More lies spawned by the Father of Lies: there can be no "healthy" disagreement about the cult of death

The warmongers of the whited sepulchre "death juggernaut" have released the following thinly veiled attempt to paint a pretty picture over the brutal and ugly reality of the senseless and evil slaughter of the weakest and most vulnerable members of the richest and most spoiled society in the world:

"Notre Dame is one of the first universities (a certain person) will visit as (a certain national position of leadership) and he is honored to address the graduating class, their families and faculty of a school with such a rich history of fostering the exchange of ideas… While he is honored to have the support of millions of people of all faiths, including Catholics with their rich tradition of recognizing the dignity of people, he does not govern with the expectation that everyone sees eye to eye with him on every position. The spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country."

Those most capable of a generous expression of hospitality are guilty of the greater sin in refusing to welcome the unborn so that those who already happen to be living may do as they please. Have we participated in the transformation that has led our country to becoming central command of a world war against the most vulnerable of human lives: the unborn child in the sanctity of her mother's womb? Has the premier Catholic university in the United States now signed on as a fawning minion in this evil cause?

Absolutely essential: respecting the office of the President and the human being who holds that office and is made in God's image and likeness.

Absolutely essential: respecting and cherishing every other human life for the same reasons.

Also absolutely essential: peaceful, respectful and non-violent protest.

((((..))))

Recommended reading: Is Notre Dame Still Catholic?

Ask Father: What is "Holy Week"?

Holy Week is the anniversary of the last week of Christ's life on earth.

It begins on Palm Sunday (April 5 this year) with the celebration of Our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the rightful king and ends after the reading of the Passion (the account of Christ’s sufferings and death, from St. Mark’s Gospel this year). On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Mass is said as usual.

After Wednesday (sometimes called “Spy” Wednesday, because of Judas’ treachery), the Sacred Triduum (Latin for “three days”) begins: Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday’s Mass is a celebration of the Last Supper, which was the first Mass ever offered. Three great gifts are recalled on this night: the Holy Eucharist, the priesthood, and the new commandment to love one another as Christ loves us.

Good Friday is the only day when the Church allows no Masses to be said; the afternoon service vividly recalls Our Lord’s suffering and death on the Cross.

Holy Saturday passes in watchful prayer at the tomb of Christ, until nightfall when, at the Easter Vigil Mass, we celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead. Finally, Easter Sunday is the celebration of the Lord’s glorious Resurrection.

(Photo: Holy Week in Sevilla, Spain. The "Ask Father" series is offered through the kindness of Father Charles Johnson, CHC, USNR, currently deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt.)

Catholic Bishops: "Reiki" a no-go

US bishops: Reiki is dangerous, superstitious

March 27, 2009

In a document released March 25, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops blasted Reiki, a practice developed in Japan in the late nineteenth century that has gained acceptance in some Catholic retreat centers and other institutions.

After distinguishing between natural medicine and supernatural healing effected by Christ, the bishops conclude:

Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief. For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. In terms of caring for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent.

In terms of caring for one's spiritual health, there are important dangers. To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science.

Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science. Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction. While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible.

Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.

The bishops add, “Some forms of Reiki teach of a need to appeal for the assistance of angelic beings or ‘Reiki spirit guides.’ This introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers.”

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy (USCCB Committee on Doctrine)
• Reiki Therapy Unscientific, ‘Inappropriate for Catholic Institutions,’ Say Bishops’ Guidelines (USCCB)

(With thanks to Catholic Culture.)

Canon 915: "Completely clear"

"The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person. And that, basically, for two reasons: number one, to prevent the person himself or herself from committing a sacrilege, and secondly, to protect the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist."

- Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke,
Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

"Benedict Has it Right"

March 19, 2009 4:00 AM

Benedict Has It Right
The truth about condoms, and Africa.

(Photo: The faithful greet Pope Benedict in Cameroon.)

"The Pope is correct"

Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, has said that the evidence confirms that the Pope is correct in his assessment that condom distribution exacerbates the problem of AIDS.

"The pope is correct," Green told National Review Online Wednesday, "or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope's comments."

"There is," Green added, "a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded 'Demographic Health Surveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology."

Click here to read the full interview with Green.

"...let me stick up for Benedict"

“ The usual howls of derision and contempt have greeted Pope Benedict XVI’s comments, as he arrived for his first visit to Africa, that the HIV/ AIDS holocaust there ‘ is a tragedy that cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem.' "

“ The thrust of his outraged detractors is that he is a cruel and vindictive old man, out of touch with the real world and condemning millions in the undeveloped world to unspeakable suffering and premature death. So let me stick up for Benedict. He declares that the Church’s historic teaching that chastity outside marriage and fidelity within it would prevent the spread of killer diseases such as AIDS. Whatever your views on the subject, that simple statement is undoubtedly true. And Benedict is in the truth business."

--Rev George Pitcher, Anglican

Notre Dame Shame

Notre Dame comes out of the closet: not even pretending to be Catholic now!

NOTRE DAME, Indiana (LifeSiteNews.com) - White House Secretary Robert Gibbs stated today that N. will give the commencement address at Notre Dame University this year. The school confirmed the announcement, stating on its website that N. will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University's 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 17 in the Joyce Center on campus.

In 2004, the United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a policy statement called "Catholics in Political Life," which says, with reference to pro-abortion politicians, "They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."

President N. has been called the "abortion president" by pro-life activists, and his appearance at the university would appear to violate the USCCB's policy against honoring pro-abortion politicians.

Read the story here.

What’s with the pink vestments?

Ask Father!

You may remember from Advent, the Church uses “pink” (technically, rose-colored) vestments at the half-way point during the great penitential seasons. Since this coming Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent) is pretty much the half-way point of Lent, we are allowed to use rose-colored vestments for the celebration of holy Mass.

There are other signs of joy on this Sunday as well, for instance: it’s called (after the first word of the official Latin entrance antiphon) Laetare Sunday, from Latin “laetare”: “rejoice.” Solo pieces may be played on the organ (if we had an organist), and flowers may be placed on the altar. It is also customary to relax (a little bit) our Lenten penance and maybe indulge in a little dessert or snack or recreation.

You may remember, too, that some scholars think this “rose” color is the result of lightening the shade of the purple dye. But there’s another explanation that makes sense especially for this particular Sunday. Traditionally, the Pope blesses the Golden Rose on this day (see illustration above), the Golden Rose being a special mark of affection and honor for a Catholic ruler who has performed notable works of charity. And so, this Sunday is also called “Rose Sunday” (hence the rose vestments?).

Also, this Sunday is called “Mothering Sunday” because offerings were sent to the “mother church” of the diocese, i.e. the bishop’s cathedral. If you wish to contribute to our “Mother Church” (an excellent idea, I might add), go to www.milarch.org, the site of the Military Archdiocese, for the details.

(The "Ask Father!" series is offered through the kindness of Father Charles Johnson, CHC, USNR, currently deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.)

Ite ad Ioseph...patron of a happy death

The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the ancient litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: "From a sudden and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord"; to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us "at the hour of our death" in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.

Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors for you if you had a quiet conscience. . . . Then why not keep clear of sin instead of running away from death? If you aren't fit to face death today, it's very unlikely you will be tomorrow. . . .

Praised are you, my Lord, for our sister bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe on those who will die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who will be found
in your most holy will,
for the second death will not harm them.

--Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1014

"We do not agree with Archbishop Fisichella"

We do not agree [with Archbishop Fisichella] that the "decision is hard... for the moral law itself". Our Holy Church continues to proclaim that the moral law is exceedingly clear: it is never licit to eliminate the life of an innocent person to save another life. The objective facts are these: there are doctors who explicitly declare that they perform and will continue to perform abortions, while others declare with the same firmness that they will never perform abortions. Here is the declaration written and signed by a Brazilian Catholic physician: "...As an obstetrician for 50 years, graduated in the National Medical School of the University of Brazil, and former chief of Obstetrics in the Hospital of Andarai [Rio de Janeiro], in which I served for 35 years until I retired in order to dedicate myself to the Diaconate, and having delivered 4,524 babies, many from juvenile [mothers], I never had to resort to an abortion to 'save lives', as well as all my colleagues, sincere and honest in their profession and faithful to their Hippocratic oath. ..."

Recife-PE, March 16, 2009

Fr. Edson Rodrigues

Parish priest of Alagoinha-PE - Diocese of Pesqueira

Mons. Edvaldo Bezerra da Silva

Vicar General - Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife

Fr Moisés Ferreira de Lima

Rector of the Archdiocesan Seminary

Dr. Márcio Miranda

Attorney for the Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife

(Thanks to Rorate Caeli, where full statement is available.)

One may never directly intend to take a life even for the sake of another life

Rino Fisichella only added to the confusing smoke of Satan by appearing to give Church approval to the Brazilian doctor or doctors who took the life of twin babies for the reason that they were a threat to the life of the nine-year-old mother. All the crimes in this case do not add up to support for committing another crime.

Saint Paul teaches, "One may never do evil that good may come of it." This is the revealed teaching of Christ. It cannot change. To will the killing of twin babies is an evil. The good of preserving the life of the nine-year-old mother cannot justify such an evil. Period. For these reasons the doctors in this case are excommunicated by the fact of their having committed the evil of abortion. Period.

Let us continue to pray that those in the Church who are able will do all in their power to act in such a way as to mitigate scandal and prevent such ocurrences in future.

((((..))))

For more on this story, read the Times Online.

"Why fish on Fridays?" and other questions.

Ask Father!

Why do we have to eat fish on Fridays?

On the Fridays of Lent, we do not have to eat fish (or seafood). The essence of Friday abstinence is to abstain from eating meat (beef, chicken, etc.). Eating fish instead was always meant as a concession to human nature to make it easier to observe Friday abstinence. Since fish isn’t flesh-meat in the way that beef, etc., is, it was allowed as a kind of softening of the law.

And remember: the purpose of this penitential practice is to remind ourselves of Christ’s sufferings on that first Good Friday, our need for penance, and the suffering of all unfortunate people in the world.

Why is it called “Lent”?

Lent—so they’re telling us—comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning “spring-time.” Since Lent falls in the spring, this is the word that caught on in popular usage, instead of the more formidable Latin word Quadragesima (literally, “fortieth,” since Lent begins on the fortieth day before Easter).

Why does Lent last forty days?

Besides the fact that Christ Himself fasted forty days (as did Moses and Elijah), some have pointed out that our imperfection (symbolized by 6) is brought to perfection (symbolized by 7) during Lent, so that 6 x 7 is 42. After the 40 days of Lent, there are two days (Holy Thursday and Good Friday) and on the third Christ brings all to completion on Easter.

(Photo: Rev. Father Charles Johnson celebrates the liturgy of Vatican II in continuity with the entire liturgical tradition of the Church as the fathers of the Council envisioned it aboard the currently deployed USS Theodore Roosevelt. The "Ask Father!" series is offered through the kindness of Father Johnson.)

What are the “Stations” of the Cross?

What are the “Stations” of the Cross?

“Station,” used like this, comes from the Latin word statio, which means a “stopping place” or “post.” The Stations of the Cross are the fourteen traditional places where Christ halted along the way of the Cross: that is, the route from Lithostratos—where He was condemned by Pilate—to Calvary—where He was crucified.

Where did this devotion come from?

In the Middle Ages, the Holy Land was overrun by the Moslem Turks in the 1000’s. The Crusades were largely launched to win back the Holy Land from the Turks (and others) so that Christians could once again visit the Holy Places. Eventually, the Franciscan Friars (followers of St. Francis of Assisi) were given care of the Holy Places, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (containing the tomb of Christ and Calvary), the Upper Room (where the Last Supper was celebrated), and so forth.

One of the devotions the Franciscans organized for pilgrims was the Stations of the Cross. Catholic pilgrims took this devotion back to Europe, erecting plaques or pictures of each Station.

Why have the Stations been so popular?

They are a very effective and touching way to recall Christ’s sufferings along the Via Dolorosa (literally, “the Way of Sorrow,” that is, the Way of the Cross). It’s difficult to explain the effect of devoutly praying the Stations, but it certainly fixes what Our Lord did for us more deeply in the mind and heart.

(The "Ask Father!" series is through the kindness of Father Charles Johnson, CHC, USNR, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.)

Cardinal Mahony: Williamson "never" welcome in Catholic Church

Huh? Cardinal Mahony decides who can become Catholic and who cannot?

As reported by Rorate Caeli,

Mahony and two officials of the American Jewish Committee signed a commentary that stated, "Holocaust deniers like Williamson will find no sympathetic ear or place of refuge in the Catholic Church, of which he is not — and may never become — a member.”

Again, huh?

Rorate Caeli wants to know: will this also apply to pro-abort politicians who claim to be Catholic?

Brownback goes turncoat

Senator Sam Brownback, a heretofore thoroughly pro-life Catholic, perversely supports "abortion queen" Sebelius for HHS czar.

(Thanks to Dixi.)

Do we have to go to Confession?

Do we have to go to Confession?

The Sacrament of Confession (also called Penance or Reconciliation) exists for the purpose of forgiving serious (“mortal”) sins committed after Baptism. So, anyone guilty of a serious sin after he or she has been baptized, has to go to Confession to be absolved from (i.e., forgiven) their sins.

Nevertheless, even those who are not guilty of any serious sins—or who have never committed a serious sin—find great profit in the Sacrament of Confession. In fact, the grace of forgiveness and strength against temptation is undoubtedly the reason why they are able to avoid serious sins.

How often should I confess?

First of all: we all have to go to Confession—if we’ve been guilty of a mortal sin—at least once a year. That’s the “bare minimum” required by the Church. And this once-a-year Confession is to be made during the “Easter time”: that is, from Ash Wednesday down to Pentecost Sunday. Of course, relying on the bare minimum isn’t usually a winning formula, and the same is true of the life of grace. Many Saints and spiritual writers recommend confessing at least once a month or every two weeks.

Do even priests go to Confession? The Pope?

They do! Just like lay folk, priests, bishops, and even the Pope go to Confession to a priest.

The "Ask Father"series courtesy of Rev. Chas. Johnson, Navy chaplain, USS Theodore Roosevelt. (Photo by John Clark, Deseret News.)