Wednesday, February 28, 2007

"Titanic" Hoax

Most of you have already heard about this supposed finding of Jesus' tomb and that of his family. Mary Magdalene's tomb also buried along with their child.


At first, to tell you the truth I didn't pay that much attention to this "Titanic" hoax finding of the director of the movie with the same title, James Cameron. Much has already been said about this over at Evangelical Catholic as well as Steve Ray's Blog and I'm sure a lot more will be said once it airs on the Discovery Channel on Sunday night.


But I began to think about it in another way as I started to prepare for a mini-retreat for the parish ministers at my church (I've been involved with the Men's Fellowship group). Our pastor gave a brief homily on Sunday evening (5:00pm youth mass) about the Gospel reading for Sunday. You probably remember it was about the temptations of Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13).


Father introduced a book titled "In the Name of Jesus" by Henri J. M. Nouwen. The book is a little over 100 pages with some reflection questions at the end. A short book packed with some very good insights.



The book is based on a talk given by Fr. Nouwen on this same reading from the Gospel of Luke. The theme of the talk being a "Minister of the 21st century".



The book brings to light the 3 temptations of Jesus and interprets them in today's obstacles: 1) The temptation: To be Relevant, 2) The temptation: To Be Spectacular, 3) The temptation: To Be Powerful.


In comparison to Jesus' temptations, 1) "Turn these stones to bread". Satan's temptation to Jesus to show his relevance. 2) "Throw yourself off the parapet...". Satan's temptation to Jesus to do something spectacular. 3) "I'll give you the keys to these kingdoms if you worship me...". Satan's temptation to Jesus to be powerful.


These same temptations circle us today, everyday.

A change to be relevant. I am important at my job, church, among friends.


A chance to do something spectacular. I saved the day with some decision I made and now I'm the hero. I discovered something that will change the world.


A change to be powerful. I am the most important person in the world...or at least my world.


Without judging James Cameron or the Oscar crowd of Hollywood, because I can't read their hearts (only God can); from their actions it sure seems they could read this little book and learn something from it.


I know I certainly can and I hope you too get a chance to read it.

Friday, February 23, 2007

"Decontaminate" Ones Soul...

This by Pope Benedict at his Ash Wednesday evening service.

...the pentitential practices of Lent are designed "to satisfy God alone." Repeating a theme that he had introduced during his regular weekly audience earlier in the day, the Pope said that the traditional disciplines of Lent-- fasting, prayer, and almsgiving-- should be undertaken not as a means of self-fulfillment but as an effort to "decontaminate" the soul, eliminating the lingering effects of personal sin. (cwn)

Fishless Friday's


Okay, we are officially in the Lenten Season. The sale numbers will definitely be up at the local "H. Salt Fish & Chips" food chain. I meet many a fellow parishioner there.

$1.00 Fillet-O Fish is an alternative from H. Salt, but now enter the "Fish Snacker Sandwich" the latest entry from KFC. I saw this advertised on TV last night. Don't know what the price is but it look yummy. Probably not good for my waist line though.


American Papist does a nice job of covering this as does Catholic Online .

Tonight, I plan on supporting our parish Fish-Fry Fridays. Followed by Stations of the Cross.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

New Feature - Divine Office

As you can see I've added a new feature to this site.

I've added a banner which links to the Divine Office Online. The Divine Office , also known as the Breviary, is the second most holy prayer of the church, the first being the Holy Mass. All the clergy are required to recite this on a daily basis, however the laity can also join in, although it's not mandatory for us.

I've been reciting the Office on-and-off for awhile now. Usually the Office of Readings, the Morning Prayers and either the Evening or Night prayers.

This practice goes back to St Benedict (The Rule of St. Benedict) concerning the monastic life and order of the times for prayer and the recitation of Psalms by the monks and priest. This lead to the lay peasants of the time to request a prayer like the Office for their own. Because of their illiteracy this was not possible or at least not practical for the time, so the string of beads called the Pater Noster was started, later to become today's Rosary!

Cool huh.

Anyways, I thought this Office would be a great practice to start during this year's Lenten Season and hopefully continuous after.

So just click the Banner and it will take you to that days Office.

Enjoy

WCC +<><

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, as most Catholics know. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation however, this day begins the Lenten Season on our church calendar and all are encouraged to participate in today's liturgy.

....which of coarse includes the application of ashes on ones forehead. On one Ash Wednesday, I attended Mass at lunch time and recieved my ashes then. Going back to work I got some of the most curious stares. The priest was rather generous with the ashes on my forehead

This is the one time of the year a Catholic can not remain in cognito. It can be a humbuling experience. It is a time of penence, of self reflection.

Today's first reading calls for us to "return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning, rend your hearts, not your garmentsa nd return to the Lord your God." (Jl 2:12-18)

And this from this Morning's Readings (Divine Office)


Psalm 50 (51)
God, have mercy on me


Take pity on me, Lord, in your mercy; in your abundance of mercy wipe out my guilt.Wash me ever more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.For I know how guilty I am: my sin is always before me.Against you, you alone have I sinned, and I have done evil in your sight.Know this, so that you may give just sentence and an unbiased judgement.See, I was conceived in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me;but you love truth in the heart, and deep within me you have shown me your wisdom.You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be made clean; you will wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.You will make me hear the sound of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.Turn your face away from my sins and wipe out all my transgressions;create a pure heart in me, God, put a steadfast spirit into me.Do not send me away from your presence, or withdraw your holy spirit from me;give me again the joy of your salvation, and be ready to strengthen me with your spirit.I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will return to you.Free me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, God my saviour, and my voice will glory in your justice.Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will proclaim your praise;for you do not delight in sacrifices: if I offered you a burnt offering, it would not please you.The true sacrifice is a broken spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not refuse.Be pleased, Lord, to look kindly on Sion, so that the walls of Jerusalem can be rebuilt,Then indeed you will accept the proper sacrifices, gifts and burnt offerings; then indeed will bullocks be laid upon your altar.Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Have a Holy Ash Wednesday.

wcc +<><

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

If I die before you wake...




This is a must to see...




The video says it all...




22 week Old Baby

This picture really blew my mind... in terms of life in the womb. As a guy I don't ever think I will totally understand the connection of a mother and her child in the womb.

As a father I have that closeness with my children and that thought alone leaves me awestruck. There is never a day that goes by when I don't' say to myself.

"Wow, these are my children." They are a part of me and each one of my children is here because of that love between by wife and I and God's infinite love in creation.

But having a child inside of oneself as a mother has with her child is something so special.

I just had to stare at this little life (in this picture) for awhile. I have a billion thoughts just racing through my mind.

Read the story and just take the time to think about this little life for a moment.

What are your thoughts?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Another eye Chart?

Okey here's another one of those eye charts.
See If you can read it.

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae an itnerseting mnid too!
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

How about a prayer?

Our Fthaer,
Who art in hveaen
Hoalwled be thy name
Thy Kiogdnm cmoe
Thy will be dnoe on erath as it is in hveaen
Gvie us this day our daliy braed
And frogvie us our traespsses
As we frgoive tohose who traespasses aganist us
And laed us not into tmeptioatn but dleiver us form eivl
Aemn

Ash Wednesday - Next Week

Can you believe that Ash Wednesday is already next week? Easter comes early this year and preceding it is the penance time of Lent.


I thought I'd do a small presentation at our Men's Group on Saturday morning, to remind our group of the Lenten Season and how beneficial it can be to understand where this church tradition came from and what we're suppose to do during this time in the church calendar.


Below are a few links that you can brush up on before Quinquagesima Sunday.


Yeah, I know what the heck is Quinquagesima Sunday? Well read this: Quinquagesima Sunday
So let's do a little study to help us prepare for the Lenten Season:


Here's an article by James Akin of Catholic Answers "The Day of Ashes"
This website has some good material: Lent - Call to Conversion
What's the Catechism of the Catholic Church have to say?
CCC: 540
Jesus' temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him.244 This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning."245 By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
CCC:1094, 1095
It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built,15 and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called "typological" because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the "figures" (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled.16 Thus the flood and Noah's ark prefigured salvation by Baptism,17 as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, "the true bread from heaven."
For this reason the Church, especially during Advent and Lent and above all at the Easter Vigil, re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history in the "today" of her liturgy. But this also demands that catechesis help the faithful to open themselves to this spiritual understanding of the economy of salvation as the Church's liturgy reveals it and enables us to live it.
CCC:1438
The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice.36 These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).



Thursday, February 15, 2007

New York City: 'Free' Condoms for Valentine's Day

You know, just when I was having that, "Everything is fine in the world" type of feeling, I read this.

Taking advantage of the holiday for lovers, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration unveiled the official city condom in midtown Manhattan, where volunteers handed them out free at Fifth Avenue and 50th Street.

... "We ask, 'Did you use a condom the last time you had sex?' And once this is launched, the next time we ask that question, of those people who say yes, we'll say, 'What did the wrapper look like?'" Frieden said. "And if they describe our wrapper, then we'll know that they would have used our condom." (NYTimes)

Today's reading is on Noah giving thanks for good mercy upon the waters residing. God makes his covenant using the sign of the rainbow, promising not to flood the earth again.

I had to think about that 100 inches of snow in Up State NY (and it's still snowing). I wonder if there were any rainbows in NY lately. I would expect to hear this kind of immoral news from this side of the States (West Coast).

To the good people of NY., we'll pray for the East Coast and we ask you pray for the West Coast.

Marriage...alive and well?

I don't know how official this survey is but I'm an optimist at heart and let's face it, this is the first good news on marriage as an institution that I've heard in a long time.

According to this survey by a global research firm AC Nielsen on Valentines day claims that 70% of the world believes marriage is for life.

Muslim and Catholic strongholds in Asia topped global rankings in favor of lifelong marriage in the poll of 25,000 people across 46 countries.

Indonesians were the keenest on marriage for life. The survey showed that 97 percent of them believed in the concept, followed closely by Turks at 92 percent as well as Filipinos and Malays, both 89 percent.

How does the West measure up in this survey you ask?

In the West, Americans turned out to be the strongest believers in marrying for life, while Europeans from Catholic and conservative countries showed an unexpected lack of enthusiasm for the concept.

"Record high divorce statistics combined with rising co-habitation rates and an increasing number of children born to common-law couples in the past 10 years have certainly made the western world wonder if the age-old concept of "to have and to hold till death to us part" is fast becoming a dying tradition," AC Nielsen Europe President Patrick Dodd said in a statement.

We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary this July and I attribute this all to God's immense Love and givingness. He has provided me with the most wonderful woman as a wife and mother to our children.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day.

Guy's, don't want another year to bring home some flowers. Bring them home..... just because.

Number of Catholics...Steady, Number of Priest...Up

Boy, I've been swamped lately. Work has put a strangle hold on my blogging time. While my wife and I did celebrate Valentine's Day yesterday, we had to postpone our major celebration until this weekend.

Anyway I hope to increase my post or at least maintain some consistency.

This week I read an interesting article on the number of Catholics in the World as well as some stats on priest growth numbers.

According to the yearbook’s newly compiled stats for the years between 2004 and 2005, the number of Catholics increasing in the world from 1,098 million to 1,115 million, a growth of 1.5 percent. However, because this growth is very similar to that of the population of the planet (1.2 percent), the percentage of Catholics in the world remained substantially unchanged at 17.2 percent.

A geographical analysis of these variations shows that over the period 2004- 2005, the number of Catholics in Africa grew by 3.1 percent, while the population of the continent grew by 2.1 percent. In Asia and the Americas the number of Catholics also increased slightly with respect to the population (2.71 percent against 1.18 percent in Asia, 1.2 percent against 0.9 percent in the Americas). In Europe, the number of Catholics grew slightly while the population remained almost stationery.

Seems the biggest growth is in Africa with 3.1%. In the U.S. the growth was only .9%.

For priests the number seems to have grown slightly. Good news.

In 2004-2005, the number of religious and diocesan priests passed from 405,891 to 406,411 (a growth of 0.13 percent). However, the distribution of priests differed from continent to continent, with their numbers growing in Africa and Asia (respectively, by 3.8 percent and 3.55 percent) and falling in Europe and America (by 0.5 percent), and in Oceania (by 1.8 percent).

The number of candidates to the priesthood, both diocesan and religious, also increased overall, passing from 113,044 in 2004 to 114,439 in 2005 (an increase of 1.23 percent). However, vocations are most numerous in Africa and Asia, they are falling in Europe and are stationary in Oceania.

Monday, February 12, 2007

The Love Of God

I thought this was a pretty cool email that was sent to me this morning. I thought I'd share it with everyone.

For those with a mathematical inclination:

What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these Questions:

If:A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you

L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Have Great and Godly Day.
Ecc 5:1-3 look it up and take to heart.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Catholic Voices...

I thought I'd highlight some courageous, faithful, Catholic leaders this morning, whose voices should encourage those that may have the notion of late, that the candle of our faith has been placed under the bushel basket.

1. Archbishop Ovidio Perez Morales of Venezuela.

Totalitarianism is on the march in Venezuela, Archbishop warns (CNA)
In a forceful editorial this week, Archbishop Ovidio Perez Morales, one of the most respected Church leaders in Venezuela denounced the march towards totalitarianism that the current government has undertaken.The Archbishop Emeritus of Los Teques, cited a definition of totalitarianism offered by John Paul II, saying that it “destroys the fundamental freedom of man and violates his rights.”

The Archbishop is staring into the jaws of Dictator Chavez and is unafraid to protect his flock.

2. Sister Maria Crucis Beards of Zambia Africa

Condoms not the answer for Zambian pendemic, AIDS - fighting nun says (CNA)

“I believe telling people about the importance of chastity and fidelity is the only way to tackle the crisis. Condoms have been freely available for 10 years or more and yet there’s been no obvious change in HIV levels. Clearly, condoms don’t work,” she said.

Sr. Crucis stressed the need for action against HIV, saying that up to 200,000 Zambians are in urgent need of HIV treatment with anti-retroviral therapy and about half of all general hospital admissions involve people infected with the illness.

This is probably not the answer the U.N. was looking for... but then the good sister has a higher authority on her side. She is actually there, working and caring for these people.

3. Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Portugal

Cardinal urges Portugal to reject abortion in upcomming vote (CNA)

Portugal's top cleric urged followers to reject abortion as the predominantly Catholic country heads into a weekend referendum on whether to do away with the country's pro-life legislation.

Each of these Church leaders in their own way is spreading the Gospel, non-compromising the faith and in the face of major opposition.

God has given us some good examples to follow. Let's pray for the strength we need to place that candle on top of the basket and be the light in the world that Christ asks us to be.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Californian Loop-Hole


Well, the decision is made in San Francisco for Catholic Charities (a Catholic Adoption agency) to 'COMPROMISE', which is the word being used, on the issue of Homosexual partners adopting children.



So what does that mean? There will be Catholic Charities employees working both sides of the street? What if those employees are Catholic themselves. How does a Catholic who follows Church teachings, work with assisting those that want to work against those teachings? That's what I read into what the good Archbishop is saying.

Here's my favorite part of the article:

...Catholic Charities San Francisco made the decision to close its adoption services after receiving clarification from the Vatican that Catholic organizations should not take part in the adoption of children to homosexual couples. HOWEVER....


The archbishop said he respected the opinion of “those within the Church…who feel that even that is too much of an involvement, but I believe we have examined what we’re doing and vetted it very carefully, and what we’re really doing is putting potential adoptive parents in touch with adoption agencies that can help them.”


CCC:2202
A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family. This institution is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation to recognize it. It should be considered the normal reference point by which the different forms of family relationship are to be evaluated

Potential adoptive parents in touch with adoption agencies that can help them? So, he is supportive of exposing children to a life style that is not consistent with what the Church he represents says.

That's like a Catholic Hospital saying, "Well we don't do abortions here, but if you go to room xyz downstairs they can make an appointment for you with one of the Abortion Clinics in the area."

“The most important person in the adoption is the child,” Niederauer also said. “Important as it is for couples to be able to adopt a child if they want to, it’s most important of all that the child have a home.”

Well, I thought that's what this whole issue is about, children!

...oh and by the way, the Archbishop noted that the Church’s teaching is that the child should have a mother and a father.
Sorry, Archbishop Niederauer. But I respectfully disagree with your decision. I don't know why we're always looking for loop-holes.
For our Church leaders as well as all the faithful let us pray, Lord Hear Our Prayer.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Creation


The daily readings taken from the Book of Genesis have been on God's Creation. While many may say to themselves,

"Yay, yay.... Let there be light... yah I know the how the story goes."

I find that there is so much more here that meets the eye. I just finished 'The Great Adventure' with the men's group (Saint Joseph Covenant Keepers) which is presented in book and video format. It's a great group study for reading through the Bible. Anyway, Jeff Cavins presents the over all picture of scripture and Scott Hahn follows with some deeper study. Scott did such a good job with Genesis I'm reviewing it because of the daily readings.

Over at Catholic Exchange, Mark Shea has an article entitled "Puny Humans, Geocentrism, and ET" , that has an interesting take on creation and also covers the weird theory of Geocentrism (where earth is the center of the universe).

I'd also like to include a website I stumbled across that has some interesting books and articles on this subject. Intelligent Project

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Catholics Debate Iraq

The National Catholic Register has an article where 6 prominent Catholics give their thoughts on the war in Iraq. I think this article shows that Catholics are engaged in the world and that their opinion is important.

Catholics Join Debate Over Bush’s Iraq Plan. We spoke with Sen. Sam Brownback, George Weigel, Mark Shea, Robert Royal, Russell Hittinger and Robbie George.

As I said in previous posts, Religion & Politics should be discussed in a the Catholic arena, their importance in that order. I believe we can have some intelligent, healthy debate without tearing each other apart.

I've read such debates online where you wouldn't guess that the debaters are Catholics by their tone and uncharitable exchanges. I love a good debate, where truth is the goal and slander takes a back seat.

This article is just such an exchange. Enjoy.

... by the way my views are along George Weigel's thoughts.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Global Warming - weighting in on the issue


I'm still trying to figure out this issue on Global Warming. I tell you I have some reservations about supporting this having done some studying. I'm in the middle of reading a few booking on this topic including Gore's input, some scientific studies, many news articles and first and foremost the Catholic teachings on Stewardship of God's creation.

...I'm still studying the issue.

I do have some interesting articles to share with you this evening. One is entitled 'A Necessary Apocalypse

A man who ceases to believe in God does not believe in nothing; he believes in anything.
- G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


The apocalyptic vision of global warming serves a deep need of the environmentalist credo, the dominant pseudo-religious tendency of our age in the prosperous West.


For good or ill, human beings are constructed to believe, and faith has its demands.. Along with the concrete elements that demand belief (that fire burns and that it's not wise to walk off cliffs, for example) there exists an apparent necessity for a belief in "the rock higher than I" - a belief in a superior entity that can inspire awe and gratitude, that can be turned to in hard times, that can act as witness to injustice and dispenser of mercy.


Despite the claims of our current crop of militant atheists such as Dawkins and Harris, this is not simply brain-dead foolishness. Religious belief is hard-wired into human beings, by what means and for what purposes we don't yet understand. (A much wiser atheist, the biologist Edward O. Wilson wrote in On Human Nature that he intended to demonstrate that religious belief played an evolutionary role and could thus be explained by Darwinism. That was thirty years ago - if he ever succeeded, I haven't heard about it.)


When religious belief is subverted, it does not, as Chesterton implied, simply vanish. It is almost immediately replaced by another set of beliefs on a similar level of abstraction and serving the same purpose. Sometimes it's an import, such as Buddhism or TM. Sometimes it's a creed deliberately created to serve a political agenda, as we see in Nazism and Communism. Sometimes it's the goofy SoCal syncretism currently expressed in Wicca and Neopaganism. ("If people seriously want to be pagans," the late Joe Myers, a Christian brother of my acquaintance once said. "They'd become Roman Catholics.") And sometimes they're a combination, a weird melange of ideas picked up from various sources that (and usually not coincidentally) also serve a political purpose. Which brings us to environmentalism.



An interesting perspective, one I hadn't read/heard before.

Here's another from the same author. ' Resisting Global Warming Panic'

This one I read this morning:'Global warming sees polar bears stranded on melting iSwimming 100 miles is not a big deal for a polar bear, especially a fat one," said Dr Ian Stirling of the Canadian Wildlife Service.

"They just kind of float along and kick. But as the ice gets farther out from shore because of warming, it’s a longer swim that costs more energy and makes them more vulnerable."ce'


What are they trying to say ? If the bear has to swim 105 miles it's doomed? Are they saying that the bear doesn't' know to swim within it's own limitations? If it's getting too far from shore it doesn't know that it should start swimming for the main land? If that were true we wouldn't have Polar Bears today.

For me Global Warming is a given in the sense that there have been other periods in time when the earth has been both warmer and cooler. the LCO ( Little Climatic Optimum or Medieval Warming Period) time period is very interesting.

Anyway, for me GW is a fact of life, and man does contribute to this affect. Yet how much he contributes to this affect is still up in the air for me. Yes man has a responsibility to be good stewards of God's gift of Creation, but I hate the politics involved with this Global Warming.

My goal is to find the real facts what ever they may be, not the '08 election talking points.

More on this later...

Catholic Interpretations...in the Media

I read this Headline yesterday and couldn't figure it out. Maybe you have some thoughts.

'Mummy's Boys' unfit to stay wed, says Rome
Being tied to your mother's apron strings is sufficient grounds to annul a marriage by the Vatican, it has emerged.

Where did they get this information...yet it's in the paper.

Officials ruled on several cases of men and women who were judged to be so dependent on a parent that they were unfit for marriage.

Judges on the Roman Rota, the top Catholic tribunal in the Vatican, agreed for an undisclosed number of marriages to be annulled on such grounds, according to a review of the judicial year.

A review by whom?

This is a very short article with resources to look up. It did give some statistic, of which I couldn't verify.

I did find this related article...

VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI addresses the Tribunal of the Roman Rota: “The indissolubility of marriage does not derive from the definitive commitment of the two parties involved; rather it is intrinsic to the nature of the 'potent bond established by the Creator.'"

...which tells a completely different account of what the Church REALLY says about marriage.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord


Today is the Feast Day of the Presentation of the Lord.
The blessing and procession of candles (Candlemas) is also today. A summary can be read at Catholic Culture

* An article on 'Candlemas' over at New Advent has some good information. On the old church calendar this feast day use to be call 'Purification of the Blessed Virgin or Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

* A short Catholic encyclopedia entry on 'Holy Simeon'

* Also one on Anna the widow of the Temple.