On Following the Real Jesus

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

H/T New Advent. Eric Sammons over on his Divine Life Blog has posted a quote     up from a surprising source:

Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know, we’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was the Messiah or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we’ve been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had “King of the Jews” on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that’s farfetched.

Is it a theologian? A Scripture scholar? A powerful preacher?  Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Discipleship | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Catholic Church on Homosexuality, Marriage and Same Sex Unions

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

The Culture war rages on.

So called same sex marriages are becoming acceptable to most Americans.  Homosexuality is seen as morally neutral.  We have, I believe, lost the battle. Marriage is no longer seen as between one woman and one man for the purpose of raising a family. Once it was the bedrock of our society. It no longer is.

But the devaluing of marriage began decades ago with the acceptance of easy divorce, contraception, and cohabitation. The nail in the coffin of morality is the idea that sex is for pure pleasure instead of a total gift of self to another person. That is one of the reasons that homosexuality is considered normal.

The idea that there is a natural moral law that human beings should strive to uphold is ridiculed. Moral relativism, the foolish idea that there is no absolute truth, has a death grip on our culture. Moral relativism is a deadly virus that leads to destruction and spiritual death. It has destroyed families and harmed children.

The desire for God, St. Augustine wrote, is written on the human heart. It is in our spiritual DNA.

Too many people do not recognize that the restless yearning in their hearts is a desire for God.  Humans have always sought joy and meaning in their lives. But without acknowledging that there are eternal moral laws, people look for love and joy and meaning in all the wrong places. These things can only be found in a life lived in union with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

But humanity has lost its moral compass. Many Christians do not recognize that we are called to live our lives in love and The Truth which is Jesus Christ.

The remnant of faithful Christians may be declining. We appear to be losing the battle in this world. It is going to get harder to be a faithful Catholic. The Catholic Church is being labeled as homophobic, anti woman, and anti progress. Seemingly overnight all faithful Catholics have become bigots. The enlightened ones are in full attack mode.

So be it. Bring it on.  Faithful Christians know where our true home is, and so our eyes are fixed firmly on heaven. We may become battle weary and a bit fearful, but Jesus never promised us a rose garden in this earthly realm. On the contrary he promised,”Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

Let us heed the words of St. Paul:

“Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 5:10-17)

St. Michael protect us in battle.

Posted in Culture Wars, Homosexual agenda | Tagged , | 10 Comments

News From the Catholic Church vs Gay Agenda Wars

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

The United States bishops have some strong words for the President and his refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage act. USCCB Decries Refusal to Support Defense of Marriage Act

Maryland, home of the first American Catholic Bishop, is well on the way to making same sex marriages legal.  Catholic Culture reports, Maryland to approve same-sex marriage; no exemption for Catholic adoption agencies

Prayer and fasting is in order.

Posted in Catholic Church, Church and the Public Square, Culture Wars | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What is worse? Having no food or having an abortion?

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

Feminists for Life refuse to choose between women and their children. I just     received their latest email:

Greetings!

What is worse? Having no food or having an abortion?

That’s the latest “choice” we are supposed to make for poor women and their children.

During Hill debates and on many blogs, many on one side say “no” to abortion and “no” to helping poor women and their children. Many on the other say “yes” to helping the poor and “yes” to abortion–especially if poor women receive no help.

When Feminists for Life says we REFUSE TO CHOOSE between women and children, we mean it.

Pitting women against children–forcing them to choose between a starving child and having an abortion–is a false choice.

Poor women do not need abortions. They need our help.

We say “yes” to life, and “yes” to helping women and children.

FFL’s national resource guide, “Raising Kids on a Shoestring” can help someone you know right now.  Please share a link to this free resource for pregnant women, expectant dads, birthmothers, parents, counselors, and advisors. You may also order bulk quantities for distribution.

As we discuss cuts to benefits, we must remember that draconian cuts to assistance for the poor will also seriously impede the work of dedicated pregnancy resource centers across this country that depend on a combination of government programs and private support for women and children they serve.

This isn’t the first time in our history that we have felt “forced to choose.” There was an earlier feminist organization, similar to Feminists for Life, called Sorosis.

This week, as we approach Women’s History Month, I encourage you to examine the valuable lessons of women who went before us, and see the parallels for us today in “Sorosis: Sisterhood is Powerful” by Cat Clark and Cayce D. Utley.

The issues raised by Sorosis have neither faded nor been resolved. Today, Feminists for Life asks and addresses the 21st century version of these questions…

When you contact your Senators, connect the dots between life and resources. Share this message on Facebook. Write your letter to the editor. Tell people that pro-life feminists REFUSE TO CHOOSE.®Because women deserve better,
Serrin M. Foster
President

Amen sisters!

Posted in Abortion, Culture of Death | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pretend Woman Deacon Comes Home to Rome

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

This is wonderful news. One of the women ordained by the media in 2007 ,  has publicly renounced her actions and admitted her error. Norma Jean Coon, on her website writes (H/T Fr. Z):

On July 22, 2007, I was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Patricia Fresen, of Germany and South Africa who was ordained by three male bishops in Germany for the group called Roman Catholic Women Priests. The ordination took place at the Santa Barbara Immaculate Heart Spiritual Center. Because neither Patricia Fresen nor myself were given permission for the ordination by Pope Benedict XVI, the ordinations were illegitimate and not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Thus an excommunication process called Latae Sententiae occurred, excommunicating oneself by failure to observe the Canon Laws of the Church.

I wish to renounce the alleged ordination and publicly state that I did not act as a deacon as a part of this group except on two occasions, when I read the gospel once at mass and distributed communion once at this same mass. I withdrew from the program within two weeks of the ceremony because I realized that I had made a mistake in studying for the priesthood. I confess to the truth of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis . I confess the authority of the Holy Father on these issues of ordination and recognize that Christ founded the ordination only for men.

Formally, I relinquish all connection to the program of Roman Catholic Women Priests and I disclaim the alleged ordination publicly with apologies to those whose lives I have offended or scandalized by my actions. I ask God’s blessings upon each of these folks and their families.

Thanks be to God! Please keep Norma in your prayers.


Posted in Women | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Saint of the Day:St. Polycarp; Bishop and Martyr

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

St. Polycarp was converted to Christianity by the Apostle John. St. Irenaeus never forgot the first time that he heard St. Polycarp speak of being a student of John.  Irenaeus was young but he noted everything that Polycarp said on his heart.

Pat Gohn over at Patheos has an interesting article on today’s Saint;

…”Still, Polycarp is one of the heroes of the earliest Church and everyone should know his name. Memorialized by the Church for his readiness to die for the faith, in doing so, Polycarp witnessed to what it means to live as a loyal disciple. The liturgical calendar honors his martyrdom on February 23rd for good reason.” Read more here.

Posted in Early Church, Saints | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Priest hero of The American Catholic Church

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

Since today is “Be humble day”, here is a little something to help us grow in   humility.

From The Anchoress

“If you are not reading historian Pat McNamara’s weekly column In Ages Past, you’re missing great profiles, of American Catholics who impacted this nation in dramatic and often downright exhausting ways.

This week, say hello to Father John Markoe, S.J. – football star, soldier, alcoholic, priest, and a civil rights activist a few decades ahead of the rest:”

Born in 1890 to a blueblood family whose ancestors included Benjamin Franklin, John Prince Markoe was the son of a prominent Minnesota doctor. At 18 he was accepted to West Point, but deferred the appointment in order to go west, to work on the railroads. In 1910, he entered the military academy, where his friends included Dwight Eisenhower. He played football against Knute Rockne and Jim Thorpe, and was named an honorably-mentioned All-American.

When he graduated in 1914, the yearbook said: “Possessing unlimited abilities, there is very little which he is incapable of performing.” But he earned his classmates’ contempt when he stood up for Marcus Alexander, the Point’s only African-American cadet. His final class ranking might have been higher, had Markoe not been a full-fledged alcoholic by his senior year.

Anchoress: “Yeah, yeah, another Catholic in a battle with the bottle, but read on! There is a movie to be made on the life of this handsome fellow, who once tried to fight an entire bar (it took a half-dozen cops to pull him out of there) and spent his whole life walking against the wind. What a movie his life would make!”

Head on over to In Ages Past to read the fascinating story of Fr. Markoe. Also, if you are interested in history,  check out  McNamara’s Blog.

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What Church Manual Dates from the Time of the Apostles?

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

H/T Jimmy Akin.

The Didache.

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Today’s Feast: The Chair of St. Peter

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

From Catholic Culture:

Chair of St. Peter
Since early times, the Roman Church has had a special commemoration of the primatial authority of St. Peter. As witness one of the most renowned of the Apostolic Fathers, the Roman See has always held a peculiar place in the affection and obedience of orthodox believers because of its “presiding in love” and service over all the Churches of God.” Read more here.

Here is a nice video. Note: This video is from last year. This year Lent begins on March 9th.

 

Posted in Catholic Church, Liturgical Year, Saints | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pope to allow ordination of German man married to a nun

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

Married to a NUN???????

The Washington Post has the scoop:

“BERLIN — In a rare move that needed the pope’s approval, a Lutheran convert is being ordained as a Catholic priest in Germany and is being allowed to remain married to his wife – who has already become a nun.

The Cologne archdiocese said 61-year-old Harm Klueting is to be ordained as a Catholic priest Tuesday. Pope Benedict XVI gave him a special permission to remain married to his wife Edeltraut Klueting, who became a Catholic Carmelite nun in 2004. The couple has two grown children.

Klueting and his wife were both Lutherans when they married in 1977 and both converted to Catholicism several years ago.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican’s chief spokesman, says the exception is rare but there have been similar cases.”

Well this wouldn’t be such a headline grabber if it wasn’t for the “married to a nun” addition.  The Church has been ordaining married men from the Anglican and Lutheran traditions for years.

But I am almost 100% certain that Mrs. Klueting isn’t a nun. Since she was already married when she became a Carmelite, she probably belongs to the secular Third Order.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Just  when I think that journalism can’t get any shoddier, at least when reporting on religion, it does.

Posted in Catholic Church, Clergy, Media, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment