Thursday, August 31, 2006

Catholic News & Current Events-8/31/2006



Vatican drops annual Christmas concert

Pope Benedict XVI has cancelled the traditional Christmas concert, in preference for a more reverent form of singing. Read further by clicking here.

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Australian bishop raps lawmaker's suicide speech

Senator Sandra Kanck in a controversial speech has given step by step guide on how to commit suicide. Read further by clicking here.


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Secularizing trend in Oceania prompts Synod concern

The Vatican is working on implementing Pope John Paul II recommendations against the invasive threat of relativism most especially in Australia and New Zealand. Read further by clicking here.


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South Dakota Bishop Is Convert, Lawyer

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a Priest to become Bishop of Sioux Falls South Dakota. Read further by clicking here .

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Catholic News & Current Events-8/30/2006


Colombia Catholic Church Bishop Bans Those Involved in Girl's Abortion

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo of Colombia has stated that all those who participate or legislate for legalized abortion will be excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Read further by clicking here.



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Pope calls a meeting on evolution
Pope Benedict XVI has called for dialogue between those who support the erroneous 'Darwins Theory' and those who support 'Intelligent Design'. Read further by clicking here.


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Catholicism and Buddhism: Compatible Beliefs?
Peter Mirus discusses whether Catholicism and Buddhism are similiar or totally opposite, read his views on this informative piece. Read further by clicking here.




Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Catholic News & Current Events-8/29/2006



A Church Risen From Ashes

Many people believe that the Miracle statue of the Virgin Mary has helped re-build St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. Read further by clicking here.


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EU needs constitution with Christian reference, Merkel says

Upon talking with Pope Benedict XVI the new German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggests that the new EU re-think it's non religious constitution. Read further by clicking here.


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Poso trio renews clemency request

Pope Benedict XVI pleads to the Indonesian government for clemency towards Christian leaders facing execution. Read further by clicking here.


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Vatican urges caution in Lebanese peacekeeping mission

While Italy prepares to take part in a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon the Pope has cautioned all involved to be aware of the delicacy which this missoin will entail. Read further by clicking here.


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"Apocalypse Now": The Pope Rewrites the Script

Pope Benedict XVI continues to enlighten the Faithful on this often misunderstood Book of the Bible. Read further by clicking here.


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Catholic News & Current Events



Pope: Worried parents should take heart in St. Augustine's path

Pope Benedict XVI encourages parents to take heart in a world that seems to celebrate the decadent. Read further:

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Polish officials call for drunken drivers' names to be read at church

In an attempt to shame those who drive while under the influence of alcohol many Polish authorities are calling upon the Catholic Church to name the guilty. Read further:

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Lefebvrite bishop says no progress on reconciliation with Vatican

After many talks and much negotiation between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X a stalemate is the outcome where reconcilation had been the aim. Read further:

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Archbishop Hughes reflects on Katrina's lessons, further challenges
As the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches a retrospective of lessons learnt from this tragic disaster is being analysed. Read further:

Monday, August 28, 2006

Footballer Cautioned For Blessing Himself



A ROMAN Catholic footballer who blessed himself during a match has been cautioned by police after it was decided his behaviour had been provocative and had led to crowd trouble.

Fans complained after Artur Boruc, the Polish goalkeeper for Glasgow Celtic, crossed himself during a derby with arch-rivals Rangers at Ibrox stadium, Rangers’ home ground, in February.

The teams have strong religious associations, Celtic seen as Catholic and Rangers as Protestant. As crossing oneself is a Catholic tradition, it might be seen as provocative by some Rangers fans. Boruc is a practising Catholic and says he has always made such gestures while playing.

After an investigation by the procurator fiscal — the Scottish crown prosecutor — it was decided that Boruc’s behaviour provoked alarm and crowd trouble and constituted a breach of the peace, but not one serious enough to warrant court action. (click to read the whole story.)

I have known one or two Scottish folks in my time, and always liked them (still do) and considered them all to be sensible, level headed people. A few years back, I worked for a local discount department store, and became acquainted with a gentleman who was the sales representative for General Electric’s Electronics’ Division, whom everyone called, appropriately enough, Scottie. Scottie had lived in this country for the previous 25 years or so, and had never gotten his citizenship here, but, kept his citizenship in Scotland. Scottie was a fine fellow, and all of us who worked for this store thought very highly of him. One day, we were all at the store snack bar taking a break, and Scottie had joined us. One of my co-workers and I were discussing some current event that escapes me now, and I made some comment about America being free. Scottie tapped me on the shoulder, and in that wonderful Scottish brogue of his said, “America is not free…Scotland is free!” The tone of voice in which he said it, and the manners of the man kept me from taking offense, and we laughed, and continued our conversation. After reading the story I just read on The Sunday Times, I am afraid that today I would have to ask Scottie, when did the Scottish folks decide to start trampling on freedom?









Monday, August 07, 2006

Mad-Donna Blasphemous Again


More From the Hopelessly Stupid Corner

It seems that Mad-Donna (I refuse to call this heretic and apostate Madonna) is bound and determined to blaspheme, and especially this Sunday in Rome, the heart of the Catholic faith. According to published news reports, on her concert tour “she performs a mock-crucifixion - will play to a 75,000 sell-out audience in Rome this Sunday.” They also report “Vatican leaders are furious at the image of Madonna descending on a suspended, mirrored, disco balltype cross while wearing a fake crown of thorns during her song Live To Tell.”

Church officials close to the Vatican have called for her excommunication since the 47 year old star was brought up Catholic. Cardinal Ersilio Tonino, speaking with the approval of the Holy Father, said: "This time the limits have really been pushed too far. It's a blasphemous challenge to the faith and a profanation of the cross. She should be excommunicated." Another official from the Vatican, Bishop Velasio De Paolis, pointed out that Satanists have used religious objects in black masses. He also said her show represents the “rotten fruit of secularism and the absurdity of evil.”

Now, Mad-Donna, just couldn't stand to be charitable, and consider the wishes of the Holy Father, the Vatican and other religious leaders in Rome. No, she has the unmitigated gall to invite Pope Benedict XVI to her tour, which is called the Confessions Tour. Her spokesperson told the New York Daily News that she thought that Pope Benedict XVI would enjoy the show ( I am not making this up) and applaud Mad-Donna's performance. She also said he had an open invitation to see the show and see “ the eloquence and beauty” that Mad-Donna “expresses for humanity” while performing her song Live to Tell.

Who does this woman think she is kidding? Mad-Donna eloquent? Expressive of humanity? Since when? I have not been in a coma or incoherent in my entire life, and I know fully well if there had ever been a time that Mad-Donna expressed anything for humanity, that was eloquent or beautiful in any of her performances, I'd have heard about it. Heck, someone would have heard about it. Can anyone else use the words Mad-Donna, humanity, beauty, and eloquence in the same sentence and keep a straight face?

Read the article at the web site of Scotland's The Daily Record, and pay close attention to how Mad-Donna talked NBC into not removing the crucifixion mockery out of the to be televised in November special of her tour. “Kevin Reilly, an executive at NBC network which will air the show, said: 'She felt that was a cornerstone of the show. We viewed it and didn't see it as being inappropriate'.”

Didn't see it as being “inappropriate”. The fact that there are millions of Christians who do see it as inappropriate means nothing to you at NBC Kevin? Apparently not. After all, this is the same network that tried to force on us a series “The Book of Daniel”, which made a mockery of Christianity. That one didn't fly, yet, NBC apparently still does not get it. So, maybe if NBC doesn't get it, the sponsors of NBC programming will. I think that none of us should purchase any products, goods, or services from any company or corporation that would have any ad on this airing of her tour. In fact, since the parent company of NBC is General Electric (GE), I think we should begin by boycotting all products made by GE. What do you think?

ADDENDUM 08/07/2006: The following was on the UPI entertainment news in regard to Mad-Donna's performance in Rome on Sunday:

"There was also another controversial part of the show in which a video clip was shown where Pope Benedict XVI and former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi were alongside Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein."

The more she goes, the more she lives down to the gutter level she relishes.

Copyright © 2006 Steve Smith. All Rights Reserved.