America's Golden Calf

By Contributor Tim Siggia


""These are your gods, O Israel, that have led you out of the land of Egypt." -- Ex 32:4

"and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." -- Matt. 24:11

If recent events have not conclusively proven that the American people made a grievous error in 2008 when they elected Barack Hussein Obama President of the United States, nothing ever will. In situation after situation in which leadership was called for, Obama presented us instead with indifference and indecision. Our current misadventures in Libya are only the latest example of this. We saw it just last year when a British Petroleum oil platform ruptured, spilling countless tons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. We saw it again just recently with the uprising in Egypt that ended up in the deposing of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. Now we're seeing it again in Libya, where Obama first declared (Libyan dictator Muammar) Khadafi must go, then flip-flopped on that objective, and now refuses to call that which fits every definition of war a war, calling it instead a "kinetic military action." In each situation, where nearly every previous president would have stepped forward and taken decisive action, Obama has instead sat on his hands, dithered and procrastinated, and, when he finally decided to act, offered up too little too late.

Yet he has been anything but indecisive when it comes to his own personal agenda of stripping the American people of their freedom and moving the United States from an economy of free-market capitalism to one of communism. He wasted no time in exercising government power grabs, from the banking and insurance industries, to the automotive industry, and finally, to health care, which by itself accounts for one-sixth of the total economy. The laughingly mislabeled Affordable Health Care Act was railroaded through Congress by an extremely partisan Democrat majority, when poll after poll bore out that the majority of Americans opposed such a program. This act, called Obamacare by its many critics, is still being treated as law of the land by the Obama Administration despite having been ruled unconstitutional by two federal judges, and having been legally challenged by the attorneys-general of 21 additional states. And his blueprint for realizing all this? It's a book by a fellow "community organizer," a man named Saul Alinsky, entitled Rules For Radicals, which, among other things, was dedicated to the World's First Rebel, Lucifer -- Satan -- The Devil -- and is Obama's personal bible.

Barack Obama has shown himself to be more than just a non-Party communist, more than just a "community organizer," which was his background before being elected to the United States Senate, and later to the Presidency of the United States. He is, in a word, America's Golden Calf. From the days of Obama-Mania, just two years ago, he was presented as the New Messiah, The Anointed One, or, simply, The One. He was supposed to unite a divided country, end all discord in the Middle East, capture and bring Osama bin Laden to justice, and make America prosperous once more. Instead, bin Laden remains at large, the Middle East is in unprecedented upheaval, and the United States is now more politically polarized than in any time previous since the Civil War. And we are now trillions of dollars in debt.

Yet all this in fact has been foretold in Scripture. In Exodus 32, the Bible relates how Aaron, the brother of Moses, fashioned a representation of a calf made out of the melted-down gold and jewelry of the Israelites, and presented it to the Israelites as their God. Jesus Christ himself warned of false Christs who would arise and lead their followers astray (Matt. 24).

Does Barack Obama fit into such categorization? Consider the following:

Upon hearing Obama speak, one listener remarked, "That, sir, is the voice of God, the voice of God!" It was soon afterward learned that Obama made all his speeches with the aid of a Teleprompter, and was virtually helpless without it.

Commentator Chris Matthews reported having felt "a thrill run up his leg" upon hearing Obama speak. Has this ever been publicly said by anyone about any other American president?

A teacher in a New Jersey township forced her students to sing hymns of praise to Barack Obama. Another teacher had his students repeat after him the words, "I am an Obama Scholar."

Throughout all this, to be fair, Obama himself never expressly asked for deification. But, just as noteworthy, he never refuted any of it either, as any president before him surely would have.

And what have we seen in the meantime of that president who was supposed to change and reform the world with his physical presence alone, so his minions would have had us believe?

We have seen a president who stands helplessly by as events unfold before him, rather than stepping in and taking charge. We have seen a president who continually presents the United States of America in the worst possible light, jetting around the world apologizing for the very things that have made America great, bowing to foreign dictators, and wasting our tax dollars with ineffective government programs (Obamacare, the Stimulus, "Cash For Clunkers"). We have seen a president who pays more attention to basketball than to foreign policy, who cold-shoulders our longtime allies (Israel and Great Britain), and plays golf while his country crumbles all around him.

We have, to sum it all up, seen the most inexperienced, unprepared, unfit and unworthy President of the United States ever to hold the office prove to us on almost a daily basis that he is in fact all of that. As previously noted, Obama never expressly asked to be deified, but neither did he say or do a thing to discourage such treatment. On the contrary, he seemed, at every turn, to encourage it.

He is not a God. He does not have superhuman powers. He is only one man among multitudes of the same, and, as he continually proves, a most fallible one at that. What does Jesus say about such people, in Gospel after Gospel and parable after parable?

"He who exalts himself shall be humbled."

Will Obama himself, or those who even now continue to worship at his altar, ever finally learn this?

-Tim Siggia-
Connecticut Catholic Corner Contributor

**image from PublicDomainPictures**

Notre Dame Church Lenten Mission

Don't miss this!!

Coming to Notre Dame Parish in Durham, Connecticut is Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC. Fr. Kaz will be giving several presentations on The Divine Mercy, hearing confessions and celebrating mass with Fr. Lipton (Temporary Administrator for Notre Dame Parish).

March 12 - 5 pm Vigil Mass
March 13 - 8 am and 10:30 am Masses
March 13 - 7 pm Divine Mercy Presentation (1 hour)
March 14 - 8 am Daily Mass
March 14 - 7 pm Divine Mercy Presentation (1 hour)
March 15 - 8 am Daily Mass
March 15 - 7 pm Divine Mercy Presentation (1 hour)
March 16 - 8 am Daily Mass
March 16 - 7 pm Divine Mercy Presentation (1 hour)
**Confession follows the 7 pm March 16 presentation

Topics Covered:
-Divine Mercy Introduction
-Celebrating the Feast of the Divine Mercy
-Divine Mercy Presence in the Liturgy
-Divine Mercy in the Gospel
-Meaning of Divine Mercy Picture
-Historical knowledge of St. Faustina

For more information call Notre Dame Parish (860)349-3050
or visit their website http://www.churchofnotredame.org/
Notre Dame Parish
272 Main Street
Durham, Ct 06422

For more information on Fr. Kaz Chwalek MIC: http://thedivinemercy.org/library/article.php?NID=3752&PLID=77

Divine Mercy Chaplet song lyrics:


"Eternal Father,
I offer you the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity,
of Your Dearly Beloved Son,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world".

On the ten small beads of each decade, say:

"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world".

Conclude with (Say 3 Times):

"Holy God,
Holy Mighty One,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us
and on the whole world".

Is The Westboro Baptist Church Wrong?

Written by contributor Doug
Photo from AirforceTimes.com ( Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press )

The US Supreme Court recently upheld the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to protest homosexuality at funerals of fallen military veterans, regardless of their sexual orientation. As much as this whole disturbing affair nauseates me, it is significant enough to warrant analysis.

The Westboro Baptist Church is not wrong in the message it preaches [opposing gay marriage], but rather, how it preaches it, which strikes me much akin to using a sledge hammer to relieve your friend of a fly that landed on his forehead.

The church members argue that the evil of rampant homosexuality in our nation, which has also now recently been given an increased approval by the Obama administration (no longer with just a wink and a nod by the previous “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy) in our military is the cause of increased evil in our society, including war.

Mother Teresa said, and I believe rightly so, that increased evil in our society is because of abortion. I would add homosexuality, overall promiscuity, and various other evils into that recipe for disaster as well, so with all due respect, perhaps both Westboro and Mother fell a little short in their explanations.

There are many theological reasons for suffering, including original sin, redemptive suffering, if not for ourselves, then for others, etc… The Bible, contrary to popular and erroneous belief, does not contain contradictions, but rather, paradoxes. Suffering, while seeming to be contrary to the will of a loving God, is also in place to bring about a better good for us, and thus, His glory.

Clearly the fallen veterans are not the cause of war, but rather, patriots who bravely sacrificed their lives because of it. Their honor should be preserved, and their already suffering families and loved ones should, morally speaking, if not constitutionally speaking, be allowed their peace and privacy to mourn and lovingly bury their dead, and again, regardless of their sexual orientation. After all, in a moral society, with rights come responsibilities, and a (well formed) conscience should compliment a constitution and correctly guide our actions based on the knowledge and understanding that what we “can” do is not always what we “should” do. One of the driving principles in my life has always been, “Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose.”

I believe the evangelizing/protesting Westboro members are hanging their hats, at least partially, if not completely, on a passage from Ezekiel, Chapter 33, verses 7-10:

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them a warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O, wicked man, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his inequity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, he shall die in his inequity, but you will have saved your life.”

Perhaps these will meaning, but over the top fellow flawed humans from Westboro might consider reflecting also on Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 1-6:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

As Christians, we are to judge evil in actions, not in people, the former being our duty, and the latter, God’s purview. Put another and more commonly evoked way for our part, “Hate the sin; love the sinner.” With regard specifically to homosexuality, in at least some cases before our sordid and deteriorating culture deemed it trendy and acceptable to those seeking only lustful experimentation and/or lifestyles, some immutability might be involved.

Prior to its later cowardly and rushed capitulation behind closed doors because of bullying, protests, infiltration and politicalization by radical gays in the early 70’s, the American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental dysfunction or disorder in it’s then Diagnostic and Statistical Manual until 1973. This fact then requires us to consider # 1735 of the Catholic Catechism:

“Immutability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors.”

Thus, where applicable, gays may be given at least some latitude for their sins, but they should also seek treatment (as some have successfully done so) for their affliction, as well reconciliation and a mindset toward repentance as well. Those who choose homosexual behavior purely of a free will simply need to stop, confess, and repent.

For brevity sake, I will only refer to a longer passage, although I highly recommend its reading, namely, Mark, chapter 4, verses 3-21, in which Jesus teaches a parable about a sewer of seed and the various situations and subsequent explanations as to how the seed falls on the ground, and the ramifications for the results. But like on rocky soil, seed cannot be planted and expected to fully grow. Thus, to evangelize to a person with a clearly closed mind is not only more often than not a waste of time, but in some cases, such foolishly boorish, albeit well-intended action can even further drive someone away from any future hope of acceptance of God’s Word and will, and thus, perhaps even salvation itself.

So what conclusion can we draw from this debate? As much as I so often bristle at trendiness, I refer to the bracelets made popular a few years back that simply contained the letters, “W.W.J.D.?” The abbreviation stood for, “What Would Jesus Do?” and the bracelets were theoretically intended to model better behavior in the wearer of the bracelet, as based on the example of Jesus.

So what would Jesus possibly say regarding the whole Westboro debate? Again, we can refer back to the Gospels and review not just the words of Jesus, but His actions as well to find the answer. Clearly, Jesus evangelized, passionately and often, but He did not waste His time or energy on people who couldn’t be bothered with His message or dismissed it, and He taught the same evangelization technique to His traveling apostles in Matthew, Chapter 10, verses 11-15:

“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.”

While Jesus and His apostles did evangelize, they never beat anyone over the head with their messages. That is because God wants us to come to Him, but only by our free will, which He lovingly gave to us as a gift to be used, and not abused. Such is the difference between ‘freedom” and “license.” And that is also another reason in some cases for suffering: the abuse, or “license” of our God-given free will.

The gravely confused members of the Westboro Baptist Church apparently have not yet figured out, or simply don’t care about this stark difference in evangelization methods. And make no mistake about it, while their intentions are clearly good, their horrifically clouded judgment, as manifested by their all too frequent, and now ironically court sanctioned misguided actions, are wantonly cruel, purely evil and a grotesquely ugly, and impeding mutation of true Christianity.

And for so-called “Christians,” that’s just not “good” enough.
　
~Doug~

Catholic Teaching on Homosexuality:

Catechism #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.

Catechism #2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

Catechism #2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

*emphasis added

Comments and thoughts by Julie...

Doug clearly you are a nicer person than I am by giving Westboro Baptist Church the benefit of the doubt that "their intentions are clearly good". While I agree that gay marriage is a sin in the eyes of God and the Holy Catholic Church, I do not agree that Westboro Baptist 'church' (and I used that term very lightly) is doing any of this out of any goodness.

I believe (and I do hope I am wrong) that the folks at Westboro are so filled with hate for people they wouldn't know Jesus' love if he walked up and hugged them. The most important thing Jesus taught was LOVE. LOVE is what changes people. Love is what gives hope to the hopeless. Love is what inspires people to do better and be better. Without love, you've got nothing. Who will even consider listening to the Word of God if the person talking to you is screaming you are 'going to hell' and 'God hates you'?

Compare the loving acts shown by Mother Teresa to the Westboro Baptist folks. We will "know them by their fruits" our Lord said. Mother Teresa spoke out against evil, but she did it in love and with respect for human beings. Westboro Baptist Church in my view fails miserably at that. I'll take Mother Teresa's fruits over Westboro any day. That said, I hope you are correct about them and that I am wrong. I just don't see their "goodness", all I see are 'fruits of hate'. I'd like to think and hope that all their protests come from a will to do good and please God...a desire to do the will of God... - I just don't see it I am sorry to say.

As always, thank you Doug for being a Connecticut Catholic Corner contributor! You bring wonderful thought provoking articles to the table and I truly appreciate that.

EWTN Press Release 1/6/11

EWTN Proud to Announce Its Newest Affiliate:

Pax Catholic Communications’ Radio Paz in Miami

Almost 85% of Catholic Radio Stations in the U.S. Are Now EWTN Affiliates

Irondale, AL (EWTN) – EWTN Global Catholic Network is proud to announce that Pax Catholic Communications’ Radio Paz, the radio ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami, has become EWTN’s newest radio affiliate. Building on a relationship that began 13 years ago today, (Jan. 6, 1998), Radio Paz in Miami will expand its program carriage of EWTN’s Spanish Network, Radio Católica Mundial, from three hours per day to up to 12 hours per day.

“As Radio Paz and EWTN move forward as a team, I know you will enjoy and appreciate the new productions,” said Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski.

“Many people are aware of EWTN’s English language radio feed, which is now broadcast by 148 affiliates, but not everyone is aware that EWTN boasts two Spanish radio networks, one in Latin America and one here in the U.S., as well as a Spanish television network,” said EWTN President & CEO Michael P. Warsaw. “We are especially pleased to include the Miami Archdiocese as part of our family.”

In fact, as the new year begins, EWTN is proud to say that almost 85% of U.S. Catholic radio stations rely on programming supplied by EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network or EWTN’s Radio Católica Mundial – programming which is supplied to affiliates free of charge.

“The growth of Catholic radio in this country really began with Mother Angelica,” Warsaw continued. “Mother launched the world’s largest privately-owned shortwave radio facility on Dec. 28, 1992. Approximately three years later, on Feb. 27, 1996, EWTN launched a worldwide AM/FM radio service. Mother’s vision was to build Catholic radio in this country, and around the world, by offering quality Catholic programming and advice free of charge.”

Mother’s vision was always a global vision – because her Church is a universal Church.

“On February 1, 1989, before others even began thinking of the Hispanic audience,” Warsaw continued, “EWTN began reaching out to our Hispanic brothers and sisters with a three-hour block of programming. EWTN’s round-the-clock Spanish language television and radio has been available in Latin America and Spain since 1996 and in the U.S. since 1999.”

In the beginning, building Catholic radio was slow – just as it had been with Catholic television. With less than 10 Catholic-formatted radio stations in the U.S., Mother used a 1996 live television show to inspire the laity to establish even more Catholic AM/FM stations in their own communities. EWTN’s English and Spanish language radio networks were developed almost in parallel. Three businessmen responded to Mother’s live show and the first English-speaking AM/FM broadcast went on the air on Jan. 2, 1997, while Radio Católica Mundial was made available for carriage via AM/FM radio stations, as well as the Internet, on June 14, 1999.

“Today, thanks to Mother’s ‘yes’ to God’s call, EWTN is proud to count 148 out of 175 AM/FM Catholic radio stations in the U.S. as EWTN affiliates,” Warsaw said. “EWTN Catholic radio can also be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel #160 and via the Internet.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN, is the largest religious media network in the world.

**Press release comes directly from EWTN as is**

Preparing for Advent

Want To Prepare For Advent? Help The Endangered Among Us Live Through It!

by Contributor Doug

So there I was, listening to my pastor giving his Homily in mass this morning, and at the same time, God was also giving the same Homily.

I’ll let you digest that one for a minute.

No, really, it’s OK. As those who well know me would zealously attest, I may be crazy, but I’m not nuts. And trust me, if my opening statement made sense to you, your not nuts, either.

Our pastor, hardly the shrinking violet type, who is much more concerned with saving souls than feelings (Picture a slightly older but similarly zesty Father Corapi of EWTN!), gave yet another unabashed but quite necessary sermon on protecting the sanctity of life, and once again, didn’t even try to mince words on the topics of abortion and euthanasia, sadly rare topics in many other parishes for reasons of sheer cowardice and political correctness, but not mine. (I love this guy!)

Father mentioned how Pope Benedict, in his opening Advent Mass in the Vatican, spoke of preparing for the celebration of Christ’s coming by praying for the unborn, many of whom worldwide will be savagely slaughtered by Christmas, and most ironically, as Father Corapi has often said, in what should be the safest place on earth, the womb.

As the priest spoke about protecting the sanctity of human life, he also mentioned how far we have regressed, as women now, upon being confirmed that they are pregnant, are typically and callously next asked by their doctors if they wish to keep or terminate their growing, nurturing baby inside them. At about this time, I noticed a woman sitting about a half dozen or so pews ahead of me, holding a rambunctious toddler, a handsome young tyke, with a perfectly round face, blond hair and big, sparkling blue eyes. This little guy, as if he thought himself to be a visual aid, suddenly sprang completely straight upright, standing on Mom’s legs, and looking backward over her shoulder to all those behind him and broke out a huge smile from ear to ear! The timing could not have been any more perfect!

Now does anyone really believe that precious event, and at that precise time, was just coincidence?
Mother Teresa blamed the increase in evil in the world on abortion. I don’t think she was too far off the mark there. As we try to cleanse our own lives in this joyous season of celebration, how can we condone the slaughter of the most innocent and defenseless among us when the crux of this entire festive season is the birth of a baby, the baby who would become our savior? And yet we condone the killing of other babies in His likeness?

To clarify my usage of the word “condone,” Edmund Burke sagely noted that all that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. And in our own faith, a great number of Catholics agree with abortion and euthanasia, and some even actively support these ghastly endeavors. And still others, who do oppose these atrocities, say or do nothing about it. Same evil, different tactic.

And thus, the flames of this insidious evil threat to life continues to flourish, perpetually fed and fanned by the energizing fuel of apathy, if not collaboration.

Who is then left to annoy others “convenience” when we are finally rid of all our “inconvenient” young and old? (As someone of middle age, that very thought gives a chill up my spine!) To paraphrase Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran Minister imprisoned under Hitler’s regime, he failed to speak when they came for the Jews, the Austrians, the Poles, etc.., and finally when they came for him, no one was left to speak.

Too many times I hear the excuse (not reason) of compassion tossed about. God gave us our lives and only He can take them back. We belong to Him. Would any of us so tolerate the theft and abuse of any cherished possession that belonged to us by someone else?

There are also, difficult as it may seem to fathom, sound theological principles that uphold suffering, but that topic is an article unto itself. Suffice to say for now that our superior and loving God’s will is better informed and ultimately far more benevolent in the end than ours. We, the created, created, contrary to our arrogance, do not know more than our Creator. God also allows evil (as Father mentioned in His Homily today, such as the horrific torture and death of God’s Son), so that a greater good can come of it. Abortion and euthanasia are evil, period, and that is just absolute truth, as taught by the Church. To paraphrase the late and great Archbishop Fulton Sheen, absolute truth is still absolute truth, despite how many or how few people believe it. God, having allowed these evils to exist, also demonstrates His love by giving us free choice. We can work to stop those evils, and thus achieve a greater good, or sit back (and maybe even join in) and allow those evils to continue and even thrive.

I am nauseated by pro-abortion politicians and candidates continually trying to slither off the hook by saying that while they favor abortion (Wink, wink, NARAL, keep those political contributions flowing!), they wish to keep abortion “safe and rare.” yet they do little if anything to ever keep it safe or rare. Likewise, I have so often had this same ridiculous argument with others who claim that they favor abortion and euthanasia because of the horrific conditions that they so often see foisted among children and the elderly in our society today. True enough, but if they are so concerned, what if anything, do they typically do to help stop those atrocities from occurring to children and the elderly that in their minds so necessitates abortion and euthanasia to continue? NOTHING! Isn’t this mindset somewhat akin to using a sledge hammer to kill a mosquito on your friend’s forehead?

Another favorite Father Corapi gem of mine (which I heard again just last night) was that he encourages people to pray the Rosary daily, and often hears people reply that they pray in their own way, yet in his experience, these same people pray seldom, if ever at all. Once again, more excuses, no action. If our eroding culture is our so-called excuse for allowing abortions and euthanasia to continue, then by that “logic,” why don’t we all just starve ourselves to death to eliminate the tragedy and potential of obesity? As a baseball announcer might say, “Swing and a miss!”

Some of you can take an active part in saving the innocent and defenseless around us, but you have more excuses than pharmaceutical companies have pills. Stop making excuses and do something about it! Some of you, for any number of truly legitimate reasons cannot. OK, fine. Pray. Better yet, pray the Rosary. Who better to pray to for life than our Blessed Mother, who gave birth to our Savior so that all could live eternally? And if you think you are too busy, you are not. As Father Corapi has said, the Pope recites the Rosary four or five times a day. Do you have any idea what his daily schedule is like? Are you really busier than the Pope? Furthermore, the Blessed Mother at Fatima told us to pray the Rosary daily, for others, and for that matter, ourselves, too. As we know from John: 19, 26, 27, Jesus, while dying on the cross, gave us to Mary as her children, and Mary to us as our mother, also. So listen to your Mother!

Like St. Paul, in 2 Corinthians, 12, 10, when we are weak, we are strong. St. Therese of Lisieux (“The Little Flower”) is known for her prayers for, and kindness to others, despite her suffering and infirmity.
Does prayer seem ineffective to you? How’s your faith?

“…For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
(Matthew: 17, 20.)

As we know from Jesus in Matthew : 19, 26, all things are possible with God. We only need to pray, and with faith. And pray lovingly, not just for the rescue of those endangered, but for the repentance of, and mercy upon all those who intentionally and unintentionally, actively and passively, endanger them. And while thus praying, keep this scenario in your mind:

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The suckling child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
(Isaiah: 11, 6-10.)

As Sam Cooke sang, “What a wonderful world this would be.”

As the saying goes, “The more, the merrier.” Let us then have a fruitful Advent by saving the endangered among us, and thus, a very merry Christmas. God bless.

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you; you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke: 2, 9-13.)

Doug

Youth and Sex by Bishop Fulton Sheen

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

EWTN Press Release 9/29/10

October 1, 2010

EWTN Foundress Mother Angelica’s Hometown to Name a Street in Her Honor



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – Mother Angelica, the cloistered nun who founded EWTN Global Catholic Network, will be honored by her hometown of Canton, Ohio when a section of Market Ave. is declared the “Mother Angelica Memorial Corridor.” The section, between 30th St. N.W. and 44th St. N.W., includes the portion of the avenue that runs in front of Sancta Clara Monastery, where Mother made her first vows and lived out her first years as a nun.

“Mother Angelica and all of us at EWTN are truly touched and thrilled by the recognition bestowed upon our foundress by the Mayor and the Canton City Council,” said EWTN CEO & President Michael P. Warsaw. “It is a testament to the work that Mother accomplished in her life – work from which the whole world is benefiting. We want to thank the Mayor and the Canton City Council for recognizing Mother Angelica in this way.”

The honor comes as EWTN prepares to descend upon the Canton Civic Center Oct. 9 and 10 for its annual “Family Celebration,” an event that attracts viewers from all over the country thanks to its roster of well-loved speakers, children’s entertainment, and more. This year, the Network will pay homage to the life and legacy of its famous foundress with a live program featuring many of this year’s speakers as well as select members of the audience. This made Canton the perfect location for the 2010 Family Celebration.

This year’s speakers are all well-known to Mother. They include EWTN’s “World Over” Anchor (and Mother Angelica’s best-selling biographer) Raymond Arroyo; “Journey Home” Host Marcus Grodi; Dr. Ray Guarendi, host of EWTN Radio Network’s “The Doctor Is In,” and Mother Assumpta Long of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, whose order hosts the EWTN children’s catechetical series, “Truth in the Heart.” “Bookmark” Host Doug Keck will emcee the event.

EWTN President & CEO Michael P. Warsaw, Deacon Bill Steltemeier, Father Anthony and Father Joseph Mary Wolfe will also be on hand for the popular “Family Talk,” which is a chance for viewers who are part of the EWTN Family, to ask questions

In addition, children will be entertained by “Roamin Catholic” Host Rob Wahl and his sidekick, Pete the Penguin, as well as Brother Leo, author of “Hey Brother Leo” fame. “Older kids” can browse the EWTN Religious Catalogue shop, line up to “Meet the Author,’ and maybe even get a signed copy of Arroyo’s new book, “The Prayers & Personal Devotions of Mother Angelica.”

Doors will open at 8 a.m. As always, there will be plenty of opportunities for confession as well as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a day no fan of EWTN and Mother Angelica will want to miss – and, best of all, it’s free!

For more information, please visit: http://www.ewtn.com/familycelebration/

Note: We invite you to tell you friends about this event – and the great honor being bestowed on Mother Angelica – on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other social networks – and to tweet about it using the hashtag #EWTN.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 29th year, is available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

**Press Release issued by EWTN to Connecticut Catholic Corner**

Why be Catholic?

Why be Catholic?? by Tim Staples

For more information visit: http://www.catholic.com/new/why_be_catholic.asp