Will they ever quit?

National Catholic Reporter--Scroll down to:

"Quotable & Notable"

“It smells of sulfur, still, today.”
-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez at the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 20 while making the sign of the cross. He called President Bush, who spoke the day before, the devil.”

So they have to add this to their site? Where's the peace & love in posting this on their site?

Lawsuit Filed Against All 194 U.S. Bishops

Local Catholic Bishop Named in Unprecedented Child Molestation Lawsuit

This must cost some $$ as this took place across the country. It appears that they are seeking justice not $$. I don't know how they will be able to force them to disclose the abusive priests.

We do have a National Sex Offender Registry. Shouldn't they have to register here too?!

List of Bishops- CASE DETAILS-PDF

The lawsuit, which seeks no monetary damages, was filed in August in St. Croix County Circuit Court, Wisconsin (Court File No.06CV581). It asks a state judge to force America's 194 Catholic bishops to disclose the names of roughly 5,000 proven, admitted and credibly accused abusive priests in the US. The suit is being brought by the family of Dan O'Connell of Wisconsin,who, along with a co-worker, was shot and killed in February 2002 by a suspected pedophile priest who also owned guns and pornography.

Lawyers-Jeff Anderson & Associates

Crusade Against Clergy Abuse

A Revolution-Lay Parish Ministers

Speaker calls growth in number of lay parish ministers a revolution

"Veil tip" to Dom on the Archdiocese of Boston's newspaper- "The Pilot"

Two-thirds of parishes across the spectrum of Catholic life in the United States, from cities to suburbs to small towns, now employ lay parish ministers, he said."It is hard to fathom just how much parish ministry changed in the span of one generation," DeLambo said. "Lay parish ministers are (now) a common and accepted presence in parishes across the country. This, indeed, is a development of revolutionary proportions."

What happened to the priest's role in the parish? Why isn't he considered to be in charge? Because he doesn't have great management or finance skills? Or is it because he can abdicate his authority to lay people who (more than likely) have been poorly catechized thereby relieving him of the responsibility to fully shepherd his flock.
I wish as a mother -in my vocation, that I could say to my husband--"here honey, you get to do all the shopping, the laundry, car-pooling, etc. now." So, if he responds negatively, I'll inform him that I'm going to hire a driver, a laundress, and a shopper to do this work. Seems to me that this would not be a true acceptance of my vocation.

To make matters worse these lay people have not been "fed" the true teachings of the Catholic Church. Often they have received degrees or instruction from schools or colleges that have blatantly NOT followed the Magisterium.

"The challenge for church leaders will be to facilitate the education and formation of lay parish ministers," he added. More and more dioceses are offering continuing education and formation programs, he said.Today about 80 percent of lay parish ministers are women, DeLambo said, noting that the percentage of men has increased slowly since 1990. He added that women in parish ministry are a "gift to the church," and those married with children "bring sensitivity to lay concerns, and to families, as well as to issues related to gender and inclusion."

And I know for fact there is a concerted effort to remove the patriarchy of the church only to replace it with a matriarchy. (This could be an interesting read --cuddle up to when the weather finally changes)

I'm afraid it appears to be business as usual...and as a local Sister of Mercy once stated (btw-vehemently "in my face") "the train has already left the station"! Thank you Sister!

GOD HELP US!

Archbishop Milingo-the Saga Continues

Milingo says he rejects excommunication notice

Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, who was excommunicated Tuesday, said he does not accept his excommunication and will continue his campaign to persuade the Vatican to allow married priests.

UNESCO-World Heritage

At the risk of sounding a bit over the edge...
Something doesn't seem right here...why? For obvious reasons this one caught my eye-- St. Catherine's Monastery.

What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

Who are all the peoples of the world? and where do they live?

This is just one item of their mission list:

• provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;

Are we going to have armed guards protecting these properties against physical harm too?

List of World Heritage-a few Catholic Sites (of what I can translate):

1. Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)
2. Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba
3. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai
4. Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
5. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
6. Boyana Church
7. Churches of Chiloé
8. Bourges Cathedral
9. St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
10. Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
11. Vatican City

There are more listed...

What is the true purpose? Their FAQ's. Global Strategy

Again--why?

U.S. Bishops to Vote on Strategic Plan With Restructured Committees, Smaller USCCB Staff

USCCB smaller?! Yeah, right!

The restructuring has been recommended by the Committee on Priorities and Plans, chaired by Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, NM. The committee, which is responsible for strategic planning, aims to create a more focused, smaller and less costly conference. The process follows a report from the USCCB Task Force on Activities and Resources that called for "a mechanism for Conference-wide strategic planning, implementation and assessment." Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington chaired the task force that produced the report adopted by the bishops in November 2004.
The restructuring involves reducing the current 68 committees, subcommittees and task forces of bishops to 34. Staff offices corresponding to the committees will be restructured, contributing to a 16 percent or $1.9 million reduction in the annual diocesan assessment toward the USCCB yearly budget. The conference budget for 2007 is $139 million, with $11.9 million, or nine percent, coming from the ssessment. The rest of the budget comes from national collections, government contracts, foundation grants and sales/royalties.

Wisconsin to Offer Free Stem Cell Licenses

Doyle hopes to attract jobs by giving permits to firms sponsoring research at Wisconsin institutions

Gov. Jim Doyle announced that Wisconsin would try to compete with richer, bigger states by using a tool that none of them have: embryonic stem cell patents. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, will offer free, non-exclusive licenses to conduct embryonic stem cell research to companies that are sponsoring such research at Wisconsin non-profit and academic institutions, said Elizabeth Donley, special counsel to the foundation and executive director of WiCellResearch Institute. The institute is a WARF subsidiary set up to conduct stem cell research and train scientists and others in the field.

Who will go? What companies? That's right...we kill embryos so others may have jobs?

The hope is that the incentives will help Wisconsin attract companies engaged in embryonic stem cell research, so the state can create jobs and stay competitive,
she said.

Feast of the Holy Archangels- St. Michael, St.Gabriel, & St.Raphael

The Three Flames of Divine Love-President of HLI- Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer's Spirit & Life e-Newsletter

The blessed archangels are three flames of divine love and grace because of their burning desire for our eternal salvation. They exist to lead us to heaven, and their Hebrew names reveal their respective roles.

St. Michael, St. Gabriel, & St. Raphael and....

Truly we don't pay enough attention to the archangels whose radiant love is burning incandescently around us at every moment of our waking and sleeping. Of course we can't see those divine flames with our eyes. It takes faith to see them. With faith we know that these strong, ravishing spiritual beings drive away evil by their very presence and exist only to serve us.

They exist to serve Father-God FIRST and then us. And do they ever!

Remember, to call on them to expedite and assist you in proclaiming God's Truth to others-all those you come in contact, i.e. before an important meeting, dealing with your children, speaking with your spouse. Include them in your morning offering and thank them in your evening prayers and reflection. They can and will go ahead of you to open hearts, just as St. Gabriel opened the Blessed Virgin Mary's heart as she was fearful and did not understand what the Archangel Gabriel was telling her. Of course ask Our Virgin Mother to intervene as well. Again, don't forget to thank them---by giving all honor, glory and praise to our Triune God!

The Archangels-prayers and information.

Our Father who art in heaven, thank you for the blessings of your heavenly archangels: St.Michael our protector and defender, St. Gabriel your messenger of Your Word, and St. Raphael your healer-"medicine of God". May we ask that they continue to defend us, assist us in proclaiming Your Word, and heal us in all our sufferings and illnesses. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit and by the Will of God the Father. Amen.

Milingo-'Latae Sententiae'-Canon 1382

COMMUNIQUE CONCERNING ARCHBISHOP EMMANUEL MILINGO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 26, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released a communique concerning the present ecclesial position of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo. The text of the communique is given below:
"With great concern, the Holy See has followed the recent activities of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia, with his new association of married priests, spreading division and confusion among the
faithful.
"Church representatives of various levels have tried in vain to contact Archbishop Milingo in order to dissuade him from persisting in actions that provoke scandal, especially among the faithful who followed his pastoral
ministry in favor of the poor and the sick.
"Bearing in mind the understanding shown, also recently, by Peter's Successor towards this aged pastor of the Church, the Holy See has awaited with vigilant patience the evolution of events which, unfortunately, have led
Archbishop Milingo to a position of irregularity and of progressively open rupture of communion with the Church, first with his attempted marriage and then with the ordination of four bishops on Sunday, September 24, in Washington D.C., U.S.A.
"For this public act both Archbishop Milingo and the four ordinands have incurred excommunication 'latae sententiae,' as laid down in Canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law. Moreover, the Church does not recognize, nor does she intend to recognize in the future, these ordinations and all ordinations deriving from them; and she considers the canonical status of the four supposed-bishops as being that they held prior to this ordination.The Apostolic See, attentive to the unity and peace of the flock of Christ, had hoped that the fraternal influence of people close to Archbishop Milingo would cause him to rethink and return to full communion with the Pope. Unfortunately the latest developments have made these hopes more unlikely.
"At times of ecclesial suffering such as these, may prayers intensify among all the community of the faithful."
OP/ARCHBISHOP MILINGO/... VIS 060926 (330)

Women and Islam

Gunmen Kill Afghan Women's Affairs Official

Where is the peace in this action?

Two gunmen on a motorbike killed the southern provincial head of Afghanistan's Ministry of Women's Affairs outside her home Monday in apparent retribution for her efforts to help educate women, officials said.

Low Birth Rate Prompts Eternal Youth Funding

South Korea struggles to discover secrets of eternal youth

The science ministry's technology project is part of an all-out government campaign to stop a falling birth rate. Despite incentives, many young people have been reluctant to give up careers to start a family. Some see children as an expensive burden on their lifestyles and careers. As a result, the country's fertility rate, the average number of children born to a fertile woman, fell to a record low of 1.08 in 2005, far lower than the world average of 2.6.

South Korea's population, which stands at 48 million this year, is forecast to fall to 40 million in 2050.

More Prayers for Archbishop Milingo

Washington, D.C., Archbishop Installs 4 Married Priests, but Archdiocese Refuses to Recognize Them

Thank goodness!

Prayers for the Archbishop continue. Picture-Married Priests Now: one big family

Emmanuel Milingo and his wife greeted the participants and told the story of their marriage. Milingo gave an enthusiastic call for the church to recognize its own married priests and for married priests to join together in unity.

Unfortunately, the Archbishop 'has left the building'....and the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI's Meeting -His 'Exact' Words

NEED FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

"I should like to reiterate today all the esteem and the profound respect that I have for Muslim believers," he continued in his French-language address.

"I have had occasion, since the very beginning of my pontificate, to express my wish to continue establishing bridges of friendship with the adherents of all religions, showing particular appreciation for the growth of
dialogue between Muslims and Christians."

"In a world marked by relativism and too often excluding the transcendence and universality of reason, we are in great need of an authentic dialogue between religions and between cultures, capable of assisting us, in a spirit of fruitful cooperation, to overcome all the tensions together.

"Continuing, then, the work undertaken by my predecessor Pope John Paul II," he added, "I sincerely pray that the relations of trust which have developed between Christians and Muslims over several years, will not only continue, but will develop further in a spirit of sincere and respectful dialogue, based on ever more authentic reciprocal knowledge which, with joy, recognizes the religious values that we have in common and, with loyalty, respects the differences.

"Inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue," the Pope continued, "is a necessity for building together this world of peace and fraternity ardently desired by all people of good will. In this area, our contemporaries expect from us an eloquent witness to show all people the value of the religious dimension of life.

"Likewise, faithful to the teachings of their own religious traditions, Christians and Muslims must learn to work together, as indeed they already do in many common undertakings, in order to guard against all forms of intolerance and to oppose all manifestations of violence. As for us, religious authorities and political leaders, we must guide and encourage them in this direction."

Benedict XVI then highlighted how "the lessons of the past" must "help us to seek paths of reconciliation, in order to live with respect for the identity and freedom of each individual, with a view to fruitful co-operation in the service of all humanity. As Pope John Paul II said in his memorable speech to young people at Casablanca in Morocco: 'Respect and dialogue require reciprocity in all spheres, especially in that which concerns basic freedoms, more particularly religious freedom. They favor peace and agreement between peoples'."

The Holy Father concluded his address by expressing his profound conviction "that in the current world situation it is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another in order to address the numerous challenges that present themselves to humanity, especially those concerning the defense and promotion of the dignity of the human person and of the rights ensuing from that dignity. When threats mount up against people and against peace, by recognizing the central character of the human person and by working with perseverance to see that human life is always respected, Christians and Muslims manifest their obedience to the Creator, Who wishes all people to live in the dignity that He has bestowed upon them."

Stem cells made from 'dead' human embryo

Scientists say they have created a stem cell line from a human embryo that had stopped developing naturally, and so was considered dead. Using such embryos might ease ethical concerns about creating such cells, they suggested.
One expert said the technique makes harvesting stem cells no more ethically troublesome than organ donation. But others said it still carries scientific and ethical problems.

Priests- Next Generation II

Joining a Fraternity of Faith, Dwindling but Resolute

But several of the incoming students, including Mr. Hacker, have already experienced a measure of confirmation in their first weeks. Jason Espinal, 22, who attended community college before enrolling in the seminary, was overcome while genuflecting before the Eucharist in the seminary’s chapel on a recent Sunday. He went down on one knee, but then prostrated himself completely.

“I found myself in tears,” he said.

Like the other students, Mr. Espinal has endured plenty of questions about his decision to pursue the priesthood. Lawyers at a firm where he was working told him it would squelch his personality. A friend told him he thought it was disgusting that he would be living with other priests.