Reflections from the pastoral ministry of an Evangelical Catholic Priest.
30 November, 2015
Mission abandoned: did we betray John XXIII’s vision for Vatican II? An article by George Weigel
Vatican II was intended as a call to unity and evangelism, but its legacy has been an escalation of intra-Catholic wars. It is time to embrace John XXIII’s original vision
CatholicHerald.co.uk » Mission abandoned: did we betray John XXIII’s vision for Vatican II?
CatholicHerald.co.uk » Mission abandoned: did we betray John XXIII’s vision for Vatican II?
The Transgender “Craze”: What is the compassionate response?| Aleteia.org
My favorite comment about this issue came in the wake of Bruce (a.k.a. Caitlyn) Jenner being named 'Woman of the Year' by Glamour Magazine when a feminist activist asked" "How can you named Woman of the Year when you haven't been a woman for a year?"
Good question imho.
The Transgender “Craze” | Aleteia.org
Good question imho.
The Transgender “Craze” | Aleteia.org
29 November, 2015
28 November, 2015
The joys of living with Beardies!!
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A little bathroom message from Hobbs (& Mateo too!) |
I always think of you... Lol
Posted by Comedy Club 24/7 on Thursday, November 26, 2015
27 November, 2015
What Are You Waiting for?: Reflecting on the Sunday Gospel | Aleteia.org
As we approach Advent are we too busy with things that don't matter to remember the things that do?
What Are You Waiting for?: Reflecting on the Sunday Gospel | Aleteia.org
What Are You Waiting for?: Reflecting on the Sunday Gospel | Aleteia.org
26 November, 2015
25 November, 2015
A Thanksgiving Meditation on Freedom and Its Enemies | George Weigel | First Things
"Shortly after jihadist murderers killed over 130 people in Paris, seven of the terrorists blowing themselves up in the process, President Obama spoke to the nation and described the massacres as “an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.”
No, Mr. President; with all respect, it was not...."
A Thanksgiving Meditation on Freedom and Its Enemies | George Weigel | First Things
Pope Names First Catholic Bishop to Oversee Anglican Ordinariate | Daily News | NCRegister.com
Msgr. Steven Lopes, a Catholic priest from California, will oversee the ordinariate in the United States and Canada.
Pope Names First Catholic Bishop to Oversee Anglican Ordinariate | Daily News | NCRegister.com
Pope Names First Catholic Bishop to Oversee Anglican Ordinariate | Daily News | NCRegister.com
24 November, 2015
23 November, 2015
22 November, 2015
21 November, 2015
20 November, 2015
Paris as Prophecy | Aleteia.org
The late French anthropologist René Girard's criticism of the civilization rings true with new urgency
Paris as Prophecy | Aleteia.org
Paris as Prophecy | Aleteia.org
19 November, 2015
RCMP, CSIS support Trudeau’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees - The Globe and Mail
RCMP, CSIS support Trudeau’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees - The Globe and Mail
18 November, 2015
17 November, 2015
Pope Francis: How Did We Get This Far? | MondayVatican
Current Vatileaks Scandal Threatening to Overwhelm the Papacy of Pope Francis.
MondayVatican – Vatican » Pope Francis: How Did We Get This Far? | MondayVatican
MondayVatican – Vatican » Pope Francis: How Did We Get This Far? | MondayVatican
16 November, 2015
ECT at Twenty | Timothy George and Thomas G. Guarino | First Things
From the introduction to Evangelicals and Catholics Together at Twenty: Vital Statements on Contested Topics (Brazos, 2015), edited by Timothy George and Thomas G. Guarino, with foreword by George Weigel, and prefaces by Timothy Cardinal Dolan and J.I Packer. This volume contains the nine public statements with introductions published by Evangelicals and Catholics Together since 1994.
ECT at Twenty | Timothy George and Thomas G. Guarino | First Things
ECT at Twenty | Timothy George and Thomas G. Guarino | First Things
ISIS at the Doors: Erasing the Memory of a Christian Europe | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and views
"By indulging our fetish for spiritual and cultural forgetfulness, we have permitted the coming-to-be of a hell on earth under the reign of ISIS."Really? Decide for yourself. Click on the link below to read the entire article.
15 November, 2015
14 November, 2015
20 Jokes That Only Intellectuals Will Understand: .
I don't know about the 'intellectual' part of this claim, but I found them funny enough to post here. Given the way life has unfolded around the globe over the past 24 hrs, I think we could all use a laugh. Hopefully, these will bring some to you.
20 Jokes That Only Intellectuals Will Understand - 9GAG
20 Jokes That Only Intellectuals Will Understand - 9GAG
Pope Francis Donates Crucifix Given to Him by Raul Castro | Aleteia.org
Pope Francis is donating to the parish church of Lampedusa a crucifix given to him by President Raul Castro of Cuba during the recent papal visit to the Caribbean island.
Measuring almost ten feet high, the crucifix is crafted from wooden oars tied with ropes to symbolize the reality of migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean by boat.Click on link to read entire story:
Pope Francis Donates Crucifix Given to Him by Raul Castro | Aleteia.org
Attack on the Historical Catholic Church and Other Kinds of Ignorance in the Calls for a Reformation of Islam | Omnia Vincit Veritas
I disagree with the premise of this article. The author condemns the idea that there is a parallel between what is happening within the Muslim world today (a civil war between the Sunni and Shia sects being waged by fundamentalists on either side) and what Christianity experienced during the period following the Reformation. His argument is essentially doctrinal (Christian reformed churches did not challenge the dogma of Christianity) but he fails to look at what we Christians went through on a process level.
What brought an end to the religious wars that followed the Reformation was not a doctrinal resolution between the sects. That much is true. But the means by which we reorganized our society and the role that the various denominations played within them was the key to achieving peace in Europe. This is the lesson that Christianity can bring to the Islamic world. We learned how to undo 'Christendom' (the belief that Church and State are indivisible) via the development of the concept of the separation of Church and State. The philosophic framework that accomplished this end is what Muslims need to study and apply to end their own civil war. We can help them learn to apply the lessons we learned to help them to reframe their understanding of 'Ummah', the Islamic conceptual equivalent of 'Christendom'.
Attack on the Historical Catholic Church and Other Kinds of Ignorance in the Calls for a Reformation of Islam | Omnia Vincit Veritas
What brought an end to the religious wars that followed the Reformation was not a doctrinal resolution between the sects. That much is true. But the means by which we reorganized our society and the role that the various denominations played within them was the key to achieving peace in Europe. This is the lesson that Christianity can bring to the Islamic world. We learned how to undo 'Christendom' (the belief that Church and State are indivisible) via the development of the concept of the separation of Church and State. The philosophic framework that accomplished this end is what Muslims need to study and apply to end their own civil war. We can help them learn to apply the lessons we learned to help them to reframe their understanding of 'Ummah', the Islamic conceptual equivalent of 'Christendom'.
Attack on the Historical Catholic Church and Other Kinds of Ignorance in the Calls for a Reformation of Islam | Omnia Vincit Veritas
13 November, 2015
12 November, 2015
French defense officials to pope: We can’t protect you in Africa | Crux
ROME — Officials at the French Ministry of Defense reportedly are urging Pope Francis to cancel his scheduled Nov. 29-30 visit to the Central African Republic because the 900 French troops in the war-torn nation can’t guarantee the pontiff’s safety.Click on link to read entire story:
French defense officials to pope: We can’t protect you in Africa | Crux
11 November, 2015
John Paul II's “Beloved Krakow” | George Weigel | First Things
"My reflections on the Christian truths embodied in John Paul II’s life of heroic sanctity are then amplified by historical and artistic notes on the city provided by my friend and former colleague, Carrie Gress, the whole package being illustrated by the splendid photographs taken by my son, Stephen Weigel. (In the e-book edition, all the photos are in radiant color.)"Click on link below to read the entire articleJohn Paul II's “Beloved Krakow” | George Weigel | First Things
10 November, 2015
Catholicism can and must change, Francis forcefully tells Italian church gathering | National Catholic Reporter
I love the line, "We are not living an era of change but a change of era." It fits the book I'm reading today (as I lay around trying to recover from a nasty chest cold) entitled 'Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter'. It's an excellent read for any pastor or parishioner concerned with a declining parish community.
Catholicism can and must change, Francis forcefully tells Italian church gathering | National Catholic Reporter
Catholicism can and must change, Francis forcefully tells Italian church gathering | National Catholic Reporter
09 November, 2015
08 November, 2015
Christian evangelists upset with Starbucks’ red cups - NY Daily News
This is just plain stupid. A 'war against Christmas'? It's time these 'Christian evangelists' get a life!! It's a damned coffee cup for Pete's sake. All that they removed from last years cups are snowflakes. When in the name of all that's good and holy did snowflakes become part of the Christian iconography?
There are real issues of oppression and persecution facing Christians around the globe these days. The way Starbucks chooses to decorate their coffee cups for the Christmas season is most definitely not one of them.
Christian evangelists upset with Starbucks’ red cups - NY Daily News
There are real issues of oppression and persecution facing Christians around the globe these days. The way Starbucks chooses to decorate their coffee cups for the Christmas season is most definitely not one of them.
Christian evangelists upset with Starbucks’ red cups - NY Daily News
A Plague of Darkness: What’s Forcing 60 Million People to Flee Their Homes? | Daily News | NCRegister.com
The Holy See is asking the United Nations to take action against ‘violent non-state actors’ who are violating human rights and forcing an unprecedented number of people to migrate.
A Plague of Darkness: What’s Forcing 60 Million People to Flee Their Homes? | Daily News | NCRegister.com
A Plague of Darkness: What’s Forcing 60 Million People to Flee Their Homes? | Daily News | NCRegister.com
07 November, 2015
Church leaders can’t live ‘the life of a pharaoh,’ Pope Francis says | Crux
In a wide-ranging interview published in street papers sold by the homeless, Francis wades into several issues, including greed, corruption, and poverty. Click on link below to read entire story:
Church leaders can’t live ‘the life of a pharaoh,’ Pope Francis says | Crux
Church leaders can’t live ‘the life of a pharaoh,’ Pope Francis says | Crux
06 November, 2015
05 November, 2015
04 November, 2015
03 November, 2015
02 November, 2015
01 November, 2015
International Birth Rates: Approaching 'prime child' level
One of the major tropes heard from abortion advocates is that access to 'reproduction services' are required the globe over to save the planet from a doomsday scenario of over-population. However, the facts do not support such a conclusion since the birth rate has fallen everywhere on the planet since the 1060's, a fact that for some reason is ignored by those who are running around claiming that the 'sky is falling' with the arrival of each new baby.
The article that is linked with this post points out that with the exception of a very few countries, national birth rate levels have dropped below replacement levels almost everywhere on all of the globe's continents.
What has brought about such a rapid decline in births? No doubt one major contributing factor has been the availability of conceptive devices such as the birth control pill. But according to scholarly research, this has not been the most important factor that has led to the sudden decline in the number of births. Researchers are pointing to the rise in education levels, particularly among women, which has permitted them to enter into a more prominent role in local economies which has done the trick. To quote from a paper published by researchers at the University of Ottawa:
International Birth Rates
The article that is linked with this post points out that with the exception of a very few countries, national birth rate levels have dropped below replacement levels almost everywhere on all of the globe's continents.
What has brought about such a rapid decline in births? No doubt one major contributing factor has been the availability of conceptive devices such as the birth control pill. But according to scholarly research, this has not been the most important factor that has led to the sudden decline in the number of births. Researchers are pointing to the rise in education levels, particularly among women, which has permitted them to enter into a more prominent role in local economies which has done the trick. To quote from a paper published by researchers at the University of Ottawa:
The declines are only partially due to contraception, which was a mechanism that facilitated the underlying causes. The drivers included changing values; the emancipation of women and their increasing participation in the labour force; the high costs for child care and education; couples with fewer children enjoying opportunities for travel and leisure and an improved standard of living. (See Shah I. Eur J Contraception and Reproductive Health Care 1997; 2(1): 53-61). The instability of many partnerships was also a factor.
Upstream of these factors were economic pressures, industrialization and urbanization. Changing labour markets are demanding increasingly educated and skilled workers, so the cost to parents of raising and educating numerous children becomes prohibitive. It also requires longer time in education, delaying childbirth among more educated people. As small-scale, family-run businesses decline, children are less economically useful to their parents.It would seem then that expanding abortion services across the globe is not the best or even an effective way of dealing with concerns of over-population. Instead, development strategies that support initiatives such as those promoted by 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winners Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi and not those trumpeted by Hillary Clinton and Justin Trudeau will best provide the path to global population stabilization, gender equality, and a sustainable standard of living for the world's population.
International Birth Rates
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