Asia News and the Calgary Herald are reporting another Catholic bishop, Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, 74, was arrested in
Category: Faith & the Public Order
Catholics on England’s throne?
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is supporting a change in law that would open the door to Catholics being a monarch. But this may also open the door to a Muslim or a Hindu being a King or Queen of England. Interesting. Read about it. But there’s criticism, too.
Foundation of Subsidiarity: enriching the cultural-scientific discourse based on the dignity of the person
Last autumn, www.ilsussidiario.net, an internet news portal edited by the Foundation of Subsidiarity directed by Giorgio Vittadini, sponsored a special “On the Spot” section with articles from US-based writers on aspects of the presidential election. This was a start for what will now be a new regular English-language section of the site.
The editors are happy to announce the birth of the English section of the daily “Il Sussidiario” divided in three sections: Politics & Society, Economy & Finance, Culture, Religion & Science.
Add this link to your favorites:
http://www.ilsussidiario.net/articoli.aspx?canale=103
The “On the Spot” section will feature news and opinion pieces on all aspects of life in the
Looking for writers. There is a need to produce at least two or three original articles weekly of about 450-650 words. In addition, some of the articles would be translated into Italian for a daily audience of 3000 people.
If you would like to join us in this venture, please write to clairityrose@gmail.com.
CT.gov: Religion and Politics
Tom Hoopes at the National Catholic Register opened my eyes this morning with a brief article on the State of Connecticut’s intrusion into matters of faith, doctrine and Church.
Last week had SB 1098; now we have to contend with SB 899. This new bill being proposed is wide reaching and very intrusive and just plain wrong, not just in matters of faith but culture, government and parenting.
The problem is education: the lack of it retards greater freedom and happiness for which we are made for by God: beatitude.
CT bill 1098 killed (for now)
This evening’s report on killing of the CT bill 1098 by Catholic News Service:
Bill giving laity control of parish finances killed in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (CNS) — At the request of its proponents, a bill that would have given laypeople financial control of their parishes in Connecticut has been withdrawn and is dead for this legislative session. In a joint statement March 10, the co-chairmen of the Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, Sen. Andrew J. McDonald of Stamford and Rep. Michael Lawlor of East Haven, announced the cancellation of a scheduled March 11 hearing on the controversial bill. There was no immediate comment on the bill’s demise from the Catholic bishops of Connecticut, who had strongly opposed the legislation and urged Catholics to turn out at the hearing in large numbers. “At the request of the proponents who are advocating this legislation, we have decided to cancel the public hearing for tomorrow, table any further consideration of this bill for the duration of this session, and ask the attorney general his opinion regarding the constitutionality of the existing law,” said McDonald and Lawlor, both Democrats and Catholics. “It would serve no useful purpose to have a conversation about changing the laws that govern existing Roman Catholic corporations until we know if any of these existing laws are constitutional,” they said.
For the moment the bill is off the table. Good. Prayers answered. BUT it’s only a matter of time before this initiative (or something similar) is reintroduced –with sharper teeth– which will shake the dander of faithful Catholics who hold firmly to Catholic teaching. Some will see this threat as lacking merit, but heterodox will pull something else to threaten the security of free exercise of religion. Sorry to say, fellow Nutmegers have tried to disrupt the unity of the Church. Senator Michael McLachlan this afternoon after announcing the tabling of the bill, “Now they [Andrew McDonald and Michael Lawler] want the Catholic Church to defend the laws on the books since 1866!” THE fight is not over…by a long shot.
Saint Michael, pray for us!!!
CT’s Legislative Bill 1098 attacks Religious Freedom
The editors of Headline Bistro, the headline service of the Knights Columbus, posted an analysis of the current situation regarding legislative bill 1098 introduced by two
Keeping up-to-date:
Carl Anderson’s Op-Ed piece in the Stamford Advocate “Shredding the First Amendment in the
“Religious Freedom Under Attack in
The New Haven Register’s March 9th article on the subject
The bill’s chief proponent, Tom Gallagher, has an Op-Ed piece in the National Catholic Reporter.
Connecticut congressmen propose bill to regulate Catholic parishes
Last Thursday, March 5th, two Connecticut state congressmen introduced a bill that proposes to restructure Catholic parish life taking authority away from pastors, the bishop and the pope.
The bill VIOLATES the FIRST AMENDMENT of the US Constitution!!! Read the Bill 1098/2009.
This is a direct attack on the part of these congressmen on the Roman Catholic Church for the Church’s teaching the Gospel, especially regarding homosexuality and birth control.
More information to be had on the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport here and a letter from the archbishop of Hartford.
From the Knights of Columbus
The story at Newstime.com
Blair defends the role faith
Tony Blair is defending the place of faith in public discourse and saying that it needs to show itself in action. The some time British Prime Minister entered into full communion with the Catholic Church following his leaving public office.
Can you give reasons for your belief in Jesus Christ? If so, are you truly following Christ and being a good-enough witness of the Gospel and the Church?
Follow Blair’s foundation, The Tony Blair Faith Foundation
Opposing FOCA March 31st–President Obama needs to know not all agree with him
The President of the United States of America needs to realize not everyone supports Planned Parenthood’s goals. Please follow this suggestion if you are against abortion. Please send this message to everyone in your address book that thinks similarly. MAYBE our biased MEDIA would even mention it IF we DO IT. Mark March 31 on your calendar!
What: Get red envelopes or postcards and mail them on March 31st to the White House; You can buy them at Kinkos, or any party supply stores.
When: March 31, 2009
To Whom:
President Barack Obama
The White House
On the back, write the following message:
This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.
We will mail the envelopes out
Forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. It would be good if we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the
It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it’s shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard. Together we can change the heart of The President and save the lives of millions of children.
President Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, “Well, the first thing I’d do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That’s the first thing that I’d do.”
An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially “undo” every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear.
Please read more about The Freedom of Choice Act here:
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html
American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile, the latest by Richard John Neuhaus
I am still saddened by the death of Father Richard John Neuhaus. Many are. I pray for him regularly at Mass and while saying the rosary and I find myself wondering what he’d say about this or that today. First Things arrived the other day and I shelved it temporarily because I’ve got other things to read first (what, I am not going to drop everything to read FT???); I look forward with eagerness to read to First Things
One of the last gifts he gave to us is the forthcoming book, American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile. It’s not a book from the grave as it was in production long before RJN got ill and died. I am looking forward to it as I have looked forward to everything RJN wrote for publication or said in the public forum.
Available from Amazon. A Google preview of American Babylon.
Product description
Christians are by their nature a people out of place. Their true home is with God; in civic life, they are alien citizens “in but not of the world.” In American Babylon, eminent theologian Richard John Neuhaus examines the particular truth of that ambiguity for Catholics in America today.
Neuhaus addresses the essential quandaries of Catholic life–assessing how Catholics can keep their heads above water in the sea of immorality that confronts them in the world, how they can be patriotic even though their true country is not in this world, and how they might reconcile their duties as citizens with their commitment to God. Deeply learned, frequently combative, and always eloquent, American Babylon is Neuhaus’s magnum opus–and will be essential reading for all Christians.
Let me recommend to you the Richard John Neuhaus Online Archive, a well stocked blog of materials by or on Father Richard.