Mass shootings

I feel sick and heart broken every time I hear of another mass shooting. 

I don't know how to stop it. 

I don't believe removing guns is the answer, and I know messing with the 2nd Amendment would be detrimental to our nation. 

All we have to do is look at places in the world where the people aren't allowed to arm themselves and see that those governments sooner or later take complete control. Socialism, communism, dictators...etc. We don't want this in the United States.

Governments are corrupt...the moment the people no longer have the right to arm themselves to fight back against their governments is the moment that the people of the nation lose their rights and the government takes over. 

My own thoughts on these shootings is that several facts play a part, not just one. Gun's don't shoot people, people pull the trigger and kill people.

We know mental illness plays a part in many of these tragedies. I fully support laws that remove guns from people who show a potential to harm themselves or others (Gifford's shooter & the movie theater shooter, etc). 

It's also my opinion that the moment we legalized abortion and now in many states we've legalized euthanasia, that we told society 'life has little to no value'. Human beings have become disposable. 

Then add entire generations of kids growing up playing violent video games where to 'win' the game, you must kill the most people. These games are nothing like the games I had as a kid. 

Add decades of multi-million dollar movies, making guns and explosions fun and exciting. Kids absorbing all of this as normal. It's amazing to me that society worked so hard to remove smoking from movies and television shows because it influenced viewers to smoke, yet no one seems to think that watching mega amounts of violence might have the same effect on some people. 

Now toss in today's television that is packed with pornographic images and scenes, and we have warped the minds of children and adults alike. What is "normal" in media today would have been illegal and shocking decades ago.

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA: A PASTORAL RESPONSE  

12. Frequent exposure to violence in the media can be confusing to children, who may not be able to distinguish readily between fantasy and reality. At a later stage, violence in the media can condition impressionable persons, especially those who are young, to regard this as normal and acceptable behaviour, suitable for imitation.

And most of all, add in the fact that God has and is, being removed more and more from places where God once held a place. Even in churches we hear more about social issues and the environment than we do about God and how life is precious. Prayers have been removed from schools, government assemblies, courts and sadly homes. 

Remove God and you make room for the devil.

Until our society turns to God and begins living decent moral lives, I don't see the end to mass slaughter of innocent people or an end to violence in our communities and homes. 

We need God. 

On August 15 on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 54 day Rosary for the nation begins. If you weren't planning on joining, please reconsider. 

NOVENA FOR OUR NATION: AUGUST 15 TO OCT. 7, 2019
"The time is now to call upon God, through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, to heal our country and return it to holiness.
This is a nationwide prayer campaign called the “Novena for Our Nation.” Everyone from around the nation is encouraged to join ranks as, united, we pray the very powerful 54 Day Rosary Novena from the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.
We continue to live in peace-less times with laws and court rulings in conflict with God’s laws; especially the disregard for the rights of the unborn, elderly and weak in our society and the attacks on marriage and family values. Society and many levels of government continue to demonstrate intolerance towards biblically based religious belief and practice. In conflict with First Amendment constitutional rights, persecution of traditional religious expression has reached historically high levels. We are in a Spiritual Battle.
We are called upon to help turn our country back towards God. We will accomplish that through prayer; prayer that can change hearts, change families, change our communities and change our country. There is no stronger weapon in this Spiritual Battle than the Rosary."

May God help us all.

In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

links: 

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_doc_07051989_pornography_en.html

https://usgraceforce.com/rise-up-join-tens-of-thousands-praying-for-our-nation-for-54-days/ 

Say goodbye to cemeteries and hello to composting human beings

The term is "recomposition" and the idea has taken off in Washington state. Katrina Spade originally cooked up the idea of composting human beings back in 2013 from a farming friend who composts dead livestock. She now has the backing of Democrat Sen. Jamie Pedersen, who is sponsoring a bill in Washington’s Legislature that if passed, would allow families to compost their death family members as early as 2020.

  "Pedersen sees recomposition as an environmental and a social justice issue." 

It always circles back to social justice. Exactly how it is considered "social justice" is because its cheap-so poor people can compost their dead and then plant a tree in the remains-and composted dead people can help stop erosion.  Senator Pedersen gushes that “People from all over the state who wrote to me are very excited about the prospect of becoming a tree or having a different alternative for themselves”. Becoming a tree eh? 🌳

I was curious to what faith-if any Pedersen subscribed to. According to Wiki, Pedersen is an openly gay Lutheran man "married" to another man and together they are raising four sons. Apparently, in Pedersen's branch of the Lutheran faith one can become a tree after death-and he says it like that's a good thing. 

I asked a Catholic family member what they thought of human composting and her response was, isn't that what happens to us anyway? 

Well, yes, but we aren't scattered in the flower bed or used to mulch the apple tree. Maybe I'm the only one who sees a problem with this. 😕

Quote: "The process involves placing unembalmed human remains wrapped in a shroud in a 5-foot-by-10-foot cylindrical vessel with a bed of organic material such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. Air is then periodically pulled into the vessel, providing oxygen to accelerate microbial activity. Within approximately one month, the remains are reduced to a cubic yard of compost that can be used to grow new plants."

The Catholic take so far? 

"Alkaline hydrolysis may go against Catholic doctrine that requires the human body to be respected, said James LeGrys, theological adviser to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. LeGrys was unfamiliar with recomposition, but noted that it could be problematic if body parts are separated in any way."

Could be problematic? 

Imagine how this would work...

After the Catholic funeral everyone follows the hearse to the local compost heap and tosses dear old granny in. Then a month later they show up with shovels to either stuff granny's compost into burlap bags or a wheelbarrow so they can tote her back home to their garden. 

Yeah, seems a bit problematic to me. But what do I know? 

I was surprised to learn there is something going on in Germany that is very similar. Though not composted, the cremated remains of people are being put beneath trees in "forest burials". 

Quote: "Asked specifically about the growing trend in his native Germany of "forest burials," where people pay to have their ashes in urns interred at the base of a tree in a designated forest burial ground, Cardinal Muller said the German bishops were not thrilled with the idea, but accepted it with the proviso that the tree be marked with the name of the person buried at its base."🌲

Muller continues...

"We believe in the resurrection of the body and this must be the principle of our understanding and practice," Cardinal Muller told Catholic News Service, noting that there is a difference between allowing for the natural decay of the body while protecting the environment and seeing the body of the deceased primarily as fertilizer for plants and trees."

In Christ and not wishing to be composted, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Sources: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/washington-could-become-first-state-legalize-human-composting-n952421 

http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/final-resting-place-vatican-releases-instruction-on-burial-cremation.cfm 

Voris

Praying for Michael Voris' father Russ... 

Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who was poured out upon you,
go forth, faithful Christian.

May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the Angels and Saints.


In Christ, 


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Source: https://www.facebook.com/michael.voris.7

Death of Fr. Andrew Apostoli

EWTN Chairman & CEO on Loss of Fr. Andrew Apostoli

Irondale, AL (EWTN) –  Statement from EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw: “All of us at EWTN are saddened by the loss of our dear friend Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR. Father Andrew was a constant presence on the Network for nearly twenty-five years, particularly as the host of “Sunday Night Prime” for the past five years. We always looked forward to his many visits to Irondale to produce programs. He was such a kind and holy man who always brought joy to the EWTN Family and who was a constant witness to the Franciscan spirit. We will certainly miss him.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 37th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 268 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.

Death and funerals

Sorry to have been away from my blog for so long. 

After suffering the sudden tragic death of my 20 year old nephew in late September things have been very difficult. 

While the rest of my family and friends cling to "he's with the angels and our Lord now and at peace"...I know what the Catholic Church has always taught about those who die unbaptized and outside the Church. There is little comfort for me in those words. 

While I have Masses said for him and pray for his soul, I can't help but feel my failure. I took time for granted with him, I thought I would have more time to reach him with the Faith. I did not have that time. I have to live with that. It's a horrid lesson to learn, but one now written deeply within my own soul that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. 

This morning I attended another funeral and will be attending yet another funeral Mass this evening. Two in one day. 

Death seems to have a foothold around here lately and all I am doing is going from one funeral to another. 

What doesn't seem to change is that people want so desperately to believe that when a person dies, they are suddenly perfect and worthy of Heaven merely because they died. Didn't matter how they lived their lives, death in its self seems to make a person worthy of Heaven is the theology too many people cling to. 

Who started this nonsensical idea? Must have been the devil himself. 



In Christ and still in mourning, 


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



image: https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Article/TabId/535/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/22189/Planning-and-Understanding-the-Catholic-Funeral.aspx

RIP John Vennari

You will be greatly missed...

More: Rorate Caeli

In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2017/04/john-vennari-rip.html

The Clintons...

...murder always seems to surround the Clintons when someone threatens to get in their way to the White House...

Some things never change. Whitewater.


In Christ and praying the Clintons don't get back in the White House,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


----------


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/whitewater/timeline.htm

RIP Fr. Peter Carota, you will be missed

I am so incredibly sad to hear that Fr. Peter Carota has passed away. 

Here: http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2016/07/08/fr-peter-carota-gone-eternal-reward/

For years I have read his blog "Traditional Catholic Priest" and found so much wisdom, comfort, and solid Catholic teaching in the pages of his posts. 

He will be dearly missed. 

By Father David Nix-In Memoriam: Fr. Peter Carota: http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2016/07/08/memoriam-fr-peter-carota/

Rest in the peace of Christ, Father Carota. 


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

7th #PPSellsBabyParts video released...

...this is pure evil..
(warning: a living, moving fully intact baby that has been aborted is shown)

All I can say is... Dear God helps us put an end to this horror.


In Christ and praying for an end to abortion,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

The loss of a friend...

My family and I lost a dear friend today that I have known since the day he was born.  Kevin was the son of my mother's best friend, as such we grew up together, sharing holidays, summer vacations and 'play dates'.  Kevin was the baby of his family and is survived by two older brothers and his father.

Sadly, his mother died on this exact date back in 1998 due to brain cancer.  An already hard date for his family and friends just got that much harder.

"Neighbors in Meriden watched in horror late Wednesday night as a house went up in flames with a man inside.
Witnesses said they ran to help, but they couldn't get to 40-year-old Kevin Appell, who was trapped on the second floor of the home, in time to save his life."

Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/27435517/police-identify-man-killed-in-meriden-house-fire#ixzz3JdsvIJor

WFSB 3 Connecticut

Besides hearing horrifying news that Kevin was dead, what has been even more horrifying for all of us who loved him, is that people could hear him screaming "Help me! Help me!" and no one could get him out.  He did not die quietly in his sleep unaware of the fire.  He was panicked and trying desperately to get out, but could not.

We are all in a state of shock and deep sorrow over his death.

Prayers for his soul and his family would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Kevin I will always remember you with a smile.  You were one of the few people who could make me laugh until I hurt, bringing tears of pure laughter to my face. I can't imagine you not still in our lives. You leave a huge void in the world, we will miss you all the days of our lives.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

FATHER BENEDICT J. GROESCHEL, DEVOTED RELIGIOUS AND PRIEST, DIES AT 81

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, beloved priest and preacher, died on October 3, 2014, the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis, after complications with an ongoing illness. He was 81.

Fr. Benedict was a founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR), a reform community started in 1987 by eight Capuchin Friars based in New York City. A priest and psychologist, he was director of Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, and also taught Pastoral Psychology for many years at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. Fr. Benedict was a popular writer, preacher, retreat master, and evangelist on Catholic television. His greatest joy was serving the poor and underprivileged.  

Founder of St. Francis House and Good Counsel Homes, he also served as chaplain at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry for 14 years. Always deeply concerned with the welfare of others, he tirelessly provided food, clothing, and assistance to people in need—people he always considered his friends.

Father Benedict is survived by his sister, Marjule Drury, sister Robin Groeschel, brother Gary Groeschel, nine nieces and nephews, 115 CFR brothers and priests, and 31sisters who were inspired by his authentic witness to religious life and devotion to Jesus and His Church. He was preceded by his brothers Edward and Mark. 

Wrote Fr. John Paul Ouellette, Community Servant, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Fr. Benedict. He was an example to us all. His fidelity and service to the Church and commitment to our Franciscan way of life will have a tremendous impact for generations to come.”

Details for the wake and funeral will be forth coming.  

Press Release: http://franciscanfriars.com/father-benedict/

#RIPBella trending on Twitter

By Connecticut Catholic Corner


Twitter is ERUPTING right now with what is apparently (I desperately hope its a hoax) a teen suicide.

The hashtag #RIPBella is being used to share the final words of a girl before she committed suicide.

As I already said, I DESPERATELY hope this is merely a hoax and not the horrible tragedy it appears to be.

How absolutely TRAGIC for ANY human being - especially a child- to feel like NOTHING.  This person found no value in herself because she never felt loved by others.

That is UNACCEPTABLE!

No one, absolutely NO ONE should ever feel so alone, unloved and unwanted.

It's an absolute tragedy.

The other tragedy with teen suicide is GLORIFYING IT.

@1000Girlfriends is correct.  This is NOT a happy ending.  Unfortunately too many teens (and adults) don't grasp that and have taken to glorifying the tragedy as some romantic gesture.

What a mess our society is when they don't see the value in human life.  What a sad thing to chalk off a suicide as "she is in a better place now".  She was supposed to be HERE now and she's not.

Whether or not this is a true suicide, it does truly depict the loneliness and hopelessness so many people feel.  We as a society HAVE to let people know they ARE loved and that we DO care about them.

When someone commits suicide they are leaving a VOID - a void that was supposed to filled by them for their entire NATURAL life.  That void can never be filled because no one can take the place of the person who committed suicide.

No one should feel unloved and unwanted- no one.

RIP Bella

I pray to God this is a hoax.


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

When a Cardinal Betrays a Pope

Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, his secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz was entrusted with the duty of burning ALL Pope John Paul II’s personal notes.  This was JPII’s final request and written in his will that the writings be burned upon his death.

Unfortunately, Cardinal Dziwisz (now Archbishop of Krakow) decided he would not honor the late Pope’s final Will and Testament and instead has decided on his own to publish a book (“I Am Very Much In God’s Hands”) using the beloved late Pope’s personal and private notes. The book was published this week (Feb.5, 2014) in Poland.  

The Cardinal seems to have no qualms about denying Pope John Paul II’s final wishes and excuses his actions by saying “he didn’t have the courage” to follow the Pope’s final request of him.

Cardinal Dziwisz has taken it upon himself to decide that he knows better than the author of the notes, deciding that the world should witness the thoughts and private journal writings of Pope John Paul II.

“In writing his will, the Holy Father knew he was entrusting these notebooks to someone who would treat them responsibly,” Cardinal Dziwisz said at a news conference in Krakow on Jan. 22. “I had no doubt these were such important items, testifying to the spirituality of a great pope, that it would be a crime to destroy them.”

Wrong Cardinal!  The Holy Father was entrusting YOU to BURN the items, not publish them.  His will was specific and you betrayed him his dying wishes.

It would be “crime” in his opinion, but in Pope John Paul II’s opinion it would be a betrayal NOT to burn them as he (JPII) requested.  The Pope did NOT want these writings published and his request SHOULD be honored, not published and made a profit off of.

I understand the DESIRE to keep something the Cardinal (and others) would view as “important items” from the late Pope, but when does their desire trump a Pope’s final death wishes?

Personally, I think this is wrong, even though I myself would love to know what Pope John Paul II had to say. I would put aside MY desire to honor HIS desire, as I think this Cardinal SHOULD have done.

Why didn’t the Vatican step in and put a stop to this?

Will ANY Pope’s final requests in the future be honored if we have Cardinals betraying them like Cardinal Dziwisz is betraying JPII now?

How can ANY Pope trust that his final wishes will be carried out if the Vatican allows this book to be published?

Other Catholic clergy have voiced their displeasure in this Cardinal’s actions…

“In European culture, a final will is always binding, as long as its realization isn’t against the law and morality,” Father Isakowicz-Zaleski told TVN, a Polish television broadcaster. “This is required not just by legal statutes and good manners, but also by respect for the dead. This public act of disobedience is a form of anti-witness, and can’t be justified by any explanation that it’s for the good of the church. Does a clergyman serving as a secretary know better than St. Peter’s successor?”

As the grossly overused term “slippery slope” comes to mind I really have to again wonder WHY the Vatican would allow this to happen.  I think it’s sad.

What do you think?  Should the Cardinal have written this book and betrayed the Pope’s final wishes or is it too much a “treasure” to be burned as the Pope requested?  And should the Vatican have stepped in and stopped this book from being published?

What are your thoughts?  Would/will YOU read the book?

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/world/europe/entrusted-to-burn-john-paul-iis-notes-cardinal-publishes-them-instead.html?_r=0

My 100th post...not what I had planned

My 100th post on this blog. I had been thinking for a while what I would write about and had a few ideas none of which are what this blog is going to be about. This Father's day while many children were celebrating their fathers and fathers were basking in their special day, one family in my community were grieving and still are grieving. On Father's Day evening their teenage daughter was killed in a tragic car accident. This girl's little brother is a friend and classmate of my youngest daughter. Our hearts are breaking for this family and this tragic loss of such a young and beautiful life. I haven't got anything more to say on this, but I'd like to share a prayer and ask my readers to please pray for this family. Thank you.

Precious Lord, bring peace to this mourning family and their friends as only You can. Comfort them as they grieve and bring them peace to accept this tragedy. Let them feel your love and grace surround them and carry them through this time of mourning and sorrow. Let them remember her with happiness and smiles. May God bless her family and friends, and may she rest in the loving arms of her Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.