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=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fswampland+%28TIME%3A+Swampland%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2137429,00.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fswampland+%28TIME%3A+Swampland%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
28 February, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI promises obedience to his successor | CTV News
Pope Benedict XVI promises obedience to his successor | CTV News
27 February, 2013
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 will ever necessarily translate into the real world. But it is worth noting at least the undercurrent of hostility and malice towards believers which is growing in the digital world so as to keep watch to see if it does begin to manifest in a more concrete and dangerous form.
http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/02/26/mathew-block-disagree-with-christians-thats-fine-but-do-not-silence-them/
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 will ever necessarily translate into the real world. But it is worth noting at least the undercurrent of hostility and malice towards believers which is growing in the digital world so as to keep watch to see if it does begin to manifest in a more concrete and dangerous form.
http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/02/26/mathew-block-disagree-with-christians-thats-fine-but-do-not-silence-them/
24 February, 2013
Life With a German Shepherd: The Herald of the Future
Life With a German Shepherd: The Herald of the Future: We went to the Council not just with joy but with enthusiasm. There was an incredible sense of expectation. We were hoping that all woul...
21 February, 2013
20 February, 2013
19 February, 2013
18 February, 2013
17 February, 2013
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 so intelligently.
We
keep trying to cut off the branches
of impatience, or greed, or lust, or dishonesty, but the roots are still
intact, so the branches just
keep growing back.
In
Jesus' temptation in the desert, the devil makes the mistake of exposing the three roots
of all our sins. In each one of us, one of these roots is bigger and stronger
than the others (though we all have all three).
If
we can identify which is our main root sin, we can direct our spiritual work
more intelligently, and really
start making progress as Christians.
Getting
to know our root sin and its most frequent manifestations arms us for spiritual
battle. The better we know where we are weak, the better we will be able
to resist temptation.
We are all tempted.
- Every day we are invited to rebel against God in little
things and big things.
- The patterns of behavior around us, our own
self-centered tendencies, and the devil himself are always inviting us to
trust more in our own flawed judgment than in God's wisdom.
But
temptation is not sin.
In fact, every temptation is a chance to exercise our trust in God, to reclaim
territory for Christ's Kingdom, just as Jesus did when he was tempted.
Because Jesus was tempted, he redeemed
temptation. With his grace, his victory over sin
can become our
victory. That's why he came to earth in the first place!
The
message Christ has for us today is a message
of hope.
- We can conquer sin, in our lives and in the world
around us. We just need to stay united to Christ.
- That's what the Eucharist is for - that's why God gave
it to us.
- And that's also what the Bible is for. Jesus parries
the Devil's attacks by quoting from the Scriptures, the inspired Word of
God.
Today,
let's renew our
confidence in Christ and our determination to fight for the
advance of his Kingdom, to cut back our root sin and make more room for his
grace to grow in our lives.
When
we receive him in Communion,
- let's promise
to do our part to stay united to him, to trust in him and seek our happiness
in our friendship with him,
- and let's ask
him which tactic he wants us to use this Lent: whether to
spend more time with him in the Eucharist, or more time with him in the
Scriptures.
What is the history behind papal resignations? |Blogs | NCRegister.com
What is the history behind papal resignations? |Blogs | NCRegister.com: In the wake of Pope Benedict's announcement that he is resigning from the papacy, I thought I would…
16 February, 2013
15 February, 2013
14 February, 2013
13 February, 2013
12 February, 2013
9 things you need to know about Ash Wednesday |Blogs | NCRegister.com
9 things you need to know about Ash Wednesday |Blogs | NCRegister.com: Of course, the big news in the Catholic world is that Pope Benedict is renouncing his office (here…
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--...
11 February, 2013
10 February, 2013
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
I doubt it very much.
Americans Love Their Drones | Via Meadia
09 February, 2013
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
Vatican Council Examines Problem of Low Emotional Intelligence | Daily News | NCRegister.com
08 February, 2013
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
So sad... so true...
BIG BLUE WAVE: Yet another university prolife club banned
Into the Deep: Scott Hahn Reflects on the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Into the Deep: Scott Hahn Reflects on the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology is an educational institute that promotes life-transforming Scripture study in the Catholic tradition.
07 February, 2013
06 February, 2013
03 February, 2013
01 February, 2013
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