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Showing posts from January, 2014

Fr. Robert Barron on anti-Catholic prejudice in a YouTube video

Daughter defends Quebec couple's controversial testimony on values charter; says they're not racist | CTV News

My favorite line in this article is where, in arguing that her parents are not racist, she states that even her daughter is 'dating a black man'. Is this not just another version of the 'I've don't hate ______ (add minority group here). Some of my best friends are _______!' This proposed Charter is doing nothing more than creating division and strife. But it works to the PQ's goal of playing up the xenophobic traces that run through the Francophone majority in the province, hopefully  (in their opinion)  boosting their chances at being re-elected in the next provincial election expected this spring. Daughter defends Quebec couple's controversial testimony on values charter; says they're not racist | CTV News

Neil deGrasse Tyson opines that faith and science cannot be reconciled.

While deGrasse Tyson raises some valid points, ultimately I do not agree because he is misinterpreting what the Bible is. It is not a book of science but a book revelation containing religious truth. Still, his argument is important to understand irrespective of where you stand on this issue. What do you think?

Return of the polar vortex: Arctic air to bring bitterly cold sub-zero temperatures to much of Canada | National Post

'Stay longer'? Dear God.... Noooo. The last visit of this weather phenomenon resulted in an oil bill that topped $13,200 for the three churches that make up my current assignment. Another that might last for most of a month will bankrupt us! Sigh... I guess Mother Nature really doesn't take instruction from her 'higher-ups' when it comes to making it easy on we poor country parishes. C'est la vie.  Time to lower the thermostats again and break out the sweaters. Return of the polar vortex: Arctic air to bring bitterly cold sub-zero temperatures to much of Canada | National Post

Husband of pregnant, brain-dead woman sues hospital for keeping her on life support | CTV News

This story is wrong on so many levels. First off, what will the effects be on the unborn child of being kept alive inside his/her dead mother's womb. Has there ever been a case where a child was born after such a case where the mother has been dead for weeks? Next, while I appreciate the Church's stance on euthanasia, it would seem to me that the husband is well within his rights to take this action if his wife left a specific wish not to be kept 'alive' by artificial means. People are allowed to refuse extraordinary medical care so her wish should be respected. Finally, the ethics of denying such a right to a citizen by the state is very troubling since it seems to me to be an inappropriate use of state power. Should the state have such a right? I don't believe so. It virtually reduces this woman to being little more than a state controlled 'baby machine'. Like I said, a sad story on so many levels. Agree? Disagree? Click on the link below to...

Scientist: Cats think you are just a big, stupid cat | Crave - CNET

"Where's my breakfast?" This story put me in mind of a poster I had when I used to share my house with a couple of cats. It read:     'Dogs have owners. Cats have staff'.  I have no doubt that this scientist is spot on with his conclusions. Scientist: Cats think you are just a big, stupid cat | Crave - CNET

Scripture Matters, But Only Science Disproves Science : IgnitumToday

"As I sat up in our Youth Lounge listening to some of the youth group kids rehearse their lines for an upcoming play, I was appalled at the indoctrination I was witnessing. The play was Inherit the Wind, which recalls an early twentieth century trial over the teaching of evolution in school. The debacle sets up a false dichotomy between science and faith, between evolution and the Bible. And these young high school students now think they must choose between the two, with the obvious answer being evolution since the trial depicts the alternative to be an irrational, close-minded and naïve, blind leap of faith.   I’d like to scold the schools for promoting such ignorance of thought, but it’s no less the fault of well-intentioned but ignorant Christians. This is not, mind you, an argument for evolution. I simply want to convey the calm, level-headed position the Catholic Church has always held (at least officially), as well as my personal frustration that so few otherwise bright ...

Christian Baker Files Religious-Freedom Appeal in Wedding-Cake Ruling | Daily News | NCRegister.com

I post this as a companion story to the one before. I find it bizarre that on the one hand someone can be granted an exemption from having to work with women (while it's not stated I assume that he was a Muslim) but this baker is ordered to provide a commercial service for a gay couple. It put me in mind of the Duck Dynasty brouhaha where everyone was screaming about his 'homophobic' (aka biblical) comments but virtually no one raised the fact that he also spit out some incredibly racist comments about African Americans at the same time. I guess the 'constabulary' of this new age of morality believe that consistency is 'the hobgoblin of a small mind'. Christian Baker Files Religious-Freedom Appeal in Wedding-Cake Ruling | Daily News | NCRegister.com

Man of Science, Man of Faith | Currents Feature | Tucson Weekly

"To Christopher Corbally, science and religion do not conflict. Period.   He holds degrees in physics and astronomy. He has studied the structure of galaxies, classified stars, worked as a vice director at a famous observatory and been an active member of international astronomy associations. And he is a Roman Catholic priest.   "If through scientific method we find out about the truth in the universe, then that truth, the source of that truth, is the creator," the Rev. Christopher Corbally says in his UA office.   Two colorful images of stars decorate an office wall. A book titled Evolution sits next to his computer. "You might find apparent conflict, in which case the questions get interesting," he says comfortably. "But fundamentally, there's not going to be." Click on link to read entire article: Ma n of Science, Man of Faith | Currents Feature | Tucson Weekly

NCR suspends comments on website: Another sad demonstration of John Gabriel's 'Dickwad Theory of the Internet'.

Alas, here's another example to prove that John Gabriel was right in formulating his 'Dickwad Theory' of the Internet which goes as follows: 'Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = a Dickwad' This is something I've never really understood since I was raised to believe that civility is a requirement in any discussion/debate/conversation and that offensive invective and insults are never appropriate. I guess not everyone was raised with such an understanding of what's appropriate or not.  This is also the reason why I always post under my real name, no matter what the site or forum. Comments offered under the guise of anonymity are no different to me than an unsigned letter. If you're not willing to put your name to what you write, then (as a general rule and IMHO) there is little reason to bother reading what you have to say. Thankfully there are exceptions (folks like Rationalist, Deep Diver etc. who post here are good examples) - but these are ...

Pope Francis reaches out to fallen Catholics on Epiphany, says he respects them and God is waiting | CTV News

I post this for Rationalist1, a friend of the blog who objected to the use of the word 'fallen' by the Pope to describe those who have ceased to practice their faith. Here's another report on Pope Francis's Ephiphany comments which reports that he was reaching out to 'indifferent' Catholics - not 'fallen' Catholics as was reported by another news source. I suspect the difference can be explained as a 'translation' issue.

RUN FOR THE HILLS! Top financial adviser sees imminent collapse of U.S. civilization - U.s. - Catholic Online

I believe that this analyst is overstating his case... but I do think that we are in for an economic crisis in the immediate future. The massive influx of cash into the money supply since the US Reserve Bank started pumping it into the economy in the wake of the banking collapse will inevitably set off an inflationary spiral similar to what we witnessed in the late 1960's through to the late 80's. Add to this the MASSIVE debts that governments have accumulated during the past decade which, once interest rates start climbing (and they will as soon as the American economy comes to life) and we have a recipe for a fiscal and monetary crisis which governments will be unable to deal with. So while I don't think it's time to 'head for the hills', it is a time to very careful with one's investments... assuming that you have any after the economic storms of the past number of years! RUN FOR THE HILLS! Top financial adviser sees imminent collapse of U.S. civili...

A look back at 2013 from the creative minds at Jib Jab