Extra Edition on KMOV TV (Ch 4) @ 6:30pm

Here are some of the subjects that will be featured at 6:30 this evening on "Extra Edition," a weekly half-hour news show produced by the Post-Dispatch and KMOV (Channel 4):

The Rev. Edward J. Richard, spokesman for St. Louis' Roman Catholic Archbishop Raymond Burke, discusses the archbishop's latest communication on voting and the abortion issue.

This would be a show worth watching. Father Richard will give us the Archbishop's perspective on yesterday's pastoral letter.

Oct 2, Memorial: The Guardian Angels

From: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

The "Little Ones" and the Kingdom. The Lost Sheep
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[1] At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" [2] And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them, [3] and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

[5] "Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.

[10] "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in Heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father who is in Heaven.

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Commentary:

1-35. The teachings of Jesus recorded in chapter 18 of St. Matthew are often called the "discourse on the Church" or "ecclesiastical discourse" because they are a series of instructions on the way in which His Church is to be administered.

The first passage (Matthew 18:1-5), addressed to leaders, that is, the future hierarchy of the Church, warns them against natural tendencies to pride and ambition: even though they have positions of government, they must act with humility. In verses 6-10 Jesus emphasizes the fatherly care which pastors of the Church should have for the "little ones"--a term which covers everyone in need of special care for whatever reason (because they are recent converts, or are not well grounded in Church teaching, or are not yet adults, etc.)... God takes special care of the weak and will punish those who harm them.

Our Lord shows similar concern for those who are experiencing spiritual difficulties. Every effort, even an heroic effort, must be made to seek out the "lost sheep" (verses 12-14). If the Church in general and each Christian in particular should be concerned to spread the Gospel, all the more reason for them to try and see that those who already embraced the faith do not go astray...

Thus, the whole of Chapter 18, the "discourse of the Church", is a survey of the future history of the Church during its earthly stage, and a series of practical rules for conduct for Christians--a kind of complement to the Sermon on the Mount, (Chapters 5-7), which is a "magna carta" for the new Kingdom established by Christ.

1-6. Clearly the disciples still suffer from human ambition: they want to occupy key positions when Jesus comes to establish the Kingdom on earth (cf. Acts 1:6). To correct their pride, our Lord shows them a child and tells them that if they want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, they must decide to be like children: children are incapable of hating anyone and are totally innocent of vice, particularly of pride, the worst vice of all. They are simple and full of trust.

Humility is one of the main pillars of the Christian life. "If you ask me", St. Augustine says, "what is the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ, I shall reply: first humility, second humility and third humility" ("Letter 118").

3-4. Applying these words to our Lord's virtues, Fray Luis de Granada makes the point that humility is superior to virginity: "If you cannot imitate the virginity of the humble, then imitate the humility of the virgin. Virginity is praiseworthy, but humility is more necessary. The former is recommended to us, the latter is an obligation for us; to the former we are invited, to the latter we are obliged [...]. And so we see that the former is celebrated as voluntary sacrifice, the latter required as an obligatory sacrifice. Lastly, you can be saved without virginity, but not without humility" ("Summa De La Vida Cristiana", Book 3, Part 2, Chapter 10).

5. Receiving a child in Jesus' name is the same as receiving Jesus Himself. Because children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity and tenderness of our Lord, "In children and in the sick a soul in love sees Him" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 419).

10. Jesus warns that giving scandal to little children is a very serious matter, for they have angels who guard them, who will plead a case before God against those who led them to commit sin.

In this context He speaks of children having guardian angels. However, everyone, adult or child, has a guardian angel. "By God's providence angels have been entrusted with the office of guarding the human race and of accompanying every human being so as to preserve him from any serious dangers [...]. Our Heavenly Father has placed over each of us an angel under whose protection and vigilance we are" ("St. Pius V Catechism", IV, 9, 4).

This means that we should have a trusting relationship with our guardian angel. "Have confidence in your guardian Angel. Treat him as a lifelong friend--that is what he is--and he will render you a thousand services in the ordinary affairs of each day" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 562).
***********************************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.

Another example of utter idiocy

Roosevelt Quote in Courthouse to Be Covered

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - A Theodore Roosevelt quote displayed on the wall of a courthouse will be covered up after critics complained the comment about Christianity violated the separation of church and state.

Roosevelt's remark that "the true Christian is the true citizen" was part of a longer address the president gave at a YMCA convention more than a century ago.

The Anti-Defamation League sent a letter to the court in July asking that the quote be covered because it could be interpreted as a direct "endorsement of Christian faith."

Article here.

Reuters: Jews Upset as Pope to Beatify Mel Gibson's 'Muse'

Never one to shrink from criticism, Pope John Paul is again putting controversial figures on the road to sainthood, including Austria's last emperor and a mystic nun who inspired Mel Gibson's film on Christ's passion.

Jewish groups condemned the film, saying it would spur new forms of visceral anti-Semitism. They now fear that moving [Anne Catherine]Emmerick closer to the glories of the altars, as sainthood is known, will only make matters worse.

I suppose we will see a resurgence of all the violence that occurred after people saw "The Passion"...? How is it possible that some people can be so...preposterous?

Article here.

Post Dispatch weighs in on Abp. Burke's Pastoral Letter

Earlier this summer, Burke told news outlets it was a grave sin for Catholics to vote for a politician who supports abortion rights. Last month, he seemed to soften that stance by saying that only if a Catholic were to vote for a politican who supports abortion rights because of that politician's position on the issue, would the voter be committing be a grave sin.

Unfortunately, the Post determined and opined that Archbishop Burke was softening his stance. In fact, he was not. The failure of the Post to understand the theological principles and concepts in previous conversations with the Archbishop are clarified in today's Letter.

In the 8,600-word letter, Burke further explained the statements he made last month, but in the following paragraph, he seemed to backtrack, writing, "...there is no element of the common good, no morally good practice, that a candidate may promote and to which a voter may be dedicated, which could justify voting for a candidate who also endorses and supports the deliberate killing of the innocent, abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, human cloning or the recognition of a same-sex relationship as legal marriage. These elements are so fundamental to the common good that they cannot be subordinated to any other cause, no matter how good." [my emphasis]

As much as one may wish to view this as "backtracking", it is not. This is precisely what Archbishop Burke has consistently stated. But the Post, which appears to be dissatisfied with the clear, concise and unambiguous teaching of the Church as presented by the Archbishop, is, nonetheless, quick to "qualify" or temper the truth contained in the Pastoral Letter:

Using complicated Catholic moral teaching, Burke explained the way in which a Catholic voter must go about choosing a candidate for public office by comparing the candidate's positions to Catholic tradition.

While there are complicated principles of Catholic moral teaching reflected in the Letter, the Archbishop simplifies it - he brings it to a level for understanding by the ordinary layman who might not have a firm grasp of these principles.

The Archbishop should be praised and thanked for this Letter which is aimed at teaching the faithful of the archdiocese and others who would read it. Furthering the common good by responsible citizenship is something which one would think the Post Dispatch would embrace.

Perhaps, I am reading the Post's articles with jaundiced eyes and see things which are not really there. Experience has taught me, however, to be discerning when reading secular sources like this.

Read it yourself here.

Summary Points of the Pastoral Letter

SUMMARY POINTS
The Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke
ON OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD

1. The Archbishop is impelled to speak to Catholics and all people of good will in the metropolitan community on Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good on account of his responsibility as a Bishop to teach clearly the moral law.

2. Scripture teaches definitively that we are our “brother’s keeper,” good Samaritans charged to exercise our civic responsibility to promote the common good. Above all, we must promote and protect the inviolable dignity of all human life.

We are called to be “Christians Without Borders,” without boundaries to our love of neighbor.

3. Our civic responsibility to promote the common good is informed by our life in Christ, which unites us in a bond of charity.

4. As citizens of Heaven and earth we are bound by the moral law to act with respect for the rights of others and to promote the common good.

5. The right to act in accord with conscience presupposes that it is informed with the truth God has inscribed in our hearts and revealed in Sacred Scripture. Conscience is the voice of God within us, assisting us to choose good and to avoid evil, in accord with God’s law.

6. We are morally bound in conscience to choose government leaders who will serve the common good. The first priority of the common good is the protection of human life, the basis of all other social conditions.

There can never be justification for directly and deliberately taking innocent human life: abortion, destruction of human embryos, euthanasia, human cloning.

Legal recognition of same-sex relationships undermines the truth about marriage and sanctions gravely immoral acts.

For the sake of the common good we must safeguard the good of human life and the good of marriage and family life.

The death penalty and war are different from procured abortion and same-sex “marriage”, since these latter acts are intrinsically evil and therefore can never be justified. Although war and capital punishment can rarely be justified, they are not intrinsically evil.

7. To insure the common good Catholics have a responsibility to vote for a worthy candidate, because the welfare of the community depends upon the persons elected and appointed to office.

8. It is never right to vote for a candidate in order to promote immoral practices; this is “formal cooperation” in evil.

In some circumstances it is morally permissible for a Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports some immoral practices while opposing other immoral practices. This is called “material cooperation” and is permissible under certain conditions and when it is impossible to avoid all cooperation with evil, as may well be true in selecting a candidate for public office.

There is no element of the common good that could justify voting for a candidate who also endorses, without restriction or limitation, the deliberate killing of the innocent, abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, human cloning, or same-sex marriage.

9. If a candidate supports abortion in a limited number of cases, but is opposed otherwise, Catholics may vote for this person. This is not a question of choosing a lesser evil but of limiting all the evil one is able to limit at the time.

10. As Catholics we cannot remain silent. We have a serious obligation to bring the moral law to bear upon our life in society, so that the good of all will be served.

The Pastoral Letter and these summary points make it clear that those who have attempted to justify various peace and justice issues as having equal weight or have even attempted to justify them to the exclusion of the primary issues of abortion and other intrinsic evils, are, in fact, in serious error.

The Archbishop's unambiguous enunciation of our obligations as Catholics is clear.

Archbishop Burke: "On Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good"

Archbishop Burke's Pastoral Letter to the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been completed. It is a teaching document which is much welcomed in these days of confusion and, at times, even deliberate misinterpretation of Church teachings.

The Pastoral Letter is here.

Archbishop Burke addresses voting in letter

Catholics need to vote but should do so in accordance with the moral teachings of the Church, Archbishop Raymond Burke stated in a pastoral letter published this week.

Archbishop Burke said the pastoral letter affirmed and further clarified what he said earlier this summer about the sinfulness of a Catholic voting deliberately for a politician advocating abortion, as well as euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, cloning and same-sex marriage.

"These elements are so fundamental to the common good that they cannot be subordinated to any other cause, no matter how good," the archbishop wrote.

...the Archbishop stated, "... there is no element of the common good, no morally good practice, that a candidate may promote and to which a voter may be dedicated, which could justify voting for a candidate who also endorses and supports the deliberate killing of the innocent, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, human cloning or the recognition of a same-sex relationship as legal marriage."

Article.

Mandatum Secrecy Series — Final

Those who are contemplating a Catholic college or university to which to send your children or attend oneself should give preference, it seems to me, to those that are open to fulfilling both canonical requirements and the affirmation of the mandate as expressed in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

It seems foolish to spend one's life trying to impart the faith to one's children only to have it systematically destroyed by professors or teachers who are more concerned with their "truth" rather than the truth as held by the Church.

[S]ince 1983, canon law has required that a theologian teaching in any university receive a mandatum from the local bishop. The requirement was highlighted in a footnote in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Canon 812 reads: “It is necessary that those who teach theological disciplines in any institute of higher studies have a mandatum from the competent ecclesiastical authority.”

National Catholic Register article on the progress (or lack of progress) of implementing the mandatum is here.

Catholic bishop tackles communion issue

In a rare interview with a small group of print reporters, Bishop Peter Jugis said yesterday that he stands by the two-page statement [stating that Catholic politicians who support abortion should be denied communion] issued in August, titled "Worthy to Receive the Lamb."

"The motivation was not political," Jugis said. "The motivation was the sacramental discipline of the church."

Article here.

Davenport Diocese contemplates bankruptcy over sex abuse suits

The Catholic Diocese of Davenport might file for bankruptcy because it does not have adequate financial resources to compensate victims of child sexual abuse by priests, Bishop William Franklin said Wednesday.

“But you must know that Chapter 11 bankruptcy may be the only way to fairly and honorably compensate all victims — those who have already come forward and those who have not yet done so,” he said from the pulpit.

More consequences resulting from superiors failing to act in accord with God's law and objective truth, for failing to adequately screen sexual degenerates from the priesthood - and this is nothing compared to the spiritual and emotional harm done to victims and to the Church. How very sad. Pray for our bishops and priests. Offer reparations for those who are unable or unwilling to do so themselves.

Article.

A common misunderstanding — and how to minimize it

It’s a question people have asked me since my earliest days as a priest. In its latest form, it came to me this way. “I am a convert. When my parents come for a visit they always attend Mass with me. Why can’t they and other non-Catholics receive holy Communion? It seems rude to me to exclude them. We wouldn’t invite them to Thanksgiving at our home and then say that they couldn’t sit down and eat. Why is it different with holy Communion?”

It’s a good question, one that comes from the heart of a good and caring Catholic. It deserves a good, thoughtful and caring answer. Let me try to provide that.

Bishop Doran answers the question here.

Oct 1, Memorial: St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin & Doctor of the Church

From: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus Condemns Cities For Their Unbelief
----------------------------------------
(Jesus said,) [13] "Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. [15] And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to Heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

[16] "He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

************************************************
Commentary:

16. On the evening of the day of His resurrection, our Lord entrusts His Apostles with the mission received from the Father, endowing them with powers similar to His own (John 20:21). Some days later He will confer on Peter the primacy He had already promised him (John 21:15-17). The Pope is the successor of Peter, and the bishops the successor of the Apostles (cf. "Lumen Gentium", 20). Therefore, "Bishops who teach in communion with the Roman Pontiff are to be revered by all as witnesses of divine and Catholic truth [...]. This loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given, in a special way, to the authentic teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak "ex cathedra" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 25).
**************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher

Kerry Democrats target Missouri religious voters

Rev. David Keyes is the Kerry-Edwards election campaign's new (and first) religious outreach coordinator for Missouri, and on Monday afternoon he sat at a table at the campaign's St. Louis storefront headquarters in a Shrewsbury strip mall with six religious leaders, lay and ordained.

But in his zeal to include speakers of varying calibrations of faiths, denominations, genders, races and ages, Keyes had overlooked one of the most visible: Protestant women.

"Give me a minute," said Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, recently retired from Congregation Shaare Emeth, as he whipped out his cell phone and began dialing. The Rev. Bill Hutchison, a retired Catholic priest, borrowed a cell phone and did the same. In no time, the group had two Protestant women lined up to speak.

Missouri women, especially, it seems are being targeted...

He [Keyes] then told the audience that Kerry is a religious man. "I know that he is a man of deep faith. He is a devout Catholic who is reverent about attending Mass. That's a good word for John, and you should take that word back with you when you talk about him: reverent," he said.

"He has a reverence for God, he has a reverence for the Church, he has a reverence for the country, and for the traditions that made this country great. He has a reverence for human life." The audience erupted in applause.

He has a reverence for life? It's amazing that anyone could buy this nonsense - one look at his voting record on abortion related issues completely refutes statements such as the one above.

Article.

Proposed South City Deanery Closings

More anxiety for St. Louis Catholics as the first word on church and school closures in south St. Louis is due out Wednesday night during a meeting at St. Mary Magdalene Parish.

Leaders from several south city parishes will receive draft recommendations for shutting down churches and schools in south St. Louis. The south St. Louis deanery includes 35 parishes--18 of them have Catholic grade schools.

A strategic planning committee made up of pastors and church members has been working on a consolidation plan for more than a year and a half. Msgr. Dennis Doerhoff from St. Mary Magdalene said, "We have approximately the same number of parishes and schools in south St. Louis that we had in 1970, when the Catholic population was twice what it is now."

The monsignor stresses this is only a draft proposal for further study. He won't say which or how many churches and schools may shutdown. A similar process in North County has led to a recommendation to shut down or consolidate more than half of the churches and schools there.

From KTVI Fox 2 News.

This is too funny...

Jeff Miller at the Curt Jester has done it again.

Here is something which might put a smile on your face.

Austrian Bishop Quits After Scandal at Seminary

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian bishop Kurt Krenn has resigned, apparently at the Pope's request, after a sex and child pornography scandal in his diocese rocked the Roman Catholic church in the Alpine nation.

"Yes, I have stepped down and am as of now the former bishop of St Poelten," Krenn told Austria's Der Standard newspaper in an interview published on its Web site Wednesday.

Nothing official from Rome yet.

Source.

Sept 30, Memorial: St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church

From: Luke 10:1-12

The Mission of the Seventy Disciples
------------------------------------
[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come. [2] And He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. [5] Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' [6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. [7] And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. [8] Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; [9] heal the sick in it and say to them, "The Kingdom of God has come near to you.' [10] But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,[11] `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.' [12] I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town."
*******************************************************
Commentary:
1-12. Those who followed our Lord and received a calling from Him (cf. Luke 9:57-62) included many other disciples in addition to the Twelve (cf. Mark 2:15). We do not know who most of them were; but undoubtedly some of them were with Him all along, from when Jesus was baptized by John up to the time of His ascension--for example, Joseph called Barrabas, and Matthias (cf. Acts 1:21-26). We can also include Cleopas and his companion, whom the risen Christ appeared to on the road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13-35).

From among these disciples, our Lord chooses seventy-two for a special assignment. Of them, as of the Apostles (cf. Luke 9:1-5), He demands total detachment and complete abandonment to divine providence.

From Baptism onwards every Christian is called by Christ to perform a mission. Therefore, the Church, in our Lord's name, "makes to all the laity an earnest appeal in the Lord to give a willing, noble and enthusiastic response to the voice of Christ, who at this hour is summoning them more pressingly, and to the urging of the Holy Spirit.

The younger generation should feel this call to be addressed in a special way to themselves; they should welcome it eagerly and generously. It is the Lord Himself, by this Council, who is once more inviting all the laity to unite themselves to Him ever more intimately, to consider His interests as their own (cf. Philippians 2:5), and to join in His mission as Savior. It is the Lord who is again sending them into every town and every place where He Himself is to come (cf.Luke 10:1). He sends them on the Church's apostolate, an apostolate that is one yet has different forms and methods, an apostolate that must all the time be adapting itself to the needs of the moment; He sends them on an apostolate where they are to show themselves His cooperators, doing their full share continually in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord their labor cannot be lost (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58)" (Vatican II, "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 33).


3-4. Christ wants to instill apostolic daring into His disciples; this is why He says, "I send you out", which leads St. John Chrysostom to comment: "This suffices to give us encouragement, to give us confidence and to ensure that we are not afraid of our assailants" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 33). The Apostles' and disciples' boldness stemmed from their firm conviction that they were on a God-given mission: they acted, as Peter the Apostle confidently explained to the Sanhedrin, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, "for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"And the Lord goes on," St. Gregory the Great adds, "Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.' Such should be the confidence the preacher places in God that even if he is not provided with the necessities of life, he is convinced that they will come his way. This will ensure that worry about providing temporal things for himself does not distract him from providing others with eternal things" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 17). Apostolate calls for generous self-surrender which leads to detachment; therefore, Peter, following our Lord's commandment, when the beggar at the Beautiful Gate asked him for alms (Acts 3:2-3), said, "I have no silver or gold" ("ibid.", 3:6), "not so as to glory in his poverty", St. Ambrose points out, "but to obey the Lord's command. It is as if he were saying, `You see in me a disciple of Christ, and you ask me for gold? He gave us something much more valuable than gold, the power to act in His name. I do not have what Christ did not give me, but I do have what He did give me: In the name of Jesus Christ, arise and walk' (cf. Acts 3:6)" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc".). Apostolate, therefore, demands detachment from material things and it also requires us to be always available, for there is an urgency about apostolic work.

"And salute no one on the road": "How can it be", St. Ambrose asks himself, "that the Lord wishes to get rid of a custom so full of kindness? Notice, however, that He does not just say, `Do not salute anyone', but adds, `on the road.' And there is a reason for this.

"He also commanded Elisha not to salute anyone he met, when He sent him to lay his staff on the body of the dead child (2 Kings 4:29): He gave him this order so as to get him to do this task without delay and effect the raising of the child, and not waste time by stopping to talk to any passer-by he met. Therefore, there is no question of omitting good manners to greet others; it is a matter of removing a possible obstacle in the way of service; when God commands, human considerations should be set aside, at least for the time being. To greet a person is a good thing, but it is better to carry out a divine instruction which could easily be frustrated by a delay ("ibid.").

6. Everyone is "a son of peace" who is disposed to accept the teaching of the Gospel which brings with it God's peace. Our Lord's recommendation to His disciples to proclaim peace should be a constant feature of all the apostolic action of Christians: "Christian apostolate is not a political program or a cultural alternative. It implies the spreading of good, `infecting' others with a desire to love, sowing peace and joy" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 124).

Feeling peace in our soul and in our surroundings is an unmistakable sign that God is with us, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22): "Get rid of these scruples that deprive you of peace. What takes away your peace of soul cannot come from God. When God comes to you, you will feel the truth of those greetings: My peace I give to you..., peace I leave you..., peace be with you..., and you will feel it even in the midst of troubles" ([ST] J. Escriva, "The Way", 258).

7. Our Lord clearly considered poverty and detachment a key feature in an apostle. But He was aware of His disciples' material needs and therefore stated the principle that apostolic ministry deserves its recompense. Vatican II reminds us that we all have an obligation to contribute to the sustenance of those who generously devote themselves to the service of the Church: "Completely devoted as they are to the service of God in the fulfillment of the office entrusted to them, priests are entitled to receive a just remuneration. For `the laborer deserves his wages' (Luke 10:7), and `the Lord commanded that they who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel' (1 Corinthians 9:14). For this reason, insofar as provision is not made from some other source for the just remuneration of priests, the faithful are bound by a real obligation of seeing to it that the necessary provision for a decent and fitting livelihood for the priests are available" (Vatican II, "Presbyterorum Ordinis", 20).
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher (see below).

The "Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is available from:
Scepter Publishers
http://www.scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php- or -
St. Gabriel's Gift & Book Nook
http://www.stgabriel.com/navarre.html
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Catholics for a Free Choice Files IRS Complaint Against Culture of Life Foundation

Not only is Catholic Answers the target of Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) but now the Culture of Life Foundation has also been named in a complaint to the IRS to have its tax exemption revoked.

CFFC is located in Washington DC, the archdiocese under the leadership of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

While it is well known among many Catholics that CFFC is, in fact, not Catholic, certainly many professed but uncatechized Catholics would not know that fact.

Has Cardinal McCarrick done anything to mitigate the grave harm and scandal that CFFC and Frances Kissling are causing to the faithful, to the mystical body of Christ? Should not this cancerous disease be excised from the body in an effort to keep the poison from spreading further?

I know the question has been asked so many times before, but why does this organization, which supports the murder of innocent children, usurp the name of "Catholic" with such impunity?

Is it a Sin to Vote for Pro-Abortion Candidates

In an effort to help raise awareness among Catholics and other Christians about the importance of voting pro-life, here is a 9.5 minute non-partisan discussion of several scriptural passages that pertain to the issue of abortion.

The video is here.

Via Patrick Madrid's Blog

Conflicting and divergent statements by Bishops show a lack of unity

The conflicting message from bishops of the two Arizona dioceses reflects the division of Roman Catholics nationwide over the presidential election.

Article.

Parents vow to keep school open

The groups met Friday at an informal meeting at the parish center to discuss their options. They have no intention of quietly watching the school close.

"I think if we kick loud enough, we can get the attention of the archdiocese," said April Townsend, the meeting moderator and a parent. "We need to pull together as a family."

Parents like Corpus Christi's location and teaching staff. One suggestion is to see if the archdiocese will rent the facility so the parents can turn it into a Christian school.

Hopefully, those who want to keep the school will be able to come to some understanding with the Archdiocese. Defiant and confrontational attitudes, though, would not be in their best interest.

Article.

Group seeks alternatives to deanery plan

The Gathering of the Laity is asking parishioners to attend meetings and give input on a plan to consolidate Catholic churches and schools in North County.

"We hope that if we all speak as one, we will be heard," said Kitty Gray, a member of the St. Dismas parish and part of the Gathering of the Laity.

Perhaps it is irrational but when I hear things like this, I immediately think of the situation occurring in the Boston Archdiocese with some people engaged in "sit-ins", refusing to leave churches slated to be closed. Meetings have been held for quite some time, during which "input" could have been offered - now that the proposal has been submitted, more comments are being requested from parishioners to be shared with their pastors.

The Gathering of the Laity was formed to give alternatives and a response to the proposal. The group met with parishioners from several northeast deanery churches Sept. 22. The group would like parishioners to share their ideas during an Oct. 5 Gathering of the Laity meeting.

A statement printed in the Gathering of the Laity's meeting read: "We want the Task Force to plan for success — and success depends upon the creation and implementation of a plan designed to stem the tide of our Deanery's shrinking Catholic population. There are too many Catholics living, working and raising their families in the Deanery to accept any other approach."

In recent years (decades), there has been an exodus from the area westward into St. Charles county. Many wish that things would have remained constant - and that we in the archdiocese might have been spared this cross. But that is not the way it is.

We should hope and pray that all of the faithfuul and the group, "Gathering of the Laity", while expressing its suggestions for improvement and its intention for the success of the Task Force, will, in the end, submit to the difficult decision that Archbishop Burke must make.

Article.

Readers question deanery's plan, blast Journal

A number of people are opining on the recent plans for churches and schools in the Northeast deanery.

Prayer to and an Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.

And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

(St. Michael is my patron Saint - chosen at Confirmation, many years ago)

The Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel can be found here at tfp.org.

Sept 29, Feast: Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

From: John 1:47-51

The Calling of the First Disciples (Continuation)
-------------------------------------------------
[47] Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" [48] Nathaniel said to Him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." [49] Nathaniel answered Him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! [50] Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." [51] And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

************************************************************
Commentary:

45-51. The Apostle Philip is so moved that he cannot but tell his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his wonderful discovery (verse 45). "Nathanael had heard from Scripture that Jesus must come from Bethlehem, from the people of David. This belief prevailed among the Jews and also the prophet had proclaimed it of old, saying: `But you, O Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel' (Micah 5:2).

Therefore, when he heard that He was from Nazareth, he was troubled and in doubt, since he found that the announcement of Philip was not in agreement with the words of the prophecy" (St. John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St. John", 20, 1).

A Christian may find that, in trying to communicate his faith to others, they raise difficulties. What should he do? What Philip did--not trust his own explanation, but invite them to approach Jesus personally: "Come and see" (verse 46). In other words, a Christian should bring his fellow-men, his brothers into Jesus' presence through the means of grace which He has given them and which the Church ministers--frequent reception of the sacraments, and devout Christian practices.

Nathanael, a sincere person (verse 47), goes along with Philip to see Jesus; he makes personal contact with our Lord (verse 48), and the outcome is that he receives faith (the result of his ready reception of grace, which reaches him through Christ's human nature: verse 49).

As far as we can deduce from the Gospels, Nathanael is the first Apostle to make an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah and as Son of God. Later on St. Peter, in a more formal way, will recognize our Lord's divinity (cf. Matthew 16:16). Here (verse 51) Jesus evokes a text from Daniel (7:13) to confirm and give deeper meaning to the words spoken by His new disciple.

*****************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.

The "Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is available from:
Scepter Publishers
http://www.scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php
- or -
St. Gabriel's Gift & Book Nook
http://www.stgabriel.com/navarre.htmlSponsor of CIN (Catholic Information Network)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St. Jerome)

"A man who is well-grounded in the testimonies of Scriptures is the bulwark of the Church." (St. Jerome)

"It is not enough to discover Christ--you must bring Him to others! The world today is one great mission land, even in countries of long-standing Christian tradition." (Pope John Paul II)

The "Matter" of Eucharistic Elements

And here is a little more information regarding valid matter for the Holy Eucharist. The follwing was excerpted from Newadvent.org and reformatted for ease of reading.

There are two Eucharistic elements, bread and wine, which constitute the remote matter of the Sacrament of the Altar, while the proximate matter can be none other than the Eucharistic appearances under which the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present.

(a) The first element is wheaten bread (panis triticeus), without which the "confection of the Sacrament does not take place" (Missale Romanum: De defectibus, sect. 3).

Being true bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not bread.

Since, moreover, the bread required is that formed of wheaten flour, not every kind of flour is allowed for validity, such, e.g., as is ground from rye, oats, barley, Indian corn or maize, though these are all botanically classified as grain (frumentum).

On the other hand, the different varieties of wheat (as spelt, amel-corn, etc.) are valid, inasmuch as they can be proved botanically to be genuine wheat.

The necessity of wheaten bread is deduced immediately from the words of Institution: "The Lord took bread" (ton arton), in connection with which it may be remarked, that in Scripture bread (artos), without any qualifying addition, always signifies wheaten bread.

No doubt, too, Christ adhered unconditionally to the Jewish custom of using only wheaten bread in the Passover Supper, and by the words, "Do this for a commemoration of me", commanded its use for all succeeding times.

In addition to this, uninterrupted tradition, whether it be the testimony of the Fathers or the practice of the Church, shows wheaten bread to have played such an essential part, that even Protestants would be loath to regard rye bread or barley bread as a proper element for the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

The Church maintains an easier position in the controversy respecting the use of fermented or unfermented bread. By leavened bread (fermentum, zymos) is meant such wheaten bread as requires leaven or yeast in its preparation and baking, while unleavened bread (azyma, azymon) is formed from a mixture of wheaten flour and water, which has been kneaded to dough and then baked.

After the Greek Patriarch Michael Cærularius of Constantinople had sought in 1053 to palliate the renewed rupture with Rome by means of the controversy, concerning unleavened bread, the two Churches, in the Decree of Union at Florence, in 1439, came to the unanimous dogmatic decision, that the distinction between leavened and unleavened bread did not interfere with the confection of the sacrament, though for just reasons based upon the Church's discipline and practice, the Latins were obliged to retain unleavened bread, while the Greeks still held on to the use of leavened (cf, Denzinger, Enchirid., Freiburg, 1908, no, 692).

Since the Schismatics had before the Council of Florence entertained doubts as to the validity of the Latin custom, a brief defense of the use of unleavened bread will not be out of place here.

Pope Leo IX had as early as 1054 issued a protest against Michael Cærularius (cf. Migne, P. L., CXLIII, 775), in which he referred to the Scriptural fact, that according to the three Synoptics the Last Supper was celebrated "on the first day of the azymes" and so the custom of the Western Church received its solemn sanction from the example of Christ Himself.

The Jews, moreover, were accustomed even the day before the fourteenth of Nisan to get rid of all the leaven which chanced to be in their dwellings, that so they might from that time on partake exclusively of the so-called mazzoth as bread.

As regards tradition, it is not for us to settle the dispute of learned authorities, as to whether or not in the first six or eight centuries the Latins also celebrated Mass with leavened bread (Sirmond, Döllinger, Kraus) or have observed the present custom ever since the time of the Apostles (Mabillon, Probst).

Against the Greeks it suffices to call attention to the historical fact that in the Orient the Maronites and Armenians have used unleavened bread from time immemorial, and that according to Origen (In Matt., XII, n. 6) the people of the East "sometimes", therefore not as a rule, made use of leavened bread in their Liturgy.

Besides, there is considerable force in the theological argument that the fermenting process with yeast and other leaven, does not affect the substance of the bread, but merely its quality.

The reasons of congruity advanced by the Greeks in behalf of leavened bread, which would have us consider it as a beautiful symbol of the hypostatic union, as well as an attractive representation of the savor of this heavenly Food, will be most willingly accepted, provided only that due consideration be given to the grounds of propriety set forth by the Latins with St. Thomas Aquinas (III:74:4) namely, the example of Christ, the aptitude of unleavened bread to be regarded as a symbol of the purity of His Sacred Body, free from all corruption of sin, and finally the instruction of St, Paul (I Cor., v,8) to keep the Pasch not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth".


(b) The second Eucharistic element required is wine of the grape (vinum de vite).

Hence are excluded as invalid, not only the juices extracted and prepared from other fruits (as cider and perry), but also the so-called artificial wines, even if their chemical constitution is identical with the genuine juice of the grape.

The necessity of wine of the grape is not so much the result of the authoritative decision of the Church, as it is presupposed by her (Council of Trent, Sess. XIII, cap. iv), and is based upon the example and command of Christ, Who at the Last Supper certainly converted the natural wine of grapes into His Blood.

This is deduced partly from the rite of the Passover, which required the head of the family to pass around the "cup of benediction" (calix benedictionis) containing the wine of grapes, partly, and especially, from the express declaration of Christ, that henceforth He would not drink of the "fruit of the vine" (genimen vitis).

The Catholic Church is aware of no other tradition and in this respect she has ever been one with the Greeks. The ancient Hydroparastatæ, or Aquarians, who used water instead of wine, were heretics in her eyes.

The counter-argument of Ad. Harnack ["Texte und Untersuchungen", new series, VII, 2 (1891), 115 sqq.], that the most ancient of Churches was indifferent as to the use of wine, and more concerned with the action of eating and drinking than with the elements of bread and wine, loses all its force in view not only of the earliest literature on the subject (the Didache, Ignatius, Justin, Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Hippolytus, Tertullian, and Cyprian), but also of non-Catholic and apocryphal writings, which bear testimony to the use of bread and wine as the only and necessary elements of the Blessed Sacrament.

On the other hand, a very ancient law of the Church which, however, has nothing to do with the validity of the sacrament, prescribes that a little water be added to the wine before the Consecration (Decr. pro Armenis: aqua modicissima), a practice, whose legitimacy the Council of Trent (Sess. XXII, can. ix) established under pain of anathema.

The rigor of this law of the Church may be traced to the ancient custom of the Romans and Jews, who mixed water with the strong southern wines (see Proverbs 9:2), to the expression of calix mixtus found in Justin (Apol., I, lxv), Irenæus (Adv. hær., V, ii, 3), and Cyprian (Ep. lxiii, ad Cæcil., n. 13 sq.), and especially to the deep symbolical meaning contained in the mingling, inasmuch as thereby are represented the flowing of blood and water from the side of the Crucified Savior and the intimate union of the faithful with Christ (cf. Council of Trent, Sess. XXII, cap. vii).

Full article here.

Pull the plug on 'Relevant Radio'???

Frank Reilly, the author of this opinion piece, who lives in St. Paul, is a Catholic theologian and a prolife Democrat.

After reading the article, one must legitimately question the sort of theology that was studied, for the opinions expressed do not seem to be consonant with Catholic moral teachings, such as this:

Another [caller to the radio station], raising the problem of Bush's enthusiastic commitment to capital punishment, heard that the Catholic catechism acknowledges the acceptability of the death sentence in certain situations.

This is the correct answer! Unless, one is referring to a different catechism.

Or this statement:

[W]hen one caller asked a host about Iraq, she was told simply that war can be justified, and that, as the catechism says, only community leaders -- nobody else, not even the pope! -- can make that decision. Not a word was said about conscience, or about conscientious objection.

Of course there can be legitimate disagreements about the war, but as the catechism states, the decision to go to war rests with legitimate State authority and no one else. One may agree or disagree but the fact remains that this is what the Church teaches.

But maybe this is the real reason for his "dislike" of Relevant Radio:

Program hosts and guest experts talk constantly about the "intrinsic moral evil" of abortion, gay marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, sex outside marriage, contraception and euthanasia. For them, only candidates who are against all these evils deserve Catholic votes.

The "dislike" for this much needed Catholic apostolate is demonstrated here:

A creation of right-wing Catholic money, and calling itself "listener-supported," Relevant Radio takes pride in being a national media outlet approved by the U.S. Catholic Bishops. . . The time has come for the bishops to pull the plug.

Locally, Covenant Network probably airs many of the same shows as Relevant Radio, such as Catholic Answers Live. Catholic Radio must be supported because it helps both Catholics who need catechetical instruction and non-Catholics who might have questions about Catholicism. This apostolate helps bring souls to Christ.

It's a shame when Catholics openly denounce those who share in proclaiming Catholic teaching as "right wing". Jesus told us the way would be difficult and we would have to suffer as He suffered.

Link is here.

Texas Bishop Says No Bishop May Refuse to Deny Communion to Pro-Abortion Politicians

The excuses for unwillingness to deny communion to pro-abortion politicians are debunked in an article submitted to LifeSiteNews.com by Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi Texas.

In his article, Bishop Gracida notes that the Vatican has already ruled authoritatively on the question of denying communion. "According to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in that Council's June 24, 2000 Declaration on the question: 'Should a priest deny Communion to a Catholic who is an obstinate public sinner?' The answer is 'yes,'" writes Bishop Gracida. The Church's Code of Canon Law (can. 915) says the same.

As has Archbishop Burke and others.

"[E]very bishop has the duty and obligation to implement the provisions of Canon Law" which states, "Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."

Bishop Gracida has been very outspoken on this issue in recent months. He seems to trying his best to call his brother bishops back to the fold.

Source.

The full 9-page article from Bishop Garcida is here.

Pro-Abortion Movement literally killing itself...

Cathy Cleaver Ruse, the Director of Planning and Information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has a good article here on "missing voters" (those who were aborted).

Canons Regular....What does that mean?

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, a canon regular is essentially a religious cleric, or, as the same doctor aptly expresses it: "The Order of Canons Regular is necessarily constituted by religious clerics, because they are essentially destined to those works which relate to the Divine mysteries, whereas it is not so with the monastic Orders." (II-II:189:8 ad 2um, and II-II:184:8). We have then here what constitutes a canon regular and what distinguishes him from a monk. The clerical state is essential to the Order of Canons Regular, whereas it is only accidental to the Monastic Order. Hence Erasmus, himself a canon regular, declared that the canons regular are a quid medium between the monks and the secular clergy.

To explain further the nature and distinctive spirit of the canonical order, we may say, with St. Augustine, that a canon regular professes two things, "sanctitatem et clericatum". He lives in community, he leads the life of a religious, he sings the praises of God by the daily recitation of the Divine Office in choir; but at the same time, at the bidding of his superiors, he is prepared to follow the example of the Apostles by preaching, teaching, and the administration of the sacraments, or by giving hospitality to pilgrims and travellers, and tending the sick.

There is much more here at Newadvent.

Ex-bishop is indicted on abuse charges but escapes prosecution

Post Dispatch article on Bishop Dupre.

Local Area Religious Sister Honored

The Catholic Church Extension Society, a Chicago group that supports missionary work in poor urban and rural parts of the United States, [presented] its annual Lumen Christi (or Light of Christ) award to Connolly at a Mass and dinner in her honor [last week].

Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory nominated Connolly for the award.

"I can't begin to express how proud I am to be associated with this wonderful woman of faith," he said in an e-mail. "Sister Ann truly is the Light of Christ for so many in our diocese."

Article here.

Communion Bread and Celiac Disease

Adoremus has published an article discussing the issue.

And there was this article from Zenit in which low-gluten hosts were discussed.

Youth behind resurgence of ancient Catholic ritual

Thanks to Marc P. who forwarded this article:

With the aroma of incense hovering, the Rev. Eduardo Garcia lifts the communion wafer toward heaven, reciting, "Hoc est enim corpus meum."

As the prayer echoes through St. Peter's Catholic Church in Volo, 15-year-old Beth Gammel says this is the moment she feels closest to God.

She doesn't understand Latin, but the book she holds translates Garcia's prayer: "For this is my body."

For Gammel and a growing number of young people, the once traditional Latin Mass provides a connection to the divine unmatched by any contemporary service.

The Catholic rite dating from the 5th century had almost faded into oblivion after Vatican reforms in the 1960s, which included an official ban on its use. But since Pope John Paul lifted the ban in 1984, it's thriving in Volo and being revived across the country, with young families leading the way.

Many are discovering the beauty, the mystery and the reverence of worshipping God in the Holy Mass in the manner of our ancestors.

"The Mass is like a rock, a source of stability in a noisy world."

The entire article is well worth the read, and the faithful of the St. Louis Archdiocese should express their gratitude to Archbishop Burke for expanding the Indult here.

Kerry Gives Exclusive Interview to Homosexual Activist Magazine

"I was the only elected senator up for reelection to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996," Kerry boasted in the interview.

"I approve of gay adoption. I approve of gay parenting," he said.

Interview

C-FAM seeks two new employees in New York

This also just in:

For those who care about international social issues and who hunger to engage them, I am announcing two dream jobs. Come join C-FAM in the great fight for life, faith and family at the United Nations. You will be at the very center of one of the most important fights in the world. You will work with a broad range of very talented people both inside government and in the NGO world. Your reach will be powerful and global.

Here are the listings...

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse
President

PS Feel free to post this announcement and otherwise get this around.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

C-FAM HAS TWO IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS
1. Director of Research and Policy
2. Assistant Director of Research and Policy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

JOB NUMBER ONE
Director of Research and Policy

This person will have responsibility for running all aspects of C-FAM's United Nations operation.

You will:

* Manage the New York office,
* Write and Edit the weekly Friday Fax, which has a global circulation of 60,000+
* Assign and edit all research papers produced through C-FAM's "International Organizations Research Group,"
* Direct all C-FAM efforts with the diplomatic community at the United Nations,
* Direct C-FAM's global outreach to foreign ministries,
* Direct C-FAM's global outreach to non-governmental organizations,
* Run all UN related programs, panels, lobbying, etc.

Your qualifications will include:

* An advanced degree, preferably a Ph.D. or law degree,
* Proven research skills,
* Proven ability to write lucidly,
* Foreign languages a plus but not required,
* Knowledge of international social policy a plus,
* Knowledge of UN issues a plus,
* Diplomatic skills

Also, please know that C-FAM is officially recognized as a Catholic organization by the Catholic Church. We are loyal to the Holy Father and to the teachings of the Catholic Church in all things. You must show a similar disposition.

THIS JOB IS OPEN ONLY TO AMERICAN CITIZENS OR THOSE ALREADY POSSESSING PAPERS TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES

Salary is $55,000 plus full medical benefits and three weeks paid vacation Location of job is in New York City.

To apply for this job, please email your resume to Hannah Page at c-fam@c-fam.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


JOB NUMBER TWO
Assistant Director of Research and Policy/Office Manager

This person will assist the Director in all aspects of the UN operation, with added administrative duties

You will:

* Handle all incoming phone calls,
* Manage the daily mail,
* Manage voluminous filing,
* Handle the day to day running of the office
* Assist in writing and editing the Friday Fax,
* Assist in assigning and editing research papers published by C-FAM's International Organizations Research Group
* Assist in C-FAM efforts with the diplomatic community at the United Nations,
* Assist in C-FAM's global outreach to foreign ministries,
* Assist in C-FAM's global outreach to non-governmental organizations,
* Assist in running all UN related programs, panels, lobbying, etc.

Your qualifications will include:

* Proven organizational abilities,
* Pleasant personality,
* Work ethic,
* Enthusiasm,
* An advanced degree is a plus but not required
* Proven ability to write lucidly,
* Foreign languages a plus but not required,
* Knowledge of international social policy a plus,
* Knowledge of UN issues a plus,
* Diplomatic skills


Also, please know that C-FAM is officially recognized as a Catholic organization by the Catholic Church. We are loyal to the Holy Father and to the teachings of the Catholic Church in all things. You must show a similar disposition.

THIS JOB IS OPEN ONLY TO AMERICAN CITIZENS OR THOSE ALREADY POSSESSING PAPERS TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES

Salary is $40,000 plus full medical benefits and three weeks paid vacation Location of job is in New York City

To apply for this job, please email your resume to Hannah Page at c-fam@c-fam.org

More sad times...continued...

This just in from Catholic World News:

Massachusetts bishop charged with child rape

Springfield, Massachusetts, Sep. 27 (CWNews.com) - The former bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, has been indicted on child rape charges, according to the Springfield Republican newspaper on Monday. He is the first US bishop to have criminal charges of sex abuse filed against him.

The newspaper reported that Bishop Thomas L. Dupre has been charged by a grand jury with two counts of child rape. Dupre resigned abruptly in February amid allegations he abused two young men two decades ago. At the time, health problems was given as the reason for his resignation.

Source.

Bishop Cupich is new episcopal adviser for Serra's U.S. council

CHICAGO (CNS) -- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., is the new episcopal adviser for Serra International's U.S. council. He succeeds Bishop Kevin M. Britt of Grand Rapids, Mich., who died in May. In the post, Bishop Cupich will provide spiritual guidance to council leaders and will be a liaison between the council, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the episcopal advisers of other Serra councils.

Source.

St. Stanislaus issue brings to mind St. Adalbert's fight

The article seems to be somewhat of a stretch...

The dispute between parishioners and the St. Louis Archdiocese over control of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church is similar to one more than 20 years ago in St. Clair County that also involved a Polish congregation.

In the 1970s, the Illinois Department of Transportation bought St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in East St. Louis to clear the way for Interstate 64.

Some members thought the money should go to them, not to the Belleville Diocese, headed by Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste, now deceased.

The diocese won that dispute, but when it tried to assume ownership of the 30-acre cemetery the parishioners had established in neighboring Fairview Heights, they rebelled, and eventually prevailed.

One issue involves the church and church property while the other (in St. Clair County) involves private property - the similarities are what? In name only, that is, the "St. Adalbert's Cemetery Association".

Perhaps I missed something but I do not see how the St. Stanislaus situation brings the St. Adalbert issue to mind at all.

Article.

Corpus Christi School fights for life

Corpus Christi School in Jennings is one of only two Roman Catholic grade schools in St. Louis County with majority black enrollments. Its home parish suffers from a steadily declining membership and a dwindling bank account.

"We serve African-American families from all over, and I think we need to be preserved for that reason alone," said Karen Szydlowski, the principal. "What we are is a mission school."

Lucia Signorelli, a member of the North County study group, said she wishes it could be saved. But she said there are other numbers that present a dim future for the school and parish.

The parish, meanwhile, has lost 76 percent of its members since 1990, and most of those who remain are elderly, she said.

Only about 20 percent of the school's students are Catholic.

Since 2001, the parish has averaged 24 funerals and three baptisms each year. Sunday collections are down 16 percent in the same period.

The parish is dying a slow death, and 80% of students at the school are not Catholic.
Article

Cardinal Mahony to take sabbatical month

This year our ordination class of 1962 celebrated our 42nd anniversary. Over these four decades I never had the opportunity to take a sabbatical of any kind, and after consultation with the Holy See, I have been granted permission to take the month of October over the next several years as special sabbatical months. This year, I depart on October 6 and return on October 29.

The purpose of each October's sabbatical will be to visit parts of the world where newer, younger Catholic Churches are taking root and beginning to flourish. This year my sabbatical will consist of two portions: visiting young Churches in central Africa, and a final week of art and architecture in Florence and Siena, Italy.

Art and architecture?
The Tidings article.

Pro-Abortion Catholic Politician Awarded Papal Knighthood

The Catholic Herald recently carried an interesting item about Julian Hunte, a pro-choice Catholic politician in the West Indies who was awarded a papal knighthood Sept. 19. Hunte was made a Knight of the Grand Cross Pian Order. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano bestowed the honor in a New York ceremony.

As the Herald story notes, the award is especially interesting in light of the debate currently swirling in the United States over the eligibility of pro-choice Catholic politicians for the Eucharist.

"I think every woman must have a choice. I am a pro-choice man," Hunte said during a parliamentary debate before votes were cast.

"A woman must be the one who will decide what she wants to do in any given situation. I respect the views of those who feel it is wrong. This is their right. I will give them that right, as I will give the woman the right to determine how she wishes to treat her life," he said at the time.

One wonders why such an honor would be bestowed on one who advocates and supports the murder of innocents?

The Papal Orders are awarded in the name of the Supreme Pontiff and are given both as awards of His Holiness as Head of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church and also as Sovereign of the Vatican City State. Membership at one time was conferred by Papal Bull, or by Apostolic Letter, signed by the Pope himself, but since the reforms made in the structure of these Orders at the beginning of the 20th century, the diplomas have been signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State. Since the 29 June 1991 this post has been filled by His Eminence Angelo, Cardinal Sodano.
Source.

The third, and more commonly awarded Order (although generally fewer than seventy awards are made annually world-wide), is the Order of Pius IX. An Order of Pian knights was founded by Pius IV in about 1560, but this fell into disuse and the present Order, instituted by Pius IX in 1847, may be regarded as a new foundation. There have been several reforms of the Statutes and today the highest rank is the gold Collar of the Order, the most common award to Heads of State on the occasion of official visits to the Holy See. The Grand Cross, the highest Papal award given to lay men and women, is also given to Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years in post, and to leading Catholics in the wider world for particular services, mainly in the international field and particularly for outstanding deeds for Church and society.
Source.

Source of article.

Michael Davies, R.I.P.

From Una Voce:

It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform everyone of the death of Mr. Michael Davies, the President d'Honneur of the International Una Voce Federation. Michael suffered a heart attack at 9:20 p.m. on Saturday 25th September and died instantly.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat ei.

Michael's family will be keeping me informed and I will send out information as I receive it. They have also asked that for the moment no one contacts the family direct until arrangements have been made. Should anyone require any specific information please contact me via email on argentum@euphony.net

Leo Darroch, Secretary, International Federation Una Voce.

Posted 26 Sept 2004

Please keep Mr. Davies and his family in your prayers.

Source.