Evangelical CatholicismEvangelical CatholicismCatholic theology, spirituality and praxis insisting on the centrality of Jesus Christ Articles
Quote of the Week
2007-05-24 16:49:00 Our greatest need in the present historical moment is people who make God credible in this world by means of the enlightened faith they live. The negative testimony of Christians who spoke of God but lived in a manner contrary to him has obscured the image of God and has opened the doors to disbelief. We need men who keep their eyes fixed on God, learning from him what true humanity means. We need men whose intellect is enlightened by the light of God, men whose hearts are opened by God, so that their intellect can speak to the intellect of others and their hearts can open the hearts of others. It is only by means of men who have been touched by God that God can return to be with mankind.Joseph Ratzinger, Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures More About: Week , Quote
The True Essence of a Woman
2007-05-24 03:27:00 A new birth control pill that eliminates a woman?s menstrual cycles was approved yesterday by the FDA. What are some of the critics saying?But some critics say the elimination of a period as a "lifestyle choice" could be bad for women's health. "Menstrual suppression is unnatural," health psychologist Paula Derry wrote in an editorial in the British Medical Journal.?Unnatural? Are you serious? It is after all my body and it is my choice!? You know it. You know that would be the response to such argument.My argument is that such a pill --in a greater anti-life context--has negative effects not only on women and their health, but more importantly on our own understanding of human nature as a society that could ultimately lead to the doom of our civilization. When we deny or undermine the meaning of human life by perverting the essence of woman, we deny God as Creator, because He chose women to be the direct sharers of His divine plan.A reminder of a woman's role in God?s planLet us ... More About: Pro-Life , Woman , True , A Woman
USCCB Responds to 18 Catholic Politicians
2007-05-23 18:15:00 The USCCB released a statement through its Media Relations Office, headed by Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, addressing the recent statement of 18 Cath olic politicians in the U.S. House. The full press release is as follows:Response to 18 DemocratsSister Mary Ann Walsh, RSMDirector of Media RelationsUnited States Conference of Catholic BishopsIn an unfortunate May 10 statement, 18 of the 88 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives criticized Pope Benedict XVI?s remarks concerning Mexican lawmakers legalizing abortion. The Representatives? statement misrepresents the Holy Father?s remarks and implies that the Church does not have a right to voice its teaching in the public square.The Holy See has made clear that neither the Mexican bishops nor the Holy Father have excommunicated any legislator. Rather, the Holy See reiterated longstanding Church teaching that anyone who freely and knowingly commits a serious wrong, that is, a mortal sin, should not approach the Eucharist until go... More About: Politicians , Politician , Poli
Notre Dame Theology Grads
2007-05-23 18:10:00 Lawrence Cunningham, who has written extensively on theology, culture and spirituality, tells us what the University of Notre Dame theology graduates will be doing for the next 12 months:Nearly two hundred students here at Notre Dame elect Theo logy as their major. Some do a full double major in philosophy and theology (price of admission: one year of a classical language) while others have different co-majors. We just graduated our seniors this past Sunday. What will our majors do after graduation? The range is quite revealing. Some will go to law school. Two are seeking out a few years of adventure: one will be a firefighter in California and a young woman signed on to a salmon fishing boat in Alaska. One student who is a double major in economics and theology (and the class valedictorian) will work on an organic farm this Summer and then enter the Jesuit novitiate in August. Two will go into the military as commissioned officers and another will begin working with his family to st... More About: Notre-Dame , Ology
Thoughts on Outlawing Abortion in the U.S.
2007-05-23 07:07:00 (Cross-posted at Vox Nova)In one of his typically thought-provoking and soul-stretching posts, Nathan rightly notes the (im)moral and social conditions that fuel the culture of death. To simply reduce abortion to its political and legal aspects as if a solution based sheerly on platform or law could extinguish the evil that gives rise to the systematic destruction--murder--of the smallest and weakest of persons is to gravely neglect the real issue at stake. As Nathan brilliantly and beautifully puts it, Christians must commit to "sowing joy in sterile hearts."My firm agreement and solidarity with Nathan on the problem of conversion and the roots of the evil of abortion extends to these pre-legal, pre-political dimensions. However, I do not find myself embracing Nathan's point that the outlawing of abortion in the U.S. would not constitute some degree of victory over evil. In fairness to him, I believe Nathan was referring to the overall moral and cultural disposition of the U.S., i... More About: Politics , Abortion , Thoughts , Pro-Life , Outlaw
New Convert Blog
2007-05-22 20:13:00 There's a new Catholic blog out there: You are Cephas. Here's a snippet from a recent post:As a recent convert to the Catholic Church, I wanted to post some thoughts as to my reasons for converting.This isn't an attempt to "win more converts" but rather an attempt simply to "put it out there." Many of my fellow Christian friends are understandably perplexed by my conversion. Usually this takes the form of a giant elephant in the room. All my Protestant brethren know that I am Catholic so the topic of our faith is suddenly avoided in conversations whereas we used to talk about our faith in Christ quite frequently. Rather than having an awkward conversation, I want to give the opportunity to my friends, family and acquaintances to read a little bit about my journey. I am not out to convert anybody. Rather, I want to clarify some things so that at the very least you'll realize that we are indeed brothers and sisters in Christ. More About: Blog , Convert , Vert
Rebuilding a Catholic School in Rwanda
2007-05-21 16:35:00 One of our readers has graciously asked us to let you know about a project that she is working on this summer rebuilding a Catholic School in Rwanda . Her words:If it's anything that your readers would be interested in, I'd like tomakea plug for a project I'm working on this summer in Rwanda. A group ofusare going to be traveling to rebuild a Catholic school in Butare that hasbeenin disrepair since the genocide in 1994. Here is the website: http://www.butare.net/.Please consider donating money to our brothers and sisters in the front lines at Rwanda. More About: Charity , Build
The Libertarian Case against Abortion
2007-05-20 17:13:00 While I do not wholly sympathize with the conservative liberterian cause, Soutenous has written a sobering and enlightening post entitled Abortion --Show me the Money! I think she is on to something when she suggests that the first step to fighting abortion in America is not to address the law itself, which would be like conducting a judicial-watch, but to address the moves of the legislative and executive bodies to fund abortion, whether that be state or federal funding. Soutenous believes that fighting against government funding for abortion is necessary before we can legitimately hope to put an end to legal abortion itself. Not that these two issues are altogether separate (i.e. funding abortion and legalizing abortion), but they can be remedied in sequential order.Here's a snippet of Soutenous' thoughtful post:Just a quick FYI:I wonder if people realize that a federal law protects unborn Bald Eagles? How is that for an incongruous "right to life"? http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eag... More About: Pro-Life , Case , Libertarian
Debts and Discontents
2007-05-18 16:18:00 Over at Vox Nova, Anxietas (a professor of philosophy) and I have put up complementary posts on the concepts of "individual" and "person" in modernity. While my post is critical of the modernity's reduction of the person to the individual, Anxietas' post shows how the Catholic concept of person, which extends into moral issues such as abortion and euthanasia, has incorporated many insights from modern thinkers such as Descartes and Kant. He pays particular attention to the influence of these thinkers on Pope John Paul II.Do give the posts a read, especially Anxietas':My post: The Making of the Modern Social MindAnxietas: Our Debt to Modernity More About: Disco , Disc , Tent
Tony Blair may become a Catholic
2007-05-18 16:00:00 Source: Times OnlineAccording to Fr. Michael Seed, a priest that knows the Blair family well, the British Prime Minister may become a Roman Catholic after he steps down from office. Tony Blair attends Catholic Masses regularly with his family, since his wife, Cherie, is a faithful Catholic. (Read the complete story...)CathNews also has a write-up More About: Politics , Come
New Voice, Many Perspectives
2007-05-17 22:31:00 I am excited to announce a new blog project that a number of Catholic bloggers have put together. Vox Nova is a blog dedicated to discussing socio-political issues from the distinctively Catholic perspective. We've assembled a very diverse group covering nearly every point on the spectrum, so commentary should be insightful and debate lively. Posting will be frequent, so keep stopping by. Here's a snippet from Vox Nova's mission statement:United in our Catholic, pro-person worldview, yet diverging in our socio-political opinions, we seek to provide informed commentary and rigorous debate on culture, society, politics and law, all while unwaveringly adhering to, and aptly applying the principles of Catholic doctrine. We are not intellectually wedded to any single political ideology. Following the example of the rich tradition of Catholic social doctrine from Pope Leo XIII to Pope Benedict XVI, we do not forge artificial blockades between "faith and morals" and "social judgment... More About: Voice , VOIC , Perspective , Perspectives
Great Notes on OT Books
2007-05-17 06:18:00 For some time, I have been meaning to post on the excellent notes that Dimbulb from the Divine Lamp blog has posted on some of the Old Testament books. Check out his thorough and comprehensive notes on the prophets Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and the Psalms. Dimbulb has more notes on his blog, so check all of them out. These can be a great resource if you lead or are part of a Bible Study group. Michael and I are part of one and I will be borrowing some of Dimbulb's ideas whenever I get a chance to lead one.Carson Weber also has a wealth of resources for Scripture Study on his Catholic Board website with many podcasts to listen to. More About: Books , Great , Notes
Quote of the Week
2007-05-17 06:12:00 And to those in the church who still sit in judgment on the AIDS emergency, let me climb into the pulpit for just one moment. Because whatever thoughts we have about God, who he is or even if God exists, most will agree that God has a special place for the poor. The poor are where God lives. God is in the slums in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is where the opportunity is lost and lives are shattered. God is with the mother who has infected her child with a virus that will take both their lives. God is under the rubble in the cries we hear during war time. God, my friends, is with the poor, and God is with us if we are with them. This is not a burden; this is an adventure. Don't let anyone tell you it cannot be done. We can be the generation that ends extreme poverty.Bono at the 2007 NAACP Image Awards More About: Week , Quote
The Later Prophets and Social Justice Theme
2007-05-17 03:32:00 The Deuteronomistic History is comprised in the books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings, which recount events that span approximately 600 years?from the conquest of Canaan (around 1200 BCE) through the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. Most scholars agree that there are two versions of the Deuteronomistic History. The first edition was written in Hebrew by an author of the priestly tradition during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BCE) whose reforms led the people to renew the covenant with Yahweh. The later version was edited by perhaps a group of scribes after the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE, because Josiah could no longer be portrayed as the fulfillment of the covenant between Yahweh and the people of Israel. Thus, during the Babylonian exile, the Israelites understood the catastrophic consequences of failing to obey the Lord?s commandments as Moses had warned them earlier (Deut 28). The Deuteronomistic History can be viewed more as a theologized hi... More About: Social , Justice , Bible , Social Justice , Theme
Congratulations to my Former Professor
2007-05-16 21:55:00 My very first theology professor, who taught me Theology 101 at Franciscan University, has published a new book on which he had been working for a number of years. Dr. Stephen Hildebrand, a scholar in Patristics and Church history, deserves much praise and gratitude for producing perhaps the most substantial study on St. Basil the Great's trinitarian theology in English. St. Basil, as many know, was the first Church Father to devote an entire work to pneumentology (theology of the Holy Spirit). He shaped subsequent Eastern and Western trinitarian thought, having his insights incorporated into Catholic and Eastern Orthdox doctrine.The new book is entitled The Trinitarian Theology of Basil of Caesarea and is now available for purchase. Here is the book description from the publisher's website:Basil of Caesarea, the Great, has drawn the admiration of many for centuries. He was a father of eastern coenobitic monasticism, though Benedict of Nursia revered him as well; an author of ... More About: Tula , Form , Esso , Ratu , Congratulations
Recommended Book: Abortion, the Development of the Roman Catholic Perspecti
2007-05-16 07:02:00 I bought a book by John Connery, SJ titled Abortion , the Development of the Roman Catholic Perspective, which I have found extremely helpful and an excellent resources for later reference. This book was written in 1977 a few years after Roe v. Wade. With this historical survey, Connery wanted to show how the position of the Church on abortion was not adopted from one day to another but that rather it has its foundations since pre-Christian times in the Jewish tradition. Connery covers the positions on abortion from Jewish times up to modern times--including the early Church fathers and medieval and reformation periods. Absolutely excellent!The used hardcover edition from Amazon starts at $20. More About: Book
Contemplation vs. Progress
2007-05-16 06:33:00 Today I took some time off to sit by the shores of the Bellingham Bay to enjoy the cool breeze and the calm sounds of the water. I had not smelled the ocean for so long, yet the smell was so familiar. It reminded me of my childhood. It was the same smell I experienced many years ago and thousands of miles away in the Caribbean Sea shores. And I thought to myself how could I be so far away from the bay I grew up by and yet feel so close to home? Then I thought of the grandness and majesty of the ocean and how it is everywhere and we cannot escape it?how it wraps us all around in its depth and mystery?the same way God is always around us even when we do not notice Him or do not want to acknowledge Him. Just like the ocean though, He is there for all of us, no matter how many times we try to escape Him. Then I reflected upon His omnipresence and how He recognized me before I ever recognized Him. And how He decided that I was to be created to serve a purpose and that that purpose was to... More About: Spirituality , Progress , Contemplation , Temp
The Incarnation: The Immanuel Prophecy and the Sign of Jonah
2007-05-16 05:47:00 The first thirty nine chapters in Isaiah?also referred to as First Isaiah?are attributed to Isaiah of Jerusalem who preached during the Assyrian crisis (735-701 BCE). First Isaiah, as well as the remaining of the book was written entirely in Hebrew and probably edited by a priest or scribe after the exile. The first oracles present in First Isaiah are concerned with condemning social injustices committed in Judah at the time and predicting future misfortunes. In order to understand the Immanuel prophecy found in First Isaiah, let us first place Isaiah?s preaching in its proper historical context.At the time, the holy city of Jerusalem was surrounded by the kings of Damascus and Samaria as means to force King Ahaz (735-716 BCE) of Judah to join their coalition against Assyria. In the midst of this threat, Isaiah adviced Ahaz to remain faithful to Yahweh and to remember His covenant with David. The impatient Ahaz turned to Assyria for help instead and, thanks to their pressure, the si... More About: Bible , Prophecy , Sign , Manu , Manuel
Please Offer a Prayer
2007-05-15 03:14:00 Please take a moment right now as you read this to pray at least one Our Father, Hail Mary or any prayer for Radical Catholic Mom, who just informed us on her blog that she miscarried her baby. Please offer your prayer for the soul of the child and for his/her family. Thank you."I went down into the countries underneath the earth, to the peoples of the past. But you lifted my life from the pit, O Lord, my God." (Jonah 2:7-8 LXX) More About: Prayer , Please , Lease , Ease , Raye
Word from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace following Climate Ch
2007-05-14 03:50:00 Following the seminar on Climate Change and Development, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace , we call your attention to the interesting documentation and activity on climate change of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).These are the first words posted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on its website regarding its "Climate Change and Development" two-day seminar held on April 26-27, 2007. The Pontifical Council links directs us to two USCCB documents:Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common GoodFaithful Stewards of God's Creation: A Catholic Resource for Environmental Justice and Climate ChangeWhile a reference is not necessarily an endorsement, it should be of particular note to American Catholics that the Roman Curia's authority on social issues is pointing Catholics world-wide to two USCCB documents. Unless one is bound by a prejudice or imprisoned by some resentment toward the USCCB (believe m... More About: Word
Happy Mother's Day
2007-05-13 17:00:00 Love and happiness to our wonderful mothers! More About: Happy , S Day
The Many Faces of Benedict XVI
2007-05-12 18:05:00 In an effort to further convince those priests who would not buy the theological reasons for priestly celibacy, Pope Bene dict XVI demonstrated how utterly ridiculous the clerical mating ritual truly looks. More About: Faces , The Man , Benedict
Book Meme
2007-05-11 21:06:00 We've been tagged by Michael at Catholic Anarchy with a Book Meme . Here are my answers (I am sure Katerina will have her own list):How many books do you own?At least 1,000 - My friend Justin and I caught the book collecting bug from Scott Hahn when we were his students. "Book hounds," as Hahn used to say. My collection is mostly theology, philosophy and history, with a good mix of novels and political theory thrown in.Last book I read:John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. 750 pages of repetitious epistemology. I'm about to close the cover on John Paul II's Memory and Identity.Five Books That Mean a Lot to Me:Augustine, The ConfessionsDietrich von Hildebrand, The HeartHans Urs von Balthasar, PrayerMax Scheler, RessentimentDavid Schindler, Heart of the World, Center of the ChurchNow tag five other blogs:Natalie at I am becoming all that I amCatholic Notebook Causa nostrae laetitiaeMM at Theology of the BodyOrthfully Catholic More About: Book M
Our meeting with Bishop Thomas Flanagan
2007-05-11 17:42:00 I just got back from a two-day trip to San Antonio with my seventh grade class. It was a wonderful and very Catholic experience. We arrived Wednesday around noon and went straight to the San Fernando Cathedral for a bilingual Mass. This was a real treat not only because the cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, but also because half of my class is from Mexico and another student is from El Salvador. So the English/Spanish Mass was a touching reminder of our multi-cultural and catholic reality within the Church.After Mass we went immediately to the Archdiocesan Chancery for a private meeting with Bish op Thom as Flanagan. He spent about 40 minutes with us in his office, telling us stories of his seminary days in Ireland and of his 50+ years as a Catholic priest. Bishop Flanagan is a very charming, very genuine man who wears his faith proudly. He sent us off with an apostolic blessing and, this morning, sent me a very nice email thanking us for visitin... More About: Meeting
Pope on Romero: "I have no doubt he will be beatiifed."
2007-05-11 01:22:00 During his trip to Brazil, the Holy Father commented on the canonization cause for Archbishop Oscar Romero. Reasons and Opinions and Catholic Anarchy have the info. More About: No Doubt , Will , Pope , Have , Beat
Greetings from Bellingham, WA!
2007-05-10 06:21:00 I am currently working in Bell ingham, WA and will be for the next month or so. I'm really enjoying myself and taking a lot of pictures. Below are pictures of the Marina here at Bellingham and the Assumption Catholic Church that I go to Weekday Mass whenever I'm around here.Michael is in San Antonio, TX right now with his seventh-graders having a lot of fun, so blogging was slow today and will be for the next couple of days, which is why we have not written about the Pope's trip to Brazil. The trip of the Holy Father is always present in our intentions as this step is crucial for a widely secularized Latin America. We are done with the semester though, so posts will be much more frequent! More About: Greeting
Reformed view of the Eucharist Part 2
2007-05-08 22:35:00 Cynthia's got Mike Vendsel's second part of his Reformed View of the Eucharist up on her blog. Good, interesting stuff. More About: Part , Form
Thinking Blog!
2007-05-08 15:30:00 Well, we've been hit again! Cynthia Nielsen over at Per caritatem has presented us with the coveted accolade that is the "Think ing Blog Award." Thanks to Cynthia and to Sr. Anne of NunBlog for their kind words and for thinking of us.Now, Katerina and I do not campaign for blog accolades such as Catholic Blog Awards or the Blogger's Choice Awards, even though we've been nominated several times (you will not see us stringing along our sidebar all our nomination banners). I think some integrity is lost when a Catholic blogger feels compelled to campaign for an award, shamelessly promoting their blog and begging their readers to vote continuously. While there certainly is a debate over whether or not blogging is a real ministry, there is no question in my mind that campaigning for blog awards obliterates any semblance of ministry, replacing it instead with vainglory.But as Katerina has noted, the "Thinking Blog Award" is simply an acknowledgement from other bloggers of one's har... More About: King
Catholic Jeopardy!
More articles from this author:2007-05-08 01:17:00 I adapted a Jeopardy game that we used at work for training into a Cath olic Jeopardy game for my Middle School kids in Youth Ministry. If you have a projector handy, I would also recommend this game for use in High School, Young Adult, and even Adult ministry as a tool to learn basics about the Catholic faith. This game is Powerpoint-based and is easy to edit. You can change the questions and answers the same way you change the text in Powerpoint slides. My Middle School kids absolutely loved it! In order to start the game, click on "Slide Show." Once you have opened the show, the game loads you can click on the dollar values depending on what each person (or team) picks and it takes you automatically to the answer. It even has the Jeopardy song!You can download it here. Enjoy! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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