sexta-feira, 28 de março de 2014

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President Obama Meets Pope Francis: They Exchange Very Different Kinds of Seeds

By Deacon Keith Fournier | March 28, 2014

There was an exchange of gifts. The president gave the Pope literal seeds from the White House Garden to use in the upcoming planting in the apostolic garden. The Pope gave the President spiritual seeds, the seeds of the Gospel, to be planted in the heart of a man who needs their influence on many, many fronts. Hopefully, they will fall on good soil.When the meeting was over, the President thanked Pope Francis. Vatican reports indicate the President said, "Please pray for me and my family, they are with me on this journey - pray for them." We can all read between the lines of the Vatican statement. Many commentators will be parsing those few words for weeks to come. More importantly, we can all pray that the seed of the Gospel of Joy and Truth which the Pope gave to the President take root.

First-ever asteroid discovered with rings, astronomers agape

By Catholic Online (THE NEWS CONSORTIUM) | March 27, 2014

Astronomers have discovered an asteroid with rings, the first time such a phenomenon has ever been observed. The discovery was made during a rare astronomical event known as an occultation.

Pope Francis Calls Holy Orders and Marriage the Two Great Paths to Make the Gift of Love

By Deacon Keith Fournier | March 28, 2014

We have already had occasion to point out that the three Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist together constitute the mystery of "Christian initiation", a single great event of grace that regenerates us in Christ. This is the fundamental vocation which unites everyone in the Church as disciples of the Lord Jesus. There are then two Sacraments which correspond to two specific vocations: Holy Orders and Matrimony. They constitute two great paths by which the Christian can make his life a gift of love, after the example and in the name of Christ, and thus cooperate in the building up of the Church. Holy Orders, in its three grades of bishop, priest and deacon, is the Sacrament that enables a man to exercise the ministry which the Lord Jesus entrusted to the Apostles, to shepherd his flock, in the power of his Spirit and according to his Heart.

Ken Blackwell: A Marriage Spring - Like the Arab Spring? The Dangers of the Un-Marriage Movement

By Ken Blackwell | March 28, 2014

The comparison between overturning marriage this spring and the convulsions of the Arab Spring are really quite interesting. Few people gave much thought to what would replace the systems being overthrown. Without respect for basic human rights-like freedom of religion, freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of the press-we were unlikely to see an improvement in the Mideast. But in another sense, the comparison is way off base. Those mobs in the Arab Street thought they were overthrowing tyrannical regimes. Nothing like that exists here. America's marriage laws have stood the test of time. They are good and just laws, designed to protect the weak and vulnerable. Who will suffer in America from a "Marriage Spring"? The same people who are suffering now: the poor, the marginal, single mothers, fatherless children. When counterfeit marriage is allowed, true marriage declines. We have seen this happen in all the Socialist countries of Europe.

Pope Francis sacks Bishop of Bling, what will happen to him next? What should happen?

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) | March 26, 2014

The Vatican has permanently removed a controversial bishop from his diocese, bringing an end to the career of the infamous "Bishop of Bling" who spent millions of euros on his private residence.

Bishop James Conley Issues Beautiful Letter on Marital Love and Fidelity: The Language of Love

By Deacon Keith Fournier | March 28, 2014

Dear brothers and sisters, Blessed John Paul II reminded us that, "man is called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of his earthly existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God."[4] The sexual intimacy of marriage, the most intimate kind of human friendship, is a pathway to sharing in God's own life. It is a pathway to the fullness of our own human life; it is a means of participating in the incredible love of God. Contraception impedes our share in God's creative love. And thus it impedes our joy.

Hobby Lobby Case: Government Compelled Embryocidal Abortion and the Threat to Religious Freedom

By Deacon Keith Fournier | March 28, 2014

The real issue before the U.S. Supreme Court in Hobby Lobby is a Government compelled and funded form of abortion. The willful killing of human embryonic persons through inserted devices or ingested chemicals is embryocidal. This is what is really before the U.S. Supreme Court. The family who owns Hobby Lobby, David and Barbara Green, are practicing evangelical Christians committed to protecting all human life.They refuse to provide the poison or the instruments which can kill in the name of health care. They know that medical science confirms what their faith and conscience has affirmed, human life begins at conception. As a Catholic Christian, I stand in complete solidarity with them. So should every Catholic reading this article.

Catholics Come Home Launches Good Confession

By Deacon Keith Fournier | March 26, 2014

Whether you frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation or you have been away from Confession for years, we are here to provide you with easy-to-read and easy-to-use resources to help you learn about the sacrament, understand how to go to Confession, and, most importantly, learn how practically to live out the priest's words in the confessional to 'go and sin no more.' God wants us all to grow in holiness so we can be saints. But how do we actually do that? GoodConfession is here to help you figure that out

Radical Catholicism: The Table Turning Jesus

By Fr Dwight Longenecker | March 27, 2014

Pope Francis has been called a reforming Pope, but the Spirit of reform is always present in the church. Every good pope has been a reforming pope in one way or another. This is as it should be for Christ calls his church to a constant and frequent reform. To put it another way, the church, and every one of the baptized are called to constant conversion. Jesus doesn't come simply to turn over the tables in the temple, or the Jewish religion of his day. He also comes to turn over the tables of complacency, self righteousness, greed and compromise in the Catholic Church today, and in my own life.

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