7-10-07

Greetings!

So the Jehovah's Witnesses visited our house on July 4^th. No doubt indicative of a certain mental imbalance, I actually enjoy such visits J

In fact, I am always sensitive to those who mock the door-to-door efforts of the Jehovah's Witnesses. I wish more Catholics took their faith seriously enough to do such things. Take a look at Matthew 28:19-20 and think about it.

While respecting their zeal, we obviously have serious theological problems with the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

This particular visit was more fruitful then most. While letting them initiate the conversation, my wife and I were able to turn the questions around and have them explain some of their beliefs as well as explain numerous Catholic doctrines.

You know that you've confounded or frustrated their efforts when they try to hit below the belt. In this case, having not gotten anywhere with their arguments, they brought up Hitler's Catholicism as a point for why Catholicism is wrong. (In fact, Hitler was raised Catholic, but abandoned the faith---to the point that the catholic church was next on his list of targets once he eliminated the Jews.)

This happened to me on another occasion. A Jehovah's Witness wasn't getting anywhere and pulled out the sex abuse scandals as a point against Catholics.

Now of course, every religion has their "bad apples"—the Catholic Church as the biggest, is simply a larger target and gets more media attention. Needless to say, we're a church for sinners to be healed---all of us—warts and all.

Catholic Answers is an apologetics group. They have a number of sections on talking to Jehovah's Witnesses. Here's one of them: http://www.catholic.com/library/More_Stumpers_for_Jehovah_Wit.asp

Our July 4^th conversation ended amiably enough, hopefully some seeds were planted. Imagine if every Catholic home was ready "to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…" (1 Peter 3:15)!

Phil's Tidbits:

I marvel at the contrast here---sometimes literally pulling teeth to get parents to take their 1^st Communicants to Mass---and then you see these Catholics in Iraq:

Courageous Acts by Iraqi Christians

Celebrating an Ordination and First Communions

BAGHDAD, Iraq, JULY 9, 2007 (Zenit.org).- In spite of persecution, ordinations and first Holy Communions bring signs of hope for the Christian community.

On July 7, in the church of Mar Addai, Father Ephram Gallyana, 31, was ordained a Chaldean priest at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Faraj Rahho of Mosul, AsiaNews reported.
The new priest is from the Diocese of Mosul, but for security reasons, was ordained in Karamles, Iraq, the same settlement where the funeral of Father Ragheed Aziz Ganni and the three murdered subdeacons was held on June 4.
Father Ephram placed a cross of yellow roses on the tomb of Father Ragheed with the inscription, "from your brother, Ephram Gallyana."
The new priest pledged to "continue the work of Father Ragheed."
On Sunday, 59 children received their first Holy Communion in Baghdad.
Dressed like novice monks and sisters, the children went to the Syrian-Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation.
"I prayed that Jesus returns my father safe," said 11-year-old Matti. His father was kidnapped nine months ago, and has not been heard from since.
Another kidnapping last Friday added to the climate of fear for Christians in Iraq. Four lay people, among them a father and a son, disappeared in Kirkuk. Original reports said that a priest was among the victims, but it was later confirmed that all the missing persons are lay.
"Do not succumb to the threats of the evil-doers," was the appeal made by the Syrian Catholic Archbishop of the capital, Athanase Matti Matoka.
"Many churches in Baghdad have cancelled their annual first communion ceremonies to avoid possible attacks but we decided to go ahead with our program," he explained.
The archbishop said, "The children have been meeting here for more than a month despite the danger."

Jack Kevorkian, "Dr. Death" as he's called, was recently released from prison early. You may recall, he went to prison for helping people commit suicide. Most of the media coverage of his release was positive, here's some more background on Dr. Kevorkian: "…most of the people (he) killed were not terminally ill…Some of them had no physical pain at all." He got his nickname "Dr. Death" not from assisted suicides, "but his habit, as a young doctor working at a hospital, of trying to photograph patients at the moment they died. He also advocated experiments on death-row prisoners, part of a life-long campaign, of which assisted suicide was just a part, to create a new scientific field called 'obitiatry.'"

We should pray for anyone so hardened and calloused toward the dignity of all life that he would advocate a utilitarian view and then celebrate helping people die before their time.

Source: National Review 6-25-07 p. 16

Why stop with just one priest from a family? Why not even twins both being ordained?

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - A pair of identical twins were ordained as priests in the Green Bay Catholic Diocese over the weekend.

James Sember says he couldn't get his sons Ben and Joel "to apply any place else or do anything else, that what's they decided they wanted to do."

Although both twins will serve in the Green Bay diocese, they say their ministries will be different.

Joel says though they have the same background and the same genes they have "a different approach to things."

And his brother Ben adds: "I hope we don't ever get assigned to the same parish, not for our sake but for the people, it would be very confusing."

This is fascinating and fun. This year's ordination candidates were asked the following question: "People would be surprised to know that I…"

…didn't go to Catholic school and was never an altar boy.

…used to play heavy metal guitar in a band.

…first considered the priesthood while on a workcamp weekend in high school in the Appalachian mountains .

…am a strong supporter on issues concerning the environment.

...love to watch the Food Network

…was a practicing physician (radiologist) before entering the seminary.

…enjoy riding roller coasters and visiting theme parks… I also love to create things, such as models and sculptures, as well as designing and renovating spaces in homes, libraries, etc.

…entered the seminary and after two years of dicernment, left and returned to college to complete my degree. Then, after a year away, re-entered the seminary.

…was terrified of public speaking during my high school days.

…always had a sense that I was being called to the priesthood…

…taught history dressed up as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Madison for my job as an historical interpreter at the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama.

…since my childhood always wanted to become a priest.

…have studied during 13 years at the seminary to be ordained as a Catholic priest.

…have completed 9 marathons in the last 6 years. I love to play golf and follow the Boston Red Sox. While in the seminary I have continued to play (men's leagues) and coach hockey (high school).

…am a reservist in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps.

..am graduate of the Juilliard School and performed with many symphony orchestras in the New York area. I played the Double Bass for the Long Island Philharmonic for 13 years before entering the seminary

-More to come!

God bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)

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