Faith and Country

Election Day

2010-02-02T12:51:00.001-06:00

I voted for Hughes, Andrzejewski and Plummer.

Thoughts About This Photo?

2010-01-17T21:55:00.002-06:00

Lynch mobs turn on looters amid Haiti aid crisis

This photo looks fake to me.

Has It Been This Long?

2009-12-16T14:32:00.000-06:00

I guess I didn't realize how long its been since I've written on here. Being sick doesn't prevent me from being on the computer, actually I'm on more than ever before (which is amazing). I guess I just don't have anything good to say on here, I've been doing the facebook thing instead.

After tonight though I won't have any work or school for the forseeable future so maybe that means I will have more time for this blog.

Happy 222nd Birthday!

2009-09-17T13:03:00.001-05:00

Happy 222nd birthday to our Constitution. One of the 3 most important documents in the life of every American.

Commercials on During Supernanny

2009-09-12T19:36:00.001-05:00

I couldn't find anything to watch on TV so I turned on this show Supernanny. As I've been watching it and listening to the commercials something struck me. There seems to be an unusual number of birth control commercials on during this program. I probably wouldn't have noticed it because the NuvaRing commercial is on TV occasionally, but the previous commercial break had a commercial for Plan B which repulsed me. I think its terrible to have this show on showing the difficulty this family is having with a special needs child, then in-between having all this birth control commercials, especially PlanB. Its like 'gee you don't want to be bogged down like this family right? so birth control it up'. Thats how I took it anyway.

I Remember... Alejandro Cordero and Michelle Scarpitta

2009-09-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

I Remember... Alejandro Cordero

I Remember... Michelle Scarpitta

Project 2,996

Father of Terri Schiavo, Robert Schindler Sr. Passed Away

2009-08-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

Father of Terri Schiavo, Robert Schindler Sr. Passed Away August 29, 2009
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Aug. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- Robert S. Schindler, Sr., of Gulfport, Florida, father of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo, passed away August 29, 2009 from heart failure at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Robert fought valiantly to save the life of his brain–injured daughter Terri in the landmark right to life case that culminated in her imposed death by court–ordered starvation and thirst on March 31, 2005. After Terri's death, along with his wife Mary, daughter Suzanne (Schindler) Vitadamo and son Bobby Schindler, he founded the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation in St. Petersburg dedicated to supporting other families faced with the same need to fight for the rights of their disabled or otherwise vulnerable loved ones.

Robert was born in Philadelphia on October 23, 1937 and was 71 years of age. Proceeded in death by his daughter Theresa Schindler. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Suzanne Vitadamo (Michael), son Bobby Schindler and granddaughter Alexandra.

A Mass of Christian burial with visitation preceding will be scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, PA. Times and location will be announced at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, 5562 Central Avenue, Suite 2, Saint Petersburg, FL 33707, phone 727-490-7603.

Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation

I Have Finally Figured Out Obamacare

2009-08-28T13:57:00.000-05:00

Reposted by someone I know on Facebook.

"I have finally figured out Obamacare:

Obama's health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke.

What could possibly go wrong?"

National Shrine of St. Therese

2009-08-26T20:02:00.002-05:00

Today I went to the National Shrine of St. Therese in Darien, IL.

(My sister loves Japan stuff, but they had several cases full of different representations of Mary and Jesus from around the world)

Nothing like perfection to cement a memory

2009-07-24T10:01:00.001-05:00

Nothing like perfection to cement a memory

John Kass
July 24, 2009

As Mark Buehrle was pitching late in the game on Thursday, legendary White Sox TV announcer "Hawk" Harrelson gave the rest of us permission to get on the phone.

Hawk wasn't quiet about it either. Hawk sounded like the top of his head was about to pop off.

"Call your sons! Call your daughters! Call your friends! Call your neighbors! Mark Buehrle has a perfect game going into the ninth!" yelled Hawk, who's been playing and calling games since just before Constantinople fell to the Turks.

So if Hawk said it was OK to call, it was OK. Even foolish mythological creatures like the wild Heinie Bird know you can't jinx a perfect game from a phone. This wasn't some stupid church-of-baseball movie, like the one my wife made me see with Kevin Costner pitching a perfect game, ponderous and serious, poetic flashbacks on his troubles with Kelly Preston, reminding himself to "clear the mechanism."

Buehrle wasn't a poet clearing his mechanism. Buehrle hunts and drives a truck. He was goofing around in the dugout. And all of us could see.

My boys were with their buddies, 8th graders crowded around the TV set, but this time without Xbox controls in their hands. "Yeah dad," they said. "We're watching."

Back in my office cubbyhole, some crazed Sox fan started shrieking "Come ON! They're SQUEEZING HIM!" when home plate umpire Eric Cooper didn't give Buehrle an inside strike. The crazed fan shrieked so loudly that distinguished editorial board members came rushing out of their offices, squinting, befuddled, to find out who'd released the madman.

You've got your own story, about where you were and what you were doing, and baseball is like that, especially perfect games, of which there had been only 16 in regular-season history until Buehrle's.

Even in Cubs bars, like the Billy Goat Tavern, they were watching. At the Goat, they only use the siren for Great Moments in Cubs History. But in a heroic display of cloven-hoofed bipartisanship, Jeff the Bartender cranked the siren for Buehrle and the Sox.

"Sure, I did," confessed Jeff. "I'm a baseball fan. And Buehrle seems more like a Cub to me."

I thought of all the calls going out across Chicago and the suburbs and the state, people sharing this. Even America's No. 1 Sox fan, the skinny guy with the ears in the presidential limousine, must have slammed the red phone down on a foreign leader.

"I don't care what the Chinese Navy is doing!" President Obama probably said. "Buehrle's perfect through 7! Hawk said it's OK to call Rich Daley! Gotta go! See ya. Go Sox!"

My friend and former colleague Bob Vanderberg, who knows more about Sox history than any man alive, was at the game Thursday. Vandy called me when he got home from the ballpark.

"Billy Pierce had a perfect game going in June of 1958," Vandy said. "Until the 9th, when a pinch hitter came in and hit a bloop double to right. It hit the chalk."

On Thursday, center fielder Dewayne Wise made the catch to save Buehrle's perfect game in the 9th. Wise ran to the wall and climbed up the image of Pierce's face on the padding out in left center.

"It was as if to say this time, Billy, we're going to win it for you," Vanderberg said.

Baseball history is important to fans. We crave it and pass it down carefully, as if we're monks of Ireland saving civilization. But Wise isn't a monk. He's paid to catch the ball.

And that's what every Sox fan will remember, Wise running back and leaping, his right knee digging into Pierce's right cheekbone, sticking his glove over the wall to rob Tampa Bay right fielder Gabe Kapler of that home run. The ball almost popped out of his glove, and in that uncertain split second, Wise corralled it with his throwing hand.

As he slammed the wall, I thought of the last time Wise sold his body out to make a desperate catch, back in April when he robbed the Tigers of a sure double with two runners on base, hurting his shoulder in the process. Wise separated his right shoulder that night and spent an eternity on the disabled list and the shoulder hasn't been the same. Still, on Thursday he ran into the wall.

John Buehrle, Mark's father, was on Comcast SportsNet later, saying he phoned his son.

"I called him after, just like I have every game since he's been in baseball, and left him a little personal message," said Buehrle's dad, who has a pacemaker in his heart and said he needed it during the ninth inning. "And I said, make sure to give Mr. Wise a hug for me."

When the game ended, naturally I called my boys.

"Wise should stay on the Sox for the rest of his life," said the one with the Buehrle poster over his bed.

"That was the greatest catch I've ever seen in my life," said the other.

They're only in 8th grade. They'll see other catches, other games. But this one will always be perfect.

jskass@tribune.com

Life: Imagine the Potential

2009-07-17T13:46:00.001-05:00

Prayer Need

2009-07-03T22:49:00.002-05:00

I've been in the hospital since Wednesday. I could use your prayers.

Pope Appoints George Lucas Archbishop of Omaha

2009-06-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

*snicker*

Pope Appoints George Lucas Archbishop of Omaha

(03 June 09 - RV) On Wednesday Pope Benedict appointed George Joseph Lucas Archbishop of Omaha in the United States of America.

Fr. Pavone on Tiller

2009-05-31T18:43:00.000-05:00

Love This One

2009-05-30T10:02:00.001-05:00

This one is from a few weeks ago, but I love it.

My Fortune is About to Change?

2009-05-29T08:51:00.002-05:00

My sister gave me a fortune cookie from Panda Express the other day. The fortune my Mom got was funny considering her personality, the one my sister got basically said she'd be a good community organizer, so when they gave me mine I couldn't wait to see what mine would say. I opened it up and there was my fortune

You will soon have the opportunity to improve your finances

Sweet. I mean doing almost anything at this point will improve my finances. I only have 4 more days of work left. But I think tomorrow I will buy myself a powerball ticket. I already know what I'm going to do with the money.

Wasn't Going to Say Anything

2009-05-29T07:51:00.006-05:00

But I guess I am.

I'm just unimpressed with a man who cheats on his wife, then leaves her for the mistress. I know I'm supposed to pray for him, and I guess I will.

Edit: I just feel bad for the children he has abandoned.

May 22 Is National Day Of Prayer And Remembrance For Mariners And People Of The Se

2009-05-22T22:51:00.001-05:00

USCCB News Release

09-108
May 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22 Is National Day Of Prayer And Remembrance For Mariners And People Of The Sea

WASHINGTON—May 22nd is National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea. This day was established by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in November 2005 to encourage Catholics in the country to support, pray and remember those who work in the maritime world.

In observance, the national office of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, will sponsor a Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, at St. Dominic Church (630 E Street SW), a building with historic ties to Washington’s waterfront and to people who earn their living on the water. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Expected to attend this year’s Mass are Maritime Administration (MARAD) officials, staff of the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, representatives of the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board, the Philippines Ambassador to the USA, AOS chaplains, mariners and family members.

The day of prayer and remembrance is celebrated in conjunction with the National Maritime Day observance by the U.S. government, which also commemorates the first transatlantic crossing by the steamship Savannah in 1819.

Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah, Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea, encouraged dioceses to mark the 4th National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, “for the wellbeing and safety of maritime personnel, the vital role maritime workers play in the transport of goods by the waterways and the lives that have been lost at sea.” Bishop Boland said that remembrances could be in the form of special petitions in the Prayer of the Faithful, homilies, or a special Mass, using the text for the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea.”

The Apostleship of the Sea is a worldwide Catholic ministry for spiritual and practical assistance to seafarers, their families and all people of the sea. In the USA, AOS chaplains and their team are present in 49 dioceses in 61 maritime ports.

Ninety percent of the world’s goods are transported by sea and the waterways. There are approximately 1 million seafarers worldwide who man 10,000 commercial ships and maritime vessels. In 2006, there were 69,000 U.S. merchant mariners. Crewmembers from 123 countries were found in foreign flag vessels calling on US ports.

For more information about the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea, please contact the Apostleship of the Sea national office at 202-541-3035 or visit http://www.usccb.org/pcmrt/ and the Apostleship of the Sea in the United States website at http://www.aos-usa.org/.

Link

Video: Fr. Norman Weslin Arrested at Notre Dame

2009-05-16T12:23:00.000-05:00

Quiet and Miserable

2009-05-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I've been sick lately. Actually for several months, I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and he gave me some medicine. It started to help, but I came down with a really horrible cold and I'm back to feeling pretty bad again. I need to call the doctor again, but I hate doctors. Ugh. I've been so miserable. I have 11 more days of work then I have nothing. Hopefully I'll be able to find something in the fall. Or maybe I'll win the lottery or something.

I'm Tired of the Pope's Trip Already

2009-05-11T18:59:00.003-05:00

3 or 4 days into his trip and everyone is mad. The Muslims are mad. The Israelis are mad. I knew they would be, but I'm tired of it already. He should have stayed home, or better yet he should come visit here again. He can crash at my place, we'll make room.

May Feelings

2009-05-10T18:10:00.000-05:00

Imagine

2009-05-09T16:26:00.000-05:00

Vatican planned to move to Portugal if Nazis captured wartime Pope

2009-04-23T12:31:00.001-05:00

Vatican planned to move to Portugal if Nazis captured wartime Pope
Secret plans were drawn up by the Vatican to elect a new Pope and flee to a friendly country should Hitler have carried out his threat to kidnap the wartime Pontiff, it was claimed yesterday.
By Nick Squires in Rome and Simon Caldwell
Last Updated: 3:25AM BST 22 Apr 2009

Pope Pius XII told senior bishops that should he be arrested by the Nazis, his resignation would become effective immediately, paving the way for a successor, according to documents in the Vatican's Secret Archives.

The bishops would then be expected to flee to a safe country – probably neutral Portugal – where they would re-establish the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and appoint a new Pontiff.

That Hitler considered kidnapping the Pope has been documented before, but this is the first time that details have emerged of the Vatican's strategy should the Nazis carry out the plan.

"Pius said 'if they want to arrest me they will have to drag me from the Vatican'," said Peter Gumpel, the German Jesuit priest who is in charge of researching whether Pius should be made a saint, and therefore has access to secret Vatican archives.

Pius, who was Pope throughout the war, told his advisers "the person who would leave the under these conditions would not be Pius XII but Eugenio Pacelli" – his name before he was elected Pontiff – thus giving permission for a new Pope to be elected.

Carlson named St. Louis Archbishop

2009-04-22T11:15:00.000-05:00

Carlson named St. Louis Archbishop
By Tim Townsend
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pope Benedict XVI has named Robert James Carlson as the next Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Louis.

The 64-year-old archbishop-elect has led the Saginaw, Mich. diocese since 2005. He will be the 10th ordinary, or leader, of St. Louis Catholics since 1827.

Carlson’s new assignment was announced publicly at 5:18 a.m. St. Louis time on the Vatican’s website.

More

I Love This Commercial

2009-04-20T20:24:00.001-05:00

Its good to have baseball back.

Divine Mercy Chaplet

2009-04-19T23:05:00.001-05:00

A portion from church today.

Divine Mercy Sunday

2009-04-19T13:40:00.000-05:00

Priest not surprised by Susan Boyle's Performance

2009-04-18T09:49:00.002-05:00

Priest not surprised by Scottish woman's performance on British TV

By Simon Caldwell
Catholic News Service

LONDON (CNS) -- The audience snickered and the judges of "Britain's Got Talent" either rolled their eyes or allowed their blank expressions to betray their bemused skepticism as the awkward-looking middle-aged woman told them she wanted to be as famous as the popular British actress and singer Elaine Paige.

Then Susan Boyle began to sing, and they were spellbound and shocked by the beauty of her voice and rose to their feet in applause.

But Father Basil Clark, who watched the show on television at his home in Broxburn, Scotland, was not surprised.

He has seen the situation unfold many times before, having regularly accompanied Boyle, 47, on the annual Legion of Mary pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Knock, Ireland.

"When I watched the judges' faces it reminded me of what I was like when I first saw Susan singing -- absolutely blown away by the quality of the singing and by that fantastic voice," said Father Clark, dean of West Lothian, the district that covers Boyle's home village of Blackburn.

"Anyone who sees her for the first time behaves the same way. I have never heard her sing badly, though she might lose the words if the stress gets too much," he told Catholic News Service in an April 16 telephone interview.

More

Glenn Beck on Susan. Glenn gets weepy about a lot of stuff, but this time half of the internet is with him on that.

Happy Birthday Papa!

2009-04-16T15:34:00.003-05:00

Viva il Papa!

Installation Homily

2009-04-16T10:46:00.002-05:00

I missed watching Dolan's installation in New York yesterday. It looks like he gave a great homily.

Archbishop Dolan's Homily (Mass of Installation)
April 15, 2009

AMDG Installation Homily JMJ

April 15, 2009

"This is the day the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad! Alleluia!"

"He has risen as He said, alleluia! alleluia!"

"Jesus Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega.

All time belongs to Him

and all the ages,

to Him be glory and power! Amen!"

You are all so very welcome here, in this "Cathedral of suitable magnificence," as Archbishop John Hughes, whose cross I wear today, termed it, that has been such a warm, embracing spiritual home for untold millions.

Thank you, thank you all for so personally supporting me as I begin this apostolic ministry in the Archdiocese of New York.

Thank you, eminent cardinals, for by your presence you salute the vibrant Church in New York. A special appreciation to Cardinal William Baum, the dean of our American cardinals, Cardinal William Levada from Rome, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec City, and, of course, to Cardinal Edward Egan. Eminence, thank you for your leadership these past nine years, and, as the disciples on the road to Emmaus asked the Lord, please, "Stay with us!"

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, our papal nuncio, and Archbishop Celestino Migliore, papal nuncio to the United Nations;

My brother bishops, our beloved auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese, of the entire State of New York, from across the entire United States, and here even from Italy, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Ireland, whose fraternity means so much;

My cherished brother priests, especially those of this archdiocese, who now have a special claim on my heart;

deacons and seminarians;

consecrated women and men religious; distinguished representatives from other revered families of faith, respected civic and political leaders, special friends who have been so loyal to me from St. Louis, Rome, D.C., Kansas City and the wonderful archdiocese of Milwaukee . . . and all of God's people, children of our one Father and brothers and sisters in the Lord...

Maybe I should not be so flattered that so many are here . . . after all, everybody wants to "take sanctuary on income tax day!"

My dear family . . . when I told Mom that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed me Archbishop of New York, I remarked, "Mom, whatever God gives me in life, His greatest gift to me is that I am Bob and Shirley Dolan's son." I mean that. And I'm so glad Mom is here this afternoon . . . especially because there's a sale on at Macy's!

Thank you all!

But, I hope you understand, as grateful as I am to all of you, there is another claim on my gratitude that towers above all the rest.

Above all, above all, I give praise to God, our Father, for raising His Son Jesus Christ from the dead! For "Christ is risen! He is truly risen! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures for ever!"

For this is not all about Timothy Dolan, or all about cardinals and bishops, or about priests and sisters, or even about family and cherished friends.

Nope . . . this is all about two people: Him and her . . . this is all about Jesus and His Bride, the Church. For, as de Lubac asked, "What would I ever know of Him without her?"

The Resurrection, Easter, is the very foundation of our faith, our hope, our love. Everything in the Church commences when, like those two disciples on the road to Emmaus that first Easter, we recognize Jesus as risen from the dead. The Church herself begins.

The Resurrection of Jesus is so central to our faith that we celebrate it every Sunday at Mass. On my first day as your archbishop I dream that we can reclaim Sunday as the Lord's Day, anchored in our faithfulness to Sunday Mass, our weekly family meal with the risen Jesus.

In thanking God for the Resurrection of Christ, we thank God for the Church. For as "Jesus is the human face of God," as Pope Benedict XVI often reminds us, the Church is the human face of Jesus.

For us as Catholics, Christ and His Church are one.

The triumph, the life, the light, the mercy, the raising up, the salvation which exploded Easter morning as Jesus rose from the dead continues in His Church, an extraordinary spiritual family that gathers men and women of every nation, race, language, and background into a breathing tapestry of faith.

The power of the risen Christ shows itself -- Christ shows Himself! -- in the extraordinary community that is the Church.

God's love for us is so personal, so passionate, so intense that He gave His only begotten Son for our salvation. And when God the Father raised His Son from the dead, He put His divine seal of approval upon His work of art, the human project, on women and men made in His own image and likeness, washed clean by the blood of His Son on Good Friday, destined to spend eternity at His side, and assured us, "The evil, horror, lies, hate, suffering and death of last Friday will not prevail! Goodness, decency, truth, love, and life will have the last word."

That's the Easter message the Church is entrusted to live and to tell. For, believe it or not, the dying and rising of Jesus continues in His Church.

That's the story of these extraordinary acres of the Lord's vineyard of the Church we call the Archdiocese of New York. Now in her third century, the risen Christ has been and is alive here. Let me count some of the ways:

-- In the welcome given to countless immigrants, like even my own great-great grandparents, who came and still do come to this country through this city with little or nothing of earthly value, but tenaciously clung to that "pearl of great price," their faith, to find in the Church here the spiritual counterpart of Lady Liberty, Holy Mother Church, who welcomed them, embraced them, settled them in, taught their children, and kept that faith alive.

Spanish: Hoy agradecemos a Dios por la gracia de nuestros hermanos y hermanas Latinas, cuya presencia es una gran bendición en esta arquidiócesis. A ustedes, hermanos y hermanas, prometo dar mi amor, mi corazón, mi energía. Su fe Católica, viva y fervorosa, es una luz para todos nosotros.

-- The risen Christ is alive here in the Church in and through her priests. My brother priests: you are the apple of my eye! You mean everything to me. Without you, I can do nothing. In you I still see St. Isaac Joques, Venerable Felix Varela, Issac Hecker, Fighting Father Duffy, Fulton J. Sheen, Richard John Neuhaus, Avery Dulles; in you I see men who continue the power of the resurrection at the altar, in the confessional, in the classroom, with the sick, searching, and the poor. I have long admired you from afar, but today for the first time I can say, "my brother priests" of the Archdiocese of New York-my admiration, deep appreciation, and unflagging love to you;

--The Risen Christ is alive in her consecrated religious, women and men, in whom Elizabeth Ann Seton, Francis Xavier Cabrini, and Michael Judge find most worthy heirs, as you continue to give the Word flesh in your simplicity of life, charity, and obedience.

--The awesome yet gentle might of the Christ's Resurrection continues in the Church of New York in her faithful people, women and men who love their Church in spite of her wounds, who savor their baptismal call, rely upon the grace and mercy of prayer and the sacraments, live as committed husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, and generous single people, and who bring the person, teachings, and invitation of their Lord to family, community, parish, and the public square, continuing the legacy of such lay leaders as Pierre Toussaint, Dorothy Day, and Governor Al Smith.

--Christ is one with His Church in this archdiocese as we obey his final mandate to teach, as we praise God for the prize of our celebrated Catholic schools, to whose flourishing I pledge my best efforts and support, and our promising programs of evangelization and catechetics.

--The Resurrection of Jesus goes on in our apostolate for the struggling, searching, and marginalized, as thousands of those closest to Christ's Sacred Heart-the hungry, homeless, sick, troubled, and immigrants--find solace and help in our Catholic charities and healthcare. Conscious are we of former Mayor Ed Koch's observation that the Catholic Church is the glue that keeps this city together . . . and, and . . . the Resurrection goes on, as His Church continues to embrace and protect the dignity of every human person, the sanctity of human life, from the tiny baby in the womb...... to the last moment of natural passing into eternal life. As the Servant of God Terrence Cardinal Cooke wrote, "Human life is no less sacred or worthy of respect because it is tiny, pre-born, poor, sick, fragile, or handicapped." Yes, the Church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective "mamma bear" when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened. Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny. Everyone is a somebody in whom God has invested an infinite love. That is why the Church reaches out to the unborn, the suffering, the poor, our elders, the physically and emotionally challenged, those caught in the web of addictions.

--The risen Jesus remains alive in this archdiocese as the Church partners with respected neighbors and friends of other Christian families, our Jewish older brothers and sisters in the faith, who today conclude Passover and have our best wishes, and with our Islamic and Eastern religious communities, as the Church relishes the unique ecumenical and inter-religious concord of this greater New York community; and as the archdiocese collaborates with our political, civic, cultural, and business leaders, so very welcome here today, in all noble prospects advancing human welfare and dignity. Seven-and-a-half years ago, on September 11, 2001, New Yorkers gave a lesson of extraordinarily generous courage to the world. Selfless police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel, saved lives, and many gave theirs. Their sacrifice was an ecumenical, interreligious civic testimony to the worth of every human person. You did us all proud, and now how proud I am now to partner with all of you in that same spirit;

--and, maybe most of all, Christ remains present in His Church as people whisper prayers, worship at Sunday Mass, struggle with sin and pursue virtue, hunger for God's Word and Sacrament, and realize that, as much as we love New York, we have here no lasting home, for our true citizenship is in heaven.

And just what, I ask you, does the Church have to give? Does she have power and clout, property and prestige? Forget it! Those days are gone, if they ever did exist at all.

The Church instead borrows the vocabulary Jesus Himself used in those days after He rose, as we speak of "a peace He gives us,"

of "feeding my sheep,"

of "teaching the nations."

The Church really has no treasure but her faith in the Lord, which is not bad at all, as we shrug and say with Peter and John in the Acts of the Apostles, "Silver and gold we have not, but, what we do have, we give: ...

Jesus Christ...!

Now, let me bring this home by suggesting that we all take a little stroll down...the road to Emmaus.

See, I mentioned to you that the Church continues not just the rising but also the dying of Jesus Christ. We've just been through a litany of ways that the rising of Jesus radiates in the Church in this historic archdiocese. But we'd be naive if we overlooked the dying, wouldn't we?

For indeed not only the Resurrection but the cross, the dying, of Christ goes on:

--As we are tempted to fatigue in our works of service and charity;

--As we continue realistically to nurse the deep wounds inflicted by the horrible scandal, sin, and crime of sexual abuse of minors, never hesitant to beg forgiveness from God and from victim survivors and their families, committed to continue the reform, renewal, and outreach Pope Benedict encouraged us to last year, when, among many other places, he urged us in this very cathedral, "to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges [of] this painful situation..."

-- The cross is there as more and more of our people are burdened under financial woe and uncertainty;

--As strains on the family take their toll, or as the Church is ridiculed for her teaching on the sanctity of marriage;

--As we struggle to keep our parishes and schools strong, and recognize that we need a new harvest of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and faithful, life-long, life-giving marriage;

Shortages and cutbacks, people mad at the Church or even leaving her, and our seeming inability to get the Gospel message credibly out there . . .

. . . are we not at times perhaps like those two dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus? They were so absorbed in their own woes, so forlorn in their mistaken conclusion that the one in whom they had placed their trust was dead, so shocked by the shame, scandal, and scorn of last Friday . . . that they failed to recognize Jesus as He walked right alongside of them!

I say to you, my sister and brother disciples now on the road to Emmaus, let's not turn inward to ourselves, our worries, our burdens, our fears; but turn rather to Him, the way, the truth, and the life, the one who told us over and over, "Be not afraid!", who assured us that He "would be with us all days, even to the end of the world," and who promised us that "not even the gates of hell would prevail," the one who John Paul the Great called, "the answer to the question posed by every human life," and recognize Him again in His word, in the "breaking of the bread," in His Church.

Let Him "turn us around" as He did those two disciples, turned them around because, simply put, they were going the wrong way, and sent them running back to Jerusalem, where Peter was, where the apostles were, where the Church was.

For three weeks in July, 1992, I was on pilgrimage in Israel. I had a wonderful Franciscan guide who made sure I saw all the sacred places in the Holy Land. The day before I departed, he asked, "Is there anything left you want to see?"

"Yes," I replied, "I would like to walk the road to Emmaus."

"That we cannot do," he told me, "You see, no one really knows where that village of Emmaus actually was, so there is no more road to Emmaus."

Sensing my disappointment, he remarked, "Maybe that's part of God's providence, because we can now make every journey we undertake a walk down the Road to Emmaus."

My new friends of this great archdiocese, would you join your new pastor on an "adventure in fidelity," as we turn the Staten Island Expressway, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Broadway, the FDR, the Major Deegan, and the New York State Thruway into the Road to Emmaus, as we witness a real "miracle on 34th street" and turn that into the road to Emmaus?

For, dare to believe, that:

From Staten Island to Sullivan County

From the Bowery, to the Bronx, to Newburgh,

From White Plains to Poughkeepsie...

He is walking right alongside us.

"For why do we look for the living among the dead?"

"For He is risen as He said, alleluia, alleluia!"

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever."

Source

Rush Does PSAs for the Humane Society

2009-04-15T23:14:00.003-05:00

*edited for new links*

Rush Limbaugh Records Audio Spots for The HSUS

April 14, 2009

Rush Limbaugh has recorded two statements of support for The Humane Society of the United States and its work to protect animals from cruelty and abuse: The first spot is on our partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the country to crack down on organized dogfighting and other animal cruelty crimes.

The second is on our outreach to communities of faith, and the moral obligation that we have to be good stewards of God's creatures.

The HSUS welcomes such vigorous statements of support from Americans of all points of view, and is grateful to Rush Limbaugh for reaching out to his audience with a message of kindness and compassion for animals. Like two-thirds of American households, Rush shares his home with a beloved pet – his cat, Punkin.

The HSUS is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to making ours a kinder world for animals. Among our 11 million supporters – one in every 28 Americans – are Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

Read more about our Animal Cruelty & Fighting campaign here, and about our Animals & Religion program here.

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

Source

Tax Day Tea Party Chicago

2009-04-15T17:50:00.002-05:00

Archbishop Dolan, New York

2009-04-15T08:29:00.002-05:00

I wonder how long it will take Milwaukee to get a replacement.

My favorite Archbishop Dolan story is when he came to visit my parish in (I think it was) 2005. At the very end of mass our pastor presented the Archbishop a gift naming him as an honorary member of the parish. He also gave Dolan his first months worth of envelopes.

He is a very friendly figure, I have quite a few photos of Archbishop Dolan with members of my family. The guy almost always has a smile on his face. That was one of the most striking things about him when I first saw him walk in at mass, he had this big smile.

Now that I've said that though I have a photo of him not smiling, but doing the consecration at my parish when he visited in 2007.

A Grand Entrance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Published: April 14, 2009

In ceremonies marked by solemn Christian ritual and the stagecraft of the grand entrance, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan was warmly welcomed Tuesday night as the new leader and high priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

Seven weeks after Pope Benedict XVI selected him to succeed Cardinal Edward M. Egan, who is retiring at age 77, Archbishop Dolan, 59, a mirthful pastor and a theological conservative who has headed the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for the last seven years, rapped sharply on the massive bronze front doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In the intricately scripted rite, the doors were pulled open and he proceeded inside for a vespers ceremony — the start of two days of ritual, prayer and music that will make him the most prominent Catholic prelate in the nation.

Link

Anti-Catholic Bias at the Trib

2009-04-15T07:54:00.003-05:00

I had noticed this also, but I am so glad that Bishop Paprocki wrote this and the Tribune actually published it on their website. I saw the article about the couple and IVF a week or two ago and wondered why the article was published - it was not new a teaching, new technology, and certainly its not new that couples use IVF against church teaching.

It is always popular to promote dissenting Catholics while never (or rarely) doing the same for other faiths. I had taken a class as an undergrad about religion in America where we covered the basic teachings of different faiths and their impact on America's history. I noticed that it was only for the Catholic Church that we were given information on dissenters. I asked the professor (who was a sister) why we never saw information from groups who say wanted to change the basic teachings of Islam or Hinduism. She didn't really have an answer. This is the same kind of thing. Its a subtle attempt to undermine Church teaching by constantly promoting unorthodox teachings... I would say more, but I should hold my tongue.

But Jesus said we would be hated for following him, so I guess this really shouldn't be so surprising.

Anti-Catholic bias
April 14, 2009
Anti-Catholic bias

The Chicago Tribune became known for its anti-Catholic bias when it frequently ran xenophobic editorials that criticized foreigners and Roman Catholics as long ago as 1853. Apparently not much has changed, as the Chicago Tribune published an editorial on April 3 attacking Cardinal Francis George as being "deeply out of line" for upholding church teaching, and ran on March 31 an opinion piece by Don Wycliff, a former Tribune editor, urging the University of Notre Dame to "stick to their resolve" in defying Catholic bishops.

The twist in the Tribune's 21st Century approach seems to be to enlist dissenting Catholics to be the mouthpiece of the newspaper's attacks against the church's teaching authority, such as William Daley's column on April 3 asserting that Cardinal George's position on the Notre Dame commencement "continues a worrisome pattern in which the Catholic hierarchy in America is mixing religion with politics."

Similarly, in the front-page story "Faith or family? Some Catholic couples seeking kids struggle with church doctrine" (Page 1, April 5), the Tribune features Catholics who have acted against Catholic Church teaching on in-vitro fertilization.

I don't recall the Chicago Tribune ever running such stories and editorials against any other church or religion, let alone with such frequency or invective, so I can only conclude that the know-nothing views of the Chicago Tribune have not changed.

I am reminded, however, of Jesus' words as he was crucified:

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

—Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, Archdiocese of Chicago

Link

This is Terrible

2009-04-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

Two members of a small monastery decided to open a florist shop
to help raise money for their good works. The idea of buying
beautiful flowers from gentle friars appealed to a lot of people in the town, and soon they were flocking to the shop.
Meanwhile, the florist across town saw his business virtually
disappear when all his customers began buying flowers from the monks. He thought the monks had an unfair advantage, so he visited them and asked them to return to the monastery and leave business to businessmen. They politely declined.
So he visited the monastery and asked the Abbot to convince the
monks to abandon the business. He declined as well.
Next the florist sent his mother, his parish priest and his children to
visit the monks, asking them to cease their business so the original florist could make a living. It didn't work.
Finally, in desperation, the florist hired the town thug, Hughson
McNasty, to use personal persuasion. Hugh McNasty showed up one night with a cudgel, shattered the windows of the monk's shop, tossed their flowers out into the street, and gave the monk's black eyes, promising them he'd be back unless they closed their business.
Terrified, the monks shut their store and returned to the monastery.
Proving, of course...
Hugh and only Hugh can prevent florist friars.

Easter Vigil

2009-04-11T23:58:00.001-05:00

This is Easter

2009-04-11T18:50:00.000-05:00

Priest a wartime legend

2009-04-11T12:24:00.002-05:00

Rev. Mike Dalton celebrates mass with Canadian troops in Europe during the Second World War. Dalton, who died Monday at 106, used his army Jeep as an altar.

Priest a wartime legend
By Marty Gervais, Windsor StarApril 7, 2009

He was a soldier to the end. His threadbare army tunic hung on the wall, and his room was filled with religious icons, rosaries and holy pictures.

And when you spoke to him, his words were about the men he knew on the battlefields of France when he rigged up a makeshift altar on the hood of his jeep and said mass for them.

The photos from the Second World War show these anxious men kneeling, their heads bowed, silent in the muddy fields just hours before they were sent into battle.

And when age finally wore him down -- long after the war and years of serving parishes all over the London diocese including Windsor, Woodslee and Kingsville -- this old priest told me it wouldn't stop him from saying mass in his bed at the nursing home.

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Vatican blocks Caroline Kennedy appointment as US ambassador

2009-04-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

Vatican blocks Caroline Kennedy appointment as US ambassador
The Vatican has blocked the appointment of Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador, according to reports.

Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint.

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Via Crucis in Chicago

2009-04-10T21:57:00.006-05:00

I've always wanted to see the Via Crucis in Pilsen. Maybe another year. These photos are from the Chicago Tribune.

Crucifixion
(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / April 10, 2009)
Arturo Raigosa, 26, playing Jesus Christ, undergoes a mock crucifixion in Harrison Park during a the "Stations of the Cross" ceremony in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. At his feel lifting the cross in place are actors playing Roman soldiers.

Mary and the crucifixion
(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / April 10, 2009)
Juana Diaz (center), playing Mary, watches the crucifixion during a reenactment of the "Stations of the Cross" in Pilsen's Harrison Park.

Stations of the Cross
(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / April 10, 2009)
Arturo Raigosa, 26, as Jesus Christ, walks with his cross down 18th Street in Pilsen during the Good Friday tradition called the "Stations of the Cross" that commemorates the final hours of Jesus' life.

Stations of the Cross
(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / April 10, 2009)
Boys playing Roman soldiers walk down 18th Street during a reenactment of the "Stations of the Cross" in Pilsen.

Stations of the Cross
(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / April 10, 2009)
Hector Alvarez, 23, of Chicago plays a crucified thief during a reenactment of the "Stations of the Cross" in Pilsen's Harrison Park.

Scourged

2009-04-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Stations of the Cross

2009-04-10T10:12:00.013-05:00

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death

Second Station: Jesus carries His cross

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time

Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time

Tenth Station: Jesus clothes are taken away

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross

Thirteenth Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

Newt on his Conversion

2009-04-05T22:49:00.001-05:00

On Fox News Sunday.

As a side note I'm perpetually amazed at the nastiness of people on Youtube.

A Pro-Life Episode of House

2009-04-03T17:17:00.002-05:00

Christine writes about a recent episode of House, and its pro-life message. Since this one aired this week it was particularly good timing since we just had the 4th anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death.

Vatican Unhappy with Obama Ambassador Picks

2009-04-03T16:59:00.001-05:00

Vatican Unhappy with Obama Ambassador Picks
Thursday, April 2, 2009 6:55 PM
By: Edward Pentin

As President Barack Obama continues to focus on his political base and push through policies that are anathema to the pro-life movement, he is having difficulty finding a suitable candidate to represent his administration at the Vatican.

According to Massimo Franco, author of "Parallel Empires," a recently published book on U.S.-Vatican relations, the Obama administration has put forward three candidates for consideration but each of them have been deemed insufficiently pro-life by the Vatican.

One of the few conditions the Vatican places on diplomats accredited to the Holy See is that they hold pro-life views in line with Church teaching.

Franco says the administration is now looking for a professional diplomat rather than a political appointee because finding an authentically pro-life candidate within the Democratic Party is proving impossible. The task is further hampered by the administration’s desire to reward individuals who gave donations to Obama’s campaign.

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Congressman Smith: Mrs. Clinton, choose either Our Lady of Guadalupe or Margaret Sanger

2009-04-02T21:36:00.000-05:00

Congressman Smith: Mrs. Clinton, choose either Our Lady of Guadalupe or Margaret Sanger

Washington D.C., Apr 2, 2009 / 01:25 pm (CNA).- In an impassionate address to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ,) argued that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the speech delivered immediately after, in Houston, Texas, during Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger Award were completely inexcusable.

Smith said that Clinton’s visit to the Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where she presented a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the American people, was “a very nice gesture.”

But the gesture was at odds with her speech while receiving the Margaret Sanger Award.

“In her remarks, Secretary Clinton said she was ‘in awe’ --I repeat, ‘in awe’-- of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood.”

“To our distinguished Secretary of State, I respectfully ask: Are you kidding? In ‘awe’ of Margaret Sanger, who said in 1921, ‘Eugenics…is the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political, and social problems’ and who also said in 1922, ‘The most merciful thing that a family does to one of its infant members is to kill it’?” asked Congressman Smith.

He went on to say that Secretary Clinton in her speech said that Margaret Sanger's “life and leadership” was “one of the most transformational in the entire history of the human race.”

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4th Anniversary of JPII's Passing

2009-04-02T11:37:00.002-05:00

Poland to mark fourth anniversary of John Paul II’s passing

Krakow, Poland, Apr 2, 2009 / 03:50 am (CNA).- On Thursday Poland will mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Servant of God Pope John Paul II with prayers, poetry and music as a website advocates for his beatification. A web page has been created where readers can sign in and endorse the “Saint now” appeal launched in St. Peter’s Square on the day of the pontiff’s funeral.

“The page was not opened to pressure people or try to speed up the beatification process, but to send a tangible sign that the words ‘Saint now’ were not just uttered on the spur of the moment,” the page organizers said, according to SIR.

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Obama Youth Brigade: Church Attendance Forbidden?

2009-04-02T11:18:00.000-05:00

Obama Youth Brigade: Church Attendance Forbidden
By Jonas Clark

Is this the change you really voted for? President Obama has only been in office for two months. Now we have HR 1388. The Bill was sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) with 37 others. The Bill was introduced to the floor of the House of Representatives where both Republicans and Democrats voted 321-105 in favor. Next it goes to the Senate for a vote and then on to President Obama.

This bill’s title is called “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education” (GIVE). It forms what some are calling “Obama’s Youth Brigade.” Obama’s plan is require anyone receiving school loans and others to serve at least three months as part of the brigade. His goal is one million youth! This has serious Nazi Germany overtones to it.

The Bill would forbid any student in the brigade to participate in “engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.” That means no church attendance or witnessing.

Again, is this what America voted for? Here is part of the HR1388 Bill’s wording:

April Fools!

2009-04-01T09:45:00.002-05:00

LOLSaints

12 Political Catholic Converts

2009-03-31T10:21:00.002-05:00

12 Political Converts to Catholicism—Besides Newt
March 30, 2009 06:12 PM ET | Dan Gilgoff | Permanent Link | Print
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country

Newt Gingrich's weekend conversion to Roman Catholicism got me thinking about how many Catholic converts from the worlds of politics and political commentary have been in the news in recent years. Here's a quick list I came up with:

Robert Bork
Sam Brownback
Jeb Bush
Laura Ingraham
Bobby Jindal
Lawrence Kudlow
Robert Novak
Ramesh Ponnuru

Notice that they're all conservative? A few of the influential opinion shapers on the right who died recently also were Catholic converts:

Richard John Neuhaus
Tony Snow
Paul Weyrich

The one high-profile Catholic convert on the left who occurred to me is former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

At first blush, this wild political imbalance is none too surprising. Religious converts tend to be more orthodox, which means hewing closely to the church's conservative positions on social issues. But in the case of the Catholic Church, once so solidly identified with the Democratic Party, it's a reminder of just how a tradition's politics can shift.

Anyone I'm leaving off any of these lists?

Link

One of the comments on the article mentions Dick Morris which is a huge surprise to me. I just did a quick google on it and found an article from NY Daily News which says he is "overpassionate" about becoming Catholic. I didn't really know you could become overpassionate about being Catholic. I mentioned it to Dad just now because he called as I was writing this and he said, 'well thats the problem with converts sometimes'. My response was, 'what you talkin' bout?' since he's a convert, but I decided not to get into it with him.

I have two political people I would like to see convert, and I have a slight basis for both. George W. Bush, since Jeb is Catholic, and he was very respectful of Catholics during his time in office. And Rush Limbaugh since a week or two ago he accidently said 'Catholic converter' instead of 'catalytic converter'.

Back to being serious about the list though, it just reminded me again of how much I miss Tony Snow. I always really enjoyed hearing his thoughts on current events and politics.

Father Groeschel Suffers Stroke

2009-03-30T21:32:00.003-05:00

Father Groeschel Suffers Stroke
Posted by Daily Blog
Monday, March 30, 2009 9:35 AM

CNS)Father Benedict Groeschel, whose whole life has been spent preaching the Gospel, suffered a minor stroke in mid-March, leaving him with some speech difficulties.

Father Benedict made the news public on his regular Sunday evening talk show March 29 on the Eternal Word Television Network, “Sunday Night Life with Father Benedict Groeschel.”

Appearing before a life audience, the 75-year-old Franciscan Friar of the Renewal noted that he had missed the show the previous Sunday because he had suffered a stroke overnight March 20-21. Another member of his community, Father Andrew Apostoli, also well-known to EWTN viewers, substituted for him.

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I have always thought that Fr. Groeschel has a stong resemblence to St. Benedict.

3 Trees

2009-03-30T09:43:00.001-05:00

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing
their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,

'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver
and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone
would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take
kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world.
Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and
straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top o f the Hill and
look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to
them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will
always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of
woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This
looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a
carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he
knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I
should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The s econd tree was happy
because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because
he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the
Woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this
one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box
for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not
at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of
being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left=2 0alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they
placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree
The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger
would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew
that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second
tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the
water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to
keep the20men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said
Peace' and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had
carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the
streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to
a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the
top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong
enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was
possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way,
always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God
will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had
imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways
are not our ways, but His ways are always best

Please keep this moving... pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the
way.

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the
palm of His hand.

Hillary: Who Painted Our Lady of Guadalupe? Monsignor: God!

2009-03-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

I kind of wonder what Hillary's staff is filling her in on before she goes on these trips.

Hillary Clinton leaves flowers for Our Lady of Guadalupe, asks ‘Who painted it?’

Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 27, 2009 / 04:59 pm (CNA).- During her recent visit to Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unexpected stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers “on behalf of the American people,” after asking who painted the famous image.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted by Mary on the tilma, or cloak, of St. Juan Diego in 1531. The image has numerous unexplainable phenomena, such as the appearance on Mary’s eyes of those present in the room when the tilma was opened and the image’s lack of decay.

Mrs. Clinton was received on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. by the rector of the Basilica, Msgr. Diego Monroy.

Msgr. Monroy took Mrs. Clinton to the famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which had been previously lowered from its usual altar for the occasion.

After observing it for a while, Mrs. Clinton asked “who painted it?” to which Msgr. Monroy responded “God!”

More

Dear Deer

2009-03-24T12:59:00.002-05:00

Today is Ali's 9th birthday and my sister got out of school early so we decided to take the dogs for a drive. We picked up some food and went to the forest preserve. I brought my camera with because in the past when we have gone there we've seen deer. Today was no different. I got to take some photos of the deer, although not a bunch because the dogs kept barking at the deer.

It seems to me there has been a huge increase in the deer population in this area. I used to only see them on occasion, now I see at least one group of deer (if not more) every time I go to school.

Pope's poll numbers plunge in France

2009-03-23T10:44:00.001-05:00

Pope's poll numbers plunge in France

PARIS (AP) — A newspaper poll shows Pope Benedict XVI's popularity has plunged in heavily Roman Catholic France.

Le Parisien daily says its survey found 57% of respondents have a negative opinion of the pontiff. That's up from only 25% in a similar poll shortly before his visit to France last September.

Twenty-three percent expressed a positive opinion, down from 53% six months ago. The remainder had no opinion.

The survey of 1,012 adults was conducted Wednesday and Thursday and published Saturday. It gave no margin of error.

I wonder how many of those surveyed are mass attending Catholics?

Doctors

2009-03-23T09:35:00.001-05:00

An Israeli doctor says 'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can
take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for
work in six weeks.'

A German doctor says 'That is nothing; we can take a lung out of one person,
put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks.'

A Russian doctor says 'In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can
take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them both
looking for work in two weeks.'

The ILLINOIS doctor, not to be outdone, says 'You guys are way behind, we
recently took a man with no brains out of ILLINOIS , put him in the White
House for TWO MONTHS, and now half the WORLD is looking for work.'

The Pope's worst enemies are Catholics

2009-03-22T11:46:00.003-05:00

The Pope's worst enemies are Catholics
Posted By: Damian Thompson at Mar 20, 2009 at 15:11:43

It's payback time for Pope Benedict XVI's most dedicated enemies, who are not militant secularists, hate-crazed Muslims, diehard Protestants or the liberal media. The people who most dislike the Pope are Catholics, or people who have the nerve to describe themselves as such.

The Pope needs to be protected from Catholics

We learned this morning that "Vatican insiders" consider Benedict XVI "a disaster". It's true. They do think that. He's a disaster for them, and their determination to turn the Catholic Church into a touchy-feely forum in which uncomfortable teachings and traditions are "modernised" to impress non-Catholics. Until the Williamson affair, the media weren't sufficiently interested in attacking Benedict XVI to be useful. But now, after that own goal... YES!!!

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You can always sense it as its coming from a liberal or unorthodox Catholic. Bill O'Reilly is the best at doing this. "I'm Catholic but..." and then insert something contrary to Catholic teaching. I generally like Sean 'Did you know I studied Latin' Hannity but he is guilty of it too. They use their pretense of being Catholic as cover when they attack the Church, the Pope, or teachings of the Church.

BO At Our Lady's University???

2009-03-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

Catholic, pro-life organizations call on Notre Dame to cancel Obama commencement address

South Bend, Ind., Mar 21, 2009 / 12:01 pm (CNA).- On Friday Catholic and pro-life organizations responded to the announcement that the University of Notre Dame, one of the oldest and most prominent Catholic institution of higher education, will have President Barack Obama to deliver a commencement address on May 17.

The University of Notre Dame announced on Friday afternoon that President Barack Obama will be the main speaker and the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University of Notre Dame’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 17 (Sunday) in the Joyce Center on campus.

According to the Notre Dame press release, “Mr. Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker.”

In response to the announcement, the Cardinal Newman Society launched a website, www.NotreDameScandal.com, including an online petition to Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins, CSC.

“It is an outrage and a scandal that ‘Our Lady’s University,’ one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage,” the petition reads.

Less than an hour after the petition was posted, it already counted with the support of high-profile Catholics such as Philip F. Lawler, Director of the Catholic Culture Project, Fr. C. J. McCloskey III, and Thomas N. Peters, blogger for the American Papist.

More

Catholic Horses

2009-03-21T12:58:00.001-05:00

CATHOLIC HORSES

One day while he was at the track playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt, Mitch noticed a priest who stepped out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race.

Lo and behold, that horse - a very long shot - won the race.

Before the next race, as the horses began lining up, Mitch watched with Interest the old priest step onto the track. Sure enough, as the 5th race horses came to the starting gate the priest made a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses.

Mitch made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse the priest had blessed won the race.

Mitch collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the priest would bless for the 6th race. The priest again blessed a horse.

Mitch bet big on it, and it won. Mitch was elated. As the races
continued the priest kept blessing long shot horses, and each one ended up coming in first.

Bye and bye, Mitch was pulling in some serious money. By the last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited the priest's blessing that would tell him which horse to bet on.

True to his pattern, the priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was the longest shot of the day. Mitch also observed the priest blessing the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag.

Mitch knew he had a winner and bet every cent he owned on the old nag.

He then watched dumbfounded as the old nag come in dead last. Mitch, in a state of shock, made his way down to the track area where the priest was.

Confronting the old priest he demanded, 'Father! What happened?

All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a Kentucky mile. Now, thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings - all of it!'.

The priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. 'Son,' he said, 'that's the problem with you Methodists, you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and last rites.'

The Pope Is Not Alone

2009-03-20T16:17:00.001-05:00

Berlusconi defends Pope's comments

Russian Orthodox back Pope Benedict on condoms/AIDS

Harvard AIDS Expert Says Pope is Correct on Condom Distribution Making AIDS Worse

Prominent Ugandan AIDS Activist Thanks Pope for Opposition to Condoms

Media Shocked That Pope Is Still Catholic

2009-03-20T09:56:00.004-05:00

French Guy: This Pope is becoming a real problem

New York Times, others blast papal comments on condoms

Dutch condemn Pope's condom policies

Spain fires another shot across the Vatican's bow

Spain, in response to Pope Benedict's message that condoms are inadequate in fighting HIV/AIDS, is sending a million prophylactics to Africa.

Writer calls for Pope's impeachment: a punishable canonical offense?

German bishop warns against making a condom taboo

Sally Quinn Showcases Bigotry

Pope Ignites Condom Debate

World Leaders, Condom-Promoting Forces Attack Pope Over Condom AIDS Remarks

It thought It could, It thought It could

2009-03-19T12:25:00.004-05:00

Last semester I was taking a class on teaching science, and one of the assignments for the class was to teach a lesson plan to the class as if they were elementary students. I did mine as a lesson on the basic needs of plants for a kindergarten or first grade class. I decided that one thing I wanted to bring with me for the lesson was a plant, as if it were the class plant that students could observe and take care of and sort of connect it to the lesson. I was in the Lowes in Kenosha a few days before the lesson (I think this was in November) and I saw this little plant on clearance. It was something like $.79 and I figured it would be easy just to pick this up so I wouldn't have to move any of my plants at home.

So this poor little clearance $.79 plant went from Wisconsin back home to Chicago. With me to work, then to school, and then after the lesson back home. I think it lost some leaves as they were snapped off. Its been sitting in our sun bay since then. I've been surprised that through my Dad being so sick through all of December and the months since then that its actually been watered. But what surprised me even more this week is that its actually blooming. Its got these pretty purple flowers blooming. I feel bad that I haven't taken better care of it, you can see its still in the plastic container from Lowes. I should find a pot and replant it, although why mess with success at this point.

I think this plant is like the Little Engine That Could.

Rush Listened

2009-03-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

Rush is wearing red today.

This Pope is Becoming a Real Problem - Good!

2009-03-19T10:08:00.003-05:00

I take this as a good sign.

Former Prime Minister Alain Juppé (UMP), interviewed Wednesday by France Culture concerning the words of Benedict XVI denouncing condoms, said that "this pope is becoming a real problem" because he is living “in a situation of total autism."

“This Pope is becoming a real problem”

If the world were too comfortable with the message of the church and the Pope, we would be in trouble.

New State Animal for Illinois

2009-03-19T09:35:00.004-05:00

Move over white-tailed deer, Illinois is getting a new state animal... or at least it is in the mind of John Kass.

We taxpayers need a new state animal. Our old state animals are lame. So, as a public service, I am announcing our new Illinois mascot in today's column. It won't cost you a dime.

But first, let's acknowledge that our current official state animals—the whitetail deer, the tiny bluegill, the chirpy cardinal—are victims. These prey animals just wait until they're pounced upon by bloodthirsty carnivores.

Sort of like us taxpayers, getting socked with increases from politicians who make their friends rich, and who, upon retirement, will receive six-figure pensions for the rest of their lives. The rest of us will be so broke, we'll end up drizzling Worcestershire sauce on dog food for dinner.

So what animal could really fit the current state of Illinois politics?

What Illinois needs now is a mascot embodying our political spirit, a special creature that lives in the shadows and sidles up to victims and—before the prey truly comprehend what's happening to them—drains them of every drop of blood.

Such a creature, which should now become our new State of Illinois animal, is none other than:

The chupacabra.

In Spanish, chupacabra means goat-sucker, for its alleged habits of creeping up to goats, chickens, sheep (exactly!) and other barnyard animals, sucking out their blood. Its mythical range is said to extend from South America, into Mexico, even Crete. There have been recent unconfirmed sightings in the southwest U.S.

Sounds like a good match to me. Read the whole column at the Tribune: Chupacabra mascot: Illinois needs a new symbol, John Kass says

Don't Forget to Wear Red Today

2009-03-19T08:36:00.001-05:00

This is Sick

2009-03-18T11:43:00.001-05:00

Couple Sues Quebec Hospital for Not Dehydrating Disabled Infant Daughter to Death
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

MONTREAL, March 17, 2009 (LifeSIteNews.com) - A Quebec couple have launched a $3.5-million lawsuit against Montreal Children's Hospital for allegedly putting their infant daughter back on artificial food and hydration without their approval.

Marie-Eve Laurendeau gave birth to Phebe Mantha at LaSalle Hospital in November 2007. After a difficult delivery Phebe was transferred to Montreal Children's Hospital in serious condition and put on life support.

According to the lawsuit Laurendeau and Phebe's father, Stephane Mantha, were told by doctors that their daughter had little chance for survival and advised them to take her off respiratory support and hydration, to which they agreed.

After withdrawing respiratory support, however, it was found that Phebe could breathe on her own, and the hospital's ethics committee reversed the parents' decision to withhold fluids and food from their baby.

More

Phebe is now almost 18 months old and, according to a CTV report, smiles at her parents. The parents say that Phebe's mother has had to quit her job to take care of their daughter and they are now living on only one income.

"I would tell them to come to our house for a week and see what it's like to live with a child like ours," said Mantha. "See the involvement that's needed -- the time and energy in terms of everything involved in our life."

How inconvenient that their daughter lived and they have to take care of her. My family would have done anything to be doing that for my sister right now.

Teleprompter Tosses Obama Under the Bus

2009-03-18T10:50:00.001-05:00

Obama In St Patrick's Day Teleprompt Blunder
12:26pm UK, Wednesday March 18, 2009

A teleprompt blunder has led to Barack Obama thanking himself in a speech at the White House in a St Patrick's Day celebration.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen was just a few paragraphs into an address in Washington when he realised it all sounded a bit too familiar.

It was. He was repeating the speech President Barack Obama had just read from the same teleprompter.

Mr Cowen stopped, turned to the president and said: "That's your speech."

A laughing Mr Obama returned to the podium to take over but it seems the script had finally been switched and the US president ended up thanking himself for inviting everyone to the party.

Mr Obama is an accomplished orator but is becoming known in America as the "teleprompt president" over his reliance on the machine when he gives a speech.

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Year of the Priest

2009-03-18T10:37:00.001-05:00

Pope declares year of the priest to inspire spiritual perfection

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI declared a year of the priest in an effort to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests.

The pope will open the special year with a vespers service at the Vatican June 19 -- the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day for the sanctification of priests. He will close the celebrations during a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter's Square June 19, 2010.

The pope made the announcement during an audience March 16 with members of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy.

He met with some 70 participants of the congregation's March 16-18 plenary assembly, which focused on the missionary identity of the priest and his mission to sanctify, teach and govern.

During this jubilee year, the pope will also proclaim St. John Vianney to be patron saint of all the world's priests. At present he is considered the patron saint of parish priests.

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Chicago is Tornado Immune

2009-03-18T10:10:00.003-05:00

I always sort of heard that one, although I don't know why we would believe it would be impossible for a tornado to hit the city.

WGN Weather Blog

Tornadoes in the city of Chicago

Dear Tom,
Many Chicagoans firmly believe that a tornado cannot touch down in the city. That's
not true, is it?
Scott Robertson, Chicago

Dear Scott,

No it is not! Tornadoes do hit within the city. At least a dozen tornadoes have been
documented in Chicago, though many have been weak. Only one has been recorded
downtown--an F3 storm that swept from near 18th Street and the Chicago River to the
current site of Navy Pier on May 6, 1876.

On March 12, 1976, an F2 twister clipped the far northwest side near O'Hare and on
March 4, 1961 an F2 tornado killed one and injured 115 as it cut across the South Side.

The tail end of the F4 Oak Lawn tornado on April 21, 1967 traveled across the South
Side before dissipating over the lake near 79th Street. Chicago's earliest recorded
tornado struck the Norwood Park area on May 22, 1855.

This seems like something the Weather Channel would do a show on, one of those 'It Could Happen Tomorrow' episodes. They could predict what would happen if an F5 hit right in the middle of downtown. That way nobody inside Chicago would ever sleep well again.

Actually, I take that back, according to wikipedia they have already done that episode in Season 2.

11 F5 Tornado Chicago Plainfield Tornado January 7, 2007

I've always been easily scared of nasty tornado-weather. Although last year I handled taking shelter in the basement the best because I brought my laptop with to take my mind of it (something my dad thought was funny - I didn't bring anything I really needed, just a pillow and my laptop).

I signed up to get the feed from the WGN Weather Blog a few months ago, I have to say Tom Skilling not only really loves the weather, but he really knows what he's talking about.

LOL St. Jude

2009-03-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

LOLSaints

Rabbi to Pope: Please Don’t Wear Cross at the Western Wall

2009-03-18T08:44:00.001-05:00

Rabbi to Pope: Please Don’t Wear Cross at the Western Wall
By Randy Sly
3/18/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The Rabbi of the Western Wall has indicated that it would be inappropriate for Pope Benedict to wear a cross during his scheduled visit to the area in May. During his 2000 visit, Pope John Paul II wore his.

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*** Added

Israeli ambassador confirms Pope Benedict may wear cross at Western Wall

Rome, Italy, Mar 18, 2009 / 02:13 am (CNA).- Contrary to comments attributed to an Israeli rabbi, Pope Benedict XVI will not be barred from entering the holy area of Jerusalem’s Western Wall while wearing a cross.

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Rumors: Pope to make official UK visit

2009-03-16T09:35:00.002-05:00

Pope to make official UK visit
Vatican indicates that Benedict XVI is ready to accept an invitation from Gordon Brown to make the first state visit

THE POPE is preparing to make a historic official visit to Britain. Sources at the Vatican have indicated that Benedict XVI is ready to accept an invitation from Gordon Brown to come to the UK. It would be the first state visit by a pope to Britain and could take place as soon as next year; September 2010 is considered the likeliest date.

Unlike John Paul II’s ground-breaking visit in 1982, which was “pastoral” and did not involve going to Downing Street or meeting the prime minister, the event would be a full state visit, with the pontiff addressing both houses of parliament at Westminster.

More

I know it would be a lot to ask for, but I'd love it if he came back to the United States. I loved it when he was here last year. I was teasing my sister that I was going to write him a note inviting him back and telling him that it would be cool if he wanted to crash at our place, I can sleep on the couch. Although can you imagine the amount of cleaning you would have to do if the Pope was coming oveR? I don't think I could make it.

Recruiting Posters

2009-03-16T09:17:00.002-05:00

These are great, LOL.

Look at more of them at Curt Jester, I know the post is from 2005, but still, they're hilarious.

My School Hates Phatmass

2009-03-16T09:07:00.002-05:00

I cannot stay logged in there at all. Even on the occasions when it lets me log in and see that I'm logged in by the time I try to post I'm logged back out again.

They Need to Get a Catholic at the Tribune

2009-03-13T13:27:00.002-05:00

Virgin Mary?

'Virgin Mary' resurrected
A picture of the Virgin Mary is taped to the concrete wall scrawled with messages near the stain.

Brownback - Turncoat

2009-03-11T00:55:00.001-05:00

Spirit & Life®
"The words I spoke to you are spirit and life." (Jn 6:63)
Human Life International e-Newsletter
Volume 04, Number 10 | Friday, March 6, 2009
..................................................................................
www.hli.org

Brownback - Turncoat

I am not a politician, I am a priest. So I would like to give my priestly perspective about the recent endorsement of Senator Sam Brownback for the candidacy of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services: Senator Brownback's cowardly betrayal of his Catholic faith is even more damaging than his political permission for this renegade to take office.

The situation is atrocious. An extremist abortion hack (called the most pro-abortion governor in the nation by many), who falsely calls herself "Catholic," is given the opportunity to preside over the nation's healthcare system and normalize abortion even further; this radical is then endorsed by a US senator who also calls himself "Catholic" and who, many believe, wants her job back home when she becomes the abortion queen in DC.

With pro-lifers like Senator Sam Brownback, who needs pro-aborts?

Moral theologians can work out what level of cooperation in evil the Senator's endorsement represents - he is, after all, an influential senator whose opposition, if he had given it, may very well have stopped her nomination. Yet, those of us who do not breathe the rarified air of Washington DC and who have dedicated our lives to defending the sanctity of human life understand one thing: any covenant with the abortion industry or its promoters is consent to the killing. As a convert to the Catholic Faith, Senator Brownback seems not to understand the Church's profoundly wounded heart with regard the slaughter of the innocents. The Church tells us never to participate in that slaughter, no matter what the cost; we do not give aid and comfort to the enemies of human life, we do not stand by while the innocent are being dragged off to a violent murder, and under no circumstances do we endorse the political aspirations of their executioners. Politicians who sell the lives of babies for political gains are the worst kind of turncoats.

Yet, this Catholic Senator's decision constitutes, I think, a watershed moment for all of us who want to see an end to the immoral industry of baby-killing in our country. We will never be served by the compromise of our principles in any form. Catholicism is the solution to this culture of death. If only Catholics ourselves would fully live up to our doctrine and put it into practice, there would be no "Tiller the Killer"s in Kansas, no partial birth abortions, no immoral sex education in the schools or Planned Parenthoods dominating our public life. Self-described "Catholics" like Brownback (in politics), Doug Kmiec (in academia), Hannity, Matthews and O'Reilly (in media) and others are not the solution to the problem - they are enablers of the problem. Despite their high-sounding lip service to the culture of life, they are compromisers. They will never end abortion because they don't want to end abortion.

I have often said that false Catholics, whether they be Cardinals, politicians or janitors, are the ones who have the most to account for on the Day of Judgment when they will have to account for ignoring Christ in His "least brethren," the unborn. Whether through advocacy of the evil (like Sebelius) or negligence in stopping it (like Brownback), they have blood on their hands. They've been given everything the Church has to offer: the teaching, the sacraments, the example of the saints and the grace to stand against Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. In other words, they know better, and the Biblical warning applies to them: "To whom much has been given, much will be required." Cowards and turncoats beware.

Sincerely,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International

LOL @ LOLSaints

2009-03-10T22:26:00.005-05:00

LOLSaints makes me laugh so often. Some of my favorites from the past week or two.

Chaput warns that Conn. bill threatens Catholics everywhere

2009-03-10T12:09:00.003-05:00

The only real thing I would add is that it doesn't just threaten Catholics everywhere it threatens all Christians, and all faiths in this country.

Archbishop of Denver warns that Conn. bill threatens Catholics everywhere

Denver, Colo., Mar 9, 2009 / 05:53 pm (CNA).- Although the legislation in question was introduced in Connecticut, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver has issued a statement on a bill that would effectively sever the relationship between a bishop and his pastors and parishes. Archbishop Chaput says in his statement, "What Happens in Connecticut Matters Here," that the bill is "bad public policy in every sense."

The Senate Bill 1098 was introduced last Thursday by the chairs of the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature: Senator Andrew McDonald of Stamford and Representative Michael Lawlor of East Haven.

Sen. McDonald and Rep. Lawlor are both homosexual activists, who have opposed the local Church’s efforts to defend marriage between a man and a woman.

The bill’s supposed purpose is to increase financial oversight of the Church, following two recent embezzlement cases.

However, the proposed legislation also reorganizes the internal structure of the Church, removing the bishop as the head of the board of the parishes in his diocese and requiring the pastor to report to a board composed of laity instead of the bishop. Under the bill, the bishop is also relegated to being an "ex officio" member of the board, without voting rights.

Addressing the perception that outsiders have of the Church as "a monolith," Archbishop Chaput said that "the opposite is true."

More

Fight this bill with the Diocese of Bridgeport

Catching Up Post

2009-03-10T11:50:00.005-05:00

My new computer came last week so I've been playing that more lately than anything else. The bad thing is that its not hooked up to the internet yet so I haven't been keeping up with my internet stuff as much. I've seen lots of stuff that I wanted to post on here, I just haven't done so.

---

Doug Barry and Eric Genuis (of Radix) were at my church over the weekend, they did a talk, question answers sort of thing, and Doug did his one-man passion play. Eric performed before each of the masses, but I missed it as I was sick Sunday morning.

(As Pontius Pilate)

---

Holy Cards for your inspiration had this card one day last week and it tied in actually with what Doug and Eric were talking about.

Meaning of most of the Dutch words on the card:[At the top:]"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."[On the great cross:]"I am weighed down by all of your sins."[Some of the words on the small crosses:]"Scrupulosity, Disgrace, Ignorance, Sadness, Torments, Injuries, Severity, Contempt, Poverty, Humiliations, Adversity, Sorrow, Loss of Friends, Illnesses, Trials, Crimes, Disfavor, Misdeeds, Loss of Goodness, Lukewarmness, Prosecutions, Insults"

---

I'm going to try to update on stuff throughout the day. I did want to post about the horrendous attack on religious freedom in Connecticut (BTW I have a mental block on the spelling of Connecticut).

I have to get through my email which has been piling up so much over the past week. I used to love checking my email, now most of the time I dread it.

5th District Primary Results

2009-03-04T08:53:00.002-06:00

U.S. House - District 5 - GOP Special Primary

571 of 578 Precincts Reporting - 99%

Name Party Votes Vote %

Pulido, Rosanna GOP 979 25%
Hanson, Tom GOP 844 21%
Anderson, David GOP 705 18%
Bedell, Gregory GOP 661 17%
Kay, Daniel GOP 372 9%
Stewart, Jon GOP 365 9%

Source

I'm Finished With This Guy

2009-03-04T08:02:00.003-06:00

Remember in My Cousin Vinny when Vinny was done cross examining the one witness he ends by saying, 'I'm finished with this guy' or something along those lines? Thats a pretty accurate description of how I feel about Senator Brownback right now.

Brownback issued a joint statement with fellow senator from Kansas, Pat Roberts, congratulating the Governor.

"It's an honor for the State of Kansas to have an elected official appointed to the president's cabinet," stated the senators. "We are hopeful Governor Sebelius will be a voice for Kansas and rural America at the Department. We look forward to working with her on issues important to the state including a National Cancer Institute Designation at the University of Kansas Cancer Center."

ALL's Judie Brown on Sen. Brownback: "I'll never use 'pro-life' to describe him again"

I had been a fan of Senator Brownback, I supported his (short) run in the primary, and always appreciated his strong pro-life support. I can't understand why he would kiss up to Sebelius like this, she is extremely pro-abortion and is an ally of Tiller the Killer. I guess political expediency is more important than the lives of unborn children.

I Laugh Every Election Day When I See This

2009-03-03T13:07:00.000-06:00

This is so we know how to fill out the ballot. I had my cellphone with me this time so I took a picture when I voted this morning.

Chicago Tea Party Video

2009-02-27T17:28:00.001-06:00

Chicago Tea Party Photos

2009-02-27T16:09:00.001-06:00

The Chicago Tea Party today that started at Daley Plaza today at 11am.

---

Tony Peraica

40 Days for Life

2009-02-25T10:34:00.001-06:00

From Fr. Pavone, bolding mine.

40 Days for Life
For nearly two decades, Priests for Life has been among the leading groups in promoting peaceful, prayerful presence in front of abortion mills, and we continue to call the People of God to come to the places where the killing is taking place, so that their presence and their prayers can awaken the consciences of those who go there. Tomorrow, another 40 Days for Life campaign will begin in many cities, where people will gather at abortion mills during the entire Lenten season. When we show up, moms and dads change their minds about killing their children and the conscience of the community is awakened. Indeed, our biggest problem is not that President Obama is sitting in the White House, but that we are sitting in our own houses. Let’s rise up and end abortion.

Chicago Tea Party

2009-02-25T08:51:00.002-06:00

Lounge Daddy had a post the other day about the Chicago Tea Party movement. They are going to have demonstrations all over the country this Friday. I was disappointed at first. I don't work on Fridays, but this week I started working on my observation hours and wouldn't be able to attend. Yesterday I found out however, that the school I'm getting my hours at has Friday off.

So it looks like I will be able to attend the one at Daley Plaza. I'm planning on going barring any unforseen events. If I am able to go I will be sure to post photos of the event. According to the website Tony Peraica is supposed to be there, with perhaps other speakers to be announced.

---

Official Chicago Tea Party

Date: Friday, February 27.
Time: 11:00 AM Central Time.
Start: Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St..
End: Michigan Ave Bridge (Tribune Tower).

Speakers include Tony Peraica and more speakers TBA.

Ash Wednesday

2009-02-24T19:02:00.002-06:00

I know quite a few people for whom this is accurate. Except some don't even bother with Christmas and Easter, they just go to Ash Wednesday.

There are those Catholics who check in for services on Christmas and Easter twice a year and pretend they’re visiting from out of town. Then there are those Catholics who choose to go the extra mile and attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, thus increasing their holiness by nearly 50%. It is a not-so-subtle way of proving you’ve been to Mass and works better than showing off a Sunday bulletin.

Stuff Catholics Like blog

Recipes for Lent

2009-02-23T09:07:00.000-06:00

I'm a regular poster at Food Network Fans and last year I started a thread about recipes for Lent. There is a lot of good links on there, with lots of good ideas.

Dolan to New York

2009-02-23T07:05:00.001-06:00

Milwaukee archbishop promoted to New York archdiocese
February 23, 2009 5:11 AM

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI this morning named Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan as the new archbishop of New York.

He succeeds New York Cardinal Edward Egan, 76, who is retiring after nine years as the city's archbishop.

More

Republican Candidates for the 5th District

2009-02-18T09:39:00.005-06:00

I'm Representive-less at the moment since Rahm Emmanuel took the job with Obama in Washington. We're having a primary election for the spot in March and the general in April.

There are 12 Democrats, 6 Republicans, and 5 Green Party Candidates. With the exception of a few signs in front of houses, I haven't seen a whole lot of info on these Republicans. So I'm taking a look at their websites.

Tom Hanson

This is the first Republican candidate on the ballot. I popped in on his website, and the first thing I see is "Liberal Republican". Well, I'll just say that if I wanted a liberal Republican I'd vote for a Democrat, even if a liberal Republican is the only one that had a chance.

I did take a look at his positions and I will be passing on him.

Abortion Debate
I favor the rights to abortion and will vote for restrictions that are permissible under Roe vs. Wade

Marriage Debate
I favor the idea that same sex couples should be allowed to enter into a legally binding agreement that guarantees them similar benefits as married couples.

The next candidate is Jon Stewart, well at least the first thing on his website isn't Liberal Republican even if there is a picture of him with John McCain.

I'm a little nervous with a couple of the bullet points he has on the front.

The Jon Stewart Guarantee:

• To work steadfastly with President Obama to change our country
• To be fiercely independent in Congress
• Eliminate any contact with lobbyists
• To help my constituents' voices be heard throughout Washington
• Lower taxes for the middle class
• To provide universal, affordable health insurance to Americans
• To change the way Washington works and operates

My fears seem to be justified, I go to his positons and there they are...

• Affordable health care for all Americans
• Protect a woman's right to choose
• End the war in Iraq
• Legalize ALL undocumented, law abidding immigrants

I'm going through these candidates as I write this, I hope that at least one will be worth voting for, even if he doesn't win.

Greg Bedell for Congress

This site is a little more difficult to navigate. It looks like the same format as Team Sarah, although I don't have a problem with Team Sarah's layout, I'm having a greater difficulty in finding out his positions. In his bio Bedell says:

Mr. Bedell, 49, said he is running for Congress to support a return to Republican fundamentals. His campaign is focused on developing creative solutions to the current challenges citizens face – solutions grounded in traditional Republican beliefs of fiscal responsibility and strong national security.

Sounds good so far, but what about the social issues? I had to do a search to finally get to where he stands on abortion.

Abortion:
Pregnancy is an extremely personal issue for a woman. I know the decisions relating to pregnancy and parenthood are rarely taken lightly. My wife and I have two children and I have witnessed the amazing changes, challenges and joys only she could feel. Seeing for the first time the ultrasound pictures of my daughter profoundly affected me; there, inside my wife, was another human being.

I understand that pregnancy forever changes a woman’s life. But, the change is the creation of life and I am opposed to ending it. We must educate to prevent unwanted pregnancies. We must recognize the real life difficulties and emotional dilemmas that woman face and with this understanding help them and provide assistance to those who want to have their babies but fear the costs and consequences of pregnancy and parenthood.

We must do all that we can to decrease the loss of this new human life. I will oppose any effort to permit the barbarous practice of late term abortions, except where the life of the mother is demonstrably at risk. And, I will oppose government funding of abortion.

But, in those instances where a family is faced with the horrible choice of saving the child or the mother, I can only stand by the choice I would make and that is to save the woman I love.

And on gay marriage

Civil Unions:
I am committed to Civil Unions and according to gay and lesbian couples the rights and responsibilities of two people united under the law. These loving relationships must be recognized. A compassionate society should do no less. I do not agree, however, that these unions should be called a marriage which, in our society, is the union of a man and a woman.

Well, he's better than the other two thats for sure, but still really not where I am.

Rosanna Pulido: Conservative for Congress: Common Sense for Illinois District 5

Well thats more along the lines of what I like to see. She doesn't have a lot of her positions up, but she is against illegal immigration and is pro-life.

Pro-LifePosted by tech On February - 8 - 2009One of the measures of a more highly civilized society, is its attitude towards its weaker members. If the poor, the sick, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the helpless are not protected, the society is not as advanced as in a society where they are protected. The more mature the society is, the more there is respect for the dignity and rights of all human beings. The function of the laws of the society, is to protect and provide for all members so that no individual or group of individuals can be victimized by another individual group. Every American has a vital stake in what value system is adopted towards its weak, aged, cripple, it’s helpless intra-uterine members; a vital stake in who chooses life or death.

Do we accept killing a human being because of a temporary, emotional upset? All obstetricians and gynecologists know of many cases where the mother, be her single or married, has spoken of abortion early in the pregnancy and later on, has confessed her gratitude to those who have not performed the abortion. On the other hand, we have all seen women what have been troubled, consumed with guilt and Depression following and because of abortion.

Abortion hurts women!

She is the best one for me so far.

Daniel Kay for Congress

His site is under construction right now, he has a bio page up with information about him, but not really his postions. He says:

With over 6,300 bills introduced to the 110th congress, it would be impossible to elaborate on enough issues. In a nutshell, the district is highly diverse and all parts of it need attention, not just those in the city limits as were the policies of the previous 2 5th district representatives in congress. Much effort had been placed to modernize O'Hare airport to bring in line with others around the nation, however, the majority of the airports viability is in freight and cargo. The infrastructure including federal highway US 12/45, which are vital to the success of the airport and surrounding rail yards, are in gross neglect. Recently the Mannheim Road bridge over the O'Hare rail yard was closed due to the frost heaves launching vehicles onto black ice and causing them to spin out. Because this road doesn't link the airport with downtown Chicago directly, the communities affected didn't have the ears willing to listen. Fairness to all is my basic doctrine. From Lake Shore Drive to County Line Road, and from Lake Street to Touhy Ave. all need their voices heard in Washington.

I will have to look back at him before the election to see what he has to say about the issues that are most important to me.

Finally, Dr. David J. Anderson

He is very outspoken about corruption in Illinois, which is admirable. My personal opinion of what he has written on his site is that he admires BO and agrees with him on various positions to different degrees. He really doesn't include any of his positons on the social issues. Like Daniel Kay I will have to look back before the election to see if he has added anything.

Based on what I have seen so far though, Rosanna Pulido is the best candidate for me.

Oh Kass, How I Love You

2009-02-18T09:25:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite people on Earth has to be Mr. John Kass of the Chicago Tribune. When my Dad was in the hospital for most of December at the same time that then-Governor Blagojevich fell into legal problems, I often brought info and little sayings from Kass to Dad in the hospital to brighten his day.

I'd say that Kass leans conservative, but he is critical of the 'combine' in Illinois. The democrats and republicans who work with each other to take advantage of the rest of us. But the thing I mostly love about Kass is the creative writing that he injects into his columns.

The names he gives politicians:

Gov. Blagojevich: Governor Dead Meat or Governor Nosferatu
Rep. DeLeo: (D-How you Doin?)
Sen. Burris: Roland "Tombstone" Burris (D-Lying Weasel)
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Tomczak)
Rep. John Fritchey (D-Pastries)
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Lisa's Dad)

And terms like: feditis and hopium.

When I see some of his writing that really gets me going I should just post it, so I have it here for all of time. Today he was in form and really made me laugh.

Sen. Roland "Tombstone" Burris (D-Lying Weasel) hatches his lies by the minute; they bubble out of his mouth like insect larvae from the mud.

Once their wings are dry, they launch from our senator's lips and buzz. Yet with all the buzzing, let's consider a few things.

This was the part specifically that had me laughing, even though I'm in a quiet computer lab.

Even Mayor Richard Daley lies better than Burris. Years ago, when confronted by Tribune reporters about how he'd given $100 million in affirmative action contracts to white guys with Outfit connections whom he'd drink with every Christmas Eve, Daley developed his strategy.

He turned purple, the hair on his temples flying up like the wings of dark angels, and he released his terrifying Mayor Chucky persona. This so frightened timid TV political reporters that they wouldn't follow up on Tribune stories.

Burris is trying to do the same, but he can't intimidate the media, not with that ridiculous Please-Don't-Squeeze-the-Charmin mustache on his lip. He played the race card to get seated in the Senate, but the race card doesn't have muscle now that America elected a black president.

Pope Meets with Pelosi

2009-02-18T08:25:00.003-06:00

I was talking to Mom yesterday about the Pope meeting with Nancy Pelosi. I was a little upset by the meeting because I know all Nancy really wants in meeting the Pope is to get a nice photo of her doing so. I know the Pope has to be pastoral and meet with people with whom he disagrees with, because how can he influence them if he never meets with them sort of thing, but Pelosi? A photo with him would just enable her to continue her anti-life, and anti-Catholic policies. Mom remarked that if the Pope was smart he would meet with her in some closet, away from the media. That way she can get her meeting, but no photo. Well, it looks like Mom is a smart cookie, I saw an article this morning detailing the meeting sounding very close to that.

Pelosi could not immediately be reached after the 15-minute meeting, which was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room of a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience.

And the Vatican released a statement on what the Pope told Nancy which included

The Vatican released remarks by the pope to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion.

Benedict said all Catholics—especially legislators, jurists and political leaders—should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

Well now that she's had time to ram through a massive stimulus bill and meet with Pope Benedict, maybe she will find time to meet with her Bishop, which she seems to have put off for several months.

Since there is no photo of this meeting, I'm just adding this one in because I find it funny. It looks like Monsignor Gaenswein is going to catch it in his hand.

Dropping Christian Words from Children's Dictionary

2009-02-17T11:22:00.002-06:00

'Nun,' bishop,' 'saint,' 'monk' dropped from children's dictionary
February 16, 2009 9:45 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

A Nun's Life finds that the word "nun" has been dropped from the Oxford Junior Dictionary. "Surely, I thought this must be a joke."

Not so. A number of Christian-related words were dropped, including, "abbey, altar, bishop, chapel, christen, disciple, minister, monastery, monk, nun, nunnery, parish, pew, psalm, pulpit, saint, sin, devil, and vicar."

Some of the new words in the latest edition "reflect cultural shifts today such as the growth of new media: "blog" and "MP3 player."

So what will kids think when they try to look up nun or saint or bishop?

Link

Are we afraid dictionaries are too big that we have to remove words when we add a few?

St. Michael the Archangel

2009-02-16T20:14:00.002-06:00

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. a Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Patron of soldiers, police officers, and paramedics among other things.

Holy Name getting help from other churches

2009-02-16T09:20:00.000-06:00

Holy Name getting help from other churches in rebuilding effort
By Manya A. Brachear | Tribune reporter
February 14, 2009

When Rev. Leroy Sanders heard that "God's house" had burned, he urged the congregation of Kenwood United Church of Christ to reach out and help rebuild. It didn't matter to the South Side Protestant pastor or his congregation that "God's house" was Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

"We're serving the same God," said Sanders, whose congregation donated $500 to Holy Name for repairs after a fire erupted Feb. 4 in the cathedral's attic. Officials have not determined the cause, calculated the cost or concluded when the 4,500-family congregation can return.

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Cool.

Catholicism

2009-02-14T21:16:00.000-06:00

Catholicism Trailer from Nancy Ross on Vimeo.

Word on Fire

H/T Cardinal Sean

Dolan to New York?

2009-02-13T14:58:00.001-06:00

Vatican watcher: Pope has chosen Archbishop Timothy Dolan for New York

Rome, Italy, Feb 13, 2009 / 02:30 pm (CNA).- The eagerly anticipated appointment of the new Archbishop of New York appears to be just around the corner. The well-connected Italian journalist Paolo Rodari, who writes for Il Reformista, is reporting that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee will soon be announced as the new head of the most important U.S. diocese.

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I'm Sure This Makes Me a Bad Person

2009-02-11T11:17:00.002-06:00

I'm sure posting this makes me a bad person, but I had to laugh.