Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Humm... I thought that the atheists were trying to convince us that not only was the Catholic Church on an inexorable slide into oblivion, (especially in today's Britain) but that B16 was thought to be the very epitome of what the English detested: German, conservative, dogmatic, homophobic etc. Yet the evidence shows that in the wake of his visit to the British Isles, religious practice was on the rise throughout the Christian Churches. Maybe the forces of faith are more resilient that our opponents have given us credit for. I do not deny that the church stands bloodied and battered before the world this day, and that there is a great deal of work to be done to repair the Barque of Peter. This news should give hope to believers everywhere for it is evident that the boat will stay afloat despite the sinfulness of a few and the animus of its enemies. Churches halt decline, new research shows - Telegraph

An interesting take on B16's visit to Britain, written by an columnist who professes himself to be an atheist. H/T to The hermeneutic of continuity by Fr Tim Finigan ‘Pope Benedict is an enemy of the state’ | spiked

Here are my two favorite two lines taken from the Daily Mail as the Papal visit to England came to an end. I admit that I feared the worst as there was so much negative publicity prior to the visit, with predictions of every sort of confrontation and trouble, but as the article makes clear that the faith (once again!) triumphed over the malevolence of its opponents. "The popularity of his visit confounded opponents who predicted thin congregations and empty parks."   &   "By last night the protesters appeared defeated, with celebrity objectors virtually silent and demonstrations against the visit few and muted." Viva el Papa! POPE'S UK VISIT: Benedict XVI's parting message as he flies home | Mail Online

Text of B16's homily in Scotland Whispers in the Loggia: "Search For Him, Know Him and Love Him, and He Will Set You Free"

PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE POPE!! Send your guardian angel to keep him safe throughout his visit to the UK!  CBC News - World - 5 arrested over potential threat to Pope

Once again the Canadian Human Rights Commission has set its perverted gaze upon a Christian organization, this time threatening "Christian Horizons" with the loss of its charitable status since it does not limit its ministry to just Christians. Christian Horizons, an organization that provides residential care services to severely handicapped persons, has been brought before the H.R.C. by an employee who was dismissed for living in a lesbian relationship despite signing a Christian code of conduct statement as part of her employment that forbid employees from living in such a non-biblical relationship. The ruling of the HRC tribunal was that since Christian Horizons did not limit itself to providing care to only Christians, it could not demand that its employees live in accordance with biblical principles. What's truly bizarre is that is the same HRC that previously stated that the organization could not place such a condition upon its employees UNLESS they signed suc...