Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Sexual Revolution
Jennifer from over at http://www.conversiondiary.com/ has also written for America The National Catholic Weekly - A Sexual Revolution: in this article she states...
"All my life, the message I had heard loud and clear was that sex was for pleasure and bonding, that its potential for creating life was purely tangential, almost to the point of being forgotten. This mind-set became the foundation of my views on abortion. Because I saw sex as being by default closed to the possibility of life, I thought of unplanned pregnancies as akin to being struck by lightning while walking down the street—something totally unpredictable and undeserved that happened to people living normal lives."
I loved this line (the one in red)and think it captures the mindset of most Americans and sadly most Catholics today. And who is to blame for this mindset? Well I'd say the American Catholic Church and specifically her priests. When Catholics are confronted with a culture that is constantly challenging them and mocking their beliefs what we need is MORE clear definitive preaching from the pulpit on these tough issues not LESS! Our priests seem to be silent on these most foundational and life altering issues.
They are more than ready to discuss the poor and social justice and how open and loving and all forgiving Jesus is. They will most certainly discuss modern pop culture and current events and how they relate to the gospel. But make any remarks on how HUGE a proper perspective on human sexuality is to understanding our purpose in life and the purpose of marriage - NO WAY! That might offend someone. God forbid. We can't have anyone feeling uncomfortable now can we?
People do not need to be lectured or scolded or made to feel horrible about their poor choices and their embracing of worldly values. Rather they need to be inspired and motivated to be MORE than they are currently. So many people - most I'd say - sit in the pews at Mass and are not fullfilled. They are miserable and lost and yet they are still coming to Mass. That's great! They are searching. They are searching for the Truth without even knowing it and they keep coming back to Mass week after week despite the fact that from Monday to Saturday they are living a life completely devoid of Truth and in total conformity with the world.
So here they are sitting in the pews once more and just longing, deeply mysteriously longing for something more. And what do they hear? More of the same. More of what the world is saying or failing to say but just "packaged" differently. They need to be challenged not because they are naughty little children who need to be guilted into obedience, but because they are slaves to a contraceptive mentality and they need to know that freedom will be the best thing they've ever known. openess to life as is lived by OBEDIENCE to our Church's teaching is the very fullfillment and satisfaction they seek. This Truth is what will give them the JOY they are seeking and yearning for week after week.
So come on my priests! Let's give it to them! Have some courage! Speak the truth! Let's get down to the nitty gritty and roll up our sleeves and do the hard work we've been avoiding for about 20 years now. I have been on both sides of this - enslaved and now free. Nothing has been more dramatic, more pivotal in changing my entire view of life, the world, and the people in it than TOB and the Church's teachings on life. I want my brothers and sisters to know what they're missing and then take the first step towards getting it. But that cannot happen unless they begin to hear it from you my priests and hear it loud and clear!
"All my life, the message I had heard loud and clear was that sex was for pleasure and bonding, that its potential for creating life was purely tangential, almost to the point of being forgotten. This mind-set became the foundation of my views on abortion. Because I saw sex as being by default closed to the possibility of life, I thought of unplanned pregnancies as akin to being struck by lightning while walking down the street—something totally unpredictable and undeserved that happened to people living normal lives."
I loved this line (the one in red)and think it captures the mindset of most Americans and sadly most Catholics today. And who is to blame for this mindset? Well I'd say the American Catholic Church and specifically her priests. When Catholics are confronted with a culture that is constantly challenging them and mocking their beliefs what we need is MORE clear definitive preaching from the pulpit on these tough issues not LESS! Our priests seem to be silent on these most foundational and life altering issues.
They are more than ready to discuss the poor and social justice and how open and loving and all forgiving Jesus is. They will most certainly discuss modern pop culture and current events and how they relate to the gospel. But make any remarks on how HUGE a proper perspective on human sexuality is to understanding our purpose in life and the purpose of marriage - NO WAY! That might offend someone. God forbid. We can't have anyone feeling uncomfortable now can we?
People do not need to be lectured or scolded or made to feel horrible about their poor choices and their embracing of worldly values. Rather they need to be inspired and motivated to be MORE than they are currently. So many people - most I'd say - sit in the pews at Mass and are not fullfilled. They are miserable and lost and yet they are still coming to Mass. That's great! They are searching. They are searching for the Truth without even knowing it and they keep coming back to Mass week after week despite the fact that from Monday to Saturday they are living a life completely devoid of Truth and in total conformity with the world.
So here they are sitting in the pews once more and just longing, deeply mysteriously longing for something more. And what do they hear? More of the same. More of what the world is saying or failing to say but just "packaged" differently. They need to be challenged not because they are naughty little children who need to be guilted into obedience, but because they are slaves to a contraceptive mentality and they need to know that freedom will be the best thing they've ever known. openess to life as is lived by OBEDIENCE to our Church's teaching is the very fullfillment and satisfaction they seek. This Truth is what will give them the JOY they are seeking and yearning for week after week.
So come on my priests! Let's give it to them! Have some courage! Speak the truth! Let's get down to the nitty gritty and roll up our sleeves and do the hard work we've been avoiding for about 20 years now. I have been on both sides of this - enslaved and now free. Nothing has been more dramatic, more pivotal in changing my entire view of life, the world, and the people in it than TOB and the Church's teachings on life. I want my brothers and sisters to know what they're missing and then take the first step towards getting it. But that cannot happen unless they begin to hear it from you my priests and hear it loud and clear!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I'm Mad as Hell
I've never seen this movie and frankly I don't know what it was about. But this line of course has become famous. It sums up exactly how I feel as well as how I see the very first step that is required of all those who seem to be so ready to keep quiet and "plant seeds".
Well I'm tired of waiting for those who should know better and should be doing better for their children, their students, their congregations, their families, their constituents, their citizens, their fellow man to slowly transform themselves!
Damn it we are in a battle here. The battle is one of cosmic proportions and frankly the thought of one more heretical homily, one more dissenting authority figure, one more defiant politician, one more complacent Catholic, one more quiet "planter of seeds" willing to overlook all of the above for fear that they'll "scare them off" - makes me want to scream like the man in the video....
I'm a warrior. So is Tim. Thank God! I couldn't stand to have to be married to a man who wasn't just as moved to anger, moved to speak, moved to fight as I am. I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore. Why should I? Why should we? If we were in a position to see the Jews marching off to their deaths would we whisper gently in the ears of the SS or the German citizens who looked the other way? would I be satisfied with "planting seeds"? Or would I FIGHT and speak and boldly proclaim the injustice I was a witness to? Would I pray for the conversion of the Nazi - yes of course but I'd fight to the death to save innocent lives at the same time. Sometimes this means pissing people off. Sometimes it can hurt feelings and make other uncomfortable. Sometimes it means admonishing a sinner (a spiritual work of mercy mind you) and sadly sometimes that sinner is my priest - openly dissenting from Mother Church.
We are either obedient or we are not. We either submit to Her authority or we do not. We either speak the Truth or we do not. Knowing the Truth, believing the Truth is not good enought. We must be the soldiers for Christ that our Confirmation made us and be the brothers and sisters in Christ to our unborn brothers and sisters, that our Baptism made us. For crying out loud isn't time we stand up and say "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!" ????
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Jew Hating
How have we gotten to the point (again) where it is perfectly acceptable to hate the Jews (Israel) and to paint a portrait of them that is totally distorted and ugly? I have to believe that there is something beyond simple human ignorance or prejudice that allows so many mindless mobs to chant and rage and protest against Israel. I look at the level of venom and hatred and blindness in people as they speak about Israel and what they are "doing" to Hamas and I know that it is being stirred up by much darker forces.
I want peace in the Holy Land like everyone else. But I want there to be TRUE peace. I've come to believe that the only way we can achieve this is for a mass conversion to Christianity on the part of the Palestinian people. The Jews will never be treated with the love and dignity they deserve as long as there are Muslims who believe that every Jew must die simply because he/she is a Jew. Haven't we already seen that type of mentality play itself out once before? I pray history will NOT repeat itself.
I want peace in the Holy Land like everyone else. But I want there to be TRUE peace. I've come to believe that the only way we can achieve this is for a mass conversion to Christianity on the part of the Palestinian people. The Jews will never be treated with the love and dignity they deserve as long as there are Muslims who believe that every Jew must die simply because he/she is a Jew. Haven't we already seen that type of mentality play itself out once before? I pray history will NOT repeat itself.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
An Introduction to Dawn eden
watch this video interview with Dawn Eden http://airmaria.com/?sn=53&vp=2470&prefx=rovr&plyrnb=1&ttl=Roving%20Reporter
Dawn's blog is a must read as well...
Dawn's blog is a must read as well...
Monday, December 29, 2008
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