Do you know what's in your attic?

I live in an old house, over 100 years old.  While finding nothing more interesting in the walls and eves of the house than old Nazi coins and paper money from everywhere the previous owner (an army soldier) had been stationed in years past.

I grew up in an even older house, built in 1745.  Over the years, during renovations, we'd find all sorts of oddities. Walls full of corn cobs, glass bottles, horseshoes, newspapers and old tools.  The most unusual find was in the basement.  The house was held up by an enormous tree- bark still on it! Apparently they just chopped off the top of the tree and used it as a support for the center of the old house.

While finding assorted skeletal remains of past rodent pests, we never found anything like Mike Lopez in Florida.

Mr. Lopez found a skeletal hand in a case with some sort of treasure map and some old coins!

Source: CNN


Now that's weird!


In Christ (and afraid to look in my attic),


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner
;)

The Holy Water Hose

Yes, this IS a 'holy water' hose...

No, it is NOT a Catholic exorcism.

quote: So much so is their faith, they endure incredible pain to remove the “evil” from within.Tesinsky watched as the “possessed” took part in the exorcism, which involves being punched in the head and stomach in order provoke a reaction from the demons.
“It’s part of the practice, he [Wondimu] wants to make the demons scared, and talk to them”, Tesinsky explains.
“Someone who seemed calm before starts to scream and be aggressive, they really change their voice.”
The priest takes his cross and begins to ask the demons questions through the “host’s” body.
“Who are you and how many?”
The victim proceeds to scream while the priest continues to punch them and showers them in holy water from a hose.
“You don’t have any power above me, I’m not going to leave,” Tesinsky recalled the spirit replying.
More punching.   -end quote-

Full pathetic story:  HERE



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner



link: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/exorcism-in-ethiopia-incredible-photography-series-by-david-tesinky-highlights-dramatic-rituals/story-fnixwvgh-1227327262958

EWTN Press Release: John Paul II in America

EWTN To Air ‘John Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent’

 

          Irondale, AL (EWTN) – You’ve undoubtedly heard that St. John Paul II’s trip to his native Poland, where his open-air Mass and homily were heard by millions, played a role in toppling the Iron Curtain. But did you know that the late Pope was also driven by a desire to see a “United American Continent” under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe? Find out more when EWTN airs the Knights of Columbus’ documentary, “John Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent.” (Airs 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 29; 10 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 30; and 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 2 on EWTN.)

            The documentary, narrated by Actor Andy Garcia, will give you a new understanding of the papacy of John Paul II, who died April 2, 2005. You’ll enjoy rare archival footage and come to understand the vision behind the Pope’s decision to travel across the Americas from Argentina to Alaska. Hear from leading Catholic figures such as Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Biographer George Weigel, and former Vatican Spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls, who explain the many ways this Pope “ultimately changed the course of history.”

            EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 34th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 networks broadcast the Gospel message in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. Properties include direct broadcast satellite television and radio services; AM & FM radio networks transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and radio affiliates across the U.S.; a worldwide shortwave radio station; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and two global wire services; as well as a publishing arm.

Still missing you...

May God bless you and keep you!


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Call the Midwife's poor homosexual victim

A few years ago PBS premiered the first season of "Call the Midwife" and I was hooked.  I'm a sucker for period pieces and the BBC does period docudrama's like no one else.

If you haven't heard of or seen "Call the Midwife" you must be living under a rock  it's about -as the name implies- midwifery.  The first season is set in the 1950's England, the midwives are made up of Church of England nuns and British midwives who are on call 24/7 to the women in their community.

Overall, I have very much enjoyed this peek into the history of pregnant women and their midwives- though a few episodes annoyed me because I could see TODAY's politics working their way into the show in what I believe to be a completely wrong depiction of the times.

[spoilers ahead]

The first such annoyance was when birth control was being pushed and seen as perfectly acceptable among most of the women- including the nuns.  Now I know SOME people in the 1950's thought this was a grand idea, but I don't believe how it was depicted in this show was accurate for the time.

That happened again on Sunday night, with the latest episode- only this time it was dealing with homosexuality.

A very pregnant married woman is humiliated when her husband walks passed their home to go to a public bathroom for sex with a strange man.  The homosexual husband gets caught in a police sting and is arrested for several indecent and immoral acts.

The pregnant wife is distraught, humiliated, hurt, heartbroken, afraid and worried about her future and the future of her baby and marriage.

But the wife is NOT the victim here... oh no!  It's the poor homosexual married man who can't be with another man because society is so mean and heartless.

News of his arrest hits the papers and people are disgusted.  Not only was he cheating on his extremely pregnant wife, but he was doing so with a complete stranger - another man in a public bathroom.  What's not to be disgusted by?

The community is portrayed as HORRIBLE, NASTY and MEAN because they do not want this man and his wife in their Church festival.

The main characters (midwives, doctor and Church of England priest) are not disgusted by what this man has done at all.  They don't feel outrage at what he's done to his wife, their marriage or the future of their child trying to grow up and live with the scandal daddy has brought to his family.  Oh no!  The victim is the poor homosexual man who just wanted a little sodomy now and again.

So when the Church festival comes and the horrible, nasty mean community says they don't want this family taking part because children will be there and the scandal of the situation should not be displayed at a Church festival what happens?

Oh yes!

The "Jesus taught us to love everyone" line comes out.  Funny how that comes out and is backed by the Church of England priest, but the priest NEVER mentions adultery, sodomy or scandal.  Not a word of worry for the children at this Church function who are all aware of their parents outrage over the situation.

I believe that such a "scandal" was still a big deal during this time period, so why the BBC decided to alter history can only be trumped up to today's political correctness in my opinion.

I simply can't believe that during those days especially, a married man having sex with another man and getting arrested would have been seen as a "Jesus taught us to love everyone" moment.

This arrest was a huge scandal in this small community and the pregnant wife was nearly destroyed by what her husband had done, yet HE was portrayed as the victim.

The homosexual adulterer is the victim?  Not the pregnant wife?  Not all the people including the children who were scandalized by this?  Would people in those days truly see the man as the victim here and not his wife?

I doubt it.

Even today, I believe, the woman would clearly be seen as the victim to MOST of us- except for the gay crowd who are ALWAYS playing the victim.

When people do a period docudrama they should stick to the facts and what is authentic to the period.  Injecting current ideas/trends/beliefs completely ruins the "period" piece.

Does anyone know or understand what sin is?  The sin of adultery?  Sodomy? Or the sin of scandal?  Are we so USED to being scandalized by the sexual immorality of society that we don't even feel scandalized by any sin anymore?

Wickedness should ALWAYS scandalize us.  And those of us who call ourselves Christians should always recognize what is sin.

Don't let television shows with an agenda instruct you in what Jesus' love is all about.  To love as Jesus did is to save the sinner from his/her sins, not help them to stay in their sins by making the sinner the victim.


An UPDATE: 
Apparently the actor, Stephen McGann who plays the doctor on "Call the Midwife" doesn't like what I had to say about the show or his characters support of the adulterous homosexual man:

Mr. McGann seems to believe that Pope Francis has changed Catholic doctrine on homosexuality, adultery and scandal.  Here is the link McGann sites in his tweet to me: "Pope signals new era of forgiveness to gay priests".

My response to McGann:

My link goes to the catechism on homosexuality:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

The back and forth over this topic continues on Twitter between myself and Mr. McGann.  For more, check out our Twitter accounts.



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


Source: http://www.pbs.org/call-the-midwife/seasons/season-4/episode-3/
McGann link: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3828576.ece

EWTN Press Release: Catholic Library Association honors Doug Keck

Catholic Library Association Honors

‘EWTN Bookmark’ Host Doug Keck

Irondale, AL (EWTN) – The Catholic Library Association honored EWTN President & COO Doug Keck with the Aggiornamento Award during its Annual Convention held April 7 to 9, 2015 in Orlando, Fla. The award recognizes individuals or groups who make an “outstanding contribution for the renewal of parish and community life in the spirit of Pope Saint John XXIII.” Previous winners include Fr. Robert Barron; Sr. Ann Shields; and Bishop Thomas Welsh.

Keck hosts “EWTN Bookmark,” one of EWTN’s most popular and enduring programs. The show gives Catholic authors a worldwide platform on which to showcase their works and viewers have their faith strengthened by reading and sharing some of the world’s best Catholic books. Keck was the originator of “EWTN Bookmark” and has been the host since its inception in 1998.

“As an organization, we are grateful that your discussions with Catholic authors reach a large audience and assist in our work of providing religious materials for the public,” said CLA Interim Executive Director, Malachy R. McCarthy.

Keck was especially honored to receive this award because “EWTN Bookmark” is a show that is close to his heart.

“There are so many great Catholic authors who need the opportunity to get in front of a large audience, and so many people whose lives can be changed by the teachings they impart,” he said. “I am blessed, with the assistance of my long-time producer, Lee South, to be able to bring these books to the world’s attention and grateful to the CLA for its recognition of our efforts.”



EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 34th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 networks broadcast the Gospel message in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. Properties include direct broadcast satellite television and radio services; AM & FM radio networks transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and 230 Catholic radio affiliates across the U.S.; a worldwide shortwave radio station; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and two global wire services; as well as a publishing arm.

Bullied for being pregnant...

Just when I think people can't get nastier they surprise me and manage to get even nastier.

A pregnant weather woman, Kristi Gordon, from Global News is receiving hate mail because she is pregnant.

Apparently, people are so offended by her "fat" pregnant belly and her maternity clothes that they are sending her hate mail, asking she get off the air until she is no longer "fat" because they find pregnant women to be repulsive.

No really.

What sort of person does this?

What sort of person sees a pregnant working mom on television, gets to repulsed with a woman carrying life within her, that they take the time to write and send a horrible letter insulting, bullying and degrading her?

Who does that?

It certainly isn't the Pro-Life crowd.



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=268&v=-Eh8eunMK-k

Good Friday

I'll be watching Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" today as I try to do every Good Friday- unless I've already watched it during Lent.



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Holy Thursday

Washing feet didn't make Holy Thursday holy, the Eucharist did.



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner