Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Freedom Through Truth: Take Them to the Woodshed, Bishops

Michael Brandon offers a few well chosen words worth reading on the anti-Catholic prejudice issue on his blog 'Freedom through Truth'.  He expresses what I believe. better than I could. I wish I could write as well! I wish I could think as well too! Thanks Michael. Much appreciated. Again to I offer to anyone who will abide by two simple rules* the offer to publish their thoughts here on this or any other topic should the spirit so move you. Same goes if you want to recommend an article to cross-post to. I've always intended this blog as a place to facilitate debate and conversation. A variety of opinions is necessary to accomplish that end. Interested in taking up the offer? Fr. Tim * 1. must be civil; 2. must be cogent Freedom Through Truth: If This is the Way You Treat Your Friends

Great post on Michael Brandon's blog about what it means to be 'rational'. Freedom Through Truth: Rational Human Beings - An Oxymoron?

I like the way that Michael uses everyday imagery and events to help explain the Christian message. Well done Michael! P.S.  What's up with your photo? I thought you were supposed to wait for the flamé to extinguish before eating! Freedom Through Truth: Salvation - a User's Manual and FAQ's

Every Tom Dick and Satan Knows Scripture And Satan Knows It Best Christianity is split largely between the Catholics and the Protestants, though there are so many splits among the Protestants that it is hard to tell denomination from denomination without some kind of score card. But, the Catholics don't get off so easily either. Catholics have abandoned their faith in droves, some surfacing with our Protestant brothers and sisters, but many just lapsing into nowhere land.... Click on link below to read entire post. Freedom Through Truth: Every Tom Dick and Satan Knows Scripture

Michael Brandon (Freedom Through Truth) shares some wonderful insights and reflections on the Catholic belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Freedom Through Truth: The Real Presence

Freedom Through Truth: Catholic Priests - in persona Christi

This is a cross post to Michael Brandon's ' Freedom Through Truth ' Blog. Aside from the elegant way in which he virtually brings us into very Church where today's funeral mass for the youngest of the Tucson victims was held, what he wrote inspired me to stop ponder this.  Through the medium of the internet, I (and by extension anyone who reads this note and visits Michael's blog) am virtually and immediately connected to events thousands of kilometers away. In fact, were it not for this medium, neither Michael or I would ever have even heard of each other - meeting as we did through the blogosphere, this very medium If the medium is the message, then might my meeting with Micheal  be meaningful - as Marshall McLuhan might muse upon? Any 'McLuhanites' out there with enough machismo and mental measure to explain the meaning of Michael's morning? Freedom Through Truth: Signs of the Arizona Tragedy

Here is a cross post to Michael Brandon's blog, Freedom Through Truth. It deals with a LONG discussion that has been taking place under my last Quebec posting (six weeks ago). Given that the comments have topped 100+ it may be time to bring that discussion into a new thread so that more people can join the conversation. The essence of the conversation has come down the the legitimacy (or lack there of) of the sacrament of reconciliation (Confession). 'Small Town Guy' a regular participant here on this blog has offered substantial evidence and documentation from his faith tradition to argue that Confession is not 'biblical'. Michael and I have obviously been arguing the opposite position. If you have any interest in this topic, feel free to peruse the earlier comments ( here ) or offer you comments in this new thread! My heartfelt thanks to Michael and STG for their diligent and intelligent contribution to this discussion. Fr. Tim Freedom Through Truth: Is...

A thought provoking posting from a friend of this blog, Michael Brandon. His 'Freedom Through Truth' is a must read for anyone interested in Catholic issues. In this post he addresses the long exchanges between another excellent poster, 'Small Town Guy' and the two of us. Check it out! What is the Fruit of Disobedience?

With thanks to Michael at 'Freedom through Truth', who was inspired by the weather there (and here) today to remember this song from a few years ago. It does help to see the beauty of such a day to listen to a quiet and inspiring song such as this one. We can think of this song as an ode of love from one to another, or between God and us. Or we can just enjoy 2:20 minutes of soothing music. Either way, it's a nice thing to do on a cold and wet day like today.  

"Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former US politican and sociologist, was quoted as saying: "You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts." That said, and that being true, why are there so many differing opinions about things in our world? In a recent article for her blog, writer Sheila Liaugminas, a very thoughful and reasoned writer pulled together some research and thinking that gave me pause. She commenced her piece as follows: "Opinions are individual and subjective. But facts are facts. Trouble is, they’re usually communicated or interpreted by someone. That’s where opinion comes back in…." Click on the link below to read the rest of this concise and insightful offering. Freedom Through Truth: When Faced With the Truth Many Hide From It. Why?

Freedom Through Truth: Is The Eucharist That We Celebrate The Real Presence of Jesus Christ?

H/T to Michael Brandon (Freedom Through Truth) for this delightful post by an American (religious?) who blogs to offer and inspire prayer as the remedy for the sex abuse scandals. She does not diminish the evil, nor the steps needed to erase it from the Church. Nor does she condemn the media for (most of) their reporting. She recognizes the harm and the good being done through their exposing rot within the 'wood' in parts of 'Peter's barque'. This is a necessary step in any effective repair: to determine the extent of the corruption and then apply the necessary remedy to bring about healing. Thus she prays for healing: for the victims, the church and in the world. Here is a prayer she invites all to join: PRAYER FOR HEALING Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep. Every hurt that has ever been done to me, heal that hurt. Every hurt that I have ever caused another person, heal that hurt. All the relationships th...

One of the best Catholic blogs in Canada today is written by Michael Brandon of London, Ontario. If you click here you can read a cross post from Fr. Dwight Longenecker on how to address the sex abuse scandals that have erupted around the church. If you are not a regular reader of Michael's "freedom through truth" blog... you should be! I consider it to be an EXCEPTIONAL blog on Catholic matters written from the perspective of a faithful, married lay member of the RC Church. Keep up the great work Michael!!