Wednesday, July 15, 2009
More News
News
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Cohabitating Ruins Marriage
We already knew this, but it is nice to have more data on the subject.Those who moved in with a mate before engagement or marriage reported significantly lower quality marriages and a greater potential for split-ups than other couples. For instance, about 19 percent of those who cohabited before getting engaged had ever suggested divorce compared with just 12 percent of those who only moved in together after getting engaged and 10 percent of participants who did not cohabit prior to the wedding bells.
A couple's age, previous relationships and even whether they smoke or not are factors that influence whether their marriage is going to last, according to a study by researchers from the Australian National University.
Radio
I will be talking about how not to evangelize.
Quick News
Papal encyclicals are supposed to be written with one eye on two millenniums of Catholic teaching, and the other on eternity. But Americans, as a rule, have rather narrower horizons. As soon as the media have finished scanning a Vatican document for references to sex, the debate begins in earnest: Is it good for the left, or for the right? For Democrats, or for Republicans?That is the beginning, it gets better:
The pope is not a Democrat or a Republican, and his vision doesn’t fit the normal categories of American politics.
But Benedict’s encyclical is nothing if not political. “Caritas in Veritate” promotes a vision of economic solidarity rooted in moral conservatism. It links the dignity of labor to the sanctity of marriage. It praises the redistribution of wealth while emphasizing the importance of decentralized governance. It connects the despoiling of the environment to the mass destruction of human embryos.
This is not a message you’re likely to hear in Barack Obama’s next State of the Union, or in the Republican Party’s response. It represents a kind of left-right fusionism with little traction in American politics.
But that’s precisely what makes it so relevant and challenging — for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
We’re passing through the worst economic dislocation of the past 80 years. Our politics are polarized; our institutions gridlocked. The governing party is mistrusted, the minority party despised.
Yet there’s remarkably little radical thinking taking place. The Republican Party is retrenching, falling back on Reagan-era verities. His promises of post-partisan change notwithstanding, Barack Obama’s agenda looks like the same old Democratic laundry list, rewritten in a sleeker, Internet-era font.
This doesn’t mean that America needs a third party with “Caritas in Veritate” as its platform. The church is not a think tank, and there’s room for wide disagreement about how to put its social teaching into practice.
But Catholics are obliged to take seriously the underlying provocation of the papal message — namely, that our present political alignments are not the only ones imaginable, and that truth may not be served by perfect ideological conformity.
So should all people of good will. For liberals and conservatives alike, “Caritas in Veritate” is an invitation to think anew about their alliances and litmus tests.
Why should being pro-environment preclude being pro-life? Why can’t Republicans worry about economic inequality, and Democrats consider devolving more power to localities and states? Does opposing the Iraq war mean that you have to endorse an anything-goes approach to bioethics? Does supporting free trade require supporting the death penalty?
These questions, and many others like them, are the kind that a healthy political system would allow voters and politicians to explore.
But for now, at least, you’re more likely to find them being raised in Benedict XVI’s Vatican than in Barack Obama’s Washington.
*Being a pro-lifer on college campuses is avante-garde. Micah Mattix makes a compelling argument. Thanks to Mark for the last two items.
Pope Says Witness On-Campus
Pope Benedict XVI met with 1,000 university students and had some great things to say:Benedict XVI is urging students to be witnesses of faith in their universities, acknowledging that their Christian presence is becoming more demanding, but also more "fascinating."
The meeting focused on the theme "New Disciples of Emmaus: In University as Christians."A good way to fulfill this call is Ask A Catholic A Question...
The Pontiff encouraged the young people to meet the risen Lord like the disciples at Emmaus, "in an authentic ecclesial experience, and especially in the celebration of the Eucharist."
He explained that their "missionary efforts in the university environment" consist in "bearing witness to your own personal encounter with Jesus Christ, the Truth who illuminates the path of all mankind."
"Only in this way can we become the ferment and leaven of a society enlivened by evangelical love," he added.
The Holy Father affirmed that pastoral activity in universities "must be expressed in all its theological and spiritual implications, helping the young to ensure that communion with Christ leads them to perceive the more profound mystery of man and of history."
Monday, July 13, 2009
Ask A Catholic A Question Manual
Because of the number of requests for information about our program, Ask A Catholic A Question, we received from other campus ministries, parishes, organizations, and individuals; we have written a manual - Ask A Catholic A Question Handbook: Evangelization On-Campus. It comes in both a downloadable format as well as a website. Vatican Changes YouTube Video
How To Videos - Catholic Style
How To Go To Confession.
How To Pray The Rosary
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Obama And PBXVI Video
Video #1 - "Their brief and cordial conversation touched the defense and promotion of life and the right to conscientious objection."
Video #2 - "The primary focus of the discussions were issues that constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the real progress of peoples, such as the defence and promotion of life and the right to conscientious objection."
Interesting title to this video. If you look on the Vatican's YouTube channel, the majority of the videos which feature visits of foreign leaders are titled with the obvious. E.g. "Benedict XVI Meets the Australian Prime Minister", "Benedict XVI Receives the President of the Republic of Korea", "Benedict XVI Receives Japanese Prime Minister", etc.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
NFP Awareness Week
NFP Awareness Week starts Sunday, July 19 and goes until Saturday, July 25 - the anniversary of Humanae Vitae.A word to the preacher:As you prepare to preach on the Word of God this week, especially in light of the context of the Church’s celebration of “Natural Family Planning Awareness Week,” allow yourself to be led by the Spirit of the Lord. This week provides an opportunity to deepen your own understanding of the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and the wonder of marital love. It is a perfect occasion to explain to your people the riches of God’s design for life and love in marriage.Today among the People of God, there is confusion, ignorance and misinformation about Church teachings on human sexuality, chastity, marriage, conjugal love, responsible parenthood, and the moral regulation of births. Tragically, many of our people no long remember that God entrusted men and women with the gift of procreation, that “children are the supreme gift of marriage” (GS, #50). Try to help your people by presenting the truth with love and wisdom in order to lead them to greater peace, understanding and freedom in the Lord.National NFP Awareness Week offers a great time to commit to learn more about NFP. Please consider placing appropriate NFP materials in the church vestibule. Place the one page summary of Married Love and the Gift of Life in your parish bulletin (available at: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/ nfp/cathteach.shtml). Your diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life should be able to help you obtain NFP resources. The USCCB’s NFP Program has free information that can be downloaded at: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/index.shtml. Hard copies of some brochures, such as “NFP Myths and Reality,” can be purchased from the Respect Life Catalogue of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/materials/index.shtml.Finally, I would like to invite all of us to sincerely pray and learn more about the Church’s teaching about the moral regulation of births in marriage. Prayer opens our hearts to God’s will. What appears to be foolishness in the eyes of the world is really a path to a deeper relationship of love within the Sacrament of Marriage. Let us help our married brothers and sisters embrace God’s gifts of life and love!
Pope + President = ?
Despite the fact that the Vatican did not release an official statement about the nature of the meeting, the “unannounced” gift to Obama of the 2008 document "Dignitas Personae" on bioethics and the right to life, could be a signal of the nature of at least part of their conversation.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi said “moral values in international politics, immigration and the Catholic Church’s contribution in developing countries” were key topics of discussion between the pope and the president.*Finally the word from the Vatican statement on what they talked about:
In addition, Fr. Lombardi said the they discussed inter-religious dialogue and Middle East peace, with both reaffirming the need for a two state solution. He said the US president “reiterated his commitment to reducing the incidence of abortion”.
President Obama’s parting words to Pope Benedict Friday were that he looked forward to future strong relations between the United States and the Holy See, Pope Benedict told the President: “I thank you for all your work! I’ll pray for you!”
In the course of their cordial exchanges the conversation turned first of all to questions which are in the interests of all and which constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the true progress of peoples, such as the defence and promotion of life and the right to abide by one’s conscience.
Reference was also made to immigration with particular attention to the matter of reuniting families.
The meeting focused as well upon matters of international politics, especially in light of the outcome of the G8 Summit. The conversation also dealt with the peace process in the Middle East, on which there was general agreement, and with other regional situations. Certain current issues were then considered, such as dialogue between cultures and religions, the global economic crisis and its ethical implications, food security, development aid especially for Africa and Latin America, and the problem of drug trafficking. Finally, the importance of educating young people everywhere in the value of tolerance was highlighted.
Healthcare and Abortion
June 25, 2009
Dear Honorable Pelosi:
As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions, either directly or indirectly is unacceptable.
We believe in a culture that supports and respects the right to life and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of families. Therefore, we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan. We believe that a government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan, should not be used to fund abortion.
Furthermore, we want to ensure that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee cannot recommend abortion services be included under covered benefits or as part of a benefits package. Without an explicit exclusion, abortion could be included in a government subsidized health care plan under general health care. The health care reform package produced by Congress will be landmark, and with legislation as important as this, abortion must be addressed clearly in the bill text.
Furthermore, funding restrictions save lives by reducing the number of abortions. The Guttmacher Policy Review, a leading pro-choice research organization noted "that about one third of women who would have had an abortion if support were available carried their pregnancies to term when the abortion fund was unavailable."
Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. By ensuring that abortions are not funded through any health care reform package, we will take this controversial issue off the table so that Congress can focus on crafting a broadly-supported health care reform bill.
Respectfully yours,
Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK); Bart Stupak (D-MI); Colin Peterson (D-MN); Tim Holden (D-PA); Travis Childers (D-MS); Lincoln Davis (D-TN); Heath Shuler (D-NC) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mike McIntyre (D-NC); Jerry Costello (D-IL); Gene Taylor (D-MS); James Oberstar (D-MN); Bobby Bright (D-AL); Steve Driehaus (D-OH); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Charlie Melancon (D-LA); John Murtha (D-PA); Paul Kanjorski (D-PA); and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA).
Sacrifice
The Search For Common Ground
The Pope is meeting with President Obama today. The news outlets will widely sell the story as two great men meeting to have a merry time agreeing with one another on most things, then having a slight disagreement on how to handle abortion. This isn't the case. If there is any honesty in both of them, and I believe there is, then they cannot ignore the chasm that lies between them.- stewardship of the environment
- helping the poor
- wider access to medical care
- the rights of the worker
- need to have stronger families
- arms control
- etc.
- abortion
- euthanasia
- birth control
- rights of medical workers
- fetal stem cell research
- cloning
- Middle East peace process
- etc.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Coffee Churches
The World Doesn't "Get" Catholics

Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn’t really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Fathers Not Needed To Make Babies
Warning

- Jimmy Akin shares some of my warnings and has some of his own about what to look for.
- George Weigel does his regular bang-up job of quick analysis. UPDATE - on second thought this isn't a very good analysis by Weigel. I didn't read the second page of the article and there is too much conjecture.
- The Acton Institute also has some good commentary.
- Fr. Fessio also has some good thoughts.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Bible Manuscript Online
Codex Sinaiticus
Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most important books in the world. Handwritten well over 1600 years ago, the manuscript contains the Christian Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. Its heavily corrected text is of outstanding importance for the history of the Bible and the manuscript – the oldest substantial book to survive Antiquity – is of supreme importance for the history of the book. [Find out more about Codex Sinaiticus.]
The Codex Sinaiticus Project
The Codex Sinaiticus Project is an international collaboration to reunite the entire manuscript in digital form and make it accessible to a global audience for the first time. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars, conservators and curators, the Project gives everyone the opportunity to connect directly with this famous manuscript. [Find out more about the Codex Sinaiticus Project.]
Big News
ENCYCLICAL LETTERCARITAS IN VERITATEOF THE SUPREME PONTIFFBENEDICT XVITO THE BISHOPSPRIESTS AND DEACONSMEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUSTHE LAY FAITHFULAND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILLON INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENTIN CHARITY AND TRUTH
Monday, July 06, 2009
How NOT to Evangelize...

I found a new entry for our top ten ways NOT to evangelize.
Monday News
Tip O' the hat to CMR.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Happy 4th
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”



