Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Here is one of those 'dog bites man' stories that's masquerading as a 'man bites dog' sensation to the detriment of the Catholic Church.  Which do you think would be more headline worthy? The Vatican tells Bishops of a particular country not to take sides in a political dispute or that they would so command a conference of Bishops? Secularists demand that the Church not have a voice in secular affairs, yet the secular press somehow twists it into a sin when the Church does exactly as they demand. How does that old line go? 'Just because you're crazy doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!' When the Vatican stands condemned both when it acts (depicted as Church 'interference' or meddling where she doesn't belong) or refrains from acting (as in this WikiLeaks story) it's hard not to believe that she is battling heavy winds in navigating a safe course through today's media environment.   It's a marvel that she's d...

'Weiner-gate' ? Really? That's what's dominated the news these past few days? Evidently not much happened in the world in my days of isolation far away from all the news and social media (a.k.a. ... paradise) if a congressman 'sexting' and sending close-ups of his loaded briefs is a lead story, at least according to Jon Stewart of the 'Daily Show'. (What a 'joy' it was that the first thing I saw on TV after four days of isolation, prayer and rest was the introduction of his 'C#ck Wheel'. Five minutes of incessant penis humor to satirize this current American fixation was all I could take before turning off the TV and diving into another book!)  The end of the world is surely not too far off if the dominant culture and government in the world can be preoccupied with such puerile 'news'. It seems that whenever a politician moves 'below the belt line' they captures the American public's attention (or at least their med...

Too important to miss! Please read this story.

COOL! A stimulating and amazing presentation of a common logical fallacy that most seem oblivious to: " If A... then B" is not the same as saying "If B... then A ". Chances Are - Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com

Sociologist compares today's crisis to Nazi smear campaign | National Catholic Reporter

The Frustratingly Poor Quality of Press Coverage Posted at: Sunday, April 11, 2010 06:58:31 PM - America Magazine Author: Michael Sean Winters The whole world now knows about Father Stephen Kiesle of Oakland, the priest who tied up young boys and molested them sexually and whose request to be defrocked came before then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The press is swarming with assertions that, as the Washington Post headlined its story, "Future pope balked at defrocking priest." This, we are led to believe, is the smoking gun. Raztinger signed the letter in 1985. That is HIS signature. Case closed. Here are the documents. In talking to reporters, I raised the question: Why was this case in front of Ratzinger in the first place. It does not make sense. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was given jurisdiction over cases of the "graviora delicta" of sexual abuse only in 2001. Before that time, it is a bit unclear who had immediate jurisdiction...

The Vatican Information service joins the blogosphere! http://www.visnews-en.blogspot.com/

The Pope and the press

I've been saying this for years! It is time for the church to go on the offensive in trying to answer its critics. Failure to do so is counted not in convictions or cases but in souls lost to God. At least the latest set of attacks have brought some Bishops into the public square to defend the faith and its leaders. Still not enough though. Bishops Collins (Toronto), Smith (Edmonton) and Henry (Calgary) have set the example that their brother priests need to follow. PLEASE PRAY that more Canadian Bishops will find the courage to do the same. Fr. Tim Catholics' ties to church tested by crisis

Various bloggers and online news sites have made reference today to the 'wave of rage and indignation' that is prompting spontaneous 'demonstrations' demonizing the Church. Here's a photo of the 'mob' that gathered in front of Westminster Cathedral in London that appears in the This Is Lancashire. One hopes that citizens were able to navigate their way through the gridlocked traffic caused by such a MASSIVE demonstration. Want to know what's really humorous?  Among this MASSIVE mob of demonstrators in included Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. So the biggest crowd that a professional campaign could put together to tap into the overwhelming rage among the millions who are turning against the church (according to the article) hardly filled a frame of a close camera shot.  Hooey! the church must be trembling in its boots through the world if this is the best the anti-church forces can do. Yet.... This small and pathetic display was enough ...

AMAZING!!! Today the NYT has published seven different articles attacking the Church. I guess it's clear whose side they're one!!

If the evidence is not yet enough to convince you good reader that the War has indeed begun in earnest... I suggest a visit to the CNN (International News version) and scroll down to the the 'editor's choices'. There you will find 17 consecutive articles and video files all based upon the sex abuse scandals in Europe, the majority of which are trying to link the scandal directly to the Holy Father. If that isn't enough, check out the articles posted on the New York Times today and yesterday, including the letters to the editor and the comments that accompany these articles. Again, they all attempt to connect various scandals directly to the Pontiff. Then, take up the spiritual weapons at your disposal (prayer, fasting, charity) as well as the searching for every (NON-VIOLENT!!!) means at your disposal to mount a vigorous defense of the Church. To make use of that old typing lesson phrase: "Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of th...

The forces of darkness in this world have declared war—a war that attempts to extinguish the light of faith within the Roman Catholic Church. This is not a war of our choosing. Nevertheless, it is a war in which the Church must rally every facet and weapon at her disposal. It may be the start of the famed battle foretold in Revelations, or it may be another attack from the forces of evil in the world designed to wound the faith. But it is a war. And it must be fought, and it will be won. Commentators throughout the blogosphere have been crying out a warning since the creation of the virtual world—but it has been a warning that has been too long ignored. Most decision and opinion makers within the Church have thought these cries to be the clucking of nothing more than modern manifestation of Chicken Little. Sadly, just as the forces of liberty and faith were taken by surprise by at Pearl Harbor and in Jerusalem in 1967, so too have the leaders of the Church failed to heed the warnin...

Snowpocalypse, the sequel: 'Snoverkill' to hit U.S. East Coast late on Tuesday

Pope Benedict XVI issued a statement today in which he encourages priests throughout the world to better use the internet and all the virtual media to promote the cause of faith. As a blogger, it does my heart good to receive this message from the Holy Father as it is evident that with a few exceptions, the Bishops of our lands have been slow to use these new mediums to spread the good news of Jesus. In fact, it is not at all uncommon for priests who have chosen to speak out for the faith to run afoul of their Bishops who are threatened by the clarity and faithfulness of their blogs and webpages in the promotion of our Catholic faith. Perhaps we might stand in better stead with the support of the Pope for our endeavors. THANK YOU Pope Benedict... and thanks as well to Catholics everywhere who have taken up the challenge of promoting the faith in every venue possible, real or virtual.

Paccheo, at SoCon.ca posts an insightful article reflecting upon the role of the media in forming societal values. As I have previous written in the initial posts on this blog, Marshall McLuhan's contention that the "medium is the message" most likely reaches in fulfillment with the advent of mass media and the internet. I may not agree with the manner in which he sums up his argument in the last paragraph of the article (sounds to me like he is calling for a return to the days of 'Christendom") but Paccheo does present much for people of faith to consider.

Word on Fire Ministries is completing the final details of a television series called "The Catholicism Project. Read about it here .

Today's National Post published an article about another Newfoundland Priest who has been charged with child pornography charges. The one difference this time is that the alleged offender is a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada and not Roman Catholic. Actually, there is another notable difference. In the 24+ hours that this story has been posted on the NP website, not one single comment of condemnation has appeared in the response to these sordid revelations. When it is a Roman Catholic clergyman, within mere minutes the vitriolic avalanche of comments begin to accumulate in the comment threads, usually hitting 100+ responses/comments within the first 24-36 hours. This most certainly is the case whenever the Lahey scandal incites a new report within the pages of the National Post. Now that the clergyman is a married man with children... and protestant... the story passes without a single comment. But is this one case not insufficient to justify a charge of general prej...

While participating in the threads of the CBC website news story about the appointment of Bishop Brian Dunn as Bishop of Antigonish, a gentleman who identified himself by the nom des plume, "nonreligious" posted the following to me. To Fr. Moyle To expand my previous post, my repeated abuse as an altar boy occured in 1973 on northern Vancouver Island. I remember the person wanting me to keep quiet and telling me God would heal all wounds. I dared not tell my parents, mostly out of fear and confusion, and because I felt they would not believe me. I had been taught that God was always right. I was nine at the time. For those who have not walked in our shoes, which is most of you, trust me when I say that you lose all grasp of reality and have it replaced by something that is foreign. It's like you initially know it's not right, but after time it starts to feel that way. And you learn to deal with it any way you can under the circumstances. It never mattered to me t...

The Diocese of Pembroke is one of those small semi-rural dioceses that comprise the majority of Catholic Diocese in Canada. Like most of these dioceses, there are one or two small local dailies that have traditionally been seen as being supportive of the activities of the Catholic churches within their community, focusing as they do on local events. The Pembroke Daily Observer is just such a paper. However, the days when such papers spoke only to local concerns seems to be coming to an end as more and more editors and publishers of these community based papers are publishing editorials and articles that present a challenge to Catholic morality and teaching. The Daily Observer, in an editorial published on Friday Nov. 13th, addresses the question of euthanasia, coming out strongly in favor of a proposed piece of legislation that is currently before the Canadian House of Commons. It has been the practice of most Canadian Bishops to not engage in debating such issues in the local pa...