covering it up is more horrible.”

Using the images is “probably going to be illegal. You’ll probably be thrown in jail,” he said.

He then recounted a story about a pro-life activist who picketed with a graphic image as President Bill Clinton entered the 1992 Democratic Convention in New York, and was arrested despite being well outside the 10-foot limit.

“None of the TV cameras filmed that incident. Well, if a hundred people did that, the TV cameras would have to film it,” he explained. “If a hundred bishops marched with those pictures and got thrown in jail, the newspapers would have to headline ‘100 bishops thrown in jail’.”

“That would be wonderful,” he continued. “Not because I hate bishops, because I love them.”

For the latest news on Father Frank please visit LifeSiteNews at:
Latest updates on Fr. Pavone situation

You can also get updates at Priests for Life:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/update/

Father Frank released a new video today on the Priests for Life YouTube channel:

The miraculous rescue of 9/11

2011-09-15T23:17:00.001-04:00

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just.
– John 5:28-30

This is the testimony of Genelle Guzman-McMillan who was the last person pulled out alive from the rubble of the World Trade Center on 9/11. She spent 27 hours buried alive before being rescued.

Last World Trade Center Survivor Tells of Meeting God in the Rubble

Trapped under concrete and steel with her right hand pinned under her body and legs crushed beneath a steel beam, Guzman-McMillan extended her left hand into the sliver of open space above her and found the strength to pray ... and pray and pray. Unsure of her eternal fate, Guzman-McMillan pleaded for hours with God to forgive her of her sins and to give her another chance.

"I said to Him, 'please, God, if you save me today ... give me a second chance, I promise I will do Your will," Guzman-McMillan told the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), adding that she was serious about the promises she made that day.

Her hand still extended above her in the pocket of open space, Guzman-McMillan asked God to send her a sign that He had heard her plea.

"Someone grabbed me by my hand and called me by my name, saying, 'Genelle, I've got you. My name is Paul," she recounted for CBN.

"I was asking God for a miracle, for a sign [and Paul] held my hand so tight ... reassuringly," Guzman-McMillan told CP, adding that she was sure she was not hallucinating.

Within minutes of Paul's appearing, Guzman-McMillan could hear rescue workers calling out for survivors.

Sometimes when I spend time in silent prayer, just trying to be in the presence of God and allowing his voice to speak to me I receive some bit of wisdom. The other day I was repeating the prayer of the Rosary in Spanish. The last words are, "... ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen." Which in English is "... now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

I prefer the Spanish. And as I was repeating it, I was struck by the beauty of the words, "ahora y en la hora" because of the poetic quality of the repetition of the word "ahora" followed by "la hora". "Now" and "at the time". But in Spanish the meaning is slightly different. It is more like "at this time" and "at the time" or "at this hour" and "at the hour".

It has a cadence like the ringing of a bell. It is a memento mori, a constant reminder of the moment of death. A reminder that at the moment of death, all the things that seem so important now will have little importance then. It is in this awareness where we find God waiting for us, reaching out his hand to touch us.

When I first learned to recite the Rosary I was repulsed by these words. They seemed so morbidly Catholic. It reminded me of somber scenes of my Grandmother with a black veil covering her head. It had the feel of a funeral. But now I have learned to embrace these words and see the profound beauty in them. Reciting them changes you inside. It opens your heart and softens it just a little bit with each repetition.

Bishop Zurek says Priests for Life has no "ecclesial status"

2011-09-14T18:48:00.004-04:00

Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
– James 3:12-14

I think this letter from Bishop Zurek on January 24, 2011 to the US bishops is explosive proof of his fundamental ideological opposition to the mission of Priests for Life. If the things he states in this letter are true than Priest for Life should never have been allowed to come into existence. So how is it that this organization with "no written decree from any competent ecclesiastical authority anywhere" has 21 bishops and cardinals on its Advisory Board?

(You can click on the images to enlarge them.)

Bishop Zurek also brings up Missionaries for the Gospel of Life in his letter. I don't think there is any dispute that this attempt at creating a religious order that would be entirely devoted to pro-Life work had to be abandoned by Father Frank Pavone. That is very unfortunate. If this organization were alive today, we would not be witnessing this current controversy which has already done so much harm to the pro-Life cause.

I wonder... Why wasn't this earlier letter revealed to the press? I happened upon this document buried inside a pdf on the website of the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico in a Google search. I have searched for a copy on the USCCB website, but have not been able to find one. Since the Bishop of Las Cruces received this letter, I assume that the rest of the bishops also received and read it. And that would include the US bishops that are part of the Priests for Life Advisory Board. And that would also include Bishop Baker of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama where EWTN is located.

Notice that there is no mention in this letter about any financial concerns. The letter concludes by saying:

It is my hope that this letter makes clear the official status of these organizations in the event that they attempt to present themselves with simulated officially recognized ecclesial status in order to solicit funds or to seek permission to perform any work related to the respect life movement. Finally, I want to confirm that Father Frank Pavone is a priest incardinated into the Dioceses of Amarillo, and that at the present, he has my permission to be on special assignment outside the dioceses for the time being.

What a strange and perplexing statement. Ambiguous would be way to generous a description of this cryptic paragraph. The bishop says that Father Frank can continue his "special assignment", but that apparently he shouldn't do any "respect life movement" work. When you figure out what Bishop Zurek is saying here, let me know.

Advisory Board of Priests for Life

His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna
His Eminence Renato Cardinal Martino, President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh
Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, Bishop of Covington
Most Reverend Roger W. Gries, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland
Most Reverend Sam G. Jacobs, Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Most Reverend Peter Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester
Most Reverend Ralph Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City
Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe, Bishop of Las Vegas
Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of Colorado Springs
Most Rev. Clarence Silva, Bishop of Honolulu
Most Rev. Richard F. Stika, Bishop of Knoxville
Most Reverend Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls
Most Reverend James Wall, Bishop of Gallup
Most Reverend John Quinn Weitzel, M.M., Bishop of Samoa-Pago Pago
Most Reverend Martin Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Most Reverend Dominic M. Luong, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange
Most Reverend Victor B. Galeone, Bishop Emeritus of St Augustine

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NOTE: This information was posted previously as "UPDATE 7" at the previous article titled, "In full support of Father Frank Pavone". I'm reposting it here to give it the prominence that it deserves.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe, protector of the unborn, pray for us.

In full support of Father Frank Pavone

2011-09-13T19:23:00.026-04:00

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us."
– Mark 9:38-40

[See final UPDATE 8 below. When I have something new to say on this situation I'll post a new article. LSN (LifeSiteNews) has setup a page with ongoing updates. I recommend checking there for the latest information. Please keep Priests for Life and Father Pavone in your prayers, along with all the unborn.]

I am going to go out on a limb and offer Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life my full support in light of the recent accusations against him by Bishop Zurek. This story just broke and no one can claim to have all the facts, but the letter released by Bishop Zurek does not pass the basic smell test. Even if he has a legitimate complaint, the way that he chose to publicly denounce Father Frank is highly suspicious.

No matter what the outcome, Father Frank’s reputation will have been tarnished forever. It seems like there are two issues in the Bishop’s letter—one is financial and the other is “obedience to his Bishop”.

The ties of Priests for Life to the diocese of Amarillo are tenuous. It had some offices there in 2005, but has moved to Staten Island. The bishop in Amarillo in 2005 was Bishop Yanta. Bishop Zurek was appointed in 2008.

Father Frank is still a diocesan priest of Amarillo, but he obviously doesn’t function as an ordinary diocesan priest. In Father Frank’s statement he says, the bishop “thinks I am giving too much priority to my pro-life work, and that this makes me disobedient to him”.

I hope that Bishop Zurek will make a strong and public statement in a short period of time regarding the results of his investigation into the finances of Priest for Life. Personally, I have grown to be a strong admirer of Father Frank. I have been watching his homilies this past week on EWTN and find them to be articulate and inspiring.

There was a previous incident which gained some public attention in 2008. This would have been soon after Bishop Zurek was appointed. A religious order founded by Father Frank Pavone named Missionaries of the Gospel of Life was forced to disband by the diocese of Amarillo.

I encourage you to send an email to Bishop Zurek expressing your concern on this matter:
bishopzurek@gmail.com

Here are links that I can offer for those wishing to learn more:

Catholic News Service article – this is the official US Bishops news service
LifeSiteNews article – this is a major pro-life website
LifeNews article – another major pro-life website
Official Statement in response posted at Father Frank Pavone's blog
Full text of statement from Bishop Zurek
EWTN news article – Father Frank is featured on EWTN
Article on the forced disbanding of Missionaries of the Gospel of Life – at Catholic Culture
Catholic Culture article – this article was surprisingly unsympathetic to Father Frank
Letter from Bishop Zurek posted as a jpeg at Catholic News Service – why jpeg?
Audit information from Priests for Life – There is a link to a PDF document here
Priests for Life homepage
Father Frank Pavone's blog
Bishop Zurek Wikipedia page
Website of the Diocese of Amarillo – It looks like a nice diocese
National Catholic Reporter article – This is just a reprint of the CNS article, but not surprisingly its featured as their top story
~~National Catholic Register as usual is asleep at the wheel and has not reported on the story yet~~
National Catholic Register article – They were late to report the story, but have the best article out there. I highly recommend it. (It seems to me that they could have put in a "breaking story" placeholder until they had time to write a more complete story.)
Still waiting for a reaction from CatholicVote.org – they are usually more on top of things
Women of Grace article – Excellent article. Look for my discussion in UPDATE 5 below.
Letter from Father Frank Pavone to the US bishops - a must read!!! (see UPDATE 5)
New article from CNS – Bishop Zurek's story changes. Now it's not about PFL finances, but the Father Frank is "needed for work in Amarillo". This is another must read. (see UPDATE 6)
January 2011 letter to the US bishops from Bishop Zurek stating that Priests for Life "does not enjoy ecclesiastical establishment as a juridic person in the Catholic Church" – This is quite literally a bombshell which in my opinon reveals Bishop Zurek's agenda to destroy Priests for Life. (Scroll down to page 4 of the PDF document.) Read more at UPDATE 7.
LifeSiteNews running update – LSN is providing a page with ongoing updates on the Priests for Life situation.

I'll try to provide updates on this story as they become available.

+ + +

UPDATE 1 [Sep 13]:

Here is what appears to be the backstory behind this dispute between Bishop Kurek and Father Pavone....

Father Pavone was incardinated in the Amarillo Diocese in 2005. "Incardinated" basically means that he transferred there from another diocese. He was formerly part of the Archdiocese of New York. Under Cardinal O'Connor he was free to do his work as head of Priests for Life. But a year after Cardinal Egan took over in 2000, Father Frank was told that he must abandon Priest for Life and become a regular diocesan priest. Sound familiar?

I don't know the details of how that situation in New York worked out, but I'm just going to pick up the story in 2005. At that time Priests for Life made the following announcement:

Pro-Life Society of Priests Announced by Fr. Pavone and Bishop Yanta

March 23, 2005, Amarillo, Texas. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, officially announced today that he is founding a pro-life community dedicated to the formation and training of priests, deacons, brothers and seminarians who will devote themselves fully to the proclamation of the Gospel of Life. This initiative will be based in the diocese of Amarillo, Texas, under the authority and stewardship of Bishop John W. Yanta.

"It has been a dream of mine for over a decade to form a community that can accept seminarians who want to devote their entire ministry to the defense of the unborn," said Fr. Pavone. "While there are religious communities that give special emphasis to the right to life, the Church has no 'institutional' society of men whose exclusive focus is to protect innocent human life from the tragedy of abortion and euthanasia. It is time for such a community. I am grateful to Bishop Yanta for allowing me the opportunity to make this dream a reality."

Bishop Yanta, who has served on the Priests for Life Episcopal Board of Advisors since 1998, and who has been particularly devoted to the pro-life cause throughout his priesthood, has already offered several buildings in his diocese that will serve as the center for the new apostolate. "I am excited about supporting Fr. Pavone in venturing forth, with and through the Holy Spirit, in the establishment of a Society of Apostolic Life for priests and seminarians dedicated to pro-life ministry - an immense need at this time in history," said Bishop Yanta today. "The Lord has provided several vacant buildings that once served as a Christian Brothers High School with boarding facilities, a chapel, gym, and spacious grounds. The Diocese of Amarillo is happy to make these available (at no cost) to Priests for Life and the proposed Society of Apostolic Life."

When Bishop Zurek took over the diocese of Amarillo in 2008, the plans were scuttled.

+ + +

UPDATE 2 [Sep 13]:

The story as reported by National Catholic Register gets more interesting and more complicated. The latest revelations will place Archbishop Timothy Dolan at the center of the controversy. Let me explain.

Bishop Zurek has said that he has banned Father Pavone from activities outside of the Diocese of Amarillo. Priest for Life's headquarters are in Staten Island which is part of the Archdiocese of New York headed by Archbishop Dolan. So will Dolan support Zurek?

The new information in the NCR report is the following:

Father Pavone’s statement was bolstered by an additional letter issued by Father David Deibel, chief canonist for Priests for Life, who noted that the nonprofit had undergone annual audits for the past decade and that PFL had “submitted over 40 separate financial and management documents to the bishop of Amarillo (Bishop John Yanta as well as Bishop Zurek). These included all annual audits from 2005 through 2010. The documents include quarterly statements, organizational charts, charts of accounts, internal-management documents, and even the actual check register when it was requested by Bishop Zurek. ...These submissions have never been acknowledged.”

Characterizing Bishop Zurek’s letter as “an outright and unjustified attack on the work of Priests for Life as a whole, which is much more grave than his real or imagined difficulty with Father Pavone,” Father Deibel reported that “we have formally petitioned Bishop Zurek to rescind his directive.”

He noted that “Bishop Zurek has threatened in writing to withdraw Father Pavone permanently from pro-life ministry if he were to exercise his canonical rights to hierarchical recourse. As an association that has always sought to be faithful to the Church and its teaching, this is the only forum left to us within the Church.”

“It should be noted that since we have formally petitioned Bishop Zurek to rescind his penal decree of Sept. 6, under the law, as contained in the norm of Canon 1353, the effects of that decree are suspended by the law itself until the matter is resolved by hierarchical recourse,” Father Deibel said. “In other words, under the canon law of the Church, Father Pavone is free to continue his pro-life ministry full time outside the Diocese of Amarillo until this matter is decided by the Vatican.”

There's nothing like airing the Church's dirty laundry in public. Father Pavone is not going to go down without a fight. All of this certainly makes it look like Bishop Zurek's target is not just Father Frank, but the whole Priests for Life organization.

I don't think anyone will argue about the fact that Priests for Life is one of the most effective pro-Life organizations in the American Catholic Church. Why would anyone within the Catholic Church want to publicly undermine that work? I'm sure there would be plenty of people from outside the Church that would like to apply pressure on the hierarchy to muzzle Father Frank, but I would hope that the bishops would do everything possible to defend him against such attacks.

So now I just want to go back to that announcement that I quoted from in the first update. At the bottom there were some interesting endorsements for the work of Father Frank. Among them were Archbishop Charles Chaput and Cardinal Raymond Burke.

How will the Vatican handle this situation? And what will Archbishop Dolan do as the head of the American bishops and the Archbishop of New York? Will Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia get publicly involved? Will Cardinal Burke pull some strings in the Vatican?

Stay tuned...

+ + +

UPDATE 3 [Sep 13]:

The story has spread to the secular media. Oh sure they completely ignore World Youth Day. And have completely ignored the positive actions of Priests for Life for years, but whenever there is any negative Church related news they are all over it.

Already Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press has written a piece with the title "Anti-abortion priest-activist suspended by bishop" which is being picked up by news outlets around the country. The title is typical anti-Life editorializing at its worst from the secular press. Zoll is no stranger to attacks on the Catholic Church. She is a "religious writer" for AP who seems to think that it is her job to smear the Catholic Church at every opportunity. Is that what the mainstream press calls "religious" writing? Well, yes it is!

As far as the main part of the article that AP's Rachel Zoll published, it must have been the easiest Catholic smear story that she has ever written. All she had to do was to quote from Bishop Zurek's letter.

I have gone to the website of the Archdiocese of Amarillo and I have looked at some of the statements by the Bishop about abortion and he seems to be firmly pro-Life. Which makes it all the more disturbing that he took this path to publicly denounce Father Frank Pavone. He even requests that people stop donating to Priests for Life. And at the same time he offers nothing in the way of proof to substantiate his suspicions.

It appears that Bishop Zurek is a good pastor of his flock. And I pray for him. I pray for all the bishops. It certainly isn't an easy job. I'm praying for Father Frank Pavone too.

+ + +

UPDATE 4 (Sep 13):

So far I haven't engaged in any speculation. I have been waiting to get all the facts. I don't think anything new is going to come out today, so I'll go ahead and give my impressions based on all the articles that I have read on this subject. And believe me I think I have read everything that has been said on this topic up until now.

The only thing that I can come up with that makes any sense to me is that some people in the Church are concerned that Father Frank is too closely involved in politics. It's no secret that he preaches that Catholics should not vote for pro-abortion politicians. That eliminates 99.9% of the Democrats out there. So that leaves the Catholics with the only alternative of voting Republican -- even though some Republican policies are not in keeping with Catholic teaching. I'm sure there are quite a few people that are not happy with that idea.

And it is even possible that the Church is being threatened with attempts to strip it of its tax exempt status because of perceived political involvement. Father Frank is no stranger to such controversies. He commented on this subject in one of his recent homilies on EWTN.

As I mentioned, I happened to have watched all of Father Frank's homilies over the past week or so on EWTN. He never gave any clue of the pressure that he was under. Even in today's homily. But thinking back over some things he said, there may have been a hint here or there about this controversy.

Well, all I can say that if this is just a misguided case of the Church persecuting one of its more faithful members then Father Frank is certainly in good company. Think of St. Francis or St. Teresa of Avila. Today's saint, St. John Chrysostom, was exiled from Constantinople.

Our main concern at this time should be for the unborn and their protection. Please offer them your prayers. We all know women who have undergone abortions. We need to pray for them also.

It's a sad time, but hopefully some good will come of all this. We need to trust in God's plan and put all of our faith in Him.

+ + +

UPDATE 5 (Sep 14):

I have some startling new news. It comes from the article by Susan Brinkmann on the Women of Grace website. There were some quotes in that article from Father Frank Pavone that I had not come across and which are very important. I was very surprised by this since I had read the official statements from Father Frank. It turns out there is a letter which he sent out on September 12 which is apparently addressed to all the US bishops. This would be in response to Bishop Zurek who you remember started this controversy by addressing a letter to all the US bishops informing them that he was limiting Father Frank's activities to his diocese of Amarillo.

I found the full letter in PDF format at LifeNews.com. Here are some excerpts:

I would respectfully make the observation that the reason I excardinated from the Archdiocese of New York in the first place was precisely because the previous Bishop of Amarillo was committed to allowing me to exercise full-time ministry within the pro-life movement, and, in fact, to form a community to allow others to live that same commitment. If it were not for his willingness to allow me to do full-time work in the pro-life movement, I would not have incardinated into the Diocese of Amarillo in the first place. Nor did the process of incardination in any way include a period of preparation for such ministry to the people of Amarillo or a time to get to know the presbyterate. It was done hastily, and only for one reason: so that I could be incardinated into the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, from which position I could do full-time pro-life work permanently.
[...]
The Bishop's letter references my relationship with previous Ordinaries as evidence of my inclination towards "disobedience." In the spirit of total transparency, I would like to acknowledge that any differences with previous Ordinaries had to do with precisely this point-- my desire to work full-time in pro-life ministry. I want to make this point quite strenuously: I was not disobedient to any of my previous Ordinaries. It is true that when I was a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, I exercised my rights under canon law to seek to leave that Archdiocese and incardinate in a place where I would be allowed to devote all my energies and gifts to the pro-life cause. But while doing that, I was given a parish assignment and I both accepted it and carried it out. I acted at all times in full obedience to my Ordinary.
[...]
It is my sincere and profound hope that, in dutifully reporting to Amarillo on September 13, despite the suspension of the penalty contained in the Bishop's penal decree, we can resolve this matter through mutual dialogue and that it will not become necessary for me to initiate a hierarchical recourse before the Congregation for the Clergy.
[...]
Moreover, it is impossible for me to believe that there would be no place in the Church for priests to exercise full-time ministry in the service of the unborn. We do it for the sick, the poor, the hungry, and the imprisoned. But where in the Church is the place where a priest can exercise the same kind of full-time ministry for the children in the womb?

I have more startling news coming up in my next update which I will be posting very soon.

+ + +

UPDATE 6 (Sep 14):

Bishop Zurek and the Diocese of Amarillo have now changed their story on why Father Frank Pavone has been suspended from his work for Priests for Life. After publicly smearing Father Frank and Priests for Life to the delight of the pro-abortion forces, the bishop now says -- through his spokesman, Msgr. Harold Waldow -- that he "only suspended Father Pavone's ministry outside of the diocese because the well-known pro-life priest is needed for work in Amarillo."

This comes from a story published on CNS (Catholic News Service) which is the official news service of the US bishops. Um, then why did the same CNS journalist, Dennis Sadowski, previously report that Father Frank was"suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about his operation of Priests for Life"???

In the new article titled "Priests for Life head is needed for work in Texas, Bishop Zurek says" we also learn that Bishop Zurek will be out of town for two weeks and that he has not scheduled a meeting with Father Frank Pavone.

Is this anyway for a bishop to treat a priest under his care? I've been pretty patient and tried not to be too harsh on Bishop Zurek, but my patience is running thin.

MINI-UPDATE: I forgot to mention that in this same CNS article it says that Father Pavone "has already explored the possibility of being incardinated in another diocese so he could resume full-time ministry with Priests for Life as soon as possible." Father Frank has had to face this same challenge before. He was supported in the Archdiocese of New York by Archbishop O'Connor, but his successor Archbishop Egan apparently didn't approve of one of his priests devoting himself full-time to pro-Life work. In my opinion, this makes a sad statement about our Catholic Church and its bishops. Wouldn't it be nice if Archbishop Dolan of New York were to suddenly stand up and say to Priests for Life that they are fully welcome to stay in New York under his care and protection. Sorry, I seemed to have dozed off and had a wonderful dream. And how much more difficult will it be for Father Frank to find another US bishop to support him now that Bishop Zurek and CNS have publicly denounced his work?

+ + +

UPDATE 7 (Sep 14):

I think this letter from Bishop Zurek on January 24, 2011 to the US bishops is explosive proof of his fundamental ideological opposition to the mission of Priests for Life. If the things he states in this letter are true than Priest for Life should never have been allowed to come into existence. So how is it that this organization with "no written decree from any competent ecclesiastical authority anywhere" has 21 bishops and cardinals on its Advisory Board?

(You can click on the images to enlarge them.)

It is my hope that this letter makes clear the official status of these organizations in the event that they attempt to present themselves with simulated officially recognized ecclesial status in order to solicit funds or to seek permission to perform any work related to the respect life movement. Finally, I want to confirm that Father Frank Pavone is a priest incardinated into the Dioceses of Amarillo, and that at the present, he has my permission to be on special assignment outside the dioceses for the time being.

His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna
His Eminence Renato Cardinal Martino, President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh
Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, Bishop of Covington
Most Reverend Roger W. Gries, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland
Most Reverend Sam G. Jacobs, Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Most Reverend Peter Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester
Most Reverend Ralph Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City
Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe, Bishop of Las Vegas
Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of Colorado Springs
Most Rev. Clarence Silva, Bishop of Honolulu
Most Rev. Richard F. Stika, Bishop of Knoxville
Most Reverend Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls
Most Reverend James Wall, Bishop of Gallup
Most Reverend John Quinn Weitzel, M.M., Bishop of Samoa-Pago Pago
Most Reverend Martin Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Most Reverend Dominic M. Luong, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange
Most Reverend Victor B. Galeone, Bishop Emeritus of St Augustine

+ + +

UPDATE 8 (Sep 14):

This is my last update on this page. Any new information will go into a new article. You can subscribe to updates to the Public Vigil blog through email or twitter. Some final thoughts...

The latest information is that LifeSiteNews has set up an update page which is the best place to find new information on this ongoing story. Sadly, I don't see how this can be resolved in a short period of time. And the repercussions will be with us for many years to come. The LSN page has reactions from many in the pro-Life community. They all seem to agree that Father Pavone is totally dedicated to his pro-Life work.

I noticed that LSN even has the link to the January 24, 2011 letter which I included in UPDATE 7. I think this may stimulate some new debate on this subject once more people become aware of it. I'll probably repost that letter in a new article to give it more prominence. Many people won't want to dig through such a long article to get at that information.

It seems that many in the Catholic blogosphere are prudently waiting to chime in on the controversy. I took a risk and jumped right in. If I turn out to be wrong in placing my confidence in Father Frank then I will be the first to admit it.

But it seems to me that Bishop Zurek's accusations amount to a "thought crime". He seems to be saying something like, "what if something goes wrong and I was silent". The real issue seems to be Father Frank's independence from Bishop Zurek.

Well what if St. Peter had required St. Paul to check back with him every time before he visited another city? Or if St. Francis had not followed the Holy Spirit calling him to rebuild the Church?

If the bishops were out there leading on the pro-Life issues by example or by funding lay efforts, then maybe Father Frank's ministry wouldn't be needed. But we have to realize what we are up against. I was searching through the Ford Foundation website the other day and they provide millions of dollars a year worldwide to pro-abortion groups. And, by the way, they also provide money to specifically anti-Catholic groups like Catholics for Choice. And, by the way, they also provide money to the US bishops for immigration work. Yes, I do think there is a problem there.

I'm not some fanatical cheerleader for Priests for Life. If they mess up, I'll be on their case. But so far I haven't seen any evidence of that. What I have seen is evidence of tremendous fruits in the pro-Life battle.

And what about EWTN? It's well known that Mother Angelica had to fight with the bishops to establish this powerful ministry. I'm sure there are some among the bishops that don't care for the message that they propagate. Not because it is anti-Catholic, but because it is faithful to the actual teachings of the Catholic Church.

Let me just say that I have issues with celebrity priests. I've written critical articles about Father Barron and his upcoming "Catholicism" program that will appear on PBS. And you have Father Mitch Pacwa on EWTN who I admire and respect, but I wish would stop referring to Blessed Pope John Paul II as "John Paul the Great". If the Vatican wants to give him that title then fine, but we should show a little more humility and respect for the current Pontiff. (Actually, I think Father Mitch isn't doing that as much since the Pope was beatified.)

Pope Benedict XVI has talked about the new "digital continent" which he calls to be evangelized. Well isn't that what Priests for Life is doing? Community organizer Saul Alinsky knew that you needed to have an issue to organize people around. Folks, that issue for Christians today is abortion. Once you appreciate the evil that lies at the core of the abortion issue then that changes hearts and minds. And it brings them to Christ.

Mother Mary is calling us to be pro-Life. Could it be any more clear? From Our Lady of Guadalupe to Our Lady of Fatima, the message of life is always the same. As Father Frank says, "we are a people of Life."

+ + +

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Bloomberg's choice

2011-09-11T19:50:00.003-04:00

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city."
– Acts 18:9-10

By now everyone has heard that Mayor Bloomberg of New York excluded any priests, pastors, rabbis or imams from the official tenth anniversary of 9/11. In fact no prayer was allowed.

The godless Mayor Bloomberg was highly criticized for his decision by many Christians. I won't go into Bloomberg's lame reasons for this decision because they are, well, lame. Among the many excuses he offered was one that somehow a moment of silence could substitute for public prayer.

And as expected the secularist in chief, Barack Obama, had no comment -- signifying that he was in utter agreement with the plan to ban God from being visibly present. Yes, this is one more reason why I blame Obama for the blatant attacks on Christianity in the media and from corporations. One call from the White House is all it would have taken to straighten out Bloomberg; one comment in a press conference. But the bully pulpit is occupied by an agent of the humanists.

This sets a new precedent for America. Never before has there been an important national event in the history of this country where Christians were excluded from leading people in prayer. Never before!

What is next? I shudder to think.

So what is New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan's reaction to all this? The Washington Post reports that Archbishop Dolan said that he agrees with the decision.

Meanwhile, the New York Times piece on this subject was written by their top anti-religion propagandist, Laurie Goodstein. It's titled "Omitting Clergy at 9/11 Ceremony Prompts Protest".

Can you appreciate the subtlety of Goodstein's title? It's the clergy that are protesting, as if this was some sort of unreasonable demand by a bunch of outsiders.

In an apparent attempt to dampen the "protests", Obama read Psalm 46 when it was his turn to speak at the New York 9/11 commemoration.

+ + +

UPDATE (Sep 12):

I just discovered that Mayor Bloomberg attended a Memorial Service for the 343 firefighters that lost their lives on 9/11. The service was held on Saturday, September 10, at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Not only was Bloomberg present, but he also spoke from the podium. (Presumably not the pulpit.) Archbishop Dolan was also present, although the local CBS news report doesn't even make any mention of it while featuring a quote from Bloomberg.

There is a video of the event from NY1 which is well worth watching. It shows two of the children of the fallen NYFD giving touching tributes to their fathers. It also shows Mayor Bloomberg speaking and a Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead. Archbishop Dolan does not appear in the video.

My question is, why is Mayor Bloomberg welcome into the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of New York? He was instrumental in passing the "homosexual marriage" bill in New York State and refused to welcome religious leaders to the official 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero. No one has done more to undermine the Catholic Church and the Christian religion in New York City.

Bishop DiMarzio of Brooklyn placed a ban on all politicians participating at any celebrations on Church property after the "homosexual marriage" defeat. Bloomberg made a media spectacle of the first day in which "homosexual marriage" was legal in New York. He personally presided over a "marriage" ceremony that day. He ordered city offices to be open on a Sunday in order to accommodate this triumphant celebration.

St. Patrick's Cathedral is a House of God. Michael Bloomberg by his very presence desecrates that temple. This is my opinion which is obviously not shared by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

Forgive them

2011-09-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
– Luke 23:34

I listened today September 11, 2011 to the homily of Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life on EWTN. And he made a very profound point. He said that many people asked "Where was God?" on that day of destruction and death. And he said that Christ was in the burning tower with the people dying there.

He went on to compare the suffering of those burned to death with that of Christ on the Cross. And I imagined that the burning tower contained within it the Crucifix of Christ as Manhattan became Golgotha.

If September 11, 2001 was the day of the Crucifixion, then we are still waiting for the Resurrection.

Since that day we have behaved like the criminal hanging on the cross beside Jesus who mockingly said, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

And we do not hear the voice of the other criminal who rebuked him saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

He then asked Jesus for forgiveness saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Then Jesus forgave him of all his sins and said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

After that Luke tells us that "there was darkness over the whole land" from the sixth to the ninth hour. It seems to me that we are still living in that time of darkness; Christ is still suffering on the Cross.

It's time to forgive and to stop hating. It is time to pray for our enemies, "for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds."

Before this time of darkness ends we must stop mocking Christ as he hangs from the Cross. Instead, we must repent and ask for forgiveness. Only then will Christ's mission on earth be accomplished so that he can cry out in a loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" and give up his last breath.

And then Joseph of Arimethea, "a good and righteous man", can finally take down the body of Christ from the Cross and lay it in the tomb.

All these things must happen before the vigil can begin which will lead to the ultimate triumph and Resurrection of Christ.

+ + +

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

US Spends Billions on Population Control in the Philippines

2011-09-08T17:30:00.007-04:00

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
– Luke 1:14

She doesn't look like a eugenicist, but don't let looks fool you.

Kristie Anne Kenney was the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines from 2006 to 2009 (she's now the ambassador to Thailand). She's the author of this 2008 diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks reporting on US population control efforts in the Philippines.

There has been a vigorous public debate,
extensively covered by the news media, between
those who advocate the Catholic Church position
against all "artificial" family planning and
contraceptive methods and others who caution
that the Philippines' population growth is
outpacing the country's economic growth and its
ability to meet the food-supply needs of the
entire population. Landmark appropriations and
draft legislation reflect increasing commitment
within the Philippine Government to further
expand and sustain programs started forty years
ago with U.S. Government's assistance through
USAID. The U.S. Government continues to be the
largest donor in the Philippine population
sector supporting efforts to improve local
government service delivery and increase
private sector contributions to family health
outcomes.

She's the first female U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. And yet the U.S. policy of population control as outlined by Henry Kissinger in 1974 in the infamous NSSM-200 document remains the same:

30. The World Population Plan of Action is not self-enforcing and will require vigorous efforts by interested countries, U.N. agencies and other international bodies to make it effective. U.S. leadership is essential. The strategy must include the following elements and actions:
(a) Concentration on key countries. Assistance for population moderation should give primary emphasis to the largest and fastest growing developing countries where there is special U.S. political and strategic interest. Those countries are: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia and Colombia.
[...]
(c) Increased assistance for family planning services, information and technology. This is a vital aspect of any world population program. (1) Family planning information and materials based on present technology should be made fully available as rapidly as possible to the 85% of the populations in key LDCs not now reached, essentially rural poor who have the highest fertility.

Anyone who thought that these eugenics programs would end because we now have an African-American President or because we have a female Secretary of State or because there is a female Ambassador to "key countries" like the Philippines or Thailand needs to re-examine their assumptions. And by the way, Ambassador Kristie Kenney was raised Catholic.

You can learn more about the battle in Catholic Philippines against population control at these links:

In addition to the population control agenda we have learned from recent Wikileaks documents that the U.S. State Department has been active in spreading the homosexual agenda across the globe:

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Related articles:

Ramona Trevino, former Planned Parenthood manager

2011-09-05T13:33:00.002-04:00

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights.
– Matthew 4:1-2

Here is another wonderful story of redemption as a result of 40 Days for Life.

When Ramona Trevino was 11 years old, she felt God was calling her to serve Him in a special way – so much so that she told her mother she wanted to become a nun one day.

But less than 20 years later, Ramona found herself managing perhaps one of the least convent-like places you could think of – a Planned Parenthood clinic....

You can read the full story of Ramona's conversion at LifeSiteNews -- "A former Planned Parenthood manager in her own words: Ramona Trevino speaks out".

In this video Ramona tells us how important our prayers are to changing the hearts of those who have fallen victim to the culture of death.

And finally, a reminder that the next prayer campaign for 40 Days for Life begins on September 28. So now would be a good time to start planning. You can go to their website to sign up and get more information:
http://40daysforlife.com/

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

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Related articles:

A case of Joni Mitchell

2011-09-01T18:03:00.006-04:00

Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me;
for I am lonely and afflicted.
– Psalm 25:16

In a 1994 interview Joni Mitchell says:

"I've never been a feminist, because I believe in male-female relationships without apartheid. And I've never been a nihilist, because I continue to feel the heart is the healer."

She is the quintessential flower child of the 1960s. She still doesn't seem to understand the Pandora's box that was opened by the "sexual revolution".

She doesn't want to face the fact that she was used to drive forward the feminist, hedonist, nihilist culture that engulfs young people today. Like all of us, she is in need of repentance.

And she deserves our forgiveness for believing that this cultural revolution could be suspended at one innocent moment in time -- as if a delicate balance between God's commandments and the devil's temptations were possible.

This much I know. God will forgive her if she will set aside her foolish pride and go to confession. And deep down I'm sure Joni already knows that.

In the song "A case of you" Joni says:

I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

Here we see her Christian roots, her fear of damnation and her struggle to "liberate" herself from those fears. It is the story of a generation, intoxicated by an excess of freedom.

This song seems to be about a lost lover, but I choose to interpret it as Joni's struggle with Christ. There are obvious allusions to Jesus in her lyrics:

Oh you're in my blood like holy wine

I don't know if Joni was raised Catholic. Her father was of Norwegian ancestry which would definitely tie her to the Protestant faith, but her mother was part Scottish and part Irish. So I don't know if her mother may have been brought up as a Catholic.

But how else could you interpret this line about "holy wine" except by the Catholic belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Christ enters into our bodies through the bread and wine of Holy Communion. He is in our blood.

The next line:

You taste so bitter and so sweet

seems to be drawn directly from the book of Revelation.

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, "Take it and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth." And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. (Rev 10:9-10)

I never thought before about this passage referring to the Eucharist. But the words of the angel, "Take it and eat it" are similar to the words of the Catholic Mass:

Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.

And then the angel says that it will taste sweet but be bitter in the stomach. Of course Joni could be thinking here of a "bitter sweet" love, but when taken together with the thought of Holy Wine it seems right to suppose she may have been alluding to the Holy Bread of life.

The most memorable lines for me from her song are these:

I remember that time you told me you said
"Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

The deeply religious quality of this song resounds in these lines. While Jesus never says, "love is touching souls", He does touch our souls when we believe in Him and have faith in His power to guide and direct us along our pilgrim journey to heaven. And He is the source of Living Water which "pours out of" those who have accepted His love.

In the beginning of the song we find Joni lost and dejected. I imagine her speaking to Jesus like a lover in the style of the Song of Songs but rather than embracing Him, she rejects Him.

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

Doesn't "I am as constant as a northern star" sound like something that Jesus would speak to us in our souls? He is our guiding light. And only a cynical soul would respond by saying, "Sure, constantly in the darkness." How many who have rejected Christ have ended up "in the bar" -- slaves to alcohol and addiction?

The song ends with Joni meeting a woman. Could this be Mary, the Mother of Christ?

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"

She looks like Him and knows His life. Who knew Christ better than His Mother Mary? And like Mary always does, she says "Go to him."

But be prepared to carry your Cross. "Be prepared to bleed." Be prepared to be a martyr if that is where your faith leads you.

By the grace of God Joni's song can become a catechism for the Catholic faith. Pray for Joni. Pray for all the lost souls who have wandered away from the flock and no longer hear the voice of their Lord calling.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

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Related articles:

God is Love - I use Joni's song "The Last Time I Saw Richard" from the album Blue to discuss love.
My old man - Joni's song "My old man" is also from her album Blue. I use it to discuss marriage.

(I'm slowly working on writing an article for each of the songs in Joni's Blue album.)

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Complete lyrics of "A Case of you"
© 1970 Joni Mitchell

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I'd be on my feet
oh I would still be on my feet

Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

I remember that time you told me you said
"Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
And I would still be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"

Oh but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet

Oh, I could drink a case of you darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion -- Mother Teresa

2011-08-30T23:07:00.004-04:00

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
– Matthew 25:35

LifeSiteNews (LSN) has been working hard for years to expose the anti-Life policies of the Canadian Catholic Church's "Development and Peace" organization. This is the official international aid agency of the Canadian bishops. The latest development is the good news that the Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario has decided to withhold all funds from the controversial group.

An example of the anti-Life work of "Development and Peace" is shown in the following video. LSN discovered that in 2009 they were funding a group called The Freedom From Debt Coalition (FDC) that was working in the Philippines to pass the "Reproductive Health" bill which is forcefully opposed by the Catholic Church in the Philippines because it promotes contraception and sterilization.

Here is the response of Mother Teresa to those who foolishly seek to achieve peace while promoting contraception and abortion:

Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.

Many people are very, very concerned with the children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about all the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today - abortion which brings people to such blindness.
– Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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The excerpt above is from a speech that Mother Teresa gave at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC on February 3, 1994. You can listen to it here:
Audio of Mother Teresa's speech
The text of the speech is also available at the Priests for Life website at:
Text of Mother Teresa's speech

Priest for Life is currently inviting everyone to join them in a novena for Blessed Mother Teresa in remembrance of her passing from this world into heavenly bliss on September 5, 1997.

A promise

2011-08-30T13:06:00.001-04:00

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
– Matthew 25:35

Why do some people accept the killing of unborn children? Is it because they can't cry out as their lives are being cut short? Would we tolerate the killing of a baby that was born less than perfect or who was "unwanted" for other reasons?

Let's promise as a society that we will never kill another child in the womb or call that baby "unwanted". It is a matter of equality for all persons. It is a matter of love for the Christ within each of us.

The child growing in the womb is a hungry and thirsty stranger. Will we welcome him or her with the love and compassion that Jesus asked of us?

Abortion is never a "choice" for a civilized society. Every child is innocent and we must sacrifice as a society to welcome that child into the world that God has given us.

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We must teach children the virtue of chastity if we really love them and want them to live full and happy lives and then go on to their reward in heaven. Chastity is one of the treasures of Christianity that we have to offer the modern world. This virtue that has been ridiculed and trampled upon by the secular culture, is one of the greatest ways to show our love for God.

Chastity is not simply abstaining. It is not motivated by fear of disease or pregnancy. It is motivated by love of God and of ourselves. It is not based on saying "no" to the choices that the secular culture offers, but on saying "yes" to the choices that a life centered on Christ offers.

Chastity is a "yes" to love, to marriage, to parenthood and to life. It is time to unbury this hidden treasure of Christianity and let its light shine throughout the world.

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The alternative is this house of horrors that former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson describes in her account of working there late at night alone.

I walked in and heard the heavy door slam behind me. It echoed as it closed. The clinic had high ceilings and every noise echoed like you were in a cave. It was silent…no creaks, no water dripping, nothing…totally silent. So silent in fact, I could almost hear something…and I’m telling you, it almost sounded like babies crying. I know that sounds crazy and I totally disregarded it at the time. I ran up to the front of the clinic, away from the freezer where the babies were kept until the medical waste came to pick them up. I didn’t want to be next to that freezer. Did I really hear that? Surely it was just my imagination.

This is the end result of the lie of "freedom" of "choice" that our society has bought into -- the haunting silent cries of the unborn.

Pray for the children who never felt the warmth of a mother's hug or a father's kiss.

Blessed Virgin Mary, out of love you said "yes" to God and life, pray for us.

Michele Bachmann has a message for America

2011-08-29T20:49:00.003-04:00

O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of men, rewarding every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings; who hast shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind.
– Jeremiah 32:18-20

Michele Bachmann is not afraid to talk about God. Even if it is in a half joking way about the earthquake and the hurricane being signs from God. You don't need a natural disaster or an act of God to tell you that American society is suffering from a man-made disaster created by the godless technocrats that have taken over our government.

(Sorry about the ad. Just mute your sound for 30 seconds.)

And the corporate world and the mass media have joined in on the God bashing. This rejection of God by society is something that the Popes have been warning us about for over a century. And now we are seeing the fruits of the rejection of God from our public lives. Abortion, "homosexual marriage", economic decline, divorce, fornication, addiction... The list goes on and on. If we were living in a society guided by Christian principles -- as America always was in the past -- we would not be seeing these types of problems.

God bless Michele Bachmann. Keep speaking out, Michele. America is listening and we are with you.

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Related articles:

Pray for marriage

2011-08-29T13:55:00.002-04:00

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force.
– Matthew 11:12

Mary - Jesus - St. John the Baptist

A month ago I highlighted an effort to introduce a National Day of Prayer for Marriage on August 29. Unfortunately, the effort did not receive very much popular support. I don't think we have to wait for this to become a huge event. The need is certainly clear for just this type of action.

So even if it is just a handful of us. Let's take the time to pray for the Holy Sacrament of Marriage. And in fact I would say that this should be a World Day of Prayer for Marriage. Because the scope of the problem the Church faces is international and indeed affects people of every nation in the world. Let this just be the beginning of our constant prayer vigil for marriage. The same way we would pray for any dear loved one that was faced with a life threatening illness, this is the way that we need to pray for marriage.

Pray for marriage.
Pray for the unborn.
Pray for young people.
Pray for those with same-sex attraction.
Pray for those addicted to pornography.
Pray for the children.
Pray for the Church.
Pray for the bishops.
Pray for the priests.
Pray for the nuns.
Pray for the lay people.
Pray for those using artificial birth control.
Pray for married couples.
Pray for those who are engaged in unmarried sex.
Pray for those trapped in a life of prostitution.
Pray for those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Pray for those seduced by the culture of death
Pray for those who are slaves of lust.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts with Christ's message of peace, hope and love.
Amen.

Today is the memorial day of the beheading of St. John the Baptist. He was put to death because he preached against King Herod's sexual immorality.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

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I highly recommend this article which addresses many of these issues:
The slavery of lust

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Related articles:

Struck down but not destroyed

2011-08-28T09:14:00.004-04:00

As hurricanes and earthquakes hit the east coast of the United States, we can take comfort in the message of the Gospel.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
– 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Here is a video to cheer you up.

And here is a passage from the Old Testament that speaks of earthquakes and fierce winds.

And a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
– 1 Kings 19:11-13

What does it mean that Elijah heard the voice of the Lord in a "still small voice"?

My own view is that these verses are a condemnation of those that constantly ask for visible signs of the Lord's presence. Jesus also spoke of this. Why do we ask for signs? Those who believe do not need signs, and those who don't will not believe the signs when they see them.

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.
– 2 Corinthians 4:4

"The god of this world" is satan. It was satan that tempted Jesus to produce a sign.

The "still small voice" is the voice of our Lord which is ever present to those who believe. We are surrounded with His angels -- His messengers. Our God is a living God "who has shone in our hearts".

For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.
– 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

We are the fallen children of Adam, and are born with original sin which is the darkness that St. Paul speaks of in this passage. But God says, "Let light shine out of darkness." Christ is that light which illuminates us from within.

We are "earthen vessels". We are not worthy of holding a precious treasure like the light of Christ and to gaze upon His face. But God in His Divine Mercy has granted us this gift through His Son.

This shows "the transcendent power" of God. None of the priests of "the god of this world" have the power to conjure up such a miracle. Do not put your faith in false idols like the science of man. This power "belongs to God and not to us."

We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
– 2 Corinthians 4:18

Brothers and sisters in Christ, listen for the unseen "still small voice" inside your heart. May the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you; may the Blessed Virgin Mary take you by the hand and lead you to Her Son.

God bless you and your family, and protect you from all evil.

All the Saints in Heaven, pray for us. All the souls in Purgatory, pray for us.

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NOTE: The video above was produced by the Animated Catholic. I discovered by going to the YouTube channel that he (or she) is from the Philippines. There is also a related blog. Here are the links:
The Animated Catholic YouTube Channel
The Animated Catholic Blog

Commitment

2011-08-26T22:24:00.000-04:00

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
– Romans 6:17-18

I know we're all looking for some positive signs that things are going to get better. World Youth Day was one and here is another.

You can read more here:
I Commit: Youth speak up for lifelong committed love in powerful new video

NOTE: Just one thing. I did a search in the Bible for the word "commit". Almost all of the things that came up were not good. But we know what they mean. :)

Why doesn't the MSM like us?

2011-08-26T18:33:00.003-04:00

Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans like a worldly man, ready to say Yes and No at once? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silva'nus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God.
– 2 Corinthians 1:17-20

Father Robert Barron has a commentary on the commentary by the mainstream media (MSM) of World Youth Day. So, I suggest that you watch it and then read my commentary on his commentary of the MSM's commentary.

[Please see my apology below for the uncharitable tone of this article. I didn't intend it to come out that way. I'm sorry Father Barron.]

After I finished watching this video, I just wasn't impressed. And it bothered me because I wanted to like it, but something about it just rubbed me the wrong way. Partly it was because I had just finished reading an article which Father Barron had written on the exact same subject and much of the article and his YouTube video were word-for-word identical.

"So what?" you say. Well, the style of the "Word on Fire" videos is that Fr. Barron is giving his off the cuff remarks. So obviously he is not. "Big deal" you say. And you're right it shouldn't be a big deal, it's just that the whole style has an air of phoniness. He wants to create the impression that he is engaged in an intimate conversation with us, the viewers. When really he is just talking to a camera on a stand while occasionally glancing off to the side to look at his notes on a laptop.

Maybe I'm too "sophisticated", but I can detect an acting job when I see it. And I don't like it. Especially an acting job that is intended to give the impression that the actor is not acting. This is the style of a Madison Avenue commercial. And I would expect a priest of the Church to reject this type of commercialism. It is as if we are watching a professional actor pretending to be a priest. And that bothers me. I want to see a real priest.

Compare that with Pope Benedict XVI addressing a live audience of over a million young people. He reads his text straight from a paper on his lap. He doesn't even use a teleprompter. He doesn't pretend that his speech is impromptu. He doesn't do anything artificial to create an air of intimacy. And yet there is an intimacy there despite all that. What he manages to convey is sincerity. But it's not through anything he intentionally does, but rather through his own persona. He just radiates sincerity. He truly looks happy and appreciative to be surrounded by young Catholics listening attentively to his every word. His style is that of an old professor. But the warmth he radiates is that of a grandfatherly figure.

No ad agency would ever come up with this concept. It shouldn't work. It's counter-cultural to the extreme. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, it does. And young people are buying what he is selling. Actually he isn't even selling it -- he's giving it away. It was already paid for two thousand years ago. Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The blood of the martyrs throughout the ages speaks to this.

Alright, but so far I have not addressed the content of Father Barron's talk. So let's go there. I bristled a little (a lot actually) when he described Archbishop Timothy Dolan as "delivering one-liners like David Letterman". Is that a good thing?

Here's the meat of my argument of why I'm not a fan of Father Barron's. And again, I want to be. He seems likable enough.

If we are going to confront the evils of the culture, we have to be willing to utterly reject what it is trying to sell us. You can't pretend to be "cool" as defined by the popular culture and be a faithful Catholic at the same time. You have to decide to be one or the other.

So for example, when Father Barron references David Letterman, does it suggest that he likes Letterman's late night comedy show? I think it does. Well, that's a problem. It's not that I'm trying to be puritanical about this, but any young person that is regularly watching Letterman just before going to sleep is not going to remain a faithful Catholic for long. Late night talk shows are absolutely notorious for anti-Catholic jokes. But even that isn't the problem.

What do these talk shows consist of? Well, they are nothing but one big long infomercial for the culture of death. Their "guests" are there for one reason only. It is to promote their latest movie or song or TV show. These are the same movies and songs and TV shows that promote the culture of death. I wish this wasn't true, but it clearly is.

The movies are filled with fornication, homosexuality, contraceptive sex, violence, drunkenness, drug use, etc. They are also full of negative images of Christianity.

So to pay a complement to an archbishop by saying he reminds you of an apostle of the anti-Church is sending a very confusing message to young people. "Big deal" you say. Yes, it is a "big deal". In the culture we live in which has become so saturated with anti-Christian messages we are forced to make a choice. It used to be, not that long ago, that you could get away with a sort of lukewarm Catholicism and not get totally lost along the way. But not anymore. We must decide who we are going to serve. Who is your master? You're either a slave of Christ or a slave of sin. That's the choice you have.

All that was just about one line in his talk. OK, so let me get to the end part of his talk where Father Barron speaks about the media. That's what I originally said I was going to be writing about. It may seem as if I have not addressed his criticism of the media, but actually I have.

So here is the problem. When Father Barron complains about the way that the mainstream news media like CNN and the BBC covered World Youth Day, he is absolutely right. But his message doesn't go far enough. (This is the criticism I issued previously about the Word On Fire ministry, which is that it is superficial when it comes to dealing with the secular culture.)

I mean, who doesn't realize that the media is anti-Catholic? They don't even try to hide it anymore. It's so blatant and out in the open. It's hardly subtle. It's as if Father Barron wants to give CNN and the BBC a break, but he's forced to engage in some reluctant criticism.

And that's the point. We have to be constantly vigilant. We have to be en garde and wary of the products of the secular culture. We need to be highly suspicious and approach every news report from a critical viewpoint. If we get lazy, then we will quickly get swept up in the culture again. And we will lose our faith.

I hope that Father Barron will learn to cast a critical eye on other news reports that don't specifically target the Catholic Church. For example, when news reports constantly focus on global warming and environmentalism, are they really promoting a "population control" agenda which seeks to promote contraception and abortion? We can't just ignore these things, because ultimately they are an attack on the Church.

One thing that I liked about the World Youth Day events that the Pope participated in, which I watched on television were that they did not make concessions to the secular culture in terms of music. There were no Christian rock bands. There was an orchestra and a choir. And the music they performed was based on classic themes from the history of the Church. We have a rich culture that stretches back thousands of years. We should be nourishing our young people with that -- instead of offering them the products of the fast-food culture which encourage immoral behavior.

I got the impression that the smaller events which were targeted at English speaking audiences were much more conciliatory to the popular culture. I know that the organizers want to appeal to the tastes of young people, but they should do so with caution.

So, I don't envy Father Barron. He has undertaken a tremendously difficult task, which is to reach out to the young people by engaging the secular culture. It is something that the Church needs to be doing, but we need to be careful not to compromise ourselves along the way. And that criticism is as much addressed to Archbishop Timothy Dolan as it is to Father Barron.

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UPDATE (Aug 26):

After posting this article I thought it seemed rather uncharitable and mean spirited. I hope that Father Barron will forgive me for getting carried away in my criticism. We all need to work together. As I said before, I'm praying for Father Barron. I didn't intend to say that he is in any way "phony" and I realized later that it came off that way. I know he is sincere and committed in his work as a priest of the Catholic Church. I hope he will accept my apology.

My comments are not just directed at him. I know that Pope Benedict XVI has warned against watering down the faith in order to achieve popularity in the new media. At times we may not want to offend people or challenge them to change their ways by giving up the things they love. But this is exactly what Jesus did. And people today have a lot more material and ideological things that they hold onto and which keep them from accepting Christ, taking up their cross and following Him. So the job of delivering this message doesn't get any easier. I especially pray for all of our bishops, who have the weighty burden of guiding our flocks. May the Holy Spirit guide them and may Mary the Queen of Heaven be a shining light for them to follow.

Very disturbing anti-Christian news

2011-08-25T19:35:00.000-04:00

"Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy."
– Revelation 22:11

There are some incredibly disturbing and mind boggling stories out today. I can't quite get my head around them enough to write a full article so I'll limit myself to making a few comments.

NYT's Bill Keller Questions Faith of G.O.P. Candidates, Compares Belief in God to Belief in Aliens
Keller, the outgoing executive editor for the Times, got off on the wrong foot by mockingly comparing the candidates’ Christian beliefs to belief in space aliens. Then he made the latest in his impressive string of column factual errors, identifying the Catholic politician Rick Santorum as an evangelical Christian.

Google Won't Give Churches Same Break It Gives Other Non-Profits
The new initiative united a robust set of Google's tools into one program, but it also came with new guidelines that excluded numerous entities, including schools, political thinktanks, churches, proselytizing groups, and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions.

The common theme here is the blatant anti-Christian nature of these two news stories. I can't believe that American society would tolerate this level of anti-Christian bigotry by two major US companies - the New York Times and Google.

I have criticized both of these companies in the past for having an anti-Christian bias, but these latest actions are far beyond anything that I could have imagined.

As I ponder in my mind what could be motivating such attacks on Christianity, the one thing that sticks out for me is the Obama presidency. As Michele Bachmann said, this is "the most radical" President we have ever had. He is the most anti-Christian and it creates an environment in which these type of actions become permissible. These companies know that they are not going to get a call from the White House saying that what they are doing is un-American.

Everything changed when Barack Obama stepped into the White House. Suddenly, "homosexual marriage" is considered acceptable. Even the legalization of pedophilia is being openly discussed:

‘Evil’: Attendees at prominent pro-pedophilia conference horrified by sessions
Also discussed were arguments that an adult’s desire to have sex with children is “normative” and that the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) ignores the fact that pedophiles “have feelings of love and romance for children” in the same way adult heterosexuals and homosexuals have romantic feelings for one another.

President Obama has destroyed the US economy, but what is even worse is the damage he has done to the moral infrastructure of our nation. Without an underlying moral foundation, American society will crumble. And I'm afraid we are already seeing that happen.

Honestly. I feel sick to my stomach right now.

Signs of the end times

2011-08-23T21:11:00.002-04:00

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
– Matthew 24:7-8

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.
– Revelation 11:19-12:2

OK. There is probably no truth to this at all. But it was reported on Fox News that the Washington Monument is tilting as a result of the 5.9 earthquake that hit the Washington area today. Here's video. (The comment occurs around 1:45):

Yes, there are earthquakes. Yes, there are wars -- especially in the Holy Land. Yes, there are famines. There is persecution of Christians. Additionally, there is tumult in the financial and political worlds.

Now, it is very extremely unlikely that these are signs of the end times. But you should always be ready, right? No one knows when this day will come. And even if we are given a sign by God, how would we know whether to trust it or not?

And on a personal level, anyone of us could die at any instant. We might be given a warning in the form of a terminal illness or we might be struck by a sudden accident. Either way, it is better to prepare our souls now. If we are not willing to allow Jesus into our hearts now, why would the threat of our own death change anything?

Sta. Terésa of Ávila in the "Way of Perfection" recommended reciting the Lord's prayer slowly and thoughtfully. Imagine at the moment of death as you are about to face God's judgement, how these words would take on new meaning if you have allowed Jesus into your heart.

Our Father, who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day
Our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from Evil
Amen.

And please remember to pray for your loved ones and all the lost souls as Our Lady of Fatima requested of us. It could be that your prayer may convert them at the last moment. It may provide that small spark of faith that they need to accept God's Divine Mercy, rather than being led into temptation and being delivered to the Evil One for an eternity of damnation.

From the third secret of Fatima

At the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: "Penance, Penance, Penance!"

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

WYD 2011: Six days of Truth and Love

2011-08-23T13:45:00.005-04:00

"Father, glorify thy name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine."
– John 12:28-30

I was thinking about World Youth Day and especially about the Vigil. That evening, shortly after sunset, a violent storm hit the event. The wind was howling and great sheets of rain fell upon the gathered pilgrims. There was lightning and thunder. And then -- just as suddenly as it arrived -- the rain stopped.

The storm came just as Our Holy Father was beginning to address the young people to answer their questions. Pope Benedict XVI remained seated during the whole endeavor. He could be seen beneath the umbrellas that his assistants held up to shelter him smiling; seeming to enjoy the moment. After the rain stopped and the winds grew calmer, the Pope greeted the crowd in various languages. He decided not to continue with the address he had planned for that evening.

Then El Papa was escorted off the stage. We did not know if he would return. But in a short while he came back onstage to lead the young people in Eucharistic Adoration.

Watching the crowd of a million and a half young pilgrims fall to their knees before the Real Presence of Our Lord was a moving sight. The same young boisterous crowd that just moments before had been dancing and chanting in the rain, now fell into silent adoration led by an eighty four year old white-haired Catholic priest.

Who would have dreamed that it would even be possible to organize such an event? Yes, it was Blessed Pope John Paul II, whose presence was mightily felt throughout the events of World Youth Day in 2011.

Seeing the rain coming down on the open field where the nearly two million young people were camped out for the night, people of my generation could not help but think of the half-million flower children that gathered at Woodstock in 1969, which was billed as "3 days of Peace and Music". There too the rain came and drenched the crowd.

But then I remembered a different gathering in Europe on the Iberian Peninsula that took place in 1917 which was overtaken by a sudden and unexpected rain storm. This was on October 13 when a crowd of 70,000 gathered to watch three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady kept her promise and they were greeted with the Miracle of the Sun.

Afterwards, the crowd at Fatima said that their clothes were miraculously dried. It seemed to me that something similar happened outside Madrid, Spain at Cuatro Vientos airfield. The Lord seemed to use the rain to baptize the young pilgrims and to cleanse them of all impurities before the moment of adoration.

It could have been a total disaster like we saw occur recently at a concert where several people died from their injuries when sudden winds toppled a stage in Indiana. But instead somehow the event at Cuatro Vientos was able to continue. How is it possible that the huge elaborate sound system and the giant video screens continued functioning after such a furious deluge?

The next morning the weather was perfect and Our Holy Father returned to celebrate Mass with the pilgrims who had gathered from all parts of the world. And across the planet they were joined by the faithful who watched via cable television and the internet.

In her song "Woodstock", Joni Mitchell says:

We are stardust
We are golden
Caught in the devil's bargain
And we've go to get ourselves
back to the garden.

World Youth Day is in one sense a Catholic response to Woodstock. It is the answer to the young people of the world who want to know: How do I get out of this "devil's bargain" and find my way "back to the garden"? The answer is the timeless message of the Gospel as pronounced by Pope Benedict XVI.

Jesus gives us an answer to this urgent question: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love” (Jn 15:9).

Yes, dear friends, God loves us. This is the great truth of our life; it is what makes everything else meaningful. We are not the product of blind chance or absurdity; instead our life originates as part of a loving plan of God. To abide in his love, then, means living a life rooted in faith, since faith is more than the mere acceptance of certain abstract truths: it is an intimate relationship with Christ, who enables us to open our hearts to this mystery of love and to live as men and women conscious of being loved by God.

If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true happiness and joy. Faith does not run counter to your highest ideals; on the contrary, it elevates and perfects those ideals. Dear young people, do not be satisfied with anything less than Truth and Love, do not be content with anything less than Christ.

The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life

2011-08-22T20:34:00.006-04:00

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
– John 10:10

Don't miss this documentary! See it on EWTN:
August 23 at 3:30 AM
August 25 at 1:30 PM
August 26 at 9:00 PM
(All times EST. The documentary is 28 minutes long.)
Learn more at www.hli.org/thephilippines.

“The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life” Documentary Debuts on EWTN This Week
(HLI - Human Life International)

As debate over the anti-life Reproductive Health (RH) Bill heats up in the Philippine legislature, a new documentary highlighting the fight for life in the Philippines is set to air on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

The short documentary film “The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life,” produced by Human Life International (HLI), underscores one of the most dramatic social and political struggles for life and family in the world. The film is already in heavy rotation on EWTN in the Philippines, and will debut in the United States and Canada on Tuesday, August 23.

This powerful pro-life documentary airs on EWTN in America and Canada on August 23 at 3:30 AM, then runs again on August 25 at 1:30 PM and August 26 at 9:00 PM. All times EST.

The program, shot in cinematic widescreen format, captures stunning scenes and heartfelt interviews with Filipino pro-lifers leading the charge against the RH Bill including Archbishop of Cebu Jose Palma, Philippine Congressman Dr. Anthony Golez, HLI Philippines Director Dr. Rene Bullecer and Dr. Ligaya Acosta, a former pro-abortion Philippine Department of Health manager who is now HLI’s Regional Director for Asia and Oceania.

“Right now, proponents of the anti-life RH Bill are still a few votes short of achieving their deadly goal,” said Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula, interim president of HLI. “Our wish is that this documentary will inspire not only Filipinos, but pro-lifers around the world, to stand with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines against the culture of death.”

“It is profoundly inspiring to hear everyday Filipinos, as well as leaders from the political realm and the Catholic Church talk about how they have fought off this intrusive, anti-life and anti-family bill in its different forms for twelve years,” said Stephen Phelan, executive producer of the documentary and director of communications for HLI.

“It is in some ways reminiscent of the struggle over health care in [the United States] – a detached political elite continues to force through a bill that the people have said time and again that they don’t want,” said Phelan. “The bill’s backers use deceptive language, they are funded by hundreds of millions of dollars from outside the Philippines, and they are attempting to attack and divide the Catholic Church.”

“Everyone must understand what is going on in the Philippines, and how we are all bound in the struggle for life and family,” Phelan added.

HLI is currently working with Filipino pro-life organizations such as CBCP for Life and Filipinos for Life to spread the word about opposition to the RH Bill, and to promote the new documentary.

HLI is also hosting a contest on Facebook where pro-lifers are invited to leave a brief prayer for the Philippines or a note of encouragement for a chance to win a free DVD copy of the documentary.

To learn more about the film and the situation in the Philippines, visit www.hli.org/thephilippines.

The Queenship of Mary

2011-08-22T15:55:00.007-04:00

And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
– Revelation 12:1

Today, August 22, used to be celebrated as the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This celebration was instituted when Pope Pius XII consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 31, 1942. This was done in response to the petition of Our Lady of Fatima. In 1969, the feast day was moved to the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. August 22 is now the day that the Catholic Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary.

The day of celebration of the Queenship of Mary was originally the 31st of May. This Marian feast was instituted on October 11, 1954 by Pope Pius XII in the encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam. His intent was that this would be a day when the Church would re-consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that "a new era may begin, joyous in Christian peace and in the triumph of religion." He was clearly concerned with the spread of "many great moral evils" and sought the intercession of Mother Mary to combat these threats.

One may presume that Pius XII had in mind the Cold War and the threat of the spread of communism. And while communism has mostly been defeated since that time, the spread of atheism continues under the guise of secularism. This is the new "moral evil" that young people of today face and which Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated his Pontificate to battle.

Here are some excerpts from Pope Pius XII's encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam (on proclaiming the Queenship Of Mary):

From the earliest ages of the catholic church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven.
[...]
Following upon the frightful calamities which before Our very eyes have reduced flourishing cities, towns, and villages to ruins, We see to Our sorrow that many great moral evils are being spread abroad in what may be described as a violent flood. Occasionally We behold justice giving way; and, on the one hand and the other, the victory of the powers of corruption. The threat of this fearful crisis fills Us with a great anguish, and so with confidence We have recourse to Mary Our Queen, making known to her those sentiments of filial reverence which are not Ours alone, but which belong to all those who glory in the name of Christian.
[...]
[St. Jerome] makes the following statement amidst various interpretations of Mary's name: "We should realize that Mary means Lady in the Syrian Language." After him St. Chrysologus says the same thing more explicitly in these words: "The Hebrew word 'Mary' means 'Domina.' The Angel therefore addresses her as 'Lady' to preclude all servile fear in the Lord's Mother, who was born and was called 'Lady' by the authority and command of her own Son."
[...]
St. Alphonsus Ligouri, in collecting the testimony of past ages, writes these words with evident devotion: "Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of 'Queen'."
[...]
Art which is based upon Christian principles and is animated by their spirit as something faithfully interpreting the sincere and freely expressed devotion of the faithful, has since the Council of Ephesus portrayed Mary as Queen and Empress seated upon a royal throne adorned with royal insignia, crowned with the royal diadem and surrounded by the host of angels and saints in heaven, and ruling not only over nature and its powers but also over the machinations of Satan.
[...]
In order to understand better this sublime dignity of the Mother of God over all creatures let us recall that the holy Mother of God was, at the very moment of her Immaculate Conception, so filled with grace as to surpass the grace of all the Saints. Wherefore, as Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pius IX wrote, God "showered her with heavenly gifts and graces from the treasury of His divinity so far beyond what He gave to all the angels and saints that she was ever free from the least stain of sin; she is so beautiful and perfect, and possesses such fullness of innocence and holiness, that under God a greater could not be dreamed, and only God can comprehend the marvel."
[...]
Let all Christians, therefore, glory in being subjects of the Virgin Mother of God, who, while wielding royal power, is on fire with a mother's love.
[...]
Since we are convinced, after long and serious reflection, that great good will accrue to the Church if this solidly established truth shines forth more clearly to all, like a luminous lamp raised aloft, by Our Apostolic authority We decree and establish the feast of Mary's Queenship, which is to be celebrated every year in the whole world on the 31st of May. We likewise ordain that on the same day the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary be renewed, cherishing the hope that through such consecration a new era may begin, joyous in Christian peace and in the triumph of religion.
[...]
[Let all] strive to free themselves from the slavery of sin and offer an unceasing homage, filled with filial loyalty, to their Queenly Mother. Let her churches be thronged by the faithful, her feast-days honored; may the beads of the Rosary be in the hands of all; may Christians gather, in small numbers and large, to sing her praises in churches, in homes, in hospitals, in prisons. May Mary's name be held in highest reverence, a name sweeter than honey and more precious than jewels; may none utter blasphemous words, the sign of a defiled soul, against that name graced with such dignity and revered for its motherly goodness; let no one be so bold as to speak a syllable which lacks the respect due to her name.
[...]
Thus will it come about that all Christians, in honoring and imitating their sublime Queen and Mother, will realize they are truly brothers, and with all envy and avarice thrust aside, will promote love among classes, respect the rights of the weak, cherish peace. No one should think himself a son of Mary, worthy of being received under her powerful protection, unless, like her, he is just, gentle and pure, and shows a sincere desire for true brotherhood, not harming or injuring but rather helping and comforting others.

In some countries of the world there are people who are unjustly persecuted for professing their Christian faith and who are deprived of their divine and human rights to freedom; up till now reasonable demands and repeated protests have availed nothing to remove these evils. May the powerful Queen of creation, whose radiant glance banishes storms and tempests and brings back cloudless skies, look upon these her innocent and tormented children with eyes of mercy; may the Virgin, who is able to subdue violence beneath her foot, grant to them that they may soon enjoy the rightful freedom to practice their religion openly, so that, while serving the cause of the Gospel, they may also contribute to the strength and progress of nations by their harmonious cooperation, by the practice of extraordinary virtues which are a glowing example in the midst of bitter trials.

It's a sign of the times that Marian feast days are mostly ignored here in the United States. When true Marian devotion takes hold in our country, then we will know that we have turned the ocean liner sized institution of the Church around and are headed back in the direction that God showed us when He sacrificed His only begotten Son for our sins.

The celebration of World Youth Day in Madrid is over. Now begins the challenge of nurturing the seeds that were planted there, so that many years from now we can see the abundant harvest.

+ + +

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Response: pray for us.

Heart of Mary,
Heart of Mary, like unto the Heart of God,
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus,
Heart of Mary, instrument of the Holy Spirit,
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity,
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnate,
Heart of Mary, immaculate from thy creation,
Heart of Mary, full of grace,
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts,
Heart of Mary, throne of glory,
Heart of Mary, most humble,
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love,
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified,
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted,
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners,
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing,
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart.
R. Make our hearts like unto the Heart of Jesus.

Let Us Pray:

O most merciful God, Who for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the miserable, was pleased that the Most Pure Heart of Mary should be most like in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Your Son, Jesus Christ, grant that we who commemorate this sweet and loving Heart may, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin, merit to be found like to the Heart of Jesus, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

+ + +

Related articles:
(I had no idea that I had written so many articles with a Marian theme.)

WYD Madrid 2011 closing Mass

2011-08-21T12:03:00.003-04:00

Over a million young people filled Cuatro Vientos to capacity and additional space had to be created for an overflow crowd of two hundred thousand pilgrims.

Pope Benedict XVI announced that the next World Youth Day will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013.

+++

UPDATE [Aug 21]:

For complete texts of all of Our Holy Father's talks during WYD 2011, you can go to this link on the Vatican website:
Apostolic Journey to Madrid (Spain) on the occasion of the 26th World Youth Day

I just wish I would have known about this particular website sooner. It can sometimes be baffling trying to find the full text of the Pope's speeches online. Most news articles only provide summaries.

To the Youth of the World, with Love

2011-08-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.
– Colossians 2:7

One year ago, in anticipation of World Youth Day, Our Holy Father sent this invitation to the young people of the world. I hope each participant in WYD 2011 in Madrid takes the time to read this very personal letter from Pope Benedict XVI. He is not a young man, but he has not forgotten what it means to be young and to strive to fulfill destiny's call.

This is a letter that deserves to be read and re-read in its fullness. I only present a few excerpts here. But I hope that this will inspire you to share a moment of reflection with Our Holy Father.

Now, at a time when Europe greatly needs to rediscover its Christian roots, our meeting will take place in Madrid with the theme: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). I encourage you to take part in this event, which is so important for the Church in Europe and for the universal Church. I would like all young people – those who share our faith in Jesus Christ, but also those who are wavering or uncertain, or who do not believe in him – to share this experience, which can prove decisive for their lives. It is an experience of the Lord Jesus, risen and alive, and of his love for each of us.
[...]
Part of being young is desiring something beyond everyday life and a secure job, a yearning for something really truly greater. Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. Nothing else will ever be enough. Saint Augustine was right when he said “our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you”. The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace. So we can see how absurd it is to think that we can truly live by removing God from the picture! God is the source of life.
[...]
In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by Saint Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength.
[...]
The first image is that of a tree which is firmly planted thanks to its roots, which keep it upright and give it nourishment. Without those roots, it would be blown away by the wind and would die. What are our roots? Naturally our parents, our families and the culture of our country are very important elements of our personal identity. But the Bible reveals a further element. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jer 17:7-8). For the prophet, to send out roots means to put one’s trust in God. From him we draw our life. Without him, we cannot truly live.
[...]
There is a moment, when we are young, when each of us wonders: what meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it? This is a very important moment, and it can worry us, perhaps for some time. We start wondering about the kind of work we should take up, the kind of relationships we should establish, the friendships we should cultivate... Here, once more, I think of my own youth. I was somehow aware quite early on that the Lord wanted me to be a priest. Then later, after the war, when I was in the seminary and at university on the way towards that goal, I had to recapture that certainty. I had to ask myself: is this really the path I was meant to take? Is this really God’s will for me? Will I be able to remain faithful to him and completely at his service? A decision like this demands a certain struggle. It cannot be otherwise. But then came the certainty: this is the right thing! Yes, the Lord wants me, and he will give me strength. If I listen to him and walk with him, I become truly myself.
[...]
Just as the roots of a tree keep it firmly planted in the soil, so the foundations of a house give it long-lasting stability.
[...]
Dear friends, build your own house on rock, just like the person who “dug deeply”. Try each day to follow Christ’s word. Listen to him as a true friend with whom you can share your path in life. With him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs. You are constantly being offered easier choices, but you yourselves know that these are ultimately deceptive and cannot bring you serenity and joy. Only the word of God can show us the authentic way, and only the faith we have received is the light which shines on our path. Gratefully accept this spiritual gift which you have received from your families; strive to respond responsibly to God’s call, and to grow in your faith. Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the Church, and thank the Lord that you have received it and have made it your own!
[...]
You are “planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). The Letter from which these words are taken was written by Saint Paul in order to respond to a specific need of the Christians in the city of Colossae. That community was threatened by the influence of certain cultural trends that were turning the faithful away from the Gospel. Our own cultural context, dear young people, is not unlike that of the ancient Colossians. Indeed, there is a strong current of secularist thought that aims to make God marginal in the lives of people and society by proposing and attempting to create a “paradise” without him. Yet experience tells us that a world without God becomes a “hell”: filled with selfishness, broken families, hatred between individuals and nations, and a great deficit of love, joy and hope. On the other hand, wherever individuals and nations accept God’s presence, worship him in truth and listen to his voice, then the civilization of love is being built, a civilization in which the dignity of all is respected, and communion increases, with all its benefits. Yet some Christians allow themselves to be seduced by secularism or attracted by religious currents that draw them away from faith in Jesus Christ. There are others who, while not yielding to these enticements, have simply allowed their faith to grow cold, with inevitable negative effects on their moral lives.
[...]
Dear friends, the Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of his love and the source from which eternal life flows. Indeed, it is from Jesus’ heart, pierced on the Cross, that this divine life streamed forth, ever accessible to those who raise their eyes towards the Crucified One. I can only urge you, then, to embrace the Cross of Jesus, the sign of God’s love, as the source of new life. Apart from Jesus Christ risen from the dead, there can be no salvation! He alone can free the world from evil and bring about the growth of the Kingdom of justice, peace and love to which we all aspire.
[...]
Dear young people, the Church depends on you! She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church. That is why World Youth Days are a grace, not only for you, but for the entire People of God.

Gloria al Padre - World Youth Day

2011-08-20T19:34:00.002-04:00

Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.
– Colossians 2:7

Slideshow from World Youth Day in Madrid 2011. Original music by Michael of PublicVigil.

Gloria al Padre
© PublicVigil 2011

Gloria al Padre
Gloria al Hijo
Gloria al Espíritu Santo
Como era en el principio
Ahora y siempre
Por los siglos de los siglos
Amén

USA Today's Cathy Grossman blasts World Youth Day

2011-08-20T18:13:00.002-04:00

Protestors at World Youth Day

Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today who masquerades as a "religion" reporter once again demonstrates how much she loathes the Catholic Church. I would expect a "religion" reporter to show some interest in World Youth Day with regards to the fact that over a million young people have come from every nation to demonstrate the importance of the Catholic faith in their lives.

Instead Grossman has published two articles [here and here] which are blatantly anti-Catholic.

There is nothing religious about her "Faith & Reason" column. It is all "reason" and no "faith". She is a secular humanist whose sole purpose in life seems to be to destroy Christian religion in the United States.

Check out NewsBusters articles on Cathy Lynn Grossman's dubious reporting on matters of religion:
http://newsbusters.org/people/cathy-lynn-grossman

Which just goes to prove that secularism is really a religion for all practical purposes. And when the government pushes secularism on the rest of us through the schools and courts, it is a violation of the Constitutional separation between Church and State. Just because secularists don't have churches doesn't make them any less of a religious group. They have their set of beliefs which they are entitled to hold in accordance with the First Amendment, but they shouldn't be allowed to force their secular belief system on the rest of us.

And this in a nutshell is exactly what is happening. Christians need to recognize this and force the courts to stop the pretense that Christians can't impose our beliefs because they are based on religion, but its OK for secularists to impose their beliefs because somehow they are "non-religious". Sorry, but beliefs are beliefs. If you say you don't believe in God, that is a belief. If you say you believe that homosexuals should be allowed to marry, that is a belief.

It's absurd to say that as long as a belief is the antithesis of the Christian beliefs of a majority of Americans then it should have some special protected status. And holding up junk science -- like some opinions of psychiatrists -- does not make secularism any less a matter of a belief system. This is just Marxism and socialism which has been repackaged and is being forced upon Christian Americans -- like it or not.

I pray for the day when Christians wake up and begin to confront this assault on our religion. I just hope it comes sooner rather than later.

World Youth Day Screenshots

2011-08-20T17:16:00.001-04:00