HHS Contraception Mandate - Fr. Barron

Thank God for Fr. Barron, he has that level headed response but comes right to the point.

Here's my not so level headed response, Mr. Obama....HELL NO!

'Ides of March' Political Intrigue

I had planned on seeing this movie at the late night showing  but by the time I got to the movie theater, it looked really crowed. I have a pet peeve about finding a good seat and at $10.00 a seat plus another 10 for popcorn and a drink, well I like to get there early.
 So I'll see it tonight instead.

I found that Fr. Barron had a short video with some great thoughts on the movie.

Check it out...(caution, spoilers)

Catholicism: Carl Olson

We've started our men's group at our parish on Fr. Barron's Catholicism. The DVD Series is awesome, but the study is well coordinated with the 'Study Package' that goes along with the DVD set.

This study is the perfect companion to the DVD's, giving you multiple ways to present the study....excellent.

And the study is a collaboration between Fr. Barron and Carl Olson of Insight Scoop, Ignatius Press.

The DVD's are phenomenal, but order the 'Study Package' as well. Together there is no stronger, complete, orthodox study on the Catholic faith today.

And pay a visit to Carl's two blog's, lots of good stuff there daily.

Insight Scoop - Ignatius Press        
Carl Olson   

Modernism and Stephen Greenblatt's - Fr. Barron

I tell you, I learn so much from Fr. Barron, on topics and people that I wouldn't have thought about or knew about.

Modernism, I know about but Stephen Greenblatt's, well didn't know about him until I viewed this video. More importantly are the arguments presented, now that's what I find more interesting. The individuals, time periods, history, Father Barron is just so diversified in his knowledge.

I appreciate his work in producing these short but very informative videos.
Please visit his web site often.

Word On Fire  

Coulter vs Ex-Father Albert

Late last week Ann Coulter was a guest on Ex-Catholic Priest Albert Cutie's TV show (why Fox allowed this to be a part of their network lineup, I don't know)

Ann in her 'in your face' way tries to explain why single motherhood is not the plan of Christ in bringing up children. Now single mothers do their best to raise children because the father for whatever reasons skip out on their duties. Or maybe a death of a husband as Mary had to raise Jesus. We don't know when Joseph was no longer a part of the family (died) but it definitely was not a divorce situation. No scholars support divorce.

God's intent is to have a father and mother raise their children, that is the best way. We should do everything possible to create marriages to be strong and lasting and most importantly mothers and father partners with God.

Now Coulter gets a whacking from the audience who comprise mostly of single mom's and that suits Cutie just fine. Instead of explaining the proper most successful way to raise a family (Note: this clip doesn't show the complete encounter) but he seems to want to blame the fathers (maybe rightfully so) for their abandonment of their families, though with an audience of mom's, he doesn't know the whole story. No way he's going to lecture the mom's... he's out numbered and let's face it, he's got Coulter on the ropes.

So Coulter's message of children from broken families have a disadvantage and many times end up creating broken families of their own or end up in a life of crime. Not all the time but statistics (as Ann tried to point out) show this. Albert Cutie decides to sidestep these facts and goes with the angry crowd.

Single moms have to deal with the circumstances that befall them, but maybe forming a true relationship before getting married will keep a family of father, mother, children and God strong and life lasting.

Is Albert Cutie really helping the single mom's in the audience or viewing on TV? Is he passing on a Godly message?

Nope

So here's the encounter... but then look at a real priest (Fr. Barron) with a true message about marriage and relationships.

No comparison



...and now the real truth

Abortion is Okay Since a Possible Saint Had One..... NOT!

This is why I don't consider the CNN Religion Section anything but a joke.

You have so called scholars there that will try to undermine TRUE Catholic teachings. Their argument?

"If a Saint did it, hey abortion must be okay"

Wow, in my opinion, these scholars are educated beyond their intelligence.

CNN Religion Section is a place to avoid if you're looking for anything regarding honest true faith.

CNN: Can a Saint Have An Abortion?

Isn't it ironic that I find pretty much everything written at CNN's "Belief blog" unbelievable?

Steven Prothero, a Religion Professor at Boston University, in dealing with the question of possible sainthood for Dorothy Day wonders whether Catholics can abide a saint who's had an abortion.

Of course the answer is that last I checked most of the saints had a few sins. (Saint Augustine call your office) Prothero's question is similar to asking whether sinners can become saints. Duh.

Prothero finally says that Day can become a saint but comes at the answer from an odd perspective. He concludes that abortion's not really a big deal and Dorothy Day can become a saint because polling indicates the public is split over abortion. Because, you know, sainthood is decided by polling. 
MORE


Fr. Barron comments on the CNN Religion Section and I agree with his final words.

Prepare yourselves for battle. Know your faith, know their arguments, and most importantly know the faith true arguments.

Never stop educating yourselves in your faith.

Remember what Paul said, '...when I was a child I thought like a child. Now that I'm an adult I must think like an adult.'

Fr. Barron: Holy Spirit, The Ascension

A couple of great videos from Father Barron to begin the week. One on The Ascension and the other on the Holy Spirit.

What a Blessed Catholic Priest we have in Father Barron. Solid orthodox in his public preaching and committed to the sacraments and the Holy Eucharist.

Thanks Fr. Barron.

Maureen...You got to Serve Somebody - Dylan in China

I'm not over enthused with Bob Dylan's music but I'm equally not  enthused with Maureen Dowd's column prowess.

But gosh darn it Father Barron again hits the nail on the head in his analysis of Maureen's latest article blasting Bob's visit to China.

First Maureen's article:

Maureen Dowd slams “sellout” Bob Dylan in New York Times

Posted on April 10th, 2011 by Sean Curnyn

In a strange way, it feels almost like a victory, albeit an exceptionally perverse one. After all the writing Yours Truly has done — over the course of a sad, wasted youth — lambasting the dang libbril meedeeya for their persistent misportrayal of Bob Dylan as a left wing protest singer type, now we have this. In that great iconic Mother of All Liberal Media Outlets that is the New York Times, the poisonous princess of the Op-Ed page herself, Maureen Dowd, rips Bob Dylan in 2011 as a sellout (Blowin’ in the Idiot Wind). Further, she attaches herself to the notion that Bob Dylan never really was that lefty utopian true-believer he’s so often been sketched as being, but merely an opportunist who saw the folk scene of the early 1960s as providing his quickest entré to fame and fortune.
MORE

Then Fr. Barron...

WGN: Fr. Barron - Word on Fire Television Series Suspended

I have many of Fr. Barron's 30 minute TV shows on TiVo. I was deeply saddened to hear that the show is being suspended because of funding.

It's a terrific show on faith, a Catholic show which has long been missing from Television since Bishop Sheen graced the airwaves.

If you can help keep this program on the air please do.

Fr. Barron - Hell

How many people will end up in hell? From today's views, what we see on TV, movies, politicians, celebrities, you would think the answer would be zero.

You can look at the antics of Charlie Sheen who actually claims that evil as a winning thing and I'm sure he would claim hell is heaven and heaven is hell.

Fr. Barron puts it back in perspective.

Fr. Barron: (New) True Grit

Fr. Barron's review of the new version of True Grit.
...I liked it.

“True Grit” and the Everlasting Arms 

“True Grit,” the 1969 film starring John Wayne, was the first “grown-up” movie I saw as a kid. I was nine years old at the time, and I remember the experience vividly. I also discovered, through that film, that I had a gift for mimicry. For years afterward, at family parties, I was invited to reproduce the Duke’s distinctive drawl: “I wouldn’t a-asked you to bury him if he wann’t dead.” The Coen brothers, the auteurs behind “Fargo,” “No Country For Old Men,” and “A Serious Man” are among the best and most spiritually alert filmmakers on the scene today. And so it was with great excitement that I learned that the Coens had produced a re-make of “True Grit.” Though their version is far different from the original, I found it compelling, especially in the measure that it brings the religious dimension of the story to the fore.

Are You a Present Day Thomas Becket?

The legacy of Thomas Becket lives on today. Most of us will never be tested like Becket, but we sure do need more of this Martyr.

Murder or Mediocrity in the Cathedral: Thomas à Becket's Medieval Lesson for Today

On December 29, 1170, four knights, servants of England's King Henry II, stormed into Canterbury Cathedral and cut down Thomas à Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  The knights explained their action as a response to the king, who had reportedly inquired, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"  Understanding their duty as lying first to king and then to God, the four knights saddled up and headed from London to Canterbury.

Fr. Barron has a great piece on St. Becket.

Spirituality: The Feast of St. Thomas Becket

The Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas Becket today. Below, Rozann Carter expounds upon the life of this 12th century saint, reflecting upon the idea that the abundant grace available in the fateful moment of martyrdom is accepted by a willful decision of the martyr, one that is often made long before the crown of martyrdom is bestowed

Sneak Preview: Cathholicism Project

Way to go Fr. Barron!
Sneak preview of his 'Catholicism' project.

Hereafter the Movie

The trailer to this movie has me rather curious. While I don't believe in the seance in the sense of conjuring up the spirits from the dead, as a Catholic Christian I fully believe in the Communion of Saints, for God is not a God of the dead but of the living.

But I am curious about how Clint Eastwood would portray the Afterlife in his new movie. I've seen the movie trailer and I haven't seen the full movie. Haven't decided to yet.

I did find Fr. Barron's perspective very useful, as a prelude to seeing the movie. And I hope you find it equally as helpful

Articles of Interest: 5/24

It's been so hard to blog lately. I'll try to be more consistent.

Aricle Roundup:

Is This Just a Nightmare, or Did It Really Happen? - American Thinker

Resenting African Christianity - American Spectator

Texas Textbooks... - American Catholic

Fr. Barron & Dr. Scott Hahn: Modern Spirituality & Gnosticism - Word On Fire

I was going to explain everything about "Lost" (Season Finale)... - Inside Scoop

Fr. Barron - Happy Clappy Gap Commercial

I've been viewing a lot of Father Barron video's lately. He has some really good messages.

This one is about a Gap Clothing Store commercial; "Happy Clappy"

InsideScoop has the original post.

This Vampire Thang...

I don't get it.

What's with this craze about vampires. It seems it's the new 'hip' thing to be or at least watch on TV or read about, as in 'Twilite' or is it 'Twilight'?

I see it at the book store, a full display on it own. Then there's the new cable TV shows with young adults mixing romance with a 'Bite to eat'.... vampire style.

Fr. Barron gives his take on it.

Fr. Barron on the Vampire Caze