31 January, 2015
30 January, 2015
Top Catholics, evangelicals: Gay marriage worse than divorce or cohabitation | Crux
Nine times out of ten, I find myself in agreement with the folks noted or quoted in this article. This article might be that rare time when I don't.
I think that as much as I agree that marriage (as seen from a religious perspective) is defined exclusively as a sanctified heterosexual union, does the fact that the State is using the same term in a broader context when it assesses who is eligible for government benefits not really only a semantic argument? Put in fewer words, what does it matter that the State uses the word marriage to mean something different than what Churches do? So long as the Churches are not compelled to accept the State's redefinition as being operational within their walls, is such a lexiconic brouhaha really the end of civilization as we know it? I just don't see it.
Click on the link below to read the source article and decide for yourself.
Top Catholics, evangelicals: Gay marriage worse than divorce or cohabitation | Crux
I think that as much as I agree that marriage (as seen from a religious perspective) is defined exclusively as a sanctified heterosexual union, does the fact that the State is using the same term in a broader context when it assesses who is eligible for government benefits not really only a semantic argument? Put in fewer words, what does it matter that the State uses the word marriage to mean something different than what Churches do? So long as the Churches are not compelled to accept the State's redefinition as being operational within their walls, is such a lexiconic brouhaha really the end of civilization as we know it? I just don't see it.
Click on the link below to read the source article and decide for yourself.
Top Catholics, evangelicals: Gay marriage worse than divorce or cohabitation | Crux
29 January, 2015
Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, When I’m 64? A Refutation of the Latest Assisted Suicide Bill By: Msgr. Charles Pope
Who knew the Beatles would prove to be so prophetic? What was a whimsical question in the 1960's begins to sound quite different when it's listened to in the context of legislation designed to make legal the termination of someone's life. At least it does for me.
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Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, When I’m 64? A Refutation of the Latest Assisted Suicide Bill By: Msgr. Charles Pope
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Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, When I’m 64? A Refutation of the Latest Assisted Suicide Bill By: Msgr. Charles Pope
28 January, 2015
27 January, 2015
26 January, 2015
Getting to the Point: The First of All the Creeds
Getting to the Point: The First of All the Creeds: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my so...
25 January, 2015
24 January, 2015
23 January, 2015
Ontario authorities take action on doctors who deny birth control - The Globe and Mail
When abortions were made legal, everyone was assured that doctors would not be forced to perform them if they had moral objections to the procedure. Now that promise is gone and all physicians in Ontario must agree to perform one if requested.
Now we have euthanasia becoming legal in the country (once again starting with Quebec) with a similar 'protection' offered to both doctors and patients. Any bets on how long it will take before this protection of one's morals disappears as it now has done with abortion? I doubt it will take very long at all. Certainly not the 20+ years that it took in the earlier issue. I won't be surprised to see it come to pass within the next decade.
Ontario authorities take action on doctors who deny birth control - The Globe and Mail
Now we have euthanasia becoming legal in the country (once again starting with Quebec) with a similar 'protection' offered to both doctors and patients. Any bets on how long it will take before this protection of one's morals disappears as it now has done with abortion? I doubt it will take very long at all. Certainly not the 20+ years that it took in the earlier issue. I won't be surprised to see it come to pass within the next decade.
Ontario authorities take action on doctors who deny birth control - The Globe and Mail
22 January, 2015
21 January, 2015
German rabbit breeders: Our bunnies are chaste | Crux
In response, I offer what I consider to be the perfect rejoinder to this latest brouhaha... a story about rabbit breeders complaining that the Pontiff has maligned the moral status of their stock. It seems the perfect story to highlight the inane response of much of the Western media when it come to understanding what the Pope says in these media scrums.
German rabbit breeders: Our bunnies are chaste | Crux
20 January, 2015
19 January, 2015
Pope Francis On Charlie Hebdo: 'You Cannot Insult The Faith Of Others'
Again here is another example of the media getting Pope Francis all wrong.
He said that we 'shouldn't' insult the faith of another. He didn't say that we cannot. Nor did he say that it would be justified to use violence in response if or when one's own faith is insulted, mocked, or derided. But he did say that, just as when one insults another's mother, they shouldn't be surprised if the insult provokes an unexpectedly violent response. Put in a modern aphorism: It might be a surprise, but it shouldn't be a shock if insulting one's faith provoked a punch on the head in return. That doesn't make it right. It simply describes a common human impulse when something or someone, which is near and dear to one's heart is insulted, demeaned, or injured.
In all of this, Pope Francis is being very 'Canadian' in his teaching. Civility and respect in the public square have been the hallmark of conduct for those of us of a certain age. Decorum and decency dictated that one didn't intentionally insult anything that may be an important constituent part of another's values and virtues. It simply wasn't done! It was not the type of behaviour one expected from someone of education and a proper upbringing. To deliberately 'poke a stick in someone's eye' by belittling and disrespecting their values and beliefs was behaviour befitting a poorly raised misanthrope; boorish behaviour that will often rebound harshly against such an offensive party.
Pope Francis On Charlie Hebdo: 'You Cannot Insult The Faith Of Others'
He said that we 'shouldn't' insult the faith of another. He didn't say that we cannot. Nor did he say that it would be justified to use violence in response if or when one's own faith is insulted, mocked, or derided. But he did say that, just as when one insults another's mother, they shouldn't be surprised if the insult provokes an unexpectedly violent response. Put in a modern aphorism: It might be a surprise, but it shouldn't be a shock if insulting one's faith provoked a punch on the head in return. That doesn't make it right. It simply describes a common human impulse when something or someone, which is near and dear to one's heart is insulted, demeaned, or injured.
In all of this, Pope Francis is being very 'Canadian' in his teaching. Civility and respect in the public square have been the hallmark of conduct for those of us of a certain age. Decorum and decency dictated that one didn't intentionally insult anything that may be an important constituent part of another's values and virtues. It simply wasn't done! It was not the type of behaviour one expected from someone of education and a proper upbringing. To deliberately 'poke a stick in someone's eye' by belittling and disrespecting their values and beliefs was behaviour befitting a poorly raised misanthrope; boorish behaviour that will often rebound harshly against such an offensive party.
Pope Francis On Charlie Hebdo: 'You Cannot Insult The Faith Of Others'
Francis struggles to answer crying girl's question about suffering | National Catholic Reporter
The NCR is showing its prejudice by describing Pope Francis's response to this question as a 'struggle'. It's evident that he didn't struggle but, in fact, used who used this simple question to great catechetical advantage.
Simply put, he used the suffering in that girl's life to highlight our shared responsibility for them. Imagine, he suggested if we were so moved by compassion for her situation that we eliminated all human injustice from the world, leaving only the natural elements of creation to bring suffering into anyone's life. Imagine how much better life would be not only for that crying child before him, but for all of us as well if we could achieve such an end? In saying this, he challenges the premise of her question that God is the cause of her suffering and pain. By pointing out that it has been our lack of concern, compassion, and commitment that has multiplied her initial injury many times over, he reduces God's responsibility for her current state.
Pope Francis did acknowledge that even this residual culpability of God for her suffering is difficult to reconcile with a belief in the existence of an all-loving God. In saying this, he is repeating an oft-used aphorism that faith is taking a step into the darkness. That faith 'lights our way' when confronting a mystery as the existence of suffering that is beyond our human capacity to fully comprehend. In this instance, we lack the capacity to see the events of our life from God's perspective which means we cannot perceive that how our suffering might indeed be for the good of all. We lack the requisite perspective needed to assess the good or evil inherent in human suffering when it is caused by non-human agents. We can use reason to aid us in such cases, (the 'Butterfly Effect' applied to salvation economy works here) but ultimately as creatures ourselves, there will always be questions beyond our comprehension where we have no choice but to walk by the light of faith, as well as reason. Therefore, he concluded it would be better to work to improve our response to addressing the suffering of others, rather than worrying about issues that are beyond our purview to comprehend.
That sure didn't sound like a struggling response to me. Would that every priest could be as adept at using such situations to such good effect as Pope Francis did here. We might even succeed in making the Kingdom of God a little more present in our times if we could all 'struggle' as well as our Pope in answering life's difficult questions!
Francis struggles to answer crying girl's question about suffering | National Catholic Reporter
Simply put, he used the suffering in that girl's life to highlight our shared responsibility for them. Imagine, he suggested if we were so moved by compassion for her situation that we eliminated all human injustice from the world, leaving only the natural elements of creation to bring suffering into anyone's life. Imagine how much better life would be not only for that crying child before him, but for all of us as well if we could achieve such an end? In saying this, he challenges the premise of her question that God is the cause of her suffering and pain. By pointing out that it has been our lack of concern, compassion, and commitment that has multiplied her initial injury many times over, he reduces God's responsibility for her current state.
Pope Francis did acknowledge that even this residual culpability of God for her suffering is difficult to reconcile with a belief in the existence of an all-loving God. In saying this, he is repeating an oft-used aphorism that faith is taking a step into the darkness. That faith 'lights our way' when confronting a mystery as the existence of suffering that is beyond our human capacity to fully comprehend. In this instance, we lack the capacity to see the events of our life from God's perspective which means we cannot perceive that how our suffering might indeed be for the good of all. We lack the requisite perspective needed to assess the good or evil inherent in human suffering when it is caused by non-human agents. We can use reason to aid us in such cases, (the 'Butterfly Effect' applied to salvation economy works here) but ultimately as creatures ourselves, there will always be questions beyond our comprehension where we have no choice but to walk by the light of faith, as well as reason. Therefore, he concluded it would be better to work to improve our response to addressing the suffering of others, rather than worrying about issues that are beyond our purview to comprehend.
That sure didn't sound like a struggling response to me. Would that every priest could be as adept at using such situations to such good effect as Pope Francis did here. We might even succeed in making the Kingdom of God a little more present in our times if we could all 'struggle' as well as our Pope in answering life's difficult questions!
Francis struggles to answer crying girl's question about suffering | National Catholic Reporter
18 January, 2015
17 January, 2015
Faith is not alone, Scripture is not alone, Grace is not alone. We ought not separate what God has joined. By: Msgr. Charles Pope
"There are a lot of “solos” sung by our Protestant brethren: Sola Fide (saved by faith alone), Sola Scriptura(Scripture alone is the rule of faith), and sola gratia(grace alone). Generally, one ought to be suspicious and careful of claims that things work “alone.” It is our usual experience that many things work together in harmony, that things are interrelated. Very seldom is anyone or anything “alone.”Click here to read entire article
The problem of the “solos” emerges (it seems to me) in our minds, where it is possible to separate things out. But the fact is, just because we can separate something out in our mind does not mean that we can separate it out in reality."
16 January, 2015
Gay marriage cases to be heard by U.S. Supreme Court in April - World - CBC News
Granted that as a Canadian I am not always au courant on how the States are addressing the issue of same-sex marriage, but I thought that the Supreme Court had already ruled on this issue which was why gay marriages were recognized as legal in most of America's jurisdictions today. Evidently I was mistaken. It seems the issue is not going to be settled until June 2015 when the US Supreme Court is expected to render its definitive judgement on the issue. It's expected that oral arguments will be heard this Spring. It should make for some interesting times ahead south of the border.
Gay marriage cases to be heard by U.S. Supreme Court in April - World - CBC News
Gay marriage cases to be heard by U.S. Supreme Court in April - World - CBC News
15 January, 2015
When Science is Betrayed – and What Lessons We Should Learn By: Msgr. Charles Pope
There is a great reverence for science in our culture. On the one hand, rightly so. Science has made enormous strides that have changed life as we know it. Profound discoveries have eradicated diseases, improved health, increased the world’s food supply, led to a computer revolution, drawn us higher into outer space and deeper into inner space, revealed hidden mysteries of nature, and produced technologies unimaginable to even our recent ancestors.
On the other hand, the reverence of science has tipped perhaps too far in the direction of a religious substitute.Indeed it is arguable that the robes of the priest, once admired and revered, have now been replaced in our culture’s esteem by the lab coat. Many regard the findings of science with an almost blind faith that many (often unfairly) attribute to religious believers. “Scientists say … ” has become a kind of mantra wherein all dissent must stop and a slight bow of the head might also be appropriate. The matter is settled since “scientists say … ” And while religious believers base their faith on some connection to unchanging Divine utterances, “believers” in science too often couch their belief on the utterances of mere human beings, learned to be sure, but fallible and subject to changing their theories (rightly) when new evidence comes in. Hence the sort of religious reverence that many today give to scientists is problematic, both for them and for science.
click here to read entire article
About Paris attacks, Francis says freedom of expression has certain limits | National Catholic Reporter
Pope Francis, reporters, and an airplane. What could go wrong?
Here's the 1st article I've found that reports on what usually is a 'highlight' of any papal voyage... the impromptu airplane interview.
About Paris attacks, Francis says freedom of expression has certain limits | National Catholic Reporter
Here's the 1st article I've found that reports on what usually is a 'highlight' of any papal voyage... the impromptu airplane interview.
About Paris attacks, Francis says freedom of expression has certain limits | National Catholic Reporter
14 January, 2015
13 January, 2015
Religious Freedom From Constantine to Today
A book review of LET’S NOT FORGET GOD: Freedom of Faith, Culture and Politics by Cardinal Angelo Scola
NCRegister | Religious Freedom From Constantine to Today
NCRegister | Religious Freedom From Constantine to Today
12 January, 2015
Boy Trapped In Coma For 12 Years Has Nothing But His Thoughts, Finally Awakens As A Man To Tell The Story
“I hope you die,” are words whispered into his ear by his own desperate mother. She thinks she is sitting with a shell of her former son, just a body without any feelings, thoughts, or hope. However, what this mother didn’t know was that her son heard every word, his mind was alive and fully functioning, he simply couldn’t get his body to function. The boy was trapped inside his own body, fully awake in thought but unable to communicate.
If this child was a citizen of Quebec in 2015, his mother could have had her wish and he would have been euthanized since the doctors proclaimed him to be in a permanent vegetative state.
Good thing for him that he didn't live here!
Boy Trapped In Coma For 12 Years Has Nothing But His Thoughts, Finally Awakens As A Man To Tell The Story
11 January, 2015
10 January, 2015
09 January, 2015
08 January, 2015
07 January, 2015
06 January, 2015
Getting to the Point: The Papal Examen
Getting to the Point: The Papal Examen: Among the ways of ‘missing the point’ that the post-modern world specializes in, is the shortened attention span that makes it hard for us ...
05 January, 2015
And for something a little different... "Cancer the ‘best’ way to die, says ex-editor of British Medical Journal, so stop funding research for a cure"
“You can say goodbye, reflect on your life, leave last messages, perhaps visit special places for a last time, listen to favourite pieces of music, read loved poems, and prepare, according to your beliefs, to meet your maker or enjoy eternal oblivion. This is, I recognize, a romantic view of dying, but it is achievable with love, morphine, and whisky.”Cancer as a 'good thing' in someone's life? Talk about a tough case to sell!! I don't know if the author fully succeeds, but he sure gives it a good try.
Cancer the ‘best’ way to die, says ex-editor of British Medical Journal, so stop funding research for a cure | National Post
04 January, 2015
03 January, 2015
Shameless Popery: Pope Francis' 10 New Year's Resolutions
Shameless Popery: Pope Francis' 10 New Year's Resolutions: Pope Francis Have you made any New Year's resolutions this year? If not, and you'd still like to, Pope Francis has some ideas . ...
02 January, 2015
Getting to the Point: New Year, New Blog format from Fr. Denis Lemieux of Madonna House
Getting to the Point: New Year, New Blog: Well, OK - following upon the previous post, I have 'shut up' for the month of December, if you consider giving two parish missions,...