9-18-07
Greetings!
Jeff Miller is the author of one of my favorite blogs, "The Curt Jester" http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/
He does a masterful parody of a recent article in Newsweek on a woman recently "ordained" as a Catholic priest. Of course, such a thing is no more possible then my deciding I'm going to be a member of the Green Bay Packers football team—whether they agree with my decision or not. Nonetheless, she decided she was going to be a Catholic priest, whether the Catholic Church let her or not. And not surprisingly, the Newsweek article is very sympathetic to her.
Jeff Miller responds with his own declaration that he's going to be "a reporter for Newsweek." He's decided this and refuses to let their "outmoded" and "antiquated" ideas stand in the way of his doing what he thinks he's called to do…that is be a reporter for Newsweek.
Higher Calling
I have quite an announcement to make. I am now a reporter for Newsweek magazine! I always felt a call to be a reporter for Newsweek magazine so this is something very important for me. I can't tell you how thrilled I am at this news and the impact this has on my life and hopefully the lives of others.
The hierarchy of Newsweek magazine though doesn't recognize my call to be a reporter for them. So I had to have reporter credentials given me by an Ecumenical magazine group that also see themselves nevertheless as Newsweek employees and don't recognize the authority of Newsweek's editors to make hiring decisions.
So for my first article as a Newsweek employee I am going to interview myself, this way nobody can charge me with making up interviews as in the case of ABC's Alexis Debat.
NEWSWEEK: What made you decide to become a Newsweek reporter?
Jeff Miller: It was a long process that started at a very young age. I grew up reading bad religion reporting and was always attracted to Newsweek's egregious reporting and I was affirmed by others that I had gifts for bad reporting.
Have you heard from the Newsweek hierarchy?
The reporting community I belong to hasn't felt anything from the editors, but local stringers have informed others not to read my reporting since I wasn't a "validly credentialed" reporters for Newsweek.
How has your family handled your decision? Are they still Newsweek readers?
They are. They are actually incredibly supportive. My immediate family came for my giving a Newsweek credentials. My grandmother bought me an old typewriter.
How many people read your Newsweek articles?
We have 80 registered members. And we have a number of people who come who are subscribe to Newsweek but who come to read with us as a place to refresh their souls—a lot of them are ex-Newsweek readers who are uncomfortable with Newsweek's discriminatory hiring practices.
Do you know the other Ecumenically credentialed Newsweek reporters?
In the Ecumenical Newsweek Communion there are six other reporters. I know all of them. In the Ecumenical Reporters Communion we no longer claim that we're underneath the authority of the editors. [There's also a group called the Roman Newsweek Reporters, which also credentials some reporters.] During the last several years there have been organized giving of Newsweek reporter credentials primarily on river boats.
Have you received any hate mail?
I personally have not received hate mail, although there are plenty of blogs that I have found online that like to slander my name when they get hold of information about my credentials. It's unfortunate and sad. The people I serve are excited to see a place where men and women can read my articles side by side. Just because I wasn't actually hired by Newsweek and I receive no salary from them or actually turn my stories over to them to be published doesn't prevent me from being a validly credentialed Newsweek reporters. Defenders of Newsweek's reporter tradition says that since founders of Newsweek (Ward Cheney, John Hay Whitney, and Paul Mellon) didn't allow people to call themselves Newsweek reporters without actually being hired by them that this can't be changed. There has been recent archaeological evidence in Newsweek headquarters of a statue of a reporter who does not seem to have ever been on their pay role. I think this is evidence of self-named Newsweek reporters in the early history of the magazine. If only people would get with the modern time and to understand how discriminatory Newsweek's present hiring practices are by not hiring everybody that would apply.
Is there anything else you wish people knew?
It's important to me that people see that I did what the others do to prepare to be a reporter. I took that traditional path. I got a certificate from an online journalism school for a reasonable fee. I forced myself to cover local news of minor happenings to prepare myself. I just wish more reporters who find themselves alienated from the magazine could find a magazine home. I am taking this step forward so that others in the future will have the opportunity to be a Newsweek reporter without having to face their discriminatory hiring practice of only hiring those with a journalism degree and having the ability to write and to act as a reporter.
The Newsweek story can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20747812/site/newsweek/page/2/
The beginning of the end for "Planned Parenthood"—the largest provider of abortions in America? The Media are generally not friendly toward pro-life issues—one need only search fruitlessly every January 23rd for any coverage of the Annual March for Life event in DC—even though it attracts between 100,000 and 300,000 people every year.
Nonetheless, when scandal or deceit are in the air, the media is pretty good about reporting it. Such is the case with the new Planned Parenthood facility in Aurora, IL. Fox News did a biting piece on how Planned Parenthood circumvented local laws. The story can be found here on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18IKmx6wsYk
****Update, a federal judge issued an injunction to temporarily stop the clinic from opening as scheduled on 9-17-07.*****
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As the school year gets underway, some friendly advice to schools, teachers, and students via Cardinal Grocholewski in the Vatican.
Vatican Aide Offers 3 Back-to-School Tips
Also Gives Advice to Teachers and Administrators
VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 17, 2007 (
Zenit.org).- The prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education offered students some advice as the new school year gets under way.
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski told Vatican Radio that students should try to grow in true wisdom, develop an ever-increasing critical sense and know how to discern good from evil.
Cardinal Grocholewski also added the importance of increasing the sense of responsibility for actions and knowing how to use what is learned in school.
The 67-year-old prelate said it is not enough to gain technical knowledge.
"To live wisely involves sacrifice, renunciation, domination of our desires, of our instincts," he said. "But only living wisely makes a person mature and doers of the true good, of true progress.
"Contact with the Lord, with Christ, helps a great deal in the formation of wisdom, therefore teaching religion is important."
"It is important that your faith grows," the cardinal added, "and never forget your prayer," because "your greatest friend is Christ."
Cardinal Grocholewski exhorted students to live in contact with God, saying, "It is he who truly loves you and who will help you to become mature persons, who know how to contribute to the true good and that of others."
Schools' task
The cardinal also spoke about the values that schools today must try to recover: "Above all one must try and love the truth and search for the truth.
"Often today we see this relativism in regard to the search for truth about our life and our destiny. In this way various demagogies and tendencies to dominate others can befall us. Instead, to grow in the truth, to love the truth, means to become ever freer."
The cardinal maintained that already in elementary schools, "there must be efforts to root in the hearts of children, of young people, this love of truth."
"For us Christians, the truth can never be separated from that which Jesus has taught us: 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,'" he explained.
Cardinal Grocholewski also had a word for professors, defining a good educator as "one who loves their students. It is very important that teachers confirm with their lives, with their example, with their love, that which they teach."
It's a "Catholic" thing—but one that's 2000 years old!
John Paul II Relics Available
Vicariate of Rome Accepting Requests
VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 13, 2007 (Zenit.org
).- People who want to receive a relic "ex indumentis" -- from the clothing -- or a holy card of Pope John Paul II, may do so by writing to the Vicariate of Rome.
The Vicariate of Rome is accepting requests via mail, fax or e-mail for the religious items. The petition should be sent to "Holy Cards and Relics Service," and should indicate a shipping address.
The holy cards contain the prayer to obtain graces through the intercession of the Servant of God John Paul II and can be requested in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish and Portuguese.
Though the vicariate is not charging for the holy card, donations are accepted to cover the printing and mailing expenses.
For more information, visit the official multilingual Web site of the postulation of the cause of beatification and canonization.
Send requests to:
Vicariate of Rome -- 3rd Floor
"Totus Tuus"
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, 6/A
Rome, Italy 00184
Tel: +39 06 69893723
Fax: +39 06 69886240
To contact the Vicariate's Web site:
http://www.vicariatusurbis.org/Beatificazione/Italiano/LeIniziative/RichiediUnaReliquiaExIndumentisESantino.htm
* * *
PRAYER FOR ASKING GRACES THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
POPE JOHN PAUL II
O Blessed Trinity
We thank You for having graced the Church
with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care,
the glory of the cross of Christ,
and the splendor of the Holy Spirit,
to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
and has shown us that holiness
is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will,
the graces we implore,
hoping that he will soon be numbered
among your saints.
Amen.
With ecclesiastical approval
CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI
The Holy Father's Vicar General
For the Diocese of Rome
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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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