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Showing posts from August, 2011

Myth Buster: Constantine Founded the Catholic Church? I think not!

Emperor Constine The Journey: Almost Not Catholic: Myth Buster: Constantine Founded the Catholic Church

Abuse victim ‘hurt’ by confession stance

Has anyone out there ever been in a 'confessional box' where a priest could fondle a child as is alleged by this woman? Confessionals have a solid wall with a screen window through which the priest and penitent converse! It reminds me of an expression my Grandmother used to say when we used to bring our girl friends to our family cottage: "The best form of birth control between a man and woman is a solid wall between them." If my brothers and I were unable to touch our girl friends through a bedroom wall, how can a priest physically molest a penitent if they are separated by a wall? Remember, the 'confessional box' was designed specifically to provide a barrier to prevent just offenses!! UTV News - Abuse victim ‘hurt’ by confession stance

Young Guns | VirtuousPla.net

Here is an interesting article focusing upon the emergence of new Catholic 'apologists' who have taken to the new media to promote, proclaim and defend the teachings of the Church. I particularly appreciate the qualities that these new bloggers are bringing forth: courtesy, charity and a facility at using social media to achieve their ends. They give me hope for the future of the faith! Young Guns | VirtuousPla.net

Quebec doctor probes possible autism, in-vitro fertilization link

Back in my seminary days, our moral theology professor always repeated one single phrase that explained why it is that the Church seems to be so reticent to embrace these new technologies. "Mother Nature always bats last." With this catch phrase he was teaching us that there are often unintended consequences to new reproductive technologies that we did not expect... consequences that would have to be born by the child conceived through these means. If this study proves that there is a connection between IVF and autism, it will be just another piece of evidence that the Church is indeed wise in its cautious approach to granting its imprimatur to new innovations, especially when it will be the innocent who will have to bear the costs.  Quebec doctor probes possible autism, in-vitro fertilization link

A request for prayers for a departed priest

High Altar at St. Alphonus Parish where Fr. Alfie was pastor for many years Fr. Alfie T. Harrington , who was my pastor when I was the assistant priest in St.  Alphonsus Parish in Chapeau, Qc. has died this morning. I was also privileged to follow him as pastor of that same parish. Fr. Alf was a priest of the 'old mode'... but he was an excellent priest as well. I would ask you please to pray for the repose of his soul. I believe he will be well received by God, but we could all use the spiritual assistance for none of us die as saints. Please remember him in your prayers.   Fr. Tim

A priest’s nightmare | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

This priest was a fool. He should have immediately gone to the Police to report the extortion. He would have had nothing to fear. It was stupid of him to acquiesce to this extortion... no matter what his fears about his 'reputation' being ruined.   A priest’s nightmare | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Youtube video produced at the outfitter's camp where I fish each year: Dumoine Lake Cottages. BEST WALLEYE fishing in Quebec!!!

Gone for a few days. Back on the 26th!!

Folks, I'll be absent from the blog for the next six days as I head off for my annual retreat. This year I am heading deep into the woods of Northwestern Quebec once again to spend five days alone in a cabin where none of the usual distractions of the outside world can interfere with the spiritual conversations that take place during such a poustinia.*   With my Kindle loaded with spiritual material to read and refer to, and together with my trusty canine sidekick, Mateo, I'll journey about 300 km (most of it on logging roads) to reach my poustinia cabin. The last five miles will be by boat, courtesy of the cabin's owner who will return on Friday morning to bring me back as the retreat comes to a close. I'll spend five days and nights on an uninhabited lake in prayer, study and rest. Five days when the only person who will be able to reach me is God.  It will be heaven.  I ask your prayers during the week ahead. That I will listen well and heed the wisdom that Go

Pope urges pilgrims in Spain to spread faith - World - CBC News

Another successful World Youth Day with in excess of 1 million young people gathered to listen to and celebrate with the Pope. It must be clear for anyone with eyes to see that this speaks not to the charisma of the pontiff (as may have been the case with Pope JPII), but because they want to grow in their knowledge and practice of the RC faith. Things may be bleak in specific cities, regions or even countries, but viewed from a larger perspective, the faith is indeed alive and growing! A wonderful thought to keep in mind! Pope urges pilgrims in Spain to spread faith - World - CBC News

WAY TOO CUTE!!! Kitten vs Dog

An essential point in how to remember when dealing with the 'enemies' of the Church

In a current article on the Holy Post I responded to a comment in which someone wrote about the appropriateness of 'hating' the RC Church. I thought I'd share my response here as it is a subject I'd enjoy discussing further. ------------------------- Prime: I believe that you have hit upon an essential issue, if inadvertently. In your post, you use the language of 'hate' as in it is OK to hate the RC Church. Catholics do not use that lexicography. Christ taught us not to hate but to love our enemies. You see, we do not disagree with those who see the Church as the 'enemy' for she herself views the forces ranged against her in similar fashion. It may not be politic today to use the language of being 'soldiers for Christ' - but surely training an army to fight for Christ means that there is an enemy to confront. But the Church calls us to respond by loving our enemies (in the filial sense of the word) so as to perhaps revivify the in

Ron Paul casts himself as the American messiah in this slick ad. I admire it's professionalism but I find it a bit unsettling. 20th century messiahs were not a positive force. Why would 21st be different?

I now pronounce you, Bert, and you, Ernie – nope, not going to happen - The Globe and Mail

I now pronounce you, Bert, and you, Ernie – nope, not going to happen - The Globe and Mail

Antimatter belt surrounds Earth - Technology & Science - CBC News

Whoo Hoo! Anti-matter! "Fire up the engines Scotty. Let's take the Enterprise out for a spin!" Antimatter belt surrounds Earth - Technology & Science - CBC News

Violence, Riots and Anarchy Continue in London, Archbishop Nichols Calls Catholics to Prayer - International - Catholic Online

"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end." (Mt 24:6) Violence, Riots and Anarchy Continue in London, Archbishop Nichols Calls Catholics to Prayer - International - Catholic Online

TSX, Dow losses deepen - Business - CBC News

It is important to ensure that we be open to the needs of our neighbors, friends and family members during these stressful financial times. Advice is often worth the price it costs and is usually in great supply. Prudence and wisdom are virtues that are perennially in short supply. All believers need to pray for those in financial trouble, especially the unemployed with families who are approving (or have reached) the end of their Employment Insurance benefits. I have witnessed the human cost of these times in the lives of local families, those with jobs tend to have at least one parent living and working in another part of the country. Stock Market falls like we witnessed today wipe billions (if not trillions) of dollars from the economy as the valuation of companies experienced a free-fall, dropping over 630 points by the end of trading. Things will not likely improve dramatically before the American's get their fiscal policies in order, something that is unlikely to happen gi

Why companies won't hire - CNN.com

An excellent analysis of the current economic challenges that confront the Americans, and by extension we here in Canada from David Frum. He demonstrates a clear understanding of the forces that affects corporate executives as they chart a path of financial survival if not success. Corporate profits are running stronger than they have been in years. The penultimate example being the recent report which stated that Apple Corp. held more cash resources than does the US government... resource and oil companies are running almost as well. Recessions are also times when weaker firms either fail or become sufficiently enfeebled that they are purchased by larger holding companies (such as the one that Mitt Romney ran) which usually break up the company and sell off its assets, making a quick profit for their shareholders but extinguishing the employment for entire communities.  This has been our experience here in Mattawa. Smaller, weaker mills were purchased by larger corporate competit

We can only watch: A reflection from David Warren on how Ramadan has been corrupted by Islamic zealots

We can only watch

Do we have a 'right' to die?

Do we have a 'right' to die? This is the fundamental question that the courts in Canada are being asked to answer in the case of Gloria Taylor, a woman in British Columbia who has contracted ALS and who is petitioning Canadian courts to allow a third party to assist her to suicide at a time of her choosing. Matt Gurney has advocated in these pages of the Holy Post Blog that Ms. Taylor be granted her request. In his opinion, her 'right' to a death with dignity should not be impeded by what he calls a 'well intended' law which infringes upon her right to determine the method and timing of her death. His passionate advocacy is fired by his description of the horrific prognosis that she as her disease progresses: progressive degeneration of her muscle functions leading to the loss of her motor functioning, trapping a cogent mind inside an increasingly useless body. It is a sentence that no one would want to face. But does such a fate mean that

Losing track | Sylvia's Site

Sylvia's Site is the preeminent Canadian site dedicated to the sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church. She is a faithful and 'faith-filled' woman who loves her Church but detests the manner in which priests have behaved and Bishops have obfuscated the cause of justice for victims who've suffer at the hands of predators. In this recent offering on her blog she shares some correspondence that a friend of the blog sent to the Irish Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Dublin, congratulating both for their courageous voices raised in defense of Irish children. The context Sylvia offers truly helps to crystallize the issue seen through the eyes of the victim. She is to be commended for her excellent blog! Losing track | Sylvia's Site

FLASH! Fr. Z agrees with the Huffington Post. Imminent fall of sky to follow. | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Probably the best summation of the Church's apparent inability to embrace the opportunities that this digital media that I've read to date. FLASH! Fr. Z agrees with the Huffington Post. Imminent fall of sky to follow. | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Preserving Our Faith: +Dolan (NY) answers the cries for 'reform' from within and outside of the Church

Archbishop Tim Dolan (NY) posted this excellent article on his blog addressing the current spate of cries calling for radical 'reforms' or 'harmonization' of Church teaching to current mores.  Gotta love these JPII & B16 appointments to the episcopate. Some have failed to make the grade but many have excelled at 'preaching, governing and sanctifying' the Church and effectively engaging with modern culture at the same time. +Dolan, +Chaput in the US, +Smith, +Prendergast, +Henry and +Collins in Canada are a few who rank  among the best of them! What ever they offer is well worth reading for any serious Catholic. Preserving Our Faith « The Gospel in the Digital Age

"Non Prævalebunt." How and Why Benedict XVI Is Standing Up to the Attacks

Pope Benedict suffers slings and arrows from without and within... yet he continues apace... THANK GOD!

I absolutely love this joke! After all, if we can't laugh at ourselves, we are taking life way too seriously!

This is an old joke by Emo Philips, once ranked as the funniest religious joke of all time : Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.&