No more plywood sheets hiding the Cross - great news!

Wow! Read this article for some encouraging news!

If you’re like many Christians, you’ve become frustrated as more and more of our religious liberty has been eroded by people who take offense at such scurrilous activities as prayer in schools… or a creche in the town square… or the words “one nation under God”… or Catholic hospitals that don’t perform abortions. But take heart, because the Supreme Court has refused to order the removal of a cross that the Veterans of Foreign Wars placed in the Mojave Desert in 1934 to honor the dead from the first World War.


Evidently Frank Buono, a retired National Park Service employee, brought suit on the grounds that the cross represented a religious symbol. Mr. Buono took exception to the existence of a single 7-foot cross in a remote portion of the 1.6 million acre Mojave Desert; it was his position that the cross should not be allowed on public land. The location was so remote, in fact, that one of the justices quipped that it was likely that the cross had been seen by more rattlesnakes than human beings.


At any rate, a lower court agreed with Mr. Buono, and the cross has been covered with plywood for the past several years as the case traveled up the judicial ladder to the Supreme Court. At some point along the way, Congress developed a plan to transfer ownership of the tiny fraction of desert underneath the cross to private ownership. Federal courts rejected this idea; saying that this land transfer is “insufficient to eliminate constitutional concern about a religious symbol on public land”.


The Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s decision by a 5-4 vote. Justice Stevens, one of those who dissented, said that the memorial in the Mojave is a “dramatically inadequate and inappropriate tribute.: He went on to say that although fallen soldiers do, indeed, deserve a memorial, the government can’t continue to endorse a “starkly sectarian message” (i.e. a cross) in order to do so.

On the other hand Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: “Here one Latin cross in the desert evokes far more than religion. It evokes thousands of small crosses in foreign fields marking the graves of Americans who fell in battles, battles whose tragedies are compounded if the fallen are forgotten.” The cemetery in Normandy (pictured here) immediately comes to mind.


Justice Kennedy then wrote something that is music to my ears: “The Constitution does not oblige government to avoid any public acknowledgement of religion’s role in society.” And I think he hit on something important here. There’s a vast difference between promoting religion and recognizing its existence and its importance in the fabric of most of our lives.

I would not want to see government promotion of a specific religion, but it would be every bit as wrong for our government to maintain an anti-religious stance. And frankly, I'm glad that someone took the time to memorialize the men who lost their lives in service of our country. And if people of other faiths (or no faith at all) want to do so, there are nearly 1.6 million square miles of Mojave Desert land still remaining.

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Don't forget to visit 7 Quick Takes this week!

Forgiveness: the secret to freedom

Forgiveness can be a struggle at times. All of us have experienced the pain of unkindness or betrayal, and I suspect all of us have, at times, found ourselves dealing with resentment... either our own, or the resentment held by someone we ourselves have harmed. When holding a grudge, it's easy to justify it by saying the other person deserves it - but do we deserve to feel that way? As someone once said, You may have every right to feel the way you do, but do you want to?

The point I'm trying to make is this: holding on to the hurt never bothers the person who committed the offense as it does the victim who was harmed. Hurt feelings and resentment act as a spiritual poison.

One example is the life of Karla Faye Tucker. She had a troubled childhood, and she responded by harboring anger and resentment. Her life was characterized by self-destructiveness, and later she lashed out at the world around her. She participated in the violent murder of two people from whom she and her accomplice were attempting to steal a motorcycle.

While in jail and awaiting trial, Tucker stole again. This time she stole a Bible, not realizing that it was placed there with the hope that someone would find comfort there. She became a Christian and by all accounts a changed woman. Even the warden of Huntsville Prison testified before the board that was empowered to reconsider her death sentence that she was a model prisoner and had evidently been reformed.

While in prison, Tucker ultimately forgave those who wronged her and received the forgiveness of Ron Carlson, the brother of one of her victims. Carlson had himself been converted by Tucker's faith after visiting her on death row. Here is what she had to say about forgiveness:

When I was forgiven and experienced forgiveness, it freed me inside to soar. I went higher and deeper with the Lord. When we hold unforgiveness we block communication and intimacy. Forgiveness is not based on how we feel, because if it were we would never forgive. Forgiveness is based on a command by God - "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

- Karla Faye Tucker

Executed February 3, 1998

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Please help!

Did you know that insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure? As a nurse with more than 35 years of experience, and as someone who knows and loves several breast cancer survivors, I am convinced this is both unsafe and inhumane.

Please join me in signing this online petition voicing your support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy.

And please tweet this post to your friends and followers and email it to your friends, asking them to support it as well.

Thank you, and God bless you!

Newly conscious of the importance of being conscious

Recently I’ve been reading a discussion of the virtue of discretion, and I was interested to see the author equate this virtue with discernment. At first this didn’t make much sense to me, but over time, I’m beginning to see how the two traits are related.

According to dictionary.com, here is how the two concepts are defined:

Discretion: the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice; and ,the quality of being discreet, esp. with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum:

Discernment: the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding; and, the act or an instance of discerning.

I’m beginning to understand that the two concepts both suggest making a conscious decision about one’s words and actions. And as a consequence, I’ve been trying (sometimes without much success) to become increasingly conscious of what I say and do… and why. I’ve especially tried to begin to be more conscious about my words, and especially what I choose to say about other people.

In fact, I’m beginning to think that “discretion” and “discernment” require “consciousness” in order to exist. Without paying attention – being conscious – listening both to my thoughts and words as well as listening for the Holy Spirit’s promptings – I cannot be discrete or discerning.

Until I began to think along these lines, I was pleased to notice improvement in the things that come out of my mouth. But as I consider them in light of my ruminations about discretion and discernment, I realize there’s no room for complacency.

Take, for example, what I say about other people in the course of conversation. Over the years, I’ve made considerable progress in this area, in that I try to be careful to avoid repeating things that might be untrue. I also try to avoid exaggerating. But although I try to be accurate, there are still times when I fail to use discretion in the things I say. At times, I say things which, although true, fail to meet the three-pronged test that was recommended to me as a guideline:

Is it honest?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

If the answer to any of these three questions is “No”, then it may be time to begin to exercise discretion and to avoid saying it at all.

Since I began thinking about discretion and discernment. I find myself pausing more, listening more, and more frequently stopping short of speaking unnecessarily. I find myself listening for guidance more often.

All very, very good things.

A unique friendship between an elephant and a dog

Call me foolish if you want, but this video made me misty.

Revenge and Resentment - They're Like Garlic and Onions

A man determined to take revenge will change his mind in confession, but soon afterwards he will join his friends and enjoy speaking about his quarrel. He will say that but for the fear of God, he would have done this or that; that the divine law with regard to forgiveness is hard; that, God willing, taking revenge should be allowed.

Yes, it is quite clear that, though this man has given up sin, he is greatly burdened with attachment to sin. He is in fact out of Egypt, but in desire he is still there, longing for the garlic and onions which he enjoyed eating there.

He is like the woman who has put a stop to her love affairs, but still takes delight in being courted and surrounded by admirers. Alas! Such persons are certainly in great danger.

From Introduction to the Devout Life

Giving new meaning to "giving of oneself": Bishop-Elect Mark Seitz

Bishop-Elect Mark Seitz is one of the priests that the mainstream media won’t bother printing much about, I’m afraid. Preoccupied with scandal and sensationalism, you won’t find much there about the many selfless, godly priests who are to be found in our Church. And Father Seitz, who is to be ordained auxiliary bishop of Dallas on April 27, 2010, is certainly one of those.

According to this Catholic Herald news article, when Father Seitz became pastor of St. Rita Parish in Dallas, he met a parishioner named Carrie Gehling. Kidney damage caused by juvenile diabetes had led to kidney failure, and Ms. Gehling had been on dialysis for a dozen years. Still, her health was declining.

As he visited her, Father Seitz saw a need. “Sacraments brought her great comfort,” he said. “You wish you could do something else.”

And so he did, little realizing at the time where his efforts would take him. To quote him, “Priesthood is an adventure. When you put yourself at God’s service, you better fasten your seatbelt,” he said.

First he tried to arrange for her to go on a pilgrimage to France, but she was unable to do so. Father Seitz didn’t stop there, either. He arranged for her to be flown to Our Lady of San Juan Shrine by a fellow parishioner who is a pilot. He celebrated Mass and anointed her there.

Still, her health continued to fail, and it became apparent she would need a kidney transplant.

A search for potential donors began. The future bishop responded by saying “How could I ask parishioners to donate if I’m not willing to offer?” He was tested – an involved process – and was found to be a suitable donor. His response? Well, as he later said: “…the pastor’s job is basically to lay down his life for his people. This was certainly not giving the ultimate gift, but this is something I could share if I had the opportunity.”


And so on November 10, 2009, he did just that, donating his kidney to Gehling. Since that time, she has not required dialysis and “feels better than she has since she’s in high school”.


As to his future as Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, Father Seitz has this to say: “God will use me and the Holy Spirit will supply what I’m lacking. I hope I can bring my love of parish community life to this work and have a good connection with the people I serve,” he said.


Read this article to learn about another priest whose story was glossed over by the popular press. And for additional information about organ donation, go here.

A bit of fun to start off the week

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to wash my car.

As I start to go outside, I notice that there is mail on the hall table.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can, and notice that the trash can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I'd better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom I was sending it.

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Don't laugh - if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist

According to tradition, Mark is credited with being the author of the Gospel of Mark. A companion of Saint Paul, he was referred to as John Mark in the Acts of the Apostles. A decade or so after Jesus ascended to heaven, Mark traveled to Alexandria and established a church which is now known as the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic Church is the largest Christian denomination in Egypt. Mark is also considered to be the founder of Christianity in Africa.

Mark died in Alexandria in A.D. 68 after a rope was tied around his neck and he was dragged through the streets until dead. He was buried there, but his ‘travels” didn’t end there.  In 828, two Venetian sailors stole his remains to Venice, where a basilica was built to house them. Knowing that Muslims are not allowed to touch pork, the remains were covered with a layer of pork to protect them from being removed from their new location.

When a new basilica was being constructed in 1063, the relics of St. Mark could not be found. In 1094, according to Coptic tradition, St. Mark took matters into his own hands, revealing the location of his remains by extending an arm from a pillar.

But there are still twists to the story.

The Cardinal of Verona, Giovanni Urbani, somehow obtained a small piece of what was purported to be the bones of St. Mark, which he gave to the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. On June 22, 1968, the Coptic Pope, Cyril VI of Alexandria, sent a delegation to Rome, sent a delegation to Rome, where Pope Paul VI returned this relic to the Coptic Orthodox Church; it has been preserved in Cairo, Egypt. His head, however, is kept in Alexandria.

Once when Mark was walking near the Jordan River with his father, they were confronted by a lion and lioness. Mark’s father realized that he and his son would be killed and urged his son to escape. Mark told his father that Christ would not allow them to be killed by the lions, and he prayed, “O, Christ, Son of God, protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness.” The lions immediately fell dead, and his father was ultimately converted to Christianity and baptized by his son. Thus Saint Mark the Evangelist is often pictured with or symbolized by a lion.

The age of miracles isn't over on the field of dreams.

Nick Vujicic: We're all part of God's grand plan!

Did you ever wonder what God's plan is for you? Did you ever think you were damaged good, and perhaps unusable? Well, check this video, and then perk up your ears - I'm sure if you listen, God will reveal wonderful plans he has in store for you!

I've been amazed by this guy before (check this post.

THE U IN JESUS: This is beaUtiful!

Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God stuck U in the name of His Son.

And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

"Go into the world and tell them it's true
That I love them all - Just like I love U."

So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do,
He'd like them to know,
But it all starts with U.

- Author unknown

A chief prays to the King

O Lord, come quickly and reign on Thy throne, for now often something rises up within me and tries to take possession of thy throne; pride, covetousness, uncleanness and sloth want to be my kings; and then evil speaking, anger, hatred, and the whole train of vices join with me in warring against myself, and try to reign over me. I resist them, I cry out against them and say, "I have no other kings than Christ!"

O King of Peace, come and reign in me, for I will have no king but Thee! Amen. 

– Eagle Chief Letakots-Lesa (late 19th century)

Mom and the doctor giveth, then mom and the doctor take away.

I just finished reading the most appalling story I’ve heard in a long time. An abortion doctor in Sarasota, Florida lost his license after performing a procedure in which a woman carrying twins (one of whom was thought to have Downs syndrome) requested a selective abortion to eliminate the child who apparently didn’t meet her standards of healthy normalcy.

In the course of the procedure, which involves injecting deadly chemicals into the heart of the child being “selected” for abortion, the physician killed the wrong child. A week later, after learning that the “reduction” had gone wrong, the woman once again opted to have the child killed.

Two babies conceived via in vitro fertilization.

Two babies dead.

Years of medical training wasted.

A “mother” who will have to bear the burden of deciding to have her children killed.

A physician whose response to finding his license revoked was to voice his desire to commit suicide.

Tragic on every level.

Please visit My Chocolate Heart for a thoughtful analysis of this situation. And visit also The Case of the Errant Embryo for another tale of reproductive technology gone wrong. And please - please -pray for all those involved, especially the babies whose lives were created, then destroyed.

"Amazing Grace" By Wintley Phipps

Wintley Phipps is the founder of the U.S. Dream Academy, an afterschool mentoring program for at-risk youth, especially children of incarcerated parents. Here, he teaches a bit about Negro spirituals, and about another spiritual that has become loved by people of every race:






If you're interested in learning more about U.S. Dream Academy, please visit their website here.

Countdown to the National Day of Prayer

A blogging friend of mine, Kansas Bob, posted a story that shows the continuing slide away from faith which we’re finding in this country. You can find his post here. He posted about a Wisconsin federal court decision that has deemed the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. This decision was reached after the Freedom from Religion Foundation brought suit challenging the President’s authority to proclaim a National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday in May, a practice established in 1988.

Last year I did a bit of research about the National Day of Prayer and posted about it here. You may find the history of this day to be interesting, and the Court which declared it unconstitutional might find it instructive to realize that the notion of a time of prayer and fasting on behalf of our nation actually originated with the Continental Congress… the body which formulated our Constitution.

Like Kansas Bob, I’ve never observed the National Day of Prayer. But this year, I think I’ll try to spend some extra moments in prayer… Our nation was founded in part because people wanted to be free to practice their religion. To clamp down on any activity that is even remotely reminiscent of religious freedom is in opposition to the principles espoused by our founding fathers.

So please don't forget to join us in prayer on May 6, 2010.

Come Worship The Lord!

God and green beans

Like many of you, I was raised in church. Actually, I was raised in a series of churches. Mostly my family was Methodist, but I went to an Episcopalian nursery school and a Mennonite Bible school. During the summer, when we didn’t sing in our church’s choir, my dad often took us to different churches: Presbyterian, Lutheran, Quaker, Baptist, whatever. We married in the Lutheran church. For a while there, I was a “Jesus freak” and attended some Pentecostal churches. Gradually, though, I stopped going to church much at all. And unfed, my faith withered.

So I became an agnostic. And I discovered over a period of years that this left me with a gaping hole in my life. I tried various routes to fill it, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, I decided to reexamine the idea of God.

My approach wasn’t really a conventional one. I was open to the idea that God existed, and I was every bit as open to the idea that he wasn’t. I spent a good deal of time thinking about God, though, and about what he might be like. And in my lame-brained way, I chose a rather peculiar method of deciding the “God issue”: I wrote a job description for God.

In other words, IF he existed, what would he be like? And could I find any evidence to support this? And if so, was he something I wanted to allow in my life?

Quite a few years have passed since I came up with this cock-eyed idea, and I’ve developed JUST enough humility by now to realize that I was an extremely pompous and arrogant bit of fluff for coming up with this approach. But let me tell you how patient God was with me.

You see, once I decided that I’d found enough evidence to believe he existed, I next decided to see if I wanted to include him in my life. I could accept the existence of God, but did he meet my standards? (After all, I was pretty special stuff, right?) I spent days pondering along these lines, often working in our little garden as I did so.

We had adopted a method of vegetable gardening called “square foot gardening”, which seemed to make very efficient use of a relatively small amount of garden space. And one day, as I continued to meditate on “the God problem”, I started picking green beans from our garden.

Remember, this was a very small space, but I soon filled a bucket, which I carried in to the house and placed in one side of our double sink. I went back outside and continued picking green beans. Another bucket was filled and, once again, I dumped it into the double sink. This happened several times, until finally both sides of the sink were full to overflowing. And my bucket was full. And I still had more to pick.

And suddenly the light dawned for me in these rather ineloquent words:

Sue, if you think you’re such hot ****, go ahead and make just ONE bean.


And thus a door was opened in my soul, and God came in.



As I look back, my arrogance astonishes me… and the grace and patience of God amazes me even more. What a wonderful God we have! Not only did he tolerate my highfalutin attitude, but he rushed in to fill the void I’d shut him out of for so long!


I’d like to hear your story. Did you wander far from God at one time? Did you doubt? Were there times when you didn’t believe, or when you were too stubborn to allow God’s grace into your life? And what changed for you? How did you arrive at a different understanding?


Will you share your story?

Advice on prayer from Mother Teresa

If you pray with words, let them be filled with love and come from the deepest of your heart. Pray with great respect and trust. Fold your hands, close your eyes, then lift up your heart to the Lord. Let your prayer be a pure sacrifice to God. Do not pray loud and not too quiet. Pray simply. Let your heart speak. Praise the Lord with all your soul. Words will come like that from the bottom of your heart and you will find joy in prayer. Stop once in a while by a word and think it over, let it sink to the bottom of your heart. Keep them during the rest of the day: they will bring you peace.

– Mother Teresa.

Mathematics through the ages

I always like to start the week with a laugh. Hope you enjoy this one!

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:

Teaching Math In 1950s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?


Teaching Math In 1960s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?


Teaching Math In 1970s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.


Teaching Math In 1990s

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it's OK. )

Teaching Math In 2010

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

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Along the same lines, you may enjoy an earlier post on the topic of math, found here.

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Saint Peter of Alcantara's concept of heaven

Have you ever heard of St. Peter of Alcantara? I hadn't, until I learned of him from Kind Conversations' Words of Wisdom group. But I love this quote attributed to him:

And what can one say of all the other blessings of heaven? There will be health, and no sickness; liberty, and no servitude; beauty, and no unsightliness; immortality, and no decay; abundance, and no want; repose, and no cares; security, and no dread; knowledge and no error; satiety, and no feelings of revulsion; joy and no sorrow; honor and no contention.

- Saint Peter of Alcantara 

What a glorious future we have to look forward to!

Fellow Catholics: we have reason to be proud of our Church

Thanks to Cathy of A Bit of the Blarney, I have some wonderful words to share to counterbalance some of the noxious news that's been running recently about our Church. Please visit Cathy's place - she's always a positive presence in the blogosphere.

Here's what she posted earlier today... excerpts from a Jewish businessman named Sam Miller. And thank you, Mr. Miller, for your kind words.

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Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most importantinstitutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday atthe cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the otherhand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, whichaccount for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way theCatholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophiliaon the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. Forexample, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexualintercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexualcontact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy womenreported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony thatCatholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church.You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all

The Moral In The Music

If you’re from my generation, you remember the Beatles, and probably remember the lyrics, “you know that what you eat you are”. I’ve often thought of those lyrics, though it’s been so long since I heard the actual song that I couldn’t remember the title. I turned to my trusty search engine, and finally found the name of the song and its complete lyrics.

The song was titled Savoy Truffle, and it was released in 1968. There are web sites that devote significant bandwidth to discussing possible meanings of the lyrics. Frankly, after reading them some 40+ years after The White Album was released, I can understand why my parents worried that my love of “all things Beatles” might be cause for concern.

Suffice it to say that the music may be timeless, but the lyrics may need to be reevaluated.

BUT… I still think of those lyrics: You know that what you eat you are. And perhaps I need to think of them more often. Because that phrase is pertinent to our spiritual health.

We nourish our bodies by the food we eat, and our spirits are nourished by what we “feed” them as well. The programs we watch, the books we read, the company we keep… all of this taken together constitutes our spiritual food. And while the lyrics of Savoy Truffle don’t lead me to believe that this is what the Beatles had in mind, it is what I think of when I hear that line.

Over the next few days, I want to pay closer attention to my “soul food” diet.

Oh: by the way… Back in the 60’s, many of us seemed to think we were original thinkers. The line from Savoy Truffle seemed pretty wise at the time, but it is said far more eloquently in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Be sure to visit 7 Quick Takes each Friday for some great "reads".

Do we have a thirst for news, or do we go for the gossip?

Once again, the media is on the offensive. When their allegations that Pope Benedict XVI somehow colluded with the Nazis were proven to be false, they switched tacks. Now they suggest that he “shielded pedophiles” by covering up sexual abuse by priests. (By the way - a Wall Street Journal’s “Opinion Journal” entitled "The Pope and the New York Times" gives quite a different point of view than the Times coverage.) In the words of Archbishop Timothy Dolan, "No one has been more vigorous in cleansing the Church of the effects of this sickening sin than the man we now call Pope Benedict XVI... the very man now being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo."

At any rate, after a long silence, the Vatican finally has finally grown tired of the attacks. The director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Father Federico Lombardi, issued the following statement:

The Diocese of Tucson contacted the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the case, because it regarded the canonical crime of solicitation in the confessional. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith took an active interest in the case throughout the 1990’s, in order to guarantee that the Church trial underway in the Diocese of Tucson was properly completed. The trial was completed in 1997. The cleric in question was found guilty and laicized. The evidence clearly and certainly shows this… It must not be forgotten that even when appeals are pending and the sentence is suspended, precautionary measures are imposed by the bishop on the accused. Indeed, Teta had been suspended from the exercise of priestly ministry in 1990.

It was appropriate  to protect potential victims by suspending the person accused of these crimes pending completion of the investigation. Thus, even though he had not yet been defrocked, the priest in question was suspended from "any duty, right or benefit granted to a priest" pending the outcome of the trial.

Did the process take too long? Perhaps so, but when an individual’s good name and livelihood are at stake, care must be taken to minimize the risk of a wrongful conviction.

Some have suggested that sexual abuse of children is committed more frequently by teachers or Scout leaders or clergy of other faiths. They say this as if to mitigate or minimize the evil that was done. But even if it could be proven that a higher percentage of teachers commit such acts, that doesn’t excuse priests who sexually abused.

Some online sources estimate that there are some half a million Catholic priests, and only a small fraction of that number have been accused of these heinous acts. According to Dr. Thomas Plante in an article found here, "4% of priests during the past half century (and mostly in the 1960s and 1970s) have had a sexual experience with a minor". Again, this doesn’t excuse the actions of even a single priest. Even one instance is too many.

As a Catholic, I’m appalled by instances of sexual abuse by priests. There is no excuse for it, and I offer no excuses. But neither will I excuse the publication of distorted versions of the truth.

On the other hand, here is a disturbing thought: we may need to shoulder some of the blame for the media's feeding frenzy over this and other tragic events.

Think about it.

How many of us spent countless hours glued to sensational coverage of O.J. Simpson eluding police in a low-speed “chase” on the L.A. freeway? Or watching the Twin Towers be struck again and again by evil men? Or craving the latest foibles of Tiger Woods?

Do we seek factual and balanced reporting of the stories of the day? Or do we dive for the dirt?

When presented with reporting that seems far more sensational that factual, do we speak out in favor of honesty, or do we pass up the opportunity to call the news media to a higher standard?

By our actions, do we condone or encourage the publication of stories jam-packed with lurid details? Is it time for us to reevaluate whether we have an appetite for news or a thirst for scandal?

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Do you want to offer encouragement and support to a priest whose ministry has touched your life? On Father's Day 2010, an organization called Catholics Come Home will be launching an interactive website which will offer several different ways to do so. Interested in learning more about it? Go to this site.

I double-DARE you not to laugh!

First, an explanation...

McLinky is undergoing some renovation, and fewer people have been responding with ideas for the weekly photo contest. So for this week, at least, I wanted to change gears.

So... enjoy this "outtake" from the old Carol Burnett show, which was certainly one of the best and funniest programs in T.V. history:

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy - Archbishop Timothy Dolan

I've become a fan of Archbishop Dolan. He's insightful; what he says frequently causes me to reexamine my relationship with God and man. Yet he is also supremely down-to-earth. I've met some clerics who are unapproachable. But I think I'd love to have him over to dinner... just to chat.

Archbishop Dolan has a blog, too, called The Gospel in the Digital Age. It's well worth a visit.

In his St. Patty's day post, titled Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy, he focused on our observance of the Sabbath. Here is an excerpt of what he had to say:

There are many threats to Sunday observance. The more obvious ones may be easier to tackle head on. Do we need to work on Sunday? For some, there may be little choice, but for others it may well be possible to clear Sunday of unnecessary work. Sometimes, it may be a moment of evangelization to tell the boss, “I would like to have Sunday to worship God and be with my family.” It may plant a seed that bear good fruit.

Another obvious challenge is Sunday recreations – particularly children’s sports and other activities. This requires a firmer stand, as recreation is not as essential as work. At the very least, children’s activities should be organized in a way that permits the family to go to Mass, together if possible. There is no denying that this will occasion some sacrifice, but the development of a child is not well-served by indicating that Sunday Mass is secondary to other things. Social, sporting and other activities on Sunday can be a real occasion for family togetherness and fruitful rest. But if just getting to everything on Sunday leaves everyone in the family worn out, then some adjustments need to be made.

A more subtle challenge to authentic Sabbath rest is our communications technology. It is possible to be at home with the family on Sunday but engaged elsewhere, answering emails from work, text messaging friends far away rather than talking to family members in the same house. Indeed, with multiple televisions and computers in the same house, it is possible for members of the family to isolate themselves from each other. A twenty-first century update to Sunday observance may well include a deliberate setting aside of mobile phones, laptops and video games!

Objections to Sunday Mass

Many of you reading this St. Patrick’s Day message already are keeping the Lord’s Day holy. Keep it up.

How about giving this message to someone who no longer does, especially if he or she has stopped going to Sunday Mass? Get ready for the excuses:

• “Sunday is our only free time together.” (Great, what better way to spend that time than by praying together at Mass).
• “I pray my own way.” (Nice idea. But, odds are, you don’t).
• “The sermon is boring.” (You may have a point).
• “I hate all the changes at Mass.” (see below)
• “I want more changes at Mass.” (see above)
• “Until the church makes some changes in its teaching, I’m staying away.” (But, don’t we go to Mass to ask God to change us, not to tell God how we want Him and His Church to change to suit us?)
• “Everybody there is a hypocrite and always judging me.” (Who’s judging whom here?)
• . . . and the list goes on.

And the simple fact remains: the Eucharist is the most beautiful, powerful prayer that we have. To miss it is to miss Jesus — His Word, His people, His presence, His Body and Blood.

How about you and your family. How do you keep Lord's Day Holy? Is this sometimes a struggle? What gets in the way? What suggestions would you offer to someone who wants to reorder their Sabbath priorities?

Protecting Online Privacy

We've all heard of online privacy, right? Of course you realize that this is as much an illusion as unicorns and little green men from Mars.

Would you like proof?

Enter your name into this website, and read more than you ever wanted OTHER people to know about your life, your income, your family, your phone number, your ethnicity, the age distribution in your neighborhood, your credit score, etc.

What to do about it?

Go to Tips For Protecting Your Online Privacy for some helpful ideas.

Do you know of any others?

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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Another contest winner?

The drawing for the ”Gospel Giveaway Contest” was held last week, but the winner didn't pick up the prize.

A new name was drawn, and Barb SFO IS OUR WINNER!

So Barb, if you're reading this, be sure to send me an email letting me know how to send your prize to you.

ncsue0514 -at- msn -dot- com

The winner receives a copy of Mitch Albom's book, The Five People You Meet In Heaven. I need to hear from you by 4/18/10 - I want to be certain that someone gets the opportunity to win, and will draw another name on 4/18/10 if the prize hasn't been claimed.

Our winner has been found!
Barb - your prize is on the way!

The martial art of bathing a cat

Some people say cats never have to be bathed. They say cats lick themselves clean. They say cats have a special enzyme of some sort in their saliva that works like new, improved Wisk. It dislodges the dirt where it hides and whisks it away.

I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary, the kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.

The time comes, however, when a man must face reality: when he must look squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."

When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice you might consider as you place your feline friend under your arm and head for the bathtub:

• Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)
• Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.
• Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water. Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in the water.
• Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a product testing experiment for J.C. Penney.)
• Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.
• Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)
• Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared to what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg. You simply pop the drain plug with you foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.

You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath.
But at least now he smells a lot better.


Cat Bathing: Version 2

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.
2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and have both lids lifted.
3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape). CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any vulnerable surface they can find.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power wash and rinse" which I have found to be quite effective.
6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.
8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

JOB DONE!

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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How to work well

Among the hindrances which prevent us from performing our well, the foremost is that while we are doing one thing we are thinking of another which we have to do or which we have done; so that our occupations interfere with one another, and none is well performed. The way to do them all well is to attend solely as perfectly as possible, and banishing for the time the thought of every other; and when this is finished, not to think of it any more, but to think of what remains to be done. 

– Father M. d' Avila

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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April is National Organ Donation Month

With Easter upon us at the start of the month, it didn't seem appropriate to post about something that seems as "off topic" as organ donation. But when you think about it, organ donation offers an opportunity for new life for the recipient. In a sense, it allows the one who has died to allow for a type of "resurrection" as a damaged organ is replaced with one that is functional.

Did you know these facts, found here?

1. Over 79,000 U.S. patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant; nearly 3,000 new patients are added to the waiting list each month.

2. Every day, 16 to 17 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, such as a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung or bone marrow.

3. Because of the lack of available donors in this country, 2,025 kidney patients, 1,347 liver patients, 458 heart patients and 361 lung patients died in 2001 while waiting for life-saving organ transplants.

4. Nearly 10 percent of the patients currently waiting for liver transplants are young people under 18 years of age.

5. Acceptable organ donors can range in age from newborn to 65 years or more. People who are 65 years of age or older may be acceptable donors, particularly of corneas, skin, bone and for total body donation.

6. An estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people who die each year meet the criteria for organ donation, but less than half of that number become actual organ donors.

I've spent 30 years of my nursing career working with transplant recipients of one sort or another... kidney, liver, pancreas, stem cells. My family was also blessed to have a family member who survived for 13 years after receiving a double lung transplant. I've seen the difference a donated organ can make in the life of someone, and in response, my driver's license indicates that I want to be an organ donor upon my death.

If you would like to learn more about becoming an organ donor, please visit one of these websites:

• Donate Life
• ”Donate Life America”
• OrganDonor.gov

And if you want to get some idea of what your gift can mean, watch this video:



Thank you!

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A reminder to visit 7 Quick Takes every Friday!

Also, please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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Challenges? Focus!

When facing difficulties, it's so easy to become lost in a whirlwind of ineffective worrying. Caught in this cycle, it's almost impossible to think of an effective way to break free. The problems are distorted and magnified, and solutions are all but impossible to find. When we are able to break free and focus on the solution, however, sometimes the answer becomes clear.

Yet this can be so difficult.

I once asked someone how to go about the process of stopping that cycle of worry. The answer? "Turn to the positive in the situation or, if that isn't possible, turn your attention to something else which is positive."

C. R. Vaughn puts it this way:

If you were about to cross a deep chasm, and there were a bridge over it, would you stand there looking in at yourself, wondering if you trusted enough in bridges to be able to cross? Or would you not rather go and examine the beams and timbers of the bridge and the quality of its construction, and determine whether the bridge were trustworthy, and then pass over it in confidence?

Our faith is in Christ; spend yourself focusing on Him and His sufficiency, rather than on yourself.

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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The Great Prayer Project in defense of life

Here's a very well-done video put together by Matthew Warner at Fallible Blogma:

If you want to raise your voice on high in defense of life, join others at the Great Prayer Project.

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

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This week's contest

Can you think of a caption for this picture? Use McLinky or the comments section below to share your ideas!

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And remember last week's photo?  

The winners for that contest can be found here:

"One nation under God"

According to a recent Catholic New Service article, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of the use of the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Many of us who grew up learning the current iteration of the Pledge of Allegiance may be unaware that the phrase was added relatively recently after efforts led by the Knights of Columbus succeeded in convincing Congress to add the phrase in 1954. The constitutionality of the phrase had been challenged by an atheist in California, Dr. Michael Newdow. Dr. Newdow, a physician with a law degree, filed the suit in 2005. He argued that reciting a Pledge which included these words in public schools violated the Constitutional rights of his daughter.

The majority opinion of the 9th Circuit Court was written by Judge Carlos T. Bea. In part, his summary of the Court’s decision said, “Not every mention of God or religion by our government or at the government's direction is a violation of the Establishment Clause" [of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]. He goes on to say, "Without knowing the history behind these words, one might well think the phrase 'one nation under God' could not be anything but religious. History, however, shows these words have an even broader meaning, one grounded in philosophy and politics and reflecting many events of historical significance. The pledge is constitutional. The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our republic was founded and for which we continue to strive: one nation under God -- the founding fathers' belief that the people of this nation are endowed by their Creator."

The 9th Circuit Court, in a separate decision which it announced in mid-March, ruled unanimously that Dr. Newdow didn’t have legal standing to challenge the use of the words “in God we trust” on U.S. currency. Once again, Judge Bea wrote the majority opinion for the court, saying, "Although Newdow alleges the national motto turned atheists into political outsiders and inflicts a stigmatic injury upon them, an 'abstract stigmatic injury' resulting from such outsider status is insufficient to confer standing."

I’m truly glad that the 9th Court upheld the Constitutionality of these phrases, but I suspect that a successful challenge may eventually be raised. In the meanwhile, let us enjoy the freedom to use these phrases.

“One nation under God”

and

“In God we trust”

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<Afterthought>

Do non-Americans cope with stuff such as this, 

or are we the only folks who bend over backwards to be politically correct?

Prayer for families

Dear God,

our loving and merciful Father,

bring together and keep my family

in perfect unity of love

and mutual support.

Keep quarrels, bitterness, and pettiness

far from us,

and give us grace

for forgiveness and peace.

May we find true unity

through faith in You.

Amen

We have a winner!

The drawing for the ”Gospel Giveaway Contest” has been held, and LULU IS OUR WINNER!

So Lulu, if you're reading this, be sure to send me an email letting me know how to send your prize to you.

suzannenroth -at- gmail -dot- com

The winner receives a copy of Mitch Albom's book, The Five People You Meet In Heaven. I need to hear from you by 4/11/10 - I want to be certain that someone gets the opportunity to win, and will draw another name on that date if the prize hasn't been claimed.

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Please enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

Darn that mirror, anyway!

Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Do you have to tell it all?

Where do you get the glaring right

To make my clothes look just too tight?

I think I'm fine but I can see

you won't cooperate with me;

The way you let the shadows play

You'd think my hair was getting gray!

What's that, you say? A double chin?

No, that's the way the light comes in;

If you persist in peering so

You'll confiscate my facial glow...

And then if you're not hanging straight

You'll tell me next I'm gaining weight;

I'm really quite upset with you

For giving this distorted view.

I hate you being smug and wise ~

O, look what's happened to my thighs!

I warn you now, O mirrored wall,

Since we're not on speaking terms at all,

If I look like this in my new jeans

You'll find yourself in smithereens!!

Happy Easter!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ “ Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

- Luke 24:1-12

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They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

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So much of Christianity sounds like nonsense, really… until seen through the eyes of faith. Even though Jesus had told his followers in advance that he would rise again, they couldn’t fathom anything as crazy as this! Even though Peter had identified Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:15), the notion that he would rise from the grave was impossible to grasp. Later, Thomas would actually look at the risen Lord face-to-face and doubt even the evidence there before his eyes!

Easter is doubt turned to faith, sorrow transformed into hope, the embodiment of optimism. Pope John Paul II put it this way:

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. 

We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.

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HALLELUJAH!

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May God bless you this Easter day and throughout the Easter season!

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Today is the last day for you to enter the Gospel Giveaway! 
And there's still time enter this week’s caption contest, found here.

Is Jesus just a sweetie, or a Savior?

I read a quote from Douglas Adams that seems extremely shallow in its understanding of the meaning of the Cross. Adams, a British author, dramatist, and musician, is perhaps best known for his book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He was also a vocal atheist. But frankly, I don't think I could believe in the Jesus he spoke of when he wrote these words:

2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other for a change.

What a lackluster Lord we would have if that were his message. Such a man would be a marvelous cartoon character, but a very poor Savior.

Jesus didn't suffer and die on the Cross to tell us to play nice with each other. His message was far more profound than that. In the words of Pope Benedict:

From the day on which Christ was raised up on it, the cross, which looks like a sign of abandonment, loneliness and failure, has become a new beginning. From the depths of death is raised up the promise of eternal life; upon the cross already shines the victorious splendor of the Easter dawn.

I'm sure Jesus would love it if we "played nice". But he preached this message over and over again during his earthly ministry. He didn't need to suffer on the Cross to convey that message. His death and resurrection served a far greater purpose: to reconcile us to God.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

- John 6: 35-40

May His holy Name be praised!

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There's still time enter this week’s caption contest, found here.