Cardinal Newman set for beatification

Courtesy of CWN:

The Vatican has verified a miracle-- the sudden healing of a Massachusetts deacon-- through the intercession of Cardinal John Henry Newman, clearing the way for the beatification of the great 19th-century English convert and apologist. That ceremony will probably be scheduled for later this year.

The formal announcement of Cardinal Newman's impending beatification-- which had been expected for weeks-- came on July 3, as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints released a series of decrees regarding candidates for beatification.

The announcements-- released by Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI-- included the following in addition to Cardinal Newman:

The Congregation approved the authenticity of miracles in three other cases:

1. Blessed Candida Maria (born Juana Josefa) de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (1845-1912), a Spanish nun, who will now be eligible for canonization;
2. Angelo (born Francesco) Paoli (1642-1720), an Italian Carmelite priest, who can now be beatified; and
3. Alfonsina Danil (born Soultaneh Maria) Ghattas (1843-1927), a founder of the the Congregation, who can also be scheduled for beatification.

The Congregation affirmed the martyrdom of the following, who are also eligible for beatification:

1. Jose Samso i Elias (1887-1936), a Spanish priest who died during that country's civil war;
2. Teofilo (born Beniamino) Fernandez de Legaria Goni and four companions, Spanish priests of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who also died during the civil war in 1936;
3. Georg Hafner (1900- 1942), a German priest who died at Dachau; and
4. Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi (1892-1951), a Hungarian bishop and victim of Communist persecution.

Finally the Congregation proclaimed the "heroic virtue" of the following, who will become eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession:

1. Engelmar (born Uberto) Unzeitig (1911- 1945), a German Marianhill priest;
2. Anna Maria Janer Anglarill (1800- 1885), a Spanish religious;
3. 
   
4. Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu (born Clotilde) Micheli (1849- 1911), an Italian religious; and
5. Teresa Manganieloo (1849- 1876), an Italian laywoman.

Facebook Fun

A recent thread on facebook where I dared to write: "I'm Catholic. Ask me a question."

Adam: I'm Catholic, ask me a question.

Deacon Anthony: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Oh, did you mean a Catholic question? :-)
Jillian: I am debating whether or not to start a polemical discussion in the debate forum of CO (even though I haven't posted in a while)
Theresa: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Daniel: Where does the red fern grow?
Molly: Do the chickens have large talons?
Theresa: you asked for this, you know.

Adam Responds:
Deacon: 2 quarts
Jillian: Go for it! Bring it back to life.
Theresa: 300 MPH less than that of a laden swallow
Daniel: Under the purple cactus of course
Molly: Yes, yes they do.... Read More
Theresa: That's what she said.
Jillian: alright... be prepared to pull out your Conciliar texts and Papal definitions

Teresa: Will I ever find true love?.....

Adam responds:

Teresa: You have in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In your husband, and in your children.

Teresa: Will my husband ever let me look smarter than him?

Adam responds:
Teresa: Trick question.

Teresa: Are the gold streets in Heaven really gold?
Claire: Did Our Lady have armpit hair?
Tracy: I have a question that may come up this weekend. Is it ok to pray for animals...their health while having surgery? Sorry had to get all serious on you!
Brian: Could God make a rock heavier than Himself?

Adam responds:
Teresa: There is a certain symbolism at play here, it is probably not taken best literalistically.

Tracy: Yes, it is okay to pray for animals. Often our pets become dear companions and while they do not have immortal souls, we do not want them to suffer.

Father Brian: Assuming the earth is a rock, and that Jesus, the Word Incarnate weighs less than the earth, a rock, I would say yes, God has created a rock heavier than himself.

Claire: It is well known that armpit hair is a result of the fall and original sin. Since our lady was immaculately conceived, it is a sure truth that she did not have such hair. *tongue in cheek*

Teresa: If God is all good, then why does He allow good people to suffer?

Brian: Adam: clever..

Adam responds:
Teresa: Simply because he loves you, and through your own suffering you participate in his redemption. Col. 1:24

New Encyclical - Benedict XVI's Third

Courtesy Catholic World News and Ignatius Press

The Vatican has announced a publication date for Caritatis in Veritate, the long-awaited social encylical by Pope Benedict XVI. The document will be released on Tuesday, July 7. Cardinal Renato Martino, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will be the leading figure at a Vatican press conference introducting the encyclical.

Anyone else see the theme emerging in the Holy Father's encyclicals - Love, Hope, & Truth. Ignatius Press will release their premium text on August 1.

Pope Benedict’s third encyclical, Love in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), applies the themes of his first two encyclicals —love and hope (God Is Love, Saved in Hope) — to the world’s major social issues. Drawing on moral truths open, in principle, to everyone (the natural law) as well as on the teachings of the gospel (revelation), Pope Benedict addresses Catholics and non-Catholics alike, challenging us all to recognize and then to confront the social evils of our day.

The first part of the encyclical examines the dynamic teaching of Benedict’s predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Both men contributed greatly to the body of doctrine known as “Catholic social teaching”. Both men challenged the simplistic division of political perspectives into “conservative” and “liberal”, and “right” and “left”. Both men were convinced that the natural moral law and the teaching of the Gospel were indispensable for a world in desperate search of hope and meaning.[In Catholic theology there is no such thing as liberal and conservative. There is right and wrong. Orthodoxy and Heresy. However you label yourself, when you set yourself up against Jesus and his Church, you will fail.]

In the second part Benedict surveys the social issues that confront the human race today—assaults on the dignity of the human person such as the attack on human life, poverty, issues of war and peace, terrorism, globalization, and environmental concerns. Benedict provides sound moral principles to address these social and economic problems, and to promote a culture of life and genuine peace. [It is interesting that he is going to speak about globalization and the environment. I look forward to read what he has to say.

In this outstanding work, Pope Benedict shows us why so many observers regard him as the world’s leading moral voice, as well as one of the most insightful and profound social/political thinkers of our day.

Obama champions Gay Rights

Courtesy of Catholic World News

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that marked the birth of the gay rights movement, President Barack Obama hosted an LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) Pride Month Reception at the White House and told his guests-- including Episcopal Church Bishop Eugene Robinson-- that “there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.” [There is a complete failure of logic here. Our arguments are old, as old as creation. Our arguments are worn, because they work, and they are true. We don't need new arguments. Christians and other religious and secular groups seek not to strip any American of legitimate rights which are rightfully theirs as US citizens. We do seek though to protect the natural order of society and are accutely aware of the threats the LGBT movement presents to a healthy society and a civilization of love.]

After reiterating his opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act [Because Mr. Obama does not represent healthy values, but represents a system of thought that will eventually lead to anarchy and chaos as any well educated philosopher can tell you], the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy [We already have seen what kind of harm is possible by allowing gay men to openly serve in the military], and ‘the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status,” the president paid tribute to the birth of the gay rights movement:

Now, 40 years ago, in the heart of New York City at a place called the Stonewall Inn, a group of citizens, including a few who are here today, as I said, defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement.

It was the middle of the night. The police stormed the bar, which was known for being one of the few spots where it was safe to be gay in New York. Now, raids like this were entirely ordinary. Because it was considered obscene and illegal to be gay, [It was considered obscene to have unnatural relationships that are not ordered to a procreative godly society] no establishments for gays and lesbians could get licenses to operate [How many hurt and broken people who engage in sinful behavior will it take and how many children will we corrupt before we realize there was good reason for it?] . The nature of these businesses, combined with the vulnerability [Violence against people who engage in the sin of homosexuality is never justified] of the gay community itself, meant places like Stonewall, and the patrons inside, were often the victims of corruption and blackmail.

It was at this defining moment that these folks who had been marginalized rose up to challenge not just how the world saw them, but also how they saw themselves. [People who practice sexual intercourse outside of marriage are not marginalized and have never been. Their behavior is simply no more condoned than premarital sex is.]

As we've seen so many times in history, once that spirit takes hold there is little that can stand in its way. [It's insulting and degrading to equate what people do to each other sexually with authentic civil rights movements. If I were black or a woman I would be profoundly insulted right now] (Applause.) And the riots at Stonewall gave way to protests, and protests gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a transformation that continues to this day. [A movement that is unhealthy] It continues when a partner fights for her right to sit at the hospital bedside of a woman she loves. It continues when a teenager is called a name for being different and says, "So what if I am?" It continues in your work and in your activism, in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest. [The lack of pastoral compassion and true caritaus does not logically mean that there is any reason to actually tolerate sinful behavior.]

In one year after the protests, a few hundred gays and lesbians and their supporters gathered at the Stonewall Inn to lead a historic march for equality. But when they reached Central Park, the few hundred that began the march had swelled to 5,000. Something had changed, and it would never change back. [Mr. Obama, does that mean that pro-lifers are right because hundreds of thousands March on Washington every January?]

The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you-- or, for that matter, I-- (laughter)-- would be standing here today. (Applause.) So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country. [Changes that left uncheck will ultimately destroy the country as we know it. Islam is right around the corner to take over our broken European and American societies.] That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress -- step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. [And we will be right there fighting for truth]. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a President who fights with you and for you. [This sir, is one more reason why you are not fit to be president.]

Thanks very much, everybody. God bless you. [Please do not take the name of my Lord in vain. I am highly offended.]

Layman's Laughs #70 - That was pleasing?

A Sunday school teacher was examining her pupils after a series of
lessons on God's omnipotence. She asked, 'Is there anything God can't
do?'

There was silence. Finally, one lad held up his hand. The teacher,
disappointed that the lesson's point had been missed, asked
resignedly, "Well, just what is it that God can't do?"

"Well, He can't please everybody!"

Prayers for Church Families

In most peoples budgets the tithe if the first thing to go, if it exists at all, in an economic downturn. I know more people in ministry than I can count who have lost their jobs, or have not been paid in months and their families are on the verge of homelessness and their children are going without healthy food. I know parishes who have stopped paying their mortgages and/or their utility bills to try desperately to pay their employees. One good friend of mine, an elementary school teacher, has not been paid in 3 months and yet he has still been working without pay.

Most lay catholic employees of the church that I know are willing to suffer the lose of a paycheck or other financial limitations in solidarity with those in their parishes who go without and are suffering themselves. However it is heart wrenching to see these mostly young families with terrible school debt who have already given up a life of material things see what little they receive for their thankless jobs serving the Lord taken away from them. Please pray for a generous spirit among those who are still financially blessed who do not give to their churches like they should. Please pray for the families who work for the church who are going without food because these churches have no money to pay their employees. The summer months and the poor economy are hitting parishes really hard.

In our own suffering we look to the cross of Christ, who died to redeem the world, and in our suffering we see hope and we know that our suffering is not in vain, but draws us closer to the Lord.