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Please Note: There are no scheduled news updates from 7/31-8/2/10. For Catholic news on these dates, please try here |
In the News...*
More News Highlights
A few more recent news highlights...
* Pope Benedict will visit the birthplace of Pope Leo XIII, Carpineto Romano, on September 5
* Italian officials are hoping to raise millions in private funds to pay for restoration work on the Colosseum
* A Washington Post article notes that "Vandals are increasingly on the prowl in the Eternal City - and now Italian authorities are fighting back, sending more police, installing cameras and even considering using [paroled] convicts to protect monuments and artworks"
* Once again the national motto of the U.S., "In God We Trust", has survived a constitutional challenge. The recent 3-0 decision by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. affirms that the motto does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment
* The estate of an alleged abuse victim is suing the Diocese of Pittsburgh after the alleged victim committed suicide this past May. The diocese had stopped paying for the man's mental health treatments after two previous suicide attempts
* A CatholicCulture.org article has highlighted the recent "explosive growth" of the Church in Africa, noting that "14% of Catholics worldwide now live there, nearly half of the children in Catholic elementary schools study there, and 43% of the world’s adult baptisms - over a million a year - take place there. There are more Catholic hospitals in Africa than there are in North and Central America combined."
[7/29]
Some More News Highlights
Some recent news highlights...
* With "overwhelming support", a group of Anglicans in Canada have voted to enter the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus
* Persons with an active arrest warrant in New Mexico can surrender at a Catholic parish in Las Cruces (Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church) until 7/31, between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in exchange for "favorable consideration" from the court
* Some controversy has erupted over payments pilgrims are expected to make in order to attend papal events during the Holy Father's U.K. trip this September. A Vatican spokesman has responded that the payments are "contributions" not fees and that payment will not be required for those who cannot afford to contribute. The contributions are needed to help cover costs associated with the papal visit
* Pro-lifers are planning to protest at a Catholic hospital in Durango, Colorado over the facility's keeping of a PP abortionist on staff. A pro-life representative noted that "Catholic parents...have a right to expect that their child will be received by the hands of a physician who holds all life sacred - not the hands that earlier that week held the instruments of abortion to destroy the life of some other innocent baby." The pro-lifers are calling for the abortionist to either resign from the hospital or stop performing abortions
* Two sisters of a deceased Catholic woman who suffered from cerebral palsy are suing organizers of a pilgrimage to Lourdes after the disabled woman fell from a hoist during a pilgrimage. The wheelchair-bound woman had hoped for a miraculous healing at Lourdes, but instead returned home with two broken legs after a fall of about four feet. She later died and her family now claims they are "trying to get justice." They claim the woman would still be alive if not for the fall. The matter is reportedly "in the hands of insurers"
* A federal judge has set a "very dangerous precedent" by ruling in favor of a public university which expelled a graduate student from a counseling program over the student's opposition to homosexuality. The Michigan based university claimed the student "violated school policy and the American Counseling Association code of ethics" by refusing to counsel homosexual clients ("the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs – including homosexual relationships"). Some have called the case - which will be appealed - "a warning to Christians attending public schools" [Related: The End of Freedom in America?]
* Here we go again: A liberal 'Catholic' publication has published an article on the supposed "terrible position" of women religious who may fear "the likely possibility that religious life in the United States will be re-engineered in secret by the men in the Vatican" and that "the soul of a project rooted in and encouraged by the Second Vatican Council would be hollowed out." The article also refers to "an unthinking acquiescence to a male hierarchy" and references "batt
ered wife syndrome." Liberal sisters in the U.S. - who have promoted dissent, radical feminism, anti-clericalism, paganism, New Age practices, witchcraft, and have talked of being "post-Christian" & "moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus" - have criticized the Vatican's (long overdue!) investigation of female religious, while orthodox, conservative sisters have embraced the investigation. While the article laments supposed "hypocrisy", "duplicity", "unseemly politics", and "a shameful betrayal of trust", no references were found concerning the necessity of Catholic female religious maintaining doctrinal orthodoxy or actually adhering to the Catholic faith. [Related: Rebellious Women Religious][7/28]
Year of the Eucharist in Sri Lanka
The following are some highlights from a circular of Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith in connection with "The Year of the Eucharist" he has proclaimed for the Archdiocese of Colombo (Sri Lanka), starting in August, 2010...
* "[The] Eucharist is Jesus' sacramental self-gift to us. The Church, therefore, draws life from this most wondrous Sacrament and cannot survive without it. For, it is the real and life-giving presence of the Lord and Master within the community of his disciples."
* "The Eucharistic Lord sustains the universal Church, and strengthens it so that it could withstand any evil onslaught from both within and without. This is effected by means of our intimate communion with Him. Each time we receive Him, in a state of grace, He draws us into His act of self-oblation; absorbs us unto Himself, and transforms us into His own likeness. That is the life-giving principle of the most Holy Eucharist."
* "Latin still remains the main liturgical language of the Church. In Sri Lanka we made a mistake in abandoning the language of our worship altogether. Let this Eucharistic Year be an occasion for us to resuscitate this lost tradition at least to some extent. I appeal to all priests, religious and laity to cooperate."
* "In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John Jesus asked the disciples whether they would also leave Him. And it was Peter who answered, and said Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Jesus said this because by that time, after His discourse on the Eucharist many people began to abandon Him. They wanted only miracles, but Jesus wanted to offer Himself as the true bread from heaven. In the present times also people seem to look for miracles, and often only for miracles. When Jesus begins to talk about belief in Himself, people seem to lose interest. They seem to go elsewhere, Let us remember that the Catholic Church is so rich because of the treasure of the Eucharist."
The Archbishop also called for "eliminating all erroneous practices regarding the celebration of the most holy Eucharist" and noted that "the renovation and construction of churches...need[s] to be done according to the guidelines". He also called for "think[ing] seriously about Mass vestments, altar linen, altar vessels and the liturgical vesture for various liturgical ministries. Let the Year of the holy Eucharist be an occasion to improve all such aspects of our celebration."
Further, he affirmed that the Sacraments may be celebrated according to the ancient rites in accordance with Summorum Pontificum and noted that "I myself hope to celebrate a solemn Eucharist in that rite sometime in the near future at the Archdiocesan Cathedral."
Curiously, however, the text also makes reference to "loving mother nature" so that "our Eucharistic spirituality would incorporate also an eco-spirituality." [Huh?]
[Credit: Rorate Caeli Blog]
[7/26]
BBC Coverage During Papal Visit Expected To "Upset Many Catholics"
Besides the spectacle of dissenting ads on buses, calls for the Holy Father's arrest, anti-Catholic protests, and a possible incitement to violence by an Islamic publication, it is expected that television coverage during the upcoming papal visit to the U.K. will "upset many Catholics." According to a recent Zenit article, "the BBC is expected to upset many Catholics when it broadcasts a program timed to coincide with the Pope's Sept. 16-19 visit." The article indicates that while details "remain under wraps", reports have indicated that the program may be "a 90-minute drama that puts the Pope on trial" for 'covering up' abuse by priests. Other programming during the papal visit may include a feature on Cardinal Newman - who is scheduled to be beatified by the Pope during his visit - which infers that the Cardinal was homosexual.
[7/23]
A Few More News Highlights
Some recent news highlights...
* The U.K. government has reportedly "moved to prevent the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued" against Pope Benedict when he visits this September. Atheists had called for the Holy Father's arrest for "crimes against humanity" over abuse scandals. A few months ago, the threat of arrest was called "merely a stunt to get public attention" by a Vatican spokesman. Also in the news are reports that a dissenting group will run ads on buses in the U.K. during Pope Benedict's visit. The ads - containing the slogan "Pope Benedict Ordain Women Now" - are expected to appear on routes that "feature on the papal itinerary" [Refresher: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]
* A Mass & pilgrimage will commemorate the 100th anniversary of St. Pio of Pietrelcina's (Padre Pio's) ordination in Benevento, Italy on August 10, 2010. A plenary indulgence may be available to participants
* No agenda here: Electronic health records required under recent U.S. legislation reportedly must contain a Body Mass Index ("a measure of obesity"), but apparently patients can choose to exclude information regarding past abortions & positive HIV test results
* In the wake of recent articles condemning the Church for "lack of a zero-tolerance policy" concerning abuse, the Catholic League has noted the hypocrisy of some media outlets who do not themselves have a zero-tolerance policy. The CL also notes that the NY Times Business Ethics Policy requires that their employees report illegal conduct to "any supervisor or the legal department", but no mention is made about reporting illegal actions to law enforcement authorities. [Hmm...]
[7/22]
Follow Ups
The following are some follow ups to recent news stories...
* A suspect has been arrested in connection with a recent Fort Lauderdale theft [See 7/2 news link: "Thief pries open donation box in Fort Lauderdale church using a crucifix he took from the altar..."]
* The Boston faithful continue to pray for the return of a relic of the True Cross which was recently stolen from the cathedral. The case is still under investigation
* The Connecticut priest charged with first degree larceny for alleged theft of $1.3 million in parish funds has pleaded not guilty
* In response to criticism and threatened legal action, the University of Illinois has claimed that the Catholic professor - who was reportedly fired for expressing Catholic teachings on homosexuality in connection with a course on Catholicism - has not been fired, although he "does not currently have any teaching assignments"
[7/22]
New Concerns Over the Holy Father's Safety
There are new concerns for Pope Benedict's safety during his September 2010 trip to the U.K. after an Islamic publication has called for Muslims to attend the Holy Father's open air Mass to preach Islam and tell the Pope "in no uncertain terms what Muslims think of his evil slanders" against Muhammad. The message is feared to be an "incitement to violence." Reportedly, Birmingham City Hospital - which has "expertise in dealing with bullet injuries" - is "on alert for an assassination attempt on the Pope."
Pray for the Holy Father!
[Note: Some prayers for the Pope may be found here]
[7/19]
A Few News Highlights
Some recent news highlights...
* Contradicting feminists' claims that women 'prelates' would have stopped abuse cover-ups, the first female Lutheran 'bishop' recently resigned for allegedly mishandling abuse allegations. Don't hold your breath waiting for the anti-Catholic p.c. media to give this story equal attention since it involves Protestant female 'clergy'! [Reminder: Protestant sects that have not maintained apostolic succession do NOT have valid orders. Further, it is impossible to ordain women (click here for more information)]
* Once again, rumors are circulating that Pope Benedict celebrates the TLM in private. This time, a claim was made by the head of the SSPX who says that the Holy Father "regularly" celebrates the TLM in private and that a bishop has threatened to resign should the Pope celebrate the ancient Mass in public. Hasta la vista? [Related: The Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass vs. the New (Novus Ordo) Mass]
* So sad: Atheists are reportedly using hair dryers in an effort to "de-baptize" persons, "symbolically drying up holy water long ago sprinkled on them." One atheist even called baptism of infants "child abuse" [Note: For Baptism apologetics, click here. Please note that this page is primarily directed at Protestants]
[7/19]
New Norms Do NOT Equate Abuse With Attempted Ordination of Women
Despite misinformation, insults and (apparent) hatred spewing from various media outlets, Catholics should note that the Church's new norms dealing with abuse do NOT equate abuse by priests with attempted ordination of women ("attempted" because it is impossible to actually ordain women). This point was addressed when the norms were released (at the time, Monsignor Charles Scicluna specifically noted that "They are not on the same level" and that "they are [both] grave but on different levels"), but this fact has been "conveniently ignored" by much of the media.
To grasp the matter, it may be useful for Catholics to think in terms of civil law, for example misdemeanors vs. felonies. Should someone gather a comprehensive list of procedures for dealing with all felonies into a single volume, this does not mean that all felonies included in the volume are of equal gravity. For example, tax evasion and murder are both felonies, but these crimes obviously differ in gravity. Who would point to a volume covering all felonies and say the law equated all felonies simply because they appeared together in a volume which contained all felonies? Yet this misrepresentation is widely occurring in the media today with regard to the Church's new norms. Likewise, if a list of the 'top 20 felonies' were complied in a volume, the list would only mean they were all serious - not that they were all equal. Most reasonable people should be able to understand this distinction, yet much of the media seems unable (or unwilling?) to do so. Faithful Catholics should be prepared to clarify this issue, in charity, to persons who have been mislead by deceptive media coverage.
[7/17]
Response From the Congregation for Divine Worship Regarding Sacred Particles on the Floor
Those who love the Holy Eucharist and long for Vatican assistance in stopping the novel & typically disrespectful practice of dispensing Holy Communion in the hand - and the resulting sacrilegious treatment of Sacred Particles which frequently fall to the floor and are subsequently trampled on by laity - may be disappointed in a letter recently received by a Catholic lay person in response to their request for Vatican assistance. You can read the original letter as well as the response from the CDW here.
[7/16]
International News Highlights
A few international news highlights...
* Argentina has passed a law 'legalizing' same sex 'marriage' in the majority Catholic country despite "strong opposition from the populace"
* The Taizhou Diocese in China recently saw the consecration of a new bishop who is approved by the Holy See and recognized by the Chinese government. Prior to his consecration, the see had been vacant for nearly 50 years. The Chinese government also recently released a 75 year-old 'underground' bishop who has been imprisoned numerous times
* Tensions are rising between the Church and Hugo Chávez's regime in Venezuela. Venezuelan bishops criticized "the imposition of a socialist state inspired by the Cuban communist regime that has been enforced through laws and facts that ignore the popular will and the Constitution." The Venezuelan president called for a review of diplomatic ties with the Vatican, insulted the Venezuelan bishops (calling them "cave dwellers"), and declared that the Pope is not Christ's ambassador
[7/15]
Celibacy "is the most striking proof of God"
Cardinal Joachim Meisner on the "gift of celibacy": The German Cardinal said that "We must either say that the celibate man is crazy, or that there is a God", noting that "There is no other alternative. And when they realize he is not crazy... Convincingly lived, celibacy is the most striking proof of God."
Related: Why Priestly Celibacy?
[7/15]
More Recent News Highlights
Some more recent news highlights...
* Thanks partially to the efforts of the Catholic Church, Cuba has freed the first of 52 political prisoners the government has agreed to release. The former prisoners will live "as Cuban exiles in Spain"
* Catholics rioting over Protestant marches have injured more than 50 police officers in Northern Ireland. Reportedly the violence was "orchestrated by a very small number of people
"* Media reports indicate that the alleged Medjugorje 'seers' may be summoned to the Vatican and asked to disclose the 'secrets' they claim they have received from the 'Gospa' to the commission investigating the alleged apparitions [Related: Marian Apparitions at Medjugorje: True or False?]
* A SSPX leader has given an update on the doctrinal meetings between the SSPX & the Vatican which claims that "some of Rome's best brains are occasionally stopped in their tracks by the old arguments being newly put forward by the SSPX" [Related: Third Vatican-SSPX Meting]
* The decision to allow female 'bishops'* in the 'Church' of England is said to be "paving the way" for a "mass exodus" of Anglicans (including hundreds of 'clergy'*) who are expected to join the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus. The decision comes a couple of months before the Holy Father is scheduled to travel to the U.K. [*Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added). Remember also that the Catholic Church has definitively ruled that women are incapable of receiving holy orders (click here for more information)]
* Pope Benedict has chosen the theme "Religious freedom, the path to peace" for the 2011 World Day of Peace, stating that "It should never be necessary to deny God in order to enjoy one's rights"
[7/13]
'The phenomenon of liturgical disobedience'
The following are some highlights from a recent article by Fr. Mauro Gagliardi, consultor of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff and professor of theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome....
* "Vatican Council II ordered a general reform of the sacred liturgy. The [Novus Ordo Mass] was effected after the closing of the Council, by a commission commonly called, for reasons of brevity, the Consilium. It is known that, from the beginning, the liturgical reform was the object of criticisms, at times radical, as well as exaltations, in certain cases, excessive. It is not our intention to pause on this problem. We can say instead that it is generally agreed that an increase of abuses can be observed in the celebratory field after the Council."
* "...a great number of priests believe that ultimately the space left to 'creativity' must be enlarged, which is expressed above all with the frequent change of words or whole phrases in relation to those fixed in the liturgical books, with the insertion of new 'rites' often completely foreign to the liturgical and theological tradition of the Church and even with the use of vestments, sacred vessels and decorations that are not always appropriate and, in some cases, even fall into the ridiculous."
* "The phenomenon of 'liturgical disobedience' has extended in such a way, because of the number and in certain cases also because of the gravity, that the mentality has been formed in many by which the liturgy, with the exception of the words of the Eucharistic consecration, can be subject to all the modifications 'pastorally' considered suitable by the priest or the community... Particularly significant in this text is the appeal to the right of the faithful to have a liturgy celebrated according to the universal norms of the Church, in addition to stressing the fact that the transformations and modifications of the liturgy - even if done for 'pastoral' reasons - in reality do not have a positive effect in this field; on the contrary, they confuse, disturb, and tire and can also make the faithful abandon religious practice."
* "The problem indicated, however, subsists and it is important that the solution of the same begin with the priests, who must commit themselves first of all to know in a profound way the liturgical books and also to put faithfully into practice their prescriptions. Only knowledge of the liturgical laws and the desire to hold oneself strictly to them will avoid further abuses and arbitrary 'innovations' that, if at the time might perhaps move those present, in reality soon end by tiring and disappointing. Saving the best intentions of those who commit them, after forty years of 'liturgical disobedience' it does not in fact build better Christian communities, but on the contrary it puts in danger the solidity of their faith and of their belonging to the unity of the Catholic Church."
* "The more 'open' character of the new liturgical norms cannot be used as pretext to pervert the nature of the public worship of the Church"
Source: Zenit
Related: The Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass vs. the New (Novus Ordo) Mass| Why the Latin Mass?
[7/10]
Most Ridiculous
Your choice: Today's most ridiculous news item is ...
A. The University of Illinois has fired a teacher because he said he agrees with the Church's teachings that homosexual acts are immoral. The teacher, who has taught courses on Catholicism, was accused of "hate speech" over his assent to Catholic teachings
B. A priest in Canada is expected to visit a water park (no doubt a bastion of modest dress) to view a flag that some say appears to contain "a shadowy image" that supposedly resembles Jesus (although one witness claims that the image "looks more like a gladiator, or the Beatles" and another skeptic describes it as a "water stain"). The owner of the park had been "praying for a miracle to improve business"
C. The 'Catholic' Health Association has praised the controversial recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Berwick has advocated healthcare rationing and has praised the British healthcare system. Dubbed a "one-man death panel" by pro-lifers, he supports "health care redistribution" and may also support euthanasia
D. All of the above
[7/9]
More Recent News Highlights
Some more recent news highlights...
* Before leaving for summer vacation, Pope Benedict blessed a new 18-foot marble statue of a Sicilian priest, St. Annibale Maria di Francia, at St. Peter's
* "One of Michigan’s oldest newspapers" has laid off almost half its staff and will cut back its publication schedule after losing its annual subsidy from the Archdiocese of Detroit
* A client of St. Vincent Catholic Charities in Lansing, MI reportedly set fire to the charity's building and smashed several windows before being taken into custody. The motive was unknown and there were no reports of injuries
* LCWR's support of the recently passed healthcare reform bill was reportedly the topic of "lengthy discussions" between the dissenting LCWR and Vatican officials. Apparently disconnected from reality, the group - which lent its support for the bill in direct opposition to the U.S. bishops - claimed in a letter to their members that "We were very clear in stating that our actions were not in opposition to the U.S. bishops"
* Researchers have discovered that Cardinal Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII) may have saved some 200,000 Jews during WWII by "secretly securing visas" which enabled them to escape Nazi Germany
* The recently circulated letter which purportedly came from Ecclesia Dei has been re-scanned at another site which claims to personally know the recipient. The letter confirmed that the TLM "envisages the reception of Holy Communion while kneeling, as the Sacred Host is laid directly on the tongue of the communicant. There is no provision for the distribution of Holy Communion on the hand in this Form of the Holy Mass." The letter has been questioned over various "peculiarities". The new image is in color and includes a view of the envelope containing postal markings and an Ecclesia Dei emblem, apparently providing additional support for its authenticity. [Let's hope it's real!]
* He's at it again: A bishop in South Africa, Bishop Kevin Dowling, has criticized the TLM in an address to a group of "leading laity" in his country. The misguided bishop complained about a "grandiose display", supposed lack of participation, all male servers, silence, triumphalism, "restorationism", etc., etc. He also lamented the "rise of conservative groups and organisations in the Church... which attract significant numbers of adherents, has led to a phenomenon which I find difficult to deal with." The liberal bishop also (wrongly) suggested that it's acceptable to question the all-male priesthood and complained about a supposed "policy of appointing 'safe', unquestionably orthodox and even very conservative bishops to fill vacant dioceses over the past 30 years." [Blah, blah, blah...] This is the same bishop who dissents from Church teachings regarding c*nd*ms and who has expressed disapproval of new, more accurate translations of the Novus Ordo liturgy. [Refresher: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]
[7/8]
Three Year Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum
July 7th marks the 3rd anniversary of Pope Benedict's Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum', formally 'freeing' the Traditional Latin Mass (it was issued on 7/7/07, however, the provisions of the Motu Proprio had an effective date of 9/14/07, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross). In the MP, the Holy Father invited bishops to send an account of their experiences to the Holy See in three years so that remedies for "truly serious difficulties" which come to light could be sought. Recently, it was reported that Una Voce was likewise preparing a report that they claim "will be of vital importance in the safeguarding of the traditional Mass and liturgy."
Regarding the report, the President of Una Voce noted that "It is no secret that many bishops are against Summorum Pontificum and their reports may well reflect this antipathy. It is for this reason that I have asked our members for comprehensive reports and documentation that truly reflects the situation in their countries so that Rome will be in no doubt about the reality of the implementation of the motu proprio." The organization also presented a report to Pope Benedict for the 2 year anniversary of SP (click here for some highlights).
Overall, looking back at the last three years, it seems that - despite many obstacles - the Motu Proprio has made "a world of difference" for some Catholics, whereas others have not been so fortunate. Perhaps this third anniversary will be a positive turning point for the restoration of Catholic Tradition.
Agimus tibi grátias, omnípotens Deus, pro univérsis benefíciis tuis: Qui vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy blessings: who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.]
Related: The Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass vs. the New (Novus Ordo) Mass | Why the Latin Mass? | Latin Mass Updates: 7/07 & Later | Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition
"[The Tridentine Mass is] penetrated more than anything else by the spirit of true reverence, and it draws those who live it directly into this spirit." (Von Hildebrand)
"It would not be an exaggeration to describe this Missal as the most sublime product of Western civilization, more perfect in its balance, rich in its imagery, inspiring, consoling, instructive than even the most beautiful cathedral in Europe." (Davies)
"[T]he Tridentine Mass is something which must be experienced, and only then will it become clear why, in an article written fifteen years after the introduction of the Novus Ordo Missae, the Tridentine Mass can be termed with perfect accuracy: 'the Mass that will not die.'" (Davies)
[7/7]
Recent News Highlights
Some recent news highlights...
* In response to abuse scandals, Las Vegas bishop Joseph Pepe has decreed that all parish volunteers must be fingerprinted, regardless of the scope of their activities
* With the Holy Father's U.K. visit on the horizon, the BBC is reportedly planning a "90-minute drama which will take as its premise what would happen if the Pope were to go on trial for covering up" abuse by priests. Critics note the "general hostility" of British television towards the Pope
* The retired ("notoriously liberal") former Bishop of Sacramento, Francis Quinn, has called for 'Vatican III' to deal with matters of "human s*xuality''. He apparently is under the mistaken notion that the Church can change its teachings about what is sinful in order to better please 'modern man' [Reality check: "Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." (St. Paul, 1 Cor. 6:9-10) | Can Dogmas Change? (click here)]
* An interview with Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus has highlighted the struggle Catholics face in this predominately Muslim area. The archbishop noted that Catholics "little by little they learn the Muslim more than their Christian faith" ("Little by little they get to know more about the Koran and Mohamed, more than Jesus Christ"), lamenting that "we don’t have enough local support to be together, to strengthen our faith, to teach our children and keep our children in our local churches." He also notes that a Catholic has to convert to marry a Muslim and that it is illegal for him to baptize a Muslim convert. He says Muslim coverts can be Christian "if they want in their hearts but they cannot show it." Amazingly, the archbishop speaks of "tolerance of Christians" and claims that he & Muslim leaders "are really one family"
* A security incident was apparently avoided on the Pope's recent trip to central Italy as an unauthorized man "was stopped by the pope's security guards as he was seeking to approach the stage where Benedict was celebrating Mass." The man was escorted away and reportedly "got nowhere near" the Holy Father
* Vandals have left "vulgar and sacrilegious graffiti" on the walls of a Carmichael, CA parish which has been described as a "hate crime". Sheriffs are seeking information about the perpetrators who are still at large. The offensive graffiti marked "at least the third time" the parish has been vandalized over the last couple years
* The British coordinator for the Holy Father's upcoming visit to the U.K. has indicated that he is determined to make the papal visit a success "not only out of respect for the Pope, not only out of determination to enhance the reputation of the United Kingdom, but because this will be an event followed by millions of people around the world." Also in the news are reports that costs for the trip have "soared"
* A 'Catholic' dissident group recently took out "lengthy" newspaper ad calling for "compassion" from Bishop Thomas Olmsted in the case of a religious sister who was instrumental in an abortion at a 'Catholic' hospital. The abortion was supposedly done to 'save the mother's life' (although medical personnel have disputed this allegation). The dissenting group said they "wanted to make a statement against the Bishop’s decision for excommunication". However, the truth is that the nun automatically excommunicated HERSELF under Canon Law. As Pope Paul II stated...
"[The 1983 Code of Canon Law] decrees that 'a person who actually procures an abortion incurs automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication'. The excommunication affects all those who commit this crime with knowledge of the penalty attached, and thus includes those accomplices without whose help the crime would not have been committed... I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being... No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the Law of God"
Unfortunately, the dissident group plans to run more ads in the future
* Holiness "never loses its power of attraction" according to Pope Benedict who spoke on his predecessor, Pope St. Celestine V...
"More than 800 years have passed since the birth of St. Peter Celestine V, but he remains in history on account of the notable events of his pontificate and, above all, because of his holiness. Holiness, in fact, never loses its own power of attraction, it is not forgotten, it never goes out of fashion, indeed, with the passage of time, it shines with ever greater luminosity, expressing man’s perennial longing for God."
The Holy Father also noted that...
"[His] discovery of God was not only the result of his effort but was made possible by the grace of God itself that came to him. What he had, what he was, did not come from him: it was granted to him, it was grace, and so it was also a responsibility before God and before others. Even if our life is very different from his, the same thing is also true for us: the entirety of what is essential in our existence was bestowed upon us without our intervention. The fact that I live does not depend on me; the fact that there were people who introduced me to life, that taught me what it means to live and be loved, who handed down the faith to me and opened my eyes to God: all of that is grace and not 'done by me.' We could have done nothing ourselves if it had not been given to us: God always anticipates us and in every individual life there is beauty and goodness that we can easily recognize as his grace, as a ray of the light of his goodness. Because of this we must be attentive, always keep our 'interior eyes' open, the eyes of our heart. And if we learn how to know God in his infinite goodness, then we will be able to see, with wonder, in our lives - as the saints did - the signs of that God, who is always near to us, who is always good to us, who says: 'Have faith in me!'"
[7/5]
One Less Protester & An Opportunity To Discover God's Greatness?
Apparently, Pope Benedict may have one less protester to deal with when he visits the U.K. this September since a prominent atheist-activist who wanted to have the Holy Father arrested must undergo treatment for esophageal cancer. The "rabid atheist" Christopher Hitchens had called for Pope Benedict to be tried for "crimes against humanity" over abuse scandals in the Church. He has also authored a bestselling "atheist manifesto" bearing a blasphemous title (not to be repeated here).
Pray that this ordeal will help Mr. Hitchens discover how truly great God is!
"If someone, at the Devil's prompting, had committed every sin against God and then, with true contrition and the intention of amendment, truly repented these sins and humbly, with burning love, asked God for mercy, there is no doubt that the kind and merciful God Himself would immediately be as ready to receive that person back into His grace with great joy and happiness as would be a loving father who saw returning to him his only, dearly beloved son, now freed from a great scandal and a most shameful death." (St. Bridget of Sweden)
"So great is the impetus of the river of God's goodness overflowing on mankind, that only the free will of man, which He has given to him in order to receive its benefits, can raise a dam against it; and whenever, through this free will, man resists the influence and force of the divine Goodness, he (according to thy mode of understanding), violates and grieves this immense love to its very essence. But if creatures would place no obstacle and permit its operations, the whole soul would be inundated and satiated with participation in its divine essence and attributes." (Ven. Mary of Agreda)
[7/1]
Don't Trouble Yourself
In the wake of the much anticipated official announcement of Cardinal Kasper's replacement, 'Fr. Z' (on his 'wdtprs' blog) has expressed the following hope for the outgoing cardinal's retirement...
"Hopefully Card. Kasper will have a good rest and not trouble himself with too much… writing."
No doubt many Catholics worldwide will join Fr. Z in his wish for His Eminence.
[7/1]
Vatican Attorney Says Priest in Abuse Case is Not an Employee of the Holy See
In response to the Supreme Court's recent refusal to hear an immunity appeal in an abuse case, the Vatican's U.S. attorney, Jeffrey Lena, notes that the denial was "not a comment on the merits of our case", but rather a decision "made based upon the Supreme Court's docket and what cases it wishes to hear each term." He indicated that the plaintiff in the case "has one jurisdictional theory left", namely that the priest in the case was an employee of the Holy See. In rebuttal, he states that "The Holy See does not pay the salary of the priest, or benefits of the priest, or exercise day-to-day control over the priest, and ANY of the other factors indicating the presence of an employment relationship. This is a priest of the Order Friar Servants of Mary. His very existence was unknown to the Holy See until after all the events in question."
[6/29]
Belgian Raids: Some Updates
The following are some updates concerning the recent police raids in Belgium...
* Pope Benedict sent a message of solidarity to the president of the Belgian Episcopal Conference which stated that...
"At this sad time I wish to express my special closeness and solidarity to you, dear brother in the episcopate, and to all the bishops of the Church in Belgium, for the surprising and deplorable manner in which searches were carried out at the cathedral of Mechelen and at the site where the Belgian episcopate was gathered in a plenary assembly which, among other things, also intended to consider questions associated with the abuse of minors by members of the clergy. On a number of occasions I myself have highlighted how these serious matters should be dealt with by both civil law and canon law, while respecting the specific nature and autonomy of each. In this context, I trust that justice may run its course in order to guarantee the fundamental rights of persons and of institutions, at the same time respecting victims, showing unconditional recognition for those who undertake to collaborate, and rejecting everything that obscures the noble goal with which justice is assigned."
* An earlier claim that the bishops didn't receive food or drink during the nine hour search is apparently not true
* The diocesan committee set up to handle abuse complaints will reportedly close down in the wake of the seizure of "all of its records." Confiscation of the records by law enforcement has generated privacy concerns for alleged abuse victims
[6/28]
Note: Dates in brackets may refer to date news brief was added to MCS news page
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Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for August [7/30]
City officials in Jerusalem threaten to cut off free water supply to Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Officials also want payment for water usage dating back to 1967 [Note: Article has unfortunate reference to 'various Christian denominations'] [7/30]
Holy Father "especially moved" by film documenting first five years of his pontificate [7/30]
Papal, Holy See highlights for April - July 2010 [7/30]
Papal, Holy See highlights for January - March 2010 [7/29]
Arizona bishops issue statement concerning immigration law [7/29]
Letter of Cardinal Dias to Chinese bishops & priests [7/29]
Holy See and Russia establish full diplomatic ties [7/28]
Relics of St. John Bosco being displayed in Central America, will go to U.S. in September [7/28]
Vatican cracks down on immodest dress [7/28]
Sainthood cause for Slovenian native, first bishop of Marquette (MI) proceeds to Vatican [7/28]
'Virtual reality' tours available on Vatican website [7/28]
Lourdes Grotto at Notre Dame closed after fire [7/27]
Pope Benedict to bless statute of Our Lady of the Taper during UK visit [7/27]
Return of 'medieval-style Catholic guilds' [7/27]
Architect says 'Gaudi's church' may be endangered by construction of nearby railway tunnel [7/27]
Cloistered Benedictine nuns in France sign deal with record company to sing Gregorian chant [7/27]
Italian bishop issues open letter to Mafia condemning use of shrines for initiation ceremonies [7/27]
Apostolic Vatican Library to reopen on September 20 [7/26]
Pope Benedict's "working vacation" [7/26]
Pope Benedict appoints members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints [7/26]
Thousands of Irish pilgrims complete traditional Croagh Patrick climb [7/26]
Power outage at USCCB [7/26]
Philippine bishops issue statement affirming government's obligation to follow the moral law [7/26]
Pope Benedict to proclaim 'Gaudi's church' a basilica during November visit to Spain [7/24]
Vatican euro coins enter into circulation [7/23]
More good news: Spartanburg parish sees first Sunday TLHM in 40 years [7/23]
Chilean bishops urge clemency for prisoners; Proposal denounced by victims & their families [7/22]
Mexican man claims responsibility for recent cyber attack against the Vatican [7/22]
Venezuelan president may revoke license of archdiocesan television station [7/22]
Vatican announcement re: Holy Father's new book for children [7/22]
Prosecutors conclude investigation of head of German bishops' conference [7/22]
USCCB issues guidelines for using social media [7/21]
Spiritual bouquet of more than 1 million prayers for Pope Benedict has been delivered to the Vatican [7/21]
British government removes 'Protest the Pope' petition from its website [7/20]
Louisiana bishops say no to concealed weapons in church [7/20]
Pope Benedict appoints Indian-born Archbishop as permanent observer to UN [7/19]
Possible Caravaggio painting depicting the martyrdom of St. Lawrence found in Rome [7/19]
Information about alleged 20 year-old miracle at Knock sent to the Vatican [7/19]
New lawyers join ND88 defense team; New council includes Chris Ferrara [7/19]
Notre Dame official to be questioned over claims of selective treatment of ND 88 [7/17]
'Catholic' Pelosi receives award from PP [7/16]
Holy Father praying victims of violence in Uganda; Day of prayer to be held on 7/18 [7/16]
U.S. bishops praise updated Vatican norms dealing with abuse [7/16]
CDF publishes new norms concerning "most serious crimes" [7/15]
Disgraced bishop pleads the Fifth for three hours during deposition [7/15]
Archbishop Chaput "saddened" by false abuse allegations against a deceased priest [7/15]
Vatican Radio facilities may be linked to cases of cancer [7/14]
University of Illinois 'reviewing' firing of Catholic professor [7/14]
Relic of True Cross stolen from Archdiocese of Boston [7/13]
Archbishop Fisichella speaks about new evangelization council [7/13]
Cardinal Cañizares says a growing understanding of Summorum Pontificum "will benefit not only the acceptance and implementation of the motu proprio, but will also enrich the liturgical renewal and move it forward" [Note: On this site, it is necessary to scroll down to view the article] [7/13]
Catholic League says University of Illinois should be sued for firing teacher who expressed Catholic teachings on homosexuality; CL says "He was fired for his religious viewpoint, an unacceptable reason that will not stand up in court" [Note: Unfortunately, article takes position that "viewpoint discrimination is not tolerable, especially in higher education", without making the necessary distinction between truth and error (errors of false religious are rightly not tolerated since "error has no rights." As Pope Leo XIII stated, "...it is contrary to reason that error and truth should have equal rights.") While this case does not involve error, a clarification nevertheless seems necessary to avoid confusion] [7/12]
Coalition of 29 attorneys general file brief defending annual National Day of Prayer [7/12]
Vatican's 2009 financial report shows third straight loss; 2009 deficit totals 4.1 million euro [7/10]
Pro-life significance of Archbishop Burke's recent appointment [7/10]
Catholic charities, periodicals protest proposed postal rate increases [7/10]
Pope Benedict appoints Archbishop Velasio De Paolis as pontifical delegate for the Legionaries [7/9]
Monk allegedly confesses to killing priest & nun in China [7/9]
Chinese authorities release 'underground' bishop [7/9]
NY Times at it again: New article 'blasts' Pope Benedict over abuse scandal [7/9]
CL on NY Times article [7/9]
Pope Benedict appoints successor to Bishop Mixa [7/8]
Cuba to release 52 political prisoners after meeting with Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino [7/8]
Priest & nun belonging to 'underground' Church in China murdered [7/8]
Pope Benedict begins summer vacation at Castelgandolfo [7/7]
New film on Archbishop Fulton Sheen coming to the U.S. [7/7]
So much for religious freedom: ACLU wants Catholic hospitals to be forced to perform abortions in "emergency situations" [Refreshers: Abortion Kills | Abortion is a Grave Sin] [7/7]
Cardinal McCarrick turns 80, bringing the number of cardinal-electors down to 107 [7/7]
Pope Benedict's November trip to Spain to be a "first in history" [7/7]
Good news: Governor of Hawaii vetoes 'civil union' bill [7/7]
New TLM location in Fitchburg, MA [7/7]
Letter purportedly from Ecclesia Dei confirms that the TLM "envisages the reception of Holy Communion while kneeling, as the Sacred Host is laid directly on the tongue of the communicant. There is no provision for the distribution of Holy Communion on the hand in this Form of the Holy Mass" [Notice: Peculiarities regarding the letter have led to questions about its authenticity. It has since has been removed from the above site.] [7/5]
More than 100 headstones toppled at a Catholic cemetery in Massachusetts [7/6]
Vatican expected to issue new norms for handling abuse cases [7/6]
British official urges anti-papal protestors to show restraint during Pope's visit [7/6]
Pope Benedict inaugurates new fountain in Vatican Gardens dedicated to his patron, St. Joseph [7/5]
Official Vatican announcement for September 16-19 Papal visit to U.K. [7/5]
Some good news: New FSSP & ICRSS ordinations [Note: For both links above, it is necessary to scroll down to view images] [7/5]
More good news: Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously rules to uphold gay 'marriage' ban [7/5]
'Religion of peace' at it again: Muslim 'extremists' brutally attack Catholic professor for allegedly insulting Islam; Professor's elderly mother is also attacked [Warning: Article contains references to graphic violence] [7/5]
Official logo marking Pope Benedict's September visit to Scotland is unveiled [7/5]
Alaska bishop highlights religious imagery in U.S. Capital building [7/5]
Archbishop Fisichella speaks about new council he will head [7/3]
Pope Benedict to travel to Castelgandolfo on July 7 [7/2]
Tensions within the College of Cardinals? [7/2]
Kagan implies that Harvard would prohibit the Catholic Church from recruiting on campus since the priesthood is limited to men [Refresher: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests] [7/2]
NY Times launches another attack on Pope Benedict over abuse scandals [7/2]
CL on NY Times article [7/2]
Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for July [7/1]
Diocese of Cleveland sees closure of 50th parish [7/1]
Over 40 candidates move closer to beatification, canonization [7/1]
Restoration work on Rio's Christ statue has been completed [7/1]
Vatican communiqué regarding Pope Benedict's audience with Bishop Mixa [7/1]
It's official: Bishop Koch replaces Cardinal Kasper [7/1]
Priest & driver abducted in Nigeria are released without ransom [7/1]
Pope Benedict inaugurates renovated sections of Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls [7/1]
Historic church in New Mexico suffers severe damage [6/30]
Vatican spokesman confirms that Bishop Koch will replace Cardinal Kasper [6/30]
Bishops in India call for end to "extravagance" in celebration of parish feasts [6/30]
Pope Benedict reminds of importance of having a good spiritual director [6/30]
Cardinal DiNardo urges senators to remove amendment permitting abortion in military hospitals [6/30]
USCCB marriage initiative emphasizes that marriage is only between one man and one woman [6/30]
Pope Benedict bestows pallium on 38 Metropolitan Archbishops [6/29]
Did he skip some catechism lessons? West Virginia bishop (scandalously!) 'canonizes' recently deceased abortion-supporting Baptist legislator, claiming he is now "now at peace with the Risen Lord" and "experiencing perfect joy" [Reminder: While one cannot pronounce judgment on any individual's soul, it is nevertheless true that there is very grave danger for those dying outside the Church in light of the Church's dogma of 'no salvation outside the Church'. Support for abortion would likewise involve grave danger. Furthermore, even for those saved, "most" are believed to suffer in purgatory] [6/29]
U.S. Supreme Court denies Holy See's immunity appeal in abuse case [6/28]
Milwaukee vice chancellor says USCCB's annual abuse audits are insufficient [6/28]
St Thérèse of Lisieux relics arrive in South Africa [6/26]
Catholic lay organization opposes diocesan sale of Boston healthcare system to a secular corporation [6/26]
'World's largest Catholic statute' to be unveiled in Brazil [6/26]
It's really coming: Cardinal Kasper confirms retirement plans [6/26]
Church officials confirm Cardinal Newman's beatification will occur at Birmingham [6/25]
New bishop appointed to replace Belgian prelate who admitted to abusing a minor [6/25]
Pope Benedict blesses restored 'iconic' statue of the Blessed Virgin [6/24]
Holy Father tells cloistered nuns they are the "heart" of the Church [6/24]
Statistics show decline in Church in Japan [6/24]
CHA challenged to prove its dedication to the pro-life position [6/24]
World's tallest Cross of St. Benedict to be unveiled in Peru on July 11 [6/24]
Holy See appeals for greater international cooperation in fighting organized crime [6/24]
[Note: There were no news updates on 6/23]
Pope Benedict appoints new bishop of Harrisburg, new auxiliary bishop for Philadelphia [6/22]
Thirty-eight metropolitan archbishops to receive the pallium on June 29 [6/22]
Parish priest in Chile stabbed while distributing Holy Communion [6/22]
Sad: Hundreds of parishioners 'question' Bishop Morlino concerning 'conservative' priests [6/22]
Cardinal Sepe being investigated in Italian corruption scandal [6/21]
Second meeting of Vatican-Vietnam Working Group to be held from June 23-24 [6/21]
Fr. Lombardi on Archbishop Paetz debate [6/19]
»
See Archive For MoreNote: Dates in brackets may refer to date link was added to MCS news page
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Guest Article:
25 reasons to reject airport full body scans
By "Former Flier"
It's sickening that many television personalities have been so willing to violate the privacy of honest Americans over fear due to the recent foiled terror attempt. On the matter of full body scans, they are wrong, not to mention terribly shortsighted. They have one - and ONLY one - supposed argument in favor of full body scans; that is, such scans MAY make airline travel safer. But will it? Certainly there is no guarantee that this will occur. Rather, it is their "hope" or "belief" that this will result. But it is wrong - immoral even - to subject innocent people to this degrading procedure.
The following are my 25 reasons to reject these full-body scans...
1. These scans are a total violation of privacy! (Have you seen the full body scan images on TV? You can see everything, and I mean EVERYTHING!)
2. This procedure is immodest and will further a sense of immodesty as people become accustomed to allowing strangers to examine images of their body.
3. It is wrong to allow strangers who are not doctors to examine images of your private parts and the private parts of your family members. You wouldn't dream of allowing this to occur in any other setting.
4. The people who will be viewing every single nook and cranny of your body are government employees. Think of that, government agents viewing full body images of you. Did such privacy violations even occur in Communist Russia on such a wide scale?
5. Most likely you won't be allowed to know, see, or give your consent to the individual chosen by the government to analyze your body scan from head to toe. You will not be given their resume or information on their criminal record (if any) or about their mental health or any past transgressions involving others' scans. For all you know, the person who views images of your entire body and the entire bodies of your loved ones will be a pervert. The person viewing the images will be able to focus on any part of your body they want, free from any objection of yours and with your knowledge & consent. (If you go through the scanners, you are consenting to this.)
6. I wouldn’t allow my 13 year-old daughter's body to be viewed in the nude by a stranger - would you allow your daughter's to be? So why would you allow a revealing full body scan of your teenage daughter to be viewed by a stranger at the airport?
7. When this becomes widespread, EVERYONE who flies will be subject to this invasion of privacy - be they minor, grandparent, man, woman, priest, nun, or bishop. This is plain wrong.
8. When viewers of the full body images can't make out certain details on their screen, people will be subject to even more evasive, exploratory searches. Watch out if you have a safety pin, underwire, fancy zipper, unique button, or unusual growth!
9. Americans are supposed to be constitutionally protected from unreasonable searches. If revealing full body scans of INNOCENT people who simply want to visit relatives doesn't count as an unreasonable search, what does?
10. It is impossible for full body scans to be a foolproof security measure. Obviously they are only as good as the equipment and the (probably overworked) government employee viewing them. Eventually something will get through. People aren't perfect.
11. Full body images will eventually be stored. How would you like yours or your loved one's to turn up on the Internet? It WILL happen sometime, somewhere, to someone, especially to celebrities or "controversial" persons (e.g. pro-life activists). Do you bring forth the argument that they aren't saving the images? Maybe they aren’t now, but after the first security breach, people will call for storing body scan images to see "what went wrong".
12. There can be no guarantee that these full body scans are safe. We often discover long after the fact that procedures that were supposed to be "safe" were more dangerous than first thought. Just recently, ubiquitous CT scans were shown to be much more dangerous than previously believed. Ironically, although CT scans may be used to detect cancer, they have been found to cause cancer in some patients. In contrast to CT scans done with "meticulous care" in medical facilities, full body scans in airports will be conducted by non-medical personnel on people in a rush. Even though a different technology is used in airport scans vs. CT scans, rushed patrons combined with non-medical government personnel in a public setting is not an especially good combination for personal safety. Plus, who will control any settings on the machines? Who will make sure all emissions are always within proper limits? How often will the equipment be tested for dangerous leaks? And what about the effect of these scans on pregnant women and their babies? What about the cumulative effects of exposure to this equipment on frequent fliers or airport personnel who will be standing next to the machines for hours at a time, day in and day out? The extent of the effects may be unknown for decades.
13. Some persons involved in the scanning process may use the opportunity to harass people (e.g. subject them to more searches, spend more time on "beautiful" bodies, force persons to engage in immodest postures, etc.). Once people are in the scanner, airline ticket in tow, with a booked hotel, car rental, and waiting relatives, most will probably just consent to whatever they are told to do. They may not have the will to complain or they may be embarrassed to do so. Even if they did, it will be one person's word against another's.
14. On one hand, certain body images may tempt some scan viewers to lust (Jesus says a person who looks at another person with lust has committed adultery with the person in their heart). On the other hand, body images of some persons will probably become the "butt of screeners' jokes" (pun intended). The job of airport scanner has got to get boring after a while and an unusual body shape here and there may provide the employees with some "comic relief"
15. This practice will further a loss of respect for the dignity of the human body, especially for operators who will view nude images all day
16. Since these revealing scans put bodies on display for strangers, they may be a violation of one's right over a spouse's body. In fact, strangers viewing full body scans that expose every crevice of someone's body may view more of that person's body than their own spouse does!
17. Conducting full body scans won't solve the terrorist threat. Terrorists will just get more creative - and we will keep trying to play catch up - spending endless sums of money and giving up more of our freedoms. Eventually they may require people to remove false teeth to look for contraband or force us to strip nude, all for the "privilege" of flying. If you think terrorists will just give up because we implement full body scans, you're sadly mistaken.
18. Full body scans are just one more example of the government punishing many good people for the crimes of a few bad people. The good people will be hurt by lost freedom & violations of privacy. The terrorists will be undeterred in their plans, and they will probably be happy to see the disruption & harm they have caused the good people.
19. What effect do you think the revealing full-body scans will have on rape survivors or others who have been violated? Wouldn't it be reasonable for them to feel as though they've been violated again?
20. If we allow full body scans at airports, we'll soon be forced to undergo them in other public places - schools, office buildings, sporting events, and the like. In many places, the scans will not be optional because people will not be allowed to avoid them. In time, police may start carrying portable versions of the scanners when the technology becomes available. Allowing this practice at airports is likely to unleash a slew of new privacy violations against innocent Americans.
21. Full body scanning at airports may give passengers a false sense of security. Recent events prove that it is dangerous to be complacent with regard to airport security.
22. Full body scans are unnecessary and may be overcome. We already have (non invasive) metal detectors in place for metal objects. At this point, the most feared items may be powder or liquid. While full body scans thoroughly expose the naked body to the gaze of the scan viewer, it is questionable whether the machines will be able to clearly indicate the presence of small amounts of powder or liquid, especially when you factor in a creative terrorist. For example, how can the scanning equipment differentiate stuffing in a jacket from stuffing plus powder? Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack! And certainly even the zealous airport workers may hesitate to make passengers cut open their jackets so they can inspect the stuffing inside them.
23. Full body scans focus on the external part of the body. They would not show items taken orally or other items hidden internally (e.g. in feces). As drug enforcement agents might tell you, criminal persons don't refrain from using such unsavory tactics if they work.
24. Full body scans are incapable of solving the problem. Even if a terrorist is prevented from hiding items on their person by a full body scan, they can still keep items in their bags (who would question a prescription medicine bottle which appeared to contain real pills or a sealed shampoo bottle which seemed to actually contain shampoo?). The scans also won't prevent terrorists from recruiting insider employees who can help them evade the procedure.
25. This practice will harm the airline industry. Some people (myself included) will stop flying altogether. Costs will go up to pay for the new equipment and the additional personnel required to operate it. Airport delays will increase.
This is not a case of sacrificing "a bit of privacy for the good of the many". This practice will bring harm to many - in fact, all of us! Even if we don't fly, we should be concerned for our bothers and sisters who do and who will either, unfortunately, agree to the procedure or be involuntary pressured into it. And, as time goes by, this precedent will spill into other areas and we will ALL suffer invasions of our privacy because "new threats" have been found.
Let's not allow this to happen. Those who support this practice have only one argument in their favor - that the scans MAY make airline travel safer. But this is not the case. It will NOT be a security panacea. Rather, it is a harmful and dangerous road that we should not go down. God Himself made Adam & Eve garments after the fall. Let's not allow the government to force us to "shed" ours.
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Does the New Replica Disprove the Authenticity of the Shroud of Turin?
By: Ed Kelley
I love it when you can smell the bias right up front: "Shroud of Turin Once Again Proven a Fake". What can you expect from CNN and from a San Francisco "alternative" daily column by Tommi Avicolli-Mecca, author of something called "Smash the Church, Smash the State: The Early Years of Gay Liberation"? Hardly unbiased sources, are they?
As I look at the pictures, and read the articles one thing is for certain - they have made a cloth that looks like the face on the Shroud, but so far, that is it. The Shroud has undergone decades of research - it is the most studied relic in history - and yet there are still many characteristics that scientists cannot explain or reproduce. Several attempts to make a "copy" of the Shroud have scientifically turned out to be ridiculously simple by comparison to the actual Shroud. Some attempts to reproduce the Shroud have contained a few of the characteristics of the Shroud. Others have contained different characteristics of the Shroud. But none have even scratched the surface of the hundreds of known, unique and scientifically proven qualities that the Shroud holds. Most of these authentic characteristics would not be identifiable except for the many, very sophisticated modern tests that it has undergone. No attempted reproduction of the Shroud has passed more than a few of these scrupulous exams.
Only time will tell as to how accurate a copy this will turn out to be. I have rarely heard of any reproduction attempt that has continued to be studied after it has been initially revealed and held up as a "true copy" of the Shroud. Most likely, like all the other "explanations", it will turn out to be hollow 'gotcha' attempt, a "Hah!, look what we have done! We have created a copy that 'proves' the Shroud is a fake." Then, after the 15 minutes of fame has worn off, this fake will be tossed into the scrap-heap of other so-called proofs that go no further in their scientific study than the highly flawed radio carbon dating which "proved" the Shroud was a medieval fake based on a sample cut from an area still disputed as not being part of the original Shroud fabric.
The true Shroud is a photographic negative and the pictures shown in recent articles appear to show an image similar to the Shroud. Let's assume that the pictures in the articles exhibit the same photographic negative characteristic as that of the Shroud. That makes it similar to the Shroud in one instance. The scientific community and their biased media accomplices should be asking if it also projects 3D characteristics under the VP-8 Image Analyzer. The Shroud does. Only one other "copy" has shown some 3D characteristics, albeit very distorted and disfigured. The Shroud's 3D image is surprisingly detailed and clear.
They used pigmented paint, heating and washed the cloth afterwards to leave a stain on the cloth fibers. They suggest that the Shroud was similarly painted and that the pigment simply wore off over the centuries. Not true. The Shroud cloth's fibrils, the fine strands of material that form the woven-together threads of the cloth, are not stained. The fibrils that make the image have decomposed at a more accelerated rate that the rest of the cloth fibers, making the sepia colored image that can only be seen at distance. There is no seepage of materials or stains. The image does not go beyond the uppermost strands of the threads. How can these scientists conclude that this was made by "paint" when there is no stain, just discolored fibrils? Are the threads of the cloth they made stained through the threads with the pigment they used? I'll bet they are. An important note that frustrates scientists skeptical of the true Shroud - the only test that they have come up with that simulates rapid decomposition of the fibrils similar to Shroud - is enormous bursts of radiation, causing the exposed (upper fibrils on each thread) to decompose at a more rapid rate. (Can you say "Resurrection"?)
Other materials such as pollens that are only found in specific geographic regions that put the cloth in specific geographic areas are also on the Shroud. They did not "wear off over time" so why would we assume that pigment would be completely gone?
Why are there descriptions and drawings that show specific details on the true Shroud that predate any modern dating methods?
Is their image still visible when backlit or does it disappear like the image on the Shroud, indicating that there is no actual material comprising the image such as paint or stain?
Recently, scientists who work with and test the actual Shroud found that image information is on the topmost fibers of the other side of the cloth. But there is no image the fibers in the center of the threads. Can these scientists explain this? Get back to me when you have finished putting an image on the other side of your shroud and clean up the likely stained interiors of all the threads on your image. Make sure they line up exactly. Don't worry, I'll wait.
Why did they put blood on after they made the image? Tests show that there is no image under the blood stains on the Shroud, indicating that the cloth was touching the body before the image on it was created. Please remake your image and put on real human blood before heating and washing the cloth.
One could go on endlessly about how remedial an attempt this is at actual scientific study. File this under "One more critical self-proclaimed scientist attempts to make a Shroud copy and ends up looking the fool". We may never know for sure exactly how the image was made on the Shroud of Turin. But one thing is certain - few other relics are as truly miraculous as the Shroud. And, if it is a fake, and all of these critics have "proven" that it is, why are they still trying so hard?
Guest Commentary
The Shroud Debate
By: Deanne Costello
Summary: "The Shroud has been a topic of heated debate. This is where our faith is tested. Only God could have created this wonderful Shroud. I believe it to be very real! I enjoyed Mr. Kelley's article and agree with him. The Shroud was protected for centuries for a reason. Some things are meant to be left unknown, and only God knows why. Jesus was definitely covered with the shroud. Just my opinion. Thank you."
Commentary: "Science has come a very long way, but I don't need science to tell me if the Shroud is real. In my studies, no one can reproduce this great Shroud.
One book gave the blood type on the Shroud, after careful study. Think about it, do we need absolute proof that it is real? My faith tells me no. Science can do just so much. If God wants us to verify this God-given artifact, He will let us know.
When I first knew about the Shroud, there was a heated debate with my co workers, as to if it is real. Most were not sure, others said it is not real, but in the end, the most of us think it is a miracle of God, and I will believe it until I die.
Maybe the truth will never be known, but in my heart, I think there is a cover up, maybe to protect it from being stolen or other reasons.
Let science keep trying, they will never reproduce another Shroud. There is only one Shroud like The Shroud of Turin."
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What Not To Pray For
Some Prayers Are An Abomination
By: Toby F.T.
Unfortunate numbers of Catholics today appear poorly educated in the true Catholic faith. I admit that certain activities & comments of some Catholics leave me quite exasperated. When it comes to prayer or invoking the saints, I wish Catholics would keep in mind that not all prayer is good. Surprised?
Did you know the Bible says some prayers are an abomination? Look it up. Proverbs 28:9 says "When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination."
The Bible also says some prayers are not heard, that to some He will turn His face against them:
Sirach 34:25-26: If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification? So with a man who fasts for his sins, but then goes and commits them again: Who will hear his prayer, and what has he gained by his mortification?
Jn. 9:31: We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
Prov. 15:29: The LORD is far from the wicked, but the prayer of the just he hears.
1 Pt. 3:12: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.
Jer. 11:10-11: They have returned to the crimes of their forefathers who refused to obey my words. They also have followed and served strange gods; the covenant which I had made with their fathers, the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken. Therefore, thus says the LORD: See, I bring upon them misfortune which they cannot escape. Though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.
Zech. 7:11-14: But they refused to listen; they stubbornly turned their backs and stopped their ears so as not to hear. And they made their hearts diamondhard so as not to hear the teaching and the message that the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Then the LORD of hosts in his great anger said that, as they had not listened when he called, so he would not listen when they called, but would scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they did not know. Thus the land was left desolate after them with no one traveling to and fro; they made the pleasant land into a desert.
Obviously then not all prayer is heard. A sure rule of thumb is to never pray for assistance with any action contrary to God's laws. All of the following would be examples of things NOT to pray for...
* for help with divorce (if lawfully married) & 'remarriage'
* that IVF will be successful
* that birth-control will not fail
* for a successful abortion
You cannot seriously expect that God will be happy to help you do something that will offend Him, can you? Isn't asking the all-holy God to assist in sin demonic? Do you imagine you please Him by such a request rather thank invoke His wrath?
Likewise, don't expect that a patron saint will help you sin. A patron who would assist in sin would be no saint! Listen to what a true saint, St. Alphonsus Liguori, has to say about the topic of prayer by obstinate sinners...
"There are some unhappy persons who love the chains with which the devil keeps them bound like slaves. The prayers of such men are not heard by God; because they are rash, presumptuous, and abominable. For what greater presumption can there be than for a man to ask favors of a prince whom he not only has often offended, but whom he intends to offend still more? And this is the meaning of the Holy Spirit, when he says that the prayer of him who turns away his ears so as not to hear what God commands is detestable and odious to God: 'He who turneth away his ears from learning the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.' To these people God says, it is of no use your praying to Me, for I will turn My eyes from you, and will not hear you: 'When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away My eyes from you; and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear.'"
God does hear the prayer of sinners (we are all sinners), but don't ask Him to be a partner in your sin. Rather, ask to be delivered from your sins. If you mean it, He will definitely hear you.
May God hear your prayers.
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Reflection of Pope Pius XI
"We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and His holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and We said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of Our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations."
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Reflection of Dom Gueranger
"May Faith, without which love and charity cannot exist, be maintained in all its purity; may the serpent of heresy be crushed, and its poisoned cup find neither teachers to offer it not disciples to drink it. May the attachment to the doctrines of the Church be firm and courageous; may no human schemes or theories, or cowardly toleration of error, enervate the principles of truth and morals; may the children of light boldly disown fellowship with the children of darkness."
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Reflection of Pope Pius XI
"When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony."
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"Food For Thought"
"For if any of those who are present should think to tempt God's grace, he deceives himself, and knows not its power. Keep thy soul free from hypocrisy, O man, because of Him who searcheth hearts and reins. For as those who are going to make a levy for war examine the ages and the bodies of those who are taking service, so also the Lord in enlisting souls examines their purpose: and if any has a secret hypocrisy, He rejects the man as unfit for His true service; but if He finds one worthy, to him He readily gives His grace. He gives not holy things to the dogs; but where He discerns the good conscience, there He gives the Seal of salvation, that wondrous Seal, which devils tremble at, and Angels recognize; that the one may be driven to flight, and the others may watch around it as kindred to themselves. Those therefore who receive this spiritual and saving Seal, have need also of the disposition akin to it. For as a writing-reed or a dart has need of one to use it, so grace also has need of believing minds." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
"Food For Thought" From St. Ambrose
"[N]o one can repent to good purpose unless he hopes for mercy." (St. Ambrose)
"[T]he Spirit of God is more inclined to mercy than to severity" (St. Ambrose)
"How unfit were it, since with men credit is given for endurance in a struggle, that one should assert that it had no value with God! For often in this world's athletic contests the public crown together with the victors even the vanquished whose conduct has been approved, especially if perchance they have seen that they lost the victory by some trick or fraud." (St. Ambrose)
"Is it not evident that the Lord Jesus is angry with us when we sin in order that He may convert us through fear of His indignation? His indignation, then, is not the carrying out of vengeance, but rather the working out of forgiveness, for these are His words: 'If thou shalt turn and lament, thou shall be saved.' He waits for our lamentations here, that is, in time, that He may spare us those which shall be eternal. He waits for our tears, that He may pour forth His goodness. So in the Gospel, having pity on the tears of the widow, He raised her son. He waits for our conversion, that He may Himself restore us to grace, which would have continued with us had no fall overtaken us. But He is angry because we have by our sins incurred guilt, in order that we may be humbled; we are humbled, in order that we may be found worthy rather of pity than of punishment." (St. Ambrose)
Guest Article
There once was a vacuum cleaner salesman...
There once was a good vacuum cleaner salesman. He worked for the top company. He had an excellent product. A product so good in fact you "couldn't live without it", if you only knew! The product took a reasonable amount of work, but the results were wonderful beyond any possible expectation. The product was priced fairly and was unquestionably within the reach of every potential customer. The good salesman had been commissioned by the good & honest manufacturer in an exclusive arrangement to promote the good vacuum to all persons. The manufacturer was upright & caring and always looked out for the good salesman and for his customers. The manufacturer trained the good salesman with meticulous care and left him with all instructions and helps necessary for his customers to use the product properly. The salesman was repeatedly warned about his "competitors", who were "wolves."
For many years the good salesman presented his product just as the manufacturer had guided him. He did so well, in fact, that a very large percentage of the entire earth's population used his product. Taking to heart the manufacturer's instructions, he promoted his product and expended every effort to warn customers and potential customers everywhere about the imposters who lurked around every corner who might try to sell them a dangerous vacuum that could have tragic consequences.
There once was a bad vacuum cleaner salesman. He joined up with a dishonest manufacturer who made illegal, dangerous contraptions that resembled vacuums. The bad product may have been somewhat easier to use than the good salesman's product, but it was almost impossible to escape the serious consequences that were likely to result from its use. In fact, those who used his product risked having their house entirely destroyed by fire. The bad salesman didn't tell anyone about this (he may not have even known himself). Nevertheless, he continued selling the product to misguided and unsuspecting people. He would even promise potential buyers things "too good to be true" (which of course weren't true at all). At one point the bad salesman started wearing a uniform and driving a vehicle that closely resembled the good salesman's uniform and vehicle so that many people could not tell the difference between the good and the bad salesman. In fact, to hear the bad salesman explain things, he worked for the good manufacturer (even though he could produce no contract or proof that he worked for the good manufacturer and it was known that the good manufacturer had an exclusive contract with the good salesman).
The rivalry between the good and the bad salesman continued for many years. The good salesman often pointed out the danger inherent in the bad salesman's product while the bad salesman spoke errors and lies about the good salesman and his product. Despite the persecution, the good salesman worked tirelessly to protect his customers and others by explaining the superiority of his product as well as the dangers of his competitor's product. Due to his efforts, his customers could easily identify and explain the difference between the two products, as well as describe the risk of using the bad salesman's product. They knew to stay away from the competitor's dangerous product and they also realized the benefit of trying to help others avoid the bad salesman's dangerous goods.
Then suddenly things changed. The good salesman stopped warning people about the bad vacuums. He also stopped warning people to avoid the bad salesman. He stopped calling the bad salesman a "wolf" and began to call the bad salesman his brother. He cultivated a friendship with the bad salesman even as the bad salesman continued selling the dangerous, illegal vacuums to unsuspecting customers - and his own customers as well. In a surprising turn, the good salesman could be found referring to the bad salesman - in public - by the title the bad salesman chose for himself - a title which gave the impression that the bad salesman worked for the good manufacturer (even though he didn’t).
In an effort to foster friendship, the good salesman decided to put some stickers on his vehicle to cover up parts of his vehicle that the bad salesman found offensive. The changes made the good salesman's vehicle more closely resemble the bad salesman's vehicle. He was delighted.
However he was still not satisfied. Eventually, the good salesman was found to occasionally praise the bad salesman. He sometimes even managed to find some good words for the bad salesman's dangerous, illegal goods. Occasionally the good salesman would share company property with the bad salesman, even though people may have found this action confusing (at best).
As time marched on, the good salesman became loathe to talk about deficiencies in the bad vacuums and he came to find the idea of criticizing the bad salesman "outdated" or even offensive. From now on he would only speak positively about the bad salesman and his product.
All along, he knew - or should have known - that the bad salesman continued selling dangerous, illegal contraptions to people who would ultimately suffer the consequences. Not only that, but the bad salesman presented these dangerous, illegal contraptions to people as if they were equivalent to the good vacuums that the good salesman sold. He also knew that the bad salesman held himself out as a representative of the good manufacturer - for which the good salesman knew he didn't work for. And, of course, every sale of a bad vacuum meant one less sale of the good vacuum (especially since the good salesman now preferred to remain silent about the superiority of his product and the serious dangers of the competing product).
The good salesman apparently began overlooking the fact that houses were burning - or would burn. He instead focused on unity between the users of the bad vacuums and the good vacuums, leading some to wonder if they still had to worry about using the bad vacuums at all. The good salesman certainly didn't want to criticize the bad vacuum and at times acted as if he saw "very little difference" between the two products. He no longer seemed overly concerned if people chose the bad vacuums - as if these people might somehow escape the imminent consequences he had so consistently warned of in the past. No, he would no longer sound the alarm that houses would be destroyed by fire as a result of using the dangerous product. He didn't want to offend the bad salesman or the bad salesman's customers by sounding a warning.
As time went by, sales of the good vacuum went down. Houses burned. Many who used the good vacuum modified it in dangerous ways to better suit their liking - ways that more closely resembled the bad vacuum. Houses burned. Numerous people could no longer tell the difference between the good and the bad product. Houses burned. Sales of the bad vacuum remained strong. Houses burned. Some preferred the bad vacuum because it seemed easier and because no one had told them of the danger. Houses burned. A relatively small group of people tried to warn of the danger, but they were usually written off. Houses burned.
Were the homeowners well served?
Is the good manufacturer happy?
By the way, the good manufacturer built each home that burned and lovingly regarded each one. Still think the good manufacturer is happy?
Houses continue burning.
Can you say 'false ecumenism'?
[Related: Ecumenism Q & A]
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"Food For Thought"
"But what is it, dearly beloved, to have peace towards God, except to wish what He bids, and not to wish what He forbids? For if human friendships seek out equality of soul and similarity of desires, and difference of habits can never attain to full harmony, how will he be partaker of divine peace, who is pleased with what displeases God and desires to get delight from what he knows to be offensive to God? That is not the spirit of the sons of God; such wisdom is not acceptable to the noble family of the adopted. That chosen and royal race must live up to the dignity of its regeneration, must love what the Father loves, and in nought disagree with its Maker, lest the LORD should again say: "I have begotten and raised up sons, but they have scorned Me: the ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib: but Israel hath not known Me and My people hath not acknowledged Me."
"Food For Thought"
"By the consideration of time--for seeing that time seizes upon all things human, we also in turn ought to snatch from it something which may profit us to eternal life, especially since a certain awful expectation of the approach of the divine judgment importunately demands increased earnestness in religion, while the subtle craftiness of new heretics calls for no ordinary care and attention." (St. Vincent of Lerins)
"Food For Thought"
"Observing the institutions of the Apostles' tradition, dearly beloved, we exhort you, as watchful shepherds, to celebrate with the devotion of religious practice that day which they purged from wicked superstitions and consecrated to deeds of mercy, thus showing that the authority of the Fathers still lives among us, and that we obediently abide by their teaching. Inasmuch as the sacred usefulness of such a practice affects not only time past but also our own age, so that what aided them in the destruction of vanities, might contribute with us to the increase of virtues. And what so suitable to faith, what so much in harmony with godliness as to assist the poverty of the needy, to undertake the care of the weak, to succor the needs of the brethren, and to remember one's own condition in the toils of others. In which work He only who knows what He has given to each, discerns aright how much a man can and how much he cannot do. For not only are spiritual riches and heavenly gifts received from God, but earthly and material possessions also proceed from His bounty, that He may be justified in requiring an account of those things which He has not so much put in our possession as committed to our stewardship. God's gifts, therefore, we must use properly and wisely, lest the material for good work should become an occasion of sin. For wealth, after its kind and regarded as a means, is good and is of the greatest advantage to human society, when it is in the hands of the benevolent and open-handed, and when the luxurious man does not squander nor the miser hoard it; for whether ill-stored or unwisely spent it is equally lost." (Pope St. Leo the Great)
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
Ineffable Creator, Who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom hast appointed three hierarchies of Angels and set them in admirable order high above the heavens and hast disposed the divers portions of the universe in such marvelous array, Thou Who art called the True Source of Light and super-eminent Principle of Wisdom, be pleased to cast a beam of Thy radiance upon the darkness of my mind and dispel from me the double darkness of sin and ignorance in which I have been born. Thou Who makest eloquent the tongues of little children, fashion my words and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy benediction. Grant me penetration to understand, capacity to retain, method and facility in study, subtlety in interpretation and abundant grace of expression. Order the beginning, direct the progress and perfect the achievement of my work, Thou who art true God and Man and livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
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Reflection of Pope Pius XII
"We do not hesitate to affirm again publicly that We put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils which afflict our times. Not with force, not with arms, not with human power, but with Divine help obtained through the means of this prayer, strong like David with his sling, the Church undaunted shall be able to confront the infernal enemy"
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