Greetings!
In Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, Bishop Morlino, had a recorded tape of his comments on the upcoming election played at all the parishes this past weekend. In the 14-minute recording he spoke about the Church's position on same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and the death penalty. The Church's position on these issues should not come as a surprise to anyone, nor are they new. And yet the bishop received numerous objections from both priests and lay people.
In fact, in at least one Madison parish a number of parishioners walked out. I sincerely hope this was not the first time these Catholics heard the Church's teachings on these issues. As I said, these teachings didn't just come out of the blue.
On the other hand, certain teachings of Christ's Church can be hard for us to understand or to follow. "If anyone wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) And throughout history people have decided not to follow Him. This is nothing new. For perhaps the best example, read John 6—Jesus' teaching on the Eucharist. Then read what happens in verse 66. Refusing to follow is nothing new.
Here is the article concerning Bishop Morlino:
By John-Henry Westen
MADISON, WI, November 2, 2006 ( LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Robert C. Morlino is a man of courage. The 59-year-old who has been a bishop for seven years, serving the last three in the diocese of Madison, has taken steps to ensure that his teaching on voting in favour of life and family get transmitted to the faithful.
After hearing reports of "isolated cases" of priests refusing to convey, or even publicly contradicting, the bishops' messages on these important topics, he went to the extraordinary step of ordering all of the priests in his diocese to play a recorded message of his own at weekend Masses on November 4-5 in the place of the homily.
In an October 25 letter marked "personal and confidential", Bishop Morlino apologized for having to resort to such a method of operations. He explained, "I apologize in advance for this second paragraph that I must write, and I would very much prefer otherwise. My office has received reports that in isolated cases, priests have refused to cooperate with my requests in terms of preaching in defense of marriage and have even expressed disagreement with my clear wishes in this matter."
To demonstrate the gravity of the matter, Bishop Morlino warned of "serious consequences" for priests who would contradict the vital teachings of the church in these matters. "I must make it very clear that any verbal or non-verbal expression of disagreement with this teaching on the part of the priest will have to be considered by myself as an act of disobedience, which could have serious consequences," he said.
The Bishop assured the priests that his message was "non-partisan" and laid out clearly that all priests in the diocese are expected to give "a simple introductory statement that the bishop has required this message to be played during the homily time at all Masses of obligation on November the 4th or the 5th." The bishop added, "If you can express some support for the message that I offer that would be appreciated but not expected."
Phil's Tidbits:
This was given by a priest at Mass yesterday at the University of Dallas. They are sponsoring a vocations night. This Catholic university has a reputation of being good and the priest's strong, yet inspiring exhortation bears that out!
(delivered at the 7.30pm Mass at the Church of the Incarnation, Nov. 5, 2006 before the final blessing)
Please give me five minutes to say something that must be said…
I will jump immediately to the punchline. To the men here tonight, if you know that God has called you to serve His church as a priest or even if you think he might have called you to serve, it is time to put aside your worries and your doubts and your fears and your hesitations and it is time to answer with a resounding YES!
There is no vocations crisis in this country. None. There is a crisis of courage. God has called all the men we need to serve His Church as priests. More than enough. There is never a lack of abundant blessings from our Father. There is, however, a lack of generous acceptance of His abundance.
For the full exhortation go to: http://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2006/11/exhortation-on-vocations-or-no-time.html
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-JPII, another step on his way to Canonization!
Cure in Salerno Attributed to John Paul II
SALERNO, Italy, NOV. 5, 2006 (
Zenit.org).- Archbishop Gerardo Pierro of Salerno has announced an inexplicable cure attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II.
"I need your prayers for an event that might have occurred in our Church and which affects the process of canonization of John Paul II," said the prelate on the solemnity of All Saints in the cathedral of the southern Italian city, the newspaper Avvenire reported Friday.
"It seems that in the hospital of our city a miraculous intervention has taken place through the intercession of John Paul II," explained the archbishop. "He looked down with benevolence on this city, as one of its sons has been cured after his wife saw the Pope in her dreams, to whom she had prayed."
The cure, which took place over a year ago, reportedly involves a young man ill with cancer. The doctors had not given him any hope for recovery, as the tumor was spreading rapidly. John Paul II died in April 2005.
The archbishop said that the necessary scientific studies have been carried out to prove that the cure has no medical explanation. Moreover, he said, "after a year and a half, it is confirmed as inexplicable."
ZE06110506
The culture of death continues to erode the views of the average citizen….
Eugenics Hits Canada as Poll Shows Majority Would not "Allow" Birth of Conjoined Twins By John-Henry Westen
TORONTO, October 31, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An alarming poll in the largest circulation national daily paper, the Globe and Mail, asked if conjoined unborn baby twins should be permitted to be born. Astoundingly, 6,648 Canadians nearly 60% of respondents, answered in the negative.
The poll was asked in light of the birth of Krista and Tatiana Simms last Wednesday. Felicia Simms, 21, gave birth to the little girls by caesarian at 34 weeks gestation. Despite their being joined at the head, the twins were born healthy weighing 6.5 pounds each.
The Globe asked, "Conjoined B.C. twins Krista and Tatiana came into the world on Wednesday, joined at the head and possibly sharing parts of the same brain. Should fetuses entwined in such a manner be allowed to come to term?" Out of 11, 176 votes, 41% (4529) said yes, 59% said no.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is upset because Nicaragua may completely outlaw abortion. And they're saying the Catholic Church and certain Evangelical Churches are exerting too much influence. I would argue just the opposite as the UN frequently pressures Third World countries to adopt the agendas of the developed world. Perhaps most striking is this line. I don't know that I've ever seen the "right to life" and the right to "abortion" in the same sentence before. Of course the "right to life" in their view only applies when the child is wanted and on the outside of the womb:" Her letter asserts that "the right to a therapeutic abortion is inherent in human rights, like the right to life and the right to health…protected by international treaties and conventions signed by Nicaragua"
From C-Fam: UN Committee Complains to Nicaragua About Influence of Catholic Church By Susan Yoshihara, Ph D
(NEW YORK — C-FAM) A powerful UN committee intervened in Nicaragua's vote about abortion last week, telling national legislators to disregard religious leaders and consult with the UN instead. In a letter to the Nicaraguan National Assembly, Silvia Pimentel, vice chairman of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), criticized the influence of "the hierarchies of the Catholic Church and some Evangelical Churches" in the draft reforms of Nicaragua's penal code.
Pimentel asserted that by consulting with Nicaraguan religious leaders, Nicaragua had violated its own constitution as "an independent, free, sovereign, unitary, and indivisible State," that "does not have an official religion." Written on behalf of the entire CEDAW committee, the letter said, "We call upon the Honorable Nicaraguan deputies to postpone the current discussion of the Penal Code and adopt a consultation process to allow for decisions to be based on the defense of the Secular State."
Pimentel, a Brazilian jurist and coordinator for the Latin American pro-abortion lobby, CLADEM, is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her CEDAW job has just been extended two years. Her letter asserts that "the right to a therapeutic abortion is inherent in human rights, like the right to life and the right to health…protected by international treaties and conventions signed by Nicaragua." In fact, abortion is not mentioned in any international treaty. When it was mentioned in a non-binding resolution, Nicaragua and other nations made reservations excluding any right to abortion.
For a little bit of fun:
15 Signs Your Church Has Sold Out to Corporate Sponsors:
- Nike "swoosh" on the cross
- Communion now sponsored by Welch's Grape Juice
- In Christmas play, Joseph seen with a pack of Marlboros
- Statue of Mary seen holding keys to a Jeep
- The 12 disciples replaced by Disney characters
- Greeters all dressed like Mr. Goodwrench
- Scripture verses brought to you by Microsoft
- The holy water font has Perrier
- Offering envelopes say, "Weekly expenses, $6,200, projection unit for Sunday School, $1,400, Basketball hoop for the gym, $250, regular tithing, priceless.
- Handicap parking sponsored by the Family Medical Group, LLC
- Bulletin has coupon section
- Wednesday night suppers sponsored by KFC
- Church bell chimes to the tune of the NBC chimes
- Choir robes with the Lands' End logo on the front
- Church flag football team sponsored by the NFL
Source: http://www.mmiblog.com/monday_morning_insight_we/2005/12/15_signs_your_c.html
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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