February 28, 2009 by Eugene Michael
The following is an excerpt from an article in the National Catholic Reporter (dissident publication):
Finally, I am a prochoice Catholic because my Catholic faith tells me I can be. The Catechism reads, “[Conscience] is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.” Even St. Thomas Aquinas said it would be better to be excommunicated than to neglect your individual conscience. So really, I am just following his lead. After years of research, discernment and prayer, my conscience has been well informed. Being a prochoice Catholic does not contradict my faith; rather, in following my well-informed conscience, I am adhering to the central tenet of Catholic teaching — the primacy of conscience.
(Read more…)
February 25, 2009 by Eugene Michael
From the blogspot of a concerned parent:
It was actually worse than the pictures make it out to be. He processed into mass behind the cross wearing the Mickey Mouse hat and a gold masquerade mask. Once the singing stopped, the first thing he did was blow a kazoo and say, “Happy Mardi Gras.”
This event occurred at the RIT Newman Center Mass.
You can read the rest and see photos at the blogspot of the Corning Curmudgeon. I will entice you with these words: Super-soaker with Holy Water, tie-dyed vestments, gold masquerade mask.
February 24, 2009 by Eugene Michael
Joan, The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint, is an excellent biography of Joan of Arc. The author, Donald Spoto, has done an yeoman’s job of poring through the historical records in order to bring us an accurate accounting of the events that characterized her magnificent life.
(Read more…)
February 23, 2009 by Eugene Michael
Rich Leonardi has acquired a letter written by Bishop Clark in which he justifies what is obviously lay preaching in the DOR by characterizing it as a “dialogue”. In this letter, the bishop refers to a correspondence that was written by Cardinal Arinze to the Neocatechumenal Way as justification for this policy.
(Read more…)
February 23, 2009 by Eugene Michael
A very wonderful young lady from the Rochester area, Michelle Raczka, will soon be entering formation with the Sisters of the Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. They are located in Steubenville, Ohio.
Their primary charism is one of reparation, which they live out in a contemplative and penitential way. They also have an apostolate that is dedicated to teaching and missions.
Please consider supporting these wonderful sisters by making a donation through their website. Follow this link for more information.
February 22, 2009 by Eugene Michael
For those of you who are looking for an excellent online Bible study program, the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology is one that should be considered. Scott Hahn, professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center.
The St. Paul Center’s website is currently offering six courses of study. These courses are free, although users may want to consider supporting the Center’s mission by making a tax-deductible donation.
Please check their website for more information.
February 17, 2009 by Eugene Michael
The following is taken from a Zenit news item posted July 7, 2004. The question was answered by Father Edward McNamara of the Pontifical University. It provides further confirmation that the homiletic practices in the DOR appear to be an aberration, not the norm. (Thanks to Rich Leonardi for finding this).
Q: After the Gospel reading, sometimes our priest sits in the congregation and a lay minister gets up to give a reflection. When I questioned this practice with our bishop’s office, I was told (not by the bishop) that as long as the priest gives a homily, whose duration could be one minute, the lay ministers can give the “reflection.” Is this true?
A…Therefore it is quite clear that the answer you received from the chancery office (which may have been before the publication of this new instruction[Redemptionis Sacramentum]) is now quite incorrect. Before this clarification was published it was considered possible that a bishop could authorize a layperson to read a prepared text after the homily on some special occasions. This was always seen as an exception and never a habitual practice. The reason given in the document for this disposition is that the homily is part of the liturgy itself. As such it is a sacred action and only a sacred minister may carry it out.
February 16, 2009 by Eugene Michael
According to the minutes of a recent parish council meeting at St. Thomas More, Father Joseph Hart (Vicar General of the DOR), was asked why he stands near the layperson who is speaking at Mass during the time reserved for the homily. Father Hart replied that he stood there because the layperson is speaking only in the role of someone who is having a dialogue with the presiding priest. He further stated that his standing there is designed to prevent the congregation from perceiving that the layperson has been delegated the role of homilist.
(Read more…)
February 13, 2009 by Eugene Michael
I have just become aware of an excellent Catholic DVD rental membership club called Pius Media. The format is similar to Netflix, in that you pay a monthly fee for the privilege of renting movies and other programs from them. The DVDs are sent to you via the U. S. Postal Service. Each time you return a DVD they will send you the next one in the queue.
The movies and programs are wholesome and trustworthy. They have many Catholic titles as well as some of the best films ever created by Hollywood. There are also many compilations of old television shows from the heyday of true family programming.
Catholic parents will find this resource especially helpful in this age of immoral television programming. MTV, VH1, HBO, etc., all contain morally offensive and anti-Christian programs. These programs are nothing less than an assault on the mental and spiritual wellbeing of our children.
Parents would do well to dump offensive subscription television services and invest the money in Pius Media entertainment products. Please check out their website for more information.
February 12, 2009 by Eugene Michael
Prominent rabbi identifies the termites who are trying to destroy our Church:
The dissident, leftist movement in the Catholic Church over the last forty years has severely undermined the teaching of the Catholic Church on the moral teachings on life and family, a prominent US Orthodox rabbi told LifeSiteNews.com…”I understand that it is very important to fill the pews of the Catholic Church not with cultural Catholics and left-wingers who are helping to destroy the Catholic Church and corrupt the values of the Catholic Church.” This corruption, he said, “has a trickle-down effect to every single religious community in the world.”
Now, if only we could get this rabbi to convert. Sounds like he’d make a wonderful bishop.
February 11, 2009 by Eugene Michael
For those of you who are looking for an informative and orthodox local Bible study, check out the latest offering from St. Irenaeus Ministries. David Higbee, director of St. Irenaeus, is one of the most knowledgeable Bible scholars in the Rochester area. The current instruction is a study of St. Paul’s Book of Romans. The classes are available three days a week at various locations. Please follow this link for more information.
February 10, 2009 by Eugene Michael
From Cardinal Ratzinger’s Market Economy and Ethics:
It is becoming an increasingly obvious fact of economic history that the development of economic systems which concentrate on the common good depends on a determinate ethical system, which in turn can be born and sustained only by strong religious convictions. Conversely, it has also become obvious that the decline of such discipline can actually cause the laws of the market to collapse.
(Read more…)
February 7, 2009 by Eugene Michael
Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5:
“There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.”
(Read more…)
February 5, 2009 by Eugene Michael
The following is from an interview with Archbishop Burke:
“The Church’s law is very clear,” said Archbishop Burke, who was appointed last year by Pope Benedict XVI as the head of the Church’s highest court, the Apostolic Signatura. “The person who persists publicly in grave sin is to be denied Holy Communion, and it [Canon Law] doesn’t say that the bishop shall decide this. It’s an absolute.”
(Read more…)
February 2, 2009 by Eugene Michael
John Fraysier is a local business owner and former Christian fellowship leader. He converted to Catholicism after studying Church history for several years.
Growing up, John attended American Baptist Church with his family. He describes his Christian faith as lukewarm until he reached young adulthood. “I didn’t have a strong faith growing up, but it increased as I started to get older…in high school, I got a little more interested”. After graduation, John attended Oswego State. At the time, he had a girlfriend who had gone on to a different college.
(Read more…)
