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Showing posts from February, 2013

A dread article which portends to war that echoes of recent conflicts in the past.

Here is a worrisome article from Time Magazine in which the author lays out 'the path to war' with Iran. I say worrisome because it was articles such as this one that marked the beginnings of the drumbeat to war with Iraq for similar reasons: to halt an Arab nation from possessing nuclear weapons. Irrespective of one's convictions as to whether such an aim constitutes a sufficient casus belli for war, I trust that all people of good heart, mind, and soul would accept that a peaceful resolution to such conflicts between nations is preferable to an armed conflict. Let those of us who believe in prayer renew our commitment to dedicate ourselves to praying for peace and love to triumph over war and hatred in this world. Together with all people who yearn for peace to prevail here and now, let us commit to work to attain that cherished goal by whatever means we can legitimately use to that end. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2137429,00.html?utm_source=feedbur

A good article on the rising tide of social hostility faced by religious folks in Canada

My apologies for the paucity of articles these past few days. I'm currently on vacation in the Caribbean, trying to recover my health after the flu put me into hospital last month. I've only today been able to access a wireless service. I plan to resume updating, writing, and posting articles as of today. I start with this one from the National Post by Matthew Block examining the increasing hostility people of faith are experiencing in the public square. He expresses well the experience that many of we believers face - at least in our online lives. We have not yet reached a point of social decay in our Canadian society where people would be so openly offensive and insulting as they can be hiding behind the anonymity afforded by the internet. It's harder to have to insult one face to face where they can be held immediately responsible for their impoliteness than it is to insult someone digitally... and there's no guarantee that such hostility as we encounter online wil

An interesting video on the coming conclave to choose the next Pope

Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope: Today's candidate, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope | National Catholic Reporter

Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope: Today's candidate is Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Cardinal Marc Ouellet Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope | National Catholic Reporter

Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope - Today's candidate: Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana

CARDINAL PETER TURKSON OF GHANA Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope | National Catholic Reporter

A little Lenten humor

My homily for the 1st week of Lent

Let's ask ourselves a tough question today: am I a better Christian now than I was a year ago?  Am I holier?  Am I more like Christ?  Am I really becoming the saint that God created me to be? It's uncomfortable to ask questions like that.  That's good.  Lent is a time for us to feel uncomfortable.  Jesus loves us too much to let us be lazy . He is like a good coach, always encouraging us to grow, to improve. Unfortunately, many of us aren't growing as quickly or as constantly as we should .  Professionally we are moving up, maybe. Academically, athletically we are making progress, but as Christians ? Not really. We're still stuck where we have always been. On a plateau.  The same temptations, the same falls, the same sins. We're still mediocre Christians. One of the reasons for this is that we don't go to the real roots of our selfishness.  We try to follow Christ more faithfully , but we don't do

The Sacred Page: Benedict XVI resigns and lightning comes down from the night sky...

The Sacred Page: Benedict XVI resigns and lightning comes down from... : Apparently, this is no joke, though it seems a bit fantastic. Tonight--the night after Benedict announced he is retiring from the papacy--...

Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says - CNN.com

Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says - CNN.com

Americans Love Their Drones | Via Meadia

Americans may love their drones, but that feeling is hardly universal. Imagine how Americans would react if a foreign power was flying small weapons over their air space designed to kill them. If someone, half a world away was able to suddenly bring death from the sky with the push of a button... do you think that this is something they'd love? I doubt it very much.  Americans Love Their Drones | Via Meadia

False Comfort: There is NO ALTERNATIVE to evangelizing. Never was... Never will be!

There is no alternative to evangelizing. There never was. No rearguard defense of Catholic “tradition” or “values” can staunch all the bleeding. In crass Canadian ice hockey terms: we are going into the next period down five goals, and while better defensive play might be indicated, it is not going to win the game. More fundamentally: Christ did not send out his apostles to sit on their lead, either.  Click the link below to read entire article:  False Comfort

Vatican Council Examines Problem of Low Emotional Intelligence | Daily News | NCRegister.com

This is not only a problem among the young - which is the target audience for this Vatican initiative - but is pretty evident among quite a few of her clergy. For example, studies have demonstrated that one of the most common items listed by families as being responsible for a 'difficult grief' is the indifferent attitude they have encountered from the clergy responsible for the funeral services. An inability of priests and bishops to relate emotionally to others in stressful times has wrought great pain and suffering to many.    Vatican Council Examines Problem of Low Emotional Intelligence | Daily News | NCRegister.com

BIG BLUE WAVE: Yet another university prolife club banned... this time it's Trent University in Peterborough. I guess freedom of speech and belief isn't what it used to be on university campuses anymore.

I guess if you can't win an argument with the force of your beliefs, it's OK to do so with the imposition of force and administrative power? Seems to be the case when one is advocating for the death of the pre-born: Can't win your case on its merits? Then shut-up those who can. So sad... so true...  BIG BLUE WAVE: Yet another university prolife club banned

From the man who brought us Survivor... comes a new new mini-series... The Bible. Humm... wonder how this will turn out.