Boston Catholic schools – Truth not essential, “inclusivity” is January 27, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, Dallas Diocese, foolishness, General Catholic, North Deanery, sadness, scandals, Society.comments closed
There has been quite a bit of uproar over the decision of the Diocese of Boston to admit children of “same sex couples” to diocesan schools, reversing earlier decisions made at the parish level in the diocese, and opposite to a nationwide trend. In defending the decision, the executive director of the Boston Catholic Education Foundation stated: “From the perspective of the foundation, the key part of this is that it does not exclude any group of students, and it promotes what is essential to Catholic education, which is inclusivity.” Oh, really! That’s what is essential to Catholic education, and, hence, to being Catholic – inclusivity! Not Faith, Charity, or certainly not Truth, but “inclusivity,” which means, accepting the wisdom of the world and not the Truth of God.
Such a statement is, I believe, categorically wrong, for while unity is certainly what God wills for His Church, that unity must be predicated on the acceptance of Truth, Truth grounded in the twin pillars of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, both pillars unanimous in their condemnation of those who commit homosexual acts, such as living together and sharing a bed. Without adherence to that truth, the first act of faith according to St. Paul, there is no unity, there is only the illusion of sentimentality.
Obviously, any such child admitted to a Catholic school would be sorely conflicted by the differing presentations of the Faith they received – one from the school, ostensibly presenting, faithfully, Catholic doctrine on homosexuality, and in the home seeing something totally different played out. What a horrid position to be put in, for everyone involved.
But in reality, isn’t this mostly just smoke and mirrors? How many Catholic schools do you think convey Church doctrine on homosexuality? How many do you think either ignore the subject, or reject that doctrine entirely? The issue is primarily symbolic, because allowing the children with gay parents to enter the schools sends a very bad message, that in a particular diocese, they’re not too concerned about this particular aspect of Catholic dogma. And that, perhaps, is saddest of all, that in so many diocese and schools, whole swaths of the Faith are either rejected, or simply ignored, because they are too difficult to defend against a hostile world.
Yesterday, in the 1962 Missal, was the Feast of St. Polycarp. Interesting timing: “ST. POLYCARP, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met St. Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” St. Polycarp answered, “I know you for the first-born of Satan.” These were the words of a Saint most loving and most charitable, and specially noted for his compassion to sinners. He hated heresy, because he loved God and man so much.”
There are many ‘in the Church’ today who would have a profound dislike, bordering on hatred, for St. Polycarp.
Working in the death industry takes a toll January 27, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Abortion, Basics, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, North Deanery, sadness, sickness, Society.comments closed
A human toll. I think it likely that it fundamentally changes those that work in the abortion mills, making them craven and having no regard for human life. For example:
A few weeks ago, I was driving down a major road in my area. It is one of those big, 6 lane roads with lots of traffic and lots of businesses along it. I was in the far right lane heading home from work when all of a sudden, I was nearly run off the road by another driver. I had to slam on my brakes and swerve into the shoulder of the road in order to avoid being hit by this crazy driver. I recovered quickly and continued down the road, keeping a safe distance behind the guy who just cut me off. At first I blew it off as one of our winter residents here in Florida, “Snow Birds” as we like to call them; older, retired residents who spend a few months here in the winter to avoid the cold north. About a mile down the road the car that cut me off turned into the parking lot of a professional center where I know there is an abortion clinic. I know there is a clinic there because I have spent some time in front of this clinic praying for the end of abortion. The thought occurred to me that this person just nearly ran me off the road because I am pro-life. No, I don’t think he could have recognized me for praying outside the clinic. I’m not one of the regulars who are there week after week praying for an end to abortion. All he had to do was to look at my car to see that I was pro-life. You see, in Florida, we have the option to pay a little extra for our annual license plate renewal in order to donate to a charity. As you can guess, my license plate proclaims “Choose Life.”
Our family has suffered experiences similar to this. One abortion mill we frequently pray outside, Routh Street, is located between an alley and the southbound frontage road of Central Expressway. It’s also located next to the White Rose crisis pregnancy center. Because to enter the mill, the women must drive down the alley, that’s usually where we pray. It’s also where the staff enter. There have been several staff at the mill, nurses, who drive madly down the alley, 30-40 mph (speed limit is 10), swerving all the time, acting as if they intend to run over those praying outside, especially our kids. They have said vile things about my wife, my children and I. And I have seen them get in their cars, or run out on foot, to chase down women who seek to leave the abortuary. We’ve called the police, but, of course, they do nothing. I don’t think it a reach to say that making one’s living killing babies is soul-destroying. I can’t imagine what it does…..I can’t imagine the all pervasive darkness that must be so prevalent. It is known that many who work at the mills, especially the nurses, are either very young and inexperienced or older and jaded, frequently with drug or alcohol issues. And then there are the elements of the occult and witchcraft, tied in with the most radical of feminism, that are also practiced by many who work in the mills. All in all, there souls are surrounded by darkness. They must be miserable, even if they would never admit it.
Still, the author relating the road rage incident makes a very necessary point. In spite of all their horrid actions, in spite of their darkness, these are still human beings made in the image and likeness of God, and they, especially they, need our prayers:
We need to pray for those in the “Death Industry”. We need to pray for an end to the industry. For those, like Kermit Gosnell, who we see little hope for, there is still a chance that they may be cured before they die. We need to pray for them. Pray that they may come to see the light. Those in the “Death Industry” can change. They can come to an understanding of and a respect for life. Abby Johnson, a former director for Planned Parenthood, came to see the light. Others can, too.
Patrick Madrid coming to St. Ann in Coppell January 27, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, Basics, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, North Deanery.comments closed
The man, the myth, the legend – Patrick Madrid, noted apologist and TV personality is coming to St. Ann in Coppell on February 17. It starts with a $20 dinner and discussion at 5:30 and which is followed by the presentation “Why be Catholic.” You can buy tickets here. Map of general vicinity of St. Anns (way over in the Tarrant) is here. Here’s a sample of his presentation:
Madrid is a very good speaker and well known from EWTN and many other venues. Go check him out!
My wife is too good… January 27, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, Latin Mass.comments closed
…..she sent me this. And thanks, Corey!
Ah, good St. Padre Pio. What a Saint. I liked this, because it’s a topic in our catechism class this week (St. Mark in Plano in the library at 7pm on Sundays, you can still come!), and because it’s at the core of so much of the discord in the Church – those who want only to obey, and those who refuse: “Where there is no obedience, there is no virtue; there is neither goodness of love. And where there is no love, there is no God. Without God, we cannot reach Heaven. These virtues form a ladder; if a step is missing, we fall down.” St. Paul said that the first work of Faith is obedience. Good St. Pio, St. Paul, pray for us!
Life under sharia January 27, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, General Catholic, sadness, scandals, Society.comments closed
It ain’t beer an’ skittles:
Motivated by fear and better economic prospects, at least 20 Pakistani Christians are converting to Islam each week. In recent weeks, a leading Muslim politician who called for modifications to the nation’s blasphemy law was gunned down, and thousands marched through the street of Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, chanting, “Death to Christians and the friends of Christians.”
“People have no faith in the police or justice system, and the kind of fear that exists now was never there before,” says Peter Jacob, a prominent lay Catholics.
“No one feels safe right now,” adds Nadeem Anthony, a Christian and a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. “People are scared.”
Such is the existence of the “dhimmi,” the second-class status afforded “people of the book”, Jews or Christians, who live under sharia. While, in some places, dhimmis can pay their tax and obey external islamic requirements – (especially modesty requirements for women) and carry on somewhat in their faith, provided they live it totally privately, in others the volatility prevalent in much of the islamic culture makes them easy targets for persecution. When the government is dominated by muslim fundamentalists, there is no recourse, no “safety net” to protect the supposed rights of Christians, even as dhimmis. And so, faced with maintaining their faith, or dying, many choose to convert. This is how islam converted most all of the Meditteranean littoral in the 600-700s – while nominally, one could persist in Christianity as a dhimmi, in practice, forceful imams or caliphs could raise such persecution that many will fold rather than die a martyr’s death.
It is interesting that Vatican II specifically asked Catholics to live such a devout, vibrant Faith that they would even shed their blood for Christ. Even with these conversions, that does appear one aspect of the Council that has unfortunately come to pass with distressing (or glorious?) frequency.
Related. You might consider offering a prayer for Christian communities in the mideast, where the last remnants of a culture 2000 years old is rapidly being extinguished.
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