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	Facebook Twitter Newsletters Email Video News Catholic Life Shopping Saints Bible Prayers Mary Headlines Living Among the Pharisees By Deal W. Hudson | April 15, 2014 I will not quote directly from the article - there is no need to infect readers with the Phariseeism pervading Ruse's psychological/spiritual analysis of Thomas Williams. The readers can judge for themselves. I've been the target of similar, and worse, invective from self-appointed Catholic accusers -- such as Ruse, which I've always ignored and just done my work. But when someone goes out of his way to make life harder for a man who is trying to put his life back together after years of humiliation I cannot ignore it. There are few actions I can think of that are further from the spirit of Pope Francis than Ruse's public intrusion into the life of Thomas Williams. Continue Reading... Reflection: Let us Apply the Splint of the Cross to our Fractured Freedom By Deacon Keith Fournier | April 15, 2014 Let us keep before us over these next few days this poignant insight from the Catechism: "The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to "the slavery of sin.(CCC 1733)" Let us choose to change, choose to grow in the likeness of the One who carried His Cross to free us from the power of sin and the final enemy of death Continue Reading... Peter and Judas: A Lesson in Mercy and Hope By Fr. Bernhard Speringer and Jennifer Hartline | April 15, 2014 In the Passion according to St. Mark we notice the parallel between Judas and Peter. Superficially, Peter and Judas have the same fate. Both betrayed Our Lord, both recognized their own guilt and felt remorse, both received Jesus' love even after the betrayal: A look. A kiss. Where is the difference? Why do we have such dramatically different endings given the seemingly equal fate of both apostles? The difference lies in this only: Peter trusted in God's mercy - Judas did not. Continue Reading... Palm/Passion Sunday: Will We Make This Week Holy By Encountering Jesus Christ? By Deacon Keith Fournier | April 15, 2014 Palm/ Passion Sunday: Make This Holy Week a Deep Encounter With Jesus Christ! During this week called Holy, the Lord Jesus is extending His saving Hand to each one of us anew. The timeless one has broken into time and now transforms it from within. The question is not whether we will mark time but how we will do so? For the Christian time is not meant to be a tyrant ruling over us with impunity. Rather, it is a teacher, inviting and instructing us to choose to enter more fully into our relationship with the Lord and in Him to make progress on the Path of Life. This Holy Week, He invites us to enter into the deep mysteries which will be celebrated liturgically in such a way that they transform us into His Image. Continue Reading... Pope Francis makes special plea, but is asking us - Are you listening? By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) | April 14, 2014 Pope Francis continues to call for aid to the poor as the holiday season ends. The Holy Father has set a goal to eradicate global hunger by distributing food more equitably around the world and he has called on all faithful Catholics to help. It's a call that can't be answered by a single second collection at Mass. Continue Reading... The Protest Against Evil and the Rise of Atheism: Is Evil Really the Problem? By Deacon F. K. Bartels | April 13, 2014 It sounds very nice, a world devoid of suffering and every type of evil. However, there are some problems with such an idea, at least for now, given the present situation. What would it mean for us if there were no potential for evil? Atheists often reject God in protest against the reality of evil in the world. But is the reality of evil a reasonable objection against the existence of a personal, loving God? Perhaps it is helpful to reflect on some of the good that, with God's help, can be brought from evil. Continue Reading... Pope Francis calls for greater effort to combat human trafficking, highlights Church responsibility By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) | April 12, 2014 Pope Francis continues to tackle the problem of human trafficking meeting four victims as well a group of Church sisters and law enforcement leaders in a renewed effort to work together to end human trafficking. Continue Reading... Is Pope Francis Opening the Possibility of Ordaining Mature, Proven Married Men to Priesthood By Deacon Keith Fournier | April 13, 2014 The prophetic witness of voluntary, consecrated celibacy has endured beyond the ranks of celibate clergy. It is also preserved in the inspired vowed life of monastic orders and the sacrificial witness of religious men and women. In addition, in many of the ecclesial movements and associations of lay men and woman, consecrated celibacy is being freely chosen, not to avoid marriage, but to enter more fully into the very nuptial mystery that marriage also reveals, in a unique and prophetic way, and be more available for mission. I write with deep appreciation for the celibate vocation among the ordained ministers of the Church, the religious orders and the growing lay ecclesial movements. I have had the privilege of knowing some profoundly holy consecrated celibates. To use an old cliché, some of my best friends are priests and deacons, both celibate and married. They are all living their vocation with dignity and holiness. Continue Reading... The Gift of Wisdom: Pope Francis Begins Series of Talks on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit By Pope Francis | April 12, 2014 Today we begin a series of reflections on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the soul, the lifeblood of the Church and of every Christian: He is God's Love, who makes our hearts his home and enters into communion with us. The Holy Spirit is always with us, always in us, in our hearts.If we listen to him he teaches us this path of wisdom, he gifts us wisdom which is seeing with God's eyes, listening with God's ears, loving with God's heart, judging things with Gods' judgment. These are the things that Holy Spirit gifts us and we can all have this. We just have to ask the Holy Spirit. Continue Reading... Most Popular Papyrus that suggests Jesus was married is genuine, but it still doesn't prove much Read More   Palm/Passion Sunday: Will We Make This Week Holy By Encountering Jesus Christ? Read More   Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was crucified and buried Read More   Ancient temple of the goddess Athena Read More   Peter and Judas: A Lesson in Mercy and Hope Read More     News | Catholic Life | PRWire | Encyclopedia | Bible | Prayers | Vocations | Saints & Angels © Copyright 2014 Catholic Online. This e-mail is never sent unsolicited. You have received this Catholic Online e-mail because you subscribed to it or someone forwarded it to you. To opt out, see the links below. TO ADVERTISE For information on advertising at Catholic Online, please contact Advertising Sales. TO SUBSCRIBE If this email has been forwarded to you and would like a subscription, please sign up for Catholic Online Newsletters. Remove your e-mail address from our list. We respect your right to privacy. View our policy. This e-mail was sent by: Catholic Online, P.O. Box 9686 Bakersfield, CA 93389 USA