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Contraception, Abortion, Homosexuality — How the ‘Law of Moral Compromise’ is Eroding Our Foundation| National Catholic Register

Contraception, Abortion, Homosexuality — How the ‘Law of Moral Compromise’ is Eroding Our Foundation| National Catholic Register : What yesterday was considered immoral, and today is treated as moral under limited circumstances, will tomorrow be accepted in all circumstances.
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Editorial: Put on the brakes

Religious leaders across Canada are making a valiant attempt at slowing down this speeding train called Medical Assistance in Dying, and we can only hope their appeal is not falling on entirely deaf ears.  Editorial: Put on the brakes : 
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A Message We Should All Hear and Heed in These Stressful Days of the COVID Pandemic

This is a post written by an Office Administrator at a school in Cornwall, Ontario. This is what happened when I got home tonight. I cried. I cried at work yesterday. I also cried 3 different times last night after getting home from work. I am an Office Administrator at an elementary school and this is how my day has gone. I'm crying because the work and expectations that have been put upon us with the added ridiculous time frames are overwhelming. I'm crying because I am having to answer the phone and hear the concerns and frustrations of parents who are upset at the policies put in place to protect their children while they are at school. I'm crying because I have to call home for a child who is sick and risk getting yelled at because I have now inconvenienced a parent who has to get a COVID test for their child. I'm crying because I have been told to get my shit together because a policy has changed and someone doesn't agree (I didn't change the policy, I am
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Growing in Reverence of the Blessed Sacrament

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction follows each of our streamed weekday Masses. Why not spend a Holy Hour with your fellow parishioners online and take advantage of this opportunity to pray in the virtual presence of the Blessed Sacrament? This book review outlines just some of the graces and benefits that flow to us from such a spiritual activity. Growing in Reverence of the Blessed Sacrament
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How the Plagues of Egypt Exposed False Gods & Revealed the Truth

Plagues have a way of stripping away what is superfluous, revealing the naked truth. In the biblical account of the plagues that decimated Egypt, the plagues exposed the civilization’s false gods and their utter impotence in the face of the one true God (see Exodus 7 through 11). That might not be obvious. How the Plagues of Egypt Exposed False Gods & Revealed the Truth :
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A 4-minute video packed with lots of hope for the days to come

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Priests seek ways to anoint the sick during coronavirus pandemic

As hospitals adjust their procedures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, some Catholic priests are departing from prescribed liturgical practices to administer the anointing of the sick, earning opposition from Church leaders who say the adaptations could invalidate the sacrament. Priests seek ways to anoint the sick during coronavirus pandemic :
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‘Plan for the worst and hope for the best’: Canada’s funeral industry in upheaval as coronavirus deaths mount

Contingency plans are being made across the country to avoid the fate of places like New York, where mass graves on public land are being considered to accommodate the deceased. ‘Plan for the worst and hope for the best’: Canada’s funeral industry in upheaval as coronavirus deaths mount - The Globe and Mail :
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Pope leads 'Way of the Cross' service in deserted St. Peter's Square

Shortly after assuring of his closeness amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak on an Italian television program, Pope Francis on Good Friday yet again appeared in a nearly empty St. Peter’s Square to lead a livestreamed Via Crucis with meditations written by prisoners. Pope leads 'Way of the Cross' service in deserted St. Peter's Square :
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Australia's highest court to judge cardinal's abuse appeal

Australia’s highest court on Tuesday will judge Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against convictions for molesting two teenage choirboys more than two decades ago. But the legal battle over the world’s most senior Catholic convicted of sexually abusing children may not end there. Australia's highest court to judge cardinal's abuse appeal :
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Why Catholics Can Believe in Evolution: Part I: God's Gift of the Periodic Table - Catholic Stand

“A common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”  Why Catholics Can Believe in Evolution: Part I: God's Gift of the Periodic Table - Catholic Stand :
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What does the Bible say about quarantine?

In recent weeks, the Jewish community has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus. The good news is, we’re old hands at dealing with quarantines. COVID -19 seen from a Jewish perspective. Remember folks, those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat its failures. We'd do well to consider their understanding of how to successfully defeat a plague. They know wherefore they speak on this subject. We should listen. What does the Bible say about quarantine? – The Forward :
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A pastoral letter from +Michael Mulhall, Archbishop of Kingston and Apostolic Administrator of Pembroke

Pastoral letter from Archbishop Mulhall Fourth Sunday of of March 22, 2020 My dear faithful from the Archdiocese of Kingston and the diocese of Pembroke, I'm writing to you on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In each of our dioceses, provinces, countries and continent, Sunday Mass was celebrated privately by our priests. This Sunday was a unique experience as we feel the absence of a Sunday mass together. Many other ordinary activities in our communities have been cancelled while citizens are invited to stay at home as much as possible. It is becoming increasingly aware that this state of affairs could continue for some time. With this letter, I would like to ask you your prayers for all those who work in all areas and aspects of health care. The vocation of health care has always been dear to the ministry of the Church and these people will be invited to give themselves generously to treat those who are likely to be infected with the virus. Let us also pray for those in public of
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Churches, other non-profit organizations look for help as they prepare for COVID-19 donation crunch | National Post

As a pastor of three rural parishes, I know all too well how much of a financial crisis the suspension of Church services will affect us. We still need to pay our bills but we have no revenue coming in to pay them with. While we have some limited savings to draw upon, these will soon be exhausted if this suspension lasts more than a few weeks. Perhaps the answer lies in setting up something like a GoFundMe campaign so that parishioners can provide some financial support. Or  perhaps asking parishioners to make electronic transfers will be the way to go. But either way, we will need to come up with an answer... and soon! Your feedback here will be greatly appreciated in helping decide which way to proceed. Thank you. Fr. Tim Moyle Parishes of the Upper Pontiac Churches, other non-profit organizations look for help as they prepare for COVID-19 donation crunch | National Post
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My thoughts in these difficult times.

On January 27th, Canada had its first confirmed coronavirus case. That number rose slowly but steadily to where it stood at 93 last Thursday. Since then the numbers have started to explode exponentially both in terms of confirmed cases and those requiring hospitalization. It stood at 313 this morning. If you plot the numbers on a graph, it looks just like what transpired in Italy and Spain with the number projected to double every day or two. Unfortunately for we Canadians, it's going up even faster in our neighbours to the south. So the threat is real and present from within and without our borders. These figures were taken from the WHO website and are easily available for anyone to read. If you want to know the facts, I highly recommend checking their site out. I post this not to try to gin up anymore panic or stress for people, but only to try to reinforce just how dire our potential future looks if we ALL don't get with the program and hunker down in our homes until we a
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Archdiocese of Washington Announcement Regarding Coronavirus - Archdiocese of Washington

George: Evidently there's no Mass for you either. This is really getting serious. We've had our first positive case identified in Chapeau. He's the guy the was running a Driver's Instruction School. So this virus is making into towns and cities around the world irrespective of size or importance. Stay safe my friend. Tim Archdiocese of Washington Announcement Regarding Coronavirus - Archdiocese of Washington
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Opinion | God vs. Coronavirus

Religion is supposed to be a source of comfort in times of confusion and suffering. And yet everywhere you look, services are being suspended. An interesting article that examines both sides of the argument without a bias towards either. Opinion | God vs. Coronavirus - The New York Times
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God and goal: Catholic priests and seminarians compete in 13th annual Vatican soccer tournament

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis is the honorary captain of the 13th annual Clericus Cup in Rome this weekend, where Catholic priests and seminarians will toss their cassocks aside and give their all on the soccer field. God and goal: Catholic priests and seminarians compete in 13th annual Vatican soccer tournament - Religion News Service :
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God can work in mysterious ways, turning ill fortune to good and good luck to bad.

We lack God's perspective to know which way things will turn out and so all we can do is pray and place our trust that He will work things out according to what's best for us from His point of view.
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"St. Pope John Paul II takes batting practice..." Now there's a headline I didn't think I'd read when I got up this morning!

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Perhaps it's time to change the lyrics of that Bobby McFarren hit to 'Don't worry... Be prayerful!'

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Charles Lewis: Jean Vanier news stirs heartbreak … and anger

"But this is the Catholic Church. We are bigger than any one mortal man or woman. We will go on. And despite Vanier’s failings, I hope L’Arche will go on. I just wish those we look up to, those who lead us, would think of us instead of their own selfish desires. So shame on Jean Vanier and shame on all those who have betrayed us. We are better than you." AMEN! Charles Lewis: Jean Vanier news stirs heartbreak … and anger
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A little something to inspire

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Catholic priest says "pedophilia doesn't kill anyone," but bans 44 lawmakers from receiving communion because he says abortion does

This priest needs to SHUT UP! (After he apologizes for such an insulting and hurtful comment to all clergy sex-abuse victims that is.) Catholic priest says "pedophilia doesn't kill anyone," but bans 44 lawmakers from receiving communion because he says abortion does - CBS News
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To Those Christians Who Say, “God Doesn’t Give Us More Than We Can Handle”

If God doesn't give us more than we can handle, then why did he create psychiatrists and therapists? He didn't create them you say? Well, He also never said that he wouldn't give us more than we can handle! Read this article and discover for yourself why you should never say it to people who are burdened or broken by life. It's disrespectful to them... and to God. To Those Christians Who Say, “God Doesn’t Give Us More Than We Can Handle” | Benjamin L. Corey
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Convent's closure marks end of an era

Many thanks, prayers of gratitude, and best wishes to this beautiful community of women who so ably served in virtually every corner of our diocese throughout the past 100 years. I am saddened to see them have to take this step, but it is understandable given their current situation. May the Good Lord grant them the fullness of his abundant grace as they transition to what appears to be their last mission among us here in the Pembroke Diocese. Convent's closure marks end of an era | CBC News
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China Announces New Crackdown on Religious Freedom

China Announces New Crackdown on Religious Freedom : The new “Administrative Measures for Religious Groups ” will control every aspect of religious activity within China, and will mandate that all religions and believers in China comply with regulations issued by the Chinese Communist Party, which must be acknowledged as the higher authority.
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Morality of drone warfare questioned after attack on Iranian general

Catholics working to shape public policy in favor of peace, collaboration and nonviolent alternatives to war expressed concerns that the drone strike killing Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani likely will fuel an escalating tit-for-tat series of responses that would engulf the Middle East in war. Morality of drone warfare questioned after attack on Iranian general :
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God rested. Why can't clergy take a break?

As someone who was fortunate enough to have been able to take a few months last year for a sabbatical to go study for a semester at a Seminary/Pontifical Institute in Baltimore, MD... St. Mary's. It is not much of an exaggeration to say that the experience saved my vocation as a functional parish pastor as after 30+ years of ministry, I was running on fumes. Since my return, my spiritual 'gas tank' has been replenished and I am truly enjoying my ministry as I did when I began. This article makes the argument that sabbaticals are an essential tool that needs to be offered to all clergy so that they can properly and fruitfully work in God's vineyard. It's well worth the read!! God rested. Why can't clergy take a break? - Religion News Service :
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