Urgent Appeal from the Friday Fax

Dear Colleague,

UN radicals met for a two week meeting in March and the pro-life and pro-family coalition was there. Radicals attempted ONCE MORE to make abortion a universally recognized human right. Once more they attempted to export the UN's extremist abortion policy to the rest of the world by using a UN document.

Like I said, we were there. Partway through the first week, we receive intelligence that the radical groups intended to issue a document in support of their pro-abortion position and that it would be signed by 300 groups. This document would have put immediate pressure on poor countries to support the radical abortion position.

Here is what we did.

We sent a message to the Friday Fax list, a list that now numbers 60,000 readers from all over the world. We sent an emergency message to this massive list and asked ORGANIZATIONS to send a note of support for the pro-life language in the document under debate.

Here is what happened.

Within two hours 400 groups had sent a message. Within eight hours this number had grown to 800. Within 24 hours this number had grown to 2000 groups from all over the world who wrote notes in support of our pro-life position.

And this is what we did then.

On the morning of March 8th, the US Ambassador to the UN held a briefing for non-governmental organizations attending the UN meeting. The US Mission to the UN was packed with friends, and also with enemies, those who want to force abortion on the developing world.

At a key moment in the briefing, I rose and presented the names of these 2000 groups to the US Ambassador to the United Nations. It was a stack of paper almost a foot high! There was thunderous applause from our friends and hisses and boos from our opponents. And this was precisely the encouragement the US needed at that moment to continue the pro-life fight.

In the end, we won that UN debate and a large part of the credit goes to those good folks on the Friday Fax list who answerer that emergency call that day in March.

Friends, the Friday Fax is a cornerstone of our ongoing UN pro-life fight. And now it is time for you to help the Friday Fax.

We need your sacrificial financial gift to keep the Friday Fax going. It costs around $100,000 per year to produce the Friday Fax. This money does not come from rich foundations like the ones that give billions of dollars to our enemies. This money does not come from governments that give billions of dollars to the enemies of life and family. THIS MONEY ONLY EVER COMES FROM YOU!

Friend, please go to http://www.c-fam.org/donations.htm and give as much as you possibly can in support of the Friday Fax.

We can continue winning the UN pro-life fight but we cannot do it without your immediate help. Please go to http://www.c-fam.org/donations.htm and give as much as you possibly can.

I will be back to you each week for the next six weeks to give you plenty of reasons to open up your wallet and your heart to our work.

Yours sincerely,
Austin Ruse
President
C-FAM
Editor in Chief
Friday Fax

PS You will be pleased to know that after we presented our 2000 names to the US Ambassador, our opponents chickened out and never even presented their puny 300! We can win friends. Help us do that.

Ascension Thursday

Why did Christ say to His apostles: "Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all creatures"?

To show that no one is to assume the office of preach­ing, but must look for his mission from the lawful pastors of the Church. And when Christ sends His apostles into the whole worlds to all nations without exception, He shows His willingness to save all men. If the designs of God are not fulfilled, the blame is not to be attributed to God, but to man, who either does not accept the doctrine of the gospel, or accepting, does not live in accordance with it, or else renders himself by his obduracy in vice, unworthy of the gospel.

Is faith without good works sufficient for salvation?

No, faith that is not active in love, not fruitful in good works, and therefore not meritorious, (Gal. V. 6.) is not suf­ficient for salvation. "Such faith," says St. Anselm, "is not the faith of a Christian, but the faith of the devil." Only he who truly believes in Christ and His doctrine, and lives in accordance with it, will be saved.

Is ours then the true faith since all the faithful do not work miracles; as Christ has predicted?

St. Gregory very beautifully replies to this question: "Because the Redeemer said that true faith would be ac­companied by miracles, you must not think that you have not the faith, because these signs do not follow; these miracles had to be wrought in the beginning of the Church, because faith in her had to be increased by these visible signs of divine power." And even now when such signs are necessary for the propagation of the faith, and victory over unbelief, God gives His faithful power to work them.

Are miracles wrought now in the Catholic Church?

Yes, for there have been at all times saints in the Church, who, as seen from their lives, have wrought miracles, on account of their faith, which even the heretics cannot deny; for instance St. Francis Xavier, who in the sight of the heathens, raised several dead persons to life. In a spiritual manner all pious Catholics still work such miracles; for, as St. Chrysostom says, "they expel devils when they banish sin, which is worse than the devil; they speak new tongues when they converse no longer on vain and sinful things, but on those which are spiritual and heavenly." "They take up serpents," says St. Gregory, "when by zealous exhortations they lift others from the shame of vice, without being themselves poisoned; they drink deadly things without being hurt by them, when they hear improper conversation without being corrupted or led to evil; they lay their hands upon the sick and heal them, when they teach the ignorant, strengthen by their good example those who are wavering in virtue, keep the sinner from evil, and similar things." Strive to do this upon all occasions, O Christian, for God willingly gives you His grace and you will thus be of more use to yourself and others, and honor God more than by working the greatest miracles.

Where and how did Christ ascend into heaven?

From Mount Olivet where His sufferings began, by which we learn, that where our crosses and afflictions begin which we endure with patience and resignation, there begins our reward. Christ ascended into heaven by His own power, because He is God, and now in His glorified humanity He sits at the right hand of His Father, as our continual Mediator.

In whose presence did Christ ascend into heaven?

In the presence of His apostles, and many of His dis­ciples, whom He had previously blessed, (Luke XXIV. 51.) and who, as St. Leo says, derived consoling joy from His ascension. Rejoice, also, O Christian foul, for Christ has today opened heaven for you, and you may enter it, if you believe in Christ, and live in accordance with that faith. St. Augustine says: "Let us ascend in spirit with Christ, that when His day comes, we may follow with our body.

Yet you must know, beloved brethren, that not pride, nor avarice, nor impurity, nor any other vice ascends with Christ; for with the teacher of humility pride ascends not, nor with the author of goodness, malice, nor with the Son of the Virgin, impurity. Let us then ascend with Him by trampling upon our vices and evil inclinations, thus build­ing a ladder by which we can ascend; for we make a ladder of our sins to heaven when we tread them down in combating them.

From "The Church's Year" by Fr. Leonard Goffine

Pope's car in eBay bidding war

BIDDING for Pope Benedict XVI's old Volkswagen, on offer on eBay Germany, topped 100,000 euro ($166,000) today, 10 times the price the current owner paid for it.

Cardinal Rigali on the Gift of a New Pope

ROME, MAY 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Justin Rigali sees the new Pope's commitment to promoting the dignity of people as a key response to terrorism.

The archbishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was among those participating in the events of Benedict XVI's first week as Pontiff. Here is an excerpt of an interview he gave April 25, the day after the inauguration of the new pontificate.

The Unity of the Church

By unity is meant that the members of the true Church must be united in the belief of the same doctrines of revelation, and in the acknowledgment of the authority of the same pastors. Heresy and schism are opposed to Christian unity. By heresy, a man rejects one or more articles of the Christian faith. By schism, he spurns the authority of his spiritual superiors. That our Saviour requires this unity of faith and government in His members, is evident from various passages of Holy Scripture.

In His admirable prayer immediately before His pas­sion, He says: "I pray for them also who through their word shall believe in Me; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me," (John 17:20-21) because the unity of the Church is the most luminous evidence of the divine mission of Christ. Jesus prayed that His followers may be united in the bond of a common faith, as He and His Father are united in essence, and cer­tainly the prayer of Jesus is always heard.

St. Paul ranks schism and heresy with the crimes of murder and idolatry, and he declares that the authors of sects shall not possess the kingdom of God (Gal 5:20-21). In this epistle to the Ephesians, he insists upon unity of faith in the following emphatic lan­guage: "Be careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body and one Spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us al1" (Eph 4:3-6). As you all, he says, worship one God, and not many Gods; as you acknowledge the same divine Medi­ator of redemption, and not many mediators; as you are sanctified by the same divine Spirit, and not by many spirits; as you all hope for the same heaven, and not different heavens, so must you all profess the same faith.

Unity of government is not less essential to the Church of Christ than unity of doctrine. Our divine Saviour never speaks of His Churches, but of His Church. He does not say: "Upon this rock I will build my Churches," but, " Upon this rock I will build my Church," (Matt 16:18) from which words we must conclude, that it never was His intention to establish or to sanction various conflicting denominations, but one corporate body, with all the members united under one visible Head; for as the Church is a visi­ble body, it must have a visible head.

The Church is called a kingdom: "He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His king­dom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32,33) Now in every well-regulated kingdom there is but one king, one form of government, one uniform body of laws, which all are obliged to observe. In like manner, in Christ's spiritual kingdom, there must be one Chief to whom all owe spiritual allegiance; one form of ecclesiastical government; one uniform body of laws which all Christians are bound to observe; for, "every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate" (Matt 12:25).

Our Saviour calls His Church a sheepfold. "And there shall be made one fold and one shepherd" (John 10:16). What more beautiful or fitting illustration of unity can we have than that which is suggested by a sheepfold? All the sheep of a flock cling together. If they are momentarily separated, they are im­patient till reunited. They follow in the same path. They feed on the same pastures. They obey the same shepherd, and fly from the voice of strangers. So did our Lord intend that all the sheep of His fold should be nourished by the same sacraments and the same bread of life; that they should follow the same rule of faith as their guide to heaven; that they should listen to the voice of one Chief Pastor, and that they should carefully shun false teachers.

His Church is compared to a human body. "As in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one mem­bers one of the other"(Rom 12:4-5). In one body there are many members, all inseparably connected with the head. The head commands and the foot instantly moves, the hand is raised and the lips open. Even so our Lord ordained that His Church, composed of many members, should be all united to one supreme visible Head, whom they are bound to obey.

The Church is compared to a vine, all whose branches, though spreading far and wide, are neces­sarily connected with the main stem, and from its sap they are nourished. In like manner, our Saviour will have all the saplings of His Vineyard connected with the main stem, and all draw their nourishment from the parent stock.

The Church, in fine, is called in Scripture by the beautiful title of bride or spouse of Christ, (Apoc 21:9) and the Christian law admits only of one wife.

In fact, our common sense alone, apart from revela­tion, is sufficient to convince us that God could not be the author of various opposing systems of religion. God is essentially one. He is Truth itself. How could the God of truth affirm, for instance, to one body of Christians that there are three Persons in God, and to another that there is only one Person in God? How could He say to one individual that Jesus Christ is God, and to another that He is only man. How can He tell me that the punishments of the wicked are eternal, and tell another that they are not eternal? One of these contradictory statements must be false. "God is not the God of dissension, but of peace" (1 Cor 14:33).

I see perfect harmony in the laws which govern the physical world that we inhabit. I see a mar­vellous unity in our planetary system. Each planet moves in its own sphere, and all are controlled by the central Sun.

Why should there not be also harmony and con­cord in that spiritual world, the Church of God, the grandest conception of His omnipotence, and the most bounteous manifestation of His goodness and love for mankind!

Hence, it is clear that Jesus Christ intended that His Church should have one common doctrine which all Christians are bound to believe, and one uniform government to which all should be loyally attached.

With all due respect for my dissenting brethren, truth compels me to say that this unity of doctrine and government is not to be found in the Protestant sects, taken collectively or separately. That the various Protestant denominations differ from one another not only in minor details, but in most essen­tial principles of faith, is evident to everyone con­versant with the doctrines of the different Creeds. The multiplicity of sects in this country, with their mutual recriminations, is the scandal of Christianity, and the greatest obstacle to the conversion of the heathen. Not only does sect differ from sect, but each particular denomination is divided into two or more independent or conflicting branches.

In the State of North Carolina, we have several Baptist denominations, each having its own dis­tinctive appellation. There is also the Methodist Church North and the Methodist Church South. There was the Old and the New School Presbyterian Church. And even in the Episcopal Communion, which is [was] the most conservative body outside the Catholic Church, there is the ritualistic, or high church, and the low church. If you question closely the individual members composing any one fraction of these denominations, you will, more often than not, find them giving a contradictory view of their tenets of religion.

Protestants differ from one another not only in doctrine, but in the form of ecclesiastical govern­ment and discipline. The church of England ac­knowledges the reigning Sovereign as its Spiritual Head. Some denominations recognize Deacons, Priests, and Bishops as an essential part of their hierarchy; while the great majority of Protestants reject such titles altogether.

Where, then, shall we find this essential unity of faith and government? I answer, confidently, no­where save in the Catholic Church.

The number of Catholics in the world [circa 1895] is computed at two hundred and twenty-five million. They have all "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," one creed. They receive the same sacraments, they worship at the same altar, and pay spiritual allegiance to one common Head. Should a Catholic be so unfortu­nate as contumaciously to deny a single article of faith, or withdraw from the communion of his legiti­mate pastors, he ceases to be a member of the Church, and is cut off like a withered branch. The Church had rather sever her right hand than allow any member to corrode her vitals. It was thus she excom­municated Henry VIII because he persisted in violating the sacred law of marriage, although she foresaw that the lustful monarch would involve a nation in his spiritual ruin. She anathematized, more recently, Dr. Dollinger*, though the prestige of his name threatened to engender a schism in Germany. She says to her children: "You may espouse any political party you choose; with this I have no concern." But as soon as they trench on matters of faith, she cries out: "Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no farther; and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves" (Job 33:11) of discord. The tem­ple of faith is the asylum of peace, concord, and unity.

How sublime and consoling is the thought, that no matter where a Catholic goes over the broad world, whether he enters his Church in Pekin or in Mel­bourne, in London, or Dublin, or Paris, or Rome, or New York, or San Francisco, he is sure to hear the self-same doctrine preached, to assist at the same sac­rifice, and to partake of the same sacraments. [comment: Were this only the case today...]

This is not all. Her Creed is now identical with what it was in past ages. The same Gospel of peace that Jesus Christ preached on the Mount; the same doctrine that St. Peter preached at Antioch and Rome; St. Paul at Ephesus; St. John Chrysostom at Constantinople; St. Augustine in Hippo; St. Ambrose in Milan; St. Remigius in France; St. Boniface in Germany; St. Athanasius in Alexandria; the same doctrine that St. Patrick introduced into Ireland; that St. Augustine brought into England, and St. Pelagius into Scotland, is ever preached in the Catholic Church throughout the globe, from January till December - "Jesus Christ yesterday, and to-day, and the same forever." (Heb 13:8)

The same admirable unity that exists in matters of faith, is also established in the government of the Church. All the members of the vast body of Cath­olic Christians are as intimately united to one visible Chief as the members of the human body are joined to the head. The faithful of each Parish are subject to their immediate Pastor. Each Pastor is subor­dinate to his Bishop, and each Bishop of Christen­dom acknowledges the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and Head of the Catholic Church.

But it may be asked, is not this unity of faith impaired by those doctrinal definitions which the Church has promulgated from time to time? We answer: No new dogma, unknown to the Apostles, not contained in the primitive Christian revelation, can be admitted. (John xiv. 26; xv. 15; xvi. 13.) For the Apostles received the whole deposit of God's word, according to the promise of our Lord: "When He shall come, the Spirit of truth, He shall teach yon all truth." And so the Church proposes the doctrines of faith, such as they came from the lips of Christ, and as the Holy Spirit taught them to the Apostles at the birth of the Christian law - doctrines which know neither variation nor decay.

Hence, whenever it has been defined that any point of doctrine pertained to the Catholic faith, it was always understood that this was equivalent to the declaration that the doctrine in question had been revealed to the Apostles, and had come down to us from them, either by Scripture or Tradition. And as the acts of all the Councils, and the history of every definition of faith evidently show, it was never contended that a new revelation had been made, but every inquiry was directed to this one point - whether the doctrine in question was contained in the Sacred Scriptures or in the Apostolic traditions.

A revealed truth frequently has a very extensive scope, and is directed against error under its many changing forms. Nor is it necessary that those who receive this revelation in the first instance, should be explicitly acquainted with its full import, or cogni­zant of all its bearings. Truth never changes; it is the same now, yesterday, and forever, in itself; but our relations towards truth may change, for that which is hidden from us today may become known to us tomorrow. "It often happens," says St. Augustine, "that when it becomes necessary to defend certain points of Catholic doctrine against the insidious attacks of heretics, they are more careful1y studied, they become more clearly under­stood, they are more earnestly inculcated; and so the very questions raised by heretics give occasion to a more thorough knowledge of the subject in question." (De Civitate Dei, Lib. 16,Cap. ii, No.1)

Let us illustrate this. In the Apostolic revelation and preaching, some truths might have been con­tained implicitly, e. g., in the doctrine that grace is necessary for every salutary work, it is implicitly asserted that the assistance of grace is required for the inception of every good and salutary work. This was denied by the semi-Pelagians, and their error was condemned by an explicit definition. And so in other matters, as the rising controversies or new errors gave occasion for it, there were more explicit declarations of what was formerly implicitly believed. In the doctrine of the supreme power of Peter, as the visible foundation of the Church, we have the implied assertion of many rights and duties which belong to the centre of unity. In the revela­tion of the supereminent dignity and purity of the Blessed Virgin, there is implied her exemption from original sin, etc., etc.

So, too, in the beginning, many truths might have been proposed somewhat obscurely or less clearly; they might have been less urgently insisted upon, because there was no heresy, no contrary teaching to render a more explicit declaration necessary. Now, a doctrine which is implicitly, less clearly, not so earnestly proposed, may be overlooked, misunder­stood, called in question; consequently, it may hap­pen tl1at some articles are now universally believed in the Church, in regard to which doubts and con­troversies existed in former ages, even within the bosom of the Church. "Those who err in belief do but serve to bring out more clearly the soundness of those who believe rightly. For there are many things which lay hidden in the Scriptures, and when heretics were cut off, they vexed the Church of God with disputes; then the hidden things were brought to light, and the will of God was made known." (St. Augustine on the 54th Psalm, No. 22.)

This kind of progress in faith we can and do admit; but the truth is not changed thereby. As Albertus Magnus says: "It would be more correct to style this the progress of the believer in the faith, than of the faith in the believer."

To show that this kind of progress is to be ad­mitted, only two things are to be proved: 1. That some divinely revealed truths should be contained in the Apostolic teaching implicitly, less clearly explained, less urgently pressed. And this can be denied only by those who hold that the Bible is the only rule of Faith, that it is clear in every part, and could be readily understood by all from the begin­ning. This point I shall consider farther on in this work. 2. That the Church can, in process of time, as occasions arise, declare, explain, urge. This is proved not only from the Scriptures and the Fathers, but even from the conduct of Protestants themselves, who often boast of the care and assiduity with which they "search the Scriptures," and study out their meaning, even now that so many Commentaries on the sacred Text have been published. And why? To obtain more light; to understand better what is revealed. It would appear from this that the only question which could arise on this point is, not abou the possibility of arriving by degrees at a clearer understanding of the true sense of revelation, as circumstances may call for successive developments, but about the authority of the Church to propose and to determine that sense. So that, after all, we are always brought back to the only real point of division and dispute between those who are not Catholics and ourselves, namely, to the authority of the Church, of which I shall have more to say here­after. I cannot conclude better than by quoting the words of St. Vincent of Lerins: "Let us take care that it be with us in matters of religion, which affect onr souls, as it is with material bodies, which, as time goes on, pass through successive phases of growth and development, and multiply their years, but yet remain always the same individual bodies as they were in the beginning. . . , It very properly follows from the nature of things that, with a perfect agreement and consistency between the beginnings and the final results, when we reap the harvest of dogmatic truth which has sprung from the seeds of doctrine sown in the spring-time of the Church's existence, we should find no substantial difference between the grain which was first planted and that which we now gather. For though the germs of the early faith have in some respects been evolved, in the course of time, and still receive nourishment and culture, yet nothing in them that is substantial can ever suffer change. The Church of Christ is a faithful and ever watchful guardian of the dogmas which have been committed to her charge. In this sacred deposit she changes nothing, she takes nothing from it, she adds nothing to it."

Adapted from "The Faith of Our Fathers"
By James Cardinal Gibbons

* Dr Johann Joseph Ignatius von Dollinger - A historian and theologian, born at Bamberg, Bavaria, 28 February, 1799; died at Munich, 10 January, 1890. Excommunicated by the Church.

Dollinger declared, concerning the doctrine of Papal Infallibility, “As a Christian, as a theologian, as a historian, as a citizen, I cannot accept this doctrine.”

His followers came to be called Old Catholics because they rejected the new doctrines of the Papal Church and appealed to the standard of faith and worship in the Undivided Christian Church.

More info on Dollinger

Gospel for Thursday, 6th Week of Easter

From: John 16:16-20

Fullness of Joy

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] "A little while, and you will see Me no more; again a little while, and you will see Me." [17] Some of His disciples said to one another, "What is this that He says to us, `A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, `because I go to the Father'?" [18] They said, "What does He mean by `a little while'? We do not know what He means." [19] Jesus knew they wanted to ask Him; so He said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, `A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'? [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy."
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Commentary:

16-20. Earlier our Lord consoled the disciples by assuring them that He would send them the Holy Spirit after He went away (verse 7). Now He gives them further consolation: He is not leaving them permanently, He will come back to stay with them. However, the Apostles fail to grasp what He means, and they ask each other what they make of it. Our Lord does not give them a direct explanation, perhaps because they would not understand what He meant (as happened before: cf. Matthew 16:21-23 and paragraph). But He does emphasize that though they are sad now they will soon be rejoicing: after suffering tribulation they will be filled with a joy they will never lose (cf. John 17:13). This is a reference primarily to the Resurrection (cf. Luke 24:41), but also to their definitive encounter with Christ in Heaven.
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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.

'Catholics Supporting the Denial of 'Nutrition and Hydration' are not in Communion With the Church'

It is a rare person who has not heard of the recent cruel homicide of the Florida woman, Terri Schiavo. Everyone, it seemed, had a strong opinion on the subject. Yet, despite clear moral teachings on the evils of euthanasia, there are ‘Catholics’ who boast support for euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.

An excellent article by Barbara Kralis, supported by numerous documents (with links).

Once Moral Decay Begins, Stopping It Is Extremely Difficult

Bestiality on the Rise in Sexually Libertine Sweden

Here's a indication of the "thinking" of animal protection people:

Animal welfare agents are not concerned about the morality of the act, or that human beings would actually resort to this kind of behaviour, but rather are concerned that animals are being hurt and are perhaps suffering "psychological harm" in the process. "Even if it is difficult to assess an animal's degree of psychological suffering, it is likely that it experiences discomfort or is subjected to psychological suffering even in cases where there is no evidence of physical injury," said the report.

Is it time to kiss Sweden good-bye?

Missouri State Says no Adoption for Lesbian Women

KANSAS CITY, Mo, May 4, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two lesbian Kansas City women, told they could not adopt children because of their homosexual lifestyle, are suing the state with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Lisa Johnston and Dawn Roginski were denied the right to adopt a child by Missouri Department of Social Services who acted according to state policy. The pair argue that they are eminently qualified – Johnston being an early childhood education specialist, while Roginski is a chaplain and youth counsellor.

An "early childhood education specialist" and a "chaplain and youth counsellor"? Isn't that something else about which to be concerned?

Source.

Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, who is President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, on Monday said, of adoption by homosexuals:

"They say that children adopted by two people of the same sex are very happy. A child may be for a couple of years but when the child reaches the age of reason, when he grows up and becomes a young adult, how tragic it will be for him to let his friends know that his 'parents' are two women or two men? This situation endangers the child's personality, balance, harmony."

Blogs sounding off on Catholicism, new pope

Knight-Ridder reports on Catholic Blogs. Father Jeffrey Keyes of St. Edward Church in Newark, Calif., whose blog, The New Gasparian, is quoted in the article as are some others.


Those listed in the article are:
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A sampling of Catholic and pope-related blogs:

_ The New Gasparian: http://gasparian.stblogs.org

A journal by Father Jeffrey Keyes of St. Edward Church in Newark,Calif., "dedicated to the life and mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, and to a life lived in response to the call and the cry of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our ongoing mission is to share good news of hope and communion."

_ Erik's Rants and Recipes: www.pinkmochi.com/eriksrant

By Oakland, Calif., freelance writer Erik Keilholtz on "food, art, music, bullfighting, politics, Catholic Theology."

_ Shrine of the Holy Whapping: http://holywhapping.blogspot.com

"`Catholic Nerds' at the University of Notre Dame share their thoughts on Catholic identity at the university, cultural reviews and other musings."

_ St. Blog's Parish: http://praiseofglory.com/blogs.htm

List of Catholic blogs.

_ Open Book: http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook

Blog by Catholic author Amy Welborn.
****************************************

Source.

Pope Designates Cardinal to Stand in at Beatifications

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has designated a cardinal to stand in for him at a beatification ceremony later this month in a shift from his predecessor who declared more "blesseds" and saints than all his predecessors over the past 500 years combined.

[Cardinal Jose] Saraiva Martins told Vatican Radio on Wednesday that Benedict was merely reverting to the accepted practice at the Vatican that pre-dated John Paul, whereby the pope would designate a bishop and cardinal to preside over beatifications. The pope himself would celebrate canonizations.

More.

Is Marymount Manhattan College Still Catholic?

New York church official says group wrong on college's Catholic label

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A report by the Cardinal Newman Society that Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York has declared Marymount Manhattan College to be no longer Catholic is not correct, according to the cardinal's spokesman.

Joseph Zwilling said in a telephone interview May 1 that the cardinal had taken no action regarding the college.

National Directory for Catechesis is Now Available from USCCB

WASHINGTON (May 3, 2005) – The National Directory for Catechesis (NDC), reference point for the formation of catechists and the preparation of all catechetical materials in the United States, is now available from USCCB Publishing. Published simultaneously was a Summary of the National Directory for Catechesis, a resource developed by the Committee on Catechesis.

More.

Respectful Silence at St Agatha's

Respectful atmosphere

Those annoyed by the social chatter at their parish churches might prefer the atmosphere at St. Agatha Catholic Church, 9th Street and Utah Avenue in St. Louis. Attendees observe respectful silence. Every Sunday at 8 a.m. the Latin Tridentine Mass is celebrated, followed by a Latin High Mass at 10 a.m.

In 1988 Pope John Paul II wrote the "Ecclesia Dei Adflicta" and instructed, "Respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of all those who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition by a wide and generous application of the directives already issued by the Apostolic See." The services at St. Agatha's are sanctioned by Archbishop Burke.

St. Agatha's is easily accessible from Interstate 44. Take I-55 south to Arsenal Street and turn left, then right at the first light. The church is several blocks south on 9th Street.

Suzanne Bolten
Oakland

Why not attend Ascension Thursday Mass on Thursday (of all days) at St. Agatha Church at 7:00PM?

Pope's election is a wake-up call

A good letter to the editor in today's Post Dispatch:

To the Editor:

The election of Pope Benedict XVI should be a major wake-up call for the liberal faction that has infiltrated the Catholic Church.

In these days of "everything is OK attitude—whatever you do, do not hurt anyone's feelings," we get guidance from the Holy Spirit. He helps the cardinals elect a very conservative pope who will keep the sacred doctrines intact despite the immoral society that wants otherwise.

The news media are always asking if this pope would relax the hard-line stance of Pope John Paul II. What they do not understand is these "hard-line" doctrines cannot be changed (by a church that truly follows Jesus' will) even if the pope wants to. They are doctrines established 2,000 years ago by Jesus himself—men cannot change them.

Celibacy by the clergy is a custom, yes. Why does the church hold fast to this? Paul tells us in the Bible that "It is better if they not marry." So do we follow our desires or the Bible?

Abortion and euthanasia (Thou shalt not kill); marriage (which we now have to define in law), the doctrine on contraception (which was taught by all Christian churches until 1930), the ban on human cloning and only men clergy, etc., are doctrines set up by the Lord himself—they have been taught the same by the church for 2,000 years. The pope is not God—he is just a servant, here to promote the correct doctrine and keep them intact as Jesus commanded.

Paul Harvey said that the new pope wants to unite all Christians, and then he said that the new pope was known as a hard-line conservative of the old views.

I guess he thinks that agreeing with the liberal society, going along with the idea that sin and immoral ideas are OK will promote unity? Not! The devil would want us to think that that is true! Nothing could be farther from the truth.

True unity comes from following the Lord, following His will, not ours. If we follow His will and trust Him, He will take care of us.

It is a fact that people do not like to be told that what they are doing is wrong; they do not want to give up their "fun." I was caught up by this idea several times in my life. I am very happy that I have overcome my dependence on sin and I am able to make the Lord number one in my life—more important than anything and find true happiness. This is a happiness and peace that is just too hard to explain, but once you experience it, you will never go back.

No Jesus, no peace. Follow and know Jesus—know peace.

Gerald Macke
Leopold

Source.

Nearly Four out of Five Catholic Politicians in Canada to Vote in Favor of Homosexual 'Marriage'

TORONTO, May 3, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An analysis by Catholic Insight magazine reveals that 72.4% of Catholic Members of Parliament in Canada have committed to voting in favour of homosexual 'marriage'. The magazine's report indicates that only 27.6% will vote in favour of traditional marriage.

Over 7 out of 10 have, for some reason, rejected their obligations to God, family and country. Of course, this may be similar to the legislators here in the US.

Brain-Injured Fireman's Recovery Takes Science Into a Murky Area

Another article as a followup to the post last night.

Archbishop Levada to be next CDF Prefect?

Former Portland Archbishop William Levada could become the next guardian of religious orthodoxy in the Vatican, charged with safeguarding church doctrine and morals.

"It's a quiet rumor that I have heard," current Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny told The Oregonian.

Levada met privately with the pope Tuesday, according to news reports.

Source.

Gospel for Wednesday, 6th Week of Easter

From: John 16:12-15

The Action of the Holy Spirit (Continuation)

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [12] "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify Me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. [15] All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you."
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Commentary:

13. It is the Holy Spirit who makes fully understood the truth revealed by Christ. As Vatican II teaches, our Lord "completed and perfected Revelation and confirmed it...finally by sending the Spirit of truth" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 4). Cf. note on John 14:25-26.

14-15. Jesus Christ here reveals some aspects of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. He teaches that the Three Divine Persons have the same nature when He says that everything that the Father has belongs to the Son, and everything the Son has belongs to the Father (cf. John 17:10) and that the Spirit also has what is common to the Father and the Son, that is, the divine essence. The activity specific to the Holy Spirit is that of glorifying Christ, reminding and clarifying for
the disciples everything the Master taught them (John 16:13). On being inspired by the Holy Spirit to recognize the Father through the Son, men render glory to Christ; and glorifying Christ is the same as giving glory to God (cf. John 17:1, 3-5, 10).
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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.

A Request from the Dissenters of St Stanislaus Kostka

I received the following letter, a Request from the President of Concerned Parishioners of St Stanislaus, this evening (PDF format-image file). It has been transcribed here, I believe, correctly and accurately.

It is a letter which deserves much commentary, but that will have to wait due to the late hour. It has been suggested, however, that this is another step, in a series of steps being taken, for those to separate themselves from the Church despite the Archbishop's generous offers to reconcile and compromise. This letter demonstrates the obstinacy, evidently, of many who remain disobedient, enslaved by pride.

The letter:
--------------------------------------------------
St. Stanislaus Kostka
Polish Roman Catholic Church
Page 1 of 2 April 20, 2005

A Request:
This is a simple and humble request We, the parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Polish Roman Catholic Church, are asking you, the clergy of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, to assist us in persuading the Archbishop to begin a true dialogue with our representatives or to answer publicly why we are continuing to be denied our faith in our parish. You are the "front line" apostles, dedicating your lives for our Lord and our religion.

For the past year the faithful of the St. Louis Archdiocese have read in the St Louis Review, Our Sunday Visitor, and their church bulletins and now nationally a myopic view of the conflict between the Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Stanislaus Polish Roman Catholic Church. This information provided either by Archbishop Burke himself, designated delegates, or by Polish dissidents (who were moved from St. Stanislaus to St. John's) portray us as an evil empire. Our responses and position continues to be restricted in any official Catholic Church media.

We are being called renegades, our Board of Directors, following our direction, were interdicted, priests are threatened if they serve us in their religious basic calling, and Bishops are informed there is no need for priests in St. Louis and especially at St. Stanislaus. We have the celebration of mass denied, marriages, christenings and any other religious celebration that comes with the Roman Catholic faith from a Roman Catholic priest prohibited. Individuals who devoted their life to the Roman Catholic faith and our parish, whose roots in our Heritage ran deeper than most mortals have had to have their last mass at another parish, crushing the families and further shaking their faith. This withholding for the sake of the almighty dollar and ultimate solitary power under the guise of selected Canon Laws should be an insult to you and all religious leaders.

This letter is about the Roman Catholic religion and providing religious sacraments to all Roman Catholics that request it. We can provide the history of our parish and this conflict, but for brevity, we have placed our web site www.saveststans.org.

On numerous occasions through our Board of Directors. individuals, a parishioner group and through attorneys have attempted to resolve this conflict and retain somewhat what our ancestors and Archbishop Kendrick achieved. Regardless of what offer was made, all compromises or offers were rejected.

The parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka also expressed their wishes in several open letters to Archbishop Burke. A letter was hand delivered to Archbishop Burke on March 20, 2005 asking him to provide a priest to have mass. This year has been proclaimed the "Year of the Eucharist", In the letter, we appealed to the Archbishop, to provide us Roman Catholic religious leadership and to open a true dialogue with us. One hundred and sixty (160) parishioners signed this letter. No response was provided.


St. Stanislaus Kostka
Polish Roman Catholic Church
Page 2 of 2 April 20, 2005

On April 1, 2005, another letter was sent stating that many of our parishioners are older people and requesting that the worldly differences be set aside and work together to resolve this embarrassing Roman Catholic conflict. Some parishioners are terrified of the idea that they may die tomorrow and no priest will be allowed to have a funeral mass in their parish." This has already happened on at least three occasions. No response was received.

On April 6, a letter signed by the Board of Directors was sent asking, "That our differences are set aside at this sad time and you find it in your heart to grant
a memorial mass for Pope John Paul II in a parish he visited." No response was received.

With the support of some prelates from Rome, we asked Archbishop Burke to begin a dialogue by accepting a mutually agreed mediator. No response was received.

We are being forced out of the Archdiocese of St. Louis not through any intention or agenda on our part. We are good, supportive Roman Catholics, but as any human, we cannot continue to tolerate the withholding of our faith under the conditions demanded.

We agree that we are structured differently than most Roman Catholic churches, but it is allowed in Canon law and what is wrong with our structure? We are certain that many of the parishes being closed wish they had a true voice in their parish and as the clergy, we are certain most of you rather be dealing with the religious aspects rather than mini­-CEOs. We have survived for 125 years, have been faithful to the archdiocese all this time, and have had no hidden intention other than being united in our worship and faith of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

We realize what we are asking, but are certain there are many clergy who have a disdain for what is being done to us through a very narrow view of Canon Law. To those content in the archdiocese and believe withholding the sacraments from the faithful is an acceptable form of our religion discipline, think of your calling to God. Afterward, if you still feel this is a correct process, then, please do not distort the conflict from the pulpit or through your written words as some have done. Understand both sides before you speak.

Pope John Paul II gave a group of US bishops who were visiting Rome in 2004 for their "Ad Limina" a message: "The bishops must have the confidence of the people". We ask this of you.

Thank you for your time and please consider our request.
[signed]
Mr. Ben Krauze
President of Concerned Parishioners
St Stanislaus Kostka
Polish Roman Catholic Church