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Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11-28
Monday, October 5, 2015
Come to Me
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11-28
Victims of the Umpqua Shooting
Victims of the Umpqua shooting:
Lucero Alcaraz, 19, of Roseburg, whose sister posted on Facebook that she won scholarships to cover her college costs;
Quinn Glen Cooper, 18, of Roseburg, whose family said he loved dancing and voice acting;
Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59, an outdoors lover who was taking classes at the same time as her daughter;
Lucas Eibel, 18, of Roseburg, who was studying chemistry and loved volunteering with animals;
Jason Johnson, 33, whose mother told NBC News that he successfully battled drug abuse and was in his first week of college;
Lawrence Levine, 67, of Glide, an assistant professor of English at the college;
Sarena Dawn Moore, 44, of Myrtle Creek;
Treven Taylor Anspach, 20, of Sutherlin; and
Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18, of Myrtle Creek.
"These Christians were killed because of their faith in Oregon this week. I can help but wonder what I would say in that situation. A gunman asking whether or not students are Christian, and killing the ones that say yes. I’m humbled by the courage and conviction of those who did not deny Christ in that moment. God help me to live for You with the same boldness of these students who died for You."
Lucero Alcaraz, 19, of Roseburg, whose sister posted on Facebook that she won scholarships to cover her college costs;
Quinn Glen Cooper, 18, of Roseburg, whose family said he loved dancing and voice acting;
Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59, an outdoors lover who was taking classes at the same time as her daughter;
Lucas Eibel, 18, of Roseburg, who was studying chemistry and loved volunteering with animals;
Jason Johnson, 33, whose mother told NBC News that he successfully battled drug abuse and was in his first week of college;
Lawrence Levine, 67, of Glide, an assistant professor of English at the college;
Sarena Dawn Moore, 44, of Myrtle Creek;
Treven Taylor Anspach, 20, of Sutherlin; and
Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18, of Myrtle Creek.
"These Christians were killed because of their faith in Oregon this week. I can help but wonder what I would say in that situation. A gunman asking whether or not students are Christian, and killing the ones that say yes. I’m humbled by the courage and conviction of those who did not deny Christ in that moment. God help me to live for You with the same boldness of these students who died for You."
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Sunday Sermons
If you're
spiritually alive, you're going to love this!
If you're
spiritually dead, you won't want to read it.
If you're
spiritually curious, there is still hope!
A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained
that
it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I've gone for 30 years
now,” he wrote, “and in
that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of
me, I can't remember a single one of them so, I think I'm wasting my time and
the priests, Ministers or rabbis are wasting theirs by giving sermons at
all."
This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column.
Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote
this clincher:
'I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked
some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do
know this...They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my
work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead
today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be
spiritually dead today!”
When you are DOWN to nothing....God is UP to something!
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the
impossible!
Thank God for our
physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
IF YOU CANNOT SEE
GOD IN ALL, YOU CANNOT SEE GOD AT ALL!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
USCCB president calls Supreme Court ruling on marriage 'tragic error'
USCCB
president calls Supreme Court ruling on marriage 'tragic error'
USCCB president calls Supreme Court ruling on marriage
'tragic error'
By Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops' conference called the Supreme Court's June 26 marriage ruling "a tragic error" and he urged Catholics to move forward with faith "in the unchanging truth about marriage being between one man and one woman."
"Regardless of what a narrow majority of the Supreme Court may declare at this moment in history, the nature of the human person and marriage remains unchanged and unchangeable," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky.
"It is profoundly immoral and unjust for the government to declare that two people of the same sex can constitute a marriage," he said.
In a 5-4 decision, the court said states must license same-sex marriage. In the second part of the ruling, the court affirmed that every state must recognize marriages performed in other states, a question that will become moot as the first part of the opinion is enacted.
"Just as Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion over 40 years ago," when it legalized abortion in the U.S. virtually on demand, Obergefell v. Hodges "does not settle the question of marriage today," Archbishop Kurtz said.
"Neither decision is rooted in the truth, and as a result, both will eventually fail," he added.
The court had several marriage cases to consider and bundled them under the title of the Ohio case, Obergefell v. Hodges. That case arose after the October 2013 death of John Arthur of Cincinnati. He and his longtime partner, Obergefell, had married earlier that year in Maryland. When the local Ohio registrar agreed to list Obergefell as the surviving spouse on Arthur's death certificate -- which is key to a range of survivor's benefits -- the state attorney general challenged the status because Ohio law bars same-sex marriages.
The other cases included: Tanco v. Haslam, the Tennessee case, and Bourke v. Beshear, the Kentucky case, which similarly challenge those states' refusal to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, and DeBoer v. Snyder, the Michigan adoption case.
"The unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is inscribed in our bodies as male and female," Archbishop Kurtz said in his statement. "The protection of this meaning is a critical dimension of the 'integral ecology' that Pope Francis has called us to promote.
"Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us, especially children. The law has a duty to support every child's basic right to be raised, where possible, by his or her married mother and father in a stable home.
By Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops' conference called the Supreme Court's June 26 marriage ruling "a tragic error" and he urged Catholics to move forward with faith "in the unchanging truth about marriage being between one man and one woman."
"Regardless of what a narrow majority of the Supreme Court may declare at this moment in history, the nature of the human person and marriage remains unchanged and unchangeable," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky.
"It is profoundly immoral and unjust for the government to declare that two people of the same sex can constitute a marriage," he said.
In a 5-4 decision, the court said states must license same-sex marriage. In the second part of the ruling, the court affirmed that every state must recognize marriages performed in other states, a question that will become moot as the first part of the opinion is enacted.
"Just as Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion over 40 years ago," when it legalized abortion in the U.S. virtually on demand, Obergefell v. Hodges "does not settle the question of marriage today," Archbishop Kurtz said.
"Neither decision is rooted in the truth, and as a result, both will eventually fail," he added.
The court had several marriage cases to consider and bundled them under the title of the Ohio case, Obergefell v. Hodges. That case arose after the October 2013 death of John Arthur of Cincinnati. He and his longtime partner, Obergefell, had married earlier that year in Maryland. When the local Ohio registrar agreed to list Obergefell as the surviving spouse on Arthur's death certificate -- which is key to a range of survivor's benefits -- the state attorney general challenged the status because Ohio law bars same-sex marriages.
The other cases included: Tanco v. Haslam, the Tennessee case, and Bourke v. Beshear, the Kentucky case, which similarly challenge those states' refusal to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, and DeBoer v. Snyder, the Michigan adoption case.
"The unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is inscribed in our bodies as male and female," Archbishop Kurtz said in his statement. "The protection of this meaning is a critical dimension of the 'integral ecology' that Pope Francis has called us to promote.
"Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us, especially children. The law has a duty to support every child's basic right to be raised, where possible, by his or her married mother and father in a stable home.
Statement from Bishop Tobin – The Supreme Court and “Same-Sex Marriage”
Statement from Bishop Tobin – The Supreme Court and
“Same-Sex Marriage”
A thousand courts may rule
otherwise, but the very notion of “same-sex marriage” is morally wrong and a
blatant rejection of God’s plan for the human family. As Pope Francis taught
while serving as Archbishop in Argentina: “Same-sex marriage is not simply a
political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy God’s plan. It is a move of
the ‘father of lies’ who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.”
Despite the current trends of our
society, or perhaps because of them, the Church must redouble its commitment to
proclaim and defend authentic concepts of marriage and family as we have
received them from God. We will always do so, however, in a respectful,
charitable and constructive manner.
"I will willingly wear the orange jumpsuit"
Truth spoken again. A wonderful missive, words from a courageous and strong Archbishop...
June 30, 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
For a long time now, I have felt that we have entered a
post-Christian era in the history of western
Here in the United States, we are apparently a European “wannabe.” We have been slowly disavowing ourselves of any connection to religion and separating ourselves from any symbols which may be offensive, though they have been in existence for decades.
Part of it can be attributed to the tyranny of the minority -- one person is offended by a statue or a picture reflecting some religious symbolism and off we go to an activist court for social reconstruction -- the sensitivity of the one is imposed on the many.
Oh! But we have separation of Church and state, they say (actually only by judicial edict). There was no separation of Church and state when the parochial schools were educating the masses because government lacked the capacity to do so. There was no separation when the religious hospitals were providing care in areas the government could not or would not. Nor when religious charities were providing for the homeless long before state welfare organizations were instituted.
Separation seems to be a concept of when we need you it’s “okay, please participate” and when we don’t “get out of our political way because we don’t need to be tainted by your religious zeal.” Religion is treated like the intellectually challenged adult that, in less enlightened times, would be kept separate from the family for fear of embarrassment and from the social elite who might think less of them.
As Catholics, we have weathered the governmental and societal bashing that has taken place for 2,000 years. We survived the Roman Empire, the monarchies, the “isms,” of Nazism, communism and self-proclaimed “rationalists.” And we will survive the rejection of our own society and its continued attempt to muffle our voice and isolate us from the decision-making table. We will pay a price. But, we will not do so without preaching and teaching the truth.
The recent decision of the Supreme Court legalizing same sex marriage is sad, because it once again takes upon itself the redefinition of the word. This time it’s “marriage.” The definitions of words seem to not matter to the court. The simple truth is that marriage is between a man and a woman. Why? Because from the dawn of civilization men and women were joined together to perpetuate our species. Marriage constitutes a family where individuals are raised, given an identity and form the basic building block of our society.
In our brave new world, we can generate human beings in a test tube -- no one need know who the father is. A surrogate can be used, as would an incubator, in order to fulfill the desire for a child by two males. The terms mother and father are now subject to redefinition. Perhaps it will take a village to raise the children, especially if they will not have identifiable role models. But, we have permitted same sex individuals to claim marriage as a right at the cost of family deconstruction and role model redefinition.
I haven’t even broached the subject that God ordained marriage. From the beginning he created them, males and females were told to go forth and multiply. The Church has established marriage as a sacrament and it is evident in its teachings how essential the understanding of marriage between a man and a woman is to the faith.
I know that you have often heard the term “cafeteria” Catholic. This is a Catholic that picks and chooses what is convenient in the teachings and ignores the rest. The Supreme Court decision was made by a court composed of six Catholics, with the majority opinion rendered by Catholic judge, Justice Anthony Kennedy (supported by another Catholic, Justice Sonia Sotomayor). Perhaps, he remembered another Kennedy claiming that he would not be guided by the pope or the teachings of the Church once he is elected president. The four dissenters were Catholic with an excellent dissenting opinion rendered by Justice Antonin Scalia (concurring Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Thomas and Justice Alito).
Here in the United States, we are apparently a European “wannabe.” We have been slowly disavowing ourselves of any connection to religion and separating ourselves from any symbols which may be offensive, though they have been in existence for decades.
Part of it can be attributed to the tyranny of the minority -- one person is offended by a statue or a picture reflecting some religious symbolism and off we go to an activist court for social reconstruction -- the sensitivity of the one is imposed on the many.
Oh! But we have separation of Church and state, they say (actually only by judicial edict). There was no separation of Church and state when the parochial schools were educating the masses because government lacked the capacity to do so. There was no separation when the religious hospitals were providing care in areas the government could not or would not. Nor when religious charities were providing for the homeless long before state welfare organizations were instituted.
Separation seems to be a concept of when we need you it’s “okay, please participate” and when we don’t “get out of our political way because we don’t need to be tainted by your religious zeal.” Religion is treated like the intellectually challenged adult that, in less enlightened times, would be kept separate from the family for fear of embarrassment and from the social elite who might think less of them.
As Catholics, we have weathered the governmental and societal bashing that has taken place for 2,000 years. We survived the Roman Empire, the monarchies, the “isms,” of Nazism, communism and self-proclaimed “rationalists.” And we will survive the rejection of our own society and its continued attempt to muffle our voice and isolate us from the decision-making table. We will pay a price. But, we will not do so without preaching and teaching the truth.
The recent decision of the Supreme Court legalizing same sex marriage is sad, because it once again takes upon itself the redefinition of the word. This time it’s “marriage.” The definitions of words seem to not matter to the court. The simple truth is that marriage is between a man and a woman. Why? Because from the dawn of civilization men and women were joined together to perpetuate our species. Marriage constitutes a family where individuals are raised, given an identity and form the basic building block of our society.
In our brave new world, we can generate human beings in a test tube -- no one need know who the father is. A surrogate can be used, as would an incubator, in order to fulfill the desire for a child by two males. The terms mother and father are now subject to redefinition. Perhaps it will take a village to raise the children, especially if they will not have identifiable role models. But, we have permitted same sex individuals to claim marriage as a right at the cost of family deconstruction and role model redefinition.
I haven’t even broached the subject that God ordained marriage. From the beginning he created them, males and females were told to go forth and multiply. The Church has established marriage as a sacrament and it is evident in its teachings how essential the understanding of marriage between a man and a woman is to the faith.
I know that you have often heard the term “cafeteria” Catholic. This is a Catholic that picks and chooses what is convenient in the teachings and ignores the rest. The Supreme Court decision was made by a court composed of six Catholics, with the majority opinion rendered by Catholic judge, Justice Anthony Kennedy (supported by another Catholic, Justice Sonia Sotomayor). Perhaps, he remembered another Kennedy claiming that he would not be guided by the pope or the teachings of the Church once he is elected president. The four dissenters were Catholic with an excellent dissenting opinion rendered by Justice Antonin Scalia (concurring Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Thomas and Justice Alito).
This was not the first time that a terrible decision was
influenced or rendered by a Catholic on the Supreme Court. Chief Justice
Tawney in the Dred Scott decision actually inferred that a slave, a man, a
human being, was just a piece of chattel and must be returned to the owner.
This decision was the seed of Civil War and the decision of the court to define
a man as property. And Justice Brennan, the only Catholic on the high court,
influenced the Court in the Roe v Wade decision, voting with the majority. This
decision denied any rights to the child in the womb which has led to the
destruction of more than 50 million lives since 1973 (read “The Brethren:
Inside the Supreme Court” by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong).
We will not be assuaged from what the Church teaches and I believe it calls for even greater courage in the face of this rejection of truth. Ever the social critic, Cardinal Francis George may be right when he said that he will die in his bed, his successor will die in jail and the one who follows his successor will die a martyr in the public square. He envisioned the social upheaval in our society as a mounting persecution of the Church. I will willingly wear the orange jumpsuit [my emphasis], if it means standing up for the truth and the Catholic faith.
I guess one doesn’t have to worry whether or not any Catholic judge or Catholic elected official would be compelled to follow the teachings of his or her faith. Unfortunately for some, it’s just a window dressing that can change with the seasons (political pressure, popular opinions and the polls). That’s a sad commentary on the effect of faith because so much truth and goodness (dignity of the human being) is found in the richness of a faith that mandates us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
We will not be assuaged from what the Church teaches and I believe it calls for even greater courage in the face of this rejection of truth. Ever the social critic, Cardinal Francis George may be right when he said that he will die in his bed, his successor will die in jail and the one who follows his successor will die a martyr in the public square. He envisioned the social upheaval in our society as a mounting persecution of the Church. I will willingly wear the orange jumpsuit [my emphasis], if it means standing up for the truth and the Catholic faith.
I guess one doesn’t have to worry whether or not any Catholic judge or Catholic elected official would be compelled to follow the teachings of his or her faith. Unfortunately for some, it’s just a window dressing that can change with the seasons (political pressure, popular opinions and the polls). That’s a sad commentary on the effect of faith because so much truth and goodness (dignity of the human being) is found in the richness of a faith that mandates us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Laudato Si' - Some Comments
Well, five days after its release, I’ve finished my initial
reading of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato
Mostly, it provides me with hope, but there are a number of
disconcerting realities. I ask myself what can Pope Francis, the Catholic
Church, or all of our Christian brothers and sisters do about all these things?
They seem so monumental. But Pope Francis, more than anyone else, has had the
opportunity and courage to address these issues clearly. This encyclical is the
seed to change the hearts and minds to continue and expand how we look at
creation and care for it. That is why we need to read it and know what is in
it; so we can pass it on to others, and to inform ourselves as well.
When society is made aware of an abuse or a wrong it can
provide pressure so that it may be addressed and corrected. There are so many
examples of this. The one that comes to mind first are the foam containers
McDonald’s and the other fast-food chains used to use for their products. This
is no more. Public pressure forced them to change. So it is our job to make
others aware and educate them, and ourselves as well.
I ask myself well, gee, what can I do about that huge mass
of garbage the size of some states that are floating in the Pacific ocean?
Perhaps nothing. It is so far removed from us, it is in international waters.
But we can write our legislators and ask them to explore means that it can be
addressed. But an even more effective thing to do, is the next time you are on
a boat, or along the shore of a body of water, don’t toss that rubbish in it.
And there are so many other things we can do, if we only think about it.
An important point of the encyclical, as Pope Francis turned
to Saint Francis, is to consider all of
I don’t want to make this very long, I just want to plant
some food for thought.
Below is one of the two prayers that closes the encyclical.
A Christian prayer
in union with creation
Father, we praise you with all your creatures. They came
forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence
and your tender love. Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus, through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth, and you gazed upon this world
with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love and
accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts and
you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!
Triune Lord,
wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to
contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made. Give us
the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place
in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for
not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten those who possess power
and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the
common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are
crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness
“The Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness will take place from June 21 to July 4, 2015, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. The theme of this year's Fortnight will focus on the "freedom to bear witness" to the truth of the Gospel.”
I have been reporting on the Fortnight for Freedom initiate every year since it started. Anyone with their eyes open would see the many instances that our religious liberties are being curtailed. It continues and is getting worse. That is why I ask you to give this initiative your attention too, to pray daily between June 21 to July 4th, to read up on the subject, and to not be afraid to stand up for your faith even in conversations with friends and relatives. I am reminded of Matthew Kelly’s theme “Be Bold, Be Catholic.” Defend our Church when it is attacked. “From life to the Gospel, from Gospel to life,” is not merely a Franciscan theme, it is a way of life. The Gospel is radical, it is not passive and quiet, it is countercultural, especially in the secular society in which we live.
Freedom to bear witness means to evangelize our message, to bring to others the Good News, of Jesus’ love and great mercy for everyone. And it means to bear witness in our daily conversations with others.
So please say the prayer below every day and find a little time to become more knowledgeable. The USCCB has some great resources (link below), and a quick Web search will provide more. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/
“Be not afraid.”
Tom
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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